Some Efficient Solutions to Yao's Millionaire Problem

We present three simple and efficient protocol constructions to solve Yao's Millionaire Problem when the parties involved are non-colluding and semi-honest. The first construction uses a partially homomorphic Encryption Scheme and is a 4-round scheme using 2 encryptions, 2 homomorphic circuit evaluations (subtraction and XOR) and a single decryption. The second construction uses an untrusted third party and achieves a communication overhead linear in input bit-size with the help of an order preserving function.Moreover, the second construction does not require an apriori input bound and can work on inputs of different bit-sizes. The third construction does not use a third party and, even though, it has a quadratic communication overhead, it is a fairly simple construction.Comment: 17 page

Samuel Beckett’s Iconoclastic Deviation in the Implications of Language

The goal of this research is to look into the effects of the language used in the study of silences and inexpressibility in the theatre of absurd plays especially in the oeuvre of Samuel Beckett. Consideration will be given to various aspects and qualities of this kind of drama, including things like silence, pause, repetitions, the lack of a narrative or plot, the lack of recognisable or definable decor, the unorthodox nature of the dialogue, and the focus on global and universal issues rather than current problems. There was a global sense of meaninglessness and nothingness as a result of the changing state of the world, particularly as a result of the destructive effects of the Second World War. This brought about a sense of despair and disenchantment with the values that were traditionally upheld

Geranyl acetate esterase (GAE) inhibitory activity of Neolamarckia cadamba fruit extract

Neolamarckia cadamba commonly known as the kadamb tree-is well known in Ayurveda and other traditional literature in India for it’s plenty of medicinal properties. Here we report the unique property of the methanol extract of its fruit and a compound isolated from it to inhibit the geranyl acetate esterase (GAE) of lemongrass. The GAE inhibitory activities of the methanol extract and the compound were determined by three procedures, spectrophotometric para-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) assay, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and gas chromatography (GC). The results of p-NPA assay revealed that the fruit extract and its compound (10 mg/ml) caused significant inhibition (45%) of GAE activity as compared to the control. PAGE analysis revealed complete inhibition of one of the major isoenzyme of GAE (isoenzyme-II) by both the fruit extract and its isolated constituent. Gas chromatographic analysis showed the fruit extract and its compound caused drastic inhibition of GAE isoenzyme-II by 36 and 46%, respectively. The presence of –C=O and –OH groups in the compound as revealed by FTIR analysis indicated that it belongs to flavonoids. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on GAE inhibitory activity of N. cadamba fruit methanol extract and its isolated constituent which could be implicated in the future to decipher the catalytic mechanism of GAE. The purification and detailed characterization of the isolated compound is in progress

Multiple prolapsing mullerian vaginal cysts mimicking cystocele and enterocele

Multiple vaginal cysts are rare. Large cysts may present as vaginal wall prolapse. Proper assessment by clinical examination (under anaesthesia if necessary) and by USG and/or MRI should be done before surgical planning. Complete excision of cyst wall is necessary to prevent recurrence. A 40 years old P1L1 presented with mass per vaginum associated with pain and dyspareunia. On examination third degree cystocoele and a large posterior vaginal wall cyst with enterocoele was seen. Ultrasonography revealed no remarkable finding. Examination under anaesthesia followed by cyst excision was planned. Preoperatively three cysts were found, one on anterior wall mimicking as cystocoele, two cysts over prolapsed posterior vaginal wall, of which one had already ruptured. All the three cysts were excised completely. Histopathology revealed Mullerian cyst. This was an unusual case of multiple Mullerian vaginal cysts

A study on development changes in essential oil content and composition in Cymbopogon flexuosus cultivar Suvarna

