A Descriptive Study of Information Operations and Information Warfare Awareness in the United States Air Force

Information has always been important in military affairs, conflicts, and wars. Information warfare is an important new concept that is emphasized by the significance of computer and information technology. The United States Air Force has educated and trained individuals in information warfare since recognizing the importance of information warfare in 1995. The Air Force Information Warfare Center and the information warfare squadron were also created to address information warfare concerns. Information warfare is important to the entire Air Force. How familiar are Air Force people generally in information warfare? This thesis addresses awareness of information warfare and information operations concepts. Despite the amount of focus, training, and education, it was unknown how aware individuals were concerning information warfare and information operations. This thesis surveyed eight hundred officers and enlisted personnel with a response rate of 214 to determine the baseline of information warfare awareness. Approximately sixty percent of the respondents indicated that they were aware of information warfare. Also, individuals who received information warfare training responded higher than individuals without training. This is the first study in information warfare and information operations awareness. Additional research is needed to determine how the awareness levels are changing and the effectiveness of the training

Deconjugation Kinetics of Glucuronidated Phase II Flavonoid Metabolites by B-glucuronidase from Neutrophils

Flavonoids are inactivated by phase II metabolism and occur in the body as glucuronides. Mammalian ß-glucuronidase released from neutrophils at inflammatory sites may be able to deconjugate and thus activate flavonoid glucuronides. We have studied deconjugation kinetics and pH optimum for four sources of ß-glucuronidase (human neutrophil, human recombinant, myeloid PLB-985 cells, Helix pomatia) with five flavonoid glucuronides (quercetin-3-glucuronide, quercetin-3'-glucuronide, quercetin-4'-glucuronide, quercetin-7-glucuronide, 3'-methylquercetin-3-glucuronide), 4-methylumbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide, and para-nitrophenol-glucuronide. All substrate-enzyme combinations tested exhibited first order kinetics. The optimum pH for hydrolysis was between 3.5-5, with appreciable hydrolysis activities up to pH 5.5. At pH 4, the Km ranged 44-fold from 22 µM for quercetin-4'-glucuronide with Helix pomatia ß-glucuronidase, to 981 µM for para-nitrophenol-glucuronide with recombinant ß-glucuronidase. Vmax (range: 0.735-24.012 µmol·min-1·unit-1 [1 unit is defined as the release of 1 µM 4-methylumbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide per min]) and the reaction rate constants at low substrate concentrations (k) (range: 0.002-0.062 min-1·(unit/L)-1 were similar for all substrates-enzyme combinations tested. In conclusion, we show that ß-glucuronidase from four different sources, including human neutrophils, is able to deconjugate flavonoid glucuronides and non-flavonoid substrates at fairly similar kinetic rates. At inflammatory sites in vivo the pH, neutrophil and flavonoid glucuronide concentrations seem favorable for deconjugation. However, it remains to be confirmed whether this is actually the case

The Enemy Within: A Commentary on The Exploding Problem Of Employee Theft

Few companies recognize the big bite that thefts, both large and small, take out of their profit margin. It is estimated that theft in some form absorbs 5 percent of all business revenues, which translates into about $652 billion in losses per year. Small businesses take a disproportionate share of the hit. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the rapidly expanding scope of the employee theft problem and to suggest common sense Risk Management techniques that companies can use to prevent losses and to reduce the damages from those that occur. In many cases, the loss control measures are inexpensive and easy to implement

Percepciones de las condiciones de caminabilidad del Centro Histórico de Cartagena de Indias

La movilidad urbana sostenible es uno de los atributos más importantes de las ciudades y de toda sociedad en general. Por esta razón, realizar un diagnóstico significativo y propositivo sobre esta materia, resulta un gran desafío para todos, pues su estudio contribuye a responder las necesidades básicas de acceso y desarrollo de individuos, empresas y sociedades, con seguridad y de manera compatible con la salud humana y el medio ambiente (Consejo de Transporte de la Unión Europea citado por Bravo, 2014). El objetivo de este estudio es comprender las condiciones de caminabilidad del Centro Histórico de Cartagena de Indias, con el propósito de determinar si las características del entorno son propicias para los desplazamientos a pie. Para el desarrollo de esta investigación, se recurrió a metodologías cualitativas para la evaluación de las condiciones de caminabilidad, utilizando herramientas como inventarios, entrevistas, recorridos, encuestas, matriz DOFA y Diagrama de Venn que permitieron generar un aporte que pueda contribuir a la toma de decisiones de los distintos actores. Así mismo, se formularon propuestas que busquen mejorar la calidad de vida de los habitantes desde un enfoque de movilidad urbana sostenible. Por último, como resultado de este estudio, se pudo evidenciar, según percepciones e inventarios, que las condiciones de caminabilidad del Centro Histórico de Cartagena de Indias no propician la movilidad a pie tanto para residentes y visitantes. Palabras clave: Caminabilidad, Movilidad Urbana Sostenible, Centro Histórico de Cartagena de Indias, Índice de Caminabilidad

