MBotCS: A mobile botnet detection system based on machine learning

As the use of mobile devices spreads dramatically, hackers have started making use of mobile botnets to steal user information or perform other malicious attacks. To address this problem, in this paper we propose a mobile botnet detection system, called MBotCS. MBotCS can detect mobile device traffic indicative of the presence of a mobile botnet based on prior training using machine learning techniques. Our approach has been evaluated using real mobile device traffic captured from Android mobile devices, running normal apps and mobile botnets. In the evaluation, we investigated the use of 5 machine learning classifier algorithms and a group of machine learning box algorithms with different validation schemes. We have also evaluated the effect of our approach with respect to its effect on the overall performance and battery consumption of mobile devices

When Models Interact with their Subjects: The Dynamics of Model Aware Systems

A scientific model need not be a passive and static descriptor of its subject. If the subject is affected by the model, the model must be updated to explain its affected subject. In this study, two models regarding the dynamics of model aware systems are presented. The first explores the behavior of "prediction seeking" (PSP) and "prediction avoiding" (PAP) populations under the influence of a model that describes them. The second explores the publishing behavior of a group of experimentalists coupled to a model by means of confirmation bias. It is found that model aware systems can exhibit convergent random or oscillatory behavior and display universal 1/f noise. A numerical simulation of the physical experimentalists is compared with actual publications of neutron life time and {\Lambda} mass measurements and is in good quantitative agreement.Comment: Accepted for publication in PLoS-ON

Leptin and resistin levels in serum of patients with hematologic malignancies: correlation with clinical characteristic

Aim:To evaluate leptin and resistin levels in patients with various hematologic malignancies. Methods: We included 21 patients with lymphoma, 14 with multiple myeloma (MM), 14 with acute leukemia, 13 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and 25 healthy control subjects into our study. The subjects’ body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated; hematological and acute phase response parameters, serum lipid were determined; serum leptin and resistin levels were determined by ELISA. Results: Serum leptin level was significantly increased in CLL and MM groups when compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Resistin level was significantly higher in lymphoma patients than in CLL, acute leukemia and control groups (p < 0.01). In the control group, leptin level was negatively correlated with hemoglobin level (r = –0.44, p = 0.047); and in all patients with hematologic malignancies, leptin level was correlated with BMI (r = 0.32, p = 0.02). Leptin in lymphoma subjects correlated with hemoglobin level (r = 0.64, p = 0.005), resistin level correlated with the platelet count in patients with hematologic malignancies (r = 0.26, p = 0.044). In addition, leptin level had negative correlations with international prognostic score (IPS) in Hodgkin lymphoma (r = –0.9, p = 0.002) and with international prognostic index (IPI) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r = –0.77, p = 0.03). In CLL patients, leptin level had a correlation with the poor prognostic marker — CD38 level (r = 0.68, p = 0.03). Conclusion: We found higher leptin levels in MM and CLL patients, and higher resistin levels in lymphoma patients: this fact demonstrates that changes in adipose tissue and metabolism occur in these disease states.Цель: определить уровни содержания лептина и резистина в сыворотке крови больных с различными онкогематологическими заболеваниями. Методы: обследован 21 больной лимфомой, 14 — множественной миеломой (ММ), 14 — острой лейкемией, 13 — хронической лимфоцитарной лейкемией (ХЛЛ), и 25 здоровых доноров. У пациентов определены такие характеристики: индекс массы тела (ИМТ), гематологические параметры, содержание липидов в сыворотке крови. Содержание лептина и резистина в сыворотке крови определяли иммуноферментным методом. Результаты: уровень лептина в сыворотке крови был значительно выше у больных с ХЛЛ и ММ, чем таковой у контрольной группы (р < 0,01). Уровень резистина был значительно выше в группе больных с лимфомами по сравнению с ХЛЛ, острой лейкемией и контрольной группами (р < 0,01). В контрольной группе уровень лептина отрицательно коррелировал с уровнем гемоглобина (r = –0,44, р = 0,047), а во всех группах больных уровень лептина коррелировал с ИМТ (r = 0,32, р = 0,02). Уровень лептина при лимфомах коррелировал с уровнем гемоглобина (r = 0,64, р = 0,005), уровень резистина коррелировал с количеством тромбоцитов у больных всех групп (r = 0,26, р = 0,044). При лимфоме Ходжкина выявлена отрицательная корреляция между уровнем лептина и величиной международной прогностической шкалы (r = -0,9, р = 0,002), при неходжкинской лимфоме — величиной международного прогностического индекса (r = –0,77, р = 0,03), у больных ХЛЛ — с уровнем экспрессии CD38 (r = 0,68, р = 0,03). Выводы: у больных ММ и ХЛЛ выявлен высокий уровень лептина, а с лимфомами — высокий уровень резистина: этот факт указывает на то, что у больных указанными онкогематологическими заболеваниями могут возникать изменения в структуре жировой ткани и обмене веществ

