Digital Waste Sorting: A Goal-Based, Self-Learning Approach to Label Spam Email Campaigns

Fast analysis of correlated spam emails may be vital in the effort of finding and prosecuting spammers performing cybercrimes such as phishing and online frauds. This paper presents a self-learning framework to automatically divide and classify large amounts of spam emails in correlated labeled groups. Building on large datasets daily collected through honeypots, the emails are firstly divided into homogeneous groups of similar messages campaigns), which can be related to a specific spammer. Each campaign is then associated to a class which specifies the goal of the spammer, i.e. phishing, advertisement, etc. The proposed framework exploits a categorical clustering algorithm to group similar emails, and a classifier to subsequently label each email group. The main advantage of the proposed framework is that it can be used on large spam emails datasets, for which no prior knowledge is provided. The approach has been tested on more than 3200 real and recent spam emails, divided in more than 60 campaigns, reporting a classification accuracy of 97% on the classified data.pringer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 S. Foresti (Ed.): STM 2015, LNCS 9331, pp. 3?19, 2015. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-24858-5

Decision support system for emergency management of oil spill accidents in the Mediterranean Sea

This paper presents an innovative web-based decision support system to facilitate emergency management in the case of oil spill accidents, called WITOIL (Where Is The Oil). The system can be applied to create a forecast of oil spill events, evaluate uncertainty of the predictions, and calculate hazards based on historical meteo-oceanographic datasets. To compute the oil transport and transformation, WITOIL uses the MEDSLIK-II oil spill model forced by operational meteo-oceanographic services. Results of the modeling are visualized through Google Maps. A special application for Android is designed to provide mobile access for competent authorities, technical and scientific institutions, and citizens

Association of Genetic Markers with CSF Oligoclonal Bands in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Objective:to explore the association between genetic markers and Oligoclonal Bands (OCB) in the Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) of Italian Multiple Sclerosis patients.Methods:We genotyped 1115 Italian patients for HLA-DRB1*15 and HLA-A*02. In a subset of 925 patients we tested association with 52 non-HLA SNPs associated with MS susceptibility and we calculated a weighted Genetic Risk Score. Finally, we performed a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) with OCB status on a subset of 562 patients. The best associated SNPs of the Italian GWAS were replicated in silico in Scandinavian and Belgian populations, and meta-analyzed.Results:HLA-DRB1*15 is associated with OCB+: p = 0.03, Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% Confidence Limits (CL) = 1.1-2.4. None of the 52 non-HLA MS susceptibility loci was associated with OCB, except one SNP (rs2546890) near IL12B gene (OR: 1.45; 1.09-1.92). The weighted Genetic Risk Score mean was significantly (p = 0.0008) higher in OCB+ (7.668) than in OCB- (7.412) patients. After meta-analysis on the three datasets (Italian, Scandinavian and Belgian) for the best associated signals resulted from the Italian GWAS, the strongest signal was a SNP (rs9320598) on chromosome 6q (p = 9.4×10-7) outside the HLA region (65 Mb).Discussion:genetic factors predispose to the development of OCB

Contribution of Rare and Low-Frequency Variants to Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility in the Italian Continental Population

Genome-wide association studies identified over 200 risk loci for multiple sclerosis (MS) focusing on common variants, which account for about 50% of disease heritability. The goal of this study was to investigate whether low-frequency and rare functional variants, located in MS-established associated loci, may contribute to disease risk in a relatively homogeneous population, testing their cumulative effect (burden) with gene-wise tests. We sequenced 98 genes in 588 Italian patients with MS and 408 matched healthy controls (HCs). Variants were selected using different filtering criteria based on allelic frequency and in silico functional impacts. Genes showing a significant burden (n = 17) were sequenced in an independent cohort of 504 MS and 504 HC. The highest signal in both cohorts was observed for the disruptive variants (stop-gain, stop-loss, or splicing variants) located in EFCAB13, a gene coding for a protein of an unknown function (p < 10(-4)). Among these variants, the minor allele of a stop-gain variant showed a significantly higher frequency in MS versus HC in both sequenced cohorts (p = 0.0093 and p = 0.025), confirmed by a meta-analysis on a third independent cohort of 1298 MS and 1430 HC (p = 0.001) assayed with an SNP array. Real-time PCR on 14 heterozygous individuals for this variant did not evidence the presence of the stop-gain allele, suggesting a transcript degradation by non-sense mediated decay, supported by the evidence that the carriers of the stop-gain variant had a lower expression of this gene (p = 0.0184). In conclusion, we identified a novel low-frequency functional variant associated with MS susceptibility, suggesting the possible role of rare/low-frequency variants in MS as reported for other complex diseases

