Detecting (Absent) App-to-app authentication on cross-device short-distance channels

Short-distance or near-field communication is increasingly used by mobile apps for interacting or exchanging data in a cross-device fashion. In this paper, we identify a security issue, namely cross-device app-to-app communication hijacking (or CATCH), that affect Android apps using short-distance channels (e.g., Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-Direct). This issue causes unauthenticated or malicious app-to-app interactions even when the underlying communication channels are authenticated and secured. In addition to discovering the security issue, we design an algorithm based on data-flow analysis for detecting the presence of CATCH in Android apps. Our algorithm checks if a given app contains an app-to-app authentication scheme, necessary for preventing CATCH. We perform experiments on a set of Android apps and show the CATCH problem is always present on the whole analyzed applications set. We also discuss the impact of the problem in real scenarios by presenting two real case studies. At the end of the paper we reported limitations of our model along with future improvements

Erratum to: Molecular modelling study of 2-phenylethynyladenosine (PEAdo) derivatives as highly selective A3 adenosine receptor ligands

A series of 2-phenylethynyladenosine (PEAdo) derivatives substituted in the N6- and 4′position was synthesised and the new derivatives were tested at the four human adenosine receptors stably transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, using radioligand binding studies (A1, A2A, A3) or adenylyl cyclase activity assay (A2B). Binding studies showed that the presence of a phenyl ethynyl group in the 2 position of adenosine favoured the interaction with A3 receptors, resulting in compounds endowed with high affinity and selectivity for the A3 subtype. Additional substitution of the N6- and 4′position increases both A3 affinity and selectivity. The results showed that the new compounds have a good affinity for the A3 receptor and in particular, the N6-methoxy-2-phenylethynyl-5′N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine, with a Ki at A3 of 1.9 nM and a selectivity A1/A3 and A2A/A3 of 4,800- and 8,600-fold, respectively. Therefore, it is one of the most potent and selective agonists at the human A3 adenosine receptor subtype reported so far. Furthermore, functional assays of inhibition of 10 μM forskolin-stimulated cAMP production via the adenosine A3 receptor revealed that the new trisubstituted adenosine derivatives behave as full agonist of this receptor subtype. Docking analysis of these compounds was performed at a homology model of the human A3 receptor based on the bovine rhodopsin crystal structure as template, and the results are in accordance with the biological data

2- and 8-alkynyl-9-ethyladenines: Synthesis and biological activity at human and rat adenosine receptors

The synthesis of a series of 9-ethyladenine derivatives bearing alkynyl chains in 2- or 8-position was undertaken, based on the observation that replacement of the sugar moiety in adenosine derivatives with alkyl groups led to adenosine receptor antagonists. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their affinity at human and rat A1, A2A, and A3 adenosine receptors in binding assays; the activity at the human A2B receptor was determined in adenylyl cyclase experiments. Biological data showed that the 2-alkynyl derivatives possess good affinity and are slightly selective for the human A2A receptor. The same compounds tested on the rat A1 and A2A subtypes showed in general lower affinity for both receptors. On the other hand, the affinity of the 8-alkynyl derivatives at the human A1, A2A, and A2B receptors proved to be lower than that of the corresponding 2-alkynyl derivatives. On the contrary, the affinity of the same compounds for the human A3 receptor was improved, resulting in A3 selectivity. As in the case of the 2-alkynyl-substituted compounds, the 8-alkynyl derivatives showed decreased affinity for rat receptors. However, it is worthwhile to note that the 8-phenylethynyl-9-ethyladenine was the most active compound of the two series (Ki in the nanomolar range) at both the human and rat A3 subtype. Docking experiments of the 2- and 8-phenylethynyl-9-ethyladenines, at a rhodopsin-based homology model, gave a rational explanation of the preference of the human A3 receptor for the 8-substituted compound

Child healthcare services offered by the Vatican City State in its national territory and in extra-territorial neighboring Italian areas

Pediatric healthcare activity related to the Vatican City State is carried out at secondary and tertiary levels in the two main pediatric territorial and extra-territorial medical centers, which are administered by the Vatican: the Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital and the Mother and Child pediatric Department of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Medical Center. Both centers are recognized by the Italian State and internationally with the formal legal status of Scientific Institutes for Clinical Research. The relations established between the Holy See, in the person of the Secretary of State, the Board of Directors, the President of the Board, and the Board of Auditors regulate the management of the two medical centers. The child healthcare and research activity of the two Vatican State administered medical centers is described in this article

Do Organizational Culture and Climate Matter for Successful Client Outcomes?

Objectives: The existing literature on the impact of workplace conditions on client care suggests that good cultures and climates provide the best outcomes for clients. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between organizational culture and climate and the proportion of children and youth successfully discharged from a large organization in New York State. Method: Thirty-three child and youth programs with existing culture and climate data evaluated outcome information from 1,336 clients exiting its services. Results: Programs reported as having bad culture and climate yielded superior client outcomes, measured as discharge to a lower level of care and successfully completing. Conclusion: This study and its conclusion point to a gap in knowledge concerning the relation between workplace culture and climate and the impact on client care and workers’ perceptions; this warrants further investigation in similar studies of agencies and their outcomes

