Ransomware Attack on Medstar: Ethical Position statement

Medstar Health was the target of ransomware attack in 2016. The attack impacted the provision of healthcare services to the patient. Medstar opted not to pay the ransom and, instead, responded by shutting down its electronic medical record (EMR) systems and restoring the data from the backups. The paper analyzes the event, Medstar’s response and its negligent behavior that allowed the vulnerability to be exploited. The author provides an ethical position statement and recommendation to reduce the chances of any future attacks

Programming Ethics in Self-Driving Cars: Ethical Dilemma

Self-driving cars promise to revolutionize the automotive industry. Besides being productive and fuel-efficient, they would be significantly safer than the human-operated cars. However, in the rare case when they do get into an accident, they can calculate and opt for the reactive measure to take based on their programming. The manufacturer, it seems, must decide the ethics that self-driving cars should follow in such scenarios. In circumstances where they must choose between the lives of the passengers and the pedestrians, some researchers have argued that the best solution is to choose for the safety of the passengers over the pedestrians. Such a strategy, they argue will make sense as cars will have better control over the passenger and, therefore, will help in faster adoption of self-driving cars. However, this line of thinking seems simplistic at best. The author suggests areexamination of the ethical issues while taking into account the social and technological aspects as well

Ransomware Attack on Medstar: Ethical Position statement

Medstar Health was the target of ransomware attack in 2016. The attack impacted the provision of healthcare services to the patient. Medstar opted not to pay the ransom and, instead, responded by shutting down its electronic medical record (EMR) systems and restoring the data from the backups. The paper analyzes the event, Medstar’s response and its negligent behavior that allowed the vulnerability to be exploited. The author provides an ethical position statement and recommendation to reduce the chances of any future attacks

An empirical review of television as potentially beneficial medium for children; exploring some realities

The purpose of this literature review is to identify and review research which supports the view that children’s television is a potentially beneficial medium; that in certain circumstances it can be a powerful educational tool; that it can inform and inspire; and that it is culturally relevant to today’s children.Many discussions of television’s impact on children focus only on its negative influence in relation to violence and advertising, for example, but it is also important to recognise that television can also have a positive impact.As two noted commentators point out: Television can be of general benefit to children.It can bring them into contact with aspects of life they would not otherwise become aware of.It can provide a valuable tool in the home and at school not simply to keep children occupied but also, if used appropriately, as a constructive way to use their time….Television is not a ‘one-eyed monster’ lurking impishly in the corner of the living room, kitchen or bedroom waiting to exert an evil influence over young members of the household.It is a channel through which a range of entertainment, drama and learning can be obtained and experienced and increasingly these days it is under the control of the viewer (Gunter and McAleer, 1997: xii-xiii)

The Response of Land Surface Temperature to the Changing Land-Use Land-Cover in a Mountainous Landscape under the Influence of Urbanization: Gilgit City as a case study in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region of Pakistan

With growing urbanization in mountainous landscapes, the built-up areas dominate other land use classesresulting in increased land surface temperature (LST). Gilgit city in northern Pakistan has witnessed tremendousurban growth in the recent past decades. It is anticipated that this growth will exponentially increase in the nearfuture because of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives, as this city happens to be thecommercial hub of the northern region of Pakistan. The objective of present study is to explore the influence ofland use and land cover variations on LST and to evaluate the relationship between LST with normalizeddifference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), and normalized difference built -up index (NDBI) values. This study is carried out on data from Google earth and three Landsat images (Landsat 5-TM, Landsat 7-ETM, and Landsat OLI_TIRS-8) during the period from 1992, 2004 and 2016. Land use/coverclasses are determined through supervised classification and LST maps are created using the Mono -windowalgorithm. The accuracy assessment of land use/cover classes is carried out comparing Google Earth digitizedvector for the periods of 2004 and 2016 with Landsat classified images. Further, NDVI, NDBI, and NDWI mapsare computed from images for years 1992, 2004, and 2016. The relationships of LST with NDVI, NDBI, andNDWI are computed using Linear Regression analysis. The results reveal that the variations in land use and landcover play a substantial role in LST variability. The maximum temperatures are connected with built -up areas andbarren land, ranging from 48.4°C, 50.7°C, 51.6°C, in 1992, 2004, and 2016, respectively. Inversely, minimumtemperatures are linked to forests and water bodies, ranging from 15.1°C, 16°C, 21.6°C, in 1992, 2004, and 2016respectively. This paper also results that NDBI correlates positively with high temperatures, whereas NDVI andNDWI associate negatively with lesser temperatures. The study will support to policymakers and urban planners tostrategize the initiatives for eco-friendly and climate-resilient urban development in fragile mountainouslandscapes

In Vitro Release Studies of Diclofenac Potassium Tablet from Pure and Blended Mixture of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Polymers

