Vulnerable Spots Research Articles

Chip design thwarts sneak attack on data

Data encrypted on your computer should be safe, as long as you're the only one with the key to the encryption. But one variant of newer-and sneakier-attacks can deduce the key by striking a vulnerable spot: the CPU's on-chip memory, called the cache. Software-based attempts to bolster cache security have bad side effects, however, which can severely degrade the computer's performance. Now researchers have developed a new kind of cache architecture that neutralizes these attacks. They found that combining the best qualities of the two main types of cache had amazing results: a secure cache that also handles data faster and consumes less power.

고대 이집트 신화에 나타난 고대 장신구 연구

고대의 정신세계는 인류의 사상의 근원이 되는 소중한 가치를 가지고 있다. 본 연구는 과학의 발달로 점차 소멸되어가는 인류의 근원적 정신세계를 고대 신화적 요소에서의 상징적 표현으로 나타나는 고대이집트 신들의 장신구로부터 연구하여, 신들의 장신구를 통해 반영되어진 고대인들의 정신세계의 독특한 인간관을 재조명하고자 한다. 이집트에서 장신구는 장식적 역할도 분명하지만, 그 근본적인 목적은 부적 즉, 신체의 취약한 부분에 지님으로써 신비적이고 적대적 힘으로부터 보호받기 위한 주술적 목적으로 사용되었다. 이러한 단면에서 시사하는 것처럼 인류는 인간 스스로 해결 할 수 없는 초월적인 문제를 초자연의 힘을 빌려 해결하려 하였고, 그 안에서 삶을 영위해가기를 추구하였다. 때문에 본 연구는 인류의 문명을 대표하고 있는 이집트 장신구의 형성 과정을 이집트 문화적 배경과 신화를 통해, 신들의 장신구에 내포되어 있는 정신적 의미와, 신들의 장신구의 역할이 무엇이었는지 알아보고, 또한 이집트인들이 신들의 장선 구를 통해 무엇을 염원하였는지 고찰하였다. 그 결과 이집트 신들의 장신구들은 첫째로 자연을 묘사하고 있었고 둘째는 선분의 상정, 성별의 구분과 종교의식의 의미를 지니고 있었으며 셋째로는 사후세계를 믿었음을 보여주었고 마지막으로 부활을 상징하고 있었다. The spiritual world of the ancient times has precious values which forms the origin of human thought. This study aims to reevaluate ancient people's particular views on man in their spiritual world reflected through gods' ornaments by studying the human race's fundamental spiritual world gradually disappearing due to science development from Egyptian gods' ornaments expressed symbolically in Ancient mythical components. Although evidently ornaments in Egypt served for decoration, the basic purpose was exorcism as amulets, a shamanistic purpose to be protected from mystical and hostile powers by carrying them on the vulnerable spots of the body. As this aspect indicates, the human race tried to solve their self-insoluble transcendental issues through the help of supernatural power, pursuing to lead their lives there within. As a result, Egyptian ornaments; First, the deity raised their value by deifying human-beings. Second, the nobility enhanced their dignity by having goddesses wear the same skirts as theirs. Thirds, all deities maintained their class society by wearing fpassiums, bracelets, and anklets. Fourth, the resurrection was symbolized through gods and goddesses in charge of the afterlife.

Karst morphology and groundwater vulnerability of high alpine karst plateaus

High alpine karst plateaus are recharge areas for major drinking water resources in the Alps and many other regions. Well-established methods for the vulnerability mapping of groundwater to contamination have not been applied to such areas yet. The paper characterises this karst type and shows that two common vulnerability assessment methods (COP and PI) classify most of the areas with high vulnerability classes. In the test site on the Hochschwab plateau (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria), overlying layers are mostly absent, not protective or even enhance point recharge, where they have aquiclude character. The COP method classifies 82% of the area as highly or extremely vulnerable. The resulting maps are reasonable, but do not differentiate vulnerabilities to the extent that the results can be used for protective measures. An extension for the upper end of the vulnerability scale is presented that allows identifying ultra vulnerable areas. The proposed enhancement of the conventional approach points out that infiltration conditions are of key importance for vulnerability. The method accounts for karst genetical and hydrologic processes using qualitative and quantitative properties of karst depressions and sinking streams including parameters calculated from digital elevations models. The method is tested on the Hochschwab plateau where 1.7% of the area is delineated as ultra vulnerable. This differentiation could not be reached by the COP and PI methods. The resulting vulnerability map highlights spots of maximum vulnerability and the combination with a hazard map enables protective measures for a manageable area and number of sites.

