Security Scores Research Articles

NetSentinel applications for website security

NetSentinel is an extensive web security platform designed to scan, detect and protect websites from potential vulnerabilities and cyber-threats. NetSentinel offers a proactive approach to strengthen and safeguard the website’s security, in an era where data breaches and cyber-attacks are common. The platform analyzes critical security features like SSL security validity, DNSSEC implementation, threat detection, security headers, firewall, and open ports. The main feature of the platform is the scoring mechanism, which assesses the website’s overall security to ensure it is protected from potential threats. The scoring method assigns different weights to the various security features according to their importance in the calculation. This scoring system helps users focus on the most important vulnerabilities and gives clear, practical advice on how to mitigate risks. Along with the main scoring feature the platform also includes 24 other critical security features which are Server location, Whois, DNS Data, DNS Records, Archives, Carbon Footprint, TLS Cipher Suites, TLS Security Configuration, TLS Handshake Simulation, Status, Traceroute, Blocklists, Pages, Social Tags, Headers, HSTS Check, Domain Rank, Tranco Rank, Linked Pages, Mail Services, Redirects, Security Txt, Robots Txt. NetSentinel breaks down complex information into a simple, easy to understand security score, which makes security assessment easier. It also offers clear explanations of the issues and provides step-by-step recommendations on how to fix them, helping users improve their overall security without needing advanced technical knowledge to be possessed. Using this platform, organizations can enhance their site’s ability to withstand cyber threats, ensuring data integrity and secure communication. NetSentinel helps users take control of their web security by balancing technical accuracy with easy-to-use interfaces, making it simple for everyone to stay proactive about their safety online.

Water resource safety assessment of the Hexi inland river of China based on the PSR model

ABSTRACT The Hexi Corridor is located in northwest China, and its water resources mainly rely on meltwater from the Qilian Mountains and limited precipitation. The Hexi Corridor is an important regional population center and grain production area. However, limited rainfall restricts regional development due to inadequate water resources. Assessing water resource security in the Hexi region and providing targeted recommendations are crucial for rational planning and utilization of water resources, protecting the ecological environment, and promoting development. This study employs the entropy weight method to construct a pressure-state-response (PSR) system, assessing the water resource security of various river basins in the Hexi inland area. The evaluation results indicate that since the 21st century, the comprehensive water resource security scores of the three river basins have shown an upward trend. Specifically, the economic and social systems of the Shule River Basin and Heihe River Basin are improving, while their natural systems are declining; all three systems in the Shiyang River Basin are improving. Based on these results, targeted recommendations for different areas are proposed, providing a basis for enhancing water resource security in the region.

Rivest-Shamir-Adleman Algorithm Optimized to Protect IoT Devices from Specific Attacks

IoT devices are crucial in this modern world in many ways, as they provide support for environmental sensing, automation, and responsible resource conservation. The immense presence of IoT devices in everyday life is inevitable in the smart world. The predominant usage of IoT devices lurks the prying eyes of intentional hackers. Though there are several precautionary security systems and protocols available for generic wireless networks, it is observed that there is a need to formulate a state-of-the-art security mechanism exclusively for IoT network environments. This work is submitted here for the betterment of IoT network security. Three dedicated contributions are integrated in this work to achieve higher security scores in IoT network environments. Fast Fuzzy Anomaly Detector, Legacy Naïve Bayes Attack Classifiers, and Variable Security Schemer of Rivest-Shamir-Adleman algorithm are the novel modules introduced in this work abbreviated as ASORI. Captivating the advantages of the onboard IoT certification mechanism and selecting a dynamic security strategy are the novelties introduced in this work. ASORI model is tested with industrial standard network simulator OPNET to ensure the improved security along with vital network performance parameter betterments.

Food insecurity, dietary inadequacy, and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip: a cross-sectional nutritional assessment of refugee children entering the first grade of UNRWA schools and their households before the conflict of 2023–24