The renoprotective effects of mannitol and udenafil in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of udenafil and mannitol in an experimental renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury model.Materials and Methods: A total of 64 female Wister Albino rats were used. Right nephrectomy was performed in all groups. In the control group; I/R injury was not performed. In the I/R group; left renal pedicle was clamped for 45 minutes and then underwent 60 minutes and 24 hours of reperfusion. In the mannitol group; 1 mL 20% mannitol was given intravenously 15 minutes before clamping. In the udenafil group; 10-mg/kg udenafil was given orally 1 hour before clamping. Creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Cr clearance, malondialdehyde, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), histological examination and DNA damage (Comet Assay method) levels were compared in tissue, serum and urine samples.Results: Udenafil had a better protective effect than mannitol according to biochemical parameters (Cr, BUN, Cr clearance, and NGAL levels) and histopathological findings when compared with the I/R group. In the Comet sampling analysis no significant difference was detected.Conclusions: Udenafil has a better renoprotective effect than mannitol against I/R injury and this effect supports more functional improvements. Further clinical trials are needed to demonstrate those effects and clinical utility of udenafil for that purpose in humans

Vitamin e treatment enhances erythrocyte deformability in aged rats

The harmful effects of aging on blood rheology have been well known. These effects in the aging have been found to be associated with an increase in oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to seek whether treatment of vitamin E as a potent antioxidant could improve the age-related haemorheological abnormalities. For this purpose, male Wistar rats at the age of 3 and 24 months were used. The following parameters were evaluated: red blood cell (RBC) deformability, aggregation, plasma viscosity, vitamin E level, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI), and the following results were obtained. First, aging was associated with a decrease in RBC deformability and increase in RBC aggregation and plasma viscosity. Second, compared with the young group, while plasma TOS levels and OSI were found to be significantly increased in aged rats, there was no significant change in their plasma TAS level. Third, vitamin E administration produced significant improvement in RBC deformability and decrement in TOS and OSI values in aged rats with respect to young and aged control groups. We did not find any significant effect of vitamin E treatment on RBC aggregation in both young and aged rats and finally, we found a significantly lower plasma vitamin E level in aged rats than in young rats. In conclusion, these findings suggest that blood rheology impairs with age and vitamin E has ameliorating effects on age-induced haemorheological abnormalities especially in RBC deformability, probably by reducing the increased oxidative stress in old age

Defects and glassy dynamics in solid He-4: Perspectives and current status

We review the anomalous behavior of solid He-4 at low temperatures with particular attention to the role of structural defects present in solid. The discussion centers around the possible role of two level systems and structural glassy components for inducing the observed anomalies. We propose that the origin of glassy behavior is due to the dynamics of defects like dislocations formed in He-4. Within the developed framework of glassy components in a solid, we give a summary of the results and predictions for the effects that cover the mechanical, thermodynamic, viscoelastic, and electro-elastic contributions of the glassy response of solid He-4. Our proposed glass model for solid He-4 has several implications: (1) The anomalous properties of He-4 can be accounted for by allowing defects to freeze out at lowest temperatures. The dynamics of solid He-4 is governed by glasslike (glassy) relaxation processes and the distribution of relaxation times varies significantly between different torsional oscillator, shear modulus, and dielectric function experiments. (2) Any defect freeze-out will be accompanied by thermodynamic signatures consistent with entropy contributions from defects. It follows that such entropy contribution is much smaller than the required superfluid fraction, yet it is sufficient to account for excess entropy at lowest temperatures. (3) We predict a Cole-Cole type relation between the real and imaginary part of the response functions for rotational and planar shear that is occurring due to the dynamics of defects. Similar results apply for other response functions. (4) Using the framework of glassy dynamics, we predict low-frequency yet to be measured electro-elastic features in defect rich He-4 crystals. These predictions allow one to directly test the ideas and very presence of glassy contributions in He-4.Comment: 33 pages, 13 figure

The diagnostic accuracy of high b-value diffusion- and T2-weighted imaging for the detection of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) in combination for the detection of prostate cancer, specifically assessing the role of high b-values (> 1000 s/mm2), with a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing published data.  Methods: The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and OpenSIGLE were searched between inception and September 1, 2017. Eligible studies were those that reported the sensitivity and specificity of DWI and T2WI for the diagnosis of prostate cancer by visual assessment using a histopathologic reference standard. The QUADAS-2 critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. A meta-analysis with pooling of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood, and diagnostic odds ratios was undertaken, and a summary receiver-operating characteristics (sROC) curve was constructed. Predetermined subgroup analysis was also performed.  Results: Thirty-three studies were included in the final analysis, evaluating 2949 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.69 (95% CI 0.68–0.69) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.83–0.85), respectively, and the sROC AUC was 0.84 (95% CI 0.81–0.87). Subgroup analysis showed significantly better sensitivity with high b-values (> 1000 s/mm2). There was high statistical heterogeneity between studies.  Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy of combined DWI and T2WI is good with high b-values (> 1000 s/mm2) seeming to improve overall sensitivity while maintaining specificity. However, further large-scale studies specifically looking at b-value choice are required before a categorical recommendation can be made