Landscape of IoT security

The last two decades have experienced a steady rise in the production and deployment of sensing-and-connectivity-enabled electronic devices, replacing “regular” physical objects. The resulting Internet-of-Things (IoT) will soon become indispensable for many application domains. Smart objects are continuously being integrated within factories, cities, buildings, health institutions, and private homes. Approximately 30 years after the birth of IoT, society is confronted with significant challenges regarding IoT security. Due to the interconnectivity and ubiquitous use of IoT devices, cyberattacks have widespread impacts on multiple stakeholders. Past events show that the IoT domain holds various vulnerabilities, exploited to generate physical, economic, and health damage. Despite many of these threats, manufacturers struggle to secure IoT devices properly. Thus, this work overviews the IoT security landscape with the intention to emphasize the demand for secured IoT-related products and applications. Therefore, (a) a list of key challenges of securing IoT devices is determined by examining their particular characteristics, (b) major security objectives for secured IoT systems are defined, (c) a threat taxonomy is introduced, which outlines potential security gaps prevalent in current IoT systems, and (d) key countermeasures against the aforementioned threats are summarized for selected IoT security-related technologies available on the market

Geochemical Characteristics of Granitoids (Ho Gneiss) from the Pan – African Dahomeyide Belt, Southeastern, Ghana: Implications for Petrogenesis and Tectonic Setting

The Pan-African Dahomeyide belt exposed in Southeastern, Ghana, consist of granitoid gneisses locally known as Ho gneiss. These rocks are thought to be part of the West African Craton (WAC) which was reworked during the Pan-African Orogeny, and may be time equivalent with the Kara gneisses. Petrographical and whole rock geochemical analyses have been used to evaluate the characteristics, petrogenesis and mode of emplacement of the granitoids. The new data reasonably suggest that the Ho gneiss consist mainly of biotite augen gneisses of both mafic and felsic rock suites. Geochemically, these rocks show tonalitic to quartz monzonite but mainly granodiorites affinities. They are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, I-type, magnesian to ferroan and calcic to alkali calcic. With these varying features, the granitoids mimic mantle derived magma source which mixed or mingled with crustally derived melt. The rocks display varying REEs and trace elements patterns but, their LREEs and LILE enrichment with  the noticeable enrichment in Rb, Ba, K and especially Pb and negative Ti, Ta, Nb observed among majority of the samples are typical signature of ‘‘arc rocks’’ or continental crustal materials. Their incompatible trace element ratios, such as Th/U (1.07 – 13.87), K/Rb (272 – 574.47), Th/Yb (0.79 – 15.09), Ta/Yb (0.25 -0.64 ), Ce/Pb (mainly 1.62 – 7.88 ) and high Ba/Nb (19.55 – 314.17, with TA = 1565.00), are similar to those of the continental crust. The rocks are characterised by subduction related Sr/Y content (< 100), except sample MA8 that shows high concentration of Sr/Y (227.71). The magnesian affinity reflects relatively hydrous, oxidizing source which is consistent with origins that are broadly subduction related. Their high – K nature also points to an important petrogenetic role of remelting and differentiation of arc – accretionary complex crust. These geochemical signatures are likely to be related to metasomatism of the sub – continental lithospheric mantle via crustal recycling. In conclusion, the granitoids may have from melting of igneous source in a subduction related environment. Keywords: Pan-African belt, Dahomeyide, Southeastern Ghana, Ho gneisses, Geochemistry, petrogenesi

Reactive Case Detection Strategy for Malaria Control and Elimination:A 12 Year Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis from 25 Malaria-Endemic Countries

