Towards Secure Cloud Orchestration for Multi-Cloud Deployments

Cloud orchestration frameworks are commonly used to deploy and operate cloud infrastructure. Their role spans both vertically (deployment on infrastructure, platform, application and microservice levels) and horizontally (deployments from many distinct cloud resource providers). However, despite the central role of orchestration, the popular orchestration frameworks lack mechanisms to provide security guarantees for cloud operators. In this work, we analyze the security landscape of cloud orchestration frameworks for multicloud infrastructure. We identify a set of attack scenarios, define security enforcement enablers and propose an architecture for a security-enabled cloud orchestration framework for multi-cloud application deployments

Ultra-high sensitivity magnetic field and magnetization measurements with an atomic magnetometer

We describe an ultra-sensitive atomic magnetometer using optically-pumped potassium atoms operating in spin-exchange relaxation free (SERF) regime. We demonstrate magnetic field sensitivity of 160 aT/Hz$^{1/2}$ in a gradiometer arrangement with a measurement volume of 0.45 cm$^3$ and energy resolution per unit time of $44 \hbar$. As an example of a new application enabled by such a magnetometer we describe measurements of weak remnant rock magnetization as a function of temperature with a sensitivity on the order of 10$^{-10}$ emu/cm$^3$/Hz$^{1/2}$ and temperatures up to 420$^\circ$C

The Cloud we Share: Access Control on Symmetrically Encrypted Data in Untrusted Clouds

Along with the rapid growth of cloud environments, rises the problem of secure data storage. – a problem that both businesses and end-users take into consideration before moving their data online. Recently, a lot of solutions have been proposed based either on Symmetric Searchable Encryption (SSE) or Attribute-Based Encryption (ABE). SSE is an encryption technique that offers security against both internal and external attacks. However, since in an SSE scheme, a single key is used to encrypt everything, revoking a user would imply downloading the entire encrypted database and re-encrypt it with a fresh key. On the other hand, in an ABE scheme, the problem of revocation can be addressed. Unfortunately, though, the proposed solutions are based on the properties of the underlying ABE scheme and hence, the revocation costs grow along with the complexity of the policies. To this end, we use these two cryptographic techniques that squarely fit cloud-based environments to design a hybrid encryption scheme based on ABE and SSE in such a way that we utilize the best out of both of them. Moreover, we exploit the functionalities offered by Intel’s SGX to design a revocation mechanism and an access control one, that are agnostic to the cryptographic primitives used in our construction

A three-wave longitudinal study on the underlying metacognitive mechanism between depression and Internet gaming disorder

AbstractBackground and aims: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and depression have negative consequences on individuals' mental health, but their relationships are complex. This three-wave longitudinal study aimed to detect the metacognitive mechanisms underlying the association between IGD tendency and depression based on the self-regulatory executive function model. Methods: A total of 1,243 Chinese undergraduate student gamers (57% female, M = 19.77, SD = 1.29) were recruited at the baseline survey (Wave 1 [W1]), with 622 and 574 of them taking part in the two follow-up surveys (Wave 2 [W2] at 6 and Wave 3 [W3] at 12 months later), respectively. Results: The three-wave path model demonstrated, after controlling for the autoregressive effect of each variable, that depression consistently predicted IGD tendency but not vice versa, while negative but not positive metacognitions about online gaming (MOG) significantly predicted both depression and IGD tendency. Moreover, two statistically significant mediation paths: (i) negative MOG [W1] → depression [W2] → IGD tendency [W3]; and (ii) depression [W1] → negative MOG [W2] → IGD tendency [W3] were identified. Discussion and conclusions: These findings extend the understanding of the associations among depression, IGD tendency, and MOG, highlighting how negative MOG has a stronger prospective effect than positive MOG on depression and IGD tendency, and also reveal the mutual mediation effects of depression and negative MOG on IGD tendency. Integrated programmes with both emotional regulation training and Metacognitive Therapy are recommended for IGD treatment

Alcohol Use, Risk Taking, Leisure Activities and Health Care Use Among Young People in Northern Vietnam

Alcohol consumption is associated with a wide range of health and social consequences. It is also associated with a number of risk taking behaviours. These include illicit drug use and unsafe sex.  Alcohol consumption appears to be increasing in Vietnam. The purpose of this paper is to examine the patterns of alcohol consumption and its relationship with a number of other risk taking behaviours amongst young people.  Information was also obtained concerning leisure activities and use of health care. The paper also sets out to examine possible gender differences in relation to alcohol consumption and risk behaviour and to propose the development and implementation of alcohol monitoring and prevention programs in Vietnam.  The study involved a cross-sectional, community survey using a standardised interview.  This was conducted during face-to-face interviews with 1,408 young people aged 10-19 years.  Respondents were recruited randomly through the lists of the households from 12 selected communes in three areas in Northern Vietnam. The findings presented here were part of a larger health risk behaviour survey.  Levels of alcohol use were low. Overall, 16.5% of participants were experienced drinkers, and only 4% of them were current drinkers. Males were significantly more likely than females to report drinking. This study also showed that rates of alcohol consumption were associated with age, education, geographical area, gender, tobacco smoking, involvement in violence, watching television, computer use and playing computer games, wearing safety helmets and use of health services. Alcohol consumption tended to increase with age for both males and females.  Alcohol and its effects on young people are clearly a growing public health issue in Vietnam.  Because of this, more detailed behavioral research should be conducted into the relationship between alcohol consumption and other risky behaviours amongst young people.  It is also recommended that alcohol harm reduction policies should be implemented and integrated into measures to reduce levels of other health problems such as HIV/AIDS and non communicable diseases. Such policies should ideally be evidence-based and evaluated

Genera of fungivorous Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera) from dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia

An illustrated key is provided for the identification of 39 genera of Thysanoptera-Phlaeothripinae with species that live in association with dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia and are considered to be fungus-feeding. Seven of these gen-era are not previously recorded from this continent, including un-named species of Deplorothrips, Malacothrips, Mystro-thrips, Preeriella and Tylothrips, together with Azaleothrips lepidus Okajima and Terthrothrips ananthakrishnani Kudo. A brief generic diagnosis is provided for each genus, together with comments on systematic problems and numbers of species. Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press

Solubility isotope effects in aqueous solutions of methane

The isotope effect on the Henry's law coefficients of methane in aqueous solution (H/D and C-12/C-13 substitution) are interpreted using the statistical mechanical theory of condensed phase isotope effects. The missing spectroscopic data needed for the implementation of the theory were obtained either experimentally (infrared measurements), by computer simulation (molecular dynamics technique), or estimated using the Wilson's GF matrix method. The order of magnitude and sign of both solute isotope effects can be predicted by the theory. Even a crude estimation based on data from previous vapor pressure isotope effect studies of pure methane at low temperature can explain the inverse effect found for the solubility of deuterated methane in water. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics

Synchronized and Desynchronized Phases of Exciton-Polariton Condensates in the Presence of Disorder

Condensation of exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities takes place despite in plane disorder. Below the critical density the inhomogeneity of the potential seen by the polaritons strongly limits the spatial extension of the ground state. Above the critical density, in presence of weak disorder, this limitation is spontaneously overcome by the non linear interaction, resulting in an extended synchronized phase. This mechanism is clearly evidenced by spatial and spectral studies, coupled to interferometric measurements. In case of strong disorder, several non phase-locked (independent) condensates can be evidenced. The transition from synchronized phase to desynchronized phase is addressed considering multiple realizations of the disorder.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures,corrected typos, added figure