ANANAS - A Framework For Analyzing Android Applications

Android is an open software platform for mobile devices with a large market share in the smartphone sector. The openness of the system as well as its wide adoption lead to an increasing amount of malware developed for this platform. ANANAS is an expandable and modular framework for analyzing Android applications. It takes care of common needs for dynamic malware analysis and provides an interface for the development of plugins. Adaptability and expandability have been main design goals during the development process. An abstraction layer for simple user interaction and phone event simulation is also part of the framework. It allows an analyst to script the required user simulation or phone events on demand or adjust the simulation to his needs. Six plugins have been developed for ANANAS. They represent well known techniques for malware analysis, such as system call hooking and network traffic analysis. The focus clearly lies on dynamic analysis, as five of the six plugins are dynamic analysis methods.Comment: Paper accepted at First Int. Workshop on Emerging Cyberthreats and Countermeasures ECTCM 201

Next-Generation SDN and Fog Computing: A New Paradigm for SDN-Based Edge Computing

In the last few years, we have been able to see how terms like Mobile Edge Computing, Cloudlets, and Fog computing have arisen as concepts that reach a level of popularity to express computing towards network Edge. Shifting some processing tasks from the Cloud to the Edge brings challenges to the table that might have been non-considered before in next-generation Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Efficient routing mechanisms, Edge Computing, and SDN applications are challenging to deploy as controllers are expected to have different distributions. In particular, with the advances of SDN and the P4 language, there are new opportunities and challenges that next-generation SDN has for Fog computing. The development of new pipelines along with the progress regarding control-to-data plane programming protocols can also promote data and control plane function offloading. We propose a new mechanism of deploying SDN control planes both locally and remotely to attend different challenges. We encourage researchers to develop new ways to functionally deploying Fog and Cloud control planes that let cross-layer planes interact by deploying specific control and data plane applications. With our proposal, the control and data plane distribution can provide a lower response time for locally deployed applications (local control plane). Besides, it can still be beneficial for a centralized and remotely placed control plane, for applications such as path computation within the same network and between separated networks (remote control plane)

Effects of van der Waals Interactions in the Adsorption of Isooctane and Ethanol on Fe(100) Surfaces

Van der Waals (vdW) forces play a fundamental role in the structure and behavior of diverse systems. Thanks to development of functionals that include non-local correlation, it is possible to study the effects of vdW interactions in systems of industrial and tribological interest. Here we simulated within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) the adsorption of isooctane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane) and ethanol on a Fe(100) surface, employing various exchange-correlation functionals to take vdW forces into account. In particular, this paper discusses the effect of vdW forces on the magnitude of adsorption energies, equilibrium geometries and their role in the binding mechanism. According to our calculations, vdW interactions increase the adsorption energies and reduce the equilibrium distances. Nevertheless, they do not influence the spatial configuration of the adsorbed molecules. Their effect on the electronic density is a non-isotropic, delocalized accumulation of charge between the molecule and the slab. In conclusion, vdW forces are essential for the adsorption of isooctane and ethanol on a bcc Fe(100) surface

Protocol TOP-Study (tacrolimus organ perfusion): a prospective randomized multicenter trial to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury in transplantation of marginal liver grafts with an "ex vivo" tacrolimus perfusion

Background: Critical organ shortage results in the utilization of extended donor criteria (EDC) liver grafts. These marginal liver grafts are prone to increased ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) which may contribute to deteriorated graft function and survival. Experimental data have shown that the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus exerts protective effects on hepatic IRI when applied intravenously or directly as a hepatic rinse. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the effects of an ex vivo tacrolimus perfusion on IRI in transplantation of EDC liver grafts. Methods/Design: The TOP-Study (tacrolimus organ perfusion) is a randomized multicenter trial comparing the ex vivo tacrolimus perfusion of marginal liver grafts with placebo. We hypothesize that a tacrolimus rinse reduces IRI, potentially improving organ survival following transplantation of EDC livers. The study includes livers with two or more EDC, according to Eurotransplant International Foundation’s definition of EDC livers. Prior to implantation, livers randomized to the treatment group are rinsed with tacrolimus at a concentration of 20 ng/ml in 1000 ml Custodiol solution and in the placebo group with Custodiol alone. The primary endpoint is the maximum serum alanine transamninase (ALT) level within the first 48 hours after surgery; however, the study design also includes a 1-year observation period following transplantation. The TOP-Study is an investigator-initiated trial sponsored by the University of Munich Hospital. Seven other German transplant centers are participating (Berlin, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mainz, Münster, Regensburg, Tübingen) and aim to include a total of 86 patients. Discussion: Tacrolimus organ perfusion represents a promising strategy to reduce hepatic IRI following the transplantation of marginal liver grafts. This treatment may help to improve the function of EDC grafts and therefore safely expand the donor pool in light of critical organ shortage. Trial register: EudraCT number: 2010-021333-31, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0156409

