Secure access control for health information sharing systems

The 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) encourages healthcare providers to share information to improve healthcare quality at reduced cost. Such information sharing, however, raises security and privacy concerns that require appropriate access control mechanisms to ensure Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. Current approaches such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and its variants, and newer approaches such as Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) are inadequate. RBAC provides simple administration of access control and user permission review, but demands complex initial role engineering and makes access control inflexible. ABAC, on the other hand, simplifies initial setup but increases the complexity of managing privileges and user permissions. These limitations have motivated research into the development of newer access control models that use attributes and policies while preserving RBAC\u27s strengths. The BiLayer Access Control (BLAC) model is a two-step method being proposed to integrate attributes with roles: an access request is checked against pseudoroles, i.e., the list of subject attributes (first layer), and then against rules within the policies (second layer) associated with the requested object. This paper motivates the BLAC approach, outlines the BLAC model, and illustrates its usefulness to healthcare information sharing environments

Putting the \u27Student\u27 in Student Learning Outcomes [poster]

The presentation will describe a practical, light-weight, and effective assessment approach to involving students in assessing their own progress toward meeting course and program level learning outcomes. Research into the level of student engagement represents a valuable addition to assessment activities already being conducted at the program level. Funded by RIT\u27s Student Learning and Outcomes Assessment Office, two faculty researchers surveyed students in three Computer Science classes to involve them in tracking their progress toward BS Computer Science program outcomes during these courses. This project and its preliminary results will be presented at this session

An Approach to Engaging Students in the Assessment Process

Haden, Antinori and Carr (2013) described an approach to engage faculty in the assessment process at Long Island University. Here we briefly describe a complementary approach to assessment that we have begun to experiment with at RIT: the active engagement of students in their own assessment

Transcriptional profiling of single fiber cells in a transgenic paradigm of an inherited childhood cataract reveals absence of molecular heterogeneity.

Our recent single-cell transcriptomic analysis has demonstrated that heterogeneous transcriptional activity attends molecular transition from the nascent to terminally differentiated fiber cells in the developing mouse lens. To understand the role of transcriptional heterogeneity in terminal differentiation and the functional phenotype (transparency) of this tissue, here we present a single-cell analysis of the developing lens, in a transgenic paradigm of an inherited pathology, known as the lamellar cataract. Cataracts hinder transmission of light into the eye. Lamellar cataract is the most prevalent bilateral childhood cataract. In this disease of early infancy, initially, the opacities remain confined to a few fiber cells, thus presenting an opportunity to investigate early molecular events that lead to cataractogenesis. We used a previously established paradigm that faithfully recapitulates this disease in transgenic mice. About 500 single fiber cells, manually isolated from a 2-day-old transgenic lens were interrogated individually for the expression of all known 17 crystallins and 78 other relevant genes using a Biomark HD (Fluidigm). We find that fiber cells from spatially and developmentally discrete regions of the transgenic (cataract) lens show remarkable absence of the heterogeneity of gene expression. Importantly, the molecular variability of cortical fiber cells, the hallmark of the WT lens, is absent in the transgenic cataract, suggesting absence of specific cell-type(s). Interestingly, we find a repetitive pattern of gene activity in progressive states of differentiation in the transgenic lens. This molecular dysfunction portends pathology much before the physical manifestations of the disease

Enhancing Cybersecurity Content in Undergraduate Information Systems Programs: A Way Forward

The ongoing barrage of data and infrastructure breaches is a constant reminder of the critical need to enhance the cybersecurity component of modern undergraduate information systems (IS) education. Although the most recent undergraduate information systems curricular guidelines (IS2010) highlight security in the context of data, enterprise architecture, and risk management, much more needs to be done. The IS education community needs to identify cybersecurity competencies and curricular content that further integrates cybersecurity principles and practices into IS curricular guidelines. Until this is completed at the IS community level, IS programs will need to fulfill this role individually. This paper contributes to both these efforts by reviewing relevant literature and initiatives – highlighting two primary paths of curricular development: (1) the evolution of IS curricular guidelines, and (2) the development of Cybersecurity as a standalone discipline. Using these resources, the paper summarizes best practices for integrating cybersecurity into curricula and explores the integration of IS into cybersecurity programs

