Malware categorization using dynamic mnemonic frequency analysis with redundancy filtering

The battle between malware developers and security analysts continues, and the number of malware and malware variants keeps increasing every year. Automated malware generation tools and various detection evasion techniques are also developed every year. To catch up with the advance of malware development technologies, malware analysis techniques need to be advanced to help security analysts. In this paper, we propose a malware analysis method to categorize malware using dynamic mnemonic frequencies. We also proposed a redundancy filtering technique to alleviate drawbacks of dynamic analysis. Experimental results show that our proposed method can categorize malware and can reduce storage overheads of dynamic analysis.     

Null allele can bring to interpretative problems in a deficitary paternity case

An STR null allele is an allele at a microsatellite locus that fails to amplify. A possible cause is poor primer annealing due to nucleotide sequence divergence in the flanking primers. In this study, a woman (ZAM) wanted to know whether a man (PGAF) was the father of her child (ZGC). During the court settlement, PGAF died. PGAF’s parents refused to undergo DNA investigation and denied the access to biological fragments from their dead son. Although, DNA specimens were obtained from buccal swabs of ZAM, ZGC and PGAF’s paternal sister (PTFS). Initially, only autosomal profiles were studied, and kinship assignment was inconclusive. Following our requests, PGAF’s parents (PRGF and LLGM) led us to obtain their DNA specimens. Only with the PTFS genetic profile, we were not able to demonstrate a kinship assignment. PTFS showed a homozygosis at D8S1179 locus. Then, merely comparing PTFS, LLGM and ZGC autosomal genetic profiles it was possible to underline that they were three different homozygous at D8S1179 locus. Hence, comparing the peak heights in different loci and according to literature, they had to carry a null allele at this locus. Parental studies were completed by Y haplotype analysis.     

中国古代侦查谋略探源

中国古代侦查谋略极为发达,主要原因有三个方面:一是古典哲学的产生为侦查谋略的发展奠定了理论基础;二是权谋之争和频繁的战争为侦查谋略的运用提供了实践基础;三是后人对前代的学习与继承是侦查谋略发展的力量之源.     

Automated estimation of the number of contributors in autosomal STR profiles

Estimating the number of contributors to mixed STR profiles can be complex. This study describes the nC-tool to assist DNA expert in this process. The nC-tool is based on the total allele count for PowerPlex® Fusion 6C profiles and showed improved performance when compared to the maximum allele count approach.     

Inferring the Number of Contributors to Complex DNA Mixtures Using Three Methods: Exploring the Limits of Low‐Template DNA Interpretation

In forensic DNA casework, the interpretation of an evidentiary profile may be dependent upon the assumption on the number of individuals from whom the evidence arose. Three methods of inferring the number of contributors—NOCIt, maximum likelihood estimator, and maximum allele count, were evaluated using 100 test samples consisting of one to five contributors and 0.5–0.016 ng template DNA amplified with Identifiler^® Plus and PowerPlex^® 16 HS. Results indicate that NOCIt was the most accurate method of the three, requiring 0.07 ng template DNA from any one contributor to consistently estimate the true number of contributors. Additionally, NOCIt returned repeatable results for 91% of samples analyzed in quintuplicate, while 50 single‐source standards proved sufficient to calibrate the software. The data indicate that computational methods that employ a quantitative, probabilistic approach provide improved accuracy and additional pertinent information such as the uncertainty associated with the inferred number of contributors.     

Analysis of 15 autosomal STR loci in the population of the State of Acre,Brazilian Amazonia

Acre was the last state of Brazil to be inhabited by non-indigenous individuals. The aim of this study was to calculate the allele frequencies of 15 STR loci in 503 unrelated individuals living in Acre, as well as to estimate statistical parameters of forensic interest. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium test performed in the overall sample, as well as population comparisons between sub-samples from the five regions in Acre did not reveal the presence of population substructure. This is the first report of STR data in this population and the results showed that a single database is suitable for all the regions analyzed.     

Powerplex® Y 23 System: Molecular characterization of a null allele at locus DYS549

We observed a null allele pattern at locus DYS549 in a male subject from North-East Italy typed with the PowerPlex^® Y 23 System (Promega). To investigate whether this pattern was due to the presence of a microdeletion/mutation in primer binding sites or in the locus target region, the sample was amplified with our designed DYS549 primers obtained from GenBank sequence (GDB: 515022). After amplification, a normal hemizygous genotype at this locus was generated, thus indicating the presence of a point mutation in the binding site of the original primer set of PowerPlex^® Y 23 System (Promega). This was further confirmed by sequence analysis, carried out with the Big Dye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sequences were run on the ABI Prism 3130 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems) and analyzed using the Sequencing Analysis v.5.3.1 and the SeqScape v2.6 softwares (Applied Biosystems). Ascertainment of the frequency of null alleles generated from variations at primer binding sites of short tandem repeats loci is of great importance in forensic genetics.     

Development of 30 InDel markers typing system and genetic analysis in five different Chinese populations

Allele frequencies of 30 InDel markers previously selected and validated for forensic purpose were assessed in 419 unrelated individuals originating from five different populations of Chinese Han, Chinese Hui, Uighur, Mongolian and Tibetan in P.R. China. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium tests and linkage disequilibrium analysis were performed and the results showed that allele frequency distributions of the 30 InDel markers had meet the genetic equilibrium in all of the five populations and the InDel markers on same chromosome did not generate any linkage block. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that genetic variation among the 5 studied populations represent only 4.00% of the total genetic diversity. We observed the cumulative power of discrimination (CPD) for each studied population was 0.99999999999841 in Chinese Han population, 0.99999999999690 in Chinese Hui population, 0.99999999999709 in Uighur population, 0.99999999999772 in Mongolian population and 0.99999999999854 in Tibetan population.     

Genetic polymorphism of 17 STR loci for forensic use in Chinese population from Shanghai in East China

Allele frequencies for 17 STR loci found in Identifier kit and PowerPlex^®16 Monoplex System were determined in a sample of 1000 unrelated individuals living in Shanghai in East China. The values of observed heterozygosity (Ho), power of discrimination (PD), probability of paternity exclusion (PE) and polymorphism information content (PIC) were calculated. All loci were in accordance with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p < 0.05). The obtained frequency distributions were compared with other previously reported population data.     

Are There Gender Differences in Sustaining Dating Violence? An Examination of Frequency, Severity, and Relationship Satisfaction

One topic of debate within the field of intimate violence involves the equivalence, or lack thereof, of male-perpetrated versus female-perpetrated violence. To inform this debate, we examined potential gender-related differences in the frequency of sustaining violence, the severity of violence sustained, and effects of violence on relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from 2 samples of heterosexual undergraduates in dating relationships. In both studies, men and women experienced violence at comparable frequencies, although men experienced more frequent moderate violence. Rates of severe violence were extremely low for both sexes across studies. In both investigations, only women experienced lower relationship satisfaction as a function of partner violence. In Study 1, relationship status moderated this effect, such that women in serious dating relationships were less satisfied than either women in less serious relationships or than men as a function of partner violence. In Study 2, women were less satisfied with violent relationships than men regardless of relationship status. We contend that gender-sensitive approaches to relationship violence are important to better understand and prevent both male- and female-perpetrated violence. Directions for future research efforts are outlined.