SCAAS: A Secure Authentication and Access Control System for Web Application Development

User authentication and data access are becoming two of the most common areas for web attacks. Most security vulnerabilities occur in areas of coding where Web security has lapsed. This paper describes the design and development of a Secure Authentication and Access Control System (SCAAS) implemented as a reusable library that provides data driven and encryption based authentication and access control for the use with ASP.NET applications

Highly accurate model for prediction of lung nodule malignancy with CT scans

Computed tomography (CT) examinations are commonly used to predict lung nodule malignancy in patients, which are shown to improve noninvasive early diagnosis of lung cancer. It remains challenging for computational approaches to achieve performance comparable to experienced radiologists. Here we present NoduleX, a systematic approach to predict lung nodule malignancy from CT data, based on deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNN). For training and validation, we analyze >1000 lung nodules in images from the LIDC/IDRI cohort. All nodules were identified and classified by four experienced thoracic radiologists who participated in the LIDC project. NoduleX achieves high accuracy for nodule malignancy classification, with an AUC of ~0.99. This is commensurate with the analysis of the dataset by experienced radiologists. Our approach, NoduleX, provides an effective framework for highly accurate nodule malignancy prediction with the model trained on a large patient population. Our results are replicable with software available at http://bioinformatics.astate.edu/NoduleX

When St. Louis School Nature Leaders and Environmental Partners Work Together Nature-based Learning Inspires Joy and Curiosity in K-2 Students

This study focused on what values teachers saw in nature-based learning, what outcomes they saw for their students, and what factors have enabled them to do nature-based learning. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study looked at nature-based learning in St. Louis elementary schools with kindergarten through second-grade students. We used purposive sampling to choose six schools to examine further through case studies. We then conducted interviews with 8 teachers on qualities of nature-based learning captured in 12 words. We identified five themes from our interviews and observations: Every School Needs a Nature Champion, Community Bridges in Nature-Based Learning, There is Magic in the Green Spaces, How Do You Get Kids Outside?, and What Happens When Kids Get Outside? We propose a pyramid of nature-based learning derived from these teacher interviews that illustrates key aspects of student outcomes. In addition, we used a map that showed the amount of green space surrounding each school and we examined the role that available green space plays in schools offering nature-based learning. We also examined the relationship between green space surrounding a school and the economic make-up of the students in the school, as to identify inequities in opportunities for nature-based learning in the St. Louis area. We found a significant but very small negative relationship between free and reduced lunch percentages of these schools and their available green space. The idea of a school nature leader was a particularly important and fairly new finding in the research on nature-based learning. That school nature leader also needs to be able to leverage community partnerships to assist their efforts. Young elementary school students benefit in many ways from nature-based learning, and those benefits need to be touted to those in decision-making positions for schools and celebrated by all of us

Retrieval of Compositional Endmembers from Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity Observations in a Soil-filled Fracture in Marathon Valley, Endeavour Crater Rim

The Opportunity rover investigated a gentle swale on the rim of Endeavour crater called Marathon Valley where a series of bright planar outcrops are cut into polygons by fractures. A wheel scuff performed on one of the soil-filled fracture zones revealed the presence of three end-members identified on the basis of Pancam multispectral imaging observations covering ~0.4 to 1 μm: red and dark pebbles, and a bright soil clod. Multiple overlapping Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) measurements were collected on three targets within the scuff zone. The field of view of each APXS measurement contained various proportions of the Pancam-based end-members. Application of a log maximum likelihood method for retrieving the composition of the end-members using the 10 APXS measurements shows that the dark pebble end-member is compositionally similar to average Mars soil, with slightly elevated S and Fe. In contrast, the red pebble end-member exhibits enrichments in Al and Si and is depleted in Fe and Mg relative to average Mars soil. The soil clod end-member is enriched in Mg, S, and Ni. Thermodynamic modeling of the soil clod end-member composition indicates a dominance of sulfate minerals. We hypothesize that acidic fluids in fractures leached and oxidized the basaltic host rock, forming the red pebbles, and then evaporated to leave behind sulfate-cemented soil

Advances in the development of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier inhibitors for therapeutic applications

The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is a transmembrane protein complex critical for cellular energy metabolism, enabling the transport of pyruvate from the cytosol into the mitochondria, where it fuels the citric acid cycle. By regulating this essential entry point of carbon into mitochondrial metabolism, MPC is pivotal for maintaining cellular energy balance and metabolic flexibility. Dysregulation of MPC activity has been implicated in several metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target. This review provides an overview of the MPC complex, examining its structural components, regulatory mechanisms, and biological functions. We explore the current understanding of transcriptional, translational, and post-translational modifications that modulate MPC function and highlight the clinical relevance of MPC dysfunction in metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Progress in the development of MPC-targeting therapeutics is discussed, with a focus on challenges in designing selective and potent inhibitors. Emphasis is placed on modern approaches for identifying novel inhibitors, particularly virtual screening and computational strategies. This review establishes a foundation for further research into the medicinal chemistry of MPC inhibitors, promoting advances in structure-based drug design to develop therapeutics for metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases

EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF PAVER SYSTEMS ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT USING A DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGICAL MODEL

Cities are becoming increasingly more urbanized through the conversion of forest,pasture and croplands. By replacing the natural environment with impervious areas such as parking lots, roads, houses and other concrete structures, humans are causing an increase in storm water runoff problems with potentially deleterious environmental effects. Traditionally storm water runoff has been handled and controlled using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control flood runoff events. An alternative approach is to use Low Impact Development (LID) options. LIDs have been proposed in an attempt to mimic the natural flow regime by controlling storm water at the source. LID practices such as rainwater harvesting, green roofs, and permeable pavement can be used to replace existing infrastructure with the goal of reducing runoff volumes and peak flows. A more specific type of permeable pavement which will be the focus of this paper, called Paver Systems uses permeable pavement and aggregate to deliver filtered water to aquifers and prevent initial runoff. A modeling approach to incorporate a type of permeable pavement, called paver systems, into an existing hydrological model will yield an estimation of the effects of paver systems on stream flow. The modeling approach has been applied to a watershed located in Houston, Texas in Brays Bayou called Harris Gully to predict the impact of paver systems on storm water runoff

Diferenciación molecular de cepas de campo y vacunales de Mycoplasma gallisepticum y Mycoplasma synoviae en ponedoras comerciales y reproductoras pesadas de la zona centro de Colombia

El presente estudio estableció la presencia de Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) en un 48.2 % y Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) en un 69.9 %en granjas de ponedoras comerciales (GPC) y granjas de reproductoras pesadas (GRP) del centro de Colombiaa partir de 193 muestras de hisopos traqueales mediante la técnica de PCR usando los genes mgc2 y vlhA respectivamente. De igual forma se determinaron infecciones mixtas de MG y MS en un 43.5 % de los casos. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p0,05) entre la presencia de Mycoplasma y los tipos de explotación y factores zootécnicos. Igualmente se realizó la prueba RFLP que permitió determinar dos patronesen 93 muestras positivas por PCR del gen mgc2 de MG: un patrón de cepa F en un 39.8 % y un patrón de cepa de campo en un 60.2 % sin encontrarse diferencias significativas (p0,05) entre el uso de vacunas de MG y los patrones encontrados. El mayor porcentaje del patrón 2 se encontró en aves alojadas en piso en las GPC. Se secuenciaron 34 amplificados de MG y sé confirmaron los patrones de cepa vacunal y cepa de campo obtenidos mediante la RFLP. A partir de la secuenciación de una porción del gen hipervariablevlhA de MS, se confirmó la gran diversidad de cepas de MS que se encuentran circulando en las GPC y GRP de la zona centro del país, así como la presencia de infecciones por dos cepas de MS en un mismo lote.Abstract. The presence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) was established by PCR of mgc2 and vlhA genes respectively, in layer and breeder farms located in the central area of Colombia. From a total of 193 tracheal swabs samples, 48.2% were MG positive, 69.9 % were MS positive and 43.5 % corresponded to MG and MS mixed infections. Statisticallysignificant differences (p0.05) werefound when Mycoplasma results were compared against the type of farms and zootechnical parameters. Two patterns were defined in 93 samples analyzed by PCR-RFLPof the MG mgc2 gene: the strain F pattern was observed in 39.8 % and the field pattern was found in 60.2 % of the samples. No statistical differences were found between the observed pattern and the type of MG vaccine used. Sequencing analysis of 34 MG positive samples confirmedthe two RFLP patterns. Gene sequencing analysis of the hipervariable vlhA region showed a great number of MS strains. Mixed infection by two strains of MS was confirmed in samples from a flock in GPC and GRP. These results confirm MS variability in the farms at the central zone of Colombia.Maestrí