National Health Care Network for children with oral clefts: organization, functioning, and preliminary outcomes

Introduction. Oral clefts are major congenital anomalies that may affect the lip and/or palate, and that may also involve the nose and nostrils. In Argentina, their prevalence is approximately 15 per 10 000 births. In 2015, the Ministry of Health of Argentina created a national health care network for children with oral clefts in Argentina through the joint work with the National Registry of Congenital Anomalies (Red Nacional de Anomaliás Congénitas, RENAC) (coordinating center for the national network) and the SUMAR Program. The objective of this study was to describe the health care network and its preliminary outcomes. Population and methods. A total of 61 centers that provided a comprehensive treatment for oral clefts or in collaboration with other centers were identified and accredited. Maternity centers were connected with treating centers grouped in health care network nodes. Results. In the period between March 2015 and February 2016, 550 newborn infants who were exclusively covered by the public health care system were identified. Among these, 18% had a cleft lip; 62%, cleft lip and palate; and 20%, cleft palate only; 75% were isolated cases and 25%, in association with other congenital anomalies. Conclusion. Approximately 70% of children were assessed by a certified treating institution and are receiving treatment. The network seeks to improve data systematization, include the largest number of centers possible, strengthen interdisciplinary team work, and promote highquality standards for treatments.Fil: Cassinelli, Agustina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; ArgentinaFil: Pauselli, Nadia. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; ArgentinaFil: Piola, Agustina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; ArgentinaFil: Martinelli, Claudia. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Alves De Azevedo, José L.. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Bidondo, Mariá P.. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; ArgentinaFil: Groisman, Boris. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Barbero, Pablo Miguel. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; ArgentinaFil: Liascovich, Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Centro Nacional de Genética Médica; ArgentinaFil: Sala, Ana. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentin

SeaConditions: a web and mobile service for safer professional and recreational activities in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Reliable and timely information on the environmental conditions at sea is key to the safety of professional and recreational users as well as to the optimal execution of their activities. The possibility of users obtaining environmental information in due time and with adequate accuracy in the marine and coastal environment is defined as sea situational awareness (SSA). Without adequate information on the environmental meteorological and oceanographic conditions, users have a limited capacity to respond, which has led to loss of lives and to large environmental disasters with enormous consequent damage to the economy, society and ecosystems. Within the framework of the TESSA project, new SSA services for the Mediterranean Sea have been developed. In this paper we present SeaConditions, which is a web and mobile application for the provision of meteorological and oceanographic observation and forecasting products. Model forecasts and satellite products from operational services, such as ECMWF and CMEMS, can be visualized in SeaConditions. In addition, layers of information related to bathymetry, sea level and ocean-colour data (chl a and water transparency) are displayed. Ocean forecasts at high spatial resolutions are included in the version of SeaConditions presented here. SeaConditions provides a user-friendly experience with a fluid zoom capability, facilitating the appropriate display of data with different levels of detail. SeaConditions is a single point of access to interactive maps from different geophysical fields, providing high-quality information based on advanced oceanographic models. The SeaConditions services are available through both web and mobile applications. The web application is available at www.sea-conditions.com and is accessible and compatible with present-day browsers. Interoperability with GIS software is implemented. User feedback has been collected and taken into account in order to improve the service. The SeaConditions iOS and Android apps have been downloaded by more than 105 000 users to date (May 2016), and more than 100 000 users have visited the web version

Locus for severity implicates CNS resilience in progression of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that results in significant neurodegeneration in the majority of those affected and is a common cause of chronic neurological disability in young adults(1,2). Here, to provide insight into the potential mechanisms involved in progression, we conducted a genome-wide association study of the age-related MS severity score in 12,584 cases and replicated our findings in a further 9,805 cases. We identified a significant association with rs10191329 in the DYSF-ZNF638 locus, the risk allele of which is associated with a shortening in the median time to requiring a walking aid of a median of 3.7 years in homozygous carriers and with increased brainstem and cortical pathology in brain tissue. We also identified suggestive association with rs149097173 in the DNM3-PIGC locus and significant heritability enrichment in CNS tissues. Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a potential protective role for higher educational attainment. In contrast to immune-driven susceptibility(3), these findings suggest a key role for CNS resilience and potentially neurocognitive reserve in determining outcome in MS

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come