Forensic investigation of Cisco WebEx desktop client, web, and Android smartphone applications

Digital forensic analysis of videoconferencing applications has received considerable attention recently, owing to the wider adoption and diffusion of such applications following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In this contribution, we present a detailed forensic analysis of Cisco WebEx which is among the top three videoconferencing applications available today. More precisely, we present the results of the forensic investigation of Cisco WebEx desktop client, web, and Android smartphone applications. We focus on three digital forensic areas, namely memory, disk space, and network forensics. From the extracted artifacts, it is evident that valuable user data can be retrieved from different data localities. These include user credentials, emails, user IDs, profile photos, chat messages, shared media, meeting information including meeting passwords, contacts, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) keys, keyword searches, timestamps, and call logs. We develop a memory parsing tool for Cisco WebEx based on the extracted artifacts. Additionally, we identify anti-forensic artifacts such as deleted chat messages. Although network communications are encrypted, we successfully retrieve useful artifacts such as IPs of server domains and host devices along with message/event timestamps

A Postcolonial Feminist Appraisal of Pakistani English Literature

This research explores women’s position in Pakistani society. Women are considered an interesting topic for researchers. The following research will show women’s empowerment in male-dominant backgrounds. This research offers a close analysis of women’s presentations by Pakistani English writers. This research is qualitative in nature. It provides a detailed account of information about postcolonial feminism and feminist writers of contemporary times. Portraiture of women is clear in the works of Pakistani English writers. The whole task will be accomplished with the impact of Colonialism. Pakistani modem writers have analyzed and discussed different issues related to women by portraying female characters in their works. Pakistani feminism is considered a part of Post Colonial fiction. Writers have introduced multiple dimensions of feminism. The main purpose of this research is to highlight different aspects which were caused by feminism. The study presents a detailed examination of females adjustment and its effect with great respect to Post Colonialism

Forensic Analysis of the Cisco WebEx Application

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in the usage of videoconferencing applications around the globe. While this trend provided a convenient alternative to face-to-face meetings, it has also opened the door for new scenarios of malicious attacks. The security and privacy of the (vidéoconférence) participants\u27 data has therefore become a major concern. Despite its importance, the forensic analysis of videoconferencing applications remains a relatively under researched area. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the Cisco WebEx videoconferencing application on a Windows OS in the areas of memory forensics, disk-space forensics and network forensics. From the extracted artifacts, it is evident that valuable user data can be retrieved from different sources. These include user emails, user IDs, profile photos, sent and deleted chat messages, shared media, meeting information including meeting passwords, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) keys, keyword searches, timestamps, and log files. Although network communications are encrypted, some useful artifacts can be retrieved such as IPs of server domains and host devices along with message/event timestamps. Digital certificates of the videoconferencing communications are also retrieved

Influence of Iron Sulfide Nanoparticle Sizes in Solid‐State Batteries**

Given the inherent performance limitations of intercalationbasedlithium-ion batteries, solid-state conversion batteries arepromising systems for future energy storage. A high specific capacityand natural abundancy make iron disulfide (FeS2) a promisingcathode active material. In this work, FeS2 nanoparticles wereprepared solvothermally. By adjusting the synthesis conditions,samples with average particle diameters between 10 nm and 35 nmwere synthesized. The electrochemical performance was evaluated insolid-state cells with a Li-argyrodite solid electrolyte. While thereduction of FeS2 was found to be irreversible in the initial discharge,a stable cycling of the reduced species was observed subsequently.A positive effect of smaller particle dimensions on FeS2 utilization wasidentified, which can be attributed to a higher interfacial contact areaand shortened diffusion pathways inside the FeS2 particles. Theseresults highlight the general importance of morphological design toexploit the promising theoretical capacity of conversion electrodes insolid-state batteries

