Security Scores Research Articles

Household food security and consumption of a traditional medicinal tincture, sraa tenam, among Cambodian women in Massachusetts (LB480)

Background: Use of alcohol‐based tinctures is common during pregnancy and the postpartum period among Cambodians and other Southeast Asian populations. The consumption of alcohol‐based tinctures among Cambodians living in the U.S. has not been widely examined. This study investigates the association between household food security status and the consumption of a specific alcohol‐based medicinal tincture, sraa tenam, among Cambodian young women in Massachusetts.Method: Cambodian women aged 15‐30 years (n=127) were surveyed in this cross‐sectional study. Household food security was assessed using the U.S. Household Food Security 6‐item module. Participants provided data on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices of alcohol‐based medicinal tinctures. Multivariate logistic regression tested the association between the consumption of sraa tenam, an alcohol‐based medicinal tincture, and household food security scores, after adjusting for age, country of birth, and insurance coverage.Results: Approximately one‐fourth (25.6%) of the sample lived in low/very low food secure households. Forty‐two percent (42%) reported that they had consumed sraa tenam. Women with higher household food security scores were more likely to report consuming this alcohol‐based medicinal tincture compared to those with lower scores (β 0.423; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.33; p<0.05), after controlling for covariates.Conclusion: Consumption of an alcohol‐based medicinal tincture, sraa tenam, was associated with household food security status among Cambodian women in Massachusetts. Household food insecurity status may be an indicator of low utilization of conventional health care, leading to greater use of traditional medicine as a coping mechanism. Alcohol‐based tinctures have both risks and benefits: the use of alcohol in tinctures may contribute to nutritional deficiencies, and yet, alcohol‐based fermented tinctures may also have potential health benefits with levels of alcohol that may be too low to pose a risk to maternal and infant health. The overall risks and benefits of alcohol‐based medicinal tinctures need to be carefully investigated to support optimal maternal and child health. Raising awareness of traditional practices among health practitioners that serve SE Asian populations may also be important.Grant Funding Source: USDA

The emergence of attachment following early social deprivation

This study examined the formation and quality of attachment of 65 postinstitutionalized (PI) toddlers with their parents at 1-3 and 7-9 months postadoption compared to 52 nonadopted (NA) children. The formation of attachment relationships of PI children with adoptive parents occurred relatively quickly. Children exposed to greater preadoption adversity took longer to form an attachment to their adoptive parents, although by 7-9 months postadoption, nearly all (90%) of the children achieved the highest level on an attachment formation rating scale. PI children did not differ from NA children in attachment security, based either on the Attachment Q-Sort or Strange Situation categorical scoring. However, the PI children were more likely to be disorganized in their attachment patterns. Preadoption adversity was related to lower Q-sort security scores especially at the initial assessment 1-3 months postadoption. The results indicated that attachment formation and attachment quality in PI children are differentiable constructs with different precursors.

Children’s attachment to both parents from toddler age to middle childhood: links to adaptive and maladaptive outcomes

We examined children’s attachment security with their mothers and fathers in a community sample (N = 100). At 25 months, mothers, fathers, and trained observers completed Attachment Q-Set (AQS). At 100 months, children completed Kerns Security Scale (KSS) for each parent. Children’s adaptation (behavior problems and competence in broader ecologies of school and peer group, child- and parent-reported) was assessed at 100 months. Generally, the child’s security with the mother and father was modestly to robustly concordant across both relationships, depending on the assessment method. Observers’ AQS security scores predicted children’s self-reported security six years later. For children with low AQS security scores with mothers, variations in security with fathers had significant implications for adaptation. Those whose security with fathers was also low reported the most behavior problems and were seen as least competent in broader ecologies, but those whose security with fathers was high reported few problems and were seen as competent. Observer-rated security with fathers predicted children’s higher competence in broader ecologies, both self- and parent-reported. A cumulative index of the history of security from toddler age to middle childhood, integrating measures across both relationships and diverse methodologies, was significantly associated with positive adaptation at 100 months.

Aging Without Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of the study was to analyze the association between secure attachment style, loneliness, and social network as risk factors for late-life depression. This cross-sectional study examined 969 subjects of the KORA-Age study. We applied the Relationship-Specific Attachment Scales for Adults (Beziehungsspezifische Bindungsskalen für Erwachsene, BBE), the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Social Network Index (SNI). Depression was operationalized through the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and/or use of antidepressants. Logistic-regression models were calculated, sex-stratified, and controlled for age and living status. For men, lower depression scores were associated with higher attachment security scores (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.15-0.44) and not reporting feelings of loneliness (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.14-0.53). For women, independent determinants of not having late life depression consist of not feeling lonely (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.13-0.38). Loneliness is a risk factor for late life depression in women and men, attachment style is a risk factor more for men, while social network size is not a risk factor.

Análise do fenómeno de base segura em contexto familiar: as relações criança/mãe e criança/pai

O estudo analisa, no contexto da teoria de Bowlby e Ainsworth, o modo como a criança utiliza as figuras parentais como base segura, explorando a especificidade da organização destes comportamentos nas duas relações. Analisa, ainda, a existência de semelhanças ou diferenças nas classificações da criança em relação à mãe a o pai. Os participantes são 56 díades mãe/criança e pai/criança, tendo as crianças idades compreendidas entre os 29 e os 38 meses. Observadores independentes realizaram visitas domiciliárias com a criança/mãe e com a criança/pai, utilizando o AQS (Waters, 1995). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os valores de segurança para a mãe e para o pai. Com base nas escalas do AQS, obtiveram-se diferenças significativas na Proximidade e no Contacto Físico. Assim, a criança utiliza ambos os paus como base segura, embora os estilos de interacção possam apresentar características específicas. Verificou-se, ainda, a existência de uma correlação significativa entre os valores de segurança da criança em relação à mãe e ao pai, o que vai de encontro dos resultados obtidos por Veríssimo et al. (2006). Esta correlação poderá ser explicada pela semelhança nos cuidados parentais. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v22i1.340

AVQS: attack route-based vulnerability quantification scheme for smart grid.

A smart grid is a large, consolidated electrical grid system that includes heterogeneous networks and systems. Based on the data, a smart grid system has a potential security threat in its network connectivity. To solve this problem, we develop and apply a novel scheme to measure the vulnerability in a smart grid domain. Vulnerability quantification can be the first step in security analysis because it can help prioritize the security problems. However, existing vulnerability quantification schemes are not suitable for smart grid because they do not consider network vulnerabilities. We propose a novel attack route-based vulnerability quantification scheme using a network vulnerability score and an end-to-end security score, depending on the specific smart grid network environment to calculate the vulnerability score for a particular attack route. To evaluate the proposed approach, we derive several attack scenarios from the advanced metering infrastructure domain. The experimental results of the proposed approach and the existing common vulnerability scoring system clearly show that we need to consider network connectivity for more optimized vulnerability quantification.

Food Insecurity and Not Dietary Diversity Is a Predictor of Nutrition Status in Children within Semiarid Agro-Ecological Zones in Eastern Kenya.

Machakos and Makueni counties in Kenya are associated with historical land degradation, climate change, and food insecurity. Both counties lie in lower midland (LM) lower humidity to semiarid (LM4), and semiarid (LM5) agroecological zones (AEZ). We assessed food security, dietary diversity, and nutritional status of children and women. Materials and Methods. A total of 277 woman-child pairs aged 15–46 years and 6–36 months respectively, were recruited from farmer households. Food security and dietary diversity were assessed using standard tools. Weight and height, or length in children, were used for computation of nutritional status. Findings. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in food security and dietary diversity score (DDS) between LM4 and LM5. Stunting, wasting, and underweight levels among children in LM4 and LM5 were comparable as were BMI scores among women. However, significant associations (P = 0.023) were found between severe food insecurity and nutritional status of children but not of their caregivers. Stunting was significantly higher in older children (>2 years) and among children whose caregivers were older. Conclusion. Differences in AEZ may not affect dietary diversity and nutritional status of farmer households. Consequently use of DDS may lead to underestimation of food insecurity in semiarid settings.

