Hidden-Markov Program Algebra with iteration

We use Hidden Markov Models to motivate a quantitative compositional semantics for noninterference-based security with iteration, including a refinement- or "implements" relation that compares two programs with respect to their information leakage; and we propose a program algebra for source-level reasoning about such programs, in particular as a means of establishing that an "implementation" program leaks no more than its "specification" program. This joins two themes: we extend our earlier work, having iteration but only qualitative, by making it quantitative; and we extend our earlier quantitative work by including iteration. We advocate stepwise refinement and source-level program algebra, both as conceptual reasoning tools and as targets for automated assistance. A selection of algebraic laws is given to support this view in the case of quantitative noninterference; and it is demonstrated on a simple iterated password-guessing attack

Gender Difference and Employees\u27 Cybersecurity Behaviors

Security breaches are prevalent in organizations and many of the breaches are attributed to human errors. As a result, the organizations need to increase their employees\u27 security awareness and their capabilities to engage in safe cybersecurity behaviors. Many different psychological and social factors affect employees\u27 cybersecurity behaviors. An important research question to explore is to what extent gender plays a role in mediating the factors that affect cybersecurity beliefs and behaviors of employees. In this vein, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study among employees of diverse organizations. We used structural equation modelling to assess the effect of gender as a moderator variable in the relations between psychosocial factors and self-reported cybersecurity behaviors. Our results show that gender has some effect in security self-efficacy (r=-0.435,

Identification of genes expressed by immune cells of the colon that are regulated by colorectal cancer-associated variants.

A locus on human chromosome 11q23 tagged by marker rs3802842 was associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a genome-wide association study; this finding has been replicated in case-control studies worldwide. In order to identify biologic factors at this locus that are related to the etiopathology of CRC, we used microarray-based target selection methods, coupled to next-generation sequencing, to study 103 kb at the 11q23 locus. We genotyped 369 putative variants from 1,030 patients with CRC (cases) and 1,061 individuals without CRC (controls) from the Ontario Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry. Two previously uncharacterized genes, COLCA1 and COLCA2, were found to be co-regulated genes that are transcribed from opposite strands. Expression levels of COLCA1 and COLCA2 transcripts correlate with rs3802842 genotypes. In colon tissues, COLCA1 co-localizes with crystalloid granules of eosinophils and granular organelles of mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells and differentiated myeloid-derived cell lines. COLCA2 is present in the cytoplasm of normal epithelial, immune and other cell lineages, as well as tumor cells. Tissue microarray analysis demonstrates the association of rs3802842 with lymphocyte density in the lamina propria (p = 0.014) and levels of COLCA1 in the lamina propria (p = 0.00016) and COLCA2 (tumor cells, p = 0.0041 and lamina propria, p = 6 × 10(-5)). In conclusion, genetic, expression and immunohistochemical data implicate COLCA1 and COLCA2 in the pathogenesis of colon cancer. Histologic analyses indicate the involvement of immune pathways

Composite Materials with Combined Electronic and Ionic Properties

In this work, we develop a new type of composite material that combines both electrocatalytic and ionic properties, by doping a silver metal catalyst with an anion-conducting ionomer at the molecular level. We show that ionomer entrapment into the silver metallic structure is possible, imparting unique properties to the catalytic character of the metallic silver. The novel composite material is tested as the cathode electrode of fuel cells, showing significant improvement in cell performance as compared with the undoped counterpart. This new type of material may then replace the current design of electrodes in advanced fuel cells or other electrochemical devices. The possibility to merge different properties into one composite material by molecular entrapment in metals can open the way to new materials, leading to unexplored fields and applications

An experimental study of dynamic behaviour of graphite polycarbonatediol polyurethane composites for protective coatings

Segmented polycarbonatediol polyurethane (PUPH) has been synthesized and modified with different amounts of graphite conductive filler (from 0 to 50 wt%). Thermal and dynamical thermal analysis of the composites clearly indicates changes in the polyurethane relaxations upon addition of graphite. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy has been used to study the dielectric properties of the (PUPH) and one composite in the frequency range from 10−2 to 107 Hz and in the temperature window of −140 to 170 ◦C. Relaxation processes associated with different molecular motions and conductivity phenomena (Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars and electrode polarization) are discussed and related to the graphite contentWe acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Finances and Competitiveness through the Grant CDS2010-0044 belonging to the "Consolider-Ingenio Programme" and for the Grant MAT2012-33483. The authors thank UBE Chem Eur for the PCD supply for this work.Gómez, C.; Culebras, M.; Cantarero Saez, A.; Redondo Foj, MB.; Ortiz Serna, MP.; Carsí Rosique, M.; Sanchis Sánchez, MJ. (2013). An experimental study of dynamic behaviour of graphite polycarbonatediol polyurethane composites for protective coatings. Applied Surface Science. 275:295-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.12.108S29530227

