Distributed Hybrid Agent Based Intrusion Detection and Real Time Response System

Wireless LANs are growing rapidly and security has always been a concern. We have implemented a hybrid system, which will not only detect active attacks like identity theft causing denial of service attacks, but will also detect the usage of access point discovery tools. The system responds in real time by sending out an alert to the network administrator.

The Probe, Issue 229 – July/August 2003

• Human/Wildlife Conflicts in Ethiopia -- Jeff Peter sen, Berryman Institute, Utah State University • NADCA 2004 Election • If the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) originated in Asia, why is this rat commonly called a Norway rat? • Book Review: When Raccoons Fall through Your Ceiling: The Handbook for Coexisting with Wildlife by Andrea Dawn Lopez. • Antarctic Scientist Dies in Seal Attack: Research scientist, Kirsty Brown was snorkelling in waters close to the Rothera Research Station as part of her studies when a Leopard seal pulled her under. • Giant Lizards Spreading Through the Gulf Coast: Cape Coral, Florida has become a haven for Nile monitor lizards, and their population, which continues to grow, has possibly reached the thousands in the Gulf Coast city. • Monkeypox Outbreak: An Alert • NADCA 2004 Ballot

Late Adverse Effects of the Coadministration of Valproate and Lamotrigine

Individuals treated with combined valproate-lamotrigine rarely present late adverse effects (unrelated to introduction and titration). We describe four patients in whom such effects occurred after continuous, long-term use of valproate-lamotrigine (at 9 months to 2 years after final antiepileptic drug adjustment). The patients presented heterogeneous disturbances, including ataxia, vertigo, and headache, and rare movement disorders, such as tics and abnormal eye movements. Although these effects are heterogeneous in their occurrence and timing, they can alert physicians to the possibility of late neurologic disturbances, and must be considered in order to avoid unnecessary ancillary tests. Treatment discontinuation is unnecessary, given that a small decrease in dose led to remission of these adverse effects. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Probing the properties of Be star discs with spectroastrometry and NLTE radiative transfer modelling: beta CMi

While the presence of discs around classical Be stars is well established, their origin is still uncertain. To understand what processes result in the creation of these discs and how angular momentum is transported within them, their physical properties must be constrained. This requires comparing high spatial and spectral resolution data with detailed radiative transfer modelling. We present a high spectral resolution, R similar to 80 000, sub-milliarcsecond precision, spectroastrometric study of the circumstellar disc around the Be star beta CMi. The data are confronted with 3D, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium radiative transfer calculations to directly constrain the properties of the disc. Furthermore, we compare the data to disc models featuring two velocity laws: Keplerian, the prediction of the viscous disc model, and angular momentum conserving rotation. It is shown that the observations of beta CMi can only be reproduced using Keplerian rotation. The agreement between the model and the observed spectral energy distribution, polarization and spectroastrometric signature of beta CMi confirms that the discs around Be stars are well modelled as viscous decretion discs.

Influence of Helmet Use in Facial Trauma and Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury Victims of Motorcycle Accidents

Objective: The objective of this research was to study the influence of the use of helmet in facial trauma victims of motorcycle accidents with moderate traumatic brain injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of facial injuries in helmeted and nonhelmeted victims with moderate traumatic brain injury at a referral trauma hospital. Results: The sample consisted of 272 patients predominantly men (94.5%) and between 21 and 40 years old (62.9%). The majority of patients were using helmet (80.1%). The occurrence of facial fractures was most frequent for zygomatic bone (51.8%), followed by mandible (18.8%) and nasal bones (9.2%). Conclusions: Individuals in the most productive age group are most affected, which causes a great loss to financial and labor systems. It is important to take measures to alert the public regarding the severity of injuries likely to occur in motorcycle-related accidents and ways to prevent them.

