Finding an Effective Metric Used for Bijective S-Box Generation by Genetic Algorithms

In cryptography, S-box is a basic component of symmetric key algorithms which performs nonlinear substitution. S-boxes need to be highly nonlinear, so that the cipher can resist linear cryptanalysis. The main criteria for cryptographically strong (n × n) S-box are: • High non linearity; • High algebraic degree; • Balanced structure; • Good auto correlation properties. Our task was to give some suggestions for finding an effective metric used for generation bijective optimal S-Box. Because of the given problem’s complexity, our group considered different approaches and we gave a few suggestions for problem solving

Antegrade lithoextraction as perspective technique for mechanical jaundice radical treatment

Objective. Improvement of treatment outcomes in patients with the cholelithiasis complicated by mechanical jaundice when it is impossible to apply retrograde techniques for biliary tract decompression.Material and Methods. From 2014 to 2017 in our hospital 1158 patients with cholelithiasis complicated by mechanical jaundice have been treated. The group consisted of 59 (5.1%) patients with initially predicted difficulties for endoscopic lithoextraction. In 12 of that group antegrade decompression was the only surgical method for completing treatment. In 2 cases the ‘rendezvous’ technique was used, and in 23 patients the antegrade decompression it was complemented with laparotomy and choledocholithotomy. In 22 patients for verification the nature of the bile-excreting ducts and the cholelithic occlusion revealed at the same time the first stage included an antegrade decompression that allowed to finish surgical treatment by an endoscopic transpapillary lithoextraction.Results. In the main group of clinical observations for 59 patients the surgical treatment complemented with an antegrade decompression was without fatal outcomes. All patients were cured of cholelithic occlusion and recovered. In the study group with 1099 patients that were treated with only an endoscopic lithoextraction 8 patients died that showed 0.7 ± 0.2% of operational mortality. Complications, in the form of operational wounds in the main group of observations were found in 7 patients and it was 11.8 ± 4.2%. Other postoperative complications in the main group were not observed. In the control group similar wound complications were seen in 13 patients (1.2%). In the control group with 57 patients we observed intraabdominal complications which resulted in mortality (5.2 ± 0.7%). Of those postoperative reversible pancreatitis was found in 34 patients, 3 patients had fulminant pancreonecrosis, in 4 cases there was profuse bleeding from a papillosphincterotomy area, in 3 cases we observed insertion of Dormia basket at lithoextraction, septic cholangitis was in 11 and duodenum perforation with retroperitoneal phlegmon was in 3 cases.Conclusion. Mortality in the group with antegrade treatment application for choledocholithiasis was not found. On the contrary, rather higher rate of complications in the control group testifies in advantage of the antegrade techniques for choledocholithiasis treatment in the shown cases

Research highlights from the 2018 European Respiratory Society International Congress: airway disease.

The annual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress (held in Paris in 2018) was once again a platform for discussion of the highest-quality scientific research, cutting-edge techniques and innovative new therapies within the respiratory field. This article discusses only some of the high-quality research studies presented at this year's Congress, with a particular focus on airway diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis and cough, as presented through Assembly 5 of the ERS (Airway Diseases: Asthma and COPD). The authors establish the key take-home messages of these studies, compare their findings and place them in the context of current understanding

