Security Awareness Strategies Used in the Prevention of Cybercrimes by Cybercriminals

Cybercrime is a growing phenomenon that impacts many lives worldwide. Businesses, organizations, and governments continue to search for ways to protect their data and intellectual property from cybercrimes. Grounded in the routine activity theory, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore strategies information security officers used to prevent cybercrimes. The participants included seven information security officers listed on social media who manage information security within organizations located in the northeast geographic region of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, the National Institute of Standards and Technology documentations and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four key themes emerged from the analysis: policies to prevent cybercrimes, cybersecurity response plan, cybersecurity awareness as a culture, and train end-users/employees. The key recommendation is that IT professionals work closely with other IT professionals, experts, and engineers to create relevant cybersecurity policies through compliance, develop efficient cybersecurity response plans, develop a culture of cybersecurity awareness, and implement cybersecurity training programs. The implications for positive social change include the potential for cybercrime crime reduction and a change of people’s perceptions and knowledge of cybercrime threats in their communities, neighborhoods, and organizations

Food habits of two sciaenid fish species (Pseudotolithus typus and Pseudotolithus senegalensis) off Cameroon

Pseudotolithus typus and P. senegalensis (Sciaenidae) sampled off Cameroon Coast, West Africa, have been found to feed mainly on shrimps (Nematoplaemon hastatus and Parapenaeopsis atlantica) and juvenile fish (mostly clupeids). The diet composition is presented and discussed

Barriers to Daiy Blood Glucose Self-monitoring in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Routine blood glucose monitoring by patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is needed for effective management of T2DM; however, 75% of monitoring logs are returned incomplete during monthly provider follow-up appointments. As a result, effective management of the patient\u27s medical condition is limited. To better understand the reasons for noncompliance, a quality improvement project (QIP) was initiated between July 01, 2017 and September 30, 2017, to identify barriers that prevented patients from self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). No formal assessment of the patients\u27 responses had been done, and, as a result, the deidentified, qualitative responses from the QIP were obtained for this project. The purpose of this project was to explore barriers to SMBG and to use a literature search to identify strategies for improving compliance with SMBG. The health belief model was the framework used to guide the project. Secondary data obtained from the QIP (n = 19) were analyzed and coded. Results indicated that patients\u27 financial concerns, social support, emotional needs, and lack of diabetes education were the main barriers to daily SMBG. Recommendations to the providers were to consider each barrier before ordering the use and frequency of SMBG and to consider an appropriate strategy for promoting SMBG adherence. Addressing low compliance with SMBG may promote positive social change through improved T2DM management, self-care, adherence to daily SMBG and treatment, and improved patient quality of life

Can seed exchange networks explain the morphological and genetic diversity in perennial crop species? The case of the tropical fruit tree Dacryodes edulis in rural and urban Cameroon

Crop seed exchange networks, shaped by social dynamics, strongly influence the organization and breadth of plant diversity in human-managed environments. Integrating an urban and market perspective, this study explores the diversity dynamics of a socio-economically important Central African fruit tree species, the African plum tree. Tree owners in urban, peri-urban and rural sites use seeds from different origins as their main propagation material, leading to locational variations in genetic diversity and structure. This analysis contributes toward building a framework to inform the research agenda of cultivated African fruit trees, by highlighting the important role of urban centers in safeguarding crop genetic resources

Diversité floristique et structure de la végétation ligneuse des parcs arborés de la zone soudanienne du Tchad

Les parcs arborés du Tchad subissent une dégradation marquée par une diminution importante du couvert végétal et des ressources ligneuses en raison de la péjoration climatique et de l’anthropisation. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer la diversité floristique des parcs arborés du Département de la Nya (Sud du Tchad) et de caractériser leurs paramètres écologiques. Les données floristiques ont été collectées sur 174 relevés de 2500 m2 chacun. Au total, 29 espèces ligneuses réparties en 29 genres et 18 familles ont été recensées. La densité moyenne est de 28,528 tiges/ha et la surface terrière moyenne est de 4,077 m²/ha. L’indice de diversité de Shannon étaitde 3,043 et l’équitabilité de Piélou était de 0,626. Les familles les plus dominantes sont les Fabaceae, Sapotaceae et Anacardiaceae. La structure en diamètre a mis en évidence une prédominance d’individus adultes par rapport aux individus de petit diamètre (4,60%). La chorologie de la flore est caractérisée par la dominance des espèces soudano-zambésiennes (37,93%). Le spectre de formes biologiques montre une prédominance des mésophanérophytes (65,51%) et des microphanérophytes (31,03%). Ces résultats peuvent servir de référence dans le suivi de la dynamique de la végétation des parcs arborés soumis aux variations climatiques et auxpressions anthropiques.Mots clés : Caractéristique floristique, parcs arborés, types biologiques, types phytogéographiques, zone soudanienne, Tchad

Current-Based Detection of Mechanical Unbalance in an Induction Machine Using Spectral Kurtosis with Reference

This article explores the design, on-line, of an electrical machine’s healthy reference by means of statistical tools. The definition of a healthy reference enables the computation of normalized fault indicators whose value is independent of the system’s characteristics. This is a great advantage when diagnosing a broad range of systems with different power, coupling, inertia, load, etc. In this paper, an original method called spectral kurtosis with reference is presented in order to designa system’s healthy reference. Its principle is first explained on asynthetic signal. This approach is then evaluated for mechanicalunbalance detection in an induction machine using the stator currents instantaneous frequency. The normalized behaviour ofthe proposed indicator is then confirmed for different operatingconditions and its robustness with respect to load variationsis demonstrated. Finally, the advantages of using a statisticalindicator based on a healthy reference compared to a raw faultsignature are discussed