The causes of epistasis in genetic networks

[EN] Epistasis refers to the nonadditive interactions between genes in determining phenotypes. Considerable efforts have shown that, even for a given organism, epistasis may vary both in intensity and sign. Recent comparative studies supported that the overall sign of epistasis switches from positive to negative as the complexity of an organism increases, and it has been hypothesized that this change shall be a consequence of the underlying gene network properties. Why should this be the case? What characteristics of genetic networks determine the sign of epistasis? Here we show, by evolving genetic networks that differ in their complexity and robustness against perturbations but that perform the same tasks, that robustness increased with complexity and that epistasis was positive for small nonrobust networks but negative for large robust ones. Our results indicate that robustness and negative epistasis emerge as a consequence of the existence of redundant elements in regulatory structures of genetic networks and that the correlation between complexity and epistasis is a byproduct of such redundancy, allowing for the decoupling of epistasis from the underlying network complexity.We thank J. Carrera, J. A. G. M. de Visser, M. A. Fares, and S. Valverde for discussions and two anonymous reviewers for insightful suggestions. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation grant BFU2009-06993 (SFE), the Generalitat Valenciana grant PROMETEO2010/019 (SFE), the Human Frontiers Science Program grant RGP12/2008 (SFE and RVS), and the Santa Fe Institute.Macia, J.; Sole, RV.; Elena Fito, SF. (2012). The causes of epistasis in genetic networks. Evolution. 66(2):586-596. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01451.xS58659666

Redundancy, Diversity, and Modularity in Network Resilience : Applications for International Trade and Implications for Public Policy

Sustainability is increasingly concerned with the complex interactions between nature and society, and we need to seek solutions towards the challenges that threaten humanity's collective wellbeing. Towards this end, it is critical to advance the application of research examining the dynamic interactions of the components of complex social-ecological systems and their emerging properties. A key research area is on advancing tools and strategies relevant to the evaluation and strengthening of resilience. Redundancy, diversity, and modularity are important characteristics of resilience with a high potential for application in various critical social-ecological systems. This paper provides a critical overview of the theoretical underpinnings of modularity and redundancy and their application in measuring resilience of trade networks with implications for public policy and institutional design

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations in hypertensive cats with and without azotemia and in response to treatment with amlodipine besylate

BACKGROUND: Role of renin‐angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) in feline systemic hypertension is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: Examine plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) in normotensive and hypertensive cats with variable renal function and in response to antihypertensive therapy. ANIMALS: One hundred and ninety‐six cats >9 years from first opinion practice. METHODS: PRA, PAC, and aldosterone‐to‐renin ratio (ARR) were evaluated in cats recruited prospectively and grouped according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and renal function (nonazotemic normotensive [Non‐Azo‐NT], nonazotemic hypertensive [Non‐Azo‐HT], azotemic normotensive [Azo‐NT], azotemic hypertensive [Azo‐HT]). Changes in PRA and PAC were evaluated with antihypertensive therapy (amlodipine besylate). RESULTS: Plasma renin activity (ng/mL/h; P = .0013), PAC (pg/mL; P < .001), and ARR (P = 0.0062) differed significantly among groups. PRA (ng/mL/h) was significantly lower in hypertensive (Non‐Azo‐HT; n = 25, median 0.22 [25th percentile 0.09, 75th percentile 0.39], Azo‐HT; n = 44, 0.33 [0.15, 0.48]) compared with Non‐Azo‐NT cats (n = 57, 0.52 [0.28, 1.02]). Azo‐HT cats had significantly higher PAC (n = 22, 149.8 [103.1, 228.7]) than normotensive cats (Non‐Azo‐NT; n = 26, 45.4 [19.6, 65.0], Azo‐NT; n = 18, 84.1 [38.6, 137.8]). ARR was significantly higher in Azo‐HT (n = 20, 503.8 [298.8, 1511]) than Azo‐NT cats (n = 16, 97.8 [77.0, 496.4]). Significant increase in PRA was documented with antihypertensive therapy (pretreatment [n = 20] 0.32 [0.15–0.46], posttreatment 0.54 [0.28, 1.51]), but PAC did not change. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hypertensive cats demonstrate significantly increased PAC with decreased PRA. PRA significantly increases with antihypertensive therapy. Additional work is required to determine the role of plasma aldosterone concentration in the pathogenesis of hypertension and whether this relates to autonomous production or activation of RAAS without demonstrable increase in PRA