Trust Model System for the Energy Grid of Things Network Communications

Network communication is crucial in the Energy Grid of Things (EGoT). Without a network connection, the energy grid becomes just a power grid where the energy resources are available to the customer uni-directionally. A mechanism to analyze and optimize the energy usage of the grid can only happen through a medium, a communications network, that enables information exchange between the grid participants and the service provider. Security implementers of EGoT network communication take extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of the energy grid, a critical infrastructure, as well as the safety and privacy of the grid participants. With the dynamic nature of network communication of the EGoT, the information provided by the customer or the service provider can be falsified by a malicious attacker. Therefore, a trust model is necessary to monitor any abnormal activities. This paper describes a distributed trust model system that meets the need of the EGoT. This paper describes methods for evaluating and improving the distributed trust model using standard hypothesis testing metrics such as true positive, false positive, true negative, false negative, equal error rate, and F1 score. Example calculations are shown based on generated sample data

Product Specification: Distributed Trust Model System (DOE-PSU-0000922-4)

A Distributed Trust Model (DTM) System is a supervisory component within an energy grid of things. The role of a DTM System is to implement the trust aspects of an energy services interface. The DTM System augments existing security measures by monitoring the communication between the various EGoT System actors and quantifying metrics of trust of each actor

The Distributed Trust Model Applied to the Energy Grid of Things

Electric power system operators can manage distribution system utilization and usage by coordinating end customer usage of distributed energy resources. The end customers in this regard are Service Provisioning Customers, who provide their energy resources to a Grid Service Provider, which in turn dispatches large aggregations of distributed energy resources to provide reliable service to the power system. The security of this system relies upon information protection mechanisms, as described in IEEE 2030.5. However, in addition to preventive security measures, a monitoring function is required to ensure trustworthiness. Trust models are a method to detect and respond to both expected and unexpected behavior. Different trust models are required for various types and characteristics of each situation. This thesis describes the topics that must be considered when developing a trust model as it applies to distributed energy resources. This thesis also provide the creation and application of a Distributed Trust Model applied to distributed energy resources. A key feature of Distributed Trust Model is to evaluate and alert an authority of any abnormalities. The decision to send an alert at the right time is critical to avoid possible disasters caused by intruders of the communication system. Major contributions of this thesis are to introduce a method for the Distributed Trust Model(DTM) to set the correct thresholds to send alerts at the appropriate times and evaluate the specified threshold values. Additionally, a method is defined to assess the decision-making equations that send those alerts. Overall, the hypothesis tool can provide the statistical probability of failing to send an alert or false alerts based on the selected threshold. The hypothesis analysis provided by this tool helps a decision maker to understand statistical impacts of a specific threshold

Data From: The Distributed Trust Model Applied to the Energy Grid of Things

These files support research on the Distributed Trust Model’s (DTM) Hypothesis Tool analyzes Metric Vector of Trust (MVoT) data. The DTM Hypothesis Tool is developed using Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 (64-bit). This tool helps set correct thresholds to send alerts at the appropriate times, helps evaluate the equations used for sending those alerts, and helps assess MVoT equations. In addition, the DTM Hypothesis Tool helps analyze the effect of the error rate for a selected threshold that determines when to send alerts.This tool allows users to adjust and choose the preferred threshold value with their liking of error rate probability. In addition, this tool enables the user to understand how effective the decision-making equations consist of thresholds. It also helps the user determine the initial set of MVoT equations is appropriate or needs changing. The dataset supports a Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering thesis, the Distributed Trust Model Applied to the Energy Grid of Things. The dataset supports a Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering thesis, The Distributed Trust Model Applied to the Energy Grid of Things. Thesis Advisor: John M. Acken, Ph.

