Phishing Detection using Base Classifier and Ensemble Technique

Phishing attacks continue to pose a significant threat in today's digital landscape, with both individuals and organizations falling victim to these attacks on a regular basis. One of the primary methods used to carry out phishing attacks is through the use of phishing websites, which are designed to look like legitimate sites in order to trick users into giving away their personal information, including sensitive data such as credit card details and passwords. This research paper proposes a model that utilizes several benchmark classifiers, including LR, Bagging, RF, K-NN, DT, SVM, and Adaboost, to accurately identify and classify phishing websites based on accuracy, precision, recall, f1-score, and confusion matrix. Additionally, a meta-learner and stacking model were combined to identify phishing websites in existing systems. The proposed ensemble learning approach using stack-based meta-learners proved to be highly effective in identifying both legitimate and phishing websites, achieving an accuracy rate of up to 97.19%, with precision, recall, and f1 scores of 97%, 98%, and 98%, respectively. Thus, it is recommended that ensemble learning, particularly with stacking and its meta-learner variations, be implemented to detect and prevent phishing attacks and other digital cyber threats

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

Declaring schools tobacco free: protecting young generation to save Nation (multipronged coordinated interventions to declare 3517 schools tobacco free in Jharkhand state in India)

Background and challenges to implementation Tobacco Industry (TI) aggressively targets young children and adolescents as new recruits. The early age of initiation for TI assures tobacco usage for longer period. As per GATS 2010, of all ever daily tobacco users (age 20-34), almost 60% initiate tobacco use before age of 17.8. It calls for urgent intervension. As per GATS 2010, Jharkhand state in India has one of the highest total prevalence rate as 50.01% against national average of 34.6%. This is disturbing. Government of India enacted its tobacco control law i.e. Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act, 2003 (COTPA). It prohibits smoking in all public places including schools (section 4), forbids sale to and by minors (section 6-A) and bans sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution (section 6-b). Intervention or response 3.5 million students of age 14 to 18 studying in 3517 schools in Jharkhand state were protected through multipronged coordinated interventions adopted by Director of School Education, SEEDS and The UNION, technical support partners to state Government. Massive awareness program was launched. All stake holders including DEOs, teachers, media, school management committee, parents, peer groups were made sensitive and responsible ensuring that · No sale of tobacco products around 100 Yards of schools. · No use of tobacco in schools · Display of two warning signages mandated under section 4 and section 6(b). Continuous monitoring of implementation process was the key. Strict actions were also taken. Results and lessons learnt Visionary Zeal and regular personal monitoring resulted in high compliance of section 4 and section 6(b) ensuring 3517 Schools being declared tobacco-free in two years. Conclusions and key recommendations Strategic, collaborative and multipronged coodinated intervention at school level results in reducing students´ exposure and their accessibility to tobacco products significantly. This minimizes chances of picking up this dangerous habit. It protects young generation. And, Protecting Young Generation means saving Nation

Institutionalization of Indian Tobacco Control Programme at Grassroot level - experiences from state of Jharkhand in India. (Enabling institutional structure is key to sustained results)

Background and challenges to implementation In Jharkhand, prevalence of tobacco is a serious concern as its 50.01% ( n =19.5 million) of adults are edicted to tobacco as against national average of 34.6% as per GATS 2010. Government of India launched National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) IN 2010-11 in two districts of Jharkhand i.e. Dhanbad & East Singhbhum as pilot basis. Enforcement of Indian tobacco control law, capacity building, awareness generation, school health programs and cessation are main components of NTCP. Currently Jharkhand State Tobacco Control Cell in technical collaboration with SEEDS and The Union is implementing a project on tobacco control in 6 districts of state. Intervention or response Several effective strategic interventions were undertaken. All primarily revolved around institutionalization of efforts, value systems, management practices and administrative structures. Institutional framework was developed through four pronged strategies i.e. intense advocacy , capacity building & follow up with government officials, effective monitoring at state and district level and consistent media mobilization without losing out to capture even a smaller event related to tobacco control issues. Collaborative and systematic efforts were made. Meetings / workshops / trainings and brainstorming sessions were conducted in collaboration with the District Administration. Results and lessons learnt These resultes in sensitisation of program managers, law enforcers and media resulting in noticablely high commitment to the cause. Innovatively, formation of anti-tobacco squads, inter-departmental State and Districts Tobacco Control Coordination Committees´ meetings, enforcement reviews in monthly crime review meetings were conducted. This provided distinctive outcomes: - Appointment of nodal officers at- state level - Appointment of three nodal officers in each district, - Synergy between efforts of health, police and general administration, - Review by Deputy Commissioners in their monthly meetings of all departments Conclusions and key recommendations It is established that successful enforcement and implementation is achieved only through well-established institutionalization of tobacco control within existing system. Enabling Institutional Structure is indeed Key to Sustained Results