Fuzzy Based Trust and Reputation Model for Secure Resource Allocation in Cloud Computing

The main objective of this research work is to design and develop a Fuzzy Logic based trust and reputation model for secure resource allocation in cloud computing. The cloud computing is one of the major topics discussed among the IT professionals in recent days. In this paper trust manager and reputation manager based approach is used to update the security. Initially, the user access a resource block through the scheduling manager and a form will send to the user after accessing the resource block to fill the attribute values of trust factor and reputation factor. The trust factor and reputation value is then calculated for the resource center and it is given to the Fuzzy Logic system to get the security score of a resource center. The benefit of our proposed technique is to provide the security controls in accessing the cloud resources from cloud computing due to various security issues happened in networks, databases, resource scheduling, transaction management and load balancing.

A novel approach to evaluate software vulnerability prioritization

The aim of this study is to formulate an analysis model which can express the security grades of software vulnerability and serve as a basis for evaluating danger level of information program or filtering hazardous weaknesses of the system and improve it to counter the threat of different danger factors. Through the utilization of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), we will organize the crossover factors of the software blind spots and build an evaluation framework. First of all, via the fuzzy Delphi method the aspects and relative determinants affecting security will be filtered out. Then we will identify the value equation of each factor and settle down the fuzzy synthetic decision making model of software vulnerability. Thanks to this model we will be able to analyze the various degrees to which the vulnerability is affecting the security and this information will serve as a basis for future ameliorations of the system itself. The higher the security score obtained therefore imply securer system. Beside this, this study also propose an improvement from the traditional fuzzy synthetic decision making model for measuring the fuzziness between enhancement and independence of various aspects and criteria. Furthermore taking into consideration the subjectivity of human in reality and constructing the fuzzy integral decision making model. Through case study, we show that the evaluation model in question is practical and can be applied on the new software vulnerabilities and measure their degree of penetration. The fuzzy integral decision making emphasize through formulation the multiply-add effect between different factors influencing information security.

Push and pull effects of homeland information security incentives

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to find out whether efforts to improve the information security of government agencies and homeland information security have paid off and also different incentives (internal/external) impact s on the improvement of information security of the government agencies?Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the information security status of 24 federal agencies in the USA over the period 2002 through 2007 using latent growth modeling. The information security status of these agencies was tracked with the grades revealed in the Federal Computer Security Report Cards. In addition, the number of employees (internal threat incentives) and budgets incentives of federal agencies were gathered from the agencies and other governmental websites for the same period of time.FindingsResults indicated that high critical‐information agencies even though they have an overall low performance in information security, they are performing better than the low critical‐information agencies regarding solving external threats. Results also revealed that whereas agencies have generally paid more attention to information security over the years, their performances are more pertinent to change in budget incentives than other incentives.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcomes reported are confined to the data presented by the Federal Computer Security Report Cards. Another limitation is the number of employees that counts the total number of employees in the agencies whether they are related to the systems of the agencies or not. Finally, using a time‐lag analysis of budget to predict the current security score would be more straightforward, but this could not be applied in this study due to the insufficient sample size, as “the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform” no longer released the report cards after 2007.Practical implicationsThe results should be of interest for the federal agencies that are included in this study, as well as for the organizations that are responsible for the information security of government agencies at different levels. Policy makers, IT managers, software developers and security specialists can also use the outcomes reported in this study for the better decision making that can enhance the information security in the public sector. The theoretical and methodological framework used in this study may also contribute to the current literature of homeland information security incentives and be helpful for future studies on its critical success factors.Originality/valueThis study examines fundamental issues that have not yet to be established. To our knowledge, this is the first study that assesses different incentives that have an effect on the Federal agencies' information security performance because of the lack of data in this domain. Also, the statistical techniques used to test the research propositions fit the objective of the study. Not only this, but the results found in this research assure the importance of one of the incentives that has been identified in the literature as a crucial element that affects the information security performance of the organizations.