Morphology-Induced Collective Behaviors: Dynamic Pattern Formation in Water-Floating Elements

Complex systems involving many interacting elements often organize into patterns. Two types of pattern formation can be distinguished, static and dynamic. Static pattern formation means that the resulting structure constitutes a thermodynamic equilibrium whose pattern formation can be understood in terms of the minimization of free energy, while dynamic pattern formation indicates that the system is permanently dissipating energy and not in equilibrium. In this paper, we report experimental results showing that the morphology of elements plays a significant role in dynamic pattern formation. We prepared three different shapes of elements (circles, squares, and triangles) floating in a water-filled container, in which each of the shapes has two types: active elements that were capable of self-agitation with vibration motors, and passive elements that were mere floating tiles. The system was purely decentralized: that is, elements interacted locally, and subsequently elicited global patterns in a process called self-organized segregation. We showed that, according to the morphology of the selected elements, a different type of segregation occurs. Also, we quantitatively characterized both the local interaction regime and the resulting global behavior for each type of segregation by means of information theoretic quantities, and showed the difference for each case in detail, while offering speculation on the mechanism causing this phenomenon

Floristic diversity and management of fodder resources of the natural pastures of the Savanna Highlands of Western Cameroon

Sustainable management of pastoral resources requires knowledge in terms of floristic diversity and productivity of the rangelands. The objective of the present study carried out in the Bamboutos Mountains was to assess the floristic diversity and carrying capacity of the natural pastures. Floristic inventory was done using the method of quadrat point aligned in 15 plots of 400 m². Aerial phytomass of herbaceous plants was measured by the full harvest method. A total of 74 species, including 09 woody plants belonging to 56 genera and 20 families were recorded. The number of taxa recorded in the plots varied from 11 to 36 species. Imperata cylindrica with a specific contribution of presence of 17.45% was the most abundant species in the rangeland. The species-richest families were Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Cyperaceae. The calculated pastoral value of the pasture was 56.21%. These pastures were dominated by phanerophytes (29.72%) and therophytes (24.32%). The forage productivity of the grazed area, estimated based on the regrowth biomass was 6498.57 kg DM/ha while the carrying capacity of the rangeland was 2.31 TLU/ha. These results showed that the fodder potential of the Bamboutos Mountains is enough diversified but remains under exploited

FAST, a method based on split-GFP for the detection in solution of proteins synthesized in cell-free expression systems

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems offer a versatile platform for a wide range of applications. However, the traditional methods for detecting proteins synthesized in CFPS, such as radioactive labeling, fluorescent tagging, or electrophoretic separation, may be impractical, due to environmental hazards, high costs, technical complexity, and time consuming procedures. These limitations underscore the need for new approaches that streamline the detection process, facilitating broader application of CFPS. By harnessing the reassembly capabilities of two GFP fragments—specifically, the GFP1-10 and GFP11 fragments—we have crafted a method that simplifies the detection of in vitro synthesized proteins called FAST (Fluorescent Assembly of Split-GFP for Translation Tests). FAST relies on the fusion of the small tag GFP11 to virtually any gene to be expressed in CFPS. The in vitro synthesized protein:GFP11 can be rapidly detected in solution upon interaction with an enhanced GFP1-10 fused to the Maltose Binding Protein (MBP:GFP1-10). This interaction produces a fluorescent signal detectable with standard fluorescence readers, thereby indicating successful protein synthesis. Furthermore, if required, detection can be coupled with the purification of the fluorescent complex using standardized MBP affinity chromatography. The method's versatility was demonstrated by fusing GFP11 to four distinct E. coli genes and analyzing the resulting protein synthesis in both a homemade and a commercial E. coli CFPS system. Our experiments confirmed that the FAST method offers a direct correlation between the fluorescent signal and the amount of synthesized protein:GFP11 fusion, achieving a sensitivity threshold of 8 ± 2 pmol of polypeptide, with fluorescence plateauing after 4 h. Additionally, FAST enables the investigation of translation inhibition by antibiotics in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, FAST is a new method that permits the rapid, efficient, and non-hazardous detection of protein synthesized within CFPS systems and, at the same time, the purification of the target protein

FAST, a method based on split-GFP for the detection in solution of proteins synthesized in cell-free expression systems

ackground: Depression and anxiety are two of the most prevalent and disabling mental disorders worldwide, both in the general population and in outpatient clinical settings. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) based on network analysis metrics. Methods: A total of 911 Paraguayans (23.71% women and 76.29% men; mean age 31.25 years, SD = 10.63), selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, participated in the study. Network analysis was used to evaluate the internal structure, reliability, and measurement invariance between men and women. Results: The results revealed that the PHQ-4 is a unidimensional measure through Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA). Reliability, through structural consistency, identified that 100% of the time, only a single dimension was obtained, and all items remained stable, as they were always replicated within the empirical dimension. The unidimensional structure has shown evidence of configural invariance; therefore, the network structure functioned equally among the different sex groups. Conclusion: The PHQ-4 presented optimal preliminary evidence of validity based on its internal structure, reliability, and invariance between sexes. Therefore, it may be useful as an accurate and brief measure of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the Paraguayan context.Horizon 2020 Framework Programm