XML data integrity based on concatenated hash function

Data integrity is the fundamental for data authentication. A major problem for XML data authentication is that signed XML data can be copied to another document but still keep signature valid. This is caused by XML data integrity protecting. Through investigation, the paper discovered that besides data content integrity, XML data integrity should also protect element location information, and context referential integrity under fine-grained security situation. The aim of this paper is to propose a model for XML data integrity considering XML data features. The paper presents an XML data integrity model named as CSR (content integrity, structure integrity, context referential integrity) based on a concatenated hash function. XML data content integrity is ensured using an iterative hash process, structure integrity is protected by hashing an absolute path string from root node, and context referential integrity is ensured by protecting context-related elements. Presented XML data integrity model can satisfy integrity requirements under situation of fine-grained security, and compatible with XML signature. Through evaluation, the integrity model presented has a higher efficiency on digest value-generation than the Merkle hash tree-based integrity model for XML data

Rethinking the Penalty for the Failure to File Gift Tax Returns

In this article, the authors argue that Congress must reform the penalty structure associated with the failure to file gift tax returns if it wants to maintain the integrity of the transfer tax system

Text of 1 Thessalonians (Chapter in 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Zondervan Critical Introductions to the New Testament)

The first port of call in this study is to identify the origins of 1 Thessalonians with a focus on the integrity of the text, authorship, and date, followed by an extended discussion of genre, style, and structure. Thereafter, I will discuss some of the possible sources behind 1 Thessalonians

Condition monitoring benefit for offshore wind turbines

As more offshore wind parks are commissioned, the focus will inevitably shift from a planning, construction and warranty focus to an operation, maintenance and investment payback focus. In this latter case, both short-term risks associated with wind turbine component assemblies, and longterm risks related to structural integrity of the support structure, are highly important. This research focuses on the role of condition monitoring to lower costs associated with short-term reliability and long-term asset integrity. This enables comparative estimates of life cycle costs and reduction in uncertainty, both of which are of value to investors

The Calcineurin-FoxO-MuRF1 signaling pathway regulates myofibril integrity in cardiomyocytes.

Altered Ca2+ handling is often present in diseased hearts undergoing structural remodeling and functional deterioration. However, whether Ca2+ directly regulates sarcomere structure has remained elusive. Using a zebrafish ncx1 mutant, we explored the impacts of impaired Ca2+ homeostasis on myofibril integrity. We found that the E3 ubiquitin ligase murf1 is upregulated in ncx1-deficient hearts. Intriguingly, knocking down murf1 activity or inhibiting proteasome activity preserved myofibril integrity, revealing a MuRF1-mediated proteasome degradation mechanism that is activated in response to abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis. Furthermore, we detected an accumulation of the murf1 regulator FoxO in the nuclei of ncx1-deficient cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of FoxO in wild type cardiomyocytes induced murf1 expression and caused myofibril disarray, whereas inhibiting Calcineurin activity attenuated FoxO-mediated murf1 expression and protected sarcomeres from degradation in ncx1-deficient hearts. Together, our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which Ca2+ overload disrupts myofibril integrity by activating a Calcineurin-FoxO-MuRF1-proteosome signaling pathway

Development and initial validation of the Music Mood-Regulation Scale (MMRS)

This study designed a measure to assess the perceived effectiveness of music as a strategy to regulate mood among a sport and exercise population. A strategy of assessing and comparing the integrity of competing hypotheses to explain the underlying factor structure of the scale was used. A 21-item Music Mood-Regulation Scale (MMRS) was developed to assess the extent to which participants used music to alter the mood states of anger, calmness, depression, fatigue, happiness, tension, and vigor. Volunteer sport and exercise participants (N = 1,279) rated the perceived effectiveness of music to regulate each MMRS item on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the integrity of four competing models, and results lend support to a correlated 7-factor structure for the MMRS (RCFI = .94; RMSEA = .06). Cronbach alpha coefficients were in the range of 0.74 – 0.88 thus demonstrating the internal reliability of scales. It is suggested that the MMRS shows promising degrees of validity. Future research should assess the extent to which individuals can develop the ability to use music as a strategy to regulate mood in situations in which disturbed mood might be detrimental to performance

A Fast Algorithm for the Construction of Integrity Bases Associated to Symmetry-Adapted Polynomial Representations. Application to Tetrahedral XY4 Molecules

