Stress-Based IS Security Compliance: Towards a Conceptual Model

This study extends current behavioural information security compliance research by adapting the “work-stress model” of the Job Demands-Resources model to security behaviour. The paper proposes that users’ compliance burnout and security engagement are results of coping with security demands and receiving resources respectively. Compliance burnout would reduce security compliance while security engagement would increase it. The security compliance model developed in this study emphasises developing emotional and cognitive resources from IS users through effective provision of organisational resources and security requirements to promote desired security practice

The impact of psychosocial care on at-risk patients following heart transplantation : a single center experience : a project based on data collected at the University of California, Los Angeles in conjunction with the California Heart Center Foundation

This quantitative retrospective study examines the correlation between post surgical psychosocial interventions and outcome in heart transplant patients who were identified as at-risk preoperatively and able to receive a heart transplant, where outcomes included survival and number of non-standardized hospitalization. Data was collected from the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center heart transplant database. Data was analyzed by using two-tailed t-tests and chi-square tests to assess the variation between groups. The Wilcoxon log-rank statistic was used to compare Kaplan- Meier survival curves. 46 patients were identified as at-risk during their pre-transplant psychosocial assessment. Results indicated that at-risk patients who received psychosocial care demonstrated a significantly higher 5-year actuarial survival compared to patients that did not receive post transplant psychosocial care (68% vs. 38%, p=0.038). Similarly, patients in the post transplant psychosocial care group exhibited a significantly higher 1-year freedom from any hospitalization compared to the patients without psychosocial care following transplantation (66% vs. 33%, p=0.019), while patients with post transplant psychosocial care only demonstrated a trend toward lower 5-year actuarial freedom from any hospitalization compared to the group without post transplant psychosocial care (36% vs. 24%, p=0.09). This study revealed that psychosocial intervention post heart transplant appears to yield better survival and decreased number of non-standardized hospitalizations. Further study is warranted in order to assess the impact of psychosocial care for patients following heart transplantation

Exploring Knowledge Sharing Practices for Raising Security Awareness

This study aims to explore the types of information can be effectively communicated in three knowledge-sharing methods and their impact on employees’ security practice. On one end, guarding the organisation’s information system against cyber-attacks is critical and improving users’ knowledge and skills is a common approach to any security program. On the other end, organisations lack a clear understanding in determining what types of security information should be delivered through various methods of communication to be effective in boosting users’ knowledge and compliance behaviour. The study employed a qualitative method using semi-structured interviews with business users in Vietnam. The initial findings indicate a single method of knowledge and skill development is not sufficient to assist users to deal with complex and constant changing security needs. It is necessary to further experiment methods of encouraging formal and peer knowledge sharing that can support individual effort in complying with security policies

Improved bounds on the size of the smallest representation of relation algebra 326532_{65} with the aid of a SAT solver

In this paper, we shed new light on the spectrum of relation algebra $32_{65}$. We show that 1024 is in the spectrum, and no number smaller than 20 is in the spectrum. In addition, we derive upper and lower bounds on the smallest member of the spectra of an infinite class of algebras derived from $32_{65}$ via splitting.Comment: 14 page

Oral Infection Drives a Distinct Population of Intestinal Resident Memory CD8+ T Cells with Enhanced Protective Function

SummaryThe intestinal mucosa promotes T cell responses that might be beneficial for effective mucosal vaccines. However, intestinal resident memory T (Trm) cell formation and function are poorly understood. We found that oral infection with Listeria monocytogenes induced a robust intestinal CD8 T cell response and blocking effector T cell migration showed that intestinal Trm cells were critical for secondary protection. Intestinal effector CD8 T cells were predominately composed of memory precursor effector cells (MPECs) that rapidly upregulated CD103, which was needed for T cell accumulation in the intestinal epithelium. CD103 expression, rapid MPEC formation, and maintenance in intestinal tissues were dependent on T cell intrinsic transforming growth factor β signals. Moreover, intestinal Trm cells generated after intranasal or intravenous infection were less robust and phenotypically distinct from Trm cells generated after oral infection, demonstrating the critical contribution of infection route for directing the generation of protective intestinal Trm cells

Bone mineral density among men and women aged 35 to 50 years

© 2019 American Osteopathic Association. Context: Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and has been thought to only be a major health concern for postmenopausal women. However, osteoporosis and its risk factors have been greatly understudied in the middle-aged and male populations. Objective: To assess the likelihood of low BMD and its association with related risk factors in early–middle-aged (defined in this study as 35-50 years) men and women.Methods: Eligible men and women completed a questionnaire assessing calcium intake, hours per week of exercise, and other related risk factors associated with osteoporosis and osteopenia. The primary outcome variable, BMD, was attained using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans taken at the femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanteric crest, total femur, and lumbar spine.Results: Of the 173 participants in this study, 23 men (28%) and 24 women (26%) had osteopenia at the femoral neck. In men, there was a significant and negative correlation between exercise and femoral neck BMD (r=−0.296, P=.01). In women, correlation analyses showed significant positive correlations between exercise and BMD of the trochanter (r=0.329, P=.003), intertrochanteric crest (r=0.285, P=.01), total femur (r=0.30, P=.01), and lumbar spine (r=0.29, P=.01).Conclusions: Osteopenia was found in more than 25% of both male and female participants, which suggests that more osteoporosis screening and prevention programs need to be targeted to persons in the studied age group because osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis

Evaluation of Three Adolescent Sexual Health Programs in Ha Noi and Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