Ion Transport Modulators as Antimycobacterial Agents

There is an urgent need for better and safer therapeutic interventions for tuberculosis (TB). We assessed the effects of FDA-approved ion transport modulators, namely, ambroxol HCl, amiloride HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), metformin, omeprazole, pantoprazole, phenytoin, verapamil, and drug X and Y on the growth of free and intracellular Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Free and intracellular M. bovis BCG were cultured in the presence or absence of the test drugs for 3 to 9 days and then quantified. For both free and intracellular bacteria, cultures that were exposed to furosemide, phenytoin, or drug Y yielded lower bacteria counts compared to drug-free controls (p<0.05). The same was observed with diazoxide, HCTZ, verapamil, and drug X, but only for intracellular M. bovis BCG (p<0.05). To assess the effects of the drugs on bactericidal activity of rifampicin, free and intracellular M. bovis BCG were treated with rifampicin alone or in combination with each of the thirteen test drugs for 3 to 9 days. For extracellular bacteria, higher bacteria clearance rates were observed in cultures exposed to rifampicin in combination with amiloride HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, HCTZ, metformin, pantoprazole, phenytoin, drug X, or drug Y than those exposed to rifampicin alone, indicating that rifampicin had a synergistic effect with these test drugs. Rifampicin was also synergistic with ambroxol HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, HCTZ, omeprazole, pantoprazole, phenytoin, verapamil, and drug X against intracellular M. bovis BCG. The antimycobacterial properties exhibited by the ion transport modulators in this study make them viable candidates as adjuncts to the current anti-TB regimens

Ion Transport Modulators Differentially Modulate Inflammatory Responses in THP-1-Derived Macrophages

Ion transport modulators are most commonly used to treat various noncommunicable diseases including diabetes and hypertension. They are also known to bind to receptors on various immune cells, but the immunomodulatory properties of most ion transport modulators have not been fully elucidated. We assessed the effects of thirteen FDA-approved ion transport modulators, namely, ambroxol HCl, amiloride HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, omeprazole, pantoprazole, phenytoin, verapamil, drug X, and drug Y on superoxide production, nitric oxide production, and cytokine expression by THP-1-derived macrophages that had been stimulated with ethanol-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Ambroxol HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, pantoprazole, phenytoin, verapamil, and drug Y had an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production, while all the test drugs had an inhibitory effect on superoxide production. Amiloride HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, phenytoin, verapamil, drug X, and drug Y enhanced the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α. Unlike most immunomodulatory compounds currently in clinical use, most of the test drugs inhibited some inflammatory processes while promoting others. Ion pumps and ion channels could therefore serve as targets for more selective immunomodulatory agents which do not cause overt immunosuppression

Preliminary study on the effect of Munronia pinnata (Wall) Theob. (Meliaceae) aqueous extract on functional change in endothelial cells infected by dengue virus

Infection of endothelial cells (ECs) and their dysfunction has been implicated in the immunopathogenesis leading to severity in dengue virus (DENV) disease and rationalize the therapeutic targeting of the endothelium. Munronia pinnata is a rare medicinal plant which is commonly used to treat fever in traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of aqueous plant extract (APE) of M. pinnata on the interaction between DENV-3 and ECs in inducing any changes. The effect of DENV-3 on metabolic activity of ECs was evaluated by using MTT. The effect of APE of M. pinnata on interaction between DENV-3 and ECs was assessed in three different ways to determine the potential of M. pinnata to protect the endothelial cells in a dengue infection; i) pre-treatment of DENV-3 with APE on ECs, ii) sequential treatment of DENV-3 followed by APE on ECs and iii) sequential treatment of APE followed by DENV-3 on ECs. A 49.8% reduction of EC viability was recorded following interaction with DENV-3 as opposed to that in the absence of DENV-3 (p < 0.001). A significant protection of ECs was observed at almost all concentrations of APE in treatment strategies. Interestingly, an increased significant protection was observed during the pre-treatment of DENV-3 with APE prior to the interaction with ECs (lowest p = 0.0003), and highest protection of EC at 15.6 and 31.3 µg/mL of APE (p < 0.0001). The present study suggests that the APE of M. pinnata exhibits an antiviral effect against DENV-3 by protecting the metabolic activity of ECs. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanism of the direct inhibitory activity of M. pinnata against DENVs and to characterize the active compounds in the origin of its efficacy

Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in an endemic mixed urban and semi-urban setting-A community-based study in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Leptospirosis is endemic in Sri Lanka. There is a need for updated seroprevalence studies in endemic areas, to improve the understanding of disease dynamics, risk factors, control methods, and for clinical diagnosis. The cut-off titres for the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for diagnosis of acute leptospirosis depend on community seroprevalence, and can vary based on locality and serovar. This study aimed to identify the seroprevalence, geographical determinants, and associations of seropositivity of leptospirosis in the district of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and to determine diagnostic cut-off titres for MAT in the community studied. This study utilized a stratified cluster sampling model in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka, to sample individuals living in urban and semi-urban areas. Serovar specific MAT titres were measured on recruited individuals using a panel of saprophytic (Leptospira biflexa) and 11 pathogenic Leptospira spp. serovars. Associations between environmental risk factors and MAT positivity were examined, with location mapping using GIS software. A total of 810 individuals were included. The mean age was 51.71 years (SD 14.02) with male predominance (60%). A total of 429 (53%) tested positive at a titer of 1/40 or more for the saprophytic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc. Pathogenic serovar MAT was positive at a titer of 1/40 or more for at least one serovar in 269 (33.2%) individuals. From the perspective of screening for clinical disease, serovar-specific cut-off titres of 1/80 for Leptospira spp. serovars Hebdomadis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Ratnapura and Patoc, 1/160 for serovars Pyrogenes and Cynopteri, and 1/40 for other serovars were determined, based on the 75th quartile MAT titre for each serovar. Serovar Pyrogenes (15.9%) had the highest seroprevalence, with serovars Ratnapura, Bankinang and Australis accounting for 9.9%, 9.6% and 9.3% respectively. When the proposed new cut-offs were applied, Bankinang(9.6%) Australis(9.3%), Pyrogenes(6.9%) and Ratnapura(6.9%) were the most prevalent serovars. No significant differences in seroprevalence or serovar patterns were noted between urban and semi-urban settings. Individuals seropositive for Australis, Ratnapura and Icterohaemorrhagiae were clustered around main water bodies as well as around smaller tributaries and paddy fields. Those positive for the serovar Pyrogenes were clustered around inland tributaries, smaller water sources and paddy fields. Associations of MAT positivity included high risk occupational exposure, environmental exposure including exposure to floods, bathing in rivers and lakes, using well-water for bathing, contact with stagnant water, propensity to skin injuries, presence of rats in the vicinity, and proximity to water sources. For pathogenic serovars, high-risk occupational exposure remained statistically significant following adjustment for other factors (adjusted OR = 2.408, CI 1.711 to 3.388; p<0.0001; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.546). High risk occupational exposure was determined to be independently associated with seropositivity. Baseline community MAT titres vary according to serovar, and presumably the locality. Testing against saprophytic serovars is unreliable. Thus, diagnostic MAT titre cut-offs should be determined based on region and serovar, and the use of a single diagnostic MAT cut-off for all populations is likely to result in false negatives

Changes in full blood count parameters in leptospirosis: a prospective study

Background: Leptospirosis presents diagnostic challenges to clinicians, in settings where other acute febrile illness are prevalent. The patterns of serial changes in haematological parameters in leptospirosis has not been evaluated previously. Methods. Clinical and laboratory data were collected prospectively from patients with leptospirosis in two hospitals in Sri Lanka. Leptospirosis was diagnosed based on WHO clinical criteria with confirmation using Microscopic Agglutination Test titre > 400 or 4 fold rise between acute and convalescent samples. Full blood count parameters were analysed up to the 14th day of illness. Results: Data from 201 patients with leptospirosis were available. Leukocyte counts and absolute neutrophil counts showed a decline over the first 5 days of illness, then rose until the end of the second week. On day 3 of fever, the majority (75%) had normal leukocyte counts, and by day 5, leukocytosis was seen only in 38.1%; leucopenia was an uncommon finding. Lymphopenia was seen in over half on day 5, declining to just under a quarter of patients by day 10. Platelets declined over the first 6 days and then gradually rose. Thrombocytopenia was seen in nearly three-fourths of patients by day 5. Haemoglobin and haematocrit levels declined over the course of illness. Total white cell and neutrophil counts were higher, and haemoglobin and haematorcrit were significantly lower, in patients with severe disease. Conclusions: Neither leukocytosis nor lymphopenia were prominent features, while thrombocytopenia was seen during the 3rd to 5th day of illness, with dropping haemoglobin levels. Neutrophilia and low haemoglobin levels appear to predict severe disease. These findings may be of use to clinicians in differentiating leptospirosis from other acute infections like dengue, and could help in predicting severe leptospirosis. © 2014 De Silva et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd