Implementation of Formal Semantics and the Potential of Non-Classical Logic Systems for the Enhancement of Access Control Models: A Literature Review

This literature review discovers an implementation of formal logic systems in cyber security by enhancing access control models. We explore the characteristics of the existing access control theories, their limitations and how classical logic is used therein. We then delve into the possibility of utilising non-classical logic systems for improving the models. In particular, we explore how classical logic can be used to describe and prove the correctness of role-based access control and attribute-based access control models.Comment: 10 page

A Research on the Relationship between Marketing Channel Context and Channel Performance: An Empirical Study into Mobile-phone Firms between Taipei & Beijing

This research has developed an analytical framework, which incorporates four measurement variables for a competitive marketing channel, they are channel structure, channel power, channel climate, and channel performance. Based on the questionnaire and personal interview, an empirical survey on mobile phone marketing channel located both in Taipei and Beijing was applied for system survey. SPSS statistical software tool was applied for survey data analysis with the functions of factor analysis, T test analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, and regression analysis. The major conclusions are summarized as followings: 1. Channel structure has significant influence on channel performance. 2. Channel power has significant influence on channel performance. 3. Channel climate has significant influence on channel performance. 4. Channel structure has significant influence on channel power. 5. Channel power has significant influence on channel climate. 6. Channel structure has significant influence on channel climate. Through the data surveyed, it is sufficient for us to make the characteristics comparison of marketing channel located in Taipei and Beijing. Channel management, information, protectionism and customer response speed etc. are the major problems occurred in China now

Employing Participatory Action Research to Augment Software Development for Rural Communities

The paper proposes a software development methodology which also employs the participatory action research (PAR) method given that PAR has been successfully employed in projects in rural communities. Arguments for this approach are provided, discussed in the context of software development for rural communities

Interferon Regulatory Factor 9 Structure and Regulation

Interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) is an integral transcription factor in mediating the type I interferon antiviral response, as part of the interferon-stimulated gene factor 3. However, the role of IRF9 in many important non-communicable diseases has just begun to emerge. The duality of IRF9’s role in conferring protection but at the same time exacerbates diseases is certainly puzzling. The regulation of IRF9 during these conditions is not well understood. The high homology of IRF9 DNA-binding domain to other IRFs, as well as the recently resolved IRF9 IRF-associated domain structure can provide the necessary insights for progressive inroads on understanding the regulatory mechanism of IRF9. This review sought to outline the structural basis of IRF9 that guides its regulation and interaction in antiviral immunity and other diseases

Antifungal properties and phytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles – a genotypic dependent effect

Pyricularia oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease, is a serious threat to rice. It reduces the yield and quality of rice. Agrofungicide used to control rice blast is harming the environment and human health. Safer alternative is needed. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against P. oryzae of Sarawak, and its phytotoxicity towards Sarawak rice. Solvothermal sysnthesis method was used to synthesize two sizes of ZnO NPs (~20nm and ~40nm). ZnO NPs showed inhibition effect on P. oryzae tested and the effect was isolate dependent. The effect increased along with the concentration increment of ZnO NPs. ZnO NPs were found not affecting the seed germination rate, but on the shoot and root development. The effect varies at different concentration treatments of ZnO NPs. Landrace/genotype dependent phytotoxicity effect of ZnO NPs was observed

Diaphragm as an anatomic surrogate for lung tumor motion

Lung tumor motion due to respiration poses a challenge in the application of modern three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Direct tracking of the lung tumor during radiation therapy is very difficult without implanted fiducial markers. Indirect tracking relies on the correlation of the tumor's motion and the surrogate's motion. The present paper presents an analysis of the correlation between the tumor motion and the diaphragm motion in order to evaluate the potential use of diaphragm as a surrogate for tumor motion. We have analyzed the correlation between diaphragm motion and superior-inferior lung tumor motion in 32 fluoroscopic image sequences from 10 lung cancer patients. A simple linear model and a more complex linear model that accounts for phase delays between the two motions have been used. Results show that the diaphragm is a good surrogate for tumor motion prediction for most patients, resulting in an average correlation factor of 0.94 and 0.98 with each model respectively. The model that accounts for delays leads to an average localization prediction error of 0.8mm and an error at the 95% confidence level of 2.1mm. However, for one patient studied, the correlation is much weaker compared to other patients. This indicates that, before using diaphragm for lung tumor prediction, the correlation should be examined on a patient-by-patient basis.Comment: Accepted by Physics in Medicine and Biolog

Targeting cancer addiction for SALL4 by shifting its transcriptome with a pharmacologic peptide

Sal-like 4 (SALL4) is a nuclear factor central to the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency and is a key component in hepatocellular carcinoma, a malignancy with no effective treatment. In cancer cells, SALL4 associates with nucleosome remodeling deacetylase (NuRD) to silence tumor-suppressor genes, such as PTEN. Here, we determined the crystal structure of an amino-terminal peptide of SALL4(1-12) complexed to RBBp4, the chaperone subunit of NuRD, at 2.7 Å, and subsequent design of a potent therapeutic SALL4 peptide (FFW) capable of antagonizing the SALL4-NURD interaction using systematic truncation and amino acid substitution studies. FFW peptide disruption of the SALL4-NuRD complex resulted in unidirectional up-regulation of transcripts, turning SALL4 from a dual transcription repressor-activator mode to singular transcription activator mode. We demonstrate that FFW has a target affinity of 23 nM, and displays significant antitumor effects, inhibiting tumor growth by 85% in xenograft mouse models. Using transcriptome and survival analysis, we discovered that the peptide inhibits the transcription-repressor function of SALL4 and causes massive up-regulation of transcripts that are beneficial to patient survival. This study supports the SALL4-NuRD complex as a drug target and FFW as a viable drug candidate, showcasing an effective strategy to accurately target oncogenes previously considered undruggable

A single domain antibody fragment that recognizes the adaptor ASC defines the role of ASC domains in inflammasome assembly

Myeloid cells assemble inflammasomes in response to infection or cell damage; cytosolic sensors activate pro–caspase-1, indirectly for the most part, via the adaptors ASC and NLRC4. This leads to secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis. To explore complex formation under physiological conditions, we generated an alpaca single domain antibody, VHH[subscript ASC], which specifically recognizes the CARD of human ASC via its type II interface. VHH[subscript ASC] not only impairs ASC[subscript CARD] interactions in vitro, but also inhibits inflammasome activation in response to NLRP3, AIM2, and NAIP triggers when expressed in living cells, highlighting a role of ASC in all three types of inflammasomes. VHH[subscript ASC] leaves the Pyrin domain of ASC functional and stabilizes a filamentous intermediate of inflammasome activation. Incorporation of VHH[subscript ASC]-EGFP into these structures allowed the visualization of endogenous ASC[superscript PYD] filaments for the first time. These data revealed that cross-linking of ASC[superscript PYD] filaments via ASC[superscript CARD] mediates the assembly of ASC foci.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Pioneer Award