Kerf: Machine Learning to Aid Intrusion Analysts

Kerf is a toolkit for post-hoc intrusion analysis of available system logs and some types of network logs. It takes the view that this process is inherently interactive and iterative: the human analyst browses the log data for apparent anomalies, and tests and revises his hypothesis of what happened. The hypothesis is alternately refined, as information that partially confirms the hypothesis is discovered, and expanded, as the analyst tries new avenues that broaden the investigation

The Kerf Toolkit for Intrusion Analysis (Poster Abstract)

We consider the problem of intrusion analysis and present the Kerf toolkit, whose purpose is to provide an efficient and flexible infrastructure for the analysis of attacks. The Kerf toolkit includes a mechanism for securely recording host and network logging information for a network of workstations, a domain-specific language for querying this stored data, and an interface for viewing the results of such a query, providing feedback on these results, and generating new queries in an iterative fashion. We describe the architecture of Kerf in detail, present examples to demonstrate the power of our query language, and discuss the performance of our implementation of this system

Passive Biometrics for Pervasive Wearable Devices (Poster Paper)

Wearable devices – like the FitBit, MOTOACTV, and Jawbone UP – are increasingly becoming more pervasive whether for monitoring health and fitness, personal assistance, or home automation. While pervasive wearable devices have long been researched, we are now beginning to see the fruits of this research in the form of commercial offerings. Today, many of these commercial wearable devices are closed systems that do not interoperate with other devices a person might carry. We believe, however, these commercial offerings signal the coming of wireless body-area networks that will connect these pervasive wearable devices and leverage existing devices a user already owns (e.g., a smartphone). Such wireless body-area networks will allow devices to specialize and utilize the capabilities of other devices in the network. A sensor, for example, might harness the internet connectivity of a smartphone to store its data in the cloud. Utilized in this way, devices will become cheaper because they will only require the components necessary for their speciality, and they will also become more pervasive because they can easily be shared between users. \par In order for such a vision to be successful, these devices will need to seamlessly interoperate with no interaction required of the user. As difficult as it is for users to manage their wireless area networks, it will be even more difficult for a user to manage their wireless body-area network in a truly pervasive world. As such, we believe these wearable devices should form a wireless body-area network that is passive in nature. This means that these pervasive wearable devices will require no configuration, yet they will be able form a wireless body-area network by (1) discovering their peers, (2) recognizing they are attached to the same body, (3) securing their communications, and (4) identifying to whom they are attached. While we are interested in all aspects of these passive wireless body-area networks, we focus on the last requirement: identifying who is wearing a device

Decreased APOE-containing HDL subfractions and cholesterol efflux capacity of serum in mice lacking Pcsk9.

Background Studies in animals showed that PCSK9 is involved in HDL metabolism. We investigated the molecular mechanism by which PCSK9 regulates HDL cholesterol concentration and also whether Pcsk9 inactivation might affect cholesterol efflux capacity of serum and atherosclerotic fatty streak volume. Methods Mass spectrometry and western blot were used to analyze the level of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and A1 (APOA1). A mouse model overexpressing human LDLR was used to test the effect of high levels of liver LDLR on the concentration of HDL cholesterol and APOE-containing HDL subfractions. Pcsk9 knockout males lacking LDLR and APOE were used to test whether LDLR and APOE are necessary for PCSK9-mediated HDL cholesterol regulation. We also investigated the effects of Pcsk9 inactivation on cholesterol efflux capacity of serum using THP-1 and J774.A1 macrophage foam cells and atherosclerotic fatty streak volume in the aortic sinus of Pcsk9 knockout males fed an atherogenic diet. Results APOE and APOA1 were reduced in the same HDL subfractions of Pcsk9 knockout and human LDLR transgenic male mice. In Pcsk9/Ldlr double-knockout mice, HDL cholesterol concentration was lower than in Ldlr knockout mice and higher than in wild-type controls. In Pcsk9/Apoe double-knockout mice, HDL cholesterol concentration was similar to that of Apoe knockout males. In Pcsk9 knockout males, THP-1 macrophage cholesterol efflux capacity of serum was reduced and the fatty streak lesion volume was similar to wild-type controls. Conclusions In mice, LDLR and APOE are important factors for PCSK9-mediated HDL regulation. Our data suggest that, although LDLR plays a major role in PCSK9-mediated regulation of HDL cholesterol concentration, it is not the only mechanism and that, regardless of mechanism, APOE is essential. Pcsk9 inactivation decreases the HDL cholesterol concentration and cholesterol efflux capacity in serum, but does not increase atherosclerotic fatty streak volume.This work was supported by HL081162, HL077796 and HL095668 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants 82946 and 102741. The Proteomics Core Facility is supported by the Vermont Genetics Network through NIH grant 8P20GM103449 from the INBRE program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). BRP thanks the NIH (CA83831) for financial support. AP was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants 82946 and 102741

Creating Sustainable Global Cross-Disability Communities

The presenters will share insights from founding and running a large international cross-disciplinary, cross-disability virtual conference and accompanying online journal that has built a global network of disabled people, advocates, educators, scholars, government officials, family members, and other allies and accomplices. This talk will share challenges, lessons learned, best practices, and technological solutions that could help to work virtually across different types of disabilities, languages, and locations, as well as detailing issues such as advertising, registration, real-time participation, and software selection for events with many disabled participants.   

