Malicious code detection in android : the role of sequence characteristics and disassembling methods

The acceptance and widespread use of the Android operating system drew the attention of both legitimate developers and malware authors, which resulted in a significant number of benign and malicious applications available on various online markets. Since the signature-based methods fall short for detecting malicious software effectively considering the vast number of applications, machine learning techniques in this field have also become widespread. In this context, stating the acquired accuracy values in the contingency tables in malware detection studies has become a popular and efficient method and enabled researchers to evaluate their methodologies comparatively. In this study, we wanted to investigate and emphasize the factors that may affect the accuracy values of the models managed by researchers, particularly the disassembly method and the input data characteristics. Firstly, we developed a model that tackles the malware detection problem from a Natural Language Processing (NLP) perspective using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Then, we experimented with different base units (instruction, basic block, method, and class) and representations of source code obtained from three commonly used disassembling tools (JEB, IDA, and Apktool) and examined the results. Our findings exhibit that the disassembly method and different input representations affect the model results. More specifically, the datasets collected by the Apktool achieved better results compared to the other two disassemblers

Phase II Study of Gemcitabine and Docetaxel Combination in Patients with Previously Treated Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Purpose. To explore the safety and efficacy of gemcitabine and docetaxel (GEMDOC) in previously treated patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Patients and Methods. Patients with advanced SCCHN previously pretreated with one or two lines of palliative chemotherapy were treated with gemcitabine and docetaxel until disease progression. Results. Thirty-six patients were enrolled, and 29 were response evaluable. 16 (55%) experienced clinical benefit (response or stable disease). Six (21%) patients achieved partial response (PR), none achieved complete response (CR), and the overall response rate (ORR) was 21% (95% CI: 0.10–0.38). Ten (28%) patients had stable disease. The median response duration (RD) for the 6 PR patients was 3.2 months (80% CI: 2.0–6.1 months). Median overall survival was 4.2 months (95% CI: 2.4–7.0 months). Among the 33 treated patients: 13 (39%) patients had grade 3-4 anemia, 10 (30%) had grade 3-4 neutropenia. Conclusion. The study drugs were relatively safe, and the clinical benefit (PR + SD) rate was 55%. However, the efficacy objective for this regimen was not met. Given the good safety profile, further investigation of this regimen with the addition of a targeted agent may lead to better efficacy

Laparoscopic management of fallopian tube prolapse masquerading as adenocarcinoma of the vagina in a hysterectomized woman

BACKGROUND: Fallopian tube prolapse as a complication of abdominal hysterectomy is a rare occurrence. A case with fallopian tube prolapse was managed by a combined vaginal and laparoscopic approach and description of the operative technique is presented. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old woman with vaginal prolapse of the fallopian tube after total abdominal hysterectomy presented with an incorrect diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the vaginal apex. The prolapsed tube and cystic ovary were removed by vaginal and laparoscopic approach. The postoperative course went well. CONCLUSIONS: Early or late fallopian tube prolapse can occur after total abdominal hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy. Symptoms consist of persistent blood loss or leukorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain. Vaginal removal of prolapsed tube with laparoscopic surgery may be a suitable treatment. The abdominal or vaginal approach used in surgical correction of prolapsed tubes must be decided in each case according to the patient's individual characteristics

A plasmonically enhanced pixel structure for uncooled microbolometer detectors

This paper introduces a method of broadband absorption enhancement that can be integrated with the conventional suspended microbolometer process with no significant additional cost. The premise of this study is that electric field can be enhanced throughout the structural layer of the microbolometer, resulting in an increase in the absorption of the infrared radiation in the long wave infrared window. A concentric double C-shaped plasmonic geometry is simulated using the FDTD method, and this geometry is fabricated on suspended pixel arrays. Simulation results and FTIR measurements are in good agreement indicating a broadband absorption enhancement in the 8 μm - 12 μm range for LWIR applications. The enhancement is attained using metallic geometries embedded in the structural layer of the suspended microbridge, where the metallic-dielectric interface increases the average absorption of a 35 μm pixel from 67.6% to 80.1%. © 2013 SPIE

Ga-68 DOTATATE Accumulation in Sarcoidosis

We aimed in this case series to show Ga-68 DOTATATE uptake in relation with disease activity in sarcoidosis cases. 8 patients with previous diagnosis of sarcoidosis were included to the study. Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT was performed to evaluate of disease activity. Disease activity was described clinically by chest disease specialist by evaluation of lung function tests, serum ACE measurements and thorax CT. Correlation between Ga-68 DOTATATE uptake and disease activity was analyzed. Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT as a combination of SSR scintigraphy and anatomical imaging might be beneficial in the evaluation of active sarcoidosis

PDGF Upregulates Mcl-1 Through Activation of β-Catenin and HIF-1α-Dependent Signaling in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Aberrant platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling has been associated with prostate cancer (PCa) progression. However, its role in the regulation of PCa cell growth and survival has not been well characterized. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using experimental models that closely mimic clinical pathophysiology of PCa progression, we demonstrated that PDGF is a survival factor in PCa cells through upregulation of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1). PDGF treatment induced rapid nuclear translocation of β-catenin, presumably mediated by c-Abl and p68 signaling. Intriguingly, PDGF promoted formation of a nuclear transcriptional complex consisting of β-catenin and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and its binding to Mcl-1 promoter. Deletion of a putative hypoxia response element (HRE) within the Mcl-1 promoter attenuated PDGF effects on Mcl-1 expression. Blockade of PDGF receptor (PDGFR) signaling with a pharmacological inhibitor AG-17 abrogated PDGF induction of Mcl-1, and induced apoptosis in metastatic PCa cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study elucidated a crucial survival mechanism in PCa cells, indicating that interruption of the PDGF-Mcl-1 survival signal may provide a novel strategy for treating PCa metastasis