With an increase in sexual activity among young adults in Vietnam and associated risks, there is a need for evidence-based sexual health interventions. This evaluation of three sexual health programs based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was conducted in 12 communes in Ha Noi, Nha Trang City, and Ninh Hoa District. Inclusion criteria included unmarried youth 15–20 years residing in selected communes. Communes were randomly allocated to an intervention, and participants were randomly selected within each commune. The intervention programs included Vietnamese Focus on Kids (VFOK), the gender-based program Exploring the World of Adolescents (EWA), and EWA plus parental and health provider education (EWA+). Programs were delivered over a ten-week period in the communities by locally trained facilitators. The gender-based EWA program with parental involvement (EWA+) compared to VFOK showed significantly greater increase in knowledge. EWA+ in comparison to VFOK also showed significant decrease at immediate postintervention for intention to have sex. Sustained changes are observed in all three interventions for self-efficacy condom use, self-efficacy abstinence, response efficacy for condoms, extrinsic rewards, and perceived vulnerability for HIV. These findings suggest that theory-based community programs contribute to sustained changes in knowledge and attitudes regarding sexual risk among Vietnamese adolescents

Resolving Commingling, Restoring Identity: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Ethical Study of Individuals from a Human Skeletal Teaching Collection

In Fall 2022, human skeletal remains were discovered in the Department of Biology’s Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory. No documentation about the acquisition or curation history was found. With no current protocols for repatriating individuals in university skeletal teaching collections, an interdisciplinary research team analyzed the skeletal remains to resolve to commingle and identify the people. Using standardized methods in forensic anthropology, we estimated the minimum number of individuals represented through taphonomic, demographic, paleopathological, and morphological variables and variation. Results indicated, minimally, 36 to 56 individuals represented by 250 bones. Of these individuals, 12 were estimated as probable female, 16 as probable male, 3 as intermediate, and 5 as indeterminate adults. All bones were associated with adult individuals, and estimated ages ranged from 20 to 50 years. Average stature estimates were below globally-reported average heights, and dentoalveolar conditions suggested poor oral health for at least five of the individuals. Cranial measurements from five individuals were consistent with variations recorded in modern and historical African and Asian populations. Taphonomic findings of postmortem bone processing (e.g., bleaching, articulation, and hardware features) identify these individuals as non-consenting bodies of the global (Carolina Biological Company) and local (anatomy departments and medical schools) bone trade. Their acquisition and postmortem treatment highlights a long history of objectification, exploitation, and dehumanization. In this skeletal analysis, we have endeavored to restore aspects of these individuals’ identities by reassociating bones to individuals and presenting the biological variation embodied in these remains

Molecular Mechanisms of Paraptosis Induction: Implications for a Non-Genetically Modified Tumor Vaccine

Paraptosis is the programmed cell death pathway that leads to cellular necrosis. Previously, rodent and human monocytes/macrophages killed glioma cells bearing the membrane macrophage colony stimulating factor (mM-CSF) through paraptosis, but the molecular mechanism of this killing process was never identified. We have demonstrated that paraptosis of rat T9 glioma cells can be initiated through a large potassium channel (BK)-dependent process initiated by reactive oxygen species. Macrophage mediated cytotoxicity upon the mM-CSF expressing T9-C2 cells was not prevented by the addition of the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk. By a combination of fluorescent confocal and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, electrophysiology, pharmacology, and genetic knock-down approaches, we demonstrated that these ion channels control cellular swelling and vacuolization of rat T9 glioma cells. Cell lysis is preceded by a depletion of intracellular ATP. Six-hour exposure to BK channel activation caused T9 cells to over express heat shock proteins (Hsp 60, 70, 90 and gp96). This same treatment forced HMGB1 translocation from the nuclear region to the periphery. These last molecules are “danger signals” that can stimulate immune responses. Similar inductions of mitochondrial swelling and increased Hsp70 and 90 expressions by BK channel activation were observed with the non-immunogenic F98 glioma cells. Rats injected with T9 cells which were killed by prolonged BK channel activation developed immunity against the T9 cells, while the injection of x-irradiated apoptotic T9 cells failed to produce the vaccinating effect. These results are the first to show that glioma cellular death induced by prolonged BK channel activation improves tumor immunogenicity; this treatment reproduces the vaccinating effects of mM-CSF transduced cells. Elucidation of strategies as described in this study may prove quite valuable in the development of clinical immunotherapy against cancer

Validation of a Lower Back “Wearable”-Based Sit-to-Stand and Stand-to-Sit Algorithm for Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults in a Home-Like Environment

Introduction: Impaired sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit movements (postural transitions, PTs) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and older adults (OA) are associated with risk of falling and reduced quality of life. Inertial measurement units (IMUs, also called “wearables”) are powerful tools to monitor PT kinematics. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an algorithm, based on a single IMU positioned at the lower back, for PT detection and description in the above-mentioned groups in a home-like environment.Methods: Four PD patients (two with dyskinesia) and one OA served as algorithm training group, and 21 PD patients (16 without and 5 with dyskinesia) and 11 OA served as test group. All wore an IMU on the lower back and were videotaped while performing everyday activities for 90–180 min in a non-standardized home-like environment. Accelerometer and gyroscope signals were analyzed using discrete wavelet transformation (DWT), a six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) fusion algorithm and vertical displacement estimation.Results: From the test group, 1,001 PTs, defined by video reference, were analyzed. The accuracy of the algorithm for the detection of PTs against video observation was 82% for PD patients without dyskinesia, 47% for PD patients with dyskinesia and 85% for OA. The overall accuracy of the PT direction detection was comparable across groups and yielded 98%. Mean PT duration values were 1.96 s for PD patients and 1.74 s for OA based on the algorithm (p < 0.001) and 1.77 s for PD patients and 1.51 s for OA based on clinical observation (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Validation of the PT detection algorithm in a home-like environment shows acceptable accuracy against the video reference in PD patients without dyskinesia and controls. Current limitations are the PT detection in PD patients with dyskinesia and the use of video observation as the video reference. Potential reasons are discussed