Beyond the diffraction limit of optical/IR interferometers I. Angular diameter and rotation parameters of Achernar from differential phases

Context. Spectrally resolved long-baseline optical/IR interferometry of rotating stars opens perspectives to investigate their fundamental parameters and the physical mechanisms that govern their interior, photosphere, and circumstellar envelope structures. Aims. Based on the signatures of stellar rotation on observed interferometric wavelength-differential phases, we aim to measure angular diameters, rotation velocities, and orientation of stellar rotation axes. Methods. We used the AMBER focal instrument at ESO-VLTI in its high-spectral resolution mode to record interferometric data on the fast rotator Achernar. Differential phases centered on the hydrogen Br gamma line (K band) were obtained during four almost consecutive nights with a continuous Earth-rotation synthesis during similar to 5h/night, corresponding to similar to 60 degrees position angle coverage per baseline. These observations were interpreted with our numerical code dedicated to long-baseline interferometry of rotating stars. Results. By fitting our model to Achernar's differential phases from AMBER, we could measure its equatorial radius R-eq = 11.6 +/- 0.3 R-circle dot, equatorial rotation velocity V-eq = 298 +/- 9 km s(-1), rotation axis inclination angle i = 101.5 +/- 5.2 degrees, and rotation axis position angle (from North to East) PA(rot) = 34.9 +/- 1.6 degrees. From these parameters and the stellar distance, the equatorial angular diameter circle divide(eq) of Achernar is found to be 2.45 +/- 0.09 mas, which is compatible with previous values derived from the commonly used visibility amplitude. In particular, circle divide(eq) and PA(rot) measured in this work with VLTI/AMBER are compatible with the values previously obtained with VLTI/VINCI. Conclusions. The present paper, based on real data, demonstrates the super-resolution potential of differential interferometry for measuring sizes, rotation velocities, and orientation of rotating stars in cases where visibility amplitudes are unavailable and/or when the star is partially or poorly resolved. In particular, we showed that differential phases allow the measurement of sizes up to similar to 4 times smaller than the diffraction-limited angular resolution of the interferometer.

Efeitos de detomidina e xilazina intravenosa sobre as variáveis basais e respostas comportamentais em bovinos

Avaliaram-se, durante 60 minutos, 10 bovinos após administração intravenosa de 0,1mg.kg-1 de xilazina ou 10μg.kg-1 de detomidina, quanto às frequências cardíaca e respiratória, movimentos ruminais, pressão arterial média, temperatura retal e respostas comportamentais como ataxia ou decúbito, ptose palpebral, estado de alerta ou sedação e redução da altura da cabeça em relação ao solo, além da presença de salivação, micção e concentração sanguínea de glicose. Observou-se que a xilazina, via intravenosa, em bovinos, ao mesmo tempo que promove sedação mais intensa e prolongada que a detomidina, induz a uma maior quantidade de efeitos indesejáveis, como salivação e decúbito, e redução das frequências cardíaca e respiratória, da pressão arterial média, da motilidade ruminal e da temperatura, sendo estas alterações mais prolongadas. Conclui-se que a detomidina pode ser utilizada com segurança em bovinos na dose de 10μg.kg-1, promovendo sedação e permanência do animal em posição quadrupedal.

New activity in the large circumstellar disk of the Be-shell star 48 Librae

Aims. Spectroscopic, polarimetric, and high spectral resolution interferometric data covering the period 1995-2011 are analyzed to document the transition into a new phase of circumstellar disk activity in the classical Be-shell star 48 Lib. The objective is to use this broad data set to additionally test disk oscillations as the basic underlying dynamical process. Methods. The long-term disk evolution is described using the V/R ratio of the violet and red emission components of H alpha and Br gamma, radial velocities and profiles of He I and optical metal shell lines, as well as multi-band BVRI polarimetry. Single-epoch broad-band and high-resolution interferometric visibilities and phases are discussed with respect to a classical disk model and the given baseline orientations. Results. Spectroscopic signatures of disk asymmetries in 48 Lib vanished in the late nineties but recovered some time between 2004 and 2007, as shown by a new large-amplitude and long-duration V/R cycle. Variations in the radial velocity and line profile of conventional shell lines correlate with the V/R behavior. They are shared by narrow absorption cores superimposed on otherwise seemingly photospheric He I lines, which may form in high-density gas at the inner disk close to the photosphere. Large radial velocity variations continued also during the V/R-quiet years, suggesting that V/R may not always be a good indicator of global density waves in the disk. The comparison of the polarization after the recovery of the V/R activity shows a slight increase, while the polarization angle has been constant for more than 20 years, placing tight limits on any 3-D precession or warping of the disk. The broad H-band interferometry gives a disk diameter of (1.72 +/- 0.2) mas (equivalent to 15 stellar radii), position angle of the disk (50 +/- 9)degrees and a relatively low disk flattening of 1.66 +/- 0.3. Within the errors the same disk position angle is derived from polarimetric observations and from photocenter shifts across Br gamma. The high-resolution interferometric visibility and phase profiles show a double or even multiple-component structure. A preliminary estimate based on the size of the Br gamma emitting region indicates a large diameter for the disk (tens of stellar radii). Overall, no serious contradiction between the observations and the disk-oscillation model could be construed.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection in dogs from Western Brazilian Amazon

