Identification and Security Implications of Biometrics

The usage of biometrics has become more frequent over the past couple of decades, notably due to technological advancements. Evolving technology in the field of biometrics has also led to increased accuracy of associated software, which have provided the opportunity to use a multitude of different human characteristics for identification and/or verification purposes. The current study assessed the usage of biometrics in casinos, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies using a survey methodology. Results indicated that privacy concerns related to the use of biometrics may not be as prevalent as indicated in the literature. Additionally, results indicated that the utilization of biometrics has led to increased accuracy in identification and verification processes, led to enhanced security, and would be highly recommended to other institutions. Information obtained from the literature notes the racial bias in facial recognition technologies due to algorithmic development based solely upon features of Caucasian individuals. Efforts need to be made to create facial recognition algorithms that are more racially and ethnically diverse

"Bibliocircuitry and the Design of the Alien Everyday"

Curatorial note from Digital Pedagogy in the Humanities: “Bibliocircuitry and the Design of the Alien Everyday” details student exploration of the concept of reflective design through projects that investigate the book as interface. This activity perfectly highlights the way that exposure to and emphasis on process leads to unforeseen insight. These student authors also emphasize that digital work requires consideration of hardware and physical and tactile design. Instructors inspired by this article might select a particular type of object and ask students to devise ways to alter or enhance users’ interaction with it. Students would demonstrate learning not only through their work in designing and redesigning objects but also through oral or written presentations of them (much as the student authors of this journal article have done)

Deregulation of DUX4 and ERG in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Chromosomal rearrangements deregulating hematopoietic transcription factors are common in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).1,2 Here, we show that deregulation of the homeobox transcription factor gene DUX4 and the ETS transcription factor gene ERG are hallmarks of a subtype of B-progenitor ALL that comprises up to 7% of B-ALL. DUX4 rearrangement and overexpression was present in all cases, and was accompanied by transcriptional deregulation of ERG, expression of a novel ERG isoform, ERGalt, and frequent ERG deletion. ERGalt utilizes a non-canonical first exon whose transcription was initiated by DUX4 binding. ERGalt retains the DNA-binding and transactivating domains of ERG, but inhibits wild-type ERG transcriptional activity and is transforming. These results illustrate a unique paradigm of transcription factor deregulation in leukemia, in which DUX4 deregulation results in loss-of-function of ERG, either by deletion or induction of expression of an isoform that is a dominant negative inhibitor of wild type ERG function

The geometry of the infrared and X-ray obscurer in a dusty hyperluminous quasar

We study the geometry of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) obscurer in IRAS 09104+4109, an IR-luminous, radio-intermediate FR-I source at z = 0.442, using infrared data from Spitzer and Herschel, X-ray data from NuSTAR, Swift, Suzaku, and Chandra, and an optical spectrum from Palomar. The infrared data imply a total rest-frame 1–1000 μm luminosity of 5.5 × 1046 erg s−1 and require both an AGN torus and a starburst model. The AGN torus has an anisotropy-corrected IR luminosity of 4.9 × 1046 erg s−1 and a viewing angle and half-opening angle both of approximately 36° from pole-on. The starburst has a star formation rate of (110 ± 34) M ⊙ yr−1 and an age of <50 Myr. These results are consistent with two epochs of luminous activity in IRAS 09104+4109: one approximately 150 Myr ago, and one ongoing. The X-ray data suggest a photon index of Γ sime 1.8 and a line-of-sight column density of N H sime 5 × 1023 cm−2. This argues against a reflection-dominated hard X-ray spectrum, which would have implied a much higher N H and luminosity. The X-ray and infrared data are consistent with a bolometric AGN luminosity of L bol ~ (0.5–2.5) × 1047 erg s−1. The X-ray and infrared data are further consistent with coaligned AGN obscurers in which the line of sight "skims" the torus. This is also consistent with the optical spectra, which show both coronal iron lines and broad lines in polarized but not direct light. Combining constraints from the X-ray, optical, and infrared data suggest that the AGN obscurer is within a vertical height of 20 pc, and a radius of 125 pc, of the nucleus

Genetic alterations in uncommon low-grade neuroepithelial tumors:BRAF, FGFR1, and MYB mutations occur at high frequency and align with morphology

Low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (LGNTs) are diverse CNS tumors presenting in children and young adults, often with a history of epilepsy. While the genetic profiles of common LGNTs, such as the pilocytic astrocytoma and ‘adult-type’ diffuse gliomas, are largely established, those of uncommon LGNTs remain to be defined. In this study, we have used massively parallel sequencing and various targeted molecular genetic approaches to study alterations in 91 LGNTs, mostly from children but including young adult patients. These tumors comprise dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs; n=22), diffuse oligodendroglial tumors (d-OTs; n=20), diffuse astrocytomas (DAs; n=17), angiocentric gliomas (n=15), and gangliogliomas (n=17). Most LGNTs (84%) analyzed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were characterized by a single driver genetic alteration. Alterations of FGFR1 occurred frequently in LGNTs composed of oligodendrocyte-like cells, being present in 82% of DNETs and 40% of d-OTs. In contrast, a MYB-QKI fusion characterized almost all angiocentric gliomas (87%), and MYB fusion genes were the most common genetic alteration in DAs (41%). A BRAF:p.V600E mutation was present in 35% of gangliogliomas and 18% of DAs. Pathogenic alterations in FGFR1/2/3, BRAF, or MYB/MYBL1 occurred in 78% of the series. Adult-type d-OTs with an IDH1/2 mutation occurred in four adolescents, the youngest aged 15 years at biopsy. Despite a detailed analysis, novel genetic alterations were limited to two fusion genes, EWSR1-PATZ1 and SLMAP-NTRK2, both in gangliogliomas. Alterations in BRAF, FGFR1, or MYB account for most pathogenic alterations in LGNTs, including pilocytic astrocytomas, and alignment of these genetic alterations and cytologic features across LGNTs has diagnostic implications. Additionally, therapeutic options based upon targeting the effects of these alterations are already in clinical trials