Android source code vulnerability detection: a systematic literature review

The use of mobile devices is rising daily in this technological era. A continuous and increasing number of mobile applications are constantly offered on mobile marketplaces to fulfil the needs of smartphone users. Many Android applications do not address the security aspects appropriately. This is often due to a lack of automated mechanisms to identify, test, and fix source code vulnerabilities at the early stages of design and development. Therefore, the need to fix such issues at the initial stages rather than providing updates and patches to the published applications is widely recognized. Researchers have proposed several methods to improve the security of applications by detecting source code vulnerabilities and malicious codes. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) focuses on Android application analysis and source code vulnerability detection methods and tools by critically evaluating 118 carefully selected technical studies published between 2016 and 2022. It highlights the advantages, disadvantages, applicability of the proposed techniques and potential improvements of those studies. Both Machine Learning (ML) based methods and conventional methods related to vulnerability detection are discussed while focusing more on ML-based methods since many recent studies conducted experiments with ML. Therefore, this paper aims to enable researchers to acquire in-depth knowledge in secure mobile application development while minimizing the vulnerabilities by applying ML methods. Furthermore, researchers can use the discussions and findings of this SLR to identify potential future research and development directions

Electrophysiological correlates of respiratory failure in acute organophosphate poisoning: Evidence for differential roles of muscarinic and nicotinic stimulation

Background. Respiratory failure in acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning can occur early and also relatively late in the clinical course, and the pathophysiology of respiratory failure at these different phases may have important clinical implications. Objective. To compare the electrophysiological findings in patients with early and late respiratory failure following acute OP poisoning. Methods. A prospective observational case series of consenting symptomatic patients with acute OP poisoning were assessed with daily physical examinations and repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) studies. RNS was done on right and left median and ulnar nerves at 1, 3, 10, 15, 20, and 30 Hz. Outcomes such as need for ventilation and development of intermediate syndrome (IMS) were noted. Early respiratory failure was defined as occurring within 24 hours of ingestion. Results. Seventy-eight patients were recruited for the clinical and electrophysiological study and of those 59 (75.6%) patients had ingested chlorpyrifos. Seven patients developed respiratory failure within 24 hours of ingestion with overt muscarinic signs. They had no electrophysiological abnormalities at median and ulnar nerves before intubation. Three of them later developed “forme fruste” IMS. Five other patients developed late respiratory failure after 24 hours of ingestion, and all of them showed progressive RNS changes indicating severe IMS prior to intubation. Conclusion. The normal RNS in all patients developing early respiratory failure suggests that it is due to a central nervous system (CNS) and muscarinic effect. This emphasizes the need for early rapid atropinisation as a priority, combating the nicotinic effects being less urgent. This is in contrast with the late respiratory failure, which has been shown to be associated with neuromuscular dysfunction. Further studies are needed to quantify CNS and muscarinic dysfunction to assist in the development of better treatments for the severe and early OP poisoning

Association of endometriosis and p53 gene codon 72 polymorphism in a group of Sri Lankan women

Objectives: To evaluate the association between endometriosis and the p53 gene polymorphism in a group of Sri Lankan women.Methods: A case control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital where women with endometriosis (N=25) were compared with women without endometriosis (N=25), both confirmed by laparoscopy or laparotomy. Genotype distribution of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism was analyzed by allele specific polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Allele frequency was compared using chi square test to determine the association.Results: Allele frequencies of the three p53 genotypes, Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro in the study population (26%, 60% and 14% respectively) conformed with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.155) in the frequency of proline allele between the cases and controls {odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 0.83- 2.73)}. However among the women with endometriosis the proline allele frequency was 36.7% in stage IV and 50% in stage III compared to 25% and 16.7% respectively in stages II and I.Conclusions: In this group of Sri Lankan women, p53 codon 72 polymorphism was not associated with endometriosis although a higher frequency of proline allele was observed in advanced stages of the disease.

Characterisation and evaluation of paramagnetic fluorine labelled glycol chitosan conjugates for 19F and 1H magnetic resonance imaging

Medium molecular weight glycol chitosan conjugates have been prepared, linked by an amide bond to paramagnetic Gd(III), Ho(III) and Dy(III) macrocyclic complexes in which a trifluoromethyl reporter group is located 6.5 Å from the paramagnetic centre. The faster relaxation of the observed nucleus allows modified pulse sequences to be used with shorter acquisition times. The polydisperse materials have been characterised by gel permeation chromatography, revealing an average molecular weight on the order of 13,800 (Gd), 14,600 (Dy) and 16,200 (Ho), consistent with the presence of 8.5, 9.5 and 13 complexes, respectively. The gadolinium conjugate was prepared for both a q = 1 monoamide tricarboxylate conjugate (r 1p 11.2 mM−1 s−1, 310 K, 1.4 T) and a q = 0 triphosphinate system, and conventional contrast-enhanced proton MRI studies at 7 T were undertaken in mice bearing an HT-29 or an HCT-116 colorectal tumour xenograft (17 μmol/kg). Enhanced contrast was observed following injection in the tail vein in tumour tissue, with uptake also evident in the liver and kidney with a tumour-to-liver ratio of 2:1 at 13 min, and large amounts in the kidney and bladder consistent with predominant renal clearance. Parallel experiments observing the 19F resonance in the holmium conjugate complex using a surface coil did not succeed owing to its high R 2 value (750 Hz, 7 T). However, the fluorine signal in the dysprosium triphosphinate chitosan conjugate [R 1/R 2 = 0.6 and R 1 = 145 Hz (7 T)] was sharper and could be observed in vivo at −65.7 ppm, following intravenous tail vein injection of a dose of 34 μmol/kg

