SOCIAL ENGINEERING AS AN EVOLUTIONARY THREAT TO INFORMATION SECURITY IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS

Information security in healthcare settings is overlooked even though it is the most vulnerable for social engineering attacks. The theft of hospital information data is critical to be monitored as they contain patients’ confidential health information. If leaked, the data can impact patients’ social as well as professional life. The hospital data system includes administrative data, as well as employees’ personal information hacked, which can cause identity theft. The current paper discusses types and sources of social engineering attacks in healthcare organizations. Social engineering attacks occur more frequently than other malware attacks, and hence it is crucial to understand what social engineering is and its vulnerabilities to understand the prevention measures. The paper describes types of threats, potential vulnerabilities, and possible solutions to prevent social engineering attacks in healthcare organizations. Keywords: social engineering, hospitals, healthcare organizations, information security.

Clinical and environmental factors affecting the survival outcomes among stage 1A TN0M0 first primary non-small cell lung carcinoma patients in the United States.

Background: Lung cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.). The most prevalent histological type of lung cancer is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), which has an overall five years survival of 5% if left untreated. Therefore, early treatment of NSCLC is vital to improve overall survival (OS) outcomes. Several factors affect survival outcomes, which can be categorized as modifiable or non-modifiable. The difference in timely receipt of guideline-concordant treatment affects the survival outcomes of patients with stage 1A NSCLC. This dissertation explored factors that affect treatment and survival outcomes among stage 1A NSCLC patients using a nationally representative cancer registry population (i.e., Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 plus cancer registry), air pollution and weather data, and local health resource information. Methods: The first chapter of this study utilized an evidence-based Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) synthesis method to review the causal pathways explored in the literature for factors affecting treatment receipt and survival outcomes among stage 1A NSCLC patients in the U.S. Subsequently, guided by the theoretical frameworks proposed previously Andersen and Aday1 ; Shi and Steven2, DAGs for the second and third chapter analyses were proposed, respectively. The second chapter utilized logistic regression adjusted for the year of diagnosis and county-specific time-invariant factors with standard errors clustered at the state level. The third chapter employed Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and a Cox proportional regression model adjusted for the year of diagnosis and county-specific time-invariant factors to determine survival outcomes, allowing for right censoring. Findings: The DAGs identified several causal pathways that were accounted for in Chapters Two and Three analyses. The results of the Chapter Two analysis corroborated with the existing literature that there exists a difference in guideline-concordant treatment receipt. The findings of the Chapter Three analysis confirmed a difference in survival outcomes among stage 1A TN0M0 NSCLC first primary patients exposed to higher versus low levels of air pollution in the U.S. Policy implications: Black and Medicaid enrolees are less likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment than others are. This warrants future policy decision-making geared toward reducing the difference in treatment receipt, which ultimately improves survival outcomes. Additionally, the shortage of sufficient air pollution monitoring stations in non-metropolitan areas warrants an improvement in determining the health outcomes for non-metropolitan residents. Ambient air pollution control policies are required to improve the survival outcomes of patients with stage 1A TN0M0 NSCLC

Projecting the COVID-19 Weekly Deaths and Hospitalizations for Jefferson County, Kentucky