Histidylated lipid-modified sendai viral envelopes mediate enhanced membrane fusion and potentiate targeted gene delivery

Recent studies have demonstrated that covalent grafting of a single histidine residue into a twin-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon compound enhances its endosome-disrupting properties and thereby generates an excellent DNA transfection system. Significant increase in gene delivery efficiencies has thus been obtained by using endosome-disrupting multiple histidine functionalities in the molecular architecture of various cationic polymers. To take advantage of this unique feature, we have incorporated L-histidine (N,N-di-n-hexadecylamine) ethylamide (L(H)) in the membrane of hepatocyte-specific Sendai virosomes containing only the fusion protein (F-virosomes (Process for Producing a Targeted Gene (Sarkar, D. P., Ramani, K., Bora, R. S., Kumar, M., and Tyagi, S. K. (November 4, 1997) U. S. Patent 5,683,866))). Such L(H)-modified virosomal envelopes were four times more (p <0.001) active in terms of fusion with its target cell membrane. On the other hand, the presence of L(H) in reconstituted influenza and vesicular stomatitis virus envelopes failed to enhance spike glycoprotein-induced membrane fusion with host cell membrane. Circular dichroism and limited proteolysis experiments with F-virosomes indicated that the presence of L(H) leads to conformational changes in the F protein. The molecular mechanism associated with the increased membrane fusion induced by L(H) has been addressed in the light of fusion-competent conformational change in F protein. Such enhancement of fusion resulted in a highly efficient gene delivery system specific for liver cells in culture and in whole animals

Global Perspectives on Cybersecurity Education for 2030: A Case for a Meta-discipline

Information security has been an area of research and teaching within various computing disciplines in higher education almost since the beginnings of modern computers. The need for security in computing curricula has steadily grown over this period. Recently, with an emerging global crisis, because of the limitations of security within the nascent information technology infrastructure, the field of “cybersecurity” is emerging with international interest and support. Recent evolution of cybersecurity shows that it has begun to take shape as a true academic perspective, as opposed to simply being a training domain for certain specialized jobs. This report starts from the premise that cybersecurity is a “meta-discipline.” That is, cybersecurity is used as an aggregate label for a wide variety of similar disciplines, much in the same way that the terms “engineering” and “computing” are commonly used. Thus, cybersecurity should be formally interpreted as a meta-discipline with a variety of disciplinary variants, also characterized through a generic competency model. The intention is that this simple organizational concept will improve the clarity with which the field matures, resulting in improved standards and goals for many different types of cybersecurity programs

Tuning thermoelectric properties of Sb2_2Te3_3-AgSbTe2_2 nanocomposite thin film -- synergy of band engineering and heat transport modulation

The present study demonstrates a large enhancement in the Seebeck coefficient and ultralow thermal conductivity (TE) in Sb$_2$Te$_3$-AgSbTe$_2$ nanocomposite thin film. The addition of Ag leads to the in-situ formation of AgSbTe$_2$ secondary phase nanoaggregates in the Sb$_2$Te$_3$ matrix during the growth resulting in a large Seebeck coefficient and reduction of the thermal conductivity. A series of samples with different amounts of minor AgSbTe$_2$ phases are prepared to optimize the TE performance of Sb$_2$Te$_3$ thin films. Based on the experimental and theoretical evidence, it is concluded that a small concentration of Ag promotes the band flattening and induces a sharp resonate-like state deep inside the valence band of Sb$_2$Te$_3$, concurrently modifying the density of states (DOS) of the composite sample. In addition, the electrical potential barrier introduced by the band offset between the host TE matrix and the secondary phases promotes strong energy-dependent carrier scattering in the composite sample, which is also responsible for enhanced TE performance. A contemporary approach based on scanning thermal microscopy is performed to experimentally obtain thermal conductivity values of both the in-plane and cross-plane directions, showing a reduced in-plane thermal conductivity value by ~ 58% upon incorporating the AgSbTe$_2$ phase in the Sb$_2$Te$_3$ matrix. Benefitting from the synergistic manipulation of electrical and thermal transport, a large ZT value of 2.2 is achieved at 375 K. The present study indicates the importance of a combined effect of band structure modification and energy-dependent charge carrier scattering along with reduced thermal conductivity for enhancing TE properties

