Web security awareness of it graduate students: case study

Nowadays, the security of web applications has a serious importance as Internet publication is increasing rapidly with huge variety of activities. The functionality of web applications should be insured beside the immunity from many types of vulnerabilities. There are many attackers who can bring harm to the operation of the web application and the safety of the users’ information. Checking the web application vulnerabilities can be easily done using the penetration tools from Kali Linux. In this research, we tried to study the level of security awareness of final year students in IT related fields at University Utara Malaysia (UUM). Qualitative and quantitative analyses were done to evaluate the level of awareness of a selected group of users and web admins. Based on the results obtained, most of the users are aware of the importance of web application security and cares about their own personal information but they do not know how to insure that they are safe online. As for web admins, after seeing a live demo on their websites using Kali Linux’s tools, they were aware that their websites should be secured but they did not know how to achieve this goal and the preliminary outcomes of this quantitative survey identified admins' enthusiasm to learn cybersecurity skills

Fractionation and extraction of bio-oil for production of greener fuel and value-added chemicals : Recent advances and future prospects

Bio-oil is a highly valuable product derived from biomass pyrolysis which could be used in various downstream applications upon appropriate upgrading and refining. Extraction and fractionation are two promising methods to upgrade bio-oil by separating the complex mixture of bio-oil compounds into distinct fine chemicals and fractions enriched in certain classes of chemical compounds. In this review, various extraction techniques for bio-oil (organic solvent extraction, water extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, distillation, adsorption, chromatography, membrane, electrosorption and ionic liquid extraction), their associated features (extraction mechanisms involved, advantages and disadvantages), the characteristics of bio-oil extracts and their applications are presented and critically discussed. It was revealed that the most promising technique is via organic solvent extraction. Furthermore, the technological gaps and bottlenecks for each separation techniques are disclosed, as well as the overall challenges and future prospects of oil palm biomass-based bio-oil value chain. This review aims to provide key insights on bio-oil upgrading via extraction and fractionation, and a proposed way forward via technology integration in establishing a sustainable palm oil mill-based biorefinery

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale(1-3). Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter(4); identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation(5,6); analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution(7); describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity(8,9); and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes(8,10-18).Peer reviewe

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Market timing and capital structure in the Japanese market.

The aim of this project is to investigate market timing and capital structure in the Japanese market with special attention to the differences between Keiretsu firms and Non-Keiretsu firms

EQ insurance : the next phase of growth

This case study outlines the strategic, marketing, and organizational issues facing EQI as it continues to grow. The information provided in the case is accurate as at 31st March 2012. From a teaching standpoint, the general insurance industry allows instructors to discuss about companies competing in an undifferentiated market. Readers must think strategically about the restrictions and limitations that small-medium enterprises face as they grow and look for ways to overcome these issues. Beyond limitations of the company, readers should be able to identify the problems of seeking growth in a mature industry. This case illustrates the challenges associated with expansion for a small-and-medium enterprise. It highlights the importance of understanding the market forces of the general insurance industry and also explores human capital and marketing issues. Readers will provide strategic suggestions for the management of EQI after considering all the key information. This case is written by Chin Mei Yi, Jeremy Gan Zhi Kai and Yuen Wei Wen, three undergraduates from the Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University as part of their applied research project (ARP), under the supervision of Clive Choo, a lecturer in the Division of Strategy, Management and Organisation. The purpose of this case is written solely for the purpose of teaching illustration in a strategic management class for undergraduates. It should not be interpreted as the effective or ineffective handling of a business situation. No part of this publication may be copied, stored, transmitted, reproduced, or distributed in any form or medium without the permission of the case writers.BUSINES

Delayed Diagnosis, Difficult Decisions: Novel Gene Deletion Causing X-Linked Hypophosphatemia in a Middle-Aged Man with Achondroplastic Features and Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most prevalent form of hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets associated with phosphate wasting. However, its diagnosis is often missed, resulting in patients presenting late in the course of the disease when complications such as tertiary hyperparathyroidism and renal failure have already set in. Phosphate and calcitriol replacement, both of which have undesirable consequences of their own, have historically been the main stay of therapy. We describe the case of a 57-year-old gentleman with tertiary hyperparathyroidism, who was mislabelled as having achondroplasia for many years before we made a diagnosis of XLH in him. His XLH was found to be due to a hereto unreported deletion of entire exon 14 with partial deletions of introns 13 and 14 of the PHEX gene. Perioperative management in him was fraught with surgical and medical difficulties including an operation that was technically complicated due to his multiple anatomical deformities. Our case also highlights the critical importance of timely recognition and accurate diagnosis of XLH, as well as the long-term multidisciplinary management that is needed for this disorder

Physical activity preferences among patients with lung cancer in Taiwan

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Physical activity could help lung cancer patients improve their health. Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate lung cancer patients' physical activity preferences and relevant contributing factors, so that we could develop individualized intervention strategies to fit their needs. Methods: This study used a descriptive and correlational design. Instruments included a physical activity preference survey form, the Physical Activity Social Support Scale, and Physical Activity Self-efficacy Scale. Results: From 81 lung cancer patients' physical activity preferences, our results showed that during the course of their illness, 85.2% of patients wanted to have a physical activity consultation and preferred to obtain advice from their physicians (28.4%) through face-to-face counseling (48.1%). Moreover, patients (70.4%) showed an interest in physical activity programs, and many (69.1%) revealed that they were able to participate. About 88.9% of patients showed a preference for walking, and 54.3% patients preferred moderate physical activity. Conclusions: This study also revealed that social support and self-efficacy for physical activity effectively predicted moderate physical activity preferences. Implications for Practice: The adherence to regular physical activity is improved by understanding the lung cancer patients' unique preferences for physical activity. Copyright © 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Effect of a Screening and Education Programme on Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices Regarding Osteoporosis among Malaysians

Background: Osteoporosis is an emerging geriatric condition with high morbidity and healthcare cost in developing nations experiencing rapid population ageing. Thus, identifying strategies to prevent osteoporosis is critical in safeguarding skeletal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a bone health screening and education programme on knowledge, beliefs, and practice regarding osteoporosis among Malaysians aged 40 years and above. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from April 2018 to August 2019. During the first phase of the study, 400 Malaysians (190 men, 210 women) aged &ge; 40 years were recruited in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Information on subjects&rsquo; demography, medical history, knowledge, and beliefs regarding osteoporosis, physical activity status, and dietary and lifestyle practices were obtained. Subjects also underwent body anthropometry measurement and bone mineral density scan (hip and lumbar spine) using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. Six months after the first screening, similar investigations were carried out on the subjects. Results: During the follow-up session, 72 subjects were lost to follow up. Most of them were younger subjects with a lower awareness of healthy practices. A significant increase in knowledge, beliefs (p &lt; 0.05), calcium supplement intake (p &lt; 0.001), and dietary calcium intake (p = 0.036) and a reduction in coffee intake (p &lt; 0.001) were found among subjects who attended the follow-up. In this study, the percentage of successful referrals was 41.86%. Subjects with osteoporosis were mostly prescribed alendronate plus vitamin D3 by medical doctors, and they followed the prescribed treatment accordingly. Conclusions: The bone health screening and education programmes in this study are effective in changing knowledge, beliefs, and practice regarding osteoporosis. The information is pertinent to policymakers in planning strategies to prevent osteoporosis and its associated problems among the middle-aged and elderly population in Malaysia. Nevertheless, a more comprehensive bone health education program that includes long-term monitoring and consultation is needed to halt the progression of bone loss