Regional Climate Simulations on EU-INDIA Grid Infrastructures: Methodologies and Performance

In this paper, we present a possible approach to use different Grid infrastructures across Europe and India for regional climate simulations and discuss in details the advantages and limitations in using them. The application taken into consideration is the Regional Climate Model RegCM4, which has been recently re-written for making it more efficient and easier to be fully exploited on any kind of computational infrastructure. We describe here the methods applied to port this package on the Grid infrastructures made available by the EU-IndiaGrid project. We also discuss different approaches, the way to run the model on both European and Indian infrastructures and our promising approach to deal with data management issues. Use of RegCM on Grid infrastructure has further been compared with that on HPC resources. The domain worked upon for these tests is the South-Asia CORDEX domain, which is of great importance for the Indian Summer Monsoon. Our final conclusion is that, for certain class of experiments, RegCM4 model can be efficiently and easily integrated on Grid infrastructures, by means of the procedures described in this paper.     

Feature Selection for Detecting ICMPv6-Based DDoS Attacks Using Binary Flower Pollination Algorithm

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the latest version of IP that goal to host 3.4 × 10³⁸ unique IP addresses of devices in the network. IPv6 has introduced new features like Neighbour Discovery Protocol (NDP) and Address Auto-configuration Scheme. IPv6 needed several protocols like the Address Auto-configuration Scheme and Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMPv6). IPv6 is vulnerable to numerous attacks like Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) which is one of the most dangerous attacks executed through ICMPv6 messages that impose security and financial implications. Therefore, an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a monitoring system of the security of a network that detects suspicious activities and deals with a massive amount of data comprised of repetitive and inappropriate features which affect the detection rate. A feature selection (FS) technique helps to reduce the computation time and complexity by selecting the optimum subset of features. This paper proposes a method for detecting DDoS flooding attacks (FA) based on ICMPv6 messages using a Binary Flower Pollination Algorithm (BFPA-FA). The proposed method (BFPA-FA) employs FS technology with a support vector machine (SVM) to identify the most relevant, influential features. Moreover, The ICMPv6-DDoS dataset was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through different attack scenarios. The results show that the proposed method BFPA-FA achieved the best accuracy rate (97.96%) for the ICMPv6 DDoS detection with a reduced number of features (9) to half the total (19) features. The proven proposed method BFPA-FA is effective in the ICMPv6 DDoS attacks via IDS.     

Intrusion Detection Systems Using Blockchain Technology: A Review,Issues and Challenges

Intrusion detection systems that have emerged in recent decades can identify a variety of malicious attacks that target networks by employing several detection approaches. However, the current approaches have challenges in detecting intrusions, which may affect the performance of the overall detection system as well as network performance. For the time being, one of the most important creative technological advancements that plays a significant role in the professional world today is blockchain technology. Blockchain technology moves in the direction of persistent revolution and change. It is a chain of blocks that covers information and maintains trust between individuals no matter how far apart they are. Recently, blockchain was integrated into intrusion detection systems to enhance their overall performance. Blockchain has also been adopted in healthcare, supply chain management, and the Internet of Things. Blockchain uses robust cryptography with private and public keys, and it has numerous properties that have leveraged security’s performance over peer-to-peer networks without the need for a third party. To explore and highlight the importance of integrating blockchain with intrusion detection systems, this paper provides a comprehensive background of intrusion detection systems and blockchain technology. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of emerging intrusion detection systems based on blockchain technology is presented. Finally, this paper suggests important future research directions and trending topics in intrusion detection systems based on blockchain technology.     

Optical detection of CA 15.3 breast cancer antigen using CdS quantum dot

The present study focus on optical sensing of breast cancer antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) using cadmium sulphide quantum dot (CdS‐QD) in saline and serum samples spiked with antigen. The surface of CdS‐QD was modified by cysteamine capping followed by tagging of CA 15.3 antibody. The samples were characterised using UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy (UV‐VIS Spectroscopy), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) attached with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, phase contrast inverted epi‐fluorescence microscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry (EDS). The CdS‐QD showed a mean diameter of 3.02 ± 0.6 nm. The complex formed after antigen‐antibody interaction resulted in distinguishable optical and fluorescence intensity with respect to varying concentration of antigen. The PL study revealed that CA 15.3 antibody labelled CdS QD can detect CA 15.3 tumour marker even at very low concentration of 0.002 KU/L with a constant response time of 15 min. This study clearly indicates that detection of CA 15.3 at low concentration is possible using surface modified CdS QD in serum samples and can find immense applications in biosensor development for detection of breast cancer marker similar to various automated detection kits available in market.Inspec keywords: semiconductor quantum dots, cadmium compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, cancer, tumours, optical sensors, biosensors, biomedical equipment, visible spectra, ultraviolet spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray chemical analysis, fluorescence, optical microscopy, photoluminescence, proteins, molecular biophysics, nanosensors, nanomedicine, nanoparticlesOther keywords: optical detection, CA 15.3 breast cancer antigen, optical sensing, cadmium sulphide quantum dot, saline samples, serum samples, cysteamine capping, CA 15.3 antibody, UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, phase contrast inverted epifluorescence microscopy, photoluminescence spectrophotometry, antigen‐antibody interaction, fluorescence intensity, optical intensity, CA 15.3 tumour marker, surface modified CdS QD, biosensor development, time 15 min, CdS     

Synthesis of Co3 O4 /graphene nanocomposite using paraffin wax for adsorption of methyl violet in water