Reactive case detection (RACD) is the screening of household members and neighbors of index cases reported in passive surveillance. This strategy seeks asymptomatic infections and provides treatment to break transmission without testing or treating the entire population. This review discusses and highlights RACD as a recommended strategy for the detection and elimination of asymptomatic malaria as it pertains in different countries. Relevant studies published between January 2010 and September 2022 were identified mainly through PubMed and Google Scholar. Search terms included “malaria and reactive case detection”, “contact tracing”, “focal screening”, “case investigation”, “focal screen and treat”. MedCalc Software was used for data analysis, and the findings from the pooled studies were analyzed using a fixed-effect model. Summary outcomes were then presented using forest plots and tables. Fifty-four (54) studies were systematically reviewed. Of these studies, 7 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in individuals living with an index case < 5 years old, 13 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in an index case household member compared with a neighbor of an index case, and 29 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in individuals living with index cases, and were included in the meta-analysis. Individuals living in index case households with an average risk of 2.576 (2.540–2.612) were more at risk of malaria infection and showed pooled results of high variation heterogeneity chi-square = 235.600, (p < 0.0001) I2 = 98.88 [97.87–99.89]. The pooled results showed that neighbors of index cases were 0.352 [0.301–0.412] times more likely to have a malaria infection relative to index case household members, and this result was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The identification and treatment of infectious reservoirs is critical to successful malaria elimination. Evidence to support the clustering of infections in neighborhoods, which necessitates the inclusion of neighboring households as part of the RACD strategy, was presented in this review

Joint COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Malaria Reactive Case Detection as Efficient Strategies for Disease Control

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contact tracing and malaria reactive case detection (RACD) are effective strategies for disease control. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global attention COVID-19 has received in the recent past and present has hampered malaria control efforts. Among these are difficulties in finding and treating malaria-infected individuals in hypoendemic settings in the community, due to lockdown restrictions by countries. It is common knowledge that malaria cases that cannot be identified remain untreated. To sustain the gains made in malaria control, we proposed a two-pronged hybrid approach for COVID-19 contact tracing and malaria RACD in communities with COVID-19 and malaria coinfections. Such an approach would equally factor the burden of malaria cases and COVID-19 to support an effective strategy for responding to current and future pandemics

Protein CoAlation: a redox-regulated protein modification by coenzyme A in mammalian cells.

Coenzyme A (CoA) is an obligatory cofactor in all branches of life. CoA and its derivatives are involved in major metabolic pathways, allosteric interactions and the regulation of gene expression. Abnormal biosynthesis and homeostasis of CoA and its derivatives have been associated with various human pathologies, including cancer, diabetes and neurodegeneration. Using an anti-CoA monoclonal antibody and mass spectrometry, we identified a wide range of cellular proteins which are modified by covalent attachment of CoA to cysteine thiols (CoAlation). We show that protein CoAlation is a reversible post-translational modification that is induced in mammalian cells and tissues by oxidising agents and metabolic stress. Many key cellular enzymes were found to be CoAlated in vitro and in vivo in ways that modified their activities. Our study reveals that protein CoAlation is a widespread post-translational modification which may play an important role in redox regulation under physiological and pathophysiological conditions

Nexus between constructs of social cognitive theory model and diabetes self-management among Ghanaian diabetic patients: A mediation modelling approach

The promotion of Diabetes Self-Management (DSM) practices, education, and support is vital to improving the care and wellbeing of diabetic patients. Identifying factors that affect DSM behaviours may be useful to promote healthy living among these patients. The study assessed the determinants of DSM practices among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using a model-based social cognitive theory (SCT). This cross-sectional study comprised 420 (T2DM) patients who visited the Diabetic Clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi-Ghana. Data was collected using self-structured questionnaires to obtain socio-demographic characteristics, T2DM-related knowledge, DSM practices, SCT constructs; beliefs in treatment effectiveness, level of self-efficacy, perceived family support, and healthcare provider-patient communication. Path analysis was used to determine direct and indirect effects of T2DM-related knowledge, perceived family support, and healthcare provider service on DSM practices with level of self-efficacy mediating the relationships, and beliefs in treatment effectiveness as moderators. The mean age of the participants was 53.1(SD = 11.4) years and the average disease duration of T2DM was 10 years. Most of the participants (65.5 %) had high ( \u3e 6.1mmol/L) fasting blood glucose (FBG) with an average of 6.93 (SD = 2.41). The path analysis model revealed that age (p = 0.176), gender (p = 0.901), and duration of T2DM (p = 0.119) did not confound the relationships between the SCT constructs and DSM specified in the model. A significant direct positive effect of family and friends’ support (Critical ratio (CR) = 5.279, p \u3c 0.001) on DSM was observed. Self-efficacy was a significant mediator in this relationship (CR = 4.833, p \u3c 0.001). There were significant conditional indirect effects (CIE) for knowledge of T2DM and family and friends’ support at medium and high levels of belief in treatment effectiveness (p \u3c 0.05) via level of self-efficacy on DSM practices. However, no evidence of moderated-mediation was observed for the exogenous variables on DSM. Diabetes-related knowledge of T2DM, family and friends’ support, level of self-efficacy, and belief in treatment effectiveness are crucial in DSM practices among Ghanaian T2DM patients. It is incumbent to consider these factors when designing interventions to improve DSM adherence