Expiratory flow rate, breath hold and anatomic dead space influence electronic nose ability to detect lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Electronic noses are composites of nanosensor arrays. Numerous studies showed their potential to detect lung cancer from breath samples by analysing exhaled volatile compound pattern ("breathprint"). Expiratory flow rate, breath hold and inclusion of anatomic dead space may influence the exhaled levels of some volatile compounds; however it has not been fully addressed how these factors affect electronic nose data. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate these effects. METHODS: 37 healthy subjects (44 +/- 14 years) and 27 patients with lung cancer (60 +/- 10 years) participated in the study. After deep inhalation through a volatile organic compound filter, subjects exhaled at two different flow rates (50 ml/sec and 75 ml/sec) into Teflon-coated bags. The effect of breath hold was analysed after 10 seconds of deep inhalation. We also studied the effect of anatomic dead space by excluding this fraction and comparing alveolar air to mixed (alveolar + anatomic dead space) air samples. Exhaled air samples were processed with Cyranose 320 electronic nose. RESULTS: Expiratory flow rate, breath hold and the inclusion of anatomic dead space significantly altered "breathprints" in healthy individuals (p 0.05). These factors also influenced the discrimination ability of the electronic nose to detect lung cancer significantly. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that expiratory flow, breath hold and dead space influence exhaled volatile compound pattern assessed with electronic nose. These findings suggest critical methodological recommendations to standardise sample collections for electronic nose measurements

Synchronizing inventory and transport within supply chain management

The problem considers synchronized optimization of inventory and transport, and focuses on producer-distributor relations. Particular attention is paid to developing a mathematical model and an optimization problem that can be used to minimize the overall distribution cost by an appropriate placement of warehouses and cross-docking points. Solutions to this problem are explored using genetic algorithms and ideas from graph/network theory. Note: there are three separate reports contained within the uploaded .pdf file

CCL21 and IP-10 as blood biomarkers for pulmonary involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Biomarkers for pulmonary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are missing. Plasma samples of nine SLE patients with known pulmonary involvement (SLEpulm) and nine SLE patients without pulmonary involvement (SLE) were tested by multiplex microarray analysis for various cyto- and chemokines. Significantly decreased lung function paramters for forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and diffusion of CO corrected on lung volume (KLCO) were observed in SLEpulm as compared to SLE patients. CC chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) levels were significantly higher in SLEpulm, than in patients without pulmonary manifestations. CCL21 correlated negatively with DLCO (r = -0.73; p < 0.01) and KLCO (r = -0.62; p < 0.01), while IP-10 with FVC and forced expiratory volume one second. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis confirmed high sensitivity and specificity for the separation of SLE patients with and without pulmonary involvement for the chemokines CCL21 (Area Under Curve (AUC): 0.85; sensitivity%: 88.90; specificity%: 75.00; p < 0.01) and IP-10 (AUC: 0.82; sensitivity%: 66.67, specificity%: 100; p < 0.01). Pleuropulmonary manifestations in SLE patients associated with lung functional and DLCO/KLCO changes and were associated with significant increase in CCL21 and IP-10. These chemokines might serve as potential biomarkers of lung involvement in SLE patients

Core outcome set for the management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the COS-AECOPD ERS Task Force study protocol.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the management of COPD exacerbations evaluate heterogeneous outcomes, often omitting those that are clinically important and patient relevant. This limits their usability and comparability. A core outcome set (COS) is a consensus-based minimum set of clinically important outcomes that should be evaluated in all RCTs in specific areas of health care. We present the study protocol of the COS-AECOPD ERS Task Force, aiming to develop a COS for COPD exacerbation management, that could remedy these limitations. For the development of this COS we follow standard methodology recommended by the COMET initiative. A comprehensive list of outcomes is assembled through a methodological systematic review of the outcomes reported in relevant RCTs. Qualitative research with patients with COPD will also be conducted, aiming to identify additional outcomes that may be important to patients, but are not currently addressed in clinical research studies. Prioritisation of the core outcomes will be facilitated through an extensive, multi-stakeholder Delphi survey with a global reach. Selection will be finalised in an international, multi-stakeholder meeting. For every core outcome, we will recommend a specific measurement instrument and standardised time points for evaluation. Selection of instruments will be based on evidence-informed consensus. Our work will improve the quality, usability and comparability of future RCTs on the management of COPD exacerbations and, ultimately, the care of patients with COPD. Multi-stakeholder engagement and societal support by the European Respiratory Society will raise awareness and promote implementation of the COS