Developing a Secure and Trusted E-Voting System for Libyan Elections

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify the issues and problems in the current Libyan voting system, and to develop a secure e-voting prototype system associated with the Libyan electoral system and the laws and legislation governing.   Theoretical framework: E-voting systems allow greater participation of eligible voters to cast their vote remotely or any location that the voter could be during election.   Design/methodology/approach: This study used mixed methodology. A qualitative method via interview would be used to collect qualitative data from citizens and election staff to determine functionalities and features of the proposed system. Using Semi-structured interviews with ten eligible voters, election officials. While a quantitative study conducted to evaluate users and elections of officials to determine how the systems fulfils the requirements and their expectations, to determine if the prototype proposed system offers practical solution to the Libyan voters and if the functionalities of the system fulfil the requirement gathered at the problem definition stage. The second prototype was regarded as meeting the key functional and non-functional requirement and ease of use criteria by users. After fixing the concerns found during the first prototype's evaluation in terms of the requirement criteria. The criterion for ease of use were met.   Findings: As a result, 87% of the evaluators indicated that they would adopt the system if it was introduced. Whereas 87% of the evaluators suggested that they would recommend the E-Voting system to their friends, colleagues, and Libyan Election Council.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Following the trial of the second prototype, the evaluators proposed that the Libyan E-Voting System (L-EVS) would assist them enable them to exercise their election rights.   Originality/value: Concerns and issues from previous political elections have spawned over numerous studies regarding voter confidentiality, voting security, and voting accuracy

Intervention strategies to mitigate psychosocial challenges and improve the quality of life of MDR-TB patients – An evaluation study

Introduction: The psychosocial well-being and treatment outcome in MDR-TB is far undesirable as the treatment is characterized by a rigorous treatment regimen for a long duration, adverse side effects, lower cure rate, and high treatment costs. This study aimed to devise an intervention strategy and test its feasibility and effectiveness to ensure the patients’ quality of life (QOL) and to promote adherence. Methodology: The study population included all MDR-TB patients, of age 18 years and above registered in 16 tuberculosis units (TUs) under Chennai Corporation for treatment during the year 2014. Researchers have devised an intervention strategy package that included motivational interview (MI) module, counseling support as well as nutritional support. Participants were included in the study after getting informed consent. Motivational interviewing was offered at five times during the study period. Each participant received minimum 15 individual counselling sessions. All participants but two received nutritional flour packet weighing half kilogram every month. Results: Of 35 participants enrolled in the study, one third was women. Poor QOL was experienced by 19 participants out of 35 at the start of treatment that came down to 2 after the study. QoL scores in all four domains were significantly high and depression level score was significantly lowered at the end of the treatment. At the start of the treatment twenty, four out of thirty-five participants were dissatisfied with their health that came down to five at the end of treatment. Conclusion: Intervention strategy not only had a great impact on the QOL of study participants but also contributed to better treatment adherence and desirable treatment outcome. Therefore, researchers emphasize the need to adopt this Intervention Strategy through the provision of trained, professional MDR-TB counsellors. Further, larger studies of multi-state/ multi-site may be taken up to standardize the intervention strategies adopted in this study

Lectotypification of two varietal names in Dioscorea glabra (Dioscoreaceae)

Lectotype of Dioscorea glabra Roxb. var. hastifolia Prain & Burkill and D. glabra Roxb. var. tenuifolia Prain & Burkill are designated here from the syntypes. The error while citing the type for D. serpenticola Hoque & P.K. Mukh. (= D. glabra var. hastifolia) is corrected here

Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in bambangan (Mangifera pajang Kort.) peels and their free radical scavenging activity.

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of acidified methanolic extract prepared from fully ripe bambangan (Mangifera pajang K.) peel cultivated in Sarawak, Malaysia, were analyzed. The total phenolic content (98.3 mg GAE/g) of bambangan peel powder (BPP) was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. BPP showed a strong potency of antioxidant activity and was consistent with that of BHT and vitamin C as confirmed by the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) assays. Gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, protocatechuic acid, and mangiferin were the major compounds among the 16 phenolics that have been identified and quantified in M. pajang peels with 20.9, 12.7, 7.3, 5.4, and 4.8 mg/g BPP, respectively. Peak identities were confirmed by comparing their retention times, UV-vis absorption spectra, and mass spectra with authentic standards. The 16 phenolic compounds identified in M. pajang K. using HPLC-DAD and TSQ-ESI-MS are reported here for the first time

CD36-mediated activation of endothelial cell apoptosis by an N-terminal recombinant fragment of thrombospondin-2 inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis in vivo