Malaria elimination in Ghana:recommendations for reactive case detection strategy implementation in a low endemic area of Asutsuare, Ghana

Background: Progress toward malaria elimination is increasing as many countries near zero indigenous malaria cases. In settings nearing elimination, interventions will be most effective at interrupting transmission when targeted at the residual foci of transmission. These foci may be missed due to asymptomatic infections. To solve this problem, the World Health Organization recommends reactive case detection (RACD). This case study was conducted to identify individuals with asymptomatic malaria, their predisposing risk factors and recommend RACD in Asutsuare, Ghana based on literature review and a cross sectional study. Methods: The study involved a search on PubMed and Google Scholar of literature published between 1st January, 2009–14th August, 2023 using the search terms “malaria” in “Asutsuare”. Furthermore, structured questionnaires were administered to one hundred individuals without symptoms of malaria and screened using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Malaria prevalence based on the three diagnostic techniques as well as potential malaria risk factors were assessed through questionnaires in a cross-sectional study. Results: Cumulatively, sixty-four (64) studies (Google Scholar, 57 and PubMed, 7) were reviewed and 22 studies included in the literature on malaria in Asutsuare, Ghana. Significant risk factors were occupation, distance from a house to a waterbody, age group and educational level. Out of the 100 samples, 3 (3%) were positive by RDT, 6 (6%) by microscopy and 9 (9%) by rt-PCR. Ages 5–14.9 years had the highest mean malaria parasite densities of 560 parasites/µl with Plasmodium falciparum as the dominant species in 4 participants. Moreover, in the age group ≥ 15, 2 participants (1 each) harboured P. falciparum and Plasmodium malariae parasites. RDT had a higher sensitivity (76.54%; CI95 66.82–85.54) than rt-PCR (33.33%; CI95 4.33–77.72), while both rt-PCR and RDT were observed to have a higher specificity (92.55; CI95 85.26–96.95) and (97.30; CI95 93.87–99.13), respectively in the diagnosis of malaria. Conclusion: In Asutsuare, Ghana, a low endemic area, the elimination of malaria may require finding individuals with asymptomatic infections. Given the low prevalence of asymptomatic individuals identified in this study and as repleted in the literature review, which favours RACD, Asutsuare is a possible setting receptive for RACD implementation.</p

Association between transcription factor 7-like-2 polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Ghanaian population

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been strongly associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TCF7L2 gene. This study investigated the association between rs12255372, rs7903146 in the TCF7L2 gene and T2DM in a Ghanaian population. A case-control study design was used for this study. A total of 106 T2DM patients and 110 control participants were selected. Basic data collected included body mass index, blood pressure and socio-demographics. Fasting blood samples were collected and processed for: serum lipid analysis, plasma glucose estimation and plasma HbA1c estimation. Parts of the whole blood samples were used for DNA extraction using a modified salting-out method. Common and allele-specific primers were designed for genotyping using the Modified Tetra-Primer Amplification assay. Associations were evaluated using logistic regression models. The rs7903146 risk variant was significantly associated with 2.16 vs. 4.06 increased odds for T2DM in patients \u3c60 years vs. ≥60 years. Both rs7903146 and rs12255372 were significantly associated with increased odds of T2DM in women, overweight/obese, T2DM negative family history (T2DM-NFH) and low-HDL-C. In a multivariate model, rs7903146 but not rs12255372 was significantly associated with 2.18, 5.01 and 2.25 increased odds of T2DM, under the codominant, recessive and additive model, respectively (p \u3c 0.05). The association between rs7903146 and rs12255372 with T2DM is more highly associated in a subgroup—women and those with T2DM-NFH, yet who have cardiometabolic risk

Central African Hunters Exposed to Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV-seronegative Cameroonians with exposure to nonhuman primates were tested for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. Seroreactivity was correlated with exposure risk (p<0.001). One person had strong humoral and weak cellular immune reactivity to SIVcol peptides. Humans are exposed to and possibly infected with SIV, which has major public health implications