Identification of Highly Selective Surface Pathways for Methane Dry Reforming Using Mechanochemical Synthesis of Pd-CeO2

The methane dry reforming (DRM) reaction mechanism was explored via mechanochemically prepared Pd/CeO2 catalysts (PdAcCeO2M), which yield unique Pd-Ce interfaces, where PdAcCeO2M has a distinct reaction mechanism and higher reactivity for DRM relative to traditionally synthesized impregnated Pd/CeO2 (PdCeO2IW). In situ characterization and density functional theory calculations revealed that the enhanced chemistry of PdAcCeO2M can be attributed to the presence of a carbon-modified Pd0 and Ce4+/3+ surface arrangement, where distinct Pd-CO intermediate species and strong Pd-CeO2 interactions are activated and sustained exclusively under reaction conditions. This unique arrangement leads to highly selective and distinct surface reaction pathways that prefer the direct oxidation of CHx to CO, identified on PdAcCeO2M using isotope labeled diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and highlighting linear Pd-CO species bound on metallic and C-modified Pd, leading to adsorbed HCOO [1595 cm-1] species as key DRM intermediates, stemming from associative CO2 reduction. The milled materials contrast strikingly with surface processes observed on IW samples (PdCeO2IW) where the competing reverse water gas shift reaction predominates

Location and content of counselling and acceptance of postpartum IUD in Sri Lanka

Background: The immediate postpartum IUD (PPIUD) is a long-acting, reversible method of contraception that can be used safely and effectively following a birth. To appropriately facilitate the immediate postpartum insertion of IUDs, women must be informed of the method’s availability and must be counselled on its benefits and risks prior to entering the delivery room. We examine the relationship between the location and quality of antenatal counselling and women’s acceptance of immediate postpartum IUD (PPIUD) in four hospitals in Sri Lanka. Methods: Data were collected between January 2015 and May 2015. Modified Poisson regressions with robust standard errors are used to assess the relationships between place of counselling, indicators of counselling quality, and PPIUD uptake following delivery. Results: We find that women who were counselled in hospital antenatal clinics and admission wards were much more likely to have a PPIUD inserted than women who were counselled in field clinics or during home visits. Hospital-based counselling had higher quality indicators for providing information on PPIUD, and women were more likely to receive PPIUD information leaflets in hospital locations than in lower-tiered clinics or during home visits. Women who were counselled at hospital locations also reported a higher level of satisfaction with the counselling that they received. Receipt of hospital-based counselling was also linked to higher PPIUD uptake, in spite of the fact that women were more likely to be given information about the risks and alternatives to PPIUD in hospitals. The information about the risks of and alternatives to PPIUD, whether provided in hospital or in non-hospital settings, tended to lower the likelihood of acceptance to have a PPIUD insertion. Counselling in hospital admission wards was focused on women who had not been counselled at field clinics. Conclusions: The study findings call for efforts that improve the training of midwives who provide PPIUD counselling at field clinics and during the home visits. We also recommend that routine PPIUD counselling be conducted in hospitals, even if women have already been counselled elsewhere

A Cross-Sectional Study of People with Epilepsy and Neurocysticercosis in Tanzania: Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Approaches.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a major cause of epilepsy in regions where pigs are free-ranging and hygiene is poor. Pork production is expected to increase in the next decade in sub-Saharan Africa, hence NCC will likely become more prevalent. In this study, people with epilepsy (PWE, n=212) were followed up 28.6 months after diagnosis of epilepsy. CT scans were performed, and serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of selected PWE were analysed. We compared the demographic data, clinical characteristics, and associated risk factors of PWE with and without NCC. PWE with NCC (n=35) were more likely to be older at first seizure (24.3 vs. 16.3 years, p=0.097), consumed more pork (97.1% vs. 73.6%, p=0.001), and were more often a member of the Iraqw tribe (94.3% vs. 67.8%, p=0.005) than PWE without NCC (n=177). PWE and NCC who were compliant with anti-epileptic medications had a significantly higher reduction of seizures (98.6% vs. 89.2%, p=0.046). Other characteristics such as gender, seizure frequency, compliance, past medical history, close contact with pigs, use of latrines and family history of seizures did not differ significantly between the two groups. The number of NCC lesions and active NCC lesions were significantly associated with a positive antibody result. The electroimmunotransfer blot, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was more sensitive than a commercial western blot, especially in PWE and cerebral calcifications. This is the first study to systematically compare the clinical characteristics of PWE due to NCC or other causes and to explore the utility of two different antibody tests for diagnosis of NCC in sub-Saharan Africa

The Spectrum of Intermediate Syndrome Following Acute Organophosphate Poisoning: A Prospective Cohort Study from Sri Lanka

Jayawardane and colleagues evaluate a cohort of 78 patients with organophosphate poisoning from Sri Lanka, and identify changes in repetitive nerve stimulation that precede, and may help predict, the onset of intermediate syndrome