Influence of endodontic treatment on systemic oxidative stress

Introduction: An increased production of oxidizing species related to reactive oral diseases, such as chronic apical periodontitis, could have systemic implications such as an increase in cardiovascular morbidity. Based on this consideration, we conducted a prospective study to assess whether subjects affected by chronic periodontitis presented with higher values of oxidative stress than reference values before endodontic treatment, and whether endodontic treatment can reduce the oxidative imbalance and bring it back to normal in these subjects. Materials and methods: The authors recruited 2 groups of patients from private studies and dental clinics: these patients were recruited randomly. The oxidative balance in both patients with chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) and healthy control patients was determined by measuring the oxidant status, using an identification of the reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) test, while the antioxidant status in these patients was determined using a biological antioxidant potential (BAP) test. Both these tests were carried on plasma samples taken from enrolled patients. Values were measured both before the endodontic treatment of the patients with chronic apical periodontitis, and 30 and 90 days after treatment, and compared to those obtained from healthy control patients. Results: It was found that, on recruitment, the patients with chronic apical periodontitis exhibited significantly higher levels of oxidative stress than control patients, as determined by the d-ROMs and BAP tests. Furthermore, the d-ROMs test values were shown to decrease and the BAP test values to increase over time in patients with chronic apical periodontitis following endodontic therapy. As the levels of oxidative stress in these patients tended to reduce and return to normal by 90 days following treatment. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated a positive association between chronic apical periodontitis and oxidative stress. Subjects affected by chronic apical periodontitis are exposed to a condition of oxidative stress, which is extremely dangerous to general health. Moreover, one can infer from these findings that through proper endodontic therapy, a good oxidative balance can be restored, thereby avoiding the risk of contracting the abovementioned diseases. © Ivyspring International Publisher

Factors Influencing Worker Morale: Evaluating Provider Demographics, Workplace Environment and Using ESTs

Objectives: Mental health organizations are strongly encouraged to implement empirically supported treatments (ESTs), however little is known about their working environments. The present study investigated how provider demographics, workplace environment and whether ESTs were used affected the worker morale. Methods: Front-line workers (N = 1,273) from 55 different programs in a single, large organization completed a measure of organizational culture and climate (OCC) and worker morale. A multilevel regression analysis used worker demographics to predict worker morale at level 1 and EST use and OCC scales to predict program level worker morale. Results: Worker morale was significantly negatively correlated with EST use and significantly correlated with OCC dimensions. Regression results showed that culture and climate but not EST use predicted morale. Conclusions: Although EST use by programs in this agency had negative effects on both morale and OCC, separately, the effect on morale was subsumed by the effect on OCC

Adenosine receptor agonists: Synthesis and binding affinity of 2-(aryl)alkylthioadenosine derivatives

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New 2,6,9-trisubstituted adenines as adenosine receptor antagonists: a preliminary SAR profile

A new series of 2,6,9-trisubstituted adenines (5–14) have been prepared and evaluated in radioligand binding studies for their affinity at the human A1, A2A and A3 adenosine receptors and in adenylyl cyclase experiments for their potency at the human A2B subtype. From this preliminary study the conclusion can be drawn that introduction of bulky chains at the N6 position of 9-propyladenine significantly increased binding affinity at the human A1 and A3 adenosine receptors, while the presence of a chlorine atom at the 2 position resulted in a not univocal effect, depending on the receptor subtype and/or on the substituent present in the N6 position. However, in all cases, the presence in the 2 position of a chlorine atom favoured the interaction with the A2A subtype. These results demonstrated that, although the synthesized compounds were found to be quite inactive at the human A2B subtype, adenine is a useful template for further development of simplified adenosine receptor antagonists with distinct receptor selectivity profiles

Radioterapia intraoperatoria nei tumori maligni avanzati estesi all’orecchio medio: valutazione da uno studio retrospettivo

Obiettivo dello studio è stato quello di valutare la sicurezza, l’efficacia e i risultati funzionali della radioterapia intraoperatoria (IORT) seguita dalla radioterapia a intensità modulata (IMRT) nel trattamento di tumori maligni avanzati estesi all’orecchio medio. Sono stati inclusi nello studio in modo retrospettivo 13 pazienti consecutive affetti da tumore dell’orecchio esterno esteso all’orecchio medio. Il follow-up è stato in media di 33 mesi (range 6-133). Cinque pazienti (38%) erano di stadio III e 8 pazienti (62%) erano di stadio IV secondo la classificazione dell’Università di Pittsburgh. Una petrosectomia laterale (LTBR) è stata eseguita in tutti i pazienti, la LTBR è stata associata a parotidectomia in 5 (38%) casi e a svuotamento latero-cervicale associato a parotidectomia in 6 (46%) casi. In tutti i casi si è effettuata asportazione della malattia macroscopicamente evidente. Il trattamento chirurgico è stato completato da IORT (12 Gy) e IMRT (50Gy). Chemioterapia adiuvante è stata eseguita in 4 (30%) casi. Test audiometrici pre- e post-operatori sono stati eseguiti per valutare la perdita uditiva. Il tasso di controllo di malattia locale (LC) a 5 anni, di metastasi a distanza (DM) a 5 anni, la sopravvivenza libera da malattia (DFS) e la sopravvivenza globale (OS) a 5 anni sono state calcolate con il metodo di Kaplan-Meyer. Variazioni significative nella conduzione per via ossea sono state osservate dopo trattamento. Una necrosi parziale del lembo di ricostruzione è stata l’unica complicanza precoce osservata in 3(23%) casi, mentre una fistola meningea è stata osservata in un solo caso (7,6%) come complicanza tardiva. Il tasso di LC è stato del 68%. Il tasso di DM è stato del 90%. Il tasso di DFS è stato del 61%. Il tasso di OS è stato del 69%. La IORT seguita dalla IMRT nel trattamento dei tumori maligni avanzati dell’orecchio esterno e medio sembra essere sicuro. Nel nostro studio non sono riportati morti. La IORT può ridurre la dose di radioterapia postoperatoria a livello del tessuto residuo ottenendo la medesima dose a livello della sede del tumore. Non abbiamo osservato alcuna complicanza a livello dell’orecchio esterno residuo, mentre si è notato un peggioramento dell’udito anche a livello neurosensoriale. Sono necessari studi prospettici al fine di confermare quanto da noi osservato