Real-time automated risk assessment in protected core networking

Protected Core Networking (PCN) is an approach to creating a secure and flexible network and communications infrastructure that supports network enabled capability (NEC) operations. The real-time automated risk assessment (R-TARA) provides a theoretically and practically sound method for risk assessment in the Protected Core. The purpose of the R-TARA is multifold. On the one hand it provides a global metric, which could be used by the network operator to assess the overall security level of the network and its evolution over time. On the other hand, the results of R-TARA can be used in order to achieve dynamic accreditation. Finally, R-TARA local risk metrics, e.g. susceptibility to DoS attacks, can be used for dynamic routing decisions. We propose use of Bayesian networks, known from operational risk assessment, for PCN risk assessment and we provide analytical and simulative evaluation of R-TARA mechanisms.     

Oxidation of serotonin by superoxide radical: implications to neurodegenerative brain disorders

Many new lines of evidence implicate both superoxide anion radical (O2*-) and biogenic amine neurotransmitters in the pathological mechanisms that underlie neuronal damage caused by methamphetamine (MA), glutamate-mediated oxidative toxicity, ischemia-reperfusion, and other neurodegenerative brain disorders. In this investigation the oxidation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) by an O2*--generating system (xanthine/xanthine oxidase) in buffered aqueous solution at pH 7.4 has been studied. The major product of the O2*--mediated oxidation of 5-HT is tryptamine-4,5-dione (T-4, 5-D). However, O2*- and H2O2, cogenerated by the xanthine oxidase-mediated oxidation of xanthine to uric acid, together react with trace levels of iron that contaminate buffer constituents to give a chemically ill-defined oxo-iron species. This species mediates the oxidation of 5-HT to a C(4)-centered carbocation intermediate that reacts with 5-HT to give 5,5'-dihydroxy-4, 4'-bitryptamine (4,4'-D) and with uric acid to give 9-[3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-indol-4-yl]-2,6,8-triketo-1H,3H, 7H-purine (7) as the major products. These products differ from those formed in the HO*-mediated oxidation of 5-HT under similar conditions. When the reaction is carried out in the presence of the intraneuronal nucleophile glutathione (GSH), T-4,5-D is scavenged to give 7-(S-glutathionyl)tryptamine-4,5-dione, whereas the putative carbocation intermediate is scavenged to give 4-(S-glutathionyl)-5-hydroxytryptamine. T-4,5-D also reacts with the sulfhydryl residues of a model protein, alcohol dehydrogenase, and inhibits its activity. Previous investigators have proposed that T-4, 5-D is a serotonergic neurotoxin. This raises the possibility that T-4,5-D and perhaps other putative intraneuronal metabolites formed by the O2*-/H2O2/oxo-iron-mediated oxidations of 5-HT might be endotoxins that contribute to neurodegeneration in brain regions innervated by serotonergic neurons caused by MA, ischemia-reperfusion, and other neurodegenerative brain disorders.     

Vibrio cholerae iron transport: haem transport genes are linked to one of two sets of tonB, exbB, exbD genes

Vibrio cholerae was found to have two sets of genes encoding TonB, ExbB and ExbD proteins. The first set (tonB1, exbB1, exbD1) was obtained by complementation of a V. cholerae tonB mutant. In the mutant, a plasmid containing these genes permitted transport via the known V. cholerae high-affinity iron transport systems, including uptake of haem, vibriobactin and ferrichrome. When chromosomal mutations in exbB1 or exbD1 were introduced into a wild-type V. cholerae background, no defect in iron transport was noted, indicating the existence of additional genes that can complement the defect in the wild-type background. Another region of the V. cholerae chromosome was cloned that encoded a second functional TonB/Exb system (tonB2, exbB2, exbD2). A chromosomal mutation in exbB2 also failed to exhibit a defect in iron transport, but a V. cholerae strain that had chromosomal mutations in both the exbB1 and exbB2 genes displayed a mutant phenotype similar to that of an Escherichia coli tonB mutant. The genes encoding TonB1, ExbB1, ExbD1 were part of an operon that included three haem transport genes (hutBCD), and all six genes appeared to be expressed from a single Fur-regulated promoter upstream of tonB1. A plasmid containing all six genes permitted utilization of haem by an E. coli strain expressing the V. cholerae haem receptor, HutA. Analysis of the hut genes indicated that hutBCD, which are predicted to encode a periplasmic binding protein (HutB) and cytoplasmic membrane permease (HutC and HutD), were required to reconstitute the V. cholerae haem transport system in E. coli. In V. cholerae, the presence of hutBCD stimulated growth when haemin was the iron source, but these genes were not essential for haemin utilization in V. cholerae.     