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pure and blended mixtures, with different compositions of hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and carnauba wax (CW) on the release of diclofenac potassium from matrix tablets. Fifteen different matrix tablet formulations were prepared by direct compression process by using Carver Hydraulic laboratory press having 13 mm flat dies set at constant pressure. The paddle dissolution apparatus II (Curio DL 2020) was used to assess the dissolution of drug in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 for 8 h. The release data was fitted to different release models. Zoom stereo micrography was done to evaluated the release mechanism of drug from polymers. The interaction of polymer mixture and different ratios of drug in polymer mixture was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The type and content of polymer in the matrix system influenced the release characteristics. Higher polymeric content in the matrix decreased the drug release rate because of increased tortuosity and decreased porosity. Retardation of drug release from pure carnauba was higher as compared to that with pure HPMC matrices. The polymers blends controlled drug release pattern effectively. The drug released showed better linearity with Higuchi release kinetics. The Korsmeyer equation revealed n value ranged from 0.388-0.627 or non - Fickian transport mechanism of drug release was predominant. The FTIR and DSC suggested that there were no chemical interaction between drug and polymers.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Acute health effects of the Tasman Spirit oil spill on residents of Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND: On July 27 2003, a ship carrying crude oil run aground near Karachi and after two weeks released 37,000 tons of its cargo into the sea. Oil on the coastal areas and fumes in air raised health concerns among people. We assessed the immediate health impact of oil spill from the tanker Tasman Spirit on residents of the affected coastline in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: We conducted a study consisting of an exposed group including adults living in houses on the affected shoreline and two control groups (A and B) who lived at the distance of 2 km and 20 km away from the sea, respectively. We selected households through systematic sampling and interviewed an adult male and female in each household about symptoms relating to eyes, respiratory tract, skin and nervous system, smoking, allergies, beliefs about the effect on their health and anxiety about the health effects. We used logistic regression procedures to model each symptom as an outcome and the exposure status as an independent variable while adjusting for confounders. We also used linear regression procedure to assess the relationship exposure status with symptoms score; calculated by summation of all symptoms. RESULTS: Overall 400 subjects were interviewed (exposed, n = 216; group A, n = 83; and group B, n = 101). The exposed group reported a higher occurrence of one or more symptoms compared to either of the control groups (exposed, 96% vs. group A, 70%, group B 85%; P < 0.001). Mean summary symptom scores were higher among the exposed group (14.5) than control group A (4.5) and control group B (3.8, P < 0.001). Logistic regression models indicated that there were statistically significant, moderate-to-strong associations (Prevalence ORs (POR) ranging from 2.3 to 37.0) between the exposed group and the symptoms. There was a trend of decreasing symptom-specific PORs with increase in distance from the spill site. Multiple linear regression model revealed strong relationship of exposure status with the symptoms score (β = 8.24, 95% CI: 6.37 – 10.12). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the occurrence of increased symptoms among the exposed group is more likely to be due to exposure to the crude oil spill

Fungal systematics and evolution : FUSE 6

Fungal Systematics and Evolution (FUSE) is one of the journal series to address the “fusion” between morphological data and molecular phylogenetic data and to describe new fungal taxa and interesting observations. This paper is the 6th contribution in the FUSE series—presenting one new genus, twelve new species, twelve new country records, and three new combinations. The new genus is: Pseudozeugandromyces (Laboulbeniomycetes, Laboulbeniales). The new species are: Albatrellopsis flettioides from Pakistan, Aureoboletus garciae from Mexico, Entomophila canadense from Canada, E. frigidum from Sweden, E. porphyroleucum from Vietnam, Erythrophylloporus flammans from Vietnam, Marasmiellus boreoorientalis from Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, Marasmiellus longistipes from Pakistan, Pseudozeugandromyces tachypori on Tachyporus pusillus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Belgium, Robillarda sohagensis from Egypt, Trechispora hondurensis from Honduras, and Tricholoma kenanii from Turkey. The new records are: Arthrorhynchus eucampsipodae on Eucampsipoda africanum (Diptera, Nycteribiidae) from Rwanda and South Africa, and on Nycteribia vexata (Diptera, Nycteribiidae) from Bulgaria; A. nycteribiae on Eucampsipoda africanum from South Africa, on Penicillidia conspicua (Diptera, Nycteribiidae) from Bulgaria (the first undoubtful country record), and on Penicillidia pachymela from Tanzania; Calvatia lilacina from Pakistan; Entoloma shangdongense from Pakistan; Erysiphe quercicola on Ziziphus jujuba (Rosales, Rhamnaceae) and E. urticae on Urtica dioica (Rosales, Urticaceae) from Pakistan; Fanniomyces ceratophorus on Fannia canicularis (Diptera, Faniidae) from the Netherlands; Marasmiellus biformis and M. subnuda from Pakistan; Morchella anatolica from Turkey; Ophiocordyceps ditmarii on Vespula vulgaris (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) from Austria; and Parvacoccum pini on Pinus cembra (Pinales, Pinaceae) from Austria. The new combinations are: Appendiculina gregaria, A. scaptomyzae, and Marasmiellus rodhallii. Analysis of an LSU dataset of Arthrorhynchus including isolates of A. eucampsipodae from Eucampsipoda africanum and Nycteribia spp. hosts, revealed that this taxon is a complex of multiple species segregated by host genus. Analysis of an SSU–LSU dataset of Laboulbeniomycetes sequences revealed support for the recognition of four monophyletic genera within Stigmatomyces sensu lato: Appendiculina, Fanniomyces, Gloeandromyces, and Stigmatomyces sensu stricto. Finally, phylogenetic analyses of Rhytismataceae based on ITS–LSU ribosomal DNA resulted in a close relationship of Parvacoccum pini with Coccomyces strobi.http://www.sydowia.at/index.htmpm2021Medical Virolog

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec