Modeling the Delivery of Security Advisories and CVEs

This empirical paper models three structural factors that are hypothesized to affect the turnaround times between the publication of security advisories and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). The three structural factors are: (i) software product age at the time of advisory release; (ii) severity of vulnerabilities coordinated; and (iii) amounts of CVEs referenced in advisories. Although all three factors are observed to provide only limited information for statistically predicting the turnaround times in a dataset comprised of Microsoft, openSUSE, and Ubuntu operating system products, the paper outlines new research directions for better understanding the current problems related to vulnerability coordination

Effective computability of solutions of ordinary differential equations: the thousand monkeys approach

In this note we consider the computability of the solution of the initial- value problem for ordinary di erential equations with continuous right- hand side. We present algorithms for the computation of the solution using the \thousand monkeys" approach, in which we generate all possi- ble solution tubes, and then check which are valid. In this way, we show that the solution of a di erential equation de ned by a locally Lipschitz function is computable even if the function is not e ectively locally Lips- chitz. We also recover a result of Ruohonen, in which it is shown that if the solution is unique, then it is computable, even if the right-hand side is not locally Lipschitz. We also prove that the maximal interval of existence for the solution must be e ectively enumerable open, and give an example of a computable locally Lipschitz function which is not e ectively locally Lipschitz

A Survey on Continuous Time Computations

We provide an overview of theories of continuous time computation. These theories allow us to understand both the hardness of questions related to continuous time dynamical systems and the computational power of continuous time analog models. We survey the existing models, summarizing results, and point to relevant references in the literature

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and tolerability

BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a potential alternative treatment option for major depressive episodes (MDE). OBJECTIVES We address the efficacy and safety of tDCS in MDE. METHODS The outcome measures were Hedges' g for continuous depression ratings, and categorical response and remission rates. RESULTS A random effects model indicated that tDCS was superior to sham tDCS (k=11, N=393, g=0.30, 95% CI=[0.04, 0.57], p=0.027). Adjunctive antidepressant medication and cognitive control training negatively impacted on the treatment effect. The pooled log odds ratios (LOR) for response and remission were positive, but statistically non-significant (response: k=9, LOR=0.36, 95% CI[-0.16, 0.88], p=0.176, remission: k=9, LOR=0.25, 95% CI [-0.42, 0.91], p=0.468). We estimated that for a study to detect the pooled continuous effect (g=0.30) at 80% power (alpha=0.05), a total N of at least 346 would be required (with the total N required to detect the upper and lower bound being 49 and 12,693, respectively). CONCLUSIONS tDCS may be efficacious for treatment of MDE. The data do not support the use of tDCS in treatment-resistant depression, or as an add-on augmentation treatment. Larger studies over longer treatment periods are needed

Geographic origin as a determinant of left ventricular mass and diastolic function - the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Aims: Eastern Finns have higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and carotid intima-media thickness than western Finns although current differences in CHD risk factors are minimal. Left ventricular (LV) mass and diastolic function predict future cardiovascular events but their east-west differences are unknown. We examined the association of eastern/western baseline origin with LV mass and diastolic function. Methods : The study population included 2045 subjects of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with data from the baseline survey (1980) and the latest follow-up (2011) when echocardiography was performed at the age of 34-49 years. Results: Subjects with eastern baseline origin had in 2011 higher LV mass (139 +/- 1.0 vs. 135 +/- 1.0 g, p=0.006) and E/e-ratio indicating weaker LV diastolic function (4.86 +/- 0.03 vs. 4.74 +/- 0.03, p=0.02) than western subjects. Results were independent of age, sex, area of examination and CHD risk factors such as blood pressure and BMI (LV mass indexed with height: pPeer reviewe