Gaza has long been subjected to food insecurity; however, little was known about the influence of food insecurity on the nutritional wellbeing of schoolchildren. To fill this gap, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which provides humanitarian relief to Palestine refugees, assessed the nutritional status, diet, and food security of refugee children about to enter first grade (aged 4-10 years, mean age 72·1 months) in mid-2023 during a required health examination. As part of an annual School Entrance Health Examinations that began in May, a cross-sectional food security and nutritional assessment was added from July 8, to Sept 7, 2023, during which children being examined at six study-designated UNRWA clinics across Gaza were systematically sampled (in a 1:4 ratio) and parental or guardian consent sought for their participation. Household food security was assessed by a seven-point Arab Family food Security Scale score, and respondents were asked about family receipt of food assistance. The 1-week meal patterns of the children were probed, and intake frequencies of 49 foods in the past month categorised into ten nutritious food groups to assess diet diversity. The weight, height, and haemoglobin concentrations (assessed with a photometric analyser) of the children were measured. The UNRWA Research Review Board approved all study procedures. Approximately 34 000 children underwent the annual School Entrance Health Examination in Gaza in May, 2023 and approximately 16 000 children were estimated to have completed the additional food security and nutritional assessments from July 8, to early Sept 7, 2023, of whom 3814 were systematically sampled at six UNRWA clinics across Gaza, with 3229 (84·7%) parents or guardians consenting for their children to participate. 3155 were interviewed about household food security with a seven-point Arab Family Food Security Score, and 3212 were asked about food assistance receipt. 2694 (83·9%) of 3212 households were on food assistance, 787 (24·9%) of 3155 were classified as food secure (0-2 points), 1025 (32·5%) were classified as moderately (3-5 points) food insecure, and 1343 (42·6%) as severely food insecure (6-7 points). 219 (28·5%) of 768 children reported missing breakfast and 213 (28·4%) of 750 reported missing dinner in the food-secure group, 438 (47·2%) of 928 reported missing breakfast and 426 (45·6%) of 934 reported missing dinner in the moderately food-insecure group, and 956 (75·5%) of 1267 reported missing breakfast and 951 (74·8%) of 1272 reported missing dinner in the severely food-insecure group. Lunch was missed daily by 30 (3·8%) of 786 children in the food-secure group, 54 (5·3%) of 1023 in the moderately food-insecure group, and 193 (14·5%) of 1334 in the severely food-insecure group. Diets were poor in dairy items, meat, poultry, fish, pulses, eggs, and vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruit, and 2225 (68·9%) of 3229 children did not consume a minimally diverse diet every day (≥5 nutritious food groups). 72 (2·5%) of 2913 children had stunting and 129 (4·4%) of 2913 had wasting (less than -2 Z scores), and 963 (29·8%) of 3229 had anaemia (haemoglobin <11·5 g/dL). Boys and girls were similar in their diets, anthropometric Z scores, and prevalence of anaemia. Gazan families with children about to enter first grade were food insecure and reliant on food assistance, possibly protecting the anthropometric status of the children, whose diets however lacked diversity. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vitamin Angels Alliance, USA. For the Arabic translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Documenting Food Insecure U.S. Children in the Wake of the Pandemic

Many households experienced significant negative economic impacts from job or work opportunity loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, including loss of income, loss of employer-provided health insurance, possible housing insecurity, and increases in food insecurity. Results from a sample of 929 U.S. households show that 53% of households with children reported some indications of food insecurity in 2020. The food security score divergences between households with and without children are stark, with food insecurity being worse among households with children. Food insecurity for households with children was exacerbated by pandemic-era disruptions; the societal costs of these food insecurity challenges are only beginning to be recognized. This analysis adds evidence to the notion of the uneven toll of the pandemic and documents explicit and disproportionate negative consequences for households with children. As new policies are debated and economic recovery continues, households with children who have fallen down the socioeconomic ladder should not be omitted. Much of the attention during the pandemic has been on older segments of the population more susceptible to COVID-19 and its complications, while younger children, who were less susceptible initially and/or less obviously impacted by the virus itself were discounted. Pandemic ramifications expand beyond morbidity and loss of life, and long-ranging implications, especially for households with children, should be recognized when recovery-era policies are enacted to ensure they are not left behind. In particular, as pandemic-era support programs, including school lunch programs, expire the tolls on children mount and may be underappreciated.

