Quantitative Analysis of Multi-Recovery-Based Intrusion Tolerance Model

Quantitative analysis has always been a difficult problem in security analysis of intrusion tolerance systems. An intrusion tolerance model based on multiple recovery mechanisms is introduced in this paper and how to quantify the security attributes of the model is proposed. A state transition model with recovery states more accurately describes the dynamic behavior of the system. Considering that recovery mechanisms have a great impact on the security performance of the system, we set up the cost models corresponding to different recovery mechanisms. We propose a feasible security measure based on mean cost to security failure in order to evaluate the system cost during the recovery phase. The experimental results confirmed the feasibility of the proposed methods.     

A Method to Visualize the Skeleton Industrial Structure with Input-Output Analysis and Its Application in China,Japan and USA

The paper established a double filtering method (DFM) to visualize the skeleton industrial structure (SIS) of one economy and find its evolution rule. Different with the previous researches, this method is from a new view of industrial conjunctions combined by leading sectors to depict the industrial structure. It was proved that the leading sector selected by DFM must be key sector selected by Hirschman-Rasmussen method. Applied DFM to input-output tables of China, Japan and USA and MFA to Japan and USA, the results analysis showed that DFM could overtake the two main shortcomings of minimum flow analysis (MFA), scratch SIS of each economy with its own characteristics, visualize the general evolution rules of the industrial structure with crisscrossed conjunctions among leading sectors.     

A Simulation Method for Analyzing and Evaluating Rail System Performance Based on Speed Profile

This paper presents and discusses a simulation method for analyzing and evaluating system performance on a rail line from the perspective of speed profile. Dynamic analysis for train motions is introduced, and a discrete time-operation graph is proposed to represent the relation between speed profile and energy consumption. Based on them, an analytical model is formulated to provide a quick insight into the system performance. The discrete-time simulation (DTS) method is then implemented to study the system in detail. Compared to the existing simulations, two innovations are included in the DTS: (1) the analytical lookup tables that can simplify the dynamic computation and, (2) the speed profile adjustment process that forecasts and avoids future conflicts based on practical constraints. The numerical results show that the DTS speed profile has advantages over existing methods. Finally, the DTS method is used to analyze and evaluate the system performance of the current timetable on Beijing Yizhuang Metro Line. The results suggest that the current timetable is not robust enough, and thus possible improvements are discussed at both scheduling and operating stages. The proposed method is verified to be effective and reliable for practical uses.     

An Economic Model-Based Matching Approach Between Buyers and Sellers Through a Broker in an Open E-Marketplace

A broker in an open e-marketplace enables buyers and sellers to do business with each other. Although a broker plays an important role in e-marketplaces, theory and guidelines for matching between buyers and sellers in multi-attribute exchanges are limited. Therefore, a challenge for a broker’s responsibility is how to maximize a buyer’s total satisfaction degree as its goals under the consideration of trade-off between a buyer’s buying quantity and price paid to a seller, and other attributes. To solve this challenge, this paper proposes an economic model-based matching approach between a buyer’s requirements and a seller’s offers. The major contributions of this paper are that (i) a broker can model a seller’s price policy as per a buyer’s buying quantity through communication between a broker and a seller; (ii) due to each buyer’s different quantity demand, a broker models a buyer’s satisfaction degree as per a buyer’s buying quantity based on communication between a broker and a buyer; and (iii) to carry out a broker’s matching processes, an objective function and a set of constraints are generated to help a broker to maximize a buyer’s total satisfaction degree. Experimental results demonstrate the good performance of the proposed approach.     

Human Development in Saudi Education: a Critical Systemic Approach

This paper is drawn from PhD research funded by the Saudi government on the policy and governance of Saudi schools (Algraini 2017. A critical systemic approach to human development in education: a case study of the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia). The aim of this article is to address human development challenges using the Critical Systems Heuristics approach. The results show that the central policy framework limits the opportunity for teachers and learners to contribute to shaping the curriculum and the process for human development. The Saudi Ministry of Education needs to: a) develop policy that takes into account the structure and the processes that shape education outcomes and b) to represent the voices of service users and service providers who have different and overlapping views.     