Wolność egoisty

The main purpose of this article is to outline the idea of the anarchistic egoism included in Max Stirner's "Ego and His Own". I tried to represent Stirner as an original philosopher who visibly distinguished himself among other thinkers of his days. My aim was also defend him from various attacks of his critics and adversaries who reproached him for being inconsistent or perplexed in the very vulnerable spots of his work. In my opinion 'being awkward' which Camus accuses Stirner of, is nothing else than a tough consequence of the egoistic philosophy which forced the author of "Ego and His Own" to stop his deduction in some point. By referring to Nietzsche and existentialists I endeavoured to show Stirner's Egoist as a precursor of the Nietzsche's Superman and the Camus's Stranger. In the evolution of an idea this two directions were two different ways of extending the construction which foundations were laid down by Stirner. That is why I find Max Stirner one of the most influential thinker of the 10th century who had a great impact on formation of the new look on man and his world. This article is about solitude, alienation, egoism, strength and power which born every time when the conscious and sovereign human being is faced with the indifferent, trivial and inert world.

Priority examination of Sabo improvement project based on evaluation of vulnerable spots for sediment-related disasters with Data Envelopment Analysis

Priority examination of Sabo improvement project based on evaluation of vulnerable spots for sediment-related disasters with Data Envelopment Analysis

Electric field and electron orbits near a triple point

Triple point, defined as the junction of metal, dielectric, and vacuum, is the location where electron emission is favored in the presence of a sufficiently strong electric field. In addition to being an electron source, the triple point is generally regarded as the location where flashover is initiated in high voltage insulation, and as the vulnerable spot from which rf breakdown is triggered. In this paper, we focus on the electric field distribution at a triple point of a general geometry, as well as the electron orbits in its immediate vicinity. We calculate the orbit of the first generation electrons, the seed electrons. It is found that, despite the mathematically divergent electric field at the triple point, significant electron yield most likely results from secondary electron emission when the seed electrons strike the dielectric. The analysis gives the voltage scale in which this electron multiplication may occur. It also provides an explanation on why certain dielectric angles are more favorable to electron generation over others, as observed in previous experiments.

A utility optimization method of a high voltage vacuum interrupter design

In this paper, a new method of electric field design of high voltage vacuum interrupters is proposed. According to the multi-gap insulation effect and the vulnerable breakdown spots theory, the symmetrical voltage shields are proved to be effective. So the initial model of a high voltage vacuum interrupter is designed. Next with finite element methods and optimization theory, a mathematical model of electric field intensity in interrupters is given. What's more, by optimizing this model with finite element software, a more symmetrical electric field in vacuum interrupters is obtained and its peak value appear as in the second auxiliary gaps (the two gaps between the center floating shield and the symmetrical voltage shields). The result shows that with this method, the vacuum interrupters can withstand higher static breakdown.

HIV TAKES A PUNCH

ARECENTLY DISCOVERED chink in HIV's seemingly impenetrable armor may provide the structural insights needed to develop a vaccine. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Scripps Research Institute, and Harvard Medical School combined forces to solve the X-ray structure of a powerful blocking antibody bound to a vulnerable spot on HIV's envelope protein ( Nature 2007,445,732). Figuring out how these potent antibodies block infection gives researchers a blueprint for designing a vaccine that could spur the human immune system to do the same. The work is a huge advance, comments Warner C. Greene, director of the Gladstone Institute of Virology & Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco. This type of data could greatly inform future efforts to design vaccines, which he describes as a long-stymied venture. After years of disheartening results, people started thinking that a vaccine was not possible, says coauthor Peter D. Kwong of the National Institute ...

The Environmental Vulnerability of Caribbean Island Nations

Within the hazards‐ and disaster‐research community consensus exists as to factors that magnify or attenuate the effects of extreme natural events on local places. But less agreement and understanding exist concerning the methods or techniques for comparing hazard vulnerability within or between places, especially small‐island developing states. Using two Caribbean nations, Saint Vincent and Barbados, as study sites, we asked which island has the greater level of hazard vulnerability, and why. Results indicate that, although neither island has a large portion of its population living in extremely hazardous locations, Barbados has many more residents in risk‐prone areas. The methods used in this research provide valuable tools for local emergency managers in assessing vulnerability, especially through the delineation of highly vulnerable hot spots. They can also help donor organizations interested in vulnerability reduction on islands use their resources more efficiently.