Controle da ferrugem asiática da soja com diferentes épocas de aplicação de fungicidas.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a resposta de linhagens da cultura da soja a diferentes épocas de aplicação de fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de campo no Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro- campus Uberaba. Foram utilizadas 2 linhagens promissoras (resistentes a ferrugem asiática) do Programa de Melhoramento Genético da Embrapa, EPAMIG/Fundação Triângulo (BRSMG 771F e MGBR08-77511) além de uma cultivar suscetível (BRSMG Vencedora) do mesmo programa e quatro épocas de aplicação de fungicida (Piraclostrobina & Epoxiconazol 0,50+ óleo mineral 0,5% dose L p.c.ha-1): T1- testemunha (sem aplicação de fungicida) T2- aplicação na fase R1+ 20 dias + 20 dias, T3- aplicação primeiras pústulas + retorno das pústulas+ retorno das pústulas, T4- aplicação primeiras pústulas + 20 dias após primeiras pústulas + R5.1, T5- aplicação na fase R5.1. A aplicação dos fungicidas foram efetuadas utilizando um pulverizador costal. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi um fatorial em blocos ao acaso 3x5x4 (3 linhagens x 5 épocas de aplicação de fungicidas x 4 repetições) totalizando 15 tratamentos. As parcelas experimentais constam de quatro linhas com seis metros de comprimento por dois metros de largura e o espaçamento entrelinhas de 0,5 metros. Após duas avaliações, observa-se para os tratamentos com variedades resistentes a ferrugem, que ocorre um atraso no início da doença no campo. Porém, ainda faz-se necessário avaliar o comportamento de tais materiais em condições de alta pressão de inoculo, o que ocorrerá até o fim do ciclo da cultura

Sistema experto en análisis de fallas en líneas eléctricas de transmisión

Los Sistemas eléctricos de Transmisión están sometidos a distintos tipos de fallas, que degradan la capacidad de transporte de energía, y provocan como consecuencia un elevado costo en penalidades a la empresa responsable del transporte. Frente a las dificultades que plantea la obtención rápida de un diagnóstico, se estableció como objetivo el desarrollo de un Sistema Experto que procese en tiempo real la información adquirida y que frente a un suceso característico de una falla, emita un diagnóstico y asista a los especialistas y los operadores a identificar rápidamente el origen del problema y efectuar las operaciones que correspondan.Eje: Sistemas de información y MetaheurísticaRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Sistema experto en análisis de fallas en líneas eléctricas de transmisión

Los Sistemas eléctricos de Transmisión están sometidos a distintos tipos de fallas, que degradan la capacidad de transporte de energía, y provocan como consecuencia un elevado costo en penalidades a la empresa responsable del transporte. Frente a las dificultades que plantea la obtención rápida de un diagnóstico, se estableció como objetivo el desarrollo de un Sistema Experto que procese en tiempo real la información adquirida y que frente a un suceso característico de una falla, emita un diagnóstico y asista a los especialistas y los operadores a identificar rápidamente el origen del problema y efectuar las operaciones que correspondan.Eje: Sistemas de información y MetaheurísticaRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Regioselective synthesis of plant (iso)flavone glycosides in Escherichia coli

The flavonoids genistein, biochanin A, luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol are plant natural products with potentially useful pharmacological and nutraceutical activities. These natural products usually exist in plants as glycosides, and their glycosylation has a remarkable influence on their pharmacokinetic properties. The glycosyltransferases UGT71G1 and UGT73C8 from Medicago truncatula are excellent reagents for the regioselective glycosylation of (iso)flavonoids in Escherichia coli grown in Terrific broth. Ten to 20 mg/L of either genistein or biochanin A 7-O-glucoside was produced after feeding genistein or biochanin A to E. coli expressing UGT71G1, and similar levels of luteolin 4’-O- and 7-O-glucosides were produced after feeding luteolin to cultures expressing UGT73C8. For the production of kaempferol 3-O-glucoside or quercetin 3-O-glucoside, the Phe148Val or Tyr202Ala mutants of UGT71G1 were employed. Ten to 16 mg/L of either kaempferol 3-O- or quercetin 3-O-glucosides were produced on feeding kaempferol or quercetin to E. coli expressing these enzymes. More than 90% of the glucoside products were released to the medium, facilitating their isolation