Modeling and Analysis of Peer-to-Peer Botnets

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) botnets have emerged as one of the most serious threats to Internet security. To effectively eliminate P2P botnets, in this paper, the authors present two novel dynamical models to portray the process of formation of P2P botnets, one of which is called microlevel model, the other is called macrolevel model. Also, the stability of equilibria is investigated along with the analysis of how to prevent the P2P botnet. Furthermore, by analyzing the relationship between infection rate and the proportion of the hosts with countermeasures, we obtain the mathematical expressions of effective immune regions and depict their numerical simulations. Finally, numerical simulations verify the correctness of mathematical analysis. Our results can provide the guidance for security practitioners to defend and eliminate P2P botnet at a cost-effective way

Combining weak acids and fasting could be a viable strategy against infections by Ebola-like viruses

Ebola-like viruses could depend on chloride or HCl to deliver lethal assault on human cells, causing hemorrhaging, bleeding, diarrhea, etc. It may harbor stressful peptides which can be generated in vivo after infections. Fasting with boiled rice water or with orange juice for a few days can halt virion production. However, infection-triggered cell lysis can produce nutrients for viral proliferation. The adoption of highly diluted weak organic acids such as acetic acid or lactic acid for smearing skin or foot bathing can neutralize chloride or HCl after absorption, and raise cellular pH to minimize cell lysis. Integration of fasting/fruit juice intake and highly diluted weak acids might reduce mortality rates of Ebola-like virus infections. The intake of NaCl should be minimized as it can give rise to chloride or HCl in cell microenvironment. Many food ingredients such as vinegar and sauce contain salt. Clinical trials must be conducted before the regimen is available for use

Effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori on expression levels of FHIT, IL-8 and P73 in gastric mucosa of first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori can effectively reduce the risk of gastric cancer, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eradication of H. pylori on the expression levels of FHIT, IL-8 and P73 in the gastric mucosa of first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients. METHODS:One hundred and thirty-two patients with functional dyspepsia having first-degree relatives with gastric cancer were prospectively recruited in this study. Nine patients presented with H. pylori infection and family histories of gastric cancer, 61 with H. pylori infection and without family histories of gastric cancer, 6 without H. pylori infection and with family histories of gastric cancer, and 56 without H. pylori infection and family histories of gastric cancer. The protein and mRNA expression levels of FHIT, IL-8 and P73 in gastric mucosa of the subjects were detected by immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS:Compared with the patients without H. pylori infection and family histories of gastric cancer, both the protein and mRNA levels of FIHT significantly decreased in patients with H. pylori infection and/or family histories of gastric cancer, and both the protein and mRNA levels of IL-8 significantly increased. After eradication of H. pylori, both the protein and mRNA levels of FHIT were significantly higher, and both the protein and mRNA levels of IL-8 were significantly lower. However, H. pylori infection and family histories of gastric cancer had no major effect on P73 expression. CONCLUSIONS:Down-regulation of FHIT and up-regulation of IL-8 may be involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection in the first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients

Simultaneous fasting may contain SARS-CoV-2 infection

Fasting can halt viral reproduction and relieve symptoms. Simultaneous fasting with moderate intake of boiled rice water or fruit juice for 2 to 3 days may achieve positive effect. If a person has 30 contacts daily, and 6 of which are viral carriers, simultaneous fasting can reduce viral loads in all the 6 carriers and thus lower infection rate by perhaps more than 90%. Individuals not suitable for fasting should be excluded from pilot test and large experiments. Multiple episodes of fasting with proper intervals can be conducted to beat pandemic or control viral infection at its infancy

Spherical Polymer Brushes in Solvents of Variable Quality: An Experimental Insight by TEM Imaging

The spherical micelle and vesicle composed of [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3– and poly­(styrene-<i>b</i>-4-vinylpyridinium methyl iodide) are regarded as a model system to study spherical polymer brushes (SPBs) in solvents of various quality. The pure repulsions occur for the brush chains in the chloroform solution and chloroform/methanol mixture with a methanol volume ratio of 9.1%, where the grafted polystyrene chains have a relatively extended conformation. Further increase in the methanol concentrations leads to the presence of the intra/inter-brush van der Waals attractions. Transmission electron microscopy studies show that there is a coexistence of isolated and oligomeric SPBs and multi-SPB aggregates (MSAs) with the methanol content from 17% to 23%. Only MSAs are detected with the increasing methanol content. Both the corona and core shrink significantly in the isolated and oligomeric SPBs and MSAs. The full interpenetration of the grafted chains is observed between the cores in the oligomeric SPBs and MSAs

Differential inertia of lower and upper parts of a skyscraper drives swaying of a building

The lower part of a skyscraper possesses enormous weight giving the gravity of the total building, whereas the upper part is smaller in mass. Upon a gust of wind or other factors, the lower part accelerates and decelerates more slowly than the upper part, and then the upper part moves backwards first and then forwards. It resembles a traveling bus, the standing passengers move backwards and forwards upon vehicle starting from standing-still or a sudden stop

Methyl group, hyperconjugation and human diseases

Methylations are widespread in the biological kingdom. However, their chemical and biochemical roles have not been fully dissected. A hypothesis was put forward previously in which methylation is proposed to lead to hyperconjugation, whose electron donating feature weakens the chemical bonds and increases the bond lengths of C-N, therefore resulting in stronger secondary bonding between nitrogen atoms and cations or protonation of nitrogen atoms. Consequently ion homeostasis of the cells is compromised giving rise to certain diseases. Protonation of nitrogen atoms in 5-methyl cytosine enhances interaction with negatively charged phosphate groups and contributes to the formation of heterochromatin

Effect of eradication of <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> on protein expression of FHIT, IL-8 and P73.

<p>Group A, patients with both <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection and family histories of gastric cancer. Group B, patients with <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection and without family histories of gastric cancer. Data were expressed as the mean±standard deviation. Statistical differences were determined by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Compared with before treatment, * <i>P</i><0.05.</p

Protein expression of FHIT, IL-8 and P73 showed by immunohistochemical staining of gastric mucosa specimens from patients without both <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection and family histories of gastric cancer.

<p>A. Expression of FHIT, ×40; B. Expression of IL-8, ×40; C. Expression of P73, ×40.</p