599 research outputs found
Betrayed by the Guardian: Security and Privacy Risks of Parental Control Solutions
For parents of young children and adolescents, the digital age has introduced
many new challenges, including excessive screen time, inappropriate online
content, cyber predators, and cyberbullying. To address these challenges, many
parents rely on numerous parental control solutions on different platforms,
including parental control network devices (e.g., WiFi routers) and software
applications on mobile devices and laptops. While these parental control
solutions may help digital parenting, they may also introduce serious security
and privacy risks to children and parents, due to their elevated privileges and
having access to a significant amount of privacy-sensitive data. In this paper,
we present an experimental framework for systematically evaluating security and
privacy issues in parental control software and hardware solutions. Using the
developed framework, we provide the first comprehensive study of parental
control tools on multiple platforms including network devices, Windows
applications, Chrome extensions and Android apps. Our analysis uncovers
pervasive security and privacy issues that can lead to leakage of private
information, and/or allow an adversary to fully control the parental control
solution, and thereby may directly aid cyberbullying and cyber predators
Application of PSO to Design UPFC-based Stabilizers
Today, power demand grows rapidly and expansion in transmission and generation is restricted with the limited availability of resources and the strict environmental constraints. Consequently, power systems are today much more loaded than before. In addition, interconnection between remotely located power systems turned out to be a common practice. These give rise to low frequency oscillations in the range of 0.1-3.0 Hz. If not well damped, these oscillations may keep growing in magnitude until loss of synchronism results. Power system stabilizers (PSSs) have been used in the last few decades to serve the purpose of enhancing power system damping to low frequency oscillations. PSSs have proved to be efficient in performing their assigned tasks. The objective of this chapter is to investigate the potential of particle swarm optimization as a tool in designing UPFC-based stabilizers to improve power system transient stability. To estimate the controllability of each of the UPFC control signals on the electromechanical modes, singular value decomposition is employed. The problem of designing all the UPFCbased stabilizers individually is formulated as an optimization problem. Particle swarm optimizer is utilized to search for the optimum stabilizer parameter settings that optimize a given objective function. Coordinated design of the different stabilizers is also carried out by finding the best parameter settings for more than one stabilizer at a given operating condition in a coordinated manner
Routinely transradial arterial approach for extra-cranial carotid stenting
BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to report a single center experience with its safety and feasibility of transradial arterial (TRA) approach in extra-cranial carotid artery (ECCA) stenting.Methods and results74 patients were consecutively enrolled in this study. A retrograde-engagement technique, involving looping 6-F Kimny guiding catheter, was utilized for ECCA angiographic study. For ECCA stenting, the 6-F Kimny guiding catheter was replaced with a 7-F Kimny guiding catheter and the procedure was performed as the follows. First, a 0.035-in. Teflon wire was carefully advanced into the common CA. Second, a PercuSurge GuardWire was inserted into the external CA, followed by distal balloon inflation for an anchoring support. Third, the 6-F guiding catheter was removed, followed by exchanging a 7-F kimny guiding catheter which was advanced along the 0.035-in. Teflon wire and the PercuSurge GuardWire to proximal part of common CA. Distal protection device was then utilized to protect from distal embolization during the procedure. One procedure failed due to external CA did not provide an anchoring support. Thus, the procedure was successful in 74 (98.7%) patients. No vascular or bleeding complication was observed. Minor stroke occurred in 3 (4.0%) patients during the procedure. All of them were completely recovery within 1week.ConclusionsThe TRA approach for ECCA stenting is safe and feasible. This access may offer a last resort for patients with unsuited to femoral arterial access and endarterectomy
Activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa) attenuates breast cancer cell metastatic behaviors through inhibition of plasminogen activation and extracellular proteolysis
Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a plasma zymogen, which can be converted to activated TAFI (TAFIa) through proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, plasmin, and most effectively thrombin in complex with the endothelial cofactor thrombomodulin (TM). TAFIa is a carboxypeptidase that cleaves carboxyl terminal lysine and arginine residues from protein and peptide substrates, including plasminogen-binding sites on cell surface receptors. Carboxyl terminal lysine residues play a pivotal role in enhancing cell surface plasminogen activation to plasmin. Plasmin has many critical functions including cleaving components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which enhances invasion and migration of cancer cells. We therefore hypothesized that TAFIa could act to attenuate metastasis
