Predicting Security Vulnerable Developers Based On Their Techno-Behavioral Characteristics

Assigning developers for highly secured software projects requires identifying developers’ tendency to contribute towards vulnerable software codes called developer-centric security vulnerability to mitigate issues on human resource management, financial and project timelines. There are problems in assessing the previous codebases in evaluating the developer-centric security vulnerability level of each developer. Thus, this paper suggests a method to evaluate this through the techno-behavioral features of their previous projects. Consequently, we present results of an exploratory study of the developer-centric security vulnerability level prediction using a dataset of 1827 developers by logically selecting 13 techno-behavioral features. Our results depict that there is a correlation between techno-behavioral features and developer-centric security vulnerability with 89.46% accuracy. This model enables to predict developer-centric security vulnerability level of any developer if the required techno-behavioral features are available avoiding the analysis of his/her previous codebases.

On the Cluster Validity Test (s) in Unsupervised Machine Learning TDA Approach for Atmospheric River Patterns on Flood Detection in Nigeria

TDA (i.e., Topological Data Analysis) has recently been a reliable and current research area in Statistics for extracting shape (information) from data. In this study, the researchers proposed an automated method that uses TDA & ML in identifying floods (ARs) in big data. Our process gives vital details on time series trends, which help mitigate the negative effect of ARs, such as flooding. The spatial data (between 1970 - 2018) from Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on four weather parameters were used. The daily datasets were converted to monthly datasets before the proposed method was applied. Python Software is used to develop code in the implementation of our process. Mostly, the outcome facts studied will drastically reduce disasters due to extreme events like floods and achieve some SDG goals related to the flood. The second objective is to identify potential flooding and no flooding in each zone. The work successfully used a real dataset and four variables that other studies have not used to fill a gap. After our model's training process, we obtained the best group at k = 2, where we have the highest Silhouette coefficient in each of the seven states. We have found a reasonable structure in the study considering the total average range (0.3 - 0.8). That gives an efficiency outcome of approximately 80%. Summary of clustered feature pattern shows the potential flood zone and no flood zone. We conducted cluster validity of our results using R software codes and, the test validated the best group at the same cluster k = 2. The Gap statistic shows efficiency ranging between 65% to 80% in the seven states. We found from figure 11 that only the Silhouette plot obtained optimal values at exactly k = 2; The researchers got the extent of the spread from the centroid using Excel software.

Implementation of Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation on System on Programmable Chip

For years, DSP has been the dominant tool in implementing gate switching for power inverter. It is a powerful and reliable technology in carrying out complex switching schemes. DSP is still expensive due to its intensive use of resource in chip fabrication. There is no flexibility in making change on hardware once a DSP chip is selected. It is also time consuming in a design development because the learning curve of the DSP is stiff. Recently, a new approach to the problem has emerged. It is called embedded system design. Basically, it is a FPGA system combined with a RISC type microprocessor. This is a robust combination that allows users to pick and choose any functional peripheral devices only as needed. Once the complete hardware platform is decided upon, the circuit is configured and down loaded to a chip. Software codes are then written to run the application. The hardware system is reconfigurable. Designers can always go back to change the hardware with ease in order to improve the performance and to meet the target cost. This is an attempt to utilize the embedded system design also called System on Programmable Chip (SOPC) to perform Space Vector Modulation (SVM) gate switching strategy. The Altera Nios II IDE tool is selected for this task.

Implementation of Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation on System on Programmable Chip

For years, DSP has been the dominant tool in implementing gate switching for power inverter. It is a powerful and reliable technology in carrying out complex switching schemes. DSP is still expensive due to its intensive use of resource in chip fabrication. There is no flexibility in making change on hardware once a DSP chip is selected. It is also time consuming in a design development because the learning curve of the DSP is stiff. Recently, a new approach to the problem has emerged. It is called embedded system design. Basically, it is a FPGA system combined with a RISC type microprocessor. This is a robust combination that allows users to pick and choose any functional peripheral devices only as needed. Once the complete hardware platform is decided upon, the circuit is configured and down loaded to a chip. Software codes are then written to run the application. The hardware system is reconfigurable. Designers can always go back to change the hardware with ease in order to improve the performance and to meet the target cost. This is an attempt to utilize the embedded system design also called System on Programmable Chip (SOPC) to perform Space Vector Modulation (SVM) gate switching strategy. The Altera Nios II IDE tool is selected for this task.

A Note on the Structural Assessment of Perforated Panels used in Façade

Different materials such as glass and composite cladding panels are common in the façade industry due to their architectural appearance. The direct sun rays enter the building and might produce discomfort to the occupants, especially in office and institutional buildings. Nowadays, perforated panels are widely used in facades and becoming more popular in the middle east. These panels are a formal exploration inspired by the Islamic patterns used in traditional Mashrabiya. This paper provides an overview of the application of Mashrabiya "perforated panels" and present structural assessment using software codes such as Robot and SAP2000 for vertical and horizontal installed cases. These panels are fabricated in different sizes with different thicknesses depends on their applications and uses. In this paper, rectangular, square fixed at the roof and vertically fixed panels are assessed. These are usually supported by steel or aluminium tubes designed for a wind load specified by project specifications. The cases presented here for the perforated panels arechecked for the induced stresses and deflections obtained from the numerical model using shell elements. The adopted framing systems and fixing detailing has been found satisfactory according to different acceptance criterion. The paper gives helpful design tools for the façade engineers.

