Autonomic computing architecture for SCADA cyber security

Cognitive computing relates to intelligent computing platforms that are based on the disciplines of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other innovative technologies. These technologies can be used to design systems that mimic the human brain to learn about their environment and can autonomously predict an impending anomalous situation. IBM first used the term ‘Autonomic Computing’ in 2001 to combat the looming complexity crisis (Ganek and Corbi, 2003). The concept has been inspired by the human biological autonomic system. An autonomic system is self-healing, self-regulating, self-optimising and self-protecting (Ganek and Corbi, 2003). Therefore, the system should be able to protect itself against both malicious attacks and unintended mistakes by the operator

Women’s ski jumping and Olympic programme inclusion

A group of female ski jumpers took legal action against the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, alleging that its failure to include a women’s ski jumping event amounted to a breach of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Seema Patel, a Lecturer in Sports Law and Management with Nottingham Trent University, examines the International Olympic Committee’s criteria for inclusion in the Olympics, the exceptions that exist for traditional Olympic events and the current status of the appeal

Evaluation of functioning of ICDS project areas under Indore and Ujjain divisions of the state of Madhya Pradesh

Background: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is recognized worldwide as one of the most efficient community based programmes promoting early childhood care. Regular evaluations of the programme have been conducted to make it more effective and adequate for the beneficiaries. Objectives: To evaluate the functioning of the Anganwadi Centers under different project areas of Indore and Ujjain Divisions. Methods: Under the present evaluation system one ICDS project and five Anganwadi Centers under the project area (AWCs) were visited on a monthly basis and services provided reviewed. Findings reported are from nine project areas under Indore and Ujjain Divisions in the state of Madhya Pradesh from October 2008 – June 2009. Results: A total of 45 centers were evaluated. 29 centers were operating from rented buildings and storage facilities were lacking at 19 of the centers. Though the quality of food was acceptable to the beneficiaries shortage of food was a problem at the centers. Absence of Pre-School Education (PSE) and Nutrition and Health Education (NHED) Kits compromised PSE and NHED activities at the centers. Unavailability of medicine kits, lack of regular visits by the ANMs to the centers and absence of routine health check up of beneficiaries were other problems encountered under the project areas surveyed. Availability of a doctor under each project area was stated as a major need by the workers. Conclusion: Coordinated steps catering to different services provided at the centers are needed to optimize the functioning of the ICDS scheme

Hepcidin secretion was not directly proportional to intracellular iron-loading in recombinant-TfR1 HepG2 cells: short communication

Hepcidin is the master regulator of systemic iron homeostasis and its dysregulation is observed in several chronic liver diseases. Unlike the extracellular iron-sensing mechanisms, the intracellular iron-sensing mechanisms in the hepatocytes that lead to hepcidin induction and secretion are incompletely understood. Here, we aimed to understand the direct role of intracellular iron-loading on hepcidin mRNA and peptide secretion using our previously characterised recombinant HepG2 cells that over-express the cell-surface iron-importer protein transferrin receptor-1. Gene expression of hepcidin (HAMP) was determined by real-time PCR. Intracellular iron levels and secreted hepcidin peptide levels were measured by ferrozine assay and immunoassay, respectively. These measurements were compared in the recombinant and wild-type HepG2 cells under basal conditions at 30 min, 2 h, 4 h and 24 h. Data showed that in the recombinant cells, intracellular iron content was higher than wild-type cells at 30 min (3.1-fold, p<0.01), 2 h (4.6-fold, p<0.01), 4 h (4.6-fold, p<0.01) and 24 h (1.9-fold, p<0.01). Hepcidin (HAMP) mRNA expression was higher than wild-type cells at 30 min (5.9-fold; p=0.05) and 24 h (6.1-fold; p<0.03), but at 4 h, the expression was lower than that in wild-type cells (p<0.05). However, hepcidin secretion levels in the recombinant cells were similar to those in wild-type cells at all time-points, except at 4 h, when the level was lower than wild-type cells (p<0.01). High intracellular iron in recombinant HepG2 cells did not proportionally increase hepcidin peptide secretion. This suggests a limited role of elevated intracellular iron in hepcidin secretio

Flux Tube Model Signals for Baryon Correlations in Heavy Ion Collisions

The flux tube model offers a pictorial description of what happens during the deconfinement phase transition in QCD. The 3-point vertices of a flux tube network lead to formation of baryons upon hadronisation. Therefore, correlations in the baryon number distribution at the last scattering surface are related to the preceding pattern of the flux tube vertices, and provide a signature of the nearby deconfinement phase transition. I discuss the nature of the expected signal, which should be observable in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC.Comment: LaTeX, 9 pages, 5 figures, (v2) Several arguments expanded for clarity, (v3) Minor typesetting changes, published versio