The making of a spam zombie army. Dissecting the Sobig worms

On 25 June 2003, a new mass-mailing worm, Sobig.E, emerged. The worm was highly successful at infecting computer systems. It is the fifth revision of a worm that first raised its ugly head in January 2003. There is strong evidence that spammers use infected computers to relay unsolicited commercial e-mail.     

Mechanical improvement of hydroxyapatite by TiO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanoparticles deposition

Deposition of Ti was carried out by laser ablation onto hydroxyapatite porous discs in an Ar atmosphere. Ti nanoparticles were deposited onto HAp surface in order to modify its roughness and morphology as it is observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). A homogeneous distribution of Ti over the disc surface was corroborated by elemental mapping. A comparison of the hydroxyapatite hardness before and after deposition was performed using SPM nanoindentation. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the Ti nanoparticles obtained were covered by an oxygen shell. It is shown that surface modifications of the covered HAp by Ti result in better mechanical properties, reducing the possible damage to the HAp ceramic by friction or impacts as it often happens in meniscus, bone junctions and the inclusion of prosthesis for human treatments.     

洁净煤技术项目融资的可能性综述

在不久的将来煤仍然是世界能源生产的主要燃料，煤消耗量的预期增长和对环境保护的日益关注使得洁净煤技术拥有巨大的市场潜力。这一巨大的市场将提供重大的投资机会，吸引众多大型融资机构，同时也将激励公共部门投资示范工程和洁净煤技术的发展。洁净煤技术的主要融资机构包括世界银行、欧洲投资银行、欧洲改革和发展银行、出口信用代理机构和商业银行。能源服务公司、当地的融资机构、完整的资源规划和需求侧管理将有助于克服融资障碍。     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Blends Formed by Polymeric Crown Ethers and a Fullerene-Containing Primary Ammonium Salt in Organic Thin Films

The synthesis of a series of polymers and cyclopolymers bearing crown ethers of differing structure and affinities towards primary ammonium ions is discussed. These polymers have been tested in their efficiency to form structurally homogeneous thin films when blended with an amphiphilic C₆₀ compound containing a primary ammonium ion functional group. The X-ray reflectivity characterization of the films revealed that the polymer bearing the crown ether with the least affinity for primary ammonium ions, but having the highest degree of polymerization, is the most effective in forming structurally homogeneous thin films.     

Method for the Microwave Measurement of Carrier Lifetime in Lightly Doped Silicon Ingots

A further investigation is conducted into a new microwave method for evaluating bulk lifetime in silicon ingots     

The Use of Biopreservatives in the Control of Bacterial Contaminants of Sugarcane Alcohol Fermentation

ABSTRACT: Efficacy and safety of biopreservatives were studied for microbiological control of alcohol fermentation. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of nisin and lysozyme, and combinations with EDTA and Tween 20, were determined for Lactobacillus plantarum, L. fermentum , and L. confusus. The highest MIC value for nisin was 9.0 ppm for L. fermentum. Lysozyme was efficient against L. plantarum (700 ppm). A 2⁴ factorial design was used to study the effect of biopreservatives and potentiators on the growth kinetics of Lactobacillus fermentum. The combination of 8.6 ppm of nisin plus 0.1% of Tween 20 delayed the lag phase by 12 h. The biopreservatives did not affect the fermentation kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.