Ausstieg aus der ÖPUL-Maßnahme biologische Wirtschaftsweise

The end of the first five-year contract period of the Austrian Agri-environmental Program (ÖPUL) caused a number of farmers to opt out of the measure organic farming at the end of 1999 and in the following years. A survey was made in 2003 to explore the reasons for reverting to conventional farming. The three most important reasons were the high cost of organic grain for feed, the lack of price premia for organic products (mostly beef and milk) and the frequency of changes in organic standards. Most respondents operate grassland-based dairy farms in Alpine regions. The average size of the farms opting out was 12,0 ha

Der biologische Landbau in Österreich – Entwicklungen und Perspektiven

In den Jahren 1994 bis 1998 hatte der biologische Landbau in Österreich bisher seine stärkste Entwicklung. Die frühe Verankerung von Richtlinien für biologische Produkte pflanzlicher und tierischer Herkunft im österreichischen Lebensmittelbuch, die staatliche Förderung der Umstellung bzw. der Biobetriebe, günstige Bedingungen im Absatz durch den Einstieg der Supermarktketten, die Gründung einer Vermarktungsgesellschaft, eine aktive Verbandspolitik und der Ausbau der Beratung haben dazu beigetragen, dass Österreich in Europa den höchsten Anteil an Biobetrieben erreichte. Ende der neunziger Jahre hat sich diese dynamische Entwicklung nicht fortgesetzt. Ob die Krisen in der konventionellen Landwirtschaft einen neuerlichen Aufschwung durch eine anhaltend stärkere Nachfrage nach Bioprodukten bringen werden, lässt sich noch nicht abschätzen. Auch wenn betriebswirtschaftliche Untersuchungen für bestimmte Betriebe bzw. Regionen die ökonomische Vorzüglichkeit des biologischen Landbaus unter Beweis stellen, gibt es unter den derzeitigen Rahmenbedingungen eine Reihe von Vorbehalten und Hemmnissen, welche einer starken Ausweitung entgegenstehen. Vor dem Hintergrund einer starken Exportquote und der EU-Erweiterung wird erheblicher Handlungsbedarf geortet, um auch weiterhin zu den Ländern mit den höchsten Anteilen an Biobetrieben zu zählen

Sequential anti-cytomegalovirus response monitoring may allow prediction of cytomegalovirus reactivation after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Background: Reconstitution of cytomegalovirus-specific CD3+CD8+ T cells (CMV-CTLs) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is necessary to bring cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation under control. However, the parameters determining protective CMV-CTL reconstitution remain unclear to date. Design and Methods: In a prospective tri-center study, CMV-CTL reconstitution was analyzed in the peripheral blood from 278 patients during the year following HSCT using 7 commercially available tetrameric HLA-CMV epitope complexes. All patients included could be monitored with at least CMV-specific tetramer. Results: CMV-CTL reconstitution was detected in 198 patients (71%) after allogeneic HSCT. Most importantly, reconstitution with 1 CMV-CTL per µl blood between day +50 and day +75 post-HSCT discriminated between patients with and without CMV reactivation in the R+/D+ patient group, independent of the CMV-epitope recognized. In addition, CMV-CTLs expanded more daramtaically in patients experiencing only one CMV-reactivation than those without or those with multiple CMV reactivations. Monitoring using at least 2 tetramers was possible in 63% (n = 176) of the patients. The combinations of particular HLA molecules influenced the numbers of CMV-CTLs detected. The highest CMV-CTL count obtained for an individual tetramer also changed over time in 11% of these patients (n = 19) resulting in higher levels of HLA-B*0801 (IE-1) recognizing CMV-CTLs in 14 patients. Conclusions: Our results indicate that 1 CMV-CTL per µl blood between day +50 to +75 marks the beginning of an immune response against CMV in the R+/D+ group. Detection of CMV-CTL expansion thereafter indicates successful resolution of the CMV reactivation. Thus, sequential monitoring of CMV-CTL reconstitution can be used to predict patients at risk for recurrent CMV reactivation