DroidNet: An Android Application Security Framework through Crowdsourcing

In the current Android architecture, users have to decide whether an app is safe to use or not by themselves. Savvy users can make correct decisions to avoid unnecessary privacy breaches, however most users are not capable or do not care to make impactful decisions. To assist those users, we propose DroidNet, an Android permission control framework based on crowdsourcing. In this framework, DroidNet runs new apps and their permissions initially, and then collects data based on each individual user’s settings in regards to each permission unique to every installed app. After collecting each user’s data, DroidNet provides recommendations on whether to accept or reject the permission requests based on decisions from peer expert users. To seek expert users, we utilize an expertise ranking algorithm using a transitional Bayesian inference model. The recommendation, respective to each application permission, is based on the aggregated expert responses and our generated confidence level, which are collectively stored and sorted in our DroidNet database. The overall culmination of the model resulted in the creation of a real-time Android application which utilizes our Bayesian inference model and aggregate data from each individual user, all of which is connected to our DroidNet database.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/capstone/1173/thumbnail.jp

Generalized double Fibonomial numbers

From the beginning of 20th century, generalization of binomial coefficient has been deliberated broadly. One of the most famous generalized binomial coefficients are Fibonomial coefficients, obtained by substituting Fibonacci numbers in place of natural numbers in the binomial coefficients. In this paper, we further generalize the concept of Fibonomial coefficient and called it Generalized double Fibonomial number and obtain interesting properties of it. We also discuss its special case, double Fibonomial number along with the situation in which they give integer values. Other properties of it have also been discussed along with its upper and lower bounds

Comparisons of Animal “Smarts” Using the First Four Stages of the Model of Hierarchical Complexity

The Model of Hierarchical Complexity is a behavioral model of development and evolution of the complexity of behavior. It is based on task analysis. Tasks are ordered in terms of their hierarchical complexity, which is an ordinal scale that measures difficulty. The hierarchical difficulty of tasks is categorized as the order of hierarchical complexity. Successful performance on a task is called the behavioral stage. This model can be applied to non-human animals, and humans. Using data from some of the simplest animals and also somewhat more complex ones, this analysis describes the four lowest behavioral stages and illustrate them using the behaviors of a range of simple organisms. For example, Stage 1 tasks, and performance on them, are addressed with automatic unconditioned responses. Behavior at this Stage includes sensing, tropisms, habituation and, other automatic behaviors. Single cell organisms operate at this Stage. Stage 2 tasks include these earlier behaviors, but also include respondent conditioning but not operant conditioning. Animals such as some simple invertebrates have shown respondent conditioning, but not operant conditioning. Stage 3 tasks coordinate three instances of these earlier tasks to make possible operant conditioning. These stage 3 performances are similar to those of some invertebrates and also insects. Stage 4 tasks organisms coordinate 2 or more circular sensory-motor task actions into a superordinate “concept”. This explanation of the early stages of the Model of Hierarchical Complexity may help future research in animal behavior, and comparative psychology.

Self-Microemulsifying System

Oral route is preferred for drug administration; however according to the recent scenario 40% of new drug candidates have poor water solubility and low bioavailability. One of the biggest challenges in drug delivery science is to improve low oral bioavailability problem which is associated with the hydrophobic drugs due to their unprecedented potential as a drug deliver with the broad range of application. Self-emulsifying systems have been proved as highly useful technological innovations to vanquish such bioavailability problem by virtue of their diminutive globule size, higher solubilization tendency for hydrophobic drugs, robust formulation advantages, and easy to scale up. Self-microemulsifying systems are isotropic mixers of oil, surfactant, drug and co-emulsifier or solubilizer, which spontaneously form transparent micro-emulsions with oil droplets ranging between 100 and 250 nm. Micro emulsified drug can be easily absorbed through the lymphatic pathway and it bypasses the hepatic first-pass effect. Self-microemulsifying system is a thermodynamically stable system and overcomes the drawback of layering of emulsions after sitting for a long period of time. The present literature gives exhaustive information on the formulation design and characterization of self-microemulsifying systems

