Inositol 1,4,5- Trisphosphate Receptor Function in Drosophila Insulin Producing Cells

The Inositol 1,4,5- trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) is an intracellular ligand gated channel that releases calcium from intracellular stores in response to extracellular signals. To identify and understand physiological processes and behavior that depends on the InsP3 signaling pathway at a systemic level, we are studying Drosophila mutants for the InsP3R (itpr) gene. Here, we show that growth defects precede larval lethality and both are a consequence of the inability to feed normally. Moreover, restoring InsP3R function in insulin producing cells (IPCs) in the larval brain rescues the feeding deficit, growth and lethality in the itpr mutants to a significant extent. We have previously demonstrated a critical requirement for InsP3R activity in neuronal cells, specifically in aminergic interneurons, for larval viability. Processes from the IPCs and aminergic domain are closely apposed in the third instar larval brain with no visible cellular overlap. Ubiquitous depletion of itpr by dsRNA results in feeding deficits leading to larval lethality similar to the itpr mutant phenotype. However, when itpr is depleted specifically in IPCs or aminergic neurons, the larvae are viable. These data support a model where InsP3R activity in non-overlapping neuronal domains independently rescues larval itpr phenotypes by non-cell autonomous mechanisms

SQUARE-Lite: Case Study on VADSoft Project

This report is the first by the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute to focus on the practical application of the SQUARE-Lite security requirements engineering method. Three case study reports about applying the Security Quality Requirements Engineering (SQUARE) process, from which SQUARE-Lite is derived, were published previously. In this report, the SQUARE and SQUARE-Lite methods are briefly described, and a student team presents the results of working with a client using SQUARE-Lite to develop security requirements for a financial application

Effectiveness of random testing of embedded systems

Embedded systems like those used in automobiles have two peculiar attributes - they are reactive systems where each reaction is influenced by the current state of the system, and their inputs come from small domains. We hypothesise that, because inputs come from small domains, random testing is likely to cover all values in the domain and hence have an effectiveness comparable to other techniques. We also hypothesise that because of the reactive nature long sequences of interactions will be important for testing effectiveness. To test these hypotheses we conducted three experiments on three pieces of code selected from an automotive application. The first two experiments were designed to compare the effectiveness of randomly generated test cases against test cases that achieve the modified condition decision coverage (MCDC) and also evaluate the impact of length of the test cases on effectiveness. The third experiment compares the effectiveness of handwritten test cases against randomly generated test cases of similar length. Our objective is to help practitioners choose an effective technique to test their systems. Our findings from the limited experiments indicate that random test case generation is as effective as manual test generation at the system level. However, for unit testing test case generation to achieve MCDC coverage is more effective than random generation. Combining unit test cases with system level testing increases effectiveness. Our final observation is that increasing the test case length improves the effectiveness of a test suite both at the unit and system level

Protocol for Dental Management in a Patient with Glucose6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency is the most common inherited genetic disorder affecting RBCs in humans. The disorder is characterised by inability of RBC to maintain a balanced redox state when challenged by oxidative stresses like drugs, infections and certain food substances leading to severe haemolytic anaemia which complicates any therapeutic management in these patients. This article reports on a successful endodontic management of a 36-year-old class III G6PD deficient male patient with deep carious lesion in left mandibular first molar tooth (36). Considering there is no protocol precedence in dental literature, in consultation with the physician/haemotologist a three step protocol for safe and efficient dental management is proposed