Ultrasonic/Sonic Mechanisms for Drilling and Coring

Two apparatuses now under development are intended to perform a variety of deep-drilling, coring, and sensing functions for subsurface exploration of rock and soil. These are modified versions of the apparatuses described in Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corers With Integrated Sensors (NPO-20856), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 25, No. 1 (January 2001), page 38. In comparison with the drilling equipment traditionally used in such exploration, these apparatuses weigh less and consume less power. Moreover, unlike traditional drills and corers, these apparatuses function without need for large externally applied axial forces

Detecting Eating Episodes with an Ear-mounted Sensor

In this paper, we propose Auracle, a wearable earpiece that can automatically recognize eating behavior. More specifically, in free-living conditions, we can recognize when and for how long a person is eating. Using an off-the-shelf contact microphone placed behind the ear, Auracle captures the sound of a person chewing as it passes through the bone and tissue of the head. This audio data is then processed by a custom analog/digital circuit board. To ensure reliable (yet comfortable) contact between microphone and skin, all hardware components are incorporated into a 3D-printed behind-the-head framework. We collected field data with 14 participants for 32 hours in free-living conditions and additional eating data with 10 participants for 2 hours in a laboratory setting. We achieved accuracy exceeding 92.8% and F1 score exceeding 77.5% for eating detection. Moreover, Auracle successfully detected 20-24 eating episodes (depending on the metrics) out of 26 in free-living conditions. We demonstrate that our custom device could sense, process, and classify audio data in real time. Additionally, we estimateAuracle can last 28.1 hours with a 110 mAh battery while communicating its observations of eating behavior to a smartphone over Bluetooth

Circulating Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Responses to Steady-State Moderate-Intensity and High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Mid-Spectrum Chronic Kidney Disease

Inflammation and oxidative stress can be potent modulators of vascular function. These factors may transiently respond to moderate-intensity steady state exercise (SSE) in a manner that improves post-exercise vascular function in healthy adults. Whether exercise imparts similar effects in adults with Stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains understudied. Moreover, a comparison of SSE and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) may add to clinically-relevant findings for improving vascular function in mid-spectrum CKD. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of SSE and a comparable amount of HIIE on post-exercise inflammation and oxidative stress in patients diagnosed with secondary Stage 3 or 4 CKD. METHODS: Twenty participants (n = 6 men; n = 14 women; age 62.0 + 9.9 yr; weight 80.9 + 16.2 kg; body fat 37.3 + 8.5% of weight; VO2max 19.4 + 4.7 ml/kg/min) completed 30 min of SSE at 65% VO2reserve or HIIE by treadmill walking (90% and 20% of VO2reserve in 3:2 min ratio) in a randomized crossover design. Both exercise conditions averaged ~ 65% VO2reserve. Blood samples were obtained by the same technician under standardized conditions just before, 1hr and 24hrs after exercise. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), paraoxonase1 (PON1), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), 3nitrotyrosine (3NT) and interleukin-6 (IL6) responses were analyzed using 2 (condition) by 3 (sample point) repeated measures ANOVAs. RESULTS: Relative to pre-exercise measures: TAC increased by 4.3% 24hr after exercise (p = 0.012). PON1 was maintained 1hr and elevated by 6.1% 24hr after SSE, but not HIIE (p = 0.035). When corrected for plasma volume shifts, ADMA increased 30 ng/ml at 1hr but was 58 ng/ml lower 24hrs after exercise (p = 0.0006). 3NT and IL6 remained stable in the hours after exercise (p \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: Modest inflammatory and oxidative stress marker responses to either SSE and HIIE may contribute to improved vascular function in mid-spectrum CKD

Acute Responses in Agonists of uEGF to Moderate-Intensity and High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Mid-Spectrum CKD

Urine epidermal growth factor (uEGF) is a novel biomarker utilized in assessing renal health in various renal diseases, specifically chronic kidney disease (CKD). uEGF promotes multiple intracellular pathways, stimulating renal cell growth, survival, and replication. uEGF production is activated by multiple agonists that bind to the uEGF receptor. Aerobic exercise initiates the upregulation of several of these agonists to increase the production of uEGF. Depending on the mode and intensity of aerobic exercise, uEGF agonists may activate differently in CKD populations. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of an acute bout of steady-state exercise (SSE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on concentrations of uEGF agonists (serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR-1), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)) in mid-spectrum CKD. METHODS: Twenty participants (n = 6 men; n = 14 women; age 62.0 + 9.9 yr; weight 80.9 + 16.2 kg; body fat 37.3 + 8.5% of weight; VO2max 19.4 + 4.7 ml/kg/min) completed 30 min of SSE at 65% VO2reserve or HIIE by treadmill walking (90% and 20% of VO2reserve in 3:2 min ratio) in a randomized crossover design. Both exercise conditions averaged ~ 65% VO2reserve. Blood and urine samples were obtained under standardized conditions just before, 1hr, and 24hrs after exercise. uEGF (ng/mL), serum IGF-1 (ng/mL), AGTR-1 (ng/mL), and TGF-β1 (pg/mL) responses were analyzed using 2 (condition) by 3 (sample point) repeated measures ANOVAs and Pearson Correlations. RESULTS: Serum IGF-1 and AGTR-1 increased 1hr and 24hr post-exercise in both exercise conditions; however, statistical significance was not achieved (p = 0.28 and p = 0.09). Similarly, serum TGF-β1 decreased at 24hrs in both exercise conditions but statistically remained unaltered (p = 0.42). IGF-1 was significantly correlated to uEGF in both conditions at all three-time points (p = 0.03), while AGTR-1 was significantly correlated to uEGF at 1hr in HIIE. uEGF findings were previously reported in ACSM abstract (DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000560710.72569.11). CONCLUSION: Agonists of uEGF remained unaltered following an acute bout of SSE and HIIE in mid-spectrum CKD. Further research is needed to understand better uEGF response activation to aerobic exercise in mid-spectrum CKD