Computing instanton numbers of curve singularities

We present an algorithm for computing instanton numbers of curve singularities. A comparison is made between these and some other invariants of curve singularities. The algorithm is implemented in Macaulay2, and can be downloaded from http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~iswanson/instanton.m2 or from http://emmy.nmsu.edu/~gasparim/m2code.     

Virtual screening of eighteen million compounds against dengue virus: Combined molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations study

Dengue virus is a major issue of tropical and sub-tropical regions. Dengue virus has been the cause behind the major alarming epidemics in the history with mass causalities from the decades. Unavailability of on-shelf drugs for the prevention of further proliferation of virus inside the human body results in immense number of deaths each year. This issue necessitates the design of novel anti-dengue drug. The protease enzyme pathway is the critical target for drug design due to its significance in the replication, survival and other cellular activities of dengue virus. Therefore, approximately eighteen million compounds from the ZINC database have been virtually screened against nonstructural protein 3 (NS3). The incremental construction algorithm of Glide docking program has been used with its features high throughput virtual screening (HTVS), standard precision (SP), extra precision (XP) and in combination of Prime module, induced fit docking (IFD) approach has also been applied. Five top-ranked compounds were then selected from the IFD results with better predicted binding energies with the catalytic triad residues (His51, Asp75, and Ser135) that may act as potential inhibitors for the underlying target protease enzyme. The top-ranked compounds ZINC95518765, ZINC44921800, ZINC71917414, ZINC39500661, ZINC36681949 have shown the predicted binding energies of −7.55, −7.36, −8.04, −8.41, −9.18 kcal/mol, respectively, forming binding interactions with three catalytically important amino acids. Top-docking poses of compounds are then used in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In computational studies, our proposed compounds confirm promising results against all the four serotypes of dengue virus, strengthening the opportunity of these compounds to work as potential on-shelf drugs against dengue virus. Further experimentation on the proposed compounds can result in development of strong inhibitors.     

RETRACTED: Cognitive caching for the future sensors in fog networking

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal).This article has been retracted at the request ofthe Editor-in-Chief.The retraction is made after a thorough investigation by the journals editorial board, which has found that the content was simultaneously submitted and published in other journals: F. Al-Turjman, M. Imran, and A.V. Vasilakos, Value-Based Caching in Information-Centric Wireless Body Area Networks, Sensors 2017, 17, 181, https://doi:10.3390/s17010181. And F. Al-Turjman, Fog-based caching in software-defined information-centric networks, Computers and Electrical Engineering 69 (2018) 5467, https://doi:10.1016/j.compeleceng.2018.05.018.     

A multi-drug resistant HIV-1 protease is resistant to the dimerization inhibitory activity of TLF-PafF

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) protease, a homodimeric aspartyl protease, is a critical drug target in designing anti-retroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolate-769 HIV-1 protease (PDB ID: 3PJ6) has been shown to exhibit expanded active site cavity with wide-open conformation of flaps (Gly48–Gly52) due to the accumulation of multiple mutations. In this study, an HIV-1 protease dimerization inhibitor (PDI)–TLF-PafF, was evaluated against MDR769 HIV-1 protease using X-ray crystallography. It was hypothesized that co-crystallization of MDR769 HIV-1 protease in complex with TLF-PafF would yield either a monomeric or a disrupted dimeric structure. However, crystal structure of MDR769 I10V HIV-1 protease co-crystallized with TLF-PafF revealed an undisrupted dimeric protease structure (PDB ID: 4NKK) that is comparable to the crystal structure of its corresponding apo-protease (PDB ID: 3PJ6). In order to understand the binding profile of TLF-PafF as a PDI, docking analysis was performed using monomeric protease (prepared from the dimeric crystal structure, PDB ID: 4NKK) as docking receptor. Docking analysis revealed that TLF-PafF binds at the N and C termini (dimerization domain) in a clamp shape for the monomeric wild type receptor but not the MDR769 monomeric receptor. TLF-PafF preferentially showed higher binding affinity to the expanded active site cavity of MDR769 HIV-1 protease than to the termini. Irrespective of binding location, the binding affinity of TLF-PafF against wild type receptor (−6.7 kcal/mol) was found to be higher compared to its corresponding binding affinity against MDR receptor (−4.6 kcal/mol) suggesting that the MDR769 HIV-1 protease could be resistant to the PDI-activity of TLF-PafF, thus supporting the dimeric crystal structure (PDB ID: 4NKK).     