Elucidating the influences of social determinants of health on perceived overall health among African American/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors using the NIH All of Us Research Program

ObjectivesTo evaluate the influences of social determinants of health (SDOH) on perceived health and well-being among African American (AA)/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using overall health and SDOH survey data collected by the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program from May 2017 to September 2023. ResultsWhile 1250 enrolled participants with ovarian cancer met the inclusion criteria, 414 (33%) completed SDOH surveys: 29 (7%) AA/Black, 33 (8%) Hispanic, and 352 (85%) White. In the ordinal logistic regression models, for every unit increase in the SDOH neighborhood characteristics score, the odds of having a poor perception of general health decreased by 0.96 times. For every unit increase in the SDOH day-to-day discrimination score, the odds of having a poor perception of general health, general mental health, social satisfaction decreased by 0.95, 0.94 and 0.93 times respectively. For every unit increase in the SDOH food and housing security score, the odds of having a poor perception of general health decreased by 0.57 times. Compared to White ovarian cancer survivors, AA/Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors were significantly more likely to have a poor perception of general health, general mental health, and social satisfaction even when adjusting for these SDOH. ConclusionsUnfavorable SDOH conditions negatively influence the overall perception of health. These findings signal an urgency for healthcare professionals and scientists to partner together with local communities in designing feasible and imaginative interventions to overcome cancer care disparities in an equitable manner.

Attachment security and disorganization in infants of mothers with severe psychiatric disorder: Exploring the role of comorbid personality disorder

The aim of this preliminary study was to explore infant-mother attachment quality in a Dutch clinical sample of mothers with severe psychiatric disorder, with or without comorbid personality disorder. Thirty-two mothers were recruited through specialized secondary and tertiary outpatient clinics and mental health institutions. Maternal psychiatric and personality diagnoses were verified with structured clinical interviews during pregnancy. Maternal concurrent level of psychiatric symptoms was assessed by self-report and infant-mother attachment quality by observation in the Strange Situation Procedure at 14 months postpartum. In the full sample, almost half of the infants were classified as disorganized. All infants of mothers with a comorbid personality disorder were classified as either insecure or disorganized. Infants of mothers with a comorbid personality disorder had a significantly higher disorganization score than infants of mothers with a psychiatric disorder only. Continuous attachment security scores did not differ significantly between groups. In the full sample, continuous infant attachment security and disorganization score were not significantly correlated with the level of maternal concurrent psychiatric symptoms. Our exploratory findings suggest a specific link between maternal psychiatric and comorbid personality disorder and attachment disorganization. Moreover, chronicity of symptoms appears more relevant for attachment behaviors than the severity of concurrent psychiatric symptoms. Maternal personality disorder may have a strong formative impact on infant attachment security and disorganization, which warrants further research to inform clinical practice, in order to reduce the risk of intergenerational transmission of maternal psychopathology.

Safety and Patient-Reported outcomes of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in stage IIIB/IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation, ALK rearrangement or ROS1 fusion progressing after targeted therapies (GFPC 06–2018 study)

BackgroundIn an open-label multicenter non-randomized non-comparative phase II study in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), oncogenic addiction (EGFR mutation or ALK/ROS1 fusion), with disease progression after tyrosine-kinase inhibitor and no prior chemotherapy (NCT04042558), atezolizumab, carboplatin, pemetrexed with or without bevacizumab showed some promising result. Beyond the clinical evaluation, we assessed safety and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to provide additional information on the relative impact of adding atezolizumab to chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab in this population. MaterialsPatients received platinum-pemetrexed-atezolizumab-bevacizumab (PPAB cohort) or, if not eligible, platinum-pemetrexed-atezolizumab (PPA cohort). The incidence, nature, and severity of adverse events (AEs) were assessed. PROs were evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-Core 30 and EORTC QLQ-Lung Cancer 13). ResultOverall, 68 (PPAB) and 72 (PPA) patients were evaluable for safety. Grade 3–4 AEs occurred in 83.8% (PPAB) and 63.9% (PPA). Grade 3–4 atezolizumab-related AEs occurred in 29.4% and 19.4%, respectively. Grade 3–4 bevacizumab-related AEs occurred in 36.8% (PPAB). Most frequent grade 3–4 AEs were neutropenia (19.1% in PPAB; 23.6% in PPA) and asthenia (16.2% in PPAB; 9.7% in PPA). In PPAB, we observed a global stability in global health security (GHS) score, fatigue and dyspnea with a constant tendency of improvement, and a significant improvement in cough. In PPA, we observed a significant improvement in GHS score with a significant improvement in fatigue, dyspnea and cough. At week 54, we observed an improvement from baseline in GHS score for 49.2% of patients. In both cohorts, patients reported on average no clinically significant worsening in their overall health or physical functioning scores. ConclusionPPAB and PPA combinations seem tolerable and manageable in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-squamous NSCLC with oncogenic addiction (EGFR mutation or ALK/ROS1 fusion) after targeted therapies.

