An Algebraic Approach to Test Primality

Every 10 minutes, the amount of human generated data expands by more than 10 petabyes. This is equivalent to nearly one third of all literature in all languages from the beginning of recorded history. Such vast amounts of data necessitate effective techniques for data integrity, identity verification and data security. Cryptography aims to satisfy these needs. Many modern cryptographic schemes depend on generating prime numbers. Consequently, one must develop efficient tests to check whether or not a given integer is prime. Many of these tests use the properties of mathematical structures called groups. However, there are cases where non-prime numbers, called pseudoprimes, pass these tests for primality. We investigate several types of pseudoprimes based on primality tests associated to Lucas groups and Elliptic curve groups. In each case, we study the existence of and relationships among these different types of pseudoprimes

Phytoestrogens

Collectively, plants contain several different families of natural products among which are compounds with weak estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity toward mammals. These compounds, termed phytoestrogens, include certain isoflavonoids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans. The best-studied dietary phytoestrogens are the soy isoflavones and the flaxseed lignans. Their perceived health beneficial properties extend beyond hormone-dependent breast and prostate cancers and osteoporosis to include cognitive function, cardiovascular disease, immunity and inflammation, and reproduction and fertility. In the future, metabolic engineering of plants could generate novel and exquisitely controlled dietary sources with which to better assess the potential health beneficial effects of phytoestrogens

Proton Pump Inhibitors Intake and Iron and Vitamin B12 Status: A Prospective Comparative Study with a Follow up of 12 Months

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) represent the most widely prescribed antisecretory agents, but their prolonged use, may influence iron and vitamin B12 status, which could have important implications for clinical practice.AIM: We undertook this study aiming to investigate the association between PPIs use for 12 months and potential changes in iron and vitamin B12 status, as well as whether this potential association varies among four specific PPI drugs used in the study.METHODS: A total of 250 adult subjects were recruited into this study, of which 200 subjects were PPIs users while 50 subjects belonged to the control group. Serum iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, and homocysteine (Hcy) levels were measured before the start of the study and after 12 months. Mann - Whitney U test and Kruskal - Wallis test was used to compare the baseline characteristics of the study groups, while Wilcoxon test was used to analyse post - pre differences.RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant changes within PPIs group and specific PPIs subgroups between the two-time points in serum ferritin and vitamin B12 levels, respectively, while no significant changes in serum iron and homocysteine levels were shown. However, subsequent diagnosis of hypoferremia and hypovitaminosis B12 in the whole study sample at 12 months was established in only 3.8% and 2.9% of the subjects, respectively.CONCLUSION: PPIs use for 12 months did not result in clinically significant iron and/or vitamin B12 deficiency; thus, these findings argue routine screening under normal circumstances, although monitoring in elderly and malnourished may be of precious value

Performativity and primary teacher relations

A performativity discourse currently pervades teachers' work. It is a discourse that relies on teachers and schools instituting self-disciplinary measures to satisfy newly transparent public accountability and it operates alongside a market discourse. The introduction of the performativity discourse has affected teacher relations at three levels of professional work: with students, colleagues and local advisor/inspectors. Ethnographic research with primary teachers - which focused on their experience of Ofsted inspections in six schools over periods of up to four years - is the source of this paper. The paper argues that a humanist discourse prevalent in teacher relations with students, colleagues and advisor/inspectors has been challenged by a performativity discourse that: distances teachers from students and creates a dependency culture in opposition to previous mutual and intimate relations; creates self disciplining teams that marginalize individuality and stratifies collegial relations in opposition to previous relations where primary teachers sought consensus; and creates subjugatory, contrived and de-personalized relations between local advisors/inspectors in preference to previous partnership relations. The paper concludes that the change in relations is an indicator of fundamental change to social relations but that primary teachers are in a good position to influence the performativity discourse, albeit it a struggle, by reconstituting it through the maintenance of humanist relations

BRCA1 and BRCA2 as molecular targets for phytochemicals indole-3-carbinol and genistein in breast and prostate cancer cells