Standard Bank licenses ACI’s EMV technology

South African banking group Standard Bank has licensed a system from ACI Worldwide which will enable it to issue and manage a large volume of smart cards to meet the issuing requirements of EMV.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

guifi.net,a crowdsourced network infrastructure held in common

The expression “crowdsourced computer networks” refers to a network infrastructure built by citizens and organisations who pool their resources and coordinate their efforts to make these networks happen. “Community networks” are a subset of crowdsourced networks that are structured to be open, free, and neutral. In these communities the infrastructure is established by the participants and is managed as a common resource. Many crowdsourcing experiences have flourished in community networks. This paper discusses the case of guifi.net, a success case of a community network daily used by thousands of participants, focusing on its principles and the crowdsourcing processes and tools developed within the community, and the role they play in the ecosystem that is guifi.net; the current status of its implementation; its measurable local impact; and the lessons learned in more than a decade.     

Internet use that reproduces educational inequalities: Evidence from big data

Although the Internet has become ubiquitous in students' lives in school and at home, little is known about whether the Internet is used to close or reproduce educational inequalities. Drawing upon Bourdieu's notion of capital, there are two kinds of Internet use: capital-enhancing versus entertainment. This study used two big data analytic tools to examine interest in and usage of two highly popular websites that primarily target children and adolescents: KhanAcademy.org and CartoonNetwork.com. The former represents a capital-enhancing use of the Internet, while the latter represents an Internet use for entertainment. Data analysis revealed that high sociodemographic status was positively correlated with interest in Khan Academy, while low sociodemographic status was positively correlated with interest in Cartoon Network. This study provided some evidence that existing educational inequalities may be reproduced through unequal Internet use.     

Sagem sells off its Gemplus stake

French electronics manufacturer Sagem has sold the majority of its stake in smart card manufacturer Gemplus, according to a report from Dow Jones.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security news.     

Assa Abloy gains access to the smart card market

In a series of strategic moves, Swedish giant Assa Abloy has acquired the identification technology business of German group ACG and will take a majority position in smart card reader supplier Omnikey.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Museum gives visitors a ‘smart’ experience

Smart card technology is being used in an Austrian museum to offer visitors individually-tailored and interactive ways of experiencing the exhibition.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

…as Ingenico complies with Finread specs

Ingenico has successfully complied with specifications laid down by Finread, an international standard for secure smart card readers performing interoperable transactions on the internet.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Strong support for UK ID card,says poll

Flying in the face of current political thinking, a recent poll has found that identity cards would be welcomed with open arms in the UK.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Possible glitch in next generation smart cards

New research has shown that smart card vendors could be developing next-generation processors that are vulnerable to cache-based ‘side channel’ attacks.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

ICAO passport blueprint specifies high-capacity contactless chips

In what could turn out to be a significant boost for the smart card industry, the International Civil Aviation Organization has formally adopted a global standard for the integration of contactless smart card chips and biometric information into passports and other machine readable travel documents (MRTDs).This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

New EMV toolkit enables Windows-based terminals

An EMV Toolkit that will allow terminals such as EPOS units, ATMs, standalone kiosks or any other Windows-based payment terminal to handle EMV transactions has been launched by CreditCall Communications in the UK.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Nordea offers smart card readers to customers

Nordea, one of the largest financial services groups in the Nordic and Baltic Sea region, is to offer its customers smart card readers which they will be able to use with cards it is issuing from the fourth quarter this year.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Smart flexible cars in LA

A new smart-card-based car hire scheme in Los Angeles could be the answer for people who find themselves without a ride to and from work, or who are sick of transit strikes and the lack of car park spaces in the city.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Schlumberger’s results encouraging

Schlumberger Ltd’s third quarter financial results have shown up a greatly improved performance for its smart cards and terminals division, which was recently renamed Axalto in a bid to increase the visibility of its operations.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Loyalty vendors welcome patent pact

A deal has been struck between Catuity, Visa USA, Visa International and Welcome Real-time that will increase the availability of interoperable systems for smart-card based loyalty rewards at the point of sale.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Wi-Fi at the point of sale

VeriFone claims to have installed the world’s first point-of-sale terminals that communicate via the short-range wireless technology, Wi-Fi. The US supplier said that terminals were installed by 250 merchants at the Mall of San Marino in Guayaquil, Ecuador.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news