Responding to Cybersecurity Challenges: Securing Vulnerable U.S. Emergency Alert Systems

Emergency alert systems (EASs) in the United States (US) form part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. These systems rely on aging platforms and suffer from a fragmented interconnected network of partnerships. Some EASs have an easily identifiable vulnerability: one can access their management website via the Internet. Authorities must secure these systems quickly. Other concerns also exist, such as the lack of policies for reporting vulnerabilities. To begin to assess EASs in the US, we used Shodan to evaluate the availability of these websites in six southeastern states. We found 18 such websites that one could access via the Internet and that required only requiring user credentials to login into. Next, we searched for published policies on reporting vulnerabilities; we found no vulnerability-disclosure policies for any system we identified. To identify, prioritize, and address EAS vulnerabilities, we present a list of technical and management strategies to reduce cybersecurity threats. We recommend integrated policies and procedures at all levels of the public-private-government partnerships and system resilience as lines of defense against cybersecurity threats. By implementing these strategies, EASs in the US will be positioned to update critical infrastructure, notify groups of emergencies, and ensure the distribution of valid and reliable information to at-risk populations

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft versus allograft in young patients

Objectives: Traditionally, bone-patella tendon-bone (BTB) autograft has been the gold standard graft choice for younger, athletic patients requiring ACL reconstruction. However, donor site morbidity, post-operative patella fracture, and increased operative time have led many surgeons to choose BTB allograft for their reconstructions. Opponents of allografts feel that slower healing time, higher rate of graft failure, and potential for disease transmission makes them undesirable graft choices in athletic patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes, both subjective and objective, of young patients that who have undergone either BTB autograft or allograft reconstructions with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients (60 autograft, 60 allograft), age 25 and below at time of surgery, were contacted after being retrospectively identified as patients having an ACL reconstruction with either a BTB allograft or autograft by one senior surgeon. Patients were administered the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation questionnaires. Fifty (25 BTB autograft and 25 BTB allograft) of the 120 returned for physical examination as well as completion of a single leg hop test and laxity evaluation using a KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation. Of the 120 patients contacted, there were a total of 7 failures (5.8%) requiring revision, 6 in the allograft group (86%) and 1 in the autograft group (14%). Results: The average Lysholm scores were 89.0 and 89.56 and the average IKDC scores were 90.8 and 92.1 in the autograft and allograft groups respectively. The differences in the Lysholm scores and the IKDC scores were not significant. The single leg hop and KT-1000 scores were also not significantly different. One autograft patient had a minor motion deficit. Three allograft patients had a grade 1 Lachman and pivot glide. One autograft patient and two allograft patients had mild patellafemoral crepitus. There was no significant difference in anterior knee pain between the two groups Conclusion: There is no significant difference in patient-rated outcome between ACL reconstructions using BTB autografts versus allografts. However, the overall study group did reveal an increased failure rate requiring revision in the allograft group. © The Author(s) 2015

Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic overhead athlete scores in asymptomatic professional baseball pitchers.

BACKGROUND: The Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow score is a subjective questionnaire that has been validated and been shown to be more specific in overhead athletes than the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale. The purpose of this study was to determine a mean KJOC score and reasonable range of KJOC scores within which a healthy asymptomatic professional baseball pitcher will fall. It was hypothesized that healthy professional baseball pitchers would have very high KJOC scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: KJOC questionnaires were given to all healthy pitchers before the start of the season at all levels in 1 professional Minor League system. Pitchers were asked to complete the questionnaire upon reporting to their AAA, AA, or A affiliate team. Any pitcher starting the season on the disabled list was excluded from the study. RESULTS: KJOC scores were returned by 44 pitchers. The mean score for all pitchers was 94.82 (95% confidence interval, 92.94-96.70). The mean score for each question was greater than 9 of 10. The mean score for the AAA affiliate was significantly higher than that for the AA affiliate (P = .015). No other significant differences in scores were found between class levels or groups based on professional playing experience. CONCLUSION: Only 7 of 44 healthy asymptomatic pitchers (16%) had a KJOC score below 90. Therefore, we believe that the KJOC score is an accurate assessment for overhead athletes and normal values should be greater than 90. Anything below this value could be a potential cause for concern for team physicians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Basic Science, Survey Study, Healthy Subjects