Household food security and WASH practices in children with undernutrition: a case study in low middle income area in Semarang, Indonesia

Purpose: This study analyzed the correlation between household food security (HFS) and WASH practices toward nutritional status in children with undernutrition. Methods: This type of research was analytically observational with a cross-sectional design. The sample in this study was 55 mothers with children with a history of undernutrition aged 6 to 23 months. The Rank Spearman test was conducted to analyze this study. Results: The prevalence of stunted and severely stunted was 34.55%, respectively; underweight and severely underweight were 36.36%, respectively; and wasted and severely wasted were 30.91 and 16.36% respectively. The percentage of respondents with mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity were 23.6, 7.3, and 12.7% respectively. The average value of WASH practices was rated as good among all respondents. Household food security score was associated with WAZ (p=0.008 and r=0.352) and HAZ (p=0.027 and r=0.299) but was not associated with WHZ (p=0.067; r=0.248). WASH practice was associated with WAZ (p=0.000; r=0.504), HAZ (p=0.000; r=0.455), and WHZ (p=0.000; r=0.334). Conclusion: There were still conditions of severe food insecurity and undernutrition problems that need the focus of attention. There is a need for monitoring by looking at certain aspects, such as HFS and WASH practices in reducing undernutrition.

The Influence of Social Capital and Human Capital on Food Security in Karangpatihan Village, Indonesia

Agriculture is vital to food security because it provides food, clothing, and shelter. Based on the 2022 Indonesian Food Security Index (IKP), Ponorogo Regency is ranked 19th out of 416 districts throughout Indonesia, with a food security score of 86.20. However, there will be a decline in rice production in Ponorogo Regency in 2022. It will, of course, impact the condition of food security in villages, one of which is Karangpatihan Village. Social capital is a fundamental aspect of creating sustainable agricultural development. This concept refers to the beliefs, networks, values, and norms facilitating cooperation and collective action to achieve common goals. The strong trust between farmers is vital to fostering cooperation and strengthening their social networks. A good social network reflects mutually agreed-upon norms for establishing relationships and interacting. This research aims to identify the influence of farmers' social and human capital in supporting food security in Karangpatihan Village. Research data was obtained based on questionnaires from 250 farmers in Karangpatihan Village. The analysis used is structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, which is used to identify the influence between variables. Based on SEM analysis, there is a positive direct relationship between social capital and food security variables. Meanwhile, the direct relationship between human capital and food security variables is negative.

Relationship between Food Security, Nutrition Security, and Diabetes: The Role of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation

BackgroundInadequate nutrition and poor diet quality are associated with a heightened risk of diabetes. The connection between food insecurity measures and diabetes has been established, with evidence indicating that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation contributes to reductions in food insecurity. Recently developed nutrition security measures, defined as the ability to acquire healthful foods to prevent diseases, and their association with diabetes and SNAP participation are not yet understood. ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the relationship between food security and nutrition security in relation to diabetes overall and by SNAP participation and nutrition security as potential modifiers. MethodsSecondary data analysis of cross-sectional pilot study data collected from adults in 5 US states (N = 517). Logistic regression mixed models included moderation analysis and clustering effects by state to address site-level confounding. ResultsHigher nutrition security scores among adults, after adjusting for confounders, were significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes risk (adjusted odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 0.87; P value = 0.008). Statistically significant interaction effect of differences according to SNAP participation was observed for nutrition security (Phomogeneity/interaction = 0.021), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, employment, National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, food pantry use, household with children, survey mode, and food security. The association between food security and diabetes was not statistically significant overall. However, statistically significant interaction effect of differences according to SNAP participation was observed for food security (Phomogeneity/interaction = 0.047). Further, no interaction effect of differences in nutrition security was found between food security and self-reported diabetes/prediabetes (Phomogeneity/interaction = 0.250). ConclusionsThis study sheds light on the early exploration of the intricate relationship between nutrition security and diabetes. The findings suggest that a higher nutrition security score, after adjusting for confounders, was significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes risk. Notably, there were statistically significant interaction effects in these associations based on SNAP participation.

