Generation of a dataset for network intrusion detection in a real 5G environment

Abstract. As 5G technology is widely implemented on a global scale, both the complexity of networks and the amount of data created have exploded. Future mobile networks will incorporate artificial intelligence as a crucial enabler for intelligent wireless communications, closed-loop network optimization, and big data analytics. In these future mobile networks, network security would be of the utmost importance, as many applications expect a higher level of network security from the networking infrastructure. Therefore, conventional procedures in which action is taken following the detection of an attack would be insufficient, and self-adaptive intelligent security systems would be required. This paves the door for AI-based network security strategies in the future. In AI-based security research, the lack of comprehensive, valid datasets is a persistent issue. Publicly accessible data sets are either obsolete or insufficient for 5G security research. In addition, mobile network providers are hesitant to share actual network datasets due to privacy issues. Hence, a genuine data set from a real network is extremely beneficial to AI-based network security research. This study will describe the creation of a genuine dataset containing several attack scenarios implemented on a real 5G network with real mobile users. Since a fully operational 5G network is utilized to generate the data, this dataset is characterized by its close resemblance to real-world situations. In addition, data is collected from multiple base stations and made available as independent datasets for federated learning-based research to build a global model of intelligence for the entire network. The obtained data will be processed to identify the optimal features, and the accuracy of intrusion detection will be validated using several common machine learning and neural network models such as Decision Tree, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbor, Support Vector Machines and Multi Layer Perceptron. A detailed analysis of a binary classification to detect malicious and non-malicious flows as well as a multi class classification to detect different attack types is presented

Stock Price Reaction to the Stock Splits Announcement of Listed Companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange

A stock split is a corporate event that directly impacts the number of a company’s shares and indirectly on stock prices. This study tests the effect of the stock splits on the share price of companies listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange during the periods of pre and post stock split announcement in accordance with the Efficient Market Hypothesis. The main objective of this paper is to identify the overall impact of a stock split announcement on stock prices. This study analyses 88 annual stock splits during the ten (10) year period from 2009 to 2019 by taking the listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange into consideration. It uses the event study methodology to test the market efficiency of the Colombo Stock Exchange, and the market model is run with the aid of abnormal returns, which are calculated based on daily closing stock prices and the All-Share Price Index. For analysing the results, the graphical analysis and t statistics have been utilized. According to the event day average abnormal return, the majority of stock splits were more negative than positive with a significant t value at 5% by indicating that investors were taking the stock split announcement as bad news just after the split announcement was released. Each day with a significant Average Abnormal Return shows more positives than negatives. Graphical results have shown both Average Abnormal Return, and Cumulative Average Abnormal Return has remained continuously negative up to 18 and 25 days, respectively, by implicating that stock splits have made a deleterious impact on stock return. This study finally concludes that the information regarding the stock splits has not been absorbed efficiently by the market because the market reactions before and after the date of the split announcement were significant at 5%, although the Average Abnormal Return got a quick reaction to the announcement. Furthermore, results had not provided evidence for Semi-Strong Form efficiency of the Colombo Stock Exchange since the significant stock price adjustments before and after the event day was noticed. By this study, the policymakers and investors are convinced that all information has not been incorporated into stock prices in making their decisions. Keywords: Efficient market hypothesis; Event study methodology; Signalling theory; Sri Lanka; Stock split

Relationship Between the Likelihood of Reporting Adverse Events Among Nursing Officers and Their Perceptions on Identified Barriers and Enablers for Reporting

