The Pocket-Science Volume 6

"There are only two ways to get rid of hackers and phreakers. One is to get rid of computers and telephones, in which case we would find other means of getting what we want.(Like that is really going to happen.) The other way is to give us what we want, which is free access to ALL information. Until one of those two things happen, we are not going anywhere. " - from : "The Ultimate beginner's Guide to Hacking and Phreaking" by Revelation LOA--ASH Written: 08/4/96 Volume: 1 (http://www.proac.com/crack/hack/files/starthak.txt )

A new test to detect microbes - Potential applications in the bioterrorism arena.

The impact of the terrorism on the scientific research and the technology development.

Pasquale Graziadei, Professor Emeritus, Florida State University, Biological Science Department, , Tallahassee (U.S.A.) 1921 - 2002

The characterization of small molecules as inhibitors of protein - protein interactions

Reading and discussing some chapters of the book: "Hack Attacks Revealed:a complete reference with custom security hacking toolkit" by John Chirillo (2001) , John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (New York, Chichester, Weinheim, Brisbane, Singapore, Toronto)

A good sources for different security utilities are available at Gibson Research Corp. ( http://grc.com )

IP addresses: at IP Addressing Fundamentals (This tutorial discusses basic concepts of IP addresses, including address classes and subnet addressing) (. http://support.wrq.com/tutorials/tutorial.html ); There are five classes: (i) Network.Host.Host.Host, (ii) Network, Network, Host, Host, (iii) Network, Network, Network, Host, (iv) Definet for multicast operation and not used for normal operation, (v) Defined for experimental use and not used for normal operation. l

Decimal and Binary: decimals are numbers we currently use. When decimal numbers are entered into the computer, the system converts these into binary format [0s and 1s , charged versus uncharged, yes versus not, true versus false; "Is you is = 1; is you ain't = 0"]

Decimal	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Power (base 2)	2⁷	2⁶	2⁵	2⁴	2³	2²	2¹	2⁰
Value	128	64	32	16	8	4	2	1
Binary for 224	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Testing for 224	1*128=1 28	1*64=64	1*32=32	0*16=0	0*8=0	0*4=0	0*2=0	0*1=0	128+64+ 32+0+0+ 0+0+0= 224
Binary for 88	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0
Testing for 88	0*120=0	1*64=64	0*32=0	1*16=16	1*8=8	0*4=0	0*2=0	0*1=0	0+64+0+ 16+8+0+ 0+0= 88
Binary for 43	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	1
Testing for 43	0*128=0	0*64=0	1*32=32	0*16=0	1*8=8	0*4=0	1*2=2	1*1=1	0+0+32+ 0+8+0+2 +2= 43

(from C++ in 24 hours, by Jesse Liberty - SAMS Publishing (Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.), 1997, pages 430 - 431

The National Computer Security Center (NCSC) carries out evaluations based on a set of requirements outlined in its publication referred to as the "Bright Orange Book" (NCSC - TG - 023) ( http://secinf.net/info/rainbow/tg23.txt )

Host PING query (C:\>ping www.xymary.com, C:\>ping mail.xymary.com , C:\>ping ftp.xymary.com)

Backdoor: a means and method by which hackers gain, retain and cover their access to an internetworking architecture (i.e. a system). Backdoor kits (Back Orifice, NetBus): active and passive

Implementing a backdoor kit: (i) seizing a virtual connection, (ii) plainting an insider (for example: spoofing e-mail to an internal user with a remote - access Trojan attached); manipulating an internal vulnerability, manipulating an external vulnerability.

Flooging (TCP/IP protocol, connection to the Internet via dialup or direct connection ("Connection has been lost or reset").

Forms of pestering: mail bombing, spamming (commercial advertisement), and spoofing. For more information visit the Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC) web site at the address: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/ (in particular the buletin: I-005c: E-mail spamming countermeasures: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/i-005c.shtml )

Remote control (with remote control, hackers can place orders with your on-line accounts, read your personal e-mail, send mail spam or bombs to others with your system, and even remotely view your screen ("The Blue Nowhere" by Jeffery Deaver, 2001)

Sniffing (Software programs that passively intercept and copy all network traffic on a system (SpyNet, PeepNet,..)