Thus far the clinical benefits seen in breast cancer patients treated with drugs targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway are only modest. Consequently, additional antiangiogenic approaches for treatment of breast cancer need to be investigated. Thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis with a greater potency than the related molecule TSP-1. The systemic effects of TSP-2 on tumor metastasis and the underlying molecular mechanisms of the antiangiogenic activity of TSP-2 have remained poorly understood. We generated a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal region of TSP-2 and the IgG-Fc1 fragment (N-TSP2-Fc) and could demonstrate that the antiangiogenic activity of N-TSP2-Fc is dependent on the CD36 receptor. We found that N-TSP2-Fc inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) on matrigel in vitro and that concurrent incubation of anti-CD36 antibody with N-TSP2-Fc resulted in tube formation that was comparable to untreated control. N-TSP2-Fc potently induced apoptosis of HDMEC in vitro in a CD36-dependent manner. Moreover, we could demonstrate a CD36 receptor-mediated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase-3 in HDMEC in vitro. Daily intraperitoneal injections of N-TSP2-Fc resulted in a significant inhibition of the growth of human MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-231 tumor cells grown in the mammary gland of immunodeficient nude mice and in reduced tumor vascularization. Finally, increased serum concentrations of N-TSP2-Fc significantly inhibited regional metastasis to lymph nodes and distant metastasis to lung as shown by quantitative real-time alu PCR. These results identify N-TSP2-Fc as a potent systemic inhibitor of tumor metastasis and provide strong evidence for an important role of the CD36 receptor in mediating the antiangiogenic activity of TSP-2

Sequence dependent antitumour efficacy of the vascular disrupting agent ZD6126 in combination with paclitaxel

The clinical success of small-molecule vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) depends on their combination with conventional therapies. Scheduling and sequencing remain key issues in the design of VDA–chemotherapy combination treatments. This study examined the antitumour activity of ZD6126, a microtubule destabilising VDA, in combination with paclitaxel (PTX), a microtubule-stabilising cytotoxic drug, and the influence of schedule and sequence on the efficacy of the combination. Nude mice bearing MDA-MB-435 xenografts received weekly cycles of ZD6126 (200 mg kg−1 i.p.) administered at different times before or after PTX (10, 20, and 40 mg kg−1 i.v.). ZD6126 given 2 or 24 h after PTX showed no significant benefit, a result that was attributed to a protective effect of PTX against ZD6126-induced vascular damage and tumour necrosis, a hallmark of VDA activity. Paclitaxel counteracting activity was reduced by distancing drug administrations, and ZD6126 given 72 h after PTX potentiated the VDA's antitumour activity. Schedules with ZD6126 given before PTX improved therapeutic activity, which was paralleled by a VDA-induced increase in cell proliferation in the viable tumour tissue. Paclitaxel given 72 h after ZD6126 yielded the best response (50% tumours regressing). A single treatment with ZD6126 followed by weekly administration of PTX was sufficient to achieve a similar response (57% remissions). These findings show that schedule, sequence and timing are crucial in determining the antitumour efficacy of PTX in combination with ZD6126. Induction of tumour necrosis and increased proliferation in the remaining viable tumour tissue could be exploited as readouts to optimise schedules and maximise therapeutic efficacy

Simultaneous siRNA Targeting of Src and Downstream Signaling Molecules Inhibit Tumor Formation and Metastasis of a Human Model Breast Cancer Cell Line

Src and signaling molecules downstream of Src, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and cMyc, have been implicated in the development, maintenance and/or progression of several types of human cancers, including breast cancer. Here we report the ability of siRNA-mediated Src knock-down alone, and simultaneous knock-down of Src and Stat3 and/or cMyc to inhibit the neoplastic phenotype of a highly metastatic human model breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-435S, a widely used model for breast cancer research.Src and its downstream signaling partners were specifically targeted and knocked-down using siRNA. Changes in the growth properties of the cultured cancer cells/tumors were documented using assays that included anchorage-dependent and -independent (in soft agar) cell growth, apoptosis, and both primary and metastatic tumor growth in the mouse tumor model. siRNA-mediated Src knock-down alone, and simultaneous knock-down of Src and Stat3 and/or cMyc inhibited the neoplastic phenotype of a highly metastatic human model breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-435S. This knock-down resulted in reduced growth in monolayer and soft agar cultures, and a reduced ability to form primary tumors in NOD/SCID mice. In addition, direct intra-tumoral injection of siRNAs targeting these signaling molecules resulted in a substantial inhibition of tumor metastases as well as of primary tumor growth. Simultaneous knock-down of Src and Stat3, and/or Myc exhibited the greatest effects resulting in substantial inhibition of primary tumor growth and metastasis.These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of simultaneous targeting of Src and the downstream signaling partners Stat3 and/or cMyc to inhibit the growth and oncogenic properties of a human cancer cell line. This knowledge may be very useful in the development of future therapeutic approaches involving targeting of specific genes products involved in tumor growth and metastasis