In order to improve patient safety in hospital setups, learning from previous errors is important. Therefore the institute should have adequate data on adverse events which have occurred in their settings. The way of gathering those data is Adverse Event Reporting. The objective of this study was to measure the relationship between the likelihood of reporting adverse events by Nursing Officers in Medical, Surgical, Paediatric, Gynaecology and Obstetrics wards in the Teaching Hospital, Kandy and their perception on selected barriers and enablers, as identified in literature, for adverse event reporting. This was a quantitative study, and the study instrument was a validated self-administered questionnaire with a six point likert scale. Nursing officers working in Medical, Surgical, Paediatric, Gynaecology and Obstetrics wards in the Teaching Hospital, Kandy were the study population. The whole population was taken to this study as it is below the calculated sample size. Correlations between the likelihood of reporting adverse events was measured with the participants’ perceptions on  their training on adverse event reporting, leadership, feedback received for reported adverse events, knowledge on adverse event reporting, presence of culture of blame and the existing process of adverse event reporting. The response rate for the questionnaire was 69% (n=277).There was statistically significant positive moderate correlation between the participants’ likelihood of incident reporting and their perception on the process of reporting an adverse event (r = 0.591). Their perceptions on leadership (r = 0.472), perceived knowledge on incident reporting (r = 0.462), perception on feedback received for reported incidents (r = 0.438), perceived training received for incident reporting (r = 0.378) and the perception of the presence of culture of blame (r = 0.164) showed weak positive correlations with their likelihood of reporting adverse events. Simplification of the process of adverse event reporting can be recommended to improve incident reporting in these selected wards in the Teaching Hospital, Kandy

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceived Barriers Towards Evidence-based Practice Among Government Sector Physiotherapists in Sri Lanka

Introduction: Implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) is beneficial for the patients as they can receive the best available treatment while improving the reputation of the profession. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers towards EBP among physiotherapists serving in Sri Lankan government hospitals. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a convenient sampling method among 264 physiotherapists in thirty-nine government hospitals in Sri Lanka between 18th November 2019 and 23rd December 2019. A pre-tested, validated, and self-administered questionnaire with twenty-six items was categorized into four main parts. These included demographic data of the participants (seven items), their knowledge (six items), attitudes (five items), and perceived barriers towards EBP (eight items). The responses under attitudes and knowledge sections were scored using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0-4, with higher scores indicating favourable results. Based on the sum of marks obtained for the attitude part, subjects were categorized as; negative (0-7), neutral (8-15), and positive (16-24) attitudes. Based on the sum of the marks obtained for the knowledge part, subjects were categorized as; poor (0-6), average (7-13), and good (14-20) knowledge. Data analysis was done using the statistical software Minitab version 2018. Results: Among the participants, 1.5% had a poor level of knowledge, 22.7% had an average level of knowledge, and 75.8% had good knowledge regarding EBP. Attitudes toward EBP were positive among 87.9% of participants while 11.7% had neutral attitudes, and 0.4% had negative attitudes. The common perceived barriers to practice EBP were, lack of time, research skills, information resources, and interest towards EBP. Conclusion: A selected sample of government physiotherapists in Sri Lanka had positive attitudes and good knowledge towards EBP and are inclined to incorporate evidence into their clinical practice. Keywords: Evidence-based practice, Physiotherapists, Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, Implementatio

Potentiality of benthic dinoflagellate cultures and screening of their bioactivities in Jeju Island, Korea

Eleven strains of benthic dinoflagellates (Amphidinium carterae (D1), Prorocentrum rhathymum (D2),Symbiodinium sp. (D3), Coolia malayensis 1 (D4), Ostreopsis ovata 1 (D5), Ostreopsis ovata 2 (D6),Coolia malayensis 2 (D7), Amphidinium operculatum 1 (D8), Heterocapsa psammophila (D9), Cooliamalayensis 3 (D10) and Amphidinium operculatum 2 (D11)) were collected in Jeju Island, Korea and cultured in 20 L carboys after establishing unialgal cultures. Their growth potential and biomass productivity were evaluated using two different culture media (IMK and f/2 medium); it was found thatIMK medium has the potential to culture benthic dinoflagellates compared to commonly used f/2 medium. Among the benthic dinoflagellates, A. carterae (D1) had the maximum cell density (148.6 × 103 cells mL-1), growth rate (0.317 ± 0.01 divisions day-1) and biomass (0.260 ± 0.03 g L-1 dry weight) in IMK medium at 20 days of culture. Also, screened bioactivities among the methanolic extracts of cultured dinoflagellates showed A. carterae (D1) to have the highest antioxidant and  anti-inflammatory effect and O. ovata 1 (D5) had the highest anticancer activity compared to the other strains. Taken together, this is the first report on the growth potential and biomass production of benthic dinoflagellate strains isolated from Jeju Island in appropriate culture medium as well as their importance in potential pharmacological applications.Key words: Amphidinium carterae, benthic dinoflagellates, biomass, bioactivities, culture conditions, Jeju Island