A framework for automating environmental vulnerability analysis of network services

The primary objective of this paper is to introduce a comprehensive framework designed to automate the assessment of environmental vulnerability status of communication protocols and networked services, within operational contexts. The proposed algorithm leverages the Common Vulnerability Scoring System version 3 (CVSS 3) metrics in conjunction with network security data. The initial step involves the establishment of a network security ontology, which serves to model the environmental attributes associated with the current security posture of communication protocol channels available within an infrastructure. The process commences with the identification and enumeration of all active communication services through a combination of diverse information gathering tools. Subsequently, active network services undergo assessment using a blend of passive scanning and active security analysis tools, which produce the environmental security score. This score can be integrated into vulnerability scoring systems such as CVSS, facilitating the fine-tuning of base CVSS scores, as well as vulnerability mitigation in real-world environments. To validate the proposed framework, we conducted testing across various networks and communication protocols within a controlled environment, thereby offering tangible illustrations for widely-utilized communication protocols.

Construction of China's food security evaluation index system and spatiotemporal evolution.

Food security is a vital material foundation for a nation's development and has been a topic of significant concern on the international stage in recent years. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, China is not only a major producer but also a substantial consumer of food. Ensuring food security in China is not only a top priority for its socio-economic development but also a driving force in maintaining the stability of the global food supply chain and reducing the number of hungry people worldwide. However, a lack of comprehensive research into the Chinese food security system remains. This study addresses this gap by constructing a comprehensive evaluation framework encompassing four dimensions: food supply, accessibility, production stability, and sustainability. Utilizing the Moran's Index and generating LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Association) maps, we analyze the spatial correlations of food security. The Dagum Gini coefficient and kernel density estimation are applied to assess heterogeneity and spatial disparities. Furthermore, this research employs the Exponential Smoothing (ETS) model to forecast food security trends. The findings reveal that the overall composite food security score exhibited fluctuations, initially increasing and reaching its peak of 0.407 in 2003, followed by a subsequent sharp decline after 2019. Spatially, food security exhibits correlations, with the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and Northeast regions consistently showing high-high clustering. In contrast, the Western and Southern regions exhibit low-low clustering at specific periods. The Dagum Gini coefficient indicates that overall food security disparities are relatively small. However, these disparities have gradually expanded in recent years, with inter-group differences becoming predominant after 2005. As indicated by the kernel density estimation, the dynamic distribution of food security initially widens and then narrows, suggesting a shift from dispersed to concentrated data distribution. This phenomenon is accompanied by polarization and convergence trends, particularly evident after 2015. According to the ETS model, the study forecasts a substantial risk of declining food security in China over the next decade, largely influenced by the ongoing pandemic. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of the changing status of food security in China. It offers early warnings through predictive analysis, addressing the existing research gaps in the field of food security.

Household Food Security is Associated with Central Obesity but Not with Overweight and Obesity in Early Adolescence in the City of Colombo in Sri Lanka: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of overnutrition among early adolescents in the city of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka is rising steeply and the precise reason for the epidemic remains unclear. According to the insurance hypothesis, proximate driver of obesity could be food insecurity rather than food abundance per se. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the association between household food security status and overweight, obesity and central obesity in early adolescence in the city of Colombo. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using 634 randomly selected adolescents aged 11-13 years in the city of Colombo, in which subjects were recruited using multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Household food security score was assessed using USDA 18 Item Household Food Security/ Hunger Survey Module, while height, weight and waist circumference were measured. BMI-for-age Z score was calculated using WHO AnthroPlus software and waist: height ratio was calculated. Partial correlation between household food security score and BMI-for-age Z score and waist:height ratio were analyzed, after adjusting for daily energy intake, physical activity level, pubertal stage, birth weight and age. Results: Household food security score was not associated with BMI-for-age Z score (p&gt;0.05). Household food security score was inversely and weakly (r=-0.373) associated with waist:height ratio (p = 0.002) in girls but not in boys. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity are not associated with food security status, however food secure girls tend to have more fat distribution in the abdominal area.

“I have no idea how I will get a stipend”: the impact of COVID-19 on graduate students’ financial security

In this study, we investigated graduate students’ financial security during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Spring 2022 semester, the continued changes brought on by the precautionary measures implemented presented difficulties for both faculty and graduates. In this mixed methods study, we surveyed graduate students (N = 258) at a public research university to explore the pandemic’s effects on their financial security. Through the sign test analyses, we found a significant decrease in graduate students’ financial security scores during the pandemic, and particular groups of students were more susceptible to decreased financial security. The thematic analysis further explored the financial security decrease and identified inflation and economic downturns, and the suspension of work or financial support as two main challenges graduate students confronted during the pandemic. Both quantitative and qualitative findings reflected the financial stress and hardship confronted by graduate students during the pandemic. It was implied that extra financial support and consultation should be provided to students with meager stipends or student loans. The results further informed the academic community to foster the culture of care inside academia, by addressing graduate students’ financial concerns properly in the post-pandemic period.