Determinants of left ventricular diastolic function-The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Decreased left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is associated with increased all-cause mortality and risk for a heart failure. The determinants of LV diastolic function have been mainly studied in elderly populations; however, the origin of LV heart failure may relate to the lifestyle factors acquired during the life course. Therefore, we examined biochemical, physiological, and lifestyle determinants of LV diastolic function in 34-49-year-old participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (Young Finns Study). In 2011, clinical examination and echocardiography were performed for 1928 participants (880 men and 1048 women; aged 34-49 years). LV diastolic function was primarily defined using E/e-ratio (population mean 4.8, range 2.1-9.0). In a multivariate model, systolic blood pressure (P <0.005), female sex (P <0.005), age (P <0.005), waist circumference (P = 0.024), smoking (P = 0.028), serum alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.032) were directly associated with E/e-ratio, while an inverse association was found for height (P <0.005). Additionally, a higher E/e-ratio was found in participants with concentric hypertrophy compared to normal cardiac geometry (P <0.005). Other indicators of the LV diastolic function including E/A-ratio and left atrial volume index showed similarly strong associations with systolic blood pressure and age. In conclusion, we identified systolic blood pressure, waist circumference and smoking as modifiable determinants of the LV diastolic function in the 34-49-year-old participants of the Young Finns Study.Peer reviewe

Ideal cardiovascular health in childhood-Longitudinal associations with cardiac structure and function : The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) and the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS)

Background: Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH), defined by the American Heart Association, is associated with incident cardiovascular disease in adults. However, association of the ideal CVH in childhood with current and future cardiac structure and function has not been studied. Methods and results: The sample comprised 827 children participating in the longitudinal Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) and The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS). In STRIP, complete data on the seven ideal CVH metrics and left ventricular (LV) mass measured with echocardiography were available at the age of 15 (n= 321), 17 (n= 309) and 19 (n= 283) years. In YFS, the cohort comprised children aged 12-18 years (n = 506) with complete ideal CVH metrics data from childhood and 25 years later in adulthood, and echocardiography performed in adulthood. In STRIP, ideal CVH score was inversely associated with LV mass during childhood (P = 0.036). In YFS, childhood ideal CVH score was inversely associated with LV mass, LV end-diastolic volume, E/e' ratio, and left atrium end-systolic volume in adulthood (all P <0.01). In addition, improvement of the ideal CVH score between childhood and adulthood was inversely associated with LV mass, LV end-diastolic volume, E/e' ratio, and left atrium end-systolic volume (all P Conclusions: Childhood ideal CVH score has a long-lasting effect on cardiac structure and function, and the association is evident already in childhood. Our findings support targeting the ideal CVHmetrics as part of primordial prevention of cardiovascular diseases. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Increased Energy Expenditure, Lipolysis and Hyperinsulinemia Confer Resistance to Central Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Mice Lacking Alpha2α-Adrenoceptors

The α2A-adrenoceptors (ARs) are Gi-coupled receptors, which prejunctionally inhibit the release of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi), and postjunctionally insulin secretion and lipolysis. We have earlier shown that α2A-/- mice display sympathetic hyperactivity, hyperinsulinemia and improved glucose tolerance. Here we employed α2A-/- mice and placed the mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) to test the hypothesis that lack of α2A-ARs protects from diet-induced obesity (DIO) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition, high caloric diet was combined with running wheel exercise to test the interaction of diet and exercise. HFD was obesogenic in both genotypes, but α2A-/- mice accumulated less visceral fat than their WT controls, were protected from T2D, and their insulin secretion was unaltered by the diet. Lack of α2A-ARs associated with increased sympatho-adrenal tone, which resulted in increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation rate potentiated by HFD. Fittingly, α2A-/- mice displayed enhanced lipolytic responses to Epi, and increased fecal lipids suggesting altered fat mobilization and absorption. Subcutaneous white fat appeared to be thermogenically more active (measured as Ucp1 mRNA expression) in α2A-/- mice, and brown fat showed an increased response to norepinephrine. Exercise was effective in reducing total body adiposity and increasing lean mass in both genotypes, but there was a significant diet-genotype interaction, as even modestly increased physical activity combined with lack of α2A-AR signalling promoted weight loss more efficiently than exercise with normal α2A-AR function. These results suggest that blockade of α2A-ARs may be exploited to reduce visceral fat and to improve insulin secretion.