Influence of Iron Sulfide Nanoparticle Sizes in Solid‐State Batteries**

Given the inherent performance limitations of intercalation-based lithium-ion batteries, solid-state conversion batteries are promising systems for future energy storage. A high specific capacity and natural abundancy make iron disulfide (FeS2) a promising cathode-active material. In this work, FeS2 nanoparticles were prepared solvothermally. By adjusting the synthesis conditions, samples with average particle diameters between 10 nm and 35 nm were synthesized. The electrochemical performance was evaluated in solid-state cells with a Li-argyrodite solid electrolyte. While the reduction of FeS2 was found to be irreversible in the initial discharge, a stable cycling of the reduced species was observed subsequently. A positive effect of smaller particle dimensions on FeS2 utilization was identified, which can be attributed to a higher interfacial contact area and shortened diffusion pathways inside the FeS2 particles. These results highlight the general importance of morphological design to exploit the promising theoretical capacity of conversion electrodes in solid-state batteries

Study of variants associated with ventricular septal defects (VSDs) highlights the unique genetic structure of the Pakistani population

Abstract Background Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are one of the leading causes of death due to cardiac anomalies during the first months of life. The prevalence of VSD in neonates is reported up to 4%. Despite the remarkable progress in medication, treatment and surgical procedure for VSDs, the genetic etiology of VSDs is still in infancy because of the complex genetic and environmental interactions. Methods Three hundred fifty subjects (200 VSD children and 150 healthy controls) were recruited from different pediatric cardiac units. Pediatric clinical and demographic data were collected. A total of six variants, rs1017 (ISL1), rs7240256 (NFATc1), rs36208048 (VEGF), variant of HEY2, rs11067075 (TBX5) and rs1801133 (MTHFR) genes were genotyped by tetra-ARMS PCR and PCR–RFLP methods. Results The results showed that in cases, the rs1017 (g.16138A > T) variant in the ISL1 gene has an allele frequency of 0.42 and 0.58 respectively for the T and A alleles, and 0.75 and 0.25 respectively in the controls. The frequencies of the AA, TA and TT genotypes were, 52%, 11% and 37% in cases versus 21%, 8% and 71% respectively in the controls. For the NFATc1 variant rs7240256, minor allele frequency (MAF) was 0.43 in cases while 0.23 in controls. For the variant in the VEGF gene, genotype frequencies were 0% (A), 32% (CA) and 68% (CC) in cases and 0.0%, 33% and 67% respectively in controls. The allele frequency of C and A were 0.84 and 0.16 in cases and 0.83 and 0.17 respectively in controls. The TBX5 polymorphism rs11067075 (g.51682G > T) had an allelic frequency of 0.44 and 0.56 respectively for T and G alleles in cases, versus 0.26 and 0.74 in the controls. We did not detect the presence of the HEY2 gene variant (g.126117350A > C) in our pediatric cohort. For the rs1801133 (g.14783C > T) variant in the MTHFR gene, the genotype frequencies were 25% (CC), 62% (CT) and 13% (TT) in cases, versus 88%, 10% and 2% in controls. The ISL1, NFATc1, TBX5 and MTHFR variants were found to be in association with VSD in the Pakistani pediatric cohort whilst the VEGF and HEY2 variants were completely absent in our cohort. Conclusion We propose that a wider programme of genetic screening of the Pakistani population for genetic markers in heart development genes would be helpful in reducing the risk of VSDs

The prophylactic potential of Zingiber officinale flowers and leaves extract to mitigate hyperglycemia in Sprague Dawley rats

International audiencePurpose Innovative health-promoting approaches of the era have verified phytoceutics as one of the prime therapeutic tools to alleviate numerous health-related ailments. The purpose of this paper is to probe the nutraceutic potential of ginger flowers and leaves against hyperglycemia. Design/methodology/approach The aqueous extracts of ginger flowers and leaves were observed on Sprague Dawley rats for 8 weeks. Two parallel studies were carried out based on dietary regimes: control and hyperglycemic diets. At the end of the experimental modus, the overnight fed rats were killed to determine the concentration of glucose and insulin in serum. The insulin resistance and insulin secretions were also calculated by formulae by considering fasting glucose and fasting insulin concentrations. Furthermore, the feed and drink intakes, body weight gain and hematological analysis were also carried out. Findings In streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats, the ginger flowers extract depicted 5.62% reduction; however, ginger leaves extract reduced the glucose concentration up to 7.11% ( p = 0.001). Similarly, ginger flowers extract uplifted the insulin concentration up to 3.07%, while, by ginger leaves extract, the insulin value increased to 4.11% ( p = 0.002). For the insulin resistance, the ginger flower showed 5.32% decrease; however, the insulin resistance was reduced to 6.48% by ginger leaves ( p = 0.014). Moreover, the insulin secretion increased to 18.9% by flower extract and 21.8% by ginger leave extract ( p = 0.001). The feed intake and body weight gain increased momentously by the addition of ginger flowers and leaves; however, the drink intake and hematological analysis remained non-significant by the addition of ginger parts. Originality/value Conclusively, it was revealed that leaves have more hypoglycemic potential as compared to flowers