Assessing the Quality, Privacy, and Security of Breast Cancer Apps for Arabic Speakers: Systematic Search and Review of Smartphone Apps.

Breast cancer is a widespread disease, and its incidence is rapidly increasing in the Middle East and North Africa region. With the increasing availability of smartphone apps for various health purposes, breast cancer apps have emerged as tools for raising awareness, providing support, and empowering women affected by this disease. These apps offer many features, including information on breast cancer risk factors, self-examination guides, appointment reminders, and community support groups or hotlines. Using apps raises the risk of privacy and security issues, and we hope that examining these features of the apps will contribute to the understanding of how technology can be used to improve these apps and provide insights for future development and improvement of breast cancer apps. This study aims to critically review the quality, privacy, and security of breast cancer apps available to Arabic speakers. Similar to several recent studies, we used a systematic search for apps available in Google Play and Apple App stores using both the web interface and the built-in native stores installed on smartphones. The search was conducted in mid-December 2022 in Arabic using the following keywords: سرطان الثدي - فحص سرطان الثدي - علاج سرطان الثدي - مرض سرطان الثدي - أعراض سرطان الثدي - فحص الثدي (breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, breast cancer disease, breast cancer symptoms, breast cancer screening, and breast test). These preidentified search terms are based on earlier work concerning the top searched breast cancer topics by Arabic speakers through Google's search engine. We excluded apps that did not have an Arabic interface, were developed for non-Arabic speakers, were paid, needed a subscription, or were directed toward health care workers. The Mobile App Rating Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the apps concerning their engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information. A risk score was calculated for the apps to determine their security risk factors. Only 9 apps were included, with most (6/9, 67%) being supported by advertisements and categorized as informational. Overall, the apps had low numbers of downloads (>10 to >1000). The majority of the included apps (8/9, 89%) requested dangerous access permissions, including access to storage, media files, and the camera. The average security score of the included apps was 3.22, while only 2 apps provided information about data security and privacy. The included apps achieved an overall average quality score of 3.27, with individual dimension scores of 4.75 for functionality, 3.04 for information, 3.00 for aesthetics, and 2.32 for engagement. The limited availability of breast cancer apps available to Arabic speakers should be a call to action and prompt health care organizations and developers to join forces and collaboratively develop information-rich, usable, functional, engaging, and secure apps.

Do food security indicators vary between male and female-headed households? Evidence from legume farmers in Western Kenya

IntroductionFood security is an important aspect of sustainable development at global, national and local levels. However, differences in resource endowments and control thereof, may privilege some households and regions than others. As a result, households’ diets may be varied leading to differences in food security status. Various initiatives that seek to diversify diets through legume integration on farms have been promoted in developing countries; but, their effects on household food security remains undocumented. In order to address the above knowledge gap, this study compares the food security indicators of male and female-headed households that integrate legumes in their farms in Nandi County, Kenya.MethodsUsing cross-sectional data from 374 respondents, various food security scores were computed. Subsequently, the ordinary least squares regression model was applied to determine factors that influence the food security scores.Results and discussionThe results revealed that the food security scores were in the normal range; acceptable food consumption score of 62.20 and medium household dietary diversity score of 5.24. In both the male- and female-headed households; land size, access to credit and distance to nearest open-air market from the household significantly affected food security scores positively, while number of meals per day had significant negative effect. Further, in the male-headed households, the food security score was positively affected by household size and years of farming experience, while the household head’s age negatively affected the food security score. These findings provide useful insights on the need to target specific interventions that support the attainment of desired levels of food security in male- and female-headed households based on their distinct levels of resource endowments and control.