Developing the interaction matrix technique as a tool assessing the impact of traffic on air quality

This paper develops a technique which can be used as a preliminary tool for assessing air quality related to urban traffic. It combines a Geographic Information System (GIS) with an interaction matrix-type methodology based on a system analysis approach. The matrix identifies and quantifies interactions between all selected variables involved in a system as well as their interaction with the system as a whole. This matrix is used to determine the weightings to apply to spatial datasets within a GIS to develop a pollution vulnerability map. The focus of the paper is to introduce and assess a more versatile coding of the interaction matrix with respect to previously used coding. A case study is presented in which the modified interaction methodology is applied to data for a busy urban location. The resulting vulnerability map, in terms of pollution vulnerable hot spots, was compared to a pollution map derived from an advanced dispersion model. The interaction matrix technique with GIS can be used as a tool complementary to sophisticated numerical modelling and has potential as an analytical tool to evaluate multidisciplinary systems.

Structural Analysis of Single-Point Mutations Given an RNA Sequence: A Case Study with RNAMute

We introduce here for the first time the RNAMute package, a pattern-recognition-based utility to perform mutational analysis and detect vulnerable spots within an RNA sequence that affect structure. Mutations in these spots may lead to a structural change that directly relates to a change in functionality. Previously, the concept was tried on RNA genetic control elements called riboswitches and other known RNA switches, without an organized utility that analyzes all single-point mutations and can be further expanded. The RNAMute package allows a comprehensive categorization, given an RNA sequence that has functional relevance, by exploring the patterns of all single-point mutants. For illustration, we apply the RNAMute package on an RNA transcript for which individual point mutations were shown experimentally to inactivate spectinomycin resistance in Escherichia coli. Functional analysis of mutations on this case study was performed experimentally by creating a library of point mutations using PCR and screening to locate those mutations. With the availability of RNAMute, preanalysis can be performed computationally before conducting an experiment.

Structural analysis of single-point mutations given an RNA sequence

We introduce here for the first time the RNAMute package, a pattern-recognition-based utility to perform mutational analysis and detect vulnerable spots within an RNA sequence that affect structure...

Cracking of spring planks in Wagon Truck K4

Based on the American swing motion truck techniques and some improvements, Wagon Truck K4 is manufactured as a new type truck. The spring plank, a key part on the truck, plays an important role in reliability of the truck. After being in service for about half a year, it was found that there were cracks 10–15 mm in length on the planks for many trucks. All cracks were located at the same positions, i.e., at the two ends of welded seams between the plank body and the fender, and then propagated into the plank body in the longitudinal direction of the plank. Chemical analysis, mechanical tests and metallurgical inspections show that the elemental composition, tensile strength and hardnesses correspond to the technical requirements and there are no abnormal phenomena in microstructures either in the bodies or in the welded seams. Fracture surface observation reveals that there are a few origins and obvious beach marks, which demonstrates the cracking is a typical fatigue failure and implies there are high stresses at the cracking positions. Mechanical simulation tests and FEM indicate that the cracking sites are vulnerable spots on the planks and there is constructive stress concentration interference. Therefore, the failures are mainly due to the high stresses at the seams. In addition, weld quality is another important factor contributing to the failures. Preventative measures, such as changing the structure of the plank or the length of the seam so as to diminish constructive interference, and polishing the weld seam so that the stress concentration becomes as low as possible, are put forward.

Apologetic Discourse and the Scribal Tradition: Evidence of the Influence of Apologetic Interests on the Text of the Canonical Gospels