The objective of the study was to evaluate Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection in urban dogs from the municipality of Monte Negro, Rondonia, Western Brazilian Amazon. The serum samples (n=126) were analyzed by indirect ELISA and the immunodiffusion test using P. brasiliensis gp43 and exoantigen as antigens, respectively. A positivity of 54.8% was observed only in the ELISA test and no statistical difference was observed in the seroprevalence in relation to age or sex. This is the first paracoccidioidomycosis survey carried out with dogs from the Western Brazilian Amazon. The higher positivity rates of P. brasiliensis infection observed in this study suggest that veterinarians must be alert to detect new cases of natural disease in dogs living in paracoccidioidomycosis endemic areas.

ALDH1A2 (RALDH2) genetic variation in human congenital heart disease

Abstract Background Signaling by the vitamin A-derived morphogen retinoic acid (RA) is required at multiple steps of cardiac development. Since conversion of retinaldehyde to RA by retinaldehyde dehydrogenase type II (ALDH1A2, a.k.a RALDH2) is critical for cardiac development, we screened patients with congenital heart disease (CHDs) for genetic variation at the ALDH1A2 locus. Methods One-hundred and thirty-three CHD patients were screened for genetic variation at the ALDH1A2 locus through bi-directional sequencing. In addition, six SNPs (rs2704188, rs1441815, rs3784259, rs1530293, rs1899430) at the same locus were studied using a TDT-based association approach in 101 CHD trios. Observed mutations were modeled through molecular mechanics (MM) simulations using the AMBER 9 package, Sander and Pmemd programs. Sequence conservation of observed mutations was evaluated through phylogenetic tree construction from ungapped alignments containing ALDH8 s, ALDH1Ls, ALDH1 s and ALDH2 s. Trees were generated by the Neighbor Joining method. Variations potentially affecting splicing mechanisms were cloned and functional assays were designed to test splicing alterations using the pSPL3 splicing assay. Results We describe in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) the mutations Ala151Ser and Ile157Thr that change non-polar to polar residues at exon 4. Exon 4 encodes part of the highly-conserved tetramerization domain, a structural motif required for ALDH oligomerization. Molecular mechanics simulation studies of the two mutations indicate that they hinder tetramerization. We determined that the SNP rs16939660, previously associated with spina bifida and observed in patients with TOF, does not affect splicing. Moreover, association studies performed with classical models and with the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) design using single marker genotype, or haplotype information do not show differences between cases and controls. Conclusion In summary, our screen indicates that ALDH1A2 genetic variation is present in TOF patients, suggesting a possible causal role for this gene in rare cases of human CHD, but does not support the hypothesis that variation at the ALDH1A2 locus is a significant modifier of the risk for CHD in humans.

Patient with toxoplasmosis and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: a case report

Abstract Introduction Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic protozoal disease caused by toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent throughout the world, affecting a large proportion of persons who usually have no symptoms. Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, an X-linked inherited disorder, is present in over 400 million people world wide. It is more common in tropical and subtropical countries and is one of the important causes of hemolytic anemia. Case presentation This case report relates the occurrence of the two diseases simultaneously in a child of five years old. Conclusion Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency are more susceptible to toxoplasmosis and this case report, reinforce the findings of this propensity and alert us for such possibility, what it is important, therefore, the treatment of toxoplasmosis can cause serious hemolysis in these patients.