Introduction: The trends in the numbers of active hospitalizations and fatalities caused by the COVID-19 in Jefferson County, Kentucky, were projected over the period May 7 to August 20, 2020. Methods: The projections provided in this report are from a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model. The model was calibrated using the COVID-19 transmission dynamics parameters from relevant literature and clinical dynamics parameters from the county’s data. The model was used for measuring the impact of public health policy interventions designed to contain the infection. The policy was modeled by its intervention day and impact on the transmission of the virus such that the resulted fatalities resembled those observed in Jefferson County. Results: By May 6, 2020, there were 1,557 cases and 109 COVID-19 deaths in Jefferson County. The average age of deceased individuals was 76.5 years―76% of them had a previous medical condition, and 28% were African American. Among the hospitalized, 53% were admitted to the ICU, and 43% used a ventilator. The model’s status quo scenario, which produced the observed fatalities in the county, was identified assuming that the transmission of the virus was reduced by 70% with a policy intervention on April 7. Projections based on the status quo showed 91 active hospitalizations and 147 total fatalities, on average, on May 14. By June 4, the average number of active hospitalizations were projected to decrease to 61, but total fatalities to increase to 195, assuming a 70% reduction in transmission of the virus was maintained since the implementation of the policy intervention. By late August, the average number of active hospitalizations and total fatalities were projected to be 12 and 269, respectively. Conclusion: Had the county practiced weaker containment strategies, it would have been on an upward path with increased hospitalization and fatality trends. Therefore, decreasing the current social distancing measures without efforts regarding testing, isolating, and contact tracing can move the county to an unstable status. Had Jefferson County practiced stronger containment strategies, it could more safely plan open in early June. Still taking newer and even more effective measures can make a manageable early-June opening more likely

Expansion of Preventive Dental Service Coverage for Certain Medicaid Beneficiaries in Texas: A Call for Dental Policy Effectiveness Action

Background: It is vital to provide evidence-based research documentation to guide policy decision-making. There is a limited number of studies that participate in dental policy evidence-based research. Case Description: Texas is one of the states with limited dental service coverage for its Medicaid Beneficiaries. The recent senate bill 87R 1152 proposes expansion of dental preventive service to disability status Medicaid Beneficiaries. It is vital to understand how effective the extensive dental service under Medicaid coverage is through evidence-based research. True causal analysis of such public policies by utilizing observational data is only feasible through limited identification strategies. The current paper identifies that. Practical Implication: Through the identified research plan and conceptual framework, it can be established if extensive Medicaid dental service coverages effectively prevent dental disease burden in Texas

Effects of denture cleansers on denture material properties —An observational Case—Control Study.

Everyday use of denture cleansers to prevent microbial colonization on dentures can affect the properties of the denture base material. Limited literature is available on the effects of denture cleanser on reinforced resins. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of denture cleanser on the flexural and impact strength of conventional and reinforced heat cure acrylic resins. Materials and Methods: Rectangular shaped specimens were prepared for flexural and impact strength as per ISO 1567. The denture base resins used included conventional, high impact, nylon fiber reinforced and glass fiber reinforced heat cure acrylic resins. They were further categorized into subgroups A and B depending on immersion in distilled water or denture cleanser (3.8% sodium perborate based). The flexural strength and impact strength of specimens were measured. The study design is a observational case-control study. SPSS version 25 statistical analysis software was used, and the STROBE statement checklist was followed. Results: The mean flexural strength was highest for glass fiber reinforced heat cure resin followed by conventional heat cure resin, high impact heat cure resin and nylon reinforced heat cure resin, respectively. The mean impact strength was highest for high impact heat cure resin followed by glass fiber reinforced heat cure resin, conventional heat cure resin, and nylon fiber-reinforced resin respectively.Conclusion: All the denture base resins tested exhibited a decrease in flexural and impact strength following use of a denture cleanser.El uso diario de limpiadores para prótesis dentales para prevenir la colonización microbiana en las prótesis puede afectar las propiedades del material base de estas. Existe literatura limitada sobre los efectos de los limpiadores de prótesis sobre resinas reforzadas. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar y comparar el efecto de un limpiador de prótesis sobre la resistencia a la flexión y al impacto de las resinas acrílicas de curado con calor convencionales y reforzadas. Material y Métodos: Muestras de forma rectangular se prepararon para testear la resistencia a la flexión y al impacto según ISO 1567. Las resinas de base de prótesis utilizadas fueron resinas acrílicas convencionales, de alto imapcto, y de curado térmico reforzadas con fibra de vidrio o nylon. Posteriormente se clasificaron en los subgrupos A y B según la inmersión en agua destilada o limpiador de prótesis (3,8% de perborato de sodio). Se midieron la resistencia a la flexión y la resistencia al impacto de las muestras. El diseño del estudio fue de un estudio observacional de casos y controles. Se utilizó el software de análisis estadístico SPSS versión 25, y se siguió la guia de la declaración STROBE. Resultado: La resistencia a la flexión fue más alta para la resina de curado por calor reforzada con fibra de vidrio seguida de la resina de curado por calor convencional, la resina de curado por calor de alto impacto y la resina de curado por calor reforzada con nylon, respectivamente. La resistencia al impacto fue más alta para la resina de curado por calor de alto impacto seguida de la resina de curado por calor reforzada con fibra de vidrio, la resina de curado por calor convencional y la resina reforzada con fibra de nylon, respectivamente. Conclusión: Todas las resinas de base de prótesis probadas exhibieron una disminución en la resistencia a la flexión y al impacto después del uso de un limpiador de prótesis