Allosteric modulation of GPCR-induced β-arrestin trafficking and signaling by a synthetic intrabody

Agonist-induced phosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is a primary determinant of β-arrestin (βarr) recruitment and trafficking. For several GPCRs such as the vasopressin receptor subtype 2 (V2R), agonist-stimulation first drives the translocation of βarrs to the plasma membrane, followed by endosomal trafficking, which is generally considered to be orchestrated by multiple phosphorylation sites. We have previously shown that mutation of a single phosphorylation site in the V2R (i.e., V2RT360A) results in near-complete loss of βarr translocation to endosomes despite robust recruitment to the plasma membrane, and compromised ERK1/2 activation. Here, we discover that a synthetic intrabody (Ib30), which selectively recognizes activated βarr1, efficiently rescues the endosomal trafficking of βarr1 and ERK1/2 activation for V2RT360A. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that Ib30 enriches active-like βarr1 conformation with respect to the inter-domain rotation, and cellular assays demonstrate that it also enhances βarr1-β2-adaptin interaction. Our data provide an experimental framework to positively modulate the receptor-transducer-effector axis for GPCRs using intrabodies, which can be potentially integrated in the paradigm of GPCR-targeted drug discovery

Abstracts of National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020

This book presents the abstracts of the papers presented to the Online National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020 (RDMPMC-2020) held on 26th and 27th August 2020 organized by the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science in Association with the Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Conference Title: National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020Conference Acronym: RDMPMC-2020Conference Date: 26–27 August 2020Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology JamshedpurCo-organizer: Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, IndiaConference Sponsor: TEQIP-

Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and affects people regardless of country, age group, or sex. Using the most recent evidentiary and analytical framework from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), we produced location-specific, age-specific, and sex-specific estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden from 1990 to 2021, the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in 2021, the proportion of the type 2 diabetes burden attributable to selected risk factors, and projections of diabetes prevalence through 2050. Methods: Estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden were computed in 204 countries and territories, across 25 age groups, for males and females separately and combined; these estimates comprised lost years of healthy life, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs; defined as the sum of years of life lost [YLLs] and years lived with disability [YLDs]). We used the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) approach to estimate deaths due to diabetes, incorporating 25 666 location-years of data from vital registration and verbal autopsy reports in separate total (including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and type-specific models. Other forms of diabetes, including gestational and monogenic diabetes, were not explicitly modelled. Total and type 1 diabetes prevalence was estimated by use of a Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, to analyse 1527 location-years of data from the scientific literature, survey microdata, and insurance claims; type 2 diabetes estimates were computed by subtracting type 1 diabetes from total estimates. Mortality and prevalence estimates, along with standard life expectancy and disability weights, were used to calculate YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. When appropriate, we extrapolated estimates to a hypothetical population with a standardised age structure to allow comparison in populations with different age structures. We used the comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the risk-attributable type 2 diabetes burden for 16 risk factors falling under risk categories including environmental and occupational factors, tobacco use, high alcohol use, high body-mass index (BMI), dietary factors, and low physical activity. Using a regression framework, we forecast type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevalence through 2050 with Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and high BMI as predictors, respectively. Findings: In 2021, there were 529 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 500-564) people living with diabetes worldwide, and the global age-standardised total diabetes prevalence was 6·1% (5·8-6·5). At the super-region level, the highest age-standardised rates were observed in north Africa and the Middle East (9·3% [8·7-9·9]) and, at the regional level, in Oceania (12·3% [11·5-13·0]). Nationally, Qatar had the world's highest age-specific prevalence of diabetes, at 76·1% (73·1-79·5) in individuals aged 75-79 years. Total diabetes prevalence-especially among older adults-primarily reflects type 2 diabetes, which in 2021 accounted for 96·0% (95·1-96·8) of diabetes cases and 95·4% (94·9-95·9) of diabetes DALYs worldwide. In 2021, 52·2% (25·5-71·8) of global type 2 diabetes DALYs were attributable to high BMI. The contribution of high BMI to type 2 diabetes DALYs rose by 24·3% (18·5-30·4) worldwide between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, more than 1·31 billion (1·22-1·39) people are projected to have diabetes, with expected age-standardised total diabetes prevalence rates greater than 10% in two super-regions: 16·8% (16·1-17·6) in north Africa and the Middle East and 11·3% (10·8-11·9) in Latin America and Caribbean. By 2050, 89 (43·6%) of 204 countries and territories will have an age-standardised rate greater than 10%. Interpretation: Diabetes remains a substantial public health issue. Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors. Preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes remains an ongoing challenge. It is essential to better understand disparities in risk factor profiles and diabetes burden across populations, to inform strategies to successfully control diabetes risk factors within the context of multiple and complex drivers. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation