RSA Public Key Cipher Implementation using Microcontroller

Cryptography is an important part of modern world network security which makes the world of computing a safer place. The RSA algorithm is extensively used in the popular implementations of Public Key Infrastructures. This research discusses the cryptography concept. This research aims to examine and implement a GUI for RSA algorithm to cipher text with Arduino which consists of three stages: key generation, encryption, and decryption. The connection between LCD, keypad, Arduino and mobile are further presented. Keywords: Cryptography, RSA, Arduino, Security

Design and Performance Analysis of 250 kW Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System in Iraqi Environment Using PVsyst Software

A 250 kW grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) plant systems have been installed at the Ministry of Electricity in Baghdad and penetrated to the Iraqi national grid since November 2017. This is the first high power grid-connected PV system that has been installed in Iraq and it’s one of the four parts 1MW large-scale PV systems that should be completed in early of 2019. This paper presents the design and performance analysis of this system using a PVsyst software package. The performance ratio and different losses that occurred in the system are also calculated. The results show that the performance ratio is 75% using 1428 photovoltaic panels type (Sharp 175Wp) spread over an area of 1858 m². The total energy injected into the grid is (346692 kWh/year) .Based on the simulation results that developed in this paper, the practical PV grid-tied system has been implemented in Baghdad site

Synthesis and Characterization of (PVA-CoO-ZrO2) Nanostructures for Nanooptoelectronic Fields

Nanocomposites have a wide range of applications, including optical integrated circuits, sensors, coatings, and medical devices. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to prepare a new type of nanocomposites made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with different concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 3) wt% of cobalt oxide and zirconium dioxide (CoO-ZrO2) nanoparticles by using casting method. Microscopic photographs demonstrate the fact that the additive distribution amount of NPs in the polymer was uniform, and (CoO-ZrO2) NPs formed a continuous  network within the polymer when the concentration reached 3wt.%. The outcomes of optical properties indicate that the absorbance of nanocomposites improves as the concentrations of cobalt oxide and zirconium dioxide nanoparticles increase while  transmittance and the optical energy gap decrease. On the other hand, optical constants of nanocomposites (refractive index, absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary the dielectric constants) and optical conductivity are increase with increases in the weight percentages of (CoO-ZrO2)  nanoparticles. These outcomes demonstrate the (PVA-CoO -ZrO2) NCs  use for various optical devices

Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete as Sustainable Solution for Defected Buildings

One of the new concrete technology applications that had to get increased importance as repairing and retrofitting technique is slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON). This research aims to investigate some of the mechanical properties of SIFCON and its role in improving the useful life of normal concrete. The research consists of two parts; in the first part, three mixes are prepared with 0%, 1.5%, and 6% volume fraction steel fiber content. Compressive strength, flexural strength, total absorption and apparent density tests are made for each mix. In the second part, a composite section of normal concrete and SIFCON mix with 6% steel fiber is prepared. Different thicknesses of SIFCON layer had been casted to assess its benefits in repair and/or to strengthen of defected buildings. Flexural strength, toughness, ductility and load-deflection curve are examined for the composite sections. The results showed that the flexural strength of SIFCON with 6% steel fiber content increased up to 600% and 200% compering to those recorded with the reference mix and 1.5% steel fiber concrete respectively. The results also indicated that the increase of SIFCON layer thickness would improve the mechanical properties of the composite section. Also, the maximum increase in flexural strength was greater than four times the reference mix. Better behavior is also recorded in load deflection and toughness of SIFCON composite section

Three Dimensional (3D) Echocardiography as a Tool of Left Ventricular Assessment in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Comparison to Cardiac MRI

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) is Strong prognostic indicators for DCM. Cardiac MRI (CMRI) is a preferred technique for LV volumes and EF assessment due to high spatial resolution and complete volumetric datasets. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a promising new technique under investigations. AIM: Evaluate 3D echocardiography as a tool in LV assessment in DCM children about CMRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 20 DCM children (LVdiastolic diameter < 2 Z score, LVEF < 35%) at Children s Hospital, Ain-Shams University (gp1) (mean age 6.6 years) were compared to 20 age and sex-matched children as controls (gp2). Patients were subjected to: clinical examination, conventional echocardiography, automated 3D LV quantification, 3D speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) (VIVID E9 Vingmed, Norway) and CMRI (Philips Achieva Nova, 1.5 Tesla scanner) for LV end systolic volume (LVESV), LVend diastolic volume (LVEDV) that were indexed to body surface area, EF% and wall motion abnormalities assessment. RESUTS: No statistically significant difference was found between automated 3D LV quantification echocardiography, 3D-STE, and CMRI in ESV/BSA and EDV/BSA assessment (p = 1, 0.99 respectively), between automated LV quantification echocardiography and CMRI in EF% assessment (p = 0.99) and between CMRI and 3D-STE in LV Global hypokinesia detection (P = 0.255). As for segmental hypokinesia CMRI was more sensitive [45% of patients vs. 40%, (P = 0,036), basal septal hypokinesia 85% vs. 75%, (p = 0.045), mid septal hypokinesia 80% vs. 65%, (p = 0.012) and lateral wall hypokinesia 75% vs. 65%, (p = 0.028)]. CONCLUSION: Automated 3D LV quantification echocardiography and 3D-STE are reliable tools in LV volumetric and systolic function assessment about CMRIas a standard method. 3D speckle echocardiography is comparable to CMRI in global wall hypokinesia detection but less sensitive in segmental wall hypokinesia which mandates further studies

FBXO32, encoding a member of the SCF complex, is mutated in dilated cardiomyopathy