Cymbopogon flexuosus (Steud.) cv. Suvarna produces an essential oil with unique lemon like aroma which is broadly used in flavors, fragrance, perfumery and pharmaceuticals. Here we report changes in essential oil content and compositions during C. flexuosus cv. Suvarna leaf development, leaf positions and leaf age. Essential oils were isolated by hydro-distillation of leaves harvested at six different developmental stages (10-50 days), 1st-5th leaf positions and three parts (basal, middle and apical) of the leaves. Analyses of essential oils by gas chromatography and GC-MS have identified 20 different terpenoids constituents with citral as the major monoterpene. The study showed that essential oil content was highest in early stages (10-20 days) of leaf development, then declined substantially. Similar pattern of essential oil content was observed between the 1st-5th leaf positions and the basal-apical parts within a leaf. Essential oil compositions were also markedly fluctuated. Percentage together of geranyl acetate and geraniol declined rapidly from 32% to 4% on 10th and 20th days, respectively; while percentage of citral (geranial + neral) increased correspondingly from 56% to 81% on 10th and 20th days, respectively. Similar changes in monoterpene composition were observed in leaf positions and leaf age (basal to apical part). Thus the study revealed that accumulation of essential oil depends on the developmental stages of the concerned plant parts and changes in essential oil content is also reflected by compositional changes in oil constituents

Forensic tool for sex prediction- hand dimensions

Background: Determination of sex from mutilated body fragments can perform vital role for identification of departed soul.Forensic authority pacts with human identification from the hand measurements which is of prodigious assessment during tragedies, terror attacks and in criminality. Objective: Present study explored the analytical role of the anthropometric measurements of hand dimensions, find demarking points for male and female, check percentage exactitude of sex determination in Western Indian population. Methods: The study was piloted on a sample of 504 individuals. All the measurements were taken by standard procedure. Discriminant analysis and demarking points were created for all hand measurements. Results: Males have a significantly higher values of all measurements than females. The left-hand length measurement unveiled  noteworthy sexual dimorphism index (110.80). The higher value of the demarking point labelled as males. The best sexually dimorphic hand dimensions showed the utmost precision left hand length (95% in the male), followed by right hand length (76.1%). Conclusion: All hand measurements like length, breadth and index are displaying sexual dimorphism, hence they can be used for determination of sex when isolated hand is found.Keywords: Hand measurements; sexual dimorphism; demarking point; discriminant analysis

Relation of radial nerve to superficial bony and soft tissue landmarks- a cadaveric study

Background: Prevention of iatrogenic nerve injury during humerus fracture surgery would be of prodigious importance. Several methods were used to ease this type of injury but no flawless result is at hand. Therefore, this study was designed to predict the location of the radial nerve (RN) by bony as well as soft tissue landmarks and also identify the safe zone for RN in arm.Methods: Fifty upper limbs belonging to 25 cadavers with no macroscopic deformity of their elbow joint were dissected for the study. RN was dissected in the spiral groove of the humerus and measurements were taken from different anatomical landmarks.Results: There was no bilateral asymmetry as well as no statistical difference was observed in male and female measurements. The mean distance between olecranon to spiral groove 16.91±0.18 cm, olecranon to entry in Intermuscular septum 10.65±0.16 cm, triceps aponeurosis to RN in spiral groove 2.50±0.06 cm, medial epicondyle to upper margin of spiral groove 17.01±0.09 cm and lateral epicondyle to lower margin of spiral groove 10.97±0.12 cm was observed.Conclusions: Understanding the zone of danger of humerus provide more safety during surgical intervention of humerus by predicting the location of RN by different bony and soft tissue landmarks

The anatomical relationship of the superficial branches of radial nerve: a cadaveric study

Background: The major superficial branches of the radial nerve like inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm (ILCNA) and posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm (PCNF) are susceptible to get injured during surgical procedure done in distal half of humerus. Methods: In this study 25 voluntary donated cadavers were dissected to define the course and position ILCNA and PCNF of the radial nerve and their ramifications in relation to anatomical landmarks such as the lateral inter muscular septum or bony landmarks such as lateral epicondyle. Results: The inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm arose from the radial nerve at the lower part of the spiral groove, at a mean of 14.8 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle and 4.2 cm proximal to the uppermost fibres of the brachioradialis muscle. The posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm arose from the inferior lateral cutaneous nerve at a mean of 6.7 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle. Conclusions: The described lateral approach permits assessment of any part of the radial nerve and reduces the risk of iatrogenic injury