Behavioral meaningful opioidergic stimulation activates kappa receptor gene expression

The periaqueductal gray (PAG) has been reported to be a location for opioid regulation of pain and a potential site for behavioral selection in females. Opioid-mediated behavioral and physiological responses differ according to the activity of opioid receptor subtypes. The present study investigated the effects of the peripheral injection of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist U69593 into the dorsal subcutaneous region of animals on maternal behavior and on Oprk1 gene activity in the PAG of female rats. Female Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g at the beginning of the study were randomly divided into 2 groups for maternal behavior and gene expression experiments. On day 5, pups were removed at 7:00 am and placed in another home cage that was distant from their mother. Thirty minutes after removing the pups, the dams were treated with U69593 (0.15 mg/kg, sc) or 0.9% saline (up to 1 mL/kg) and after 30 min were evaluated in the maternal behavior test. Latencies in seconds for pup retrieval, grouping, crouching, and full maternal behavior were scored. The results showed that U69593 administration inhibited maternal behavior (P < 0.05) because a lower percentage of kappa group dams showed retrieval of first pup, retrieving all pups, grouping, crouching and displaying full maternal behavior compared to the saline group. Opioid gene expression was evaluated using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A single injection of U69593 increased Oprk1 PAG expression in both virgin (P < 0.05) and lactating female rats (P < 0.01), with no significant effect on Oprm1 or Oprd1 gene activity. Thus, the expression of kappa-opioid receptors in the PAG may be modulated by single opioid receptor stimulation and behavioral meaningful opioidergic transmission in the adult female might occur simultaneously to specific changes in gene expression of kappa-opioid receptor subtype. This is yet another alert for the complex role of the opioid system in female reproduction

A importância da análise dos gêneros para fisioterapeutas: enfoque nas quedas entre idosos

INTRODUÇÃO: O alto número de quedas entre pessoas idosas aumenta a demanda para reabilitação das debilidades físicas consequentes do evento, em clínicas de fisioterapia. Para evitar episódios recorrentes, o profissional dessa área deve alertá-los para práticas preventivas. Porém, trata-se de pessoas com diferentes contextos histórico-culturais e esquemas de rotina. OBJETIVO: Apontar as distinções entre gêneros como estratégia para a compreensão do cotidiano programado desses indivíduos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Análise qualitativa, utilizando entrevista semiestruturada, partindo do tema da influência da queda na vida diária. As falas são transcritas codificadas e, posteriormente, categorizadas expressando as ideias encontradas no pensamento do idoso. RESULTADOS: A queda doméstica está inserida no campo de trabalho da mulher (o lar) e, por isso, gera preocupação à medida que interfere nos hábitos do cotidiano referentes àquilo que define sua função no espaço e na vida. O homem parece preocupar-se com quedas quando ela impossibilita-o de manter um vínculo com o ambiente externo, o seu ambiente. CONCLUSÃO: Dessa forma, percebe-se que o gênero é uma categoria operacional em que se definem, para cada um, prioridades diferentes. Por meio de tal olhar, consegue-se justificar e compreender algumas relações de dominação existentes no seio da sociedade e que, ao fisioterapeuta, contribuem para que sejam discernidas certas particularidades entre pacientes que interferem na adesão a seus aconselhamentos preventivos.