Apologetic Discourse and the Scribal Tradition: Evidence of the Influence of Apologetic Interests on the Text of the Canonical Gospels, by Wayne C. Kannaday. SBL TextCritical Studies 5. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature; Leiden: Brill, 2004. Pp. xiii + 274. $130,00/$39.95. ISBN 9004130853/1589831012. That the early Christians were engaged textual wars with pagan critics is by now well known. What has scarcely been explored, until now, is the degree to which early Christian scribes participated these wars the process of reproducing-copyingearly Christian texts. This study succeeds filling this gap. Kannaday's study, a revision of his doctoral dissertation under the of Bart D. Ehrman, is a compelling one: he argues, quite conclusively to my mind, scribes engaged the work of transmitting the canonical Gospels did indeed, some cases, modify their exemplars under the influence of apologetic (p. 57). To build his case for apologetics (p. 139), Kannaday focuses his attention on the textual traditions of the NT Gospels and proceeds successive chapters to show how the precise arguments made by pagan critics and Christian apologists can be found variant readings throughout the Gospels. The opening chapter introduces the various subfields that will be united the volume: the field of NT textual criticism and the field of early Christian apologetics. Specialists either of these fields will find little here, but including this material (which may well be a remnant of its once-dissertation status) allows the volume to reach a much broader audience. Kannaday offers brief introductions to the works of pagan critics (e.g., Pliny, Tacitus, Seutonius, Lucian, Apuleius, Marcus Cornelius Pronto, Celsus, Porphyry) and early Christian apologists (e.g., Quadratus, Aristides, Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Melito, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, and Minucius Felix). Particularly helpful this first chapter is Kannaday's overview of the directions taken the field of NT textual criticism: while the seeds of this new direction were sown a century ago by the works of J. Rendel Harris and others, Kannaday is right to highlight how the work of his mentor, Bart Ehrman, (and others) has sought to redirect the focus away from establishing the original text of the NT and toward exploring how the transmission of the NT intersected with the historical dynamics of the second, third, and fourth centuries. Chapter 2 (Antiquity, Harmony, and Factual Consistency) brings the reader to the evidence itself. In a pattern that will repeat itself for the next three chapters, Kannaday begins by highlighting a particular theme the controversies between Christians and their pagan opponents and then demonstrates how the theme is apparent the textual traditions themselves. Here the subject is the pagan attacks on the apparent novelty (i.e., newness) of Christianity and their criticisms of the inconsistencies Christian Scriptures. Kannaday shows how Christian apologists and scribes worked to prove the antiquity of the Christian faith and modified the Scriptures so as to make them more consistent. Many of the variants Kannaday treats here and elsewhere, of course, have been studied by other NT textual critics, but Kannaday offers plausible, and often highly compelling, explanations for the cause of the variants. For example, his lengthy treatment of a variant at Mark 1:2 (Does the text read in Isaiah the prophet or in the prophets?), Kannaday suggests that, although scribes may simply have wished to omit errors-and hence preferred the more general reading in the prophets since what follows is not simply a prophetic passage from Isaiah-there may well have been an additional motivation at work: it is reasonable to posit apologetic interests as the momentum behind this scribal alteration. Certainly the effect of the change served apologetic interests, as the correction buttressed a vulnerable spot the text that had already been exploited by an antagonist [i. …

A GIS methodology for assessing ecological connectivity: application to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area

We developed a new methodology for the assessment of landscape and ecological connectivity at regional scale. This method has been entirely formalized using mathematical language, is supported by a topological analysis of a 1:25,000 scale land use map, and has been developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The method allows the elaboration of a diagnose of the connectivity of terrestrial landscape ecosystems, on the basis of a previously defined set of ecological functional areas, and a computational cost-distance model which includes the barrier effect. This last component takes into consideration the type of barrier, the distance impact, and the adjacent land use and vegetation type. We defined two new compound indices: one for ecological connectivity and another for the barrier effect. The practical interest of our model is that it not only allows a cost-effective assessment of the current situation, but it has predictive capabilities, allowing the quantitative assessment and comparison of the impacts resulting from different planning scenarios or different infrastructure alternatives on the landscape and ecological connectivity. The application of this model to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (BMA), 16% of which is currently classified as urban, showed that 65% of the BMA area is currently occupied by functional ecological areas, and that 18% is covered by artificial barriers, although they have a direct negative impact on 56.5% of the area. The model also allowed the identification of vulnerable spots, including 1.7% of the BMA that has a critical importance for ecological connectivity, as well as the network of landscape linkages and ecological corridors that offer a high restoration potential. Further applications of this methodology assessing the impacts of regional and urban plans on ecological connectivity, suggest than it could easily be extrapolated to other regions.

Corrosion resistance of laser-fabricated metal–matrix composite layer on stainless steel 316L

Laser fabrication of ceramic-reinforced metal–matrix composite (MMC) layer on stainless steel 316L was achieved by a two-step process. Metal–ceramic powders (Ni–WC, Co–WC, Ni–Al2O3, Ni–Cr3C2) and ceramic powders (WC, SiC, CrB2) were preplaced on 316L specimens by flame spraying and pasting, respectively. The preplaced coatings were then irradiated by a high power laser to form MMCs with low (up to 28%) and high (over 80%) volume fractions of ceramic particles. The microstructure and composition of the MMC layers were studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, and image analysis. The corrosion behavior of the laser-fabricated layers in 3.5% NaCl solution at 23 °C was studied by the cyclic potentiodynamic polarization technique. The corrosion resistance of the laser-surfaced specimens varied depending on the type and volume fraction of the reinforcement incorporated. In general, the corrosion potential shifted in the noble direction relative to 316L, but the pitting corrosion resistance deteriorated. Moreover, the results of the present study indicate that a high volume fraction of ceramic particles in an MMC layer was unfavorable for pitting corrosion resistance due to the difficulty in the formation of intact passive films and the presence of vulnerable spots at the ceramic/matrix interface.

