CAVeCTIR: Matching Cyber Threat Intelligence Reports on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Using Machine Learning

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are getting a lot of attention these days as their technology becomes more mature and they benefit from the Internet-of-Vehicles (IoV) ecosystem. CAVs attract malicious activities that jeopardize security and safety dimensions. The cybersecurity systems of CAVs detect such activities, collect and analyze related information during and after the activity, and use cyber threat intelligence (CTI) to organize this information. Considering that CTI collected from various malicious activities may share common characteristics, it is critical to provide the cybersecurity stakeholders with quick and automatic ways of analysis and interrelation. This aims to help them perform more accurate and effective forensic investigations. To this end, we present CAVeCTIR, a novel approach that finds similarities between CTI reports that describe malicious activities detected on CAVs. CAVeCTIR uses advanced machine learning techniques and provides a quick, automated, and effective solution for clustering similar malicious activities. We applied CAVeCTIR in a series of experiments investigating almost 3000 malicious activities in simulation, real-world, and hybrid CAV environments, covering seven critical cyber-attack scenarios. The results showed that the DBSCAN algorithm identified seven no-overlapping core clusters characterized by high density. The results indicated that cybersecurity stakeholders could take advantage of CAVeCTIR by adopting the same or similar methods to analyze newly detected malicious activity, speed up the attack attribution process, and perform a more accurate forensics investigation

The association of the metabolic profile in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients with obsessive-compulsive symptomatology and depressive symptomatology: New insights

Objective. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between diabetes mellitus type 2, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptomatology and depressive symptomatology with the metabolic profile of diabetic patients. Methods. One hundred and thirty-one diabetic patients were randomly selected. In the first assessment all participants completed the Zung Self Rating Scale (ZUNG) and the Maudsley O-C Inventory Questionnaire (MOCI). After 1 year, diabetic patients that were initially uncontrolled (n = 31) (HbA1c > 7) were re-evaluated by the same psychometric tools. From those 31 patients, 10 had managed to control their metabolic profile. Results. In the first evaluation MOCI and the sub-scale of slowness were statistically related with the diabetic profile (controlled, HbA1c > 7; uncontrolled, HbA1c > 7), with uncontrolled patients scoring significantly higher on the overall MOCI score and the factor of slowness of MOCI scale (P = 0.028). The analysis revealed a positive association between depressive symptomatology (P = 0.004) and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptomatology (P < 0.001) and the metabolic profile of the patients. In the second evaluation the patients that managed to control their metabolic profile scored lower in both ZDRS and MOCI, although these differences in scores failed to reach significance levels were indicative of a tendency. Conclusions. The present results provide initial evidence that diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptomatology and depressive symptomatology

Impaired effect of endothelin-1 on coronary artery stiffness in type 2 diabetes

Aim: We examined whether there is a differential effect of endothelin-A antagonism on coronary artery compliance in type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to non-diabetic patients. Patient and methods: We examined 32 patients, I I type 2 diabetes mellitus and 21 non-diabetic patients, with atherosclerotic epicardial arteries free of significant luminal stenoses. Intracoronary BQ-123 (6 mu mol), an endothelin-A receptor antagonist, was infused over 20 min. The artery lumen area in the proximal arterial segment was measured at end diastole and end systole before and after BQ-123 administration using an intravascular ultrasound catheter. Calculations were made of normalized arterial compliance index, in mm Hg-1 X 10(3) and of arterial stiffness index beta. Results: Pulse pressure and heart rate did not change after BQ-123. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, normalized compliance index decreased from 1.79 +/- 1.36 at baseline to 1.29 +/- 0.82 after BQ-123 administration, whereas in non-diabetic patients it increased from 2.10 +/- 1.36 to 3.00 +/- 2.07 (p < 0.05 versus baseline) (F=6.39,p=0.02). In type 2 diabetes mellitus, beta index increased from 1.97 +/- 0.53 to 2.46 +/- 0.95, whereas in nondiabetic patients it decreased from 1.83 +/- 0.95 to 1.63 +/- 0.84 (F=7.80, p=0.009). Big endothelin-1 at baseline was correlated with the baseline beta index (p < 0.0001, r=0.68). Conclusions: Big endothelin-1 is correlated with the coronary artery stiffness. The effect of endogenous endothelin-1 on coronary artery stiffness is impaired in type 2 diabetes mellitus. This may have important therapeutic implications with respect to the introduction of endothelin receptor antagonists as cardiovascular therapeutic agents. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Insulin resistance in hyperthyroidism: the role of IL6 and TNF alpha