Development of immunohistochemistry services for cancer care in western Kenya: Implications for low- and middle-income countries

Background Cancer is becoming a major cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Unlike infectious disease, malignancy and other chronic conditions require significant supportive infrastructure for diagnostics, staging and treatment. In addition to morphologic diagnosis, diagnostic pathways in oncology frequently require immunohistochemistry (IHC) for confirmation. We present the experience of a tertiary-care hospital serving rural western Kenya, which developed and validated an IHC laboratory in support of a growing cancer care service. Objectives, methods and outcomes Over the past decade, in an academic North-South collaboration, cancer services were developed for the catchment area of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in western Kenya. A major hurdle to treatment of cancer in a resource-limited setting has been the lack of adequate diagnostic services. Building upon the foundations of a histology laboratory, strategic investment and training were used to develop IHC services. Key elements of success in this endeavour included: translation of resource-rich practices to a resource-limited setting, such as using manual, small-batch IHC instead of disposable- and maintenance-intensive automated machinery, engagement of outside expertise to develop reagent-efficient protocols and supporting all levels of staff to meet the requirements of an external quality assurance programme. Conclusion Development of low- and middle-income country models of services, such as the IHC laboratory presented in this paper, is critical for the infrastructure in resource-limited settings to address the growing cancer burden. We provide a low-cost model that effectively develops these necessary services in a challenging laboratory environment

The Strange Quark Contribution to the Proton's Magnetic Moment

We report a new determination of the strange quark contribution to the proton's magnetic form factor at a four-momentum transfer Q2 = 0.1 (GeV/c)^2 from parity-violating e-p elastic scattering. The result uses a revised analysis of data from the SAMPLE experiment which was carried out at the MIT-Bates Laboratory. The data are combined with a calculation of the proton's axial form factor GAe to determine the strange form factor GMs(Q2=0.1)=0.37 +- 0.20 +- 0.26 +- 0.07. The extrapolation of GMs to its Q2=0 limit and comparison with calculations is also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Pulsars with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder

The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) is a 36-element array with a 30-square-degree field of view being built at the proposed SKA site in Western Australia. We are conducting a Design Study for pulsar observations with ASKAP, planning both timing and search observations. We provide an overview of the ASKAP telescope and an update on pulsar-related progress.Comment: To appear in proceedings of "Radio Pulsars: An astrophysical key to unlock the secrets of the Universe

A Comparison of Polarization Observables in Electron Scattering from the Proton and Deuteron

Recoil proton polarization observables were measured for both the p($\vec {\rm e}$,e$^\prime\vec{\rm p}\,$) and d($\vec {\rm e}$,e$^\prime\vec{\rm p}\,)$n reactions at two values of Q$^2$ using a newly commissioned proton Focal Plane Polarimeter at the M.I.T.-Bates Linear Accelerator Center. The hydrogen and deuterium spin-dependent observables $D_{\ell\ell}$ and $D_{{\ell}t}$, the induced polarization $P_n$ and the form factor ratio $G^p_E/G^p_M$ were measured under identical kinematics. The deuterium and hydrogen results are in good agreement with each other and with the plane-wave impulse approximation (PWIA).Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure; accepted by Phys. Rev. Let

Parity-violating Electron Deuteron Scattering and the Proton's Neutral Weak Axial Vector Form Factor

We report on a new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering from the deuteron at backward angles at Q2= 0.038 (GeV/c)2. This quantity provides a determination of the neutral weak axial vector form factor of the nucleon, which can potentially receive large electroweak corrections. The measured asymmetry A=-3.51 +/- 0.57(stat) +/- 0.58(sys)ppm is consistent with theoretical predictions. We also report on updated results of the previous experiment at Q2=0.091 (GeV/c)2, which are also consistent with theoretical predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let