Discrete Logarithms in Generalized Jacobians

D\'ech\`ene has proposed generalized Jacobians as a source of groups for public-key cryptosystems based on the hardness of the Discrete Logarithm Problem (DLP). Her specific proposal gives rise to a group isomorphic to the semidirect product of an elliptic curve and a multiplicative group of a finite field. We explain why her proposal has no advantages over simply taking the direct product of groups. We then argue that generalized Jacobians offer poorer security and efficiency than standard Jacobians

Medical education on fitness to drive : a survey of all UK medical schools

Aim: To identify the extent to which medical aspects of fitness to drive (FTD) are taught within UK medical schools. Methods: A survey of all 32 UK medical schools. In-depth interviews with a range of staff at two medical schools; telephone survey of 30 schools. Results: Two thirds of schools reported specific teaching on medical aspects of FTD but few covered it in any depth or in relation to specific medical conditions. Only one school taught FTD in relation to elderly medicine. FTD was an examination topic at only 12 schools. Conclusion: Teaching on FTD is inconsistent across UK medical schools. Many new doctors will graduate with limited knowledge of medical aspects of FTD

Efficient algorithms for pairing-based cryptosystems

We describe fast new algorithms to implement recent cryptosystems based on the Tate pairing. In particular, our techniques improve pairing evaluation speed by a factor of about 55 compared to previously known methods in characteristic 3, and attain performance comparable to that of RSA in larger characteristics.We also propose faster algorithms for scalar multiplication in characteristic 3 and square root extraction over Fpm, the latter technique being also useful in contexts other than that of pairing-based cryptography

Reaction physics and mission capabilities of the magnetically insulated inertial confinement fusion reactor

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76048/1/AIAA-25451-882.pd

Transcriptional signatures of parasitization and markers of colony decline in Varroa-infested honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Extensive annual losses of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) reported in the northern hemisphere represent a global problem for agriculture and biodiversity. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, in association with deformed wing virus (DWV), plays a key role in this phenomenon, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. To elucidate these mechanisms, we analyzed the gene expression profile of uninfested and mite infested bees, under laboratory and field conditions, highlighting the effects of parasitization on the bee's transcriptome under a variety of conditions and scenarios. Parasitization was significantly correlated with higher viral loads. Honey bees exposed to mite infestation exhibited an altered expression of genes related to stress response, immunity, nervous system function, metabolism and behavioural maturation. Additionally, mite infested young bees showed a gene expression profile resembling that of forager bees. To identify potential molecular markers of colony decline, the expression of genes that were commonly regulated across the experiments were subsequently assessed in colonies experiencing increasing mite infestation levels. These studies suggest that PGRP-2, hymenoptaecin, a glucan recognition protein, UNC93 and a p450 cytocrome maybe suitable general biomarkers of Varroa-induced colony decline. Furthermore, the reliability of vitellogenin, a yolk protein previously identified as a good marker of colony survival, was confirmed here. \ua9 2017 Elsevier Lt

A Discontinuous Galerkin Chimera scheme

The Chimera overset method is a powerful technique for modeling fluid flow associated with complex engineering problems using structured meshes. The use of structured meshes has enabled engineers to employ a number of high-order schemes, such as the WENO and compact differencing schemes. However, the large stencil associated with these schemes can significantly complicate the inter-grid communication scheme and hole cutting procedures. This paper demonstrates a methodology for using the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) scheme with Chimera overset meshes. The small stencil of the DG scheme makes it particularly suitable for Chimera meshes as it simplifies the inter-grid communication scheme as well as hole cutting procedures. The DG-Chimera scheme does not require a donor interpolation method with a large stencil because the DG scheme represents the solution as cell local polynomials. The DG-Chimera method also does not require the use of fringe points to maintain the interior stencil across inter-grid boundaries. Thus, inter-grid communication can be established as long as the receiving boundary is enclosed by or abuts the donor mesh. This makes the inter-grid communication procedure applicable to both Chimera and zonal meshes. Details of the DG-Chimera scheme are presented, and the method is demonstrated on a set of two-dimensional inviscid flow problems

Absence of bias against smokers in access to coronary revascularization after cardiac catheterization

Objective. Many consider smoking to be a personal choice for which individuals should be held accountable. We assessed whether there is any evidence of bias against smokers in cardiac care decision-making by determining whether smokers were as likely as non-smokers to undergo revascularization procedures after cardiac catheterization. Design. Prospective cohort study. Subjects and setting. All patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in Alberta, Canada. Main measures. Patients were categorized as current smokers, former smokers, or never smokers, and then compared for their risk-adjusted likelihood of undergoing revascularization procedures (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting) after cardiac catheterization. Results. Among 20406 patients undergoing catheterization, 25.4% were current smokers at the time of catheterization, 36.6% were former smokers, and 38.0% had never smoked. When compared with never smokers (reference group), the hazard ratio for undergoing any revascularization procedure after catheterization was 0.98 (95% CI 0.93-1.03) for current smokers and 0.98 (0.94-1.03) for former smokers. The hazard ratio for undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting was 1.09 (1.00-1.19) for current smokers and 1.00 (0.93-1.08) for former smokers. For percutaneous coronary intervention, the hazard ratios were 0.93 (0.87-0.99) for current smokers and 1.00 (0.94-1.06) for former smokers. Conclusion. Despite potential for discrimination on the basis of smoking status, current and former smokers undergoing cardiac catheterization in Alberta, Canada were as likely to undergo revascularization procedures as catheterization patients who had never smoke

Antimatter-driven fusion propulsion scheme for solar system exploration

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76531/1/AIAA-23527-891.pd

Analysis of model rotor blade pressures during parallel interaction with twin vortices

This paper presents and provides analysis of unsteady surface pressures measured on a model rotor blade as the blade experienced near parallel blade vortex interaction with a twin vortex system. To provide a basis for analysis, the vortex system was characterized by hot-wire measurements made in the interaction plane but in the absence of the rotor. The unsteady pressure response resulting from a single vortex interaction is then presented to provide a frame of reference for the twin vortex results. A series of twin vortex interaction cases are then presented and analyzed. It is shown that the unsteady blade pressures and forces are very sensitive to the inclination angle and separation distance of the vortex pair. When the vortex cores lie almost parallel to the blade chord, the interaction is characterized by a two-stage response associated with the sequential passage of the two cores. Conversely, when the cores lie on a plane that is almost perpendicular to the blade chord, the response is similar to that of a single vortex interaction. In all cases, the normal force response is consistent with the distribution of vertical velocity in the flow field of the vortex system. The pitching moment response, on the other hand, depends on the localized suction associated with the vortex cores as they traverse the blade chord