Redox-Induced Src Kinase and Caveolin-1 Signaling in TGF-β1-Initiated SMAD2/3 Activation and PAI-1 Expression

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a major regulator of the plasmin-based pericellular proteolytic cascade, is significantly increased in human arterial plaques contributing to vessel fibrosis, arteriosclerosis and thrombosis, particularly in the context of elevated tissue TGF-β1. Identification of molecular events underlying to PAI-1 induction in response to TGF-β1 may yield novel targets for the therapy of cardiovascular disease.Reactive oxygen species are generated within 5 minutes after addition of TGF-β1 to quiescent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) resulting in pp60(c-src) activation and PAI-1 expression. TGF-β1-stimulated Src kinase signaling sustained the duration (but not the initiation) of SMAD3 phosphorylation in VSMC by reducing the levels of PPM1A, a recently identified C-terminal SMAD2/3 phosphatase, thereby maintaining SMAD2/3 in an active state with retention of PAI-1 transcription. The markedly increased PPM1A levels in triple Src kinase (c-Src, Yes, Fyn)-null fibroblasts are consistent with reductions in both SMAD3 phosphorylation and PAI-1 expression in response to TGF-β1 compared to wild-type cells. Activation of the Rho-ROCK pathway was mediated by Src kinases and required for PAI-1 induction in TGF-β1-stimulated VSMCs. Inhibition of Rho-ROCK signaling blocked the TGF-β1-mediated decrease in nuclear PPM1A content and effectively attenuated PAI-1 expression. TGF-β1-induced PAI-1 expression was undetectable in caveolin-1-null cells, correlating with the reduced Rho-GTP loading and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation evident in TGF-β1-treated caveolin-1-deficient cells relative to their wild-type counterparts. Src kinases, moreover, were critical upstream effectors of caveolin-1(Y14) phosphoryation and initiation of downstream signaling.TGF-β1-initiated Src-dependent caveolin-1(Y14) phosphorylation is a critical event in Rho-ROCK-mediated suppression of nuclear PPM1A levels maintaining, thereby, SMAD2/3-dependent transcription of the PAI-1 gene

Thin-Walled Cylindrical Shell Storage Tank under Blast Impacts: Finite Element Analysis

Thin-walled cylindrical shell storage tanks are pressure vessels in which the walls of the vessel have a thickness that is much smaller than the overall size of the vessel. These types of structures have global applications in various industries, including oil refineries and petrochemical plants. However, these storage tanks are vulnerable to fire and explosions. Therefore, a parametric study using numerical simulation was carried out, considering the internal liquid level, wall thickness, material yield strength, constraint conditions, and blast intensity, with a diameter of 100 m and height of 22.5 m under different blast loads using the finite element analysis method. The thickness of the tank wall is varied as 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm, while the fill level of internal fluid is varied as 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The blast simulation was conducted using LS-DYNA software. The numerical results are then compared with analytical results. The effects of blast intensity, standoff distance, wall thickness, and fill level of internal fluid on the structural behaviour of the storage tank were investigated and discussed.publishedVersio

Finite Element Analysis of Steel Plates with Rectangular Openings Subjected to Axial Stress

Steel plates with openings are among the important ship structural components used in the ship’s hull to withstand the hydrostatic forces of the ocean, which cause sagging and hogging moments at the ship’s bottom. The existence of openings on plates can cause structural rupture, stress concentration and a decrease in ultimate strength. This research is aimed at investigating the influence of selected parameters on the ultimate capacity of steel plates with rectangular holes subjected to axial stress, using ANSYS finite element analysis (FEA) under its non-linear static structural programme. The main parameters investigated in this paper are the plate thickness, opening aspect ratio, number of openings, position of openings, and the boundary condition of the plate. The influence of these parameters on the stress of plates and their deformation was evaluated. The comparison of the numerical simulation with the well-established analytical method using the Navier solution and Roark’s Formulas showed a good agreement.Finite Element Analysis of Steel Plates with Rectangular Openings Subjected to Axial StresspublishedVersio