Reducing the Attack Surface of Dynamic Binary Instrumentation Frameworks

Malicious applications pose as one of the most relevant issues in today’s technology scenario, being considered the root of many Internet security threats. In part, this owes the ability of malware developers to promptly respond to the emergence of new security solutions by developing artifacts to detect and avoid them. In this work, we present three countermeasures to mitigate recent mechanisms used by malware to detect analysis environments. Among these techniques, this work focuses on those that enable a malware to detect dynamic binary instrumentation frameworks, thus increasing their attack surface. To ensure the effectiveness of the proposed countermeasures, proofs of concept were developed and tested in a controlled environment with a set of anti-instrumentation techniques. Finally, we evaluated the performance impact of using such countermeasures

An antibody against an Anopheles albimanus midgut myosin reduces Plasmodium berghei oocyst development

Statistical analysis GLMM (data corresponding to Fig. 1d and Table 1). (DOCX 39 kb

Poliquetos (Annelida: Polychaeta) como indicadores biológicos de contaminación marina: casos en Colombia

El concepto de Indicador Biológico ha sido usado sin mayor precaución al momento de emplear ciertos organismos en programas de monitoreo ambiental, lo cual genera confusión. Uno de los objetivos de este trabajo fue resaltar la importancia en la consolidación de una definición precisa de este concepto a partir de información disponible, proponiendo una definición para el mismo. Las características ecológicas de los poliquetos permiten que, al estar en contacto permanente con diferentes tipos de contaminantes, respondan bioacumulando, disminuyendo o aumentando su abundancia, según sea la especie, hecho que posiciona este tipo de organismos como potenciales indicadores de contaminación marina. En este artículo se presenta de manera concreta un análisis de la literatura disponible para poliquetos en el campo de los indicadores biológicos, resaltando cómo éstos han sido usados en diferentes metodologías, con ejemplos a internacionales, así como una selección especial para Colombia. De los resultados más sobresalientes se encontró que Capitella capitata es la especie más estudiada al estar asociada con ambientes contaminados a causa del incremento de materia orgánica y es la única especie reportada en el país como indicador biológico usando las técnicas clásicas de bioindicación. Finalmente, se reitera la importancia de iniciar investigaciones sobre los aspectos ecológicos, ecotoxicológicos y bioensayos de laboratorio con otras especies de poliquetos para validar cuáles especies y por qué pueden ser consideradas como indicadores biológicos para el país

Insectos dulceacuícolas depositados en la Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035

The database of aquatic insects collected from freshwater systems in the departments of Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander and Sucre is described. The biological material presented here was a part of different projects, such as environmental consulting, as well as field sampling by both undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Institute of Biology, University of Antioquia. The Antioquia’s University Limnology Collection, CLUA-035 has 3209 standardized lots published in online databases that are distributed among 11 orders, 91 families and 235 genera. However, Neuroptera and Orthopteraorders were not identified to lower taxonomic levels. Se describe la base de datos de los insectos acuáticos asociados a sistemas de agua dulce de los departamentos de Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander y Sucre. El material presentado hace parte de diferentes proyectos de consultoría ambiental, salidas de campo de cursos de pregrado del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad de Antioquia, y de muestreos de tesistas de posgrado, entre otros. La Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035, tiene 3209 registros estandarizados y publicados en portales de bases de datos; divididos en 11 órdenes, 91 familias y 235 géneros. No obstante, los órdenes Neuroptera y Orthoptera no fueron identificados a menores niveles taxonómicos

Insectos dulceacuícolas depositados en la Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035

Se describe la base de datos de los insectos acuáticos asociados a sistemas de agua dulce de los departamentos de Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander y Sucre. El material presentado hace parte de diferentes proyectos de consultoría ambiental, salidas de campo de cursos de pregrado del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad de Antioquia, y de muestreos de tesistas de posgrado, entre otros. La Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035, tiene 3209 registros estandarizados y publicados en portales de bases de datos; divididos en 11 órdenes, 91 familias y 235 géneros. No obstante, los órdenes Neuroptera y Orthoptera no fueron identificados a menores niveles taxonómicos

Molecular epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax in Latin America: polymorphism and evolutionary relationships of the circumsporozoite gene

BACKGROUND: The origins and dispersal of Plasmodium vivax to its current worldwide distribution remains controversial. Although progress on P. vivax genetics and genomics has been achieved worldwide, information concerning New World parasites remains fragmented and largely incomplete. More information on the genetic diversity in Latin America (LA) is needed to better explain current patterns of parasite dispersion and evolution. METHODS: Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein gene polymorphism was investigated using polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and Sanger sequencing in isolates from the Pacific Ocean coast of Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. In conjunction with worldwide sequences retrieved from the Genbank, mismatch distribution analysis of central repeat region (CRR), frequency estimation of unique repeat types and phylogenetic analysis of the 3′ terminal region, were performed to obtain an integrative view of the genetic relationships between regional and worldwide isolates. RESULTS: Four RFLP subtypes, vk210a, b, c and d were identified in Southern Mexico and three subtypes vk210a, e and f in Nicaragua. The nucleotide sequences showed that Mexican vk210a and all Nicaraguan isolates were similar to other American parasites. In contrast, vk210b, c and d were less frequent, had a domain ANKKAEDA in their carboxyl end and clustered with Asian isolates. All vk247 isolates from Mexico and Peru had identical RFLP pattern. Their nucleotide sequences showed two copies of GGQAAGGNAANKKAGDAGA at the carboxyl end. Differences in mismatch distribution parameters of the CRR separate vk247 from most vk210 isolates. While vk247 isolates display a homogeneous pattern with no geographical clustering, vk210 isolates display a heterogeneous geographically clustered pattern which clearly separates LA from non-American isolates, except vk210b, c and d from Southern Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of vk210a in Mexico and vk210e, f and g in Nicaragua are consistent with other previously reported LA isolates and reflect their circulation throughout the continent. The vk210b, c and d are novel genotypes in LA. Their genetic relationships and low variability within these vk210 and/or within the vk247 parasites in Southern Mexico suggest its recent introduction and/or recent expansion to this region. The global analysis of P. vivax csp suggests this parasite introduction to the region and likely LA by different independent events

Measurement Invariance of the Short UCLA Loneliness Scale in Spanish and Peruvian Old People: Latent Mean Differences and Evidence for Differential Effects on Perceived Health

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the measurement invariance of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) three-item version (UCLA-LS-3) in older adults in Peru and Spain, to compare the latent means of loneliness, and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale with Item Response Theory (IRT) models, and evaluate the possible moderating effects of the country on loneliness-health relationships. Peruvian sample was composed of 235 old adults from the city of Lima. The Spanish sample was composed of 443 old adults. The three-factor structure of RUCLA-3 anchored to the health measure fitted the data reasonably well in Spain and Peru. The R-UCLA-3 may be considered invariant for these two samples. The latent means of loneliness are different, the Peruvian average of loneliness being greater than that of Spain. The R-UCLA-3 is an invariant measure in older adults in Peru and Spain, with adequate psychometric properties through IRT models

Virucidal and Synergistic Activity of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts of Seaweeds against Measles Virus

Although preventable by vaccination, Measles still causes thousands of deaths among young children worldwide. The discovery of new antivirals is a good approach to control new outbreaks that cause such death. In this study, we tested the antiviral activity against Measles virus (MeV) of Polyphenol-rich extracts (PPs) coming from five seaweeds collected and cultivated in Mexico. An MTT assay was performed to determine cytotoxicity effect, and antiviral activity was measured by syncytia reduction assay and confirmed by qPCR. PPs from Ecklonia arborea (formerly Eisenia arborea, Phaeophyceae) and Solieria filiformis (Rhodophyta) showed the highest Selectivity Index (SI), \u3e3750 and \u3e576.9 respectively. Both PPs extracts were selected to the subsequent experiments owing to their high efficacy and low cytotoxicity compared with ribavirin (SI of 11.57). The combinational effect of PPs with sulphated polysaccharides (SPs) and ribavirin were calculated by using Compusyn software. Synergistic activity was observed by combining both PPs with low concentrations of Solieria filiformis SPs (0.01 µg/mL). The antiviral activity of the best combinations was confirmed by qPCR. Virucidal assay, time of addition, and viral penetration evaluations suggested that PPs act mainly by inactivating the viral particle. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the virucidal effect of Polyphenol-rich extracts of seaweeds