Trojan infection (A Trojan horse is a malicious, security-breaking program that contains destructive codes; it appears as a normal and useful program.

Proxies and firewalls ("A proxy is a computer program that acts as a liaison betwen a user's Web browser and a Web server on the Internet")

"The magic of microarrays" by Stephen H. Friend and Roland B. Stoughton in Scientific American 42 - 49 (February 2002)

A possible biofraud in the environment - The socio-political consequences of a non correct information. The importance to maintain the information "free" and not linked to any potential partisan interest.

"Enviromentalist biofraud" by Ronald Bailey in "Reason" (February 12, 2002) at http://reason.com

"Transgenic DNA introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico" by David Quist and Ignacio H. Chapela in Nature 414 (6863), 541 - 543 (2001)

"No credible scientific evidence is presented to support claims that transgenic DNA was introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexic" by Paul Christou in Transgenic Research 11 (1), 3 - 5 (2002)

JIC man key player in Chapela attacks - Nature on the Chapela row (February 28, 2002) on Norfolk Genetic Network (Section: ngin bulletin archive) ( http://www.ngin.org.uk ) (JIC = John Innes Centre, the UK biotech institute that has won notoriety for its attacks on other researchers whose work has raised questions about GE crops)

A new test to detect microbes - Potential applications in the bioterrorism arena

The methos is based on the detection of specific DNA sequences. So-Jung and colleagues (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, U.S.A.) have created simple electronic chips that can detect DNA from anthrax and other microbes They describe a conductivity-based DNA detection method utilizing oligonucleotide-functionalized Au nanoparticles (capture strand, probe strands with Au and target DNA; the target oligonucleotide has contiguous recognition elements complementary to the capture strands and to the probe strands).

"New test could speed bioweapon detection" by Robert F. Service in Science 295, 1447 (2002)

"Array-based electrical detection of DNA with Nanoparticle probes" by So-Jung Park, T. Andrew Taton, Chad A. Mirkin in Science 295, 1503 - 1506 (2002)

(Source: CIO) If you think you can ignore European Union privacy laws because you're the CIO of a U.S. company, you're making a big mistake (by Rebecca S. Eisner): http://click.idg.email-publisher.com/maaaigZaaRotGa9tTeab/ The EU privacy laws apply to any business inside or outside the EU that collects and processes personal data on EU residents. Fortunately, the EU and the U.S. have negotiated a "safe harbor" agreement.

The power of teamwork: from military to public / private sectors of our society, with reference to other living systems on our planet. ( http://www.NavyMarineCorpsTeam.info )

The impact of the terrorism on the basic research and the technology development - Discussion of the article "Possible Impacts of Major Counter Terrorism Security Actions on Research, Development, and Higher Education" by CRS (Congressional Research Service) specialist Genevieve J. Knezo at the URL : http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL31354.pdf as a consequence of post-September 11 regulations

Something about the geography of the Internet - A map of the cyberspace {the term cyberspace has been coined by William Gibson, author of the book Neuromancer (Ace Books, 1984)]

"A Brief History of the Internet" by Barry M. Leiner et al.at: Internet Society ( http://www.isoc.org )

The role of biotechnology into homeland defense and security - We are convinced about a critical role of biotechnology into homeland security and defense. We have discussed the article "Biotech firms figure into homeland security" by Dibya Sarkar on: Federal Computer Week 16 (15),40, 2002. Biotechnology companies can play a role for solving traditional problems of biodefense and health, but also can enter into additional areas such as material science (composite materials, biopolymers for protection), innovative drug delivery systems, detection technologies (night vision, catalytic microarrays, DNA identification), computing. For the national interests and for the 21-century soldiers, chemistry, physics, engineering disciplines and biology (in particular biotechnology) need to be integrated into the defense science base.

