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In recent times, Software Defined Networking (SDN) has gained immense popularity among communication networks due to its high network connectivity and security. But, owing to the lack of sufficient security schemes and dynamic access control, conventional techniques could be more efficient. Hence, this paper proposes a secure intrusion detection scheme for SDN utilizing LogishFTS-based Recurrent Neural Networks (LFTS-RNN) and Poisson Clumping Japanese Tree Frog Optimization Algorithm (PC-JTFOA). Initially, by using a username, password, and Signed Access Control (SAC), the registered users log in to the network. The Entropy Makwa-based Digital Signature Algorithm (EMDSA) is utilized to identify the attackers during the login process. Then, the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is trained using the historical dataset. The critical features are extracted in IDS; subsequently, by using the PC-JTFOA, the optimal features are selected. Likewise, the selected features are inputted into the LFTS-RNN to recognize the intruders in the application plane. Moreover, the process of data security and load balancing is undergone by the data. Afterward, the balanced data is subjected to IDS to detect the attackers in the control plane. According to experimental outcomes, the proposed technique obtained a higher prominence with an accuracy of 98.35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring key populations' progress towards UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets is essential to achieving HIV/AIDS epidemic control. Using serial cross-sectional data, we evaluated changes in HIV care continuum among people who inject drugs(PWID) and men who have sex with men(MSM) in India. Cross-sectional baseline (2012/2013) and follow-up (2016/2017) samples were recruited using respondent-driven sampling across 21 cities. All participants were tested for HIV and RNA measured in HIV-positive participants. Linear regression was used to model temporal site-level changes in continuum indicators in MSM versus PWID. At baseline, we recruited 2,544 HIV-infected PWID and 1,086 HIV-infected MSM. At follow-up, we recruited 2,517 HIV-infected PWID and 1,763 HIV-infected MSM. At baseline, there were no significant differences in continuum indicators between MSM and PWID. At follow-up, compared to PWID, the proportion of MSM reaching each care continuum indicator—awareness of status, receipt of care, ART use, viral suppression—increased by 15-33 percentage points: 78% of MSM versus 49% of PWID were aware of their status (p < 0.01); 56% of MSM versus 32% of PWID were virologically suppressed (p = 0.05). MSM showed marked improvements across the care continuum, whereas PWID lagged and may require additional intervention. Differential improvement in HIV engagement may necessitate population-specific interventions and routine surveillance to facilitate HIV elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good quality Phthalic acid single crystals were grown in aqueous solutions of ammonium oxalate and ammonium bromide by slow evaporation solution growth method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of PA1 and PA2 was analysed in this article. The functional groups of crystals were identified and confirmed by FT-IR analysis. UV-Vis absorption spectrum was analysed, which shows that least absorbance in the entire visible region and the value of an optical band gap was determined. The second harmonic generation efficiency of the crystals was determined by Kurtz's powder method, which confirms non-linear optical property of the title material. The thermal stability and melting point of PA1 and PA2 crystals were found by the TGA and DTA thermal analysis. The kinetic parameters were calculated using Coats and Redfern method. The dielectric study was carried out by determining dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac conductivity using LCR metre and the variation of these parameters with frequency and temperature was analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unidirectional (UD) and bidirectional (BD) woven carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites were tested under three-point flexure at different span lengths ranging from 20 to 60 mm. Expectedly, flexure load decreases with increasing span length. A sharp change in flexure load is observed at a span length of 30 mm with a transition in failure mechanism. Analysis suggests that crack initiation occurs at compression side and tension side, respectively, in UD and BD woven composites. In case of UD composites, at a span length of 20 mm, the failure was governed by kink band initiation (two fractures per fiber) followed by tension side delaminations, and at other span lengths, microbuckling (multiple fiber fractures) together with compression side delaminations led to failure. On the other hand, the failure in BD composites at a span length of 20 mm is controlled predominantly by thickness crack propagation with tensile fiber pullouts, whereas for other span cases the failure occurs due to the development of delaminations at interlace regions. The stress analysis by finite element modeling (FEM) also supports the experimental observations in an attempt to correlate the failure mechanisms under flexure loads in CFRP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterize the demographics, injection practices and risk behaviours of 1,158 injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu in southern India, who were recruited during 2005–2006 by community outreach. The median age was 35 years; the majority of IDUs were male, of Tamil ethnicity and married, and earning less than US$75 per month. Most (76%) had injected in the prior month. The median age at first injection was 25 years; the most common drug injected was heroin (80%) followed by buprenorphine. High risk behaviours were common and included needle-sharing, unsafe disposal, and