An analysis for the broad-band absorption enhancement using plasmonic structures on uncooled infrared detector pixels

This paper introduces an analysis on the absorption enhancement in uncooled infrared pixels using resonant plasmon modes in metal structures, and it reports, for the first time in literature, broad-band absorption enhancement using integrated plasmonic structures in microbolometers for unpolarized long-wave IR detection. Different plasmonic structures are designed and simulated on a stack of layers, namely gold, polyimide, and silicon nitride in order to enhance absorption at the long-wave infrared. The simulated structures are fabricated, and the reflectance measurements are conducted using an FTIR Ellipsometer in the 8-12 μm wavelength range. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations are compared to experimental measurement results. Computational and experimental results show similar spectral reflection trends, verifying broad-band absorption enhancement in the spectral range of interest. Moreover, this paper computationally investigates pixel-wise absorption enhancement by plasmonic structures integrated with microbolometer pixels using the FDTD method. Special attention is given during the design to be able to implement the integrated plasmonic structures with the microbolometers without a need to modify the pre-determined microbolometer process flow. The optimized structure with plasmonic layer absorbs 84 % of the unpolarized radiation in the 8-12 μm spectral range on the average, which is a 22 % increase compared to a reference structure with no plasmonic design. Further improvement may be possible by designing multiply coupled resonant structures. © 2012 SPIE

Exploring the receptor origin of vibration-induced reflexes

STUDY DESIGN: An experimental design. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the latencies of vibration-induced reflexes in individuals with and without spinal cord injury (SCI), and to compare these latencies to identify differences in reflex circuitries. SETTING: A tertiary rehabilitation center in Istanbul. METHODS: Seventeen individuals with chronic SCI (SCI group) and 23 participants without SCI (Control group) were included in this study. Latency of tonic vibration reflex (TVR) and whole-body vibration-induced muscular reflex (WBV-IMR) of the left soleus muscle was tested for estimating the reflex origins. The local tendon vibration was applied at six different vibration frequencies (50, 85, 140, 185, 235, and 265 Hz), each lasting for 15 s with 3-s rest intervals. The WBV was applied at six different vibration frequencies (35, 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45 Hz), each lasting for 15 s with 3-s rest intervals. RESULTS: Mean (SD) TVR latency was 39.7 (5.3) ms in the SCI group and 35.9 (2.7) ms in the Control group with a mean (95% CI) difference of -3.8 (-6.7 to -0.9) ms. Mean (SD) WBV-IMR latency was 45.8 (7.4) ms in the SCI group and 43.3 (3.0) ms in the Control group with a mean (95% CI) difference of -2.5 (-6.5 to 1.4) ms. There were significant differences between TVR latency and WBV-IMR latency in both the groups (mean (95% CI) difference; -6.2 (-9.3 to -3.0) ms, p = 0.0001 for the SCI group and -7.4 (-9.3 to -5.6) ms, p = 0.011 for Control group). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the receptor of origin of TVR and WBV-IMR may be different

The Role of 18F-Flourodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) in Pelvic and Paraaortic Lymph Node Staging of Uterine Cervical Cancer

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of 18F-Flourodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the detection of pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases of uterine cervical cancer.  Material and Method: 32 female patients (mean age: 56.1±12.6) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for preoperative staging of uterine cervical cancer between April 2009 and October 2013 were included to the study. Ethical committee approval was taken from Ankara University Medical Faculty Ethics Committee. All the patients had been performed trans-vaginal examination and diagnosed as uterine cervical cancer before 18F-FDG PET/CT. 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were compared with histopathological examination results. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of pelvic MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were calculated in the detection of pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases.  Results: 18F-FDG uptake was seen in primary cervical lesions of all the patients. Mean SUV max of primary cervical lesions was calculated as 13.6±6.6 (range: 6.7-25). In 16 (50%) patients, 18F-FDG uptake was not seen in pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes. In the remaining patients, 18F-FDG uptake was detected in pelvic nodes in all the patients (50%) and in paraaortic nodes in 6 (18%) patients. Mean SUV max of pelvic lymph nodes were calculated as 8.4±5.2 and of paraaortic lymph nodes 12.45±6.41. 18F-FDG uptake was detected in a total of 47 lymph node stations in 16 patients. Mean SUVmax of all lymph nodes were calculated as 8.9±5.83 (range: 2.6-21.9). According to 18F-FDG PET/CT findings, disease was upstaged from I to IV in 1 (3%) patient, II to III in 2 (6%) patients, III to IV in 1 (3%) patients and I to III in 2 (6%) patients, and down staged from III to I in 1 (3%) patient, respectively. In the patient-based analysis, 18F-FDG PET/CT was TP, TN, FP and FN in 14 (%44), 14 (44%), 2 (6%) and 2 (6%) patients, respectively. Patients based sensitivity; specificity and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT were calculated as 87%, 87% and 87%, respectively. In the lesion-based analysis, 18F-FDG PET/CT was TP, FP, TN and FN in 30, 7, 37 and 5 lymph node stations, respectively. Lesion based sensitivity; specificity and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT were calculated as 85%, 84% and 84%, respectively.  Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT is a reliable imaging tool with its high sensitivity and specificity in the pelvic and paraaortic lymph node staging of uterine cervical cancer. When performed in the preoperative staging it changes disease stage about in ¼ of patients. In combination of pelvic MRI, primary staging of primary cervical lesions and also pelvic/paraaortic lymph nodes can be done successfully