The intangible assets, as invisible advantage for a company. Starting from the aricle: "The invisible advantage" by Jon Low and Pam Cohen Kalafut [Optimize , June 2002, pages 24 - 34], we have organized a discussion panel about the intangible assets of a company, their "measure system" and their impact on the ROI (Return On Investment) evaluation and on the position analysis of the company with reference to the potential competitors The "measure" of the intangible assets need to be referred to a particular industry sector and to a particular ecosystem. The analysis of the intangible assets and their management need to add (i) value to the company itself and (ii) advantage over the competitors.

Intangible Assets	Some elements of the intangible assets	How to measure them?
Leadership	Management, Experience, Responsability Honesty Be positive
Strategy execution	Goals How to reach them "Take action" Analyze details and mistakes Focus money and time "Be persistent" Business integration Business intelligence
Communication	Be open and honest Understand and motivate others "No people is an island"
Market position	Relationship with customers Competitors Competitor intelligence Interconnection among product design (or concept idea), marketplace and the requirements of the customers) Interpretation of the customers' responses on the Ne (market segmentation)t
Adaptability	Volatility of the market Evolution
Reputation	Position into the business ecosystem locally and globally
Partners, Alliances, Network	Global commerce Logistics
Technology	Adaptability Flexibility Re-engineering Technology intelligence
Innovation	Research & development Knowledge management To avoid mediocrity Technology intelligence
Intellectual capital	Patents Trade marks Technical background "Secrets"
Human resources	Relationships Communication Compensation Activities Personnel intelligence
Organization	Team Responsability Ecology of the workplace and workspace,

The characterization of small molecules as inhibitors of protein - protein interactions. The intaction of LFA-1 with the ICAM proteins 1,2 and 3 is critical to the adhesion, extravasation, migration, and proliferation of lymphocytes. Gadek et al. have described the design of a small molecule (ortho-bromobenzoyl tryptophan) that mimics an epitope of the ligand of the integrin LFA-1. The tryptophan derivative was optimized and the final results of the modifications let to a compound that retained characteristics of the small molecule and bound LFA with high affinity. The compound also blocked lymphocyte proliferation and contact hypersensitivity in mice.

"Generation of an LFA-1 antagonist by the transfer of the ICAM-1 immunoregulatory epitope to a small molecule" by T.R. Gadek et al, Science 295, 1086 - 1089, 2002

CORDIS focus - Technology opportunities today (RTD Results Supplement; Industrial technologies) 37, 7 ( September 2002)

Modeling a biological system by computer simulation by the articles of E. H. Davidson et al. "A genomic regulatory network for development" on Science 295 , 1669 - 1678 (2002) and H. Kitano "Systems biology: a brief overview" by Hiroaki Kitano on Science 295, 1662 - 1664 (2002)

The goal of a full model for the development of sea urchin is clearly far in the future but this work represents an inspiring model for future studies ( "A virtual pharmacopeia" by Michael Goldman on Bio-IT World 1 (9), 58 - 68, 2002)

To understand the complex biological regulatory systems, it is necessary to move

Reverse engineering of biological complexity by Marie E. Csete and John C. Doyle on: Science 295, 1664 - 1669 (2002)

Biotronics: an actual new scientific arena by a merger process betwen "the worlds of biological and technological information processing" - Some applications of biological elements in the technology information processing: (i) primitive artificial retina, (ii) interfaces between nerve cells and conventional electronics (for paraplegies,..), (iii) glucose sensor and insulin dispenser, (iv) robo-rats [(or ratboats) (by SUNY's Downstate Medical Center, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.)]

"Biotronics: a collision of continents" by Michael Gross in: Bio IT World 1 (9) 48, 2002

"Part Man, Part Computer: researcher tests the limits" by Gretchen Vogel on Science 295, 1020, 2002,

"If I only had.." by Marc Lavine, Leslie Roberts, Orla Smith on Science 295, 995, 2002

"Vill retinal implants restore vision?" by Eberhart Zrenner on Science 295, 1022 - 1025, 2002

"Rat navigation guided by remote control (Free animals can be "virtually" trained by microstimulating key areas of the brain)" by Sanjiv K. Talwar et al on Nature 417, 37-38, 2002 - The authors have developed "a behavioural model in which an experimenter can guide distant animals in a way similar to that used to control "intelligent" robots" - A guided animal to "function as both a mobile robot and a biological sensor.".