Effects of Fe_2O_3 on the properties of ceramics from steel slag

Ferric oxide is one of the key factors affecting both the microstructure and the properties of CaO-MgO-SiO_2-based ceramics. Research on this effect is significant in the utilization of iron-rich solid wastes in ceramics. Ceramic samples with various Fe_2O_3 contents(0 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt%) were prepared and the corresponding physical properties and microstructure were studied. The results indicated that Fe_2O_3 not only played a fluxing role, but also promoted the formation of crystals. Ceramics with 5 wt% of Fe_2O_3 addition attained the best mechanical properties with a flexural strength of 132.9 MPa. Iron ions were dissolved into diopside, consequently causing phase transformation from diopside and protoenstatite to augite, thereby contributing to the enhancement of its properties. An excess amount of Fe_2O_3 addition(10 wt% or more) resulted in deteriorated properties due to the generation of an excess volume of liquid and the formation of high-porosity structures within ceramics.     

Mechanisms regulating immune surveillance of cellular stress in cancer

The purpose of this review is to explore immune-mediated mechanisms of stress surveillance in cancer, with particular emphasis on the idea that all cancers have classical hallmarks (Hanahan and Weinberg in Cell 100:57–70, 67; Cell 144:646–674, 68) that could be interrelated. We postulate that hallmarks of cancer associated with cellular stress pathways (Luo et al. in Cell 136:823–837, 101) including oxidative stress, proteotoxic stress, mitotic stress, DNA damage, and metabolic stress could define and modulate the inflammatory component of cancer. As such, the overarching goal of this review is to define the types of cellular stress that cancer cells undergo, and then to explore mechanisms by which immune cells recognize, respond to, and are affected by each stress response.     

ID-Based Public Auditing Protocol for Cloud Storage Data Integrity Checking with Strengthened Authentication and Security

Cloud storage service reduces the burden of data users by storing users’ data files in the cloud. But, the files might be modified in the cloud. So, data users hope to check data files integrity periodically. In a public auditing protocol, there is a trusted auditor who has certain ability to help users to check the integrity of data files. With the advantages of no public key management and verification, researchers focus on public auditing protocol in ID-based cryptography recently. However, some existing protocols are vulnerable to forgery attack. In this paper, based on ID-based signature technology, by strengthening information authentication and the computing power of the auditor, we propose an ID-based public auditing protocol for cloud data integrity checking. We also prove that the proposed protocol is secure in the random oracle model under the assumption that the Diffie-Hellman problem is hard. Furthermore, we compare the proposed protocol with other two ID-based auditing protocols in security features, communication efficiency and computation cost. The comparisons show that the proposed protocol satisfies more security features with lower computation cost.     

Structure and function of Zika virus NS5 protein: perspectives for drug design

Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the positive-sense single-stranded RNA-containing Flaviviridae family. Its recent outbreak and association with human diseases (e.g. neurological disorders) have raised global health concerns, and an urgency to develop a therapeutic strategy against ZIKV infection. However, there is no currently approved antiviral against ZIKV. Here we present a comprehensive overview on recent progress in structure–function investigation of ZIKV NS5 protein, the largest non-structural protein of ZIKV, which is responsible for replication of the viral genome, RNA capping and suppression of host interferon responses. Structural comparison of the N-terminal methyltransferase domain and C-terminal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain of ZIKV NS5 with their counterparts from related viruses provides mechanistic insights into ZIKV NS5-mediated RNA replication, and identifies residues critical for its enzymatic activities. Finally, a collection of recently identified small molecule inhibitors against ZIKV NS5 or its closely related flavivirus homologues are also discussed.