Objective: Although insulin resistance is a common finding in hyperthyroidism, the implicated mechanisms are obscure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) are related to the development of insulin resistance in hyperthyroidism of nonautoimmune origin. Design and methods: A meal was given to ten hyperthyroid (HR) and ten euthyroid (EU) women. Plasma samples were taken for 360 min from the radial artery for measurements of glucose, insulin, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). IL6 and TNFa were measured preprandially from the superficial epigastric vein and from the radial artery. Results: i) In HR versus EU: (a) arterial glucose was similar (AUC(0-360) 2087 +/- 57 vs 2010 +/- 43 mM x min), but insulin was increased (AUC(0-360) 17 267 +/- 2447 vs 10 331 +/- 666 mu U/mlXmin, P=0.01), (b) homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was increased (2.3 +/- 0.4 vs 1 +/- 0.1 kg/m(2), P=0.007), (c) arterial NEFA were increased (AUC(0-360) 136 +/- 18 vs 89 +/- 7mmol/lXmin, P=0.03), (d) arterial IL6 (2 +/- 0.3 vs 0.9 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, P=0.0009) and TNFa (4.2 +/- 0.8 vs 1.5 +/- 0.2 pg/ml, P=0.003) were increased, and (e) IL6 production from the subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) was increased (18 +/- 6 vs 5 +/- 1 pg/min per 100 ml tissue, P=0.04). ii) (a) Subcutaneous venous IL6 was positively associated with HOMA(beta-coefficient=1.7 +/- 0.7, P=0.049) and (b) although TNF alpha was not producedby the subcutaneous AT, arterial TNFawas positively associatedwithNEFA(AUC0-360; b-coefficientZ0.045G0.01, PZ0.005). Conclusions: Inhyperthyroidism: i) glucose and lipidmetabolismare resistant to insulin, ii) subcutaneousAT releases IL6, which could then act as an endocrine mediator of insulin resistance, iii) although there is no net secretion of TNFa by the subcutaneous AT, increased systemic TNFa levels may be related to the development of insulin resistance in lipolysis

Subcutaneous glucose monitoring with GlucoDay (R): comparison of the results to those obtained with the Endocrine Artificial Pancreas

Objective : This study was undertaken to assess the accuracy of GlucoDay (R) - a portable detector of subcutaneous glucose - by comparing the results to those obtained by Biostator (R) an established and reliable method for continuous glucose measurement in whole blood. Design : Subjects with type 1 diabetes (n:6), subjects with type 2 diabetes (n:6), and six healthy controls were studied for 24 hours; they consumed three main meals. The GlucoDay (R) was connected to the subjects by inserting a microfibre probe into the periumbilical subcutaneous area, whilst the Biostator (R) was inserted by a double-lumen catheter into an antecubital vein. A third catheter was inserted into a separate vein for blood withdrawal to measure glucose by the hexokinase method. Results: The three methods (GlucoDay (R)-Biostator (R)-hexokinase) were equally accurate in measuring glucose levels (p=0.233, Kruskall-Wallis test). The glucose measurements performed with GlucoDay (R) and Biostator (R) were significantly correlated with those performed with hexokinase (p<0.001, r2=66.65% and p< 0.001, r2=64.4%, respectively, using simple regression analysis). Conclusions: Measurements of glucose fluctuations in the subcutaneous tissue with the GlucoDay (R) were close to those in blood determined by the Biostator (R). GlucoDay (R) is therefore a reliable method for continuous glucose monitoring and may prove useful for optimizating treatment in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

Hypertriglyceridemia and Other Risk Factors of Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes: A Hospital-Based Clinic Population in Greece

Aims/Introduction: Several reports indicate an increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Hyperglycemia and hypertension are the main risk factors for CKD development and progression. However, despite the achievement of recommended targets for blood glucose and blood pressure (BP), the residual risk of diabetic chronic kidney disease (DCKD) remains relatively high. The aim of this study is to examine dyslipidemia and other major risk factors to provide support for the prevention and treatment of DCKD. Materials and Methods: Participants are from the Redit-2-Diag study that examines 1759 subjects within a period of 6 months. DCKD severity is staged according to KDIGO criteria. Results: An increase in hemoglobin A1c (1 unit) and systolic blood pressure (1 mm Hg) increases the probability of being classified into a higher CKD stage by 14% and 26%, respectively. Moreover, an increase of triglycerides by 88.5 mg/dL increases the risk of classification to a worse CKD stage by 24%. Conclusions: Elevated triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and poor glycemic control increase the risk of CKD in T2DM and should be addressed in the treatment strategies

Effect of Aliskiren on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Vascular Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Essential Hypertension

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aliskiren on vascular function and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with type 2 diabetes and essential hypertension. METHODS The study enrolled type 2 diabetic patients aged > 50 years under stable glycemic control and first diagnosed mild essential hypertension. In phase A (n = 20), patients received aliskiren 150-300mg daily for 3 months. In phase B (n = 12), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5-25mg daily substituted for aliskiren for 3 more months. At baseline and at the end of each phase, we assessed (i) brachial blood pressure (BBP); (ii) central aortic systolic pressure (CSP), aortic augmentation index (Aix), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) as markers of arterial stiffness; (iii) brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) as a marker of endothelial function; (iv) left ventricular (LV) twisting and untwisting as markers of LV function and (v) EPC numbers in culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS Aliskiren similarly reduced BBP and CSP, increased FMD (P < 0.001) and EPC numbers (P < 0.001), decreased PWV and Aix (P < 0.05), and improved LV twisting and untwisting (P < 0.05). Although substitution of HCTZ sustained BBP at similar levels, CSP and echocardiographic indices nearly returned at baseline levels, and the improvement of FMD, PWV, Aix, and EPC numbers was abolished. CONCLUSIONS Aliskiren had a favorable effect on endothelial function and EPCs, reduced arterial stiffness, and improved LV twisting and untwisting. These effects were independent of BBP lowering, as they were not observed after the achievement of similar values of BBP with HCTZ