Gene expression of TMEM178, which encodes a negative regulator of NFATc1, decreases with the progression of asthma severity

Abstract In two independent microarray studies involving primary airway epithelial cells, the relative gene expression of TMEM178 decreases with the progression of asthma severity. Our manuscript creates a paradigm for future studies dissecting the role of Tmem178 in the pathogenesis of severe asthma

Sex-specific signaling in the blood-brain barrier is required for male courtship in Drosophila.

Soluble circulating proteins play an important role in the regulation of mating behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. However, how these factors signal through the blood-brain barrier (bbb) to interact with the sex-specific brain circuits that control courtship is unknown. Here we show that male identity of the blood-brain barrier is necessary and that male-specific factors in the bbb are physiologically required for normal male courtship behavior. Feminization of the bbb of adult males significantly reduces male courtship. We show that the bbb-specific G-protein coupled receptor moody and bbb-specific Go signaling in adult males are necessary for normal courtship. These data identify sex-specific factors and signaling processes in the bbb as important regulators of male mating behavior

Association between Knowledge of Zika Transmission and Preventative Measures among Latinas of Childbearing Age in Farm-Working Communities in South Florida

Zika infection, an otherwise usually mild disease, is of serious public health concern due to the potential teratogenic effects of the virus. The incidence of Zika infection is difficult to document since it is mostly asymptomatic and detection of those carrying Zika is usually not possible. Currently, there is no vaccine for Zika; therefore, use of personal preventative measures is the only method of avoiding transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between knowledge of Zika transmission and the use of preventive measures among Latinas of childbearing age who lived in or near farm-working communities in South Florida. A secondary data analysis was performed on a cross-sectional study, sampling 100 Latina women aged 18–50 years. Sixty-nine percent demonstrated a high degree of knowledge of Zika transmission, and 68% were categorized as taking good preventative measures. Women with high knowledge were 5.86 times more likely to take good preventative measures than those with no knowledge (p-value = 0.05). Knowledge was associated with more preventative measures. Therefore, it is essential to further investigate this relationship in order to develop effective public health interventions for this population

<i>moody-α</i> and <i>moody-β</i> mutants have courtship defects.

<p>The graph shows the courtship index CI (fraction of time males spend courting during the observation period) ± SEM of the indicated genotypes, or the performance of males in a control activity assay (# of line crossings ± SEM). N = 20. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparisons (p<0.0001). Indices that are significantly different from the controls are marked by asterisks. Δ17 is a <i>moody</i> null mutant with a leaky bbb. The bbb barrier defect can be rescued by the addition of either the Moody-α or Moody-β protein isoform <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003217#pgen.1003217-Bainton1" target="_blank">[28]</a>. a) In contrast, despite the intact bbb, expression of only one isoform is not sufficient for normal courtship. <i>moody-α</i> and <i>moody-β</i> mutants have a courtship defect. When both the Moody-α and Moody-β isoforms are present in <i>moody</i> Δ17 mutants, courtship is restored to wild-type levels. b) The activity of the mutants is not different from that of control flies.</p