Oviductal Oxygen Homeostasis in Patients with Uterine Myoma: Correlation between Hypoxia and Telocytes

Oxygen balance is crucial for angiogenesis, immunity, and tissue repair. The human oviduct is essential for reproductive function, and any imbalance in homeostasis leads to fertility disturbances and might be a reason for ectopic pregnancy development. Uterine myoma is a widespread benign tumour, which is often accompanied by infertility. Telocytes have been discussed in the contexts of motility, fibrosis development, and angiogenesis. We observed the oviducts from patients with and without uterine myoma, comparing the expression of HIF-1, HO, VEGF and its receptor, NOS, oestrogen, and progesterone receptors by immunolabeling. The myometrial and oviductal telocytes were also compared in both groups. Biochemical analyses were conducted for FSH, LH, AMH, sFlt, oestrogen, and progesterone in blood samples. Patients with uterine myoma have different expressions of sex steroid receptors and an increased number of telocytes. The decreasing VEFG expression was compensated by the rise in the HIF-1 and NOS expression. Blood biochemical analyses revealed a higher progesterone level and lower AMH in patients with uterine myoma. No differences in sFlt, FSH, and LF were observed. Uterine myoma impacts oviduct oxygen homeostasis and might cause fertility disturbances (uterine and oviductal infertility factors).     

Dissolved Oxygen Relationships of Under‐Ice Water Column and Pore Water Habitat: Implications for Environmental Guidelines

Substantial reductions in dissolved oxygen concentration in freshwaters can negatively affect aquatic biota. Thus, existing regulatory criteria are designed to avoid environmental conditions that cause acute lethality, thereby reducing the likelihood of biological impairment. In North America, dissolved oxygen (DO) guidelines for protecting aquatic life assume that pore water and water column DO are correlated, with pore water values expected to be on average ≤3 mg/L below water column values. Our study assessed the validity of this assumption during the winter period of ice cover in a large, northern river ecosystem (Wapiti River, Alberta, Canada). We investigated the relationship between water column and pore water DO concentrations and examined whether this relationship was affected by industrial and municipal effluents. Water column DO fell from near saturation during open water periods to 80–84% under winter ice cover. DO concentrations in the pore water were significantly lower than in the water column at reference and effluent‐exposed sampling sites. Pore water DO values ranged widely from 0.27 to 13.28 mg/L. In contrast, water column DO concentrations (10.25–13.60 mg/L) were more narrowly distributed over the same period. Indeed, differences between winter pore water and water column DO were often as large as 9–12 mg/L and, notably, were significantly greater than the 3 mg/L difference upon which North American guidelines are based. Consequently, under‐ice DO concentrations of river pore water could not be accurately predicted from water column DO alone. Risk factors that may increase the potential for pore water DO to be more than 3 mg/L lower than water column values include the input of oxygen poor groundwater, infilling of the streambed with small inorganic and organic particles, water exchange rates between the water column and the streambed and effluent discharges that raise nutrient concentrations and biochemical oxygen demand. Given that low pore water DO was evident even in undeveloped reference sites, future work must establish the ecological relevance of chronic exposure to low, pore water DO and its impact on river biota. © 2016 Environment and Climate Change Canada. River Research Application StartCopTextStartCopText© 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CAR-NK Cells in the Treatment of Solid Tumors

CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T) cells have emerged as a milestone in the treatment of patients with refractory B-cell neoplasms. However, despite having unprecedented efficacy against hematological malignancies, the treatment is far from flawless. Its greatest drawbacks arise from a challenging and expensive production process, strict patient eligibility criteria and serious toxicity profile. One possible solution, supported by robust research, is the replacement of T lymphocytes with NK cells for CAR expression. NK cells seem to be an attractive vehicle for CAR expression as they can be derived from multiple sources and safely infused regardless of donor–patient matching, which greatly reduces the cost of the treatment. CAR-NK cells are known to be effective against hematological malignancies, and a growing number of preclinical findings indicate that they have activity against non-hematological neoplasms. Here, we present a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the use of CAR-NK cells in treating various solid tumors.     

Analytical Model of Cooperation in Ad Hoc Networks

The problem of cooperation among selfish nodes in ad hoc networks has gained recently a considerable attention. In this paper we propose a dynamic game theoretical model of cooperation in ad hoc networks, based on evolutionary game theory. Our model enables us to make predictions about possible equilibrium points of the network composed of the selfish and learning nodes, which can dynamically adjust their strategy in order to maximize their own payoff. In particular, we show that if an ad hoc network implements a reputation mechanism, all long term equilibrium points of the system will include cooperating nodes. In fact, in most of the equilibrium points, the cooperators will constitute a majority of the nodes. We believe that this new approach, borrowing from biological research, can have broader applications for studying dynamics of distributed communication systems.     

Lanthanum phosphate-bonded composite nickel electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis

Nickel-powder electrodes bonded with a polymer of lanthanum phosphate were prepared and tested for their performance in water electrolysis of KOH aqueous solutions. Disintegration of the phosphate-bonded electrodes made with spiky filamentary nickel particles is strongly reduced at open circuit potential with LaPO₄ rather than AlPO₄ as the binding material, but the electrocatalytic performance toward hydrogen evolution is practically the same for both materials.On leave from Chemistry Department, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Pasteura 1, Poland