A living thing, as the result of a partial human creation: a discussion on the articles: (i) "Scientists to attempt creation of living cell" on The New York Times, November 21, 2002 , (ii) "Energy Dept. finances effort to create artificial life" on The New York Times, November 22, 2002, (iii) "Scientists planning to make new form of life" by Justin Gillis on Washington Post, November 22, 2002

Comments on the article"Bill to enhance federal security" by Caron Carlson on eWEEK, November 25, page 14 (2002)

A discussion starting from the post " A really good discussion on the Definition of Intelligence" by Jeremy Compton at Intelligence Forum ( http://www.intelforum.org ) Volume 2002, Number 1019

I have read with very interest the excellent post written by Jeremy Compton ( comje937@student.otago.ac.nz ) (IntelForum Digest V2002 # 1019).At this topic, I would like to make the following considerations, and possibly to enter in some discussion later on.

In my opinion it is necessary to distinguish "information" from "knowledge". The information, that can be obtained using different sources (media, web, newspapers, symposia,..) can be transformed in knowledge, using an intelligence interpretation process

The knowledge (explicit / tacit) can represent the source material to prepare documents (in aggregated / disaggregated forms) necessary to make complex decisions. It is very important to use the documents for strategic goals as soon as possible. In fact the situation changes very rapidly and it is necessary to know how to manage the uncertainty, anticipating the changes. In this manner it is more easy to obtain the victory on the competitors.

For me, intelligence is the process turning information into knowledge. The process includes technology intelligence, personnel intelligence and competitor intelligence that will create the so called business intelligence. In these terms, business intelligence corresponds to the knowledge necessary for taking decisions.Business intelligence can be considered the "signal processor, communicator network" that alerts senior managers to events that will impact business strategies, plans and tactics.

"Intelligence can be defined as "knowledge and foreknowledge of the world around us ...that helps consumers to consider alternative options and outcomes" [A Consumer's Guide to Intelligence (Washington D.C. : Central Intelligence Agency, 1994) p. vii]

The intelligence process is made by different steps from planning and analysis to assessing, assembling, disseminating and integrating, under a final feedback evaluation.

"The key will be having the best decision-support tools: getting the appropriate knowledge to the person making the decision. The winner is the one who gets that information faster and more reliable than anyone else" -(Meyerriecks at Department of Defense U.S.A. - quoted by J. Schultz, Wash Tech, June 4, 2001).

Of course there are some differences betwen intelligence for business and intelligence for defense (military area). But the goals are the same.

Another question is how to organize the people involved in the intelligence process. Intelligence should not be linked to operation and it can be made intramural or extramural. People that makes intelligence for a particular organization (industry, Navy,...) needs tio be perfectly integrated with the structure itself. (in Russia: there is the term "razvedka" for spying, intelligence gathering and "spetsnaz", more linked to operations). Why the use of external analysts? For experience, languages,.... But the boss , taking the final decision, needs to be unique

"Knowledge management in global war games" by Gia Harrigan, Nancy Jenkins, Melanie Winters, LCDR Sam Mohs, USN and O.E. (Bud) Hay on: CHIPS magazine - Fall 2001, 32 - 33 (For more information on War Gaming go to the Naval War College Web site at www.nwc.navy.mil/wgd/

"Information literacy toolkit for the knowledge world" - Department of the Navy U.S.A. (toolkit on CD-ROM)

"What every one know is what has already happened or become obvious. What the aware individual know is what has not yet taken shape, what has not yet occurred. Everyone says victory in battle is good, but if you see the subtle and notice the hidden so as the seize victory where there is no form, this is really good.... A military leader of wisdom and ability lays deep plans for what other people do not figure on". This is why Sun Tzu speaks of being unknowable as the dark [from:"The art of war" by SunTzu (translated by Cleary), capter four].

Thanks for the attention. Sincerely, Pier Carlo Montecucchi 540 Beverly Court - Suite 1Tallahassee, FL 32301 - 2506 phone: 850-561-0604 Email: pcmontecucchi@compuserve.com (December 3, 2002)