Ubiquitination defect in cells expressing mutant FBXO32. a Co-immunopricipitation analysis. HEK293 cells were transfected with the indicated plasmids and immunoblot analysis was performed from total cell lysates using a specific anti-ubiquitin antibody. FBXO32 expression is shown as well as GAPDH. The blot is representative of three independent experiments. b Immunoblot analysis of the ubiquitination in cardiomyocytes. Cells were transfected with the Flag-FBXO32-WT or Flag-FBXO32-Mutant and whole cell extracts were analyzed by immunoblotting using the indicated antibodies. (TIF 1928 kb

Deletion of low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (Acp1) protects against stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

The low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMPTP), encoded by the ACP1 gene, is a ubiquitously expressed phosphatase whose in vivo function in the heart and in cardiac diseases remains unknown. To investigate the in vivo role of LMPTP in cardiac function, we generated mice with genetic inactivation of the Acp1 locus and studied their response to long-term pressure overload. Acp1(-/-) mice develop normally and ageing mice do not show pathology in major tissues under basal conditions. However, Acp1(-/-) mice are strikingly resistant to pressure overload hypertrophy and heart failure. Lmptp expression is high in the embryonic mouse heart, decreased in the postnatal stage, and increased in the adult mouse failing heart. We also show that LMPTP expression increases in end-stage heart failure in humans. Consistent with their protected phenotype, Acp1(-/-) mice subjected to pressure overload hypertrophy have attenuated fibrosis and decreased expression of fibrotic genes. Transcriptional profiling and analysis of molecular signalling show that the resistance of Acp1(-/-) mice to pathological cardiac stress correlates with marginal re-expression of fetal cardiac genes, increased insulin receptor beta phosphorylation, as well as PKA and ephrin receptor expression, and inactivation of the CaMKIIδ pathway. Our data show that ablation of Lmptp inhibits pathological cardiac remodelling and suggest that inhibition of LMPTP may be of therapeutic relevance for the treatment of human heart failure

A prospective multicentre study evaluating the outcomes of the abdominal wall dehiscence repair using posterior component separation with transversus abdominis muscle release reinforced by a retro-muscular mesh: filling a step

Background This study aimed to evaluate the results of posterior component separation (CS) and transversus abdominis muscle release (TAR) with retro-muscular mesh reinforcement in patients with primary abdominal wall dehiscence (AWD). The secondary aims were to detect the incidence of postoperative surgical site occurrence and risk factors of incisional hernia (IH) development following AWD repair with posterior CS with TAR reinforced by retromuscular mesh. Methods Between June 2014 and April 2018, 202 patients with grade IA primary AWD (Björck’s first classification) following midline laparotomies were treated using posterior CS with TAR release reinforced by a retro-muscular mesh in a prospective multicenter cohort study. Results The mean age was 42 ± 10 years, with female predominance (59.9%). The mean time from index surgery (midline laparotomy) to primary AWD was 7 ± 3 days. The mean vertical length of primary AWD was 16 ± 2 cm. The median time from primary AWD occurrence to posterior CS + TAR surgery was 3 ± 1 days. The mean operative time of posterior CS + TAR was 95 ± 12 min. No recurrent AWD occurred. Surgical site infections (SSI), seroma, hematoma, IH, and infected mesh occurred in 7.9%, 12.4%, 2%, 8.9%, and 3%, respectively. Mortality was reported in 2.5%. Old age, male gender, smoking, albumin level < 3.5 gm%, time from AWD to posterior CS + TAR surgery, SSI, ileus, and infected mesh were significantly higher in IH. IH rate was 0.5% and 8.9% at two and three years, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, the predictors of IH were time from AWD till posterior CS + TAR surgical intervention, ileus, SSI, and infected mesh. Conclusion Posterior CS with TAR reinforced by retro-muscular mesh insertion resulted in no AWD recurrence, low IH rates, and low mortality of 2.5%. Trial registration Clinical trial: NCT05278117

Intraoperative endomanometric laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication improves postoperative outcomes in large sliding hiatus hernia with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease. A retrospective cohort study

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (LNF) is the gold standard surgical intervention for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). LNF can be followed by recurrent symptoms or complications affecting patient satisfaction. The aim of this study is to assess the value of the intraoperative endomanometric evaluation of esophagogastric competence and pressure combined with LNF in patients with large sliding hiatus hernia (> 5 cm) with severe GERD (DeMeester score >100). Materials and methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Baseline characteristics, postoperative dysphagia and gas bloat syndrome, recurrent symptoms, and satisfaction were collected from a prospectively maintained database. Outcomes analyzed included recurrent reflux symptoms, postoperative side effects, and satisfaction with surgery. Results: 360 patients were stratified into endomanometric LNF (180 patients, LNF+) and LNF alone (180 patients, LNF). Recurrent heartburn (3.9% vs. 8.3%) and recurrent regurgitation (2.2% vs. 5%) showed a lower incidence in the LNF+ group (P=0.012). Postoperative score III recurrent heartburn and score III regurgitations occurred in 0% vs. 3.3% and 0% vs. 2.8% cases in the LNF+ and LNF groups, respectively (P=0.005). Postoperative persistent dysphagia and gas bloat syndrome occurred in 1.75% vs. 5.6% and 0% vs. 3.9% of patients (P=0.001). Score III postoperative persistent dysphagia was 0% vs. 2.8% in the two groups (P=0.007). There was no redo surgery for dysphagia after LNF+. Patient satisfaction at the end of the study was 93.3% vs. 86.7% in both cohorts, respectively (P=0.05). Conclusions: Intraoperative high-resolution manometry (HRM) and endoscopic were feasible in all patients, and the outcomes were favorable from an effectiveness and safety standpoint

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London