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and genistein are naturally occurring chemicals derived from cruciferous vegetables and soy, respectively, with potential cancer prevention activity for hormone-responsive tumours (e.g., breast and prostate cancers). Previously, we showed that I3C induces BRCA1 expression and that both I3C and BRCA1 inhibit oestrogen (E2)-stimulated oestrogen receptor (ER-α) activity in human breast cancer cells. We now report that both I3C and genistein induce the expression of both breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) in breast (MCF-7 and T47D) and prostate (DU-145 and LNCaP) cancer cell types, in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Induction of the BRCA genes occurred at low doses of I3C (20 μM) and genistein (0.5–1.0 μM), suggesting potential relevance to cancer prevention. A combination of I3C and genistein gave greater than expected induction of BRCA expression. Studies using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and BRCA expression vectors suggest that the phytochemical induction of BRCA2 is due, in part, to BRCA1. Functional studies suggest that I3C-mediated cytoxicity is, in part, dependent upon BRCA1 and BRCA2. Inhibition of E2-stimulated ER-α activity by I3C and genistein was dependent upon BRCA1; and inhibition of ligand-inducible androgen receptor (AR) activity by I3C and genistein was partially reversed by BRCA1-siRNA. Finally, we provide evidence suggesting that the phytochemical induction of BRCA1 expression is due, in part, to endoplasmic reticulum stress response signalling. These findings suggest that the BRCA genes are molecular targets for some of the activities of I3C and genistein

Inhibition of cancer cell invasion and metastasis by genistein

Genistein is a small, biologically active flavonoid that is found in high amounts in soy. This important compound possesses a wide variety of biological activities, but it is best known for its ability to inhibit cancer progression. In particular, genistein has emerged as an important inhibitor of cancer metastasis. Consumption of genistein in the diet has been linked to decreased rates of metastatic cancer in a number of population-based studies. Extensive investigations have been performed to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying genistein’s antimetastatic activity, with results indicating that this small molecule has significant inhibitory activity at nearly every step of the metastatic cascade. Reports have demonstrated that, at high concentrations, genistein can inhibit several proteins involved with primary tumor growth and apoptosis, including the cyclin class of cell cycle regulators and the Akt family of proteins. At lower concentrations that are similar to those achieved through dietary consumption, genistein can inhibit the prometastatic processes of cancer cell detachment, migration, and invasion through a variety of mechanisms, including the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway. Several in vitro findings have been corroborated in both in vivo animal studies and in early-phase human clinical trials, demonstrating that genistein can both inhibit human cancer metastasis and also modulate markers of metastatic potential in humans, respectively. Herein, we discuss the variety of mechanisms by which genistein regulates individual steps of the metastatic cascade and highlight the potential of this natural product as a promising therapeutic inhibitor of metastasis

First-Principles Study for ALD of MoS2

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a method for thin-film growth with atomic thickness control, with many applications in microelectronics. ALD is a cyclical process where the two precursors (MoF6 and H2S for MoS2) are never introduced simultaneously. In this study, we determined the role of surface hydroxyl groups (-OH) during MoF6 deposition on an Al2O3 surface, and we studied the reactivity of two other potential substrates, Si2N2O and TiO2. We used density functional theory (DFT) implemented by the Vienna ab Initio Simulation Package (VASP) to determine ground-state geometries and electron distributions of our modeled systems. Our results indicate that hydroxyl groups break the Al-O bonds, allowing the Al atoms to bond covalently with F atoms on MoF6. We see that the MoF6 can reduce to MoF5, MoF4, or MoF3, and these reduced oxidation states (+5, +4, or +3 respectively) may improve the deposition process. These results indicate that hydroxyl groups directly control the surface properties of Al2O3 by strengthening the interactions between Al atoms and F atoms on MoF6

Mechanisms Driving Bacterial Community Dynamics in the Human Vagina

Five community state types have been identified in the vaginal microbiota of reproductive age women. Of these, four are dominated by one Lactobacillus species, namely L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. iners, and L. jensenii, and these communities encompass 70% of women. The composition of vaginal communities can change over time. With this, we often see changes in the relative abundances of lactobacilli, for example, a community once dominated by L. iners may transition to being dominated by L. crispatus. We posit that changes in the relative abundances of vaginal lactobacilli are driven by competition for resources. Resource competition will be measured in co-culture of the aforementioned Lactobacillus species during exponential phase growth on media containing one carbon source. We will evaluate the outcome of competition in co-culture and compare growth patterns to those observed in vaginal communities. Additionally, we will evaluate growth inhibition between strains on agar and spent media. Preliminary data suggests that the species do not inhibit one another, which supports our hypothesis of resource competition being the main driver of changes in community composition. This research will provide a better understanding of the factors that drive changes in community composition towards states that promote vaginal health