Entwicklung nachhaltiger Pflanzenschutzstrategien zur Bek_mpfung von Schadschmetterlingen im olivenanbau
Current olive growing practices range from the traditional Mediterranean olive grove to intensively managed olive plantations. Insecticides against major olive pests, like the olive moth (Prays oleae, Lep.:
Yponomeutidae) and the jasmine moth, (Palpita unionalis, Lep.: Pyralidae) are still applied frequently. The European Union-funded international research project
TRIPHELIO is aimed at the development of economically feasible and sustainable insecticide-free control methods for key Lepidopterous pests of olive. Main research activities focus on (1) the use of pheromones for mating disruption and improved monitoring of target pests, (2)
habitat management strategies to enhance the activity of natural enemies in the olive grove, and (3) the use of inundative releases of mass-reared egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma. Moreover, tools for successful integration of the methods developed into an integrated pest
management (IPM) strategy for olive pests were explored by optimising techniques for surveillance as well as considering potential side-effects of common pesticides
on beneficial organisms. An intense exchange of scientific information and technology between European and North African countries was undertaken to create solutions for a wide range of olive growing regions. Key results and recommendations for further essential steps towards practical implementation are presented in this
publication.Zusammenfassung Traditionelle, extensiv bearbeitete Olivenhaine, aber auch moderne Intensiv-Plantagen mit k_nstlicher Bew_sserung und hohem Einsatz von D_ngern
bzw. chemischen Pflanzenschutzmitteln kennzeichnen die derzeitigen verschiedenen Anbauformen der Olive im Mittelmeerraum. Schadlepidopteren wie die Olivenmotte (Prays oleae, Lep.: Yponomeutidae) und die
Jasminmotte (Palpita unionalis, Lep.: Pyralidae) werden durch regelm_ssigen Insektizideinsatz bek_mpft. Das von
der EU gef_rderte internationale Forschungsprojekt TRIPHELIO zielte auf die Entwicklung insektizidfreier
Alternativmethoden durch (1) die Optimierung der pheromongest _tzten _berwachung und Verwirrtechnik, (2) der Anwendung von Habitatmanagement-Strategien zur
F_rderung nat_rlicher Gegenspieler, und (3) dem Einsatz von Trichogramma-Schlupfwespen. Zus_tzlich wurden Module f_r eine optimale Anwendung biotechnischer und
biologischer Methoden bez_glich der Ph_nologie der Schadinsekten und m_glicher Nebenwirkungen von Pestiziden erarbeitet. Die intensive Kooperation zwischen
Wissenschaftlern und Praktikern aus mehreren L_ndern Europas und Nordafrikas erlaubte den Entwurf m_glicher L_sungsans_tze f_r verschiedene Anbaubedingungen und
klimatische Regionen des Mittelmeerraumes. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse und Ausblicke f_r eine zuk_nftige praktische Umsetzung werden in dieser Ver_ffentlichung beschrieben
Effect of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Plasma Cortisol in Open Heart Surgery
Aim of the work: to evaluate the effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion on patients
undergoing open heart surgery regarding stress response markers as plasma interleukin-6 and
plasma cortisol.
Patents and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients aged 18-70years, scheduled for elective open
heart surgery using CPB technique were enrolled in this study at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit,
Luxor international hospital, from July 2018 to May 2019. Patients randomly assigned using closed
envelope technique into two equal groups according to the drug infused intraoperatively: 1st group (25 patients):- Dexmedetomidine group (Group D); received loading dose of intravenous
dexmedetomidine infusion of 1 μg/kg IV dissolved in 20ml normal saline over 10 minutes followed
by maintenance dose of 0.5 μg/kg/hr. till the end of surgery where 0.5 μg /kg/h was calculated for
each patient and dissolved in 12.5 ml normal saline 2nd group ( 25 patients):- placebo group (Group P); receive 20ml intravenous infusion of normal saline 0.9 % over 10 minutes followed by
continuous infusion of 12.5 ml of normal saline till the end of surgery.
Results: Our study revealed that HR and MAP wasn’t significantly different between the two
groups at the baseline, but significantly lowered in Dex. group after induction, during CPB, post
CPB, and postoperative.Dexometomedine suppress the intraoperative and postoperative rise of IL-6
which was significantly higher in placebo group relative to Dex. group. Also dexometomedine has
effect on stress hormone as serum cortisol and serum glucose decease in Dex. group relative to
placebo group. None of studied cases revealed bradycardia or hypotention and there are no
significant difference between groups regarding side effect drowsiness, nausea and vomiting
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the continuous administration of dexmedetomidine
during open heart surgery with CPB suppressed intraoperative and post-operative cytokine
secretion, and improved post-operative inflammatory response indices in the present study. Also it
stabilize blood pressure and heart rate and blunt cardiovascular response to CPB. These results
could be attributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of dexmedetomidine
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