736 research outputs found
A Number-Theoretic Error-Correcting Code
In this paper we describe a new error-correcting code (ECC) inspired by the
Naccache-Stern cryptosystem. While by far less efficient than Turbo codes, the
proposed ECC happens to be more efficient than some established ECCs for
certain sets of parameters. The new ECC adds an appendix to the message. The
appendix is the modular product of small primes representing the message bits.
The receiver recomputes the product and detects transmission errors using
modular division and lattice reduction
Keyword-Based Delegable Proofs of Storage
Cloud users (clients) with limited storage capacity at their end can
outsource bulk data to the cloud storage server. A client can later access her
data by downloading the required data files. However, a large fraction of the
data files the client outsources to the server is often archival in nature that
the client uses for backup purposes and accesses less frequently. An untrusted
server can thus delete some of these archival data files in order to save some
space (and allocate the same to other clients) without being detected by the
client (data owner). Proofs of storage enable the client to audit her data
files uploaded to the server in order to ensure the integrity of those files.
In this work, we introduce one type of (selective) proofs of storage that we
call keyword-based delegable proofs of storage, where the client wants to audit
all her data files containing a specific keyword (e.g., "important"). Moreover,
it satisfies the notion of public verifiability where the client can delegate
the auditing task to a third-party auditor who audits the set of files
corresponding to the keyword on behalf of the client. We formally define the
security of a keyword-based delegable proof-of-storage protocol. We construct
such a protocol based on an existing proof-of-storage scheme and analyze the
security of our protocol. We argue that the techniques we use can be applied
atop any existing publicly verifiable proof-of-storage scheme for static data.
Finally, we discuss the efficiency of our construction.Comment: A preliminary version of this work has been published in
International Conference on Information Security Practice and Experience
(ISPEC 2018
Coded Merkle Tree: Solving Data Availability Attacks in Blockchains
In this paper, we propose coded Merkle tree (CMT), a novel hash accumulator
that offers a constant-cost protection against data availability attacks in
blockchains, even if the majority of the network nodes are malicious. A CMT is
constructed using a family of sparse erasure codes on each layer, and is
recovered by iteratively applying a peeling-decoding technique that enables a
compact proof for data availability attack on any layer. Our algorithm enables
any node to verify the full availability of any data block generated by the
system by just downloading a byte block hash commitment and
randomly sampling bytes, where is the size of the data
block. With the help of only one connected honest node in the system, our
method also allows any node to verify any tampering of the coded Merkle tree by
just downloading bytes. We provide a modular library for CMT
in Rust and Python and demonstrate its efficacy inside the Parity Bitcoin
client.Comment: To appear in Financial Cryptography and Data Security (FC) 202
On the Resolution of the Time-Like Singularities in Reissner-Nordstrom and Negative-Mass Schwarzschild
Certain time-like singularities are shown to be resolved already in classical
General Relativity once one passes from particle probes to scalar waves. The
time evolution can be defined uniquely and some general conditions for that are
formulated. The Reissner-Nordstrom singularity allows for communication through
the singularity and can be termed "beam splitter" since the transmission
probability of a suitably prepared high energy wave packet is 25%. The high
frequency dependence of the cross section is w^{-4/3}. However, smooth
geometries arbitrarily close to the singular one require a finite amount of
negative energy matter. The negative-mass Schwarzschild has a qualitatively
different resolution interpreted to be fully reflecting. These 4d results are
similar to the 2d black hole and are generalized to an arbitrary dimension d>4.Comment: 47 pages, 5 figures. v2: See end of introduction for an important
note adde
Spatially valid proprioceptive cues improve the detection of a visual stimulus
Vision and proprioception are the main sensory modalities that convey hand location and direction of movement. Fusion of these sensory signals into a single robust percept is now well documented. However, it is not known whether these modalities also interact in the spatial allocation of attention, which has been demonstrated for other modality pairings. The aim of this study was to test whether proprioceptive signals can spatially cue a visual target to improve its detection. Participants were instructed to use a planar manipulandum in a forward reaching action and determine during this movement whether a near-threshold visual target appeared at either of two lateral positions. The target presentation was followed by a masking stimulus, which made its possible location unambiguous, but not its presence. Proprioceptive cues were given by applying a brief lateral force to the participant’s arm, either in the same direction (validly cued) or in the opposite direction (invalidly cued) to the on-screen location of the mask. The d′ detection rate of the target increased when the direction of proprioceptive stimulus was compatible with the location of the visual target compared to when it was incompatible. These results suggest that proprioception influences the allocation of attention in visual spac