Indigenous plant extracts as novel antimicrobial arsenal: Unveiling the potential of Bismarckia nobilis, Choysia ternata, Chamaedora cataractarum, and Beaucarnea recurvate

Introduction and Aim: Amid the rapid advancements in contemporary medicine, the resurgence of phytomedicine as a therapeutic avenue has garnered substantial attention. Nearly 30% of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals trace their origins to botanical sources. Phytomedicine has been shown to hold promising applications to attenuate bacterial virulence and source new of bioactive compounds to battle multidrug resistant pathogens. In this context, the current investigation delves into the antimicrobial potential of four indigenous plant species Methodology: This study is primed to unveil the antibacterial and antifungal potential of n-hexane and methanolic extracts of Bismarckia nobilis, Choysia ternata, Chamaedora cataractarum, and Beaucarnea recurvate against strains of S. aureus and C. neoformans. These plant extracts' Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was discerned via the agar well diffusion assay, microbroth dilution assay, and MTT reduction assay. Results: Notably, the n-hexane extracts of B. nobilis and C. ternata exhibited robust activity against S. aureus strains, with 100 mg/mL concentrations yielding inhibition zones measuring 12.1–13.1 mm and 13.1–15.1 mm, respectively. Correspondingly, the methanolic extracts (100 mg/mL) of B. nobilis, C. ternata, C. cataractarum, and B. recurvata presented notable antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, as evidenced by zones of inhibition measuring 14.25 mm, 13.25 mm, 16.25 mm, and 17.35 mm, respectively. Microbroth dilution assays revealed that the MIC of CT and BN plants against S. aureus ranged from 0.78 to 3.125 mg/mL and 1.56–12.5 mg/mL, respectively, with a consequential MIC index of 0.1248 for BN and CT plants against S. aureus. The n-hexane extract of B. nobilis and C. ternata showed antibacterial activity against pathogenic S. aureus. Similarly, the methanolic extracts of B. nobilis, C. ternata, C. cataractarum, and B. recurvata exhibited potent antifungal activity against C. neoformans. Conclusion: This study postulates indigenous plant-derived extracts as potent and multifaceted antifungal and antibacterial resources for antimicrobial development

Comparative study of physicochemical and hedonic response of ginger rhizome and leaves enriched patties

International audienceThe present investigation was an attempt to compare the phytoceutic potential of ginger rhizome and ginger leaves of the Suravi variety. For this purpose, both rhizome and leaves were dried and used for the preparation of patties. After that, patties were assessed for colour tonality, texture, total phenolic content and hedonic response such as colour, taste, flavour, texture and overall acceptability. The results depicted that L* and b* values changed significantly during the storage interval; however, b* value was also affected by treatments whilst L* and a* values did not impart any momentous effect. For texture, the highest value was observed for patties with ginger rhizome powder (0.067 ± 0.0032 N) followed by patties with ginger leaf powder (0.060 ± 0.0029 N) and then control patties (0.057 ± 0.0026 N). For total phenolic content (TPC), maximum phenolic contents were observed as 84.80 ± 3.31 mg GAE 100 g–1 in treatment T2 followed by 75.68 ± 2.95 mg GAE 100 g–1 in T1 and 61.70 ± 2.41 mg GAE 100 g–1 in T0. For hedonic response, all the parameters changed significantly during the storage interval; however, flavour, taste and overall acceptability changed momentously with treatments. The findings of the current investigation demonstrated that ginger leaves have a higher antioxidant potential as compared to the ginger rhizome and control patties, and they should be incorporated into food products