Cross-layer optimizations in multi-hop ad hoc networks

Unlike traditional wireless networks, characterized by the presence of last-mile, static and reliable infrastructures, Mobile ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are dynamically formed by collections of mobile and static terminals that exchange data by enabling each other's communication. Supporting multi-hop communication in a MANET is a challenging research area because it requires cooperation between different protocol layers (MAC, routing, transport). In particular, MAC and routing protocols could be considered mutually cooperative protocol layers. When a route is established, the exposed and hidden terminal problems at MAC layer may decrease the end-to-end performance proportionally with the length of each route. Conversely, the contention at MAC layer may cause a routing protocol to respond by initiating new routes queries and routing table updates. Multi-hop communication may also benefit the presence of pseudo-centralized virtual infrastructures obtained by grouping nodes into clusters. Clustering structures may facilitate the spatial reuse of resources by increasing the system capacity: at the same time, the clustering hierarchy may be used to coordinate transmissions events inside the network and to support intra-cluster routing schemes. Again, MAC and clustering protocols could be considered mutually cooperative protocol layers: the clustering scheme could support MAC layer coordination among nodes, by shifting the distributed MAC paradigm towards a pseudo-centralized MAC paradigm. On the other hand, the system benefits of the clustering scheme could be emphasized by the pseudo-centralized MAC layer with the support for differentiated access priorities and controlled contention. In this thesis, we propose cross-layer solutions involving joint design of MAC, clustering and routing protocols in MANETs. As main contribution, we study and analyze the integration of MAC and clustering schemes to support multi-hop communication in large-scale ad hoc networks. A novel clustering protocol, named Availability Clustering (AC), is defined under general nodes' heterogeneity assumptions in terms of connectivity, available energy and relative mobility. On this basis, we design and analyze a distributed and adaptive MAC protocol, named Differentiated Distributed Coordination Function (DDCF), whose focus is to implement adaptive access differentiation based on the node roles, which have been assigned by the upper-layer's clustering scheme. We extensively simulate the proposed clustering scheme by showing its effectiveness in dominating the network dynamics, under some stressing mobility models and different mobility rates. Based on these results, we propose a possible application of the cross-layer MAC+Clustering scheme to support the fast propagation of alert messages in a vehicular environment. At the same time, we investigate the integration of MAC and routing protocols in large scale multi-hop ad-hoc networks. A novel multipath routing scheme is proposed, by extending the AOMDV protocol with a novel load-balancing approach to concurrently distribute the traffic among the multiple paths. We also study the composition effect of a IEEE 802.11-based enhanced MAC forwarding mechanism called Fast Forward (FF), used to reduce the effects of self-contention among frames at the MAC layer. The protocol framework is modelled and extensively simulated for a large set of metrics and scenarios. For both the schemes, the simulation results reveal the benefits of the cross-layer MAC+routing and MAC+clustering approaches over single-layer solutions.

Modeling and simulations of some anisotropic soft-matter systems: from biaxial to chiral materials

We have modeled various soft-matter systems with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The first topic concerns liquid crystal (LC) biaxial nematic (Nb) phases, that can be possibly used in fast displays. We have investigated the phase organization of biaxial Gay-Berne (GB) mesogens, considering the effects of the orientation, strength and position of a molecular dipole. We have observed that for systems with a central dipole, nematic biaxial phases disappear when increasing dipole strength, while for systems characterized by an offset dipole, the Nb phase is stabilized at very low temperatures. In a second project, in view of their increasing importance as nanomaterials in LC phases, we are developing a DNA coarse-grained (CG) model, in which sugar and phosphate groups are represented with Lennard-Jones spheres, while bases with GB ellipsoids. We have obtained shape, position and orientation parameters for each bead, to best reproduce the atomistic structure of a B-DNA helix. Starting from atomistic simulations results, we have completed a first parametrization of the force field terms, accounting for bonded (bonds, angles and dihedrals) and non-bonded interactions (H-bond and stacking). We are currently validating the model, by investigating stability and melting temperature of various sequences. Finally, in a third project, we aim to explain the mechanism of enantiomeric discrimination due to the presence of a chiral helix of poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG), in solution of dimethylformamide (DMF), interacting with chiral or pro-chiral molecules (in our case heptyl butyrate, HEP), after tuning properly an atomistic force field (AMBER). We have observed that DMF and HEP molecules solvate uniformly the PBLG helix, but the pro-chiral solute is on average found closer to the helix with respect to the DMF. The solvent presents a faster isotropic diffusion, twice as HEP, also indicating a stronger interaction of the solute with the helix.