Invariant theory provides more efficient tools, such as Molien generating functions and integrity bases, than basic group theory, that relies on projector techniques for the construction of symmetry--adapted polynomials in the symmetry coordinates of a molecular system, because it is based on a finer description of the mathematical structure of the latter. The present article extends its use to the construction of polynomial bases which span possibly, non--totally symmetric irreducible representations of a molecular symmetry group. Electric or magnetic observables can carry such irreducible representations, a common example is given by the electric dipole moment surface. The elementary generating functions and their corresponding integrity bases, where both the initial and the final representations are irreducible, are the building blocks of the algorithm presented in this article, which is faster than algorithms based on projection operators only. The generating functions for the full initial representation of interest are built recursively from the elementary generating functions. Integrity bases which can be used to generate in the most economical way symmetry--adapted polynomial bases are constructed alongside in the same fashion. The method is illustrated in detail on XY4 type of molecules. Explicit integrity bases for all five possible final irreducible representations of the tetrahedral group have been calculated and are given in the supplemental material associated with this paper

Assessing cellular response to functionalized α-helical peptide hydrogels

α-Helical peptide hydrogels are decorated with a cell-binding peptide motif (RGDS), which is shown to promote adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of PC12 cells. Gel structure and integrity are maintained after functionalization. This opens possibilities for the bottom-up design and engineering of complex functional scaffolds for 2D and 3D cell cultures.</p

Assessment of ecosystem integrity of lowland dipterocarp forest ecosystem using remote sensing

Ecosystem Integrity Index (EII) is a concept to determine the quality or the health of an ecosystem. The EII development can assist forest managers and decision makers in the conservation effort and forest management in Malaysia through the development of a simple and easy-to-adopt index. The aim of this study is to assess and evaluate the EII through the development of forest structure empirical models from remotely sensed data for lowland dipterocarp forest in Malaysia. The objectives of this study are: (i) to assess the structure and composition of lowland dipterocarp forest in Malaysia, (ii) to develop empirical model for estimating stand structure from remotely sensed data, and (iii) to derive the ecosystem integrity index for lowland dipterocarp forest. Tree Basal Area (BA), aboveground biomass (AGB) and volume plot from plot data were used as dependent variables, while remote sensing data from Landsat, Pleiades and LiDAR were used as independent variables for model development. Tree plot census was carried out from 17 to 19 May 2016, while remote sensing data acquisition dates for Landsat, Pleiades and LiDAR were 13 March 2016, 24 January 2015 and April 2015 respectively. Forest Structure Modeling was carried out by means of a correlation analysis with the calibration of dependent and independent data to select the most significant and accurate remote sensing variables to derive empiric equation (model), fitting stage to select the best model with the highest coefficient of determination (R2) and the lowest root mean square error ( RMSE) validation of the final selected. The Ecosystem Integrity Index was developed by the average percentage of the predicted BA, AGB and model volume. The EII was categorised at five integrity levels as high (81–100%), medium high (61–80%), moderate (41–60%), medium low (21–40%) and low (0–20%). A total of 1035 trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 5.0 cm and above were recorded in 69.115 ha sampling areas. The total trees recorded represented 150 species from 87 genera and 34 families. Shorea macroptera (Dipterocarpaceae), S. leprosula (Dipterocarpaceae) and S. parviflora (Dipterocarpaceae) are three dominant species, with Species Important Value Index (SIVi) of 6.49%, 6.23% and 5.51%, respectively. Dipterocarpaceae is the most dominant with Family Important Value Index (FIVi) of 33.54%. The developed final model is robust and consistent with high R2 with range of 0.84 to 0.87. The final models constructed for AGB, BA and volume value of R2 are 0.85, 0.84 and 0.87 respectively. The RMSE of AGB, BA and volume model are 53.1 Mg/ha, 3.54 m2/ha and 46.4 m3/ha, respectively. The overall stand AGB, BA and volume for Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve is 282.29 Mg/ha, 17.68 m2/ha and 239.51 m3/ha. An Ecosystem Integrity Index (EII) assessment has been successfully demonstrated by this study with production of practical, multi-scaled, flexible, adjustable and policy-relevant index. The overall EII of Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve is in Category 3, which shows that the area is within the medium value