This study discusses the use of Co₃ O₄ impregnated graphene (CoOIG) as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of methyl violet (MV) dye from wastewater. CoOIG nanocomposites have been prepared by pyrolyzing paraffin wax with cobalt acetate. The synthesised nanocomposite was characterised by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller isotherm studies. The above studies indicate that the composites have cobalt oxide nanoparticles of size 51–58 nm embedded in the graphene nanoparticles. The adsorption studies were conducted with various parameters, pH, temperature and initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage and contact time by the batch method. The adsorption of MV dye by the adsorbent CoOIG was about 90% initially at 15 min and 98% dye removal at pH 5. The data were fitted in Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich and Sips isotherm models. Various thermodynamic parameters like Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of the on‐going adsorption process have also been calculated.Inspec keywords: cobalt compounds, graphene, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, nanofabrication, adsorption, dyes, scanning electron microscopy, field emission electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, free energy, enthalpy, entropyOther keywords: nanocomposite, paraffin wax, adsorption, methyl violet dye, water, X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller isotherm, cobalt oxide nanoparticles, graphene nanoparticles, thermodynamic parameters, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, entropy, Co₃ O₄ ‐C     

ICOSL Stimulation by ICOS-Fc Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing In Vivo

Background: ICOS and its ligand ICOSL are immune receptors whose interaction triggers bidirectional signals that modulate the immune response and tissue repair. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the in vivo effects of ICOSL triggering by ICOS-Fc, a recombinant soluble form of ICOS, on skin wound healing. Methods: The effect of human ICOS-Fc on wound healing was assessed, in vitro, and, in vivo, by skin wound healing assay using ICOS^−/− and ICOSL^−/− knockout (KO) mice and NOD-SCID-IL2R null (NSG) mice. Results: We show that, in wild type mice, treatment with ICOS-Fc improves wound healing, promotes angiogenesis, preceded by upregulation of IL-6 and VEGF expression; increases the number of fibroblasts and T cells, whereas it reduces that of neutrophils; and increases the number of M2 vs. M1 macrophages. Fittingly, ICOS-Fc enhanced M2 macrophage migration, while it hampered that of M1 macrophages. ICOS^−/− and ICOSL^−/− KO, and NSG mice showed delayed wound healing, and treatment with ICOS-Fc improved wound closure in ICOS^−/− and NSG mice. Conclusion: These data show that the ICOS/ICOSL network cooperates in tissue repair, and that triggering of ICOSL by ICOS-Fc improves cutaneous wound healing by increasing angiogenesis and recruitment of reparative macrophages.     

Morphology,Mineralogy and Mixing of Individual Atmospheric Particles Over Kanpur (IGP): Relevance of Homogeneous Equivalent Sphere Approximation in Radiative Models

Estimation of the direct radiative forcing (DRF) by atmospheric particles is uncertain to a large extent owing to uncertainties in their morphology (shape and size), mixing states, and chemical composition. A region-specific database of the aforementioned physico-chemical properties (at individual particle level) is necessary to improve numerically-estimated optical and radiative properties. Till date, there is no detailed observation of the above mentioned properties over Kanpur in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). To fill this gap, an experiment was carried out at Kanpur (IITK; 26.52°N, 80.23°E, 142 m msl), India from April to July, 2011. Particle types broadly classified as (a) Cu-rich particles mixed with carbon and sulphur (b) dust and clays mixed with carbonaceous species (c) Fe-rich particles mixed with carbon and sulfur and (d) calcite (CaCO₃) particles aged with nitrate, were observed. The frequency distributions of aspect ratio (AR; indicator of extent of particle non-sphericity) of total 708 particles from April to June reveal that particles with aspect ratio range >1.2 to ≤1.4 were abundant throughout the experiment except during June when it was found to shift to high AR range, >1.4 to ≤1.6 (followed with another peak of AR i.e. >2 to ≤2.4) due to dust storm conditions enhancing the occurrence of more non-spherical particles over the sampling site. The spherical particles (and close to spherical shape; AR range, 1.0 to ≤1.2) were found to be <20% throughout the experiment with a minimum (11.5%) during June. Consideration of Homogeneous Equivalent Sphere Approximation (HESA) in the optical/radiative model over the study region is found to be irrelevant during the campaign.     

Synthesis,structural and optical properties of Er doped,Li doped and Er + Li co-doped ZnO nanocrystallites by solution-combustion method

Pure zinc oxide (ZnO) and 2 mol% of Er, 1 mol% of Li individually doped and Er + Li co-doped ZnO nanopowders were synthesized by auto-combustion method. Crystal structure and grain size were characterized by X-ray diffractometer and found that all synthesized samples have hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were used to determine the morphology and size of the nanocrystallites. A UV–VIS measurement shows four absorbance peaks in the visible regions and the band gap is slowly blue shifted after annealing at 800 °C. The presence of Er, Li and the hexagonal wurtzite structure was confirmed by FT-IR studies. FT-Raman spectroscopy has been employed to study the crystalline quality and structural disorders.     

Study of Size Distribution in Nanostructured Se<Subscript>58</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>39</Subscript>Pb<Subscript>3</Subscript> Glass Using Various Characterization Methods

The present paper aims at the study of size distribution of particles in nanostructured Se₅₈Ge₃₉Pb₃ glass using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–visible spectrophotometer. The thin film sample has been prepared using melt quenching technique and inert gas consolidation method. The particle size distribution obtained from XRD and UV–Vis spectrophotometer shows more uncertainty than the results obtained from TEM measurements. The absorption spectra recorded on UV–Vis spectrophotometer is employed to get band gap values corresponding to different size distribution in sample. Further, it is concluded that TEM is the best measurement technique for size distribution as it has less uncertainty in the obtained results.