PlasCAD is a versatile software designed for plasmid and primer creation and validation. Running on Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms, it offers robust functionality such as primer quality evaluation based on various metrics and primer tuning options. Notably, PlasCAD can generate primers tailored for SLIC and FastCloning methods. The software boasts a user-friendly interface for […]
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In a new twist on the old “sextortion” email scam, recipients are now receiving messages personalized with their name and a photo of their home. The scam claims to have captured recipients on their webcam watching explicit content, threatening to release the video unless a Bitcoin ransom is paid. The detailed email also mentions a […]
Chromatone is a groundbreaking project that aims to revolutionize visual music education and communication. By connecting colors and notes in a standardized way, they are enhancing music perception through the primary sensory channel of vision. With 12 notes, 12 colors, and endless possibilities, they have developed a Visual Music Language that continues to evolve. They […]
The author explores the new structured outputs feature in OpenAI’s API by developing an AI-assisted web scraper using GPT-4o. The post details experiments with extracting data from simple and complex tables, noting successes and failures. Combining two approaches – data extraction and XPath generation – improves results, but issues such as image-to-text conversion arise. The […]
The author discusses the lessons learned by distributed systems engineers, emphasizing the importance of understanding failures and the complexities of coordination. They highlight the significance of feature flags for infrastructure rollout and the challenges of estimating capacity in a distributed system. The author also touches on the importance of metrics, emphasizing the use of percentiles […]
Three men in the United Kingdom have admitted to running OTP Agency, a service that intercepted one-time passcodes needed to access various websites after stealing bank account credentials. Despite initially claiming legitimacy, the service shut down after being exposed by KrebsOnSecurity. Although the operators were arrested shortly after reviving the service post-shutdown, other similar services […]
A draft regulation in 2014 aimed to prevent Medicare Advantage health insurers from overcharging the government by billions, but was abruptly withdrawn due to industry pushback. The Justice Department alleges that UnitedHealth Group defrauded Medicare out of $2 billion by adding extra diagnoses to bill higher rates, while ignoring overcharges. This case reveals the struggle […]
Afrim is an input method designed to protect the native languages of Africa, with a universal phonetic-based platform. Originally inspired by Clafrica IME and RIME, the project evolved to support various African languages like Amharic and Geez. Afrim features support for sequential codification codes, customizable dictionary, Rhai scripting language, and auto-suggestion/correction/completion. It also offers a […]
The Open Mathematics Depository aims to provide open access to mathematical texts in PDF format that are in the public domain or under open license. This project fills the gap between large depositories like archive.org and subscription download services. Contributions of useful mathematical texts in PDF form are welcomed, along with interesting bookmarks and notes. […]
Windows 11 users were initially led to believe they could uninstall the controversial “Recall” feature, which tracks behavior through constant screenshots. However, Microsoft clarified it was just a bug, and Recall will be a permanent fixture. The feature has faced criticism for potentially exposing sensitive information to cybersecurity threats, with experts calling it a “disaster.” […]