Nutritional Policy Changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Some experts have proposed limiting the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, for calorie-dense foods or subsidizing SNAP purchases of healthier foods. To estimate health effects and cost-effectiveness of banning or taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or subsidizing fruits and vegetables purchased with SNAP. . Microsimulation. Data Sources. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, US Department of Agriculture Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database, and SNAP program data. US adults aged 25 to 64 y. Time Horizon. 10 y. Perspective. Governmental. Incremental costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), body mass index, Alternative Healthy Eating Index, Food Security Score, diabetes person-years, and deaths from myocardial infarctions (MIs) and strokes. of Base-Case Analysis. Banning SSB purchases using SNAP benefits would be expected to avert 510,000 diabetes person-years and 52,000 deaths from MIs and strokes over the next decade, with a savings of $2900 per QALY saved. A penny-per-ounce tax on SSBs purchased with SNAP dollars would produce higher cost savings due to tax revenues but avert fewer chronic disease deaths. However, some SNAP participants are likely to preferentially purchase SSBs through their disposable income, indirectly reducing their food security. A 30% produce subsidy would be expected to avert 39,000 diabetes person-years and 4600 cardiovascular deaths over 10 y without effects on food security. Results of Sensitivity Analysis. Results are sensitive to the intake elasticities of SSBs and produce. Limitations. Input data did not provide information on heterogeneity in response to price changes within the SNAP-using SNAP restrictions on SSBs could lower chronic disease mortality, but further testing should examine indirect effects on disposable income and food security. Subsidizing produce could confer fewer benefits or risks but at higher cost.

A proposed decision-making model for evaluating a container’s security score

A container supply chain includes a large number of stakeholders who can physically come into contact with containers and their contents and are potentially related with the container trade and transportation. Security-based disruptions can occur at various points along the supply chain. Experience has shown that a limited percentage of inspection, coupled with a targeted approach based on risk analysis, can provide an acceptable security level. Thus, in order to not hamper the logistics process in an intolerable manner, the number of physical checks should be chosen cautiously. The aim of this article is to employ a set of data elements (i.e. an importer security filling, shipping documents, the value of an ocean or a sea carrier’s reliability, the security scores of various commercial operators and their premises) to exploit a mathematical decision-making model for evaluating a container’s security score. For evaluating a container’s security score, a combination of different decision-making techniques such as Bayesian network and analytic hierarchy process is used. The methodology developed has been applied to a case study in order to demonstrate the process involved. Accordingly, the control options to avoid unnecessary delays and security scanning in dealing with containers are suggested.

Functional limitation and chronic diseases are associated with food insecurity among U.S. adults

We examined associations of functional limitation and chronic disease with food insecurity using the 2011 National Health Interview Survey for 30,010 adults (≥18 y). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted OR and 95% CI for having functional limitation due to any health problems and chronic disease with or without food insecurity after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Food security scale was used to define food secure (score 0–2), low food secure (3–5), and very low food secure (6–10). About 87% were food secure, yet 13% were food insecure. Odds of having functional limitation was higher in low food secure adults (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.63, 2.14) and very low food secure adults (OR=2.19, 95% CI=1.91, 2.52) than food secure adults. Those with low food security had higher odds for stroke (OR=1.51, 95% CI=1.12, 2.04), arthritis (OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.21, 1.68), and diabetes (OR=1.26, 95% CI=1.06, 1.51); those with very low food security had higher odds for CHD (OR=1.75, 95% CI=1.37, 2.24), arthritis (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.49, 2.04), hypertension (OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.22, 1.65) and heart attack (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.08, 1.81) than food secure adults. Findings indicate food insecurity is associated with functional limitation and chronic disease, while directionality is unknown. Interventions may need to include reducing food insecurity to reduce chronic diseases and functional limitation.Grant Funding Source: none

Are physical activity and food insecurity associated with depressive feelings in U.S. adults?