A Comprehensive Review on Equine Influenza Virus:Etiology, Epidemiology, Pathobiology, Advances in Developing Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Control Strategies

Among all the emerging and re-emerging animal diseases, influenza group is the prototype member associated with severe respiratory infections in wide host species. Wherein, Equine influenza (EI) is the main cause of respiratory illness in equines across globe and is caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV-A) which has impacted the equine industry internationally due to high morbidity and marginal morality. The virus transmits easily by direct contact and inhalation making its spread global and leaving only limited areas untouched. Hitherto reports confirm that this virus crosses the species barriers and found to affect canines and few other animal species (cat and camel). EIV is continuously evolving with changes at the amino acid level wreaking the control program a tedious task. Until now, no natural EI origin infections have been reported explicitly in humans. Recent advances in the diagnostics have led to efficient surveillance and rapid detection of EIV infections at the onset of outbreaks. Incessant surveillance programs will aid in opting a better control strategy for this virus by updating the circulating vaccine strains. Recurrent vaccination failures against this virus due to antigenic drift and shift have been disappointing, however better understanding of the virus pathogenesis would make it easier to design effective vaccines predominantly targeting the conserved epitopes (HA glycoprotein). Additionally, the cold adapted and canarypox vectored vaccines are proving effective in ceasing the severity of disease. Furthermore, better understanding of its genetics and molecular biology will help in estimating the rate of evolution and occurrence of pandemics in future. Here, we highlight the advances occurred in understanding the etiology, epidemiology and pathobiology of EIV and a special focus is on designing and developing effective diagnostics, vaccines and control strategies for mitigating the emerging menace by EIV

Variation in grain zinc and iron concentrations, grain yield and associated traits of biofortified bread wheat genotypes in Nepal

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major staples in Nepal providing the bulk of food calories and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake and 20% of dietary energy and protein consumption; thus, it is essential to improve its nutritional quality. To select high-yielding genotypes with elevated grain zinc and iron concentration, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth HarvestPlus Yield Trials (HPYTs) were conducted across diverse locations in Nepal for four consecutive years: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19, using 47 biofortified and 3 non-biofortified CIMMYT-bred, bread wheat genotypes: Baj#1, Kachu#1, and WK1204 (local check). Genotypic and spatial variations were found in agro-morphological traits; grain yield and its components; and the grain zinc and iron concentration of tested genotypes. Grain zinc concentration was highest in Khumaltar and lowest in Kabre. Likewise, grain iron concentration was highest in Doti and lowest in Surkhet. Most of the biofortified genotypes were superior for grain yield and for grain zinc and iron concentration to the non-biofortified checks. Combined analyses across environments showed moderate to high heritability for both Zn (0.48–0.81) and Fe (0.46–0.79) except a low heritability for Fe observed for 7th HPYT (0.15). Grain yield was positively correlated with the number of tillers per m2, while negatively correlated with days to heading and maturity, grain iron, grain weight per spike, and thousand grain weight. The grain zinc and iron concentration were positively correlated, suggesting that the simultaneous improvement of both micronutrients is possible through wheat breeding. Extensive testing of CIMMYT derived high Zn wheat lines in Nepal led to the release of five biofortified wheat varieties in 2020 with superior yield, better disease resistance, and 30–40% increased grain Zn and adaptable to a range of wheat growing regions in the country – from the hotter lowland, or Terai, regions to the dry mid- and high-elevation areas