inappropriate cleaning of needles as well as limited condom use. IDUs in India need to be educated on harm reduction and safe-injection practices; Pharmacies could serve as potential venues for HIV prevention interventions among IDUs in India, as most IDUs obtain their needles from pharmacies without prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers are one of the most frequently detected chlorinated contaminants in the environment. In spite of the ban on technical grade HCH and restricted use of γ-HCH (lindane), its residues have not stopped from entering the environment. Its extensive use in the past, present use of lindane in several countries, unused stockpiles of date-expired HCH from earlier manufacturing, as well as leachates from earlier disposal at dump sites continue to pollute the biosphere. Because HCH is a persistent organic pollution (POP) known to have several toxic and deleterious effects on human health and wildlife, it becomes imperative to remove this substance of serious concern to the global community. A better understanding on the fate and degradation of this POP in the environment will facilitate in drawing measures to mitigate this chemical and bring about bioremediation of already contaminated sites. This review focuses on the fate, contamination levels, abiotic and biotic degradation of HCH isomers, genes and enzymes involved in microbial degradation, and future research needs in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the feminization of the HIV epidemic in India and Bangladesh, understanding substance-use-related concerns among women is important for effective HIV prevention. This review is based on published research, reports (2000-2005), and primary data from treatment centers for drug-using women. We identify four main themes: (a) opioid use and injecting drug use in women, (b) alcohol use in sex work settings, (c) sexual transmission of HIV from male-injecting drug users (IDUs) to their regular female sex partners, and (d) sexual violence among female partners of substance-using men. We urge for focused HIV prevention interventions targeting substance-using women and female sex partners of male substance users to reduce vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressures of an ever-increasing population and industrial development have led to the addition of an array of man-made chemicals in the environment, leading to tremendous deterioration in environmental quality. Contamination of soil, air, water, and food is one of the major problems facing the industrialized world today. Significant regulatory steps have been taken to eliminate or to reduce production and/or release of these chemicals into the environment. A major class of these chemicals is chlorinated compounds, most of which are toxic and hazardous. Application of microbial processes to decontaminate environmental media polluted with these compounds will require a better understanding of why and how microorganisms can degrade them and utilize them for their own survival as well as clean the environment. This review focuses on different microbial processes for biodegradation of chlorinated compounds and enzymes involved therein that are responsible for their degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past the ultimate disposability of synthetic plastics has been a greater environmental concern, and it has triggered the R&D efforts in the designing of material with an environmentally friendly life cycle by integrating material design concepts with ultimate disposability, resource utilization, and conservation. Traditionally, all plastics have been manufactured from nonrenewable petroleum resources, and these plastics are nonbiodegradable. Conventional disposal methods include incineration and secured landfill, which are associated with many environmental problems, such as production of dioxins. The continued depletion of landfill space and problems associated with incineration have led to the development of biodegradable plastics such as polylactides (PLA), which are manufactured from lactic acid that in turn is produced from starch. Although production processes for lactic acid and PLA are well known, very few processes have been commercialized and still the cost of PLA is not competitive with synthetic plastics. The crux of the PLA production technology is the fermentative production of optically active lactic acid and its recovery. Many processes are reported in the literature and through patents for the recovery of optically active lactic acid and still offer an extensive scope for research and development. This article critically reviews the production and recovery processes for lactic acid and PLA production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new terpolymer of vinyloxyaminosilane (VOS) grafted ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) has been synthesized in a Haake Rheocord-90, torque rheometer. Grafting of VOS onto EPDM has been ascertained using FTIR spectra. Vinyloxyaminosilane grafted ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer/polyvinyl chloride (EPDM-gVOS/PVC) and vinyloxyaminosilane grafted ethylene propylene diene terpolymer/linear low density polyethylene (EPDM-g-VOS/LLDPE) blends with different compositions were prepared using a two roll mixing mill. The mechanical and electrical properties of EPDM-g-VOS, EPDM-g-VOS/PVC and EPDM-g-VOS/LLDPE have been studied as per ASTM standards. Incorporation of silane moiety in to EPDM improves dielectric characteristics of EPDM. Further more the blending of silane grafted EPDM with thermoplastics like PVC and LLDPE enhances mechanical and electrical properties according to their nature and concentration and nature of crosslinks developed in their structure during curing. Data of mechanical and dielectric studies indicate that these products could be used as low and medium high voltage cable insulation for better performance than pure EPDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]