Optimizing OCTG Thread Manufacturing Operation Using Automation

The paper discusses a unique technique developed initially at Nation Institute of Technology, Surat that is remodeled in real-world applications. The concept consists primarily of a user-friendly software facilitating direct communication with any intelligent or learning system/robot operating under known parameters of motor specifications. Any software base permitting high level PC interface without ASCII interrupt can be used for easy programming. This allows for a learning operation mode where a prevention of time lag is enabled by stored machine data, captured through movements such movements can be physically made or taught via programs to the device and such learning aspects make the machine more efficient where the robot can either perform individual actions as needed or learn new methods for the same results and can perform a series of actions continuously. Using the stored data, the machine is also capable of autonomous movements based on the path of least resistance as calculated by the time it takes to perform an act. Interfacing Technique Tool Machining Robot (ITTMR) was developed as robotic tool holder that can determine the shape and size of different OCTG pipes utilized in the downhole industry and enable it to machine appropriate threads on the pipe with no manual intervention. The process thereby completely negates any possibility of human error which can otherwise cause heavy loss on finished equipment that are rendered unusable because of threading errors on almost nearly finished complex milled parts or assemblies that are pending threads as the final operation. The purpose of the software codes is to provide a user-friendly GUI that can communicate with any machine by pulling in appropriate ACNC programs and performing the required tasks associated with the operating system and specifications of the motors/mobilization equipment’s used. For the purpose of this paper, the software code is not provided. Any firmware base that permits the usage of an ASCII interrupt can be used and for the purpose of this operation, an RS323 equivalent board will also suffice for basic operations, however a complex ITTMR system has been utilized. This paper solely addresses the technique of how the threading operation is performed and does not address the process of how the pipe is bought to the machine or other associated aspects of the software to retain any possible patent applications on the same.

Repurposing a digital kitchen scale for neuroscience research: a complete hardware and software cookbook for PASTA

Widely available low-cost electronics encourage the development of open-source tools for neuroscientific research. In recent years, many neuroscientists recognized the open science movement for its potential to stimulate and encourage science that is less focused on money, and more on robustness, validity, questioning and understanding. Here, we wanted to contribute to this global community by creating a research platform based on a common digital kitchen scale. This everyday ordinary kitchen tool is sometimes used in neuroscience research in various ways; however, its use is limited by sampling rate and inability to store and analyze data. To tackle this problem we developed a Platform for Acoustic STArtle or PASTA. This robust and simple platform enables users to obtain data from kitchen scale load cells at a high sampling rate, store it and analyze it. Here, we used it to analyze acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition sensorimotor gating in rats treated intracerebroventricularly with streptozotocin, but the system can be easily modified and upgraded for other purposes. In accordance with open science principles, we shared complete hardware design with instructions. Furthermore, we also disclose our software codes written for PASTA data acquisition (C++, Arduino) and acoustic startle experimental protocol (Python) and analysis (ratPASTA R package—R-based Awesome Toolbox for PASTA, and pastaWRAP—Python wrapper package for ratPASTA). To further encourage the development of our PASTA platform we demonstrate its sensitivity by using PASTA-gathered data to extract breathing patterns during rat freezing behavior in our experimental protocol.

Making the Most of a Model: Interrogation Methods for Computer Codes

Computer code models have become the default tool for analysis in many areas of research and industry. The research for evaluating these models has been primarily focused on theoretical simulation methods and overlooks the application of these methods. Many existing and highly valued computer codes and models do not allow for simulation, uncertainty quantification, or other modern computing capabilities. These computer codes are generally comprised of two categories: those with limited operation by design and older legacy codes. Updating these software codes is not an option in many situations due to time constraints, cost, loss of skills needed to upgrade aging programming languages, lack of access to source code, and other constraints. This paper compiles and evaluates methods to systematically interrogate computer codes, including reduced iteration design of experiments (DoE) methods. It was determined that while several of these methods are routinely used in other fields, they have not been applied to computer code models. This paper discusses the challenges present when evaluating computer codes and offers a decision framework for selecting interrogation methods. An example case study application of a definitive screening design (DSD) to aerosol transport modeling using the Atmospheric Relative Concentrations in Building Wakes (ARCON96) computer code is provided to illustrate the use of the decision framework and application of DoE fractional factorial designs to computer codes.

Consistent and Inertia-Shape-Integral-Free Invariants of the Floating Frame of Reference Formulation

The conventional continuum-mechanics-based floating frame of reference formulation involves unhandy so-called inertia-shape-integrals in the equations of motion, which is why, commercial multibody software codes resort to a lumped mass approximation to avoid the evaluation of these integrals in their computer implementations. This paper recaps the conventional continuum mechanics floating frame of reference formulation and addresses its drawbacks by summarizing recent developments of the so-called nodal-based floating frame of reference formulation, which avoids inertia shape integrals ab initio, does not rely on a lumped mass approximation, and exhibits a way to calculate the so-called invariants, which are constant “ingredients” required to set up the equations of motion, in a consistent way.

Physical and Mathematical Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics has emerged as a basic concept for nearly every field of technology. Despite there being a well-developed mathematical theory and available commercial software codes, the computation of solutions of the governing equations of motion is still challenging, especially due to the nonlinearity involved, and there are still open questions regarding the underlying physics of fluid flow, especially with respect to the continuum hypothesis and thermodynamic local equilibrium. The aim of this Special Issue is to reference recent advances in the field of fluid mechanics both in terms of developing sophisticated mathematical methods for finding solutions of the equations of motion, on the one hand, and on novel approaches to the physical modelling beyond the continuum hypothesis and thermodynamic local equilibrium, on the other.