Food Insecurity Among Aging SNAP Participants and Eligible Nonparticipants in Two Predominantly Low-Income Black Neighborhoods: Implications for SNAP Enrollment and Outreach for Older Adults

BackgroundThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a critical role in alleviating poverty and food insecurity. Despite these benefits, many older Americans who are eligible for SNAP do not participate in the program. Few studies have explored household factors and food insecurity outcomes associated with nonparticipation among older Black Americans. ObjectivesThe study aim was to explore changes in food insecurity and related financial hardship outcomes between 2020 and 2021 among SNAP participants, eligible nonparticipants, and ineligible nonparticipants; compare reasons for not participating in SNAP; and to compare household factors associated with SNAP nonparticipation. MethodsLongitudinal design examining data from 2020 and 2021 to assess changes in food insecurity over the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Participants/settingParticipants were 528 adults (aged 30 to 97 years) in households randomly selected from a listing of all residential addresses in two predominantly Black neighborhoods with lower incomes in Pittsburgh, PA, and surveyed between March to May 2020 and May to December 2021. Main outcome measuresFood security was measured using the validated 6-item US Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Survey Module. Statistical analyses performedFindings are based on a descriptive analysis of food security and related indicators. Statistical testing was performed to assess differences between SNAP participation status and individual characteristics, food security, and financial hardship using Wald F test for continuous measures and Pearson χ2 test for categorical measures. A multivariable linear model was used to assess the association of SNAP participation and eligibility status with change in food insecurity. ResultsIn cross-sectional analyses of 2021 data, no differences were observed between SNAP participants and eligible nonparticipants for food insecurity, food bank use, mean weekly food spending per person, and difficulty paying for basics. However, with respect to changes in food insecurity over the course of the pandemic, SNAP participants experienced a greater improvement in mean food security scores between 2020 and 2021 (–0.52 reduction in mean food insecurity score or a 16% improvement in food security; P ≤ 0.05) relative to SNAP-eligible nonparticipants. Perceived ineligibility (71.3%) and perceived lack of need (23%) were the most common reasons for not participating in SNAP. ConclusionsMore than one-third of SNAP participants and eligible nonparticipants experienced food insecurity and financial hardship. However, there were differences in the changes in food insecurity between these groups.

Food insecurity, Mediterranean diet adherence, and psychosocial health among university students in Türkiye

ABSTRACT The aim was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, academic achievement, depression, anxiety, and stress among university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2039 university students studying in Türkiye. Sixty-eight point two per cent of the students were food insecure. Food security (FS) scores were negatively associated with adherence to the MD and academic achievement, and positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress scores. A 1-unit increase in FS score resulted in a statistically significant increase of 0.458, 0.468, and 0.400 units in depression, anxiety, and stress scores, respectively, and a significant decrease of 0.140 units in the MD adherence screener score. Food insecurity among university students in Türkiye is very common, and students with food insecurity have low adherence to the MD and low academic achievement and high depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Financial support as well as financial and food literacy provided to students play an important role in managing food insecurity.

SecureSIoTChain: A relationship enhanced Blockchain Operational Security Framework for the Social Internet of Things

The Social Internet of Things (SIoT) is a fast growing technology that autonomously connects things, allowing for exchange of information depending on relationships. However, the open nature of SIoT exposes it to various security challenges, such as default passwords, brute-forcing attacks, data privacy breaches, and an increasing number of IoT botnets. To address these vulnerabilities, a novel operational security framework for SIoT, leveraging the robust properties of blockchain technology. The primary objectives of the operational security model are to establish a secure and trusted environment in SIoT, protect sensitive data, ensure reliable device authentication, and enable secure and encrypted communication in SIoT operations. The proposed model combines key features of blockchain, including decentralization, immutability, transparency, and cryptographic mechanisms, with SIoT security operations. Techniques like encryption, anonymization and differential privacy are employed to preserve privacy in SIoT devices and safeguard sensitive data. An empirical assessment of this operational security framework yields promising outcomes in the pursuit of its defined objectives. It furnishes a decentralized and tamper-proof foundation for device authentication, thereby cementing the trustworthiness of SIoT devices. Moreover, the proposed Graph Neural Network (GNN) model eclipses the performance of traditional models, boasting a 95% accuracy, a 96% precision, a 95% recall, and a 95% F1-score. This achievement can be attributed to the incorporation of computations that encapsulate both transitivity and composability among devices. In tandem, the suggested framework emerges triumphant when compared to other methodologies, spanning diverse metrics such as throughput, latency, security score, privacy score, and trust score. Notably, this framework not only secures communication but also upholds data integrity and confidentiality, ensuring exclusive access to SIoT devices and data by authorized entities. The proposed SIoT framework, with 280 Tx/s throughput, 2.2 seconds latency, 9.5 security score, 9.0 privacy score, and 9.5 trust score, outperforms other authors’ models across all the parameters.