Emotional stress as a trigger of myasthenic crisis and concomitant takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular junction post-synaptic autoimmune disorder. Myasthenic crisis is characterized by respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare clinical syndrome defined as a profound but reversible left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of coronary artery disease.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a unique case of a 60-year-old Hispanic woman with myasthenia gravis who developed takotsubo cardiomyopathy and concomitant myasthenic crisis that appear to have been triggered by a stressful life event. On admission, she presented with severe mid-sternal chest pain and shortness of breath shortly after a personally significant stressful life event. A pertinent neurological examination showed bilateral facial weakness and right ptosis. The left ventriculogram showed apical ballooning with hyperdynamic proximal segments with sparing of the apex. Her troponin I level was elevated, while cardiac catheterization revealed no significant coronary artery disease. The findings were consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Shortly after cardiac catheterization, she developed bilateral ophthalmoparesis and significant bulbar and respiratory muscle weakness. Forced vital capacity values were persistently less than 1 L. The patient developed respiratory failure and required endotracheal intubation. After plasmapheresis and corticosteroid treatment, her clinical course improved with successful extubation. A normal left ventricle chamber size and a normal ejection fraction were noted by an echocardiogram repeated 10 months later.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first reported case of the simultaneous triggering of both takotsubo cardiomyopathy and myasthenic crisis by the physiologic consequences of a state of severe emotional stress. We hypothesize that the mechanism underlying the rare association of takotsubo cardiomyopathy with myasthenic crisis involves excessive endogenous glucocorticoid release, a high-catecholamine state, or a combination of both. We advocate careful cardiac monitoring of myasthenia gravis patients during acute emotional or physical stress, as there is potential risk of developing takotsubo cardiomyopathy.</p
Stage and treatment variation with age in postmenopausal women with breast cancer: compliance with guidelines
Breast cancer-specific mortality is static in older women despite having fallen in younger age groups, possibly due to lack of screening
and differences in treatment. This study compared stage and treatment between two cohorts of postmenopausal women (55–69 vs
470 years) in a single cancer network over 6 months. A total of 378 patients were studied (470: N ¼ 167, 55–69 years: N ¼ 210).
Older women presented with more advanced disease (470: metastatic/locally advanced 12%, 55–69 years: 3%, Po0.01). Those
with operable cancer had a worse prognosis (Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) 470: median NPI 4.4, 55–69 years: 4.25, Po0.03).
These stage differences were partially explained by higher screening rates in the younger cohort. Primary endocrine therapy was used
in 42% of older patients compared with 3% in the younger group (Po0.001). Older women with cancers suitable for breast
conservation were more likely to choose mastectomy (470: 57.5% mastectomy rate vs 55–69 years: 20.6%, Po0.01). Nodal
surgery was less frequent in older patients (470: 6.7% no nodal surgery, 55–69 years: 0.5%, Po0.01) and was more likely to be
inadequate (470: 10.7% o4 nodes excised, 55–69 years: 3.4%, Po0.02). In summary, older women presented with more advanced
breast cancer, than younger postmenopausal women and were treated less comprehensively
Generalized DNA Barcode Design Based on Hamming Codes
The diversity and scope of multiplex parallel sequencing applications is steadily increasing. Critically, multiplex parallel sequencing applications methods rely on the use of barcoded primers for sample identification, and the quality of the barcodes directly impacts the quality of the resulting sequence data. Inspection of the recent publications reveals a surprisingly variable quality of the barcodes employed. Some barcodes are made in a semi empirical fashion, without quantitative consideration of error correction or minimal distance properties. After systematic comparison of published barcode sets, including commercially distributed barcoded primers from Illumina and Epicentre, methods for improved, Hamming code-based sequences are suggested and illustrated. Hamming barcodes can be employed for DNA tag designs in many different ways while preserving minimal distance and error-correcting properties. In addition, Hamming barcodes remain flexible with regard to essential biological parameters such as sequence redundancy and GC content. Wider adoption of improved Hamming barcodes is encouraged in multiplex parallel sequencing applications
From monogenic to polygenic obesity: recent advances
The heritability of obesity and body weight in general is high. A small number of confirmed monogenic forms of obesity—the respective mutations are sufficient by themselves to cause the condition in food abundant societies—have been identified by molecular genetic studies. The elucidation of these genes, mostly based on animal and family studies, has led to the identification of important pathways to the disorder and thus to a deeper understanding of the regulation of body weight. The identification of inborn deficiency of the mostly adipocyte-derived satiety hormone leptin in extremely obese children from consanguineous families paved the way to the first pharmacological therapy for obesity based on a molecular genetic finding. The genetic predisposition to obesity for most individuals, however, has a polygenic basis. A polygenic variant by itself has a small effect on the phenotype; only in combination with other predisposing variants does a sizeable phenotypic effect arise. Common variants in the first intron of the ‘fat mass and obesity associated’ gene (FTO) result in an elevated body mass index (BMI) equivalent to approximately +0.4 kg/m² per risk allele. The FTO variants were originally detected in a genome wide association study (GWAS) pertaining to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Large meta-analyses of GWAS have subsequently identified additional polygenic variants. Up to December 2009, polygenic variants have been confirmed in a total of 17 independent genomic regions. Further study of genetic effects on human body weight regulation should detect variants that will explain a larger proportion of the heritability. The development of new strategies for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of obesity can be anticipated
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