Sponge based CCA2 secure asymmetric encryption for arbitrary length message

OAEP and other similar schemes proven secure in Random-Oracle Model require one or more hash functions with output size larger than those of standard hash functions. In this paper, we show that by utilizing popular Sponge constructions in OAEP framework, we can eliminate the need of such hash functions. We provide a new scheme in OAEP framework based on Sponge construction and call our scheme \textit{Sponge based asymmetric encryption padding} (SpAEP). SpAEP is based on 2 functions: Sponge and SpongeWrap, and requires only standard output sizes proposed and standardized for Sponge functions. Our scheme is CCA2 secure for any trapdoor one-way permutation in the ideal permutation model for arbitrary length messages. Our scheme utilizes the versatile Sponge function to enhance the capability and efficiency of the OAEP framework. SpAEP with any trapdoor one-way permutation can also be used as a key encapsulation mechanism and a tag-based key encapsulation mechanism for hybrid encryption. Our scheme SpAEP utilizes the permutation model efficiently in the setting of public key encryption in a novel manner

Pattern of adverse drug reactions in new smear positive patients of pulmonary tuberculosis treated under directly observed treatment short course

Background: Directly observed treatment short course (DOTS), a combination therapy, drugs are administered for six to eight months in patients diagnosed with tuberculosis, increases the risk of adverse drug reactions. The objective of this study was to study the adverse drug reaction profile of new sputum smear positive (NSP) patients of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) treated under DOTS. A prospective observational study was carried out in Dr. RPGMC Kangra at Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India over a period of six months.Methods: The study included 130 newly diagnosed TB patients on anti‑TB treatment under DOTS. A symptom based approach was followed for monitoring ADRs. The severity was assessed by Modified Hartwig scale and causality by WHO-UMC probability scale. Data was expressed as percentages for discrete variables using Microsoft excel.Results: Out of the total 130, 84 patients experienced ADRs with an overall incidence of 64.6%. 45 (34.6%) patients showed single ADR whereas 39 (30%) patients had two or more ADRs. Gastritis alone was present in 36 (27.8%) patients followed by itching 2 (1.5%), hypersensitivity 2 (1.5%), arthralgia 2 (1.5%), generalized weakness 2 (1.5%) and jaundice in 1 (0.8%) patients. Vomiting was present in 29 (22.2%) patients, neuropathy in 4 (3.1%) patients, arthralgia in 2(1.5%) patients, hypersensitivity, jaundice, itching and generalized weakness in 1 (0.8%) patient each. 21 (16.2%) patients experienced mild , 56 (43.1%) had moderate and only 7 (5.4%) had severe ADRs. All the ADRs were possible in nature.Conclusions: The incidence of ADRs was 64.6% and GI irritation was found to be most common ADR reported by 57.6% patients

Editorial: Frontiers in malaria research

No abstract available

Designing generic asymmetric key cryptosystem with message paddings

This thesis focuses on structural remodelling and security proof of cryptographic schemes. A message pre-processing, also known as asymmetric message padding, is an essential step in asymmetric encryption which is heavily used in secure banking applications. In this thesis, we propose new effective padding schemes and able to mitigate the various computation and memory overhead compared to previous works. We are also able to provide streaming capability which was missing in most of the previous works. Mathematical security proof of proposed schemes justifies their security