We examined associations between depressive feelings and food security while controlling for physical activity (PA) in a nationally representative sample using the 2011 National Health Interview Survey data for 29,981 U.S. adults (≥18 years). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for associations between food security and having depressive feelings after controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Food security scale was used to define food secure (score 0–2), low food secure (3–5), and very low food secure (6–10). About 87% were food secure, 6.6% were low food secure and 5.2% were very low food secure. Regardless of PA status, both low and very low food secure adults had higher odds of having each of 6 depressive feelings compared to physically active, food secure adults. For example, very low food secure, physically inactive adults had higher odds for feeling sad (OR=3.40, 95% CI=2.75, 4.20), nervous (OR=2.47, 95% CI=1.98, 3.07), restless/fidgety (OR=3.00, 95% CI=2.36, 3.82), hopeless (OR=3.28, 95% CI=2.62, 4.09), everything was an effort (OR=3.13, 95% CI=2.51, 3.89), and worthless (OR=3.68, 95% CI=2.86, 4.75) than physically active, food secure adults. Although the directionality of our associations is unknown, our findings suggest that food insecure, physically inactive adults tend to have more depressive feelings.Grant Funding Source: None

Changing the Conversation About Hunger: The Process of Developing Freshplace

Despite public and private food assistance programs, food insecurity and hunger are persistent public health problems. Freshplace is an innovative food pantry collaborative whose goal is to build long-term food security and self-sufficiency among residents of the North End of Hartford, Connecticut. Freshplace was founded by Foodshare (FS), the Chrysalis Center (CC), Inc., and the Junior League of Hartford (JLH), Inc., who then partnered with the University of Connecticut to design and evaluate the program. This article describes the community-based participatory research process involved with developing and evaluating Freshplace. We are conducting a randomized, controlled study to compare 100 Freshplace members with 100 people who receive food from traditional food pantries. Main outcome measures include food security, self-sufficiency, and diet quality. Change scores are compared from baseline to 3 months using independent t tests. Freshplace opened in July 2010. We have recruited 233 people to participate in the study. Over 3 months, Freshplace members had larger change scores than the comparison group in food security scores (1.6 vs. 0.7 points; p < .01), and fruit and vegetable intake (1.9 vs. -1.4 points; p < .01). Freshplace is a successful, community- university partnership bringing together three community agencies and a state university. This is the first food pantry intervention to be evaluated, and preliminary results are promising.

A Software Security Assessment System Based On Analysis of Vulnerabilities

In recent years, software security plays an important role in verifying system safety and avoiding the casualties and property losses, but it is difficult to assess system security in traditional software engineering and software test. Focusing on the software security assessment system, this paper based on the vulnerability analysis method, which takes the advantage of both qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis to assess the security of software. The major methods of domestic and foreign software security measurement are discussed. Through the comparative analysis of existing vulnerability rating system, especially the CVSS and VRSS, this paper discovers their respective advantages and proposes a more accurate rating system to obtain the final security score of the software system. An example application is provided in the paper, which shows that the assessment system we proposed is practical.