La tumba del Rey y la Reina en Ahmedabad: Cartografías del conflicto patrimonial

Numerous historical monuments in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, such as the King’s and Queen’s tomb, are immersed in a complex web of conflict. These are places where, beyond the building itself, we find the presence of inhabitants with very different notions of what the concept of heritage means, so that dispute and resistance are more than guaranteed. The article looks at these extremely heterogeneous and controversial territories through a method —“narrative cartographies”— capable of making the space, its history and social strata visible from an ethnographic point of view. A method that brings to the surface the tensions and disputes between citizens who are marginalised by the institutional power, but who share a spatial reality that is usually ignored and made invisible. In this way, the cartographic analysis presented in both the King’s Tomb and the Queen’s Tomb redefines the way in which these places can be understood and studied, suppressing a dominant and/or imposing vision for one that is much more sensitive to the voices ofthe inhabitants. The aim is to disseminate a process that can help reveal different narratives that lead to heritage practices that are as inclusive as emancipatory.Numerosos monumentos históricos de la ciudad india de Ahmedabad están inmersos en una compleja red de conflictos. Se trata de lugares en los que, más allá del edificio, encontramos la presencia de habitantes con muy diferentes nociones de lo que significa el concepto de patrimonio, por lo que la disputa y la resistencia están más que aseguradas. El artículo se interesa por estos territorios extremadamente heterogéneos y controvertidos a través de un método –“narraciones cartográficas”– capaz de visibilizar el espacio, su historia y las capas sociales desde una mirada etnográfico. Un método que hace aflorar las tensiones y disputas entre ciudadanos usualmente marginados por la municipalidad, que comparten su propio mapa cognitivo. De este modo, el análisis cartográfico presentado de dos casos muy concretos: la tumba del Rey y de la Reina, redefine la forma en que estos lugares pueden ser entendidos y estudiados, suprimiendo una visión dominante y/o impositiva por una mucho más sensible. El objetivo es difundir un proceso que pueda ayudar a revelar diferentes narrativas que conduzcan a prácticas patrimoniales tan inclusivas como emancipadoras

Case Report: Uncontrolled Anasarca: Capillary Leak Syndrome

INTRODUCTION Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a rare clinical disease that causes edema, hypoproteinemia, episodic hypotension, dyspnea, hyponatremia, and weight gain that can be life threatening1. Although the underlying pathology is currently unknown, CLS is thought to be secondary to a systemic process associated with hyperpermeability of the body\u27s microcirculation, resulting from a diffuse and severe disruption of the endothelium and causing generalized edema and often acute respiratory distress2

Novel approaches in development of cell penetrating peptides

Therapeutic cargos which are impermeable to the cell can be delivered by cell penetrating peptides (CPPs). CPP-cargo complexes accumulate by endocytosis inside the cells but they fail to reach the cytosolic space properly as they are often trapped in the endocytic organelles. Here the CPP mediated endosomal escape and some strategies used to increase endosomal escape of CPP-cargo conjugates are discussed with evidence. Potential benefits can be obtained by peptides such as reduction in side effects, biocompatibility, easier synthesis and can be obtained at lower administered doses. The particular peptide known as cell penetrating peptides are able to translocate themselves across membrane with the carrier drugs with different mechanisms.  This is of prime importance in drug delivery systems as they have capability to cross physiological membranes. This review describes various mechanisms for effective drug delivery and associated challenge

Guillain–Barre Syndrome: A Rare Occurrence Following Scrub Typhus

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ANALYSIS OF ADP RECEPTOR SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN NOCICEPTORS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INFLAMMATORY PAIN

Chronic pain afflicts more than 100 million Americans and significantly affects the quality of life of those suffering. Opioid receptor agonists are effective analgesics but have severe dose-limiting side effects and display drug tolerance with prolonged use. Understanding key pathways that modulate pain is critical to developing analgesics that are more effective. In my dissertation, I investigated the importance of three key purinergic receptor signaling pathways in nociception: P2Y1, P2Y12 and P2Y13. Purinergic receptors respond to nucleotides released from damaged tissue and/or immune cells and have long been implicated in modifying nociceptive responses, however, the P2Y G-protein coupled purinergic receptor family is just starting to be investigated. P2Y1, P2Y12 and P2Y13 receptors are activated by the nucleotide adenosine diphosphate (ADP), however, the receptors have opposing effects because the P2Y1 receptor is Gq/11-coupled, whereas the P2Y12 and P2Y13 receptors are Gi/o-coupled. Traditionally, Gq-coupled receptors are pro-nociceptive while Gi/o-coupled receptors are anti-nociceptive. In order to understand the implications of antagonistic signaling between the P2Y1 and P2Y12/P2Y13 receptors during inflammatory pain, the signaling cascades for each individual receptor must first be elucidated. For the first part of my dissertation, I tested the hypothesis that P2Y1 Gq-coupled receptors signal through conventional protein kinase C isoforms (cPKC) and that these isoforms mediate the behavioral effects of P2Y1 receptor activation. I discovered that the cPKC isoform PKCα is expressed predominately in the IB4+ population, similar to the P2Y1 receptor, and that antagonism of PKCα attenuates P2Y1 receptor-mediated mechanical hypersensitivity. These results demonstrate the importance of cPKCs in the P2Y1 signaling cascade and detail how P2Y1 receptors function. Next, I tested the hypothesis that P2Y12/P2Y13 Gi/o-coupled signaling is important for maintaining basal nociceptive tone and modulating pro-nociceptive signaling. I discovered that all three ADP-activated receptors, P2Y1, P2Y12 and P2Y13, are active at baseline and likely maintain basal nociceptive tone. Additionally, P2Y12 and P2Y13 receptors are capable of attenuating signaling through pro-inflammatory Gs-coupled pathways, validating the importance of P2Y12 and P2Y13 receptors as potential analgesics. These results provide insight into the signaling cascades of P2Y1, P2Y12 and P2Y13 receptors and advance our understanding of nociceptive signaling