QR Code Integrity Verification Based on Modified SHA-1 Algorithm

The modified SHA-1 algorithm was applied in the data integrity verification process of certificates with QR code technology. This paper identified the requirements needed in the certificate verification that uses the modified SHA-1. The application was tested using legitimate and fraudulent certificates. Based on the results, the application successfully generated QR codes, printed certificates, and verified certificates with 100% accuracy. During the trial run of the app, four test cases were seen which involves correct names and QR codes, and three other possible test cases of faking certificates such as modification of the name, regeneration of QR codes using valid hash and a fake name, and modification of the QR code. Although these cases exist, the app successfully verified all thirty certificates correctly. Also, it is noticed that during the scanning, the smartphone camera should be in focus to capture the QR code clearly

Comparative mapping of human chromosome 13 genes in the pig shows a similar gene arrangement

Previous comparative mapping between the human and pig genomes suggested complete conservation of human chromosome 13 (HSA13) to pig chromosome 11 (SSC11). The objectives of this study were comparative gene mapping of pig homologs of HSA13 genes and an examination of gene order within this conserved synteny group by physical assignment of each locus. A detailed HSA13 to SSC11 comparison was chosen since the comparative gene map is not well developed for these chromosomes and a rearranged gene order within conserved synteny groups was observed from the comparison between human chromosome 13 and bovine chromosome 12. Pig sequence tagged sites (STSs) for six HSA13 genes were developed and physically mapped using a somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) to SSC11 with 85–100% concordance. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping also was applied to determine the gene order within each subchromosomal region. Results from this study increase the comparative information available on SSC11 and suggest the same gene order among examined loci on SSC11 and HSA13

Comparative mapping of human chromosome 3 genes in the pig shows different gene order

A comparative map of human chromosome 3 (HSA3) and pig chromosome 13 (SSC13) was constructed using physically assigned pig sequence tagged sites (STSs). Pig STS representing 11 HSA3 genes were developed and 10 pig STS were regionally mapped using a somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) to SSC13 with 80–100% concordance. Large-insert probes were obtained by screening a YAC library with primers for each STS. YACs were identified for DRD3, GAP43, PIT1, SI, and SST for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping. Single gene and bicolor FISH with each pairwise combination was used to further define gene order on SSC13. These data confrim chromosome painting results that showed HSA3 probes hybridize to a major portion of pig chromosome 13 and demonstrate extensive gene rearrangements within this conserved synteny group

ENSEMBLES: a new multi-model ensemble for seasonal-to-annual predictions: Skill and progress beyond DEMETER in forecasting tropical Pacific SSTs

A new 46-year hindcast dataset for seasonal-to-annual ensemble predictions has been created using a multi-model ensemble of 5 state-of-the-art coupled atmosphere-ocean circulation models. The multi-model outperforms any of the single-models in forecasting tropical Pacific SSTs because of reduced RMS errors and enhanced ensemble dispersion at all lead-times. Systematic errors are considerably reduced over the previous generation (DEMETER). Probabilistic skill scores show higher skill for the new multi-model ensemble than for DEMETER in the 4–6 month forecast range. However, substantially improved models would be required to achieve strongly statistical significant skill increases. The combination of ENSEMBLES and DEMETER into a grand multi-model ensemble does not improve the forecast skill further. Annual-range hindcasts show anomaly correlation skill of ∼0.5 up to 14 months ahead. A wide range of output from the multi-model simulations is becoming publicly available and the international community is invited to explore the full scientific potential of these data

Deciphering the genetic control of innate and adaptive immune responses in pig: a combined genetic and genomic study

Improving animal robustness and resistance to pathogens by adding health criteria in selection schemes is one of the challenging objectives of the next decade. In order to better understand the genetic control of immunity in French Large White pigs, we have launched a program combining genetic and genomic studies not focussing on any particular pathogen. Animals recorded for production traits were scored for a wide range of immunity parameters three weeks after vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: i) total white blood cells and lymphocyte counts and proportions of various leucocyte subsets including cells harbouring IgM, γδTCR, CD4/CD8, CD16/CD2 and CD16/CD172a/MHCII, ii) innate immune response parameters (phagocytosis and in vitro production of IL1B, IL6, IL8, TNF, IL12 and IFNαafter blood stimulation), iii) adaptive immune response parameters (lymphocyte proliferation, in vitro production of IL2, IL4, IL10 and IFNγ after blood stimulation, total IgG, IgA, IgM and specific IgG levels) and iv) two acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein and haploglobin). Across traits, heritability estimates reached 0.4 on average (se=0.1) and 42 of the 54 measured parameters showed moderate to high heritabilities (≥0.2), confirming that many parameters are under genetic control and could be included in selection protocols. Functional analyses revealed that the blood transcriptome is informative for part of the immunity traits and should provide relevant phenotypic information to better characterize some immunity traits

