Space shuttle pogo studies

Topics covered include: (1) pogo suppression for main propulsion subsystem operation; (2) application of quarter-scale low pressure oxidizer turbopump transfer functions; (3) pogo stability during orbital maneuvering subsystem operation; and (4) errors in frequency response measurements

Development of technology for fluid-structure interaction modelling of a 1/8-scale dynamic model of the shuttle External Tank (ET). Volume 2: Supporting data appendixes A through C

For abstract, see N75-21359

A resilient architecture for forensic storage of events in critical infrastructures

In Critical Infrastructures, forensic analysis of stored events is an essential task when a security breach occurs. The goal of forensic analysis is to provide evidence to be used as valid proofs in a legal proceeding. So, it is very important to ensure the integrity of the events stored in order to perform a correct forensic analysis. Today, most of the SIEMs used to protect the Critical Infrastructures sign the security events with RSA classic algorithm in order to ensure their integrity. The signed security events cannot be admissible as evidence if the secret key is compromised, or when the module responsible for signing operations is down for any reason. In this paper a new architecture that overcomes these limitations has been proposed. Experimental tests show the performance of our architecture and the high resilience in faulty situations, i.e. some nodes are under attack

Capsaicin 8% patch and chronic postsurgical neuropathic pain

(1) Background: Surgery is a frequent cause of persistent pain, defined chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). The capsaicin 8% patch (Qutenza®) is approved for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of the feet. We propose a review of the literature on use of the capsaicin 8% patch to treat neuropathic pain associated with surgery; (2) Methods: We identified the articles by searching electronic databases using a combination of such terms as “capsaicin 8% patch”, “Qutenza®”, and “chronic postsurgical pain”; (3) Results: We identified 14 selected studies reporting on a total of 632 CPSP cases treated with capsaicin 8% patch. Treatment with the capsaicin 8% patch significantly reduced the average pain intensity. Only 5 studies reported adverse events (AEs) after the patch application. The most common AEs were erythema, burning sensation and pain; (4) Conclusions: Our review indicate that capsaicin 8% patch treatment for CPSP is effective, safe and well tolerated, but randomized controlled trials on efficacy, safety and tolerability should be conducted

Privacy-Preserving Credit Scoring via Functional Encryption

The majority of financial organizations managing confidential data are aware of security threats and leverage widely accepted solutions (e.g., storage encryption, transport-level encryption, intrusion detection systems) to prevent or detect attacks. Yet these hardening measures do little to face even worse threats posed on data-in-use. Solutions such as Homomorphic Encryption (HE) and hardware-assisted Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) are nowadays among the preferred approaches for mitigating this type of threats. However, given the high-performance overhead of HE, financial institutions —whose processing rate requirements are stringent— are more oriented towards TEE-based solutions. The X-Margin Inc. company, for example, offers secure financial computations by combining the Intel SGX TEE technology and HE-based Zero-Knowledge Proofs, which shield customers’ data-in-use even against malicious insiders, i.e., users having privileged access to the system. Despite such a solution offers strong security guarantees, it is constrained by having to trust Intel and by the SGX hardware extension availability. In this paper, we evaluate a new frontier for X-Margin, i.e., performing privacy-preserving credit risk scoring via an emerging cryptographic scheme: Functional Encryption (FE), which allows a user to only learn a function of the encrypted data. We describe how the X-Margin application can benefit from this innovative approach and —most importantly— evaluate its performance impact

Neuropsychiatric Lupus Erythematosus

Neuropsychiatric involvement in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), first mentioned by Kaposi more than 100 years ago, still remains one of the main challenge facing rheumatologist and other physicians. The diagnosis of neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) is complex not only because of the considerable prevalence variation (14-80%) but also because of the wide spectrum of NP manifestations. They vary from overt neurologic alterations (seizure, psychosis), to subtle abnormalities (neurocognitive dysfunctions). Different NP manifestations result from a variety of mechanisms including antibodies, vasculitis, thrombosis, hemorrhages and cytokine-mediated damages. Of note, despite the dramatic clinical manifestations, too often changes at the morphological neuroimaging techniques are minimal and non specific. There is no one diagnostic tool specific for NPSLE and diagnosis must be based on the combinated use of immunoserological tests, functional and anatomical neuroimaging and standardized specific criteria. Symptomatic, immunosuppressive and anticoagulant therapies are the main strategies available in the management of these patients. Therapy for CNS lupus should be adjusted according to the needs of the individual patients. The coming years promise to be an important time for the development of new neuroimaging techniques and for the study of disease mechanism. An early and objective identification of brain involvement will allow for appropriate treatment to avoid severe complications

The feasibility and applications of non-invasive cardiac monitoring in obese patients undergoing day-case surgery: Results of a prospective observational study

Aims: This prospective observational study evaluates the utility of non-invasive cardiac monitoring in obese patients in the day-surgery case, considering factors, such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and anaesthesia technique. Background: Obese patients are more likely to be admitted to hospital or to get hospitalized because they are more prone to concomitant diseases and obesity itself is not a contraindication to day surgery. Obese patients are a high-risk patient population that may particularly benefit from monitoring perioperative haemodynamic variations. Methods: In this observational study, we compared haemodynamic variations between overweight or obese and normal weight patients undergoing day-case surgery. We adopted NICOM® as a non-invasive cardiac output monitoring. Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the haemodynamic impact of BMI and anaesthesia technique during day-case surgery procedures. The other goal was to evaluate the feasibility and applications of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring among the obese population in day-surgery. Results: 74 patients were included in the study. 34 were overweight or obese (weight 84 ± 10 kg, height 160 ± 10 cm, BMI ≈ 30 kg/m2), 40 were normal weight (weight 63 ± 15 kg, height 160 ± 10 cm, BMI ≈ 22 kg/m2). Compared to normal-weight patients, obese patients show an increase in blood pressure with a return to baseline values at the end of surgery (p < 0.05). The Cardiac Output (CO) shows a similar trend, whereas the heart rate is normal. A decrease in the Cardiac Index (CI) during the operation was noticed in both groups, the one in obese patients (p = 0.24) being greater. In the same way, the Stroke Volume Index (SVI) was lower in obese patients during surgery (p < 0.05). In spinal anaesthesia, the Total Peripheral Resistance Index (TPRI) was not statistically different between the groups of study. As for the TPRI in obese patients, we reported values similar to the ones in non-obese patients in spinal anaesthesia. In local anesthesia, TPRI was higher in obese patients than in non-obese. Conclusion: Cardiovascular alterations in relation to obesity include an increase in blood pressure, CO and SV. An inadequate monitoring of haemodynamic parameters is a risk factor for perioperative complications. NICOM® provides a continuous, non-invasive haemodynamic measurement

Alexithymia and immunoendocrine parameters in patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alexithymia in patients affected by SLE or RA and to investigate the correlation between alexithymia and immunoendocrine parameters (PRL, hGH, IL-6 and TNF-alfa). Methods: Twenty-five patients (12 and 13 affected by SLE and RA, respectively) were enrolled into the study. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) was administered. PRL, hGH, IL-6 and TNF-alfa levels were measured by commercially available ELISA kits. Results: Alexithymia prevalence (TAS-20≥51) was 54% in RA and 42% in SLE patients. hGH serum levels were 3.1±4.2 and 1.1±0.9 IU/ml in SLE and RA, respectively. PRL concentration was 18.4±6.5 ng/ml and 14.2±4.0 ng/ml in SLE and RA patients, respectively (p=0.03). In RA group, TNF-alpha was 20±36.2 whereas in SLE it was 4.9±12.8 pg/ml (p=0.03); IL-6 serum concentrations were 24.4±25.1 and 2.9±5.4 pg/ml, in RA and SLE respectively (p=0.004). The serum level of hGH showed slight increase in alexithymic group (A) compared to non alexithymic group (NA) in both SLE and RA patients. PRL serum levels in SLE-A patients was 26.7±17.3 ng/ml while in SLE-NA patients was 12.4±3.3 ng/ml (p=0.04). In RA patients increased values of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were present in the A group compared to NA group (IL-6: 35.3±28 pg/mL vs 3.5±3.9 pg/mL, p=0.01; TNF-alpha: 34.7±39 pg/mL vs 3.1±3.4 pg/mL, p=0.01). Conclusions: In this preliminary results we found an high prevalence of alexithymia and a correlation between immunoendocrine parameters and alexhytimic features in SLE and RA, suggesting that an immunomodulatory pathway could influence this cognitive style in patients with autoimmune disorders. Other studies should contribute to find a common biological pathway linking alexithymia and autoimmunity