The Application Of Women Towards Food Safety

Objective: This study aims to determine the applications of women towards food safety during purchasing, preparing, cooking, storing foods and factors affecting these implementations. Tools and Method: The study included 300 women, who resided in Ankara, were randomly chosen, were volunteered to join study and were responsible for purchasing and preparing food. The survey used in the study consisted of sections as demographical information, food purchasing, food cooking, vehicle hygiene, and personal hygiene. The frequencies of women in implementing these practices towards women were scored and statistical operations were made according to these scores. Findings: 28.0% of the women participating in the study were high school graduate, and 44.3% of them were university graduate. Their average age was 35.43±11.39 years. The lower the ages of women were, the significantly higher their food purchasing scores (FPRS), food preparing scores (FPS), food storing score (FSS), personal hygiene score (PHS) and total food security score (TFSS) were (p< 0.05). The increase in the income levels of women results in the increase in FPS (p= 0.015) and vehicle hygiene score (VHS) (p= 0.007). Statistically significant difference was found between education levels and FPRS and food cooking score (FCS) (p< 0.005). Result: Educational and income levels of women affect their applications towards food safety. The individuals domestically responsible for food preparing require education to provide hygiene in food preparing, storing, etc. applications. Women should be given trainings about food safety and personal hygiene.

DUNDRUM-2: Prospective validation of a structured professional judgment instrument assessing priority for admission from the waiting list for a forensic mental health hospital

BackgroundThe criteria for deciding who should be admitted first from a waiting list to a forensic secure hospital are not necessarily the same as those for assessing need. Criteria were drafted qualitatively and tested in a prospective 'real life' observational study over a 6-month period.MethodsA researcher rated all those presented at the weekly referrals meeting using the DUNDRUM-1 triage security scale and the DUNDRUM-2 triage urgency scale. The key outcome measure was whether or not the individual was admitted.ResultsInter-rater reliability and internal consistency for the DUNDRUM-2 were acceptable. The DUNDRUM-1 triage security score and the DUNDRUM-2 triage urgency score correlated r = 0.663. At the time of admission, after a mean of 23.9 (SD35.9) days on the waiting list, those admitted had higher scores on the DUNDRUM-2 triage urgency scale than those not admitted, with no significant difference between locations (remand or sentenced prisoners, less secure hospitals) at the time of admission. Those admitted also had higher DUNDRUM-1 triage security scores. At baseline the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for a combined score was the best predictor of admission while at the time of admission the DUNDRUM-2 triage urgency score had the largest AUC (0.912, 95% CI 0.838 to 0.986).ConclusionsThe triage urgency items and scale add predictive power to the decision to admit. This is particularly true in maintaining equitability between those referred from different locations.

Mother-Child Attachment Representation and Relationships Over Time in Mexican-Heritage Families

Continuity and intergenerational transmission of representations of attachment were examined in a longitudinal sample of 88 Mexican immigrant mothers and their children who participated in the local intervention group of the Early Head Start Evaluation Study. The authors interviewed mothers with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Parent Attachment Interview (PAI). Mothers and children were observed when the children were 14 months old with the Attachment Q-Set (AQS), and children were interviewed at 54 months with the MacArthur Story Stem Battery. Early maternal AAI and PAI scores were associated with toddler-age children's AQS scores and preschool Story Stem scores. Mothers who were more secure in their attachment representations in the AAI had children who were also more secure, as measured by the AQS and in their Story Stem narratives. Mothers' high comfort and low enmeshment PAI scores predicted children's Story Stem security. Mothers' AAI security scores predicted children's Story Stem narrative coherence.

The factor structure of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA): A survey of Italian adolescents

Despite the intensive use of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), a measure of attachment which centres on individual differences in adolescents and their ability to evaluate their relationships with parents and peers, the factor structure of the inventory requires further investigation. This study of 1059 Italian adolescents compared the three models which are discussed in the literature: the one-factor model (attachment security), the two-factor model (trust–communication and alienation) and the three-factor model (trust, communication and alienation), and examined the influences of age and gender on the IPPA’s scores. Our findings provide support for the reliability of the latest and longer version of the IPPA (75-item). Factor analysis showed that the three-factor model had the best fit, although the three dimensions are strongly interrelated. Sixteen year olds had lower attachment security to their fathers than the results of the other adolescent age groups. Males reported lower alienation scores than females in the paternal form, while females had higher attachment security, trust and communication scores than males in the peers form.