Optical identification of X-ray source 1RXS J180431.1-273932 as a magnetic cataclysmic variable

The X-ray source 1RXS J180431.1-273932 has been proposed as a new member of the symbiotic X-ray binary (SyXB) class of systems, which are composed of a late-type giant that loses matter to an extremely compact object, most likely a neutron star. In this paper, we present an optical campaign of imaging plus spectroscopy on selected candidate counterparts of this object. We also reanalyzed the available archival X-ray data collected with XMM-Newton. We find that the brightest optical source inside the 90% X-ray positional error circle is spectroscopically identified as a magnetic cataclysmic variable (CV), most likely of intermediate polar type, through the detection of prominent Balmer, He I, He II, and Bowen blend emissions. On either spectroscopic or statistical grounds, we discard as counterparts of the X-ray source the other optical objects in the XMM-Newton error circle. A red giant star of spectral type M5 III is found lying just outside the X-ray position: we consider this latter object as a fore-/background one and likewise rule it out as a counterpart of 1RXS J180431.1-273932. The description of the X-ray spectrum of the source using a bremsstrahlung plus black-body model gives temperatures of around 40 keV and around 0.1 keV for these two components, respectively. We estimate a distance of about 450 pc and a 0.2-10 keV X-ray luminosity of about 1.7e32 erg/s for this system and, using the information obtained from the X-ray spectral analysis, a mass of about 0.8 solar masses for the accreting white dwarf (WD). We also confirm an X-ray periodicity of 494 s for this source, which we interpret as the spin period of the WD. In summary, 1RXS J180431.1-273932 is identified as a magnetic CV and its SyXB nature is excluded.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysics, main journal. Version 2 includes the A&A Language Editor's correction

Transcriptome analysis of porcine PBMCs after in vitro stimulation by LPS or PMA/ionomycin using an expression array targeting the pig immune response

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Designing sustainable animal production systems that better balance productivity and resistance to disease is a major concern. In order to address questions related to immunity and resistance to disease in pig, it is necessary to increase knowledge on its immune system and to produce efficient tools dedicated to this species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A long-oligonucleotide-based chip referred to as SLA-RI/NRSP8-13K was produced by combining a generic set with a newly designed SLA-RI set that targets all annotated loci of the pig major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (SLA complex) in both orientations as well as immunity genes outside the SLA complex.</p> <p>The chip was used to study the immune response of pigs following stimulation of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or a mixture of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin for 24 hours. Transcriptome analysis revealed that ten times more genes were differentially expressed after PMA/ionomycin stimulation than after LPS stimulation. LPS stimulation induced a general inflammation response with over-expression of SAA1, pro-inflammatory chemokines IL8, CCL2, CXCL5, CXCL3, CXCL2 and CCL8 as well as genes related to oxidative processes (SOD2) and calcium pathways (S100A9 and S100A12). PMA/ionomycin stimulation induced a stronger up-regulation of T cell activation than of B cell activation with dominance toward a Th1 response, including IL2, CD69 and TNFRSF9 (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 9) genes. In addition, a very intense repression of THBS1 (thrombospondin 1) was observed. Repression of MHC class I genes was observed after PMA/ionomycin stimulation despite an up-regulation of the gene cascade involved in peptide processing. Repression of MHC class II genes was observed after both stimulations. Our results provide preliminary data suggesting that antisense transcripts mapping to the SLA complex may have a role during immune response.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The SLA-RI/NRSP8-13K chip was found to accurately decipher two distinct immune response activations of PBMCs indicating that it constitutes a valuable tool to further study immunity and resistance to disease in pig. The transcriptome analysis revealed specific and common features of the immune responses depending on the stimulation agent that increase knowledge on pig immunity.</p