On Metrics to Distinguish Skype Flows from HTTP Traffic

Skype is a Voice over IP (VoIP) Internet application that is gaining huge popularity in recent years. A key point to Skype popularity is its capability to dynamically adapt itself to operate behind firewalls or network proxies. A common way adopted by Skype to delude these network devices is to use port 80, normally expected to comprise HTTP traffic. In this paper, we propose metrics and investigate statistical tests intended to clearly distinguish Skype flows from HTTP traffic. We validate our study using real-world experimental datasets gathered at a commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP). Our experimental results suggest that the proposed methodology may be seen as a promising building block towards a system to detect general protocol anomalies in HTTP traffic.     

Multi-label incremental learning applied to web page categorization

Multi-label problems are challenging because each instance may be associated with an unknown number of categories, and the relationship among the categories is not always known. A large amount of data is necessary to infer the required information regarding the categories, but these data are normally available only in small batches and distributed over a period of time. In this work, multi-label problems are tackled using an incremental neural network known as the evolving Probabilistic Neural Network (ePNN). This neural network is capable of continuous learning while maintaining a reduced architecture, so that it can always receive training data when available with no drastic growth of its structure. We carried out a series of experiments on web page data sets and compared the performance of ePNN to that of other multi-label categorizers. On average, ePNN outperformed the other categorizers in four out of five metrics used for evaluation, and the structure of ePNN was less complex than that of the other algorithms evaluated.     

Efficient viewshed computation on terrain in external memory

The recent availability of detailed geographic data permits terrain applications to process large areas at high resolution. However the required massive data processing presents significant challenges, demanding algorithms optimized for both data movement and computation. One such application is viewshed computation, that is, to determine all the points visible from a given point p. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm to compute viewsheds on terrain stored in external memory. In the usual case where the observer’s radius of interest is smaller than the terrain size, the algorithm complexity is θ(scan(n ²)) where n ² is the number of points in an n × n DEM and scan(n ²) is the minimum number of I/O operations required to read n ² contiguous items from external memory. This is much faster than existing published algorithms.     

FDTD simulations and measurements for cell phone with planar antennas

The Finite-Difference Time-Domain (fdtd) method is used to calculate the cellular phone far and near field and the specific absorption rate (sar) in the user’s head. The conventional λ/4 monopole and a simple planar antenna are simulated and measured. The simulated results are in good agreement with those measured for thevswr and for the radiation patterns on the horizontal and vertical planes. These results show that significant improvements in the antenna radiation efficiency and in the reduction of thesar in the head are obtained when planar antennas are used.     

Optical control of microwave semiconductor devices

The use of optically controlled devices to perform a range of circuit functions is reviewed. The optical control of amplifier performance is discussed. The optical control of two- and three-terminal oscillators and optically pumped mixers is discussed. Among the active devices treated are Gunn and IMPATT oscillators; MESFET and HEMT amplifiers, oscillators, and mixtures; and diode mixers. Future directions for research in this area are discussed     

A lower bound for the shortest Hamiltonean path in directed graphs

Summary We present in this paper a Lagrangean relaxation of a particular formulation for the shortest Hamiltonean path problem in a directed graph. The dual problem defined gives a lower bound. This relaxation has not the integrality property. To solve the dual problem we have to find a shortest path (not constrained to be elementary) with a fixed number of arcs, and solve a classical shortest path problem with nonnegative lengths.     

The tumor necrosis factor signaling complex: choosing a path toward cell death or cell proliferation

Signal transduction pathways which are initiated by the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) utilize receptors which are devoid of intrinsic catalytic activity. Recently identified two families of proteins that directly associate with the cytoplasmic domains of the TNF receptor family members, have partially bridged a molecular gap within the TNF-induced signaling pathways. Clearly, there are numerous alternate routes that originate from the TNF ligand-receptor assembly and terminate on the diverse cellular responses, including proliferation, differentiation, or death. This review focuses on recent advances characterizing the TNF ligand-receptor signaling network, which allow to better understand its participation in a life-death balance within the target cell.     

Long-term patency of vein grafts preserved in liquid nitrogen in dimethyl sulfoxide

Autogenous canine jugular veins were stored in 15% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in liquid nitrogen vapor for one to 28 days and then implanted in the carotid artery as autografts. The patency rate at one year was 62.5-87.5%. The patency rate of fresh jugular vein autografts placed in the carotid artery for one year was 75%. Similar autografts stored in liquid nitrogen vapor for one to 28 days without the cryopreservative DMSO exhibited a zero to 12.5% patency rate at one year. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed preservation of theendothelium in DMSO protected veins and a damaged or sloughed endothelium in veins frozen without DMSO cryopreservation.