Signcryption schemes with insider security in an ideal permutation model

Signcryption aims to provide both confidentiality and authentication of messages more efficiently than performing encryption and signing independently. The "Commit-then-Sign &amp; Encrypt" (CtS&amp;E) method allows to perform encryption and signing in parallel. Parallel execution of cryptographic algorithms decreases the computation time needed to signcrypt messages. CtS&amp;E uses weaker cryptographic primitives in a generic way to achieve a strong security notion of signcryption. Various message pre-processing schemes, also known as message padding, have been used in signcryption as a commitment scheme in CtS&amp;E. Due to its elegance and versatility, the sponge structure turns out to be a useful tool for designing new padding schemes such as SpAEP [T. K. Bansal, D. Chang and S. K. Sanadhya, Sponge based CCA2 secure asymmetric encryption for arbitrary length message, Information Security and Privacy-ACISP 2015, Lecture Notes in Comput. Sci. 9144, Springer, Berlin 2015, 93-106], while offering further avenues for optimization and parallelism in the context of signcryption. In this work, we design a generic and efficient signcryption scheme featuring parallel encryption and signature on top of a sponge-based message-padding underlying structure. Unlike other existing schemes, the proposed scheme also supports arbitrarily long messages. We prove the construction secure when instantiated from weakly secure asymmetric primitives such as a trapdoor one-way encryption and a universal unforgeable signature. With a careful analysis and simple tweaks, we demonstrate how different combinations of weakly secure probabilistic and deterministic encryption and signature schemes can be used to construct a strongly secure signcryption scheme, further broadening the choices of underlying primitives to cover essentially any combination thereof. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first signcryption scheme based on the sponge structure that also offers strong security using weakly secure underlying asymmetric primitives, even deterministic ones, along with the ability to handle long messages, efficiently.</p

Phytomedicine: Herbal venture in green endodontics

Introduction: Nature has bestowed a very rich botanical wealth. Antimicrobial agents of plant origin have enormous therapeutic potential. Azadirachta Indica (AI) & Aloe Barbadensis (AB) are the natural product that has gained interest in endodontics as irrigant due to their antibacterial effectiveness against several endodontic pathogens. Hence the purpose of this in vivo study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of herbal (Azadirachta Indica & Aloe Barbadensis) with conventional (Sodium Hypochlorite and Chlorhexidine Gluconate) irrigants in infected root canals. Methodology: One hundred and twenty five patients satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. Before and after the root canal preparation, two canal samples were obtained by a harvesting method using a sterile paper point and then transferred for microbiological study. Results: The results of present study indicated that use of Sodium Hypochlorite showed greatest percentage reduction in Aerobic Microbial Load (87.58%) followed by Azadirachta Indica (82.24%), Chlorhexidine Gluconate (78.32%), Aloe Barbadensis (27.22%) and Distilled Water (15.73%). In anaerobic microbial load Azadirachta Indica showed greatest percentage reduction (78.43%) followed by Chlorhexidine Gluconate (78.12%), Sodium Hypochlorite (75.16%), Distilled Water (12.38%) and Aloe Barbadensis (-9.74%). Conclusion: The results of present study indicate that the number of post-irrigant positive cultures (CFU/ml) was significantly lower than the pre-irrigant cultures in all the groups

MR neurography in Parsonage-Turner syndrome

Background and Aims: Parsonage Turner Syndrome is a well known clinical entity. Several excellent articles have succinctly described Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings in PTS. However, these articles have inferred neural involvement in PTS based on the patterns of denervation of muscles in the shoulder region. The aim of this study is to directly visualize the distribution and extent of abnormality in MR Neurography (MRN) of the brachial plexus in known cases of brachial plexus neuritis or Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS). Methods: 15 patients who were diagnosed with PTS based on clinical and electrophysiological findings participated in the study. MRN of the brachial plexus was done in a 1.5T system using a combination of T1W (T1-weighted), T2W (T2-weighted) fat-saturated, STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery), 3D STIR SPACE (Sampling Perfection with Application Optimized Contrasts) and 3D T2W SPACE sequences. Findings were recorded and assessed. Results: The age range of our patients was 7-65 years (mean 37.87 years). Most of the patients had unilateral symptoms. All patients had weakness in shoulder abduction. Other common associated complaints included pain in the shoulder/neck/arm and preceding fever. MRN revealed the percentage of involvement of roots, trunks, cords and terminal branches was 53.3%, 46.7%, 40% and 13.3% respectively. Evidence of muscle denervation in the form of edema, fatty infiltration and atrophy was noted in 8 (53.3%) patients. Conclusion: Most of the patients in this study had unilateral involvement on MRN. The roots were the commonest site of involvement followed by the trunks, cords and terminal branches. C5 was the most commonly involved root