Magic, wonder and Scientific Explanation in Apollonius,Argonautica4.1638–93

The last serious challenge faced by the Argonauts in Book 4 of Apollonius is Talos, a gigantic creature of bronze who keeps them from making a sorely needed landing on Crete. Exhausted from several days of uninterrupted rowing, Jason and his heroes despair of circumventing the brute. Medea, however, has a plan. With an extraordinary mental effort, she concentrates an immense rage in her face and eyes; this anger magically befuddles the giant, causing him to lose balance, scrape his ankle (the one vulnerable spot on his brazen body), and topple to his death. This is the final act of witchery performed by Medea in theArgonautica, and it is qualitatively different from her previous feats. Medea abandons the box of drugs and potions that have up to this point facilitated her magic, and casts a spell by ‘setting her mind to evil’ (θ∈μένη δὲ κακὸν νόον, 1669); the spell's effects are immediate and devastating. The reader is left with a vivid impression of Medea as a powerful sorceress, with magical capacities not necessarily expected in the shy young enchantress of Book 3. The Talos episode thus plays an important role within the epic as a whole, by gesturing to the larger story beyond it (best known to us, as to Apollonius, from Euripides'Medea) and to the yet more terrible powers Medea will reveal in time.

The geography of vulnerability: incorporating species geography and human development patterns into conservation planning

In any country, the geography of species needing protection is central to the development of conservation strategies. In this study we mapped the distribution of restricted-range birds and butterflies not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the conterminous United States, as well as measures of projected increases in human population and development. Areas with both restricted-range species and high growth rates were identified as “hot spots of vulnerability” — areas vulnerable to future species loss. These hot spots of vulnerability corresponded to many of the areas currently supporting large numbers of endangered species in the United States. Many of the restricted-range species identified, however, have existing ranges in Mexico and Central and South America. The conservation of these peripheral populations in the United States becomes even more important given that adjacent countries do not have legislation that protects endangered species. The methodology we present here could be used in other countries to identify species and areas of vulnerability before they become endangered.

Tracheoesophageal puncture: prosthetic voice management

In the past two decades, prosthetic voice rehabilitation has become the method of choice for many clinicians treating laryngectomized patients. The clinical applicability of voice prostheses, the safety of the tracheoesophageal puncture procedure, and the long-term success rates have been established. The superiority of prosthetic over esophageal voice and the importance of an optimal tonicity of the pharyngoesophageal segment or neoglottis for fluent speech are well known. Most clinicians have become familiar with the inevitable but mostly well-controllable complications associated with the use of a prosthetic device at this vulnerable spot in the human body. Also the role of Candida overgrowth, limiting the device life of voice prostheses, and the positive effect of antifungal medication have been established. The importance and possibilities of pulmonary rehabilitation of laryngectomized patients using heat and moisture exchangers have been worked out as well. Despite this progress in the last 20 years, there is still room for improvements. To establish which issues currently are focused on in clinical research, recent papers (approximately last half of 1997 through November 1998) were reviewed. The publications have been divided into seven subtopics: evaluation of prosthetic devices, clinical and surgical aspects, pharyngoesophageal segment/neoglottis, Candida aspects, voice and speech evaluation, speech therapy, and quality of life. The most relevant work in each subtopic has been reviewed.

Contaminant transport in bidimensional porous media via biased Monte Carlo simulation

One of the most vulnerable spots of nuclear power systems is the hazard posed by the radioactive wastes at the end of the fuel cycle. Currently, the most widely pursued end solution consists of disposing the radioactive wastes in repositories buried in deep geologic formations of presumed high stability. Licensing of such repositories is conditional on the assessment of the reliability of such confinement for quite extensive periods of time ranging from 10 000 to 1 million years. Over such long time scales the repositories may leak, thus releasing contaminants to the surrounding medium. The released contaminant may reach the groundwater and be transported for substantial distances, eventually returning to the biosphere, where it poses a hazard for human health and the environment. In the present paper, we propose a phenomenological model based on the Kolmogorov-Dmitriev theory of branching stochastic processes in which a distributed source releases contaminant which is transported over a bidimensional medium whose physical properties are stochastic in space. The proposed model is implemented within a Monte Carlo scheme which exploits variance reduction techniques.