Efficient hardware implementations of high throughput SHA-3 candidates keccak, luffa and blue midnight wish for single- and multi-message hashing

In November 2007 NIST announced that it would organize the SHA-3 competition to select a new cryptographic hash function family by 2012. In the selection process, hardware performances of the candidates will play an important role. Our analysis of previously proposed hardware implementations shows that three SHA-3 candidate algorithms can provide superior performance in hardware: Keccak, Luffa and Blue Midnight Wish (BMW). In this paper, we provide efficient and fast hardware implementations of these three algorithms. Considering both single- and multi-message hashing applications with an emphasis on both speed and efficiency, our work presents more comprehensive analysis of their hardware performances by providing different performance figures for different target devices. To our best knowledge, this is the first work that provides a comparative analysis of SHA-3 candidates in multi-message applications. We discover that BMW algorithm can provide much higher throughput than previously reported if used in multi-message hashing. We also show that better utilization of resources can increase speed via different configurations. We implement our designs using Verilog HDL, and map to both ASIC and FPGA devices (Spartan3, Virtex2, and Virtex 4) to give a better comparison with those in the literature. We report total area, maximum frequency, maximum throughput and throughput/area of the designs for all target devices. Given that the selection process for SHA3 is still open; our results will be instrumental to evaluate the hardware performance of the candidates

The effectiveness of basic life support training on nursing students\u2019 knowledge and basic life support practices: a non-randomized quasi-experimental design

Background: Provision of up-to-date information and skills training related to basic life support practices is very important for nursing students\u2019 professional development and practitioner and education related roles. Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of basic life support training on knowledge and practices among nursing students. Methods: A non-randomized quasi-experimental design (one group pre-test-post-test) was used in this study. The study was conducted in the laboratory of an undergraduate nursing school. The sample consisted of a convenience sample of 1st-year students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing class. The study sample consisted of 65 nursing students. Basic life support training included both theoretical and practical components. The students\u2019 knowledge and practices were assessed before basic life support training. Data were collected using the knowledge assessment questionnaire. The practical skills for basic life support were observed and assessed using a checklist. The pre- and post-assessment practice scores were compared. Results: After basic life support training, level of knowledge and practical skill scores were higher compared to pre-training scores (t= -12.442, p=0.000; t= -22.899, p=0.000). There was a significant and moderate association between the adult basic life support knowledge form scores and the adult basic life support practice assessment form scores obtained after the training (r = 0.39, p<0.01). Conclusion: The study showed that basic life support training improved knowledge and skills related to basic life support practices in nursing students. Periodic basic life support training is very important for competency in this area among nursing students

The effectiveness of basic life support training on nursing students\u2019 knowledge and basic life support practices: a non-randomized quasi-experimental study

Background: Provision of up-to-date information and skills training related to basic life support practices is very important for nursing students\u2019 professional development and practitioner and education related roles. Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of basic life support training on knowledge and practices among nursing students. Methods: A non-randomized quasi-experimental design (One group pre-test-post-test) was used in this study. The study was conducted in the laboratory of an undergraduate nursing school. The sample consisted of a convenience sample of 1st-year students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing class. The study sample consisted of 65 nursing students. Basic life support training included both theoretical and practical components. The students' knowledge and practices were assessed before basic life support training. Data were collected using the knowledge assessment questionnaire. The practical skills for basic life support were observed and assessed using a checklist. The pre- and post-assessment practice scores were compared. Results: After basic life support training, level of knowledge and practical skill scores were higher compared to pre-training scores (t= -12.442, p=0.000; t= -22.899, p=0.000). There was a significant and moderate association between the adult basic life support Knowledge Form scores and the adult basic life support practice assessment form scores obtained after the training (r= 0.39, p<0.01). Conclusion: The study showed that basic life support training improved knowledge and skills related to basic life support practices in nursing students. Periodic basic life support training is very important for competency in this area among nursing students. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.51 Cite as: Kose S, Akin S, Mendi O, Goktas S. The effectiveness of basic life support training on nursing students\u2019 knowledge and basic life support practices: a non-randomized quasi-experimental design. Afri Health Sci.2019;19(2): 2252-2262. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.5

Clinical and demographic characteristics of children with familial mediterranean fever in Central Anatolia

PubMe

The relationship between glycemic control and BNP levels in diabetic patients

Background: Glycemic control affects cardiovascular risk factors positively. The purpose of this study was to assess B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with poorly controlled diabetes before and after glycemic regulation was achieved.Methods: The study was performed in a prospective design. The study population consisted of 79 consecutive diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Levels of fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid parameters, and BNP were measured before the onset of the treatment and after glycemic regulation was achieved.Results: A significant decrease in BNP (95.0 [4.0–1807] ng/L vs. 52.0 [2.1–987.0] ng/L, p < 0.001) levels were observed, after improving glycemic control. The decrease in BNP levels was positively correlated with the decrease in HbA1c (r = 0.345, p = 0.003) and fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.366, p = 0.002). There was no correlation between the decrease in BNP levels and lipid parameters (p = NS).Conclusions: We conclude that poor glycemic control may cause high levels of BNP which maylead to overdiagnosis of congestive heart failure. We suggest that HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose should be checked in patients with high levels of BNP

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception

Active neuro-adaptive vibration suppression of a smart beam

In this research, an active vibration suppression of a smart beam having piezoelectric sensor and actuators is investigated by designing separate controllers comprising a linear quadratic regulator and a neural network. Firstly, design of a smart beam which consists of a cantilever aluminum beam with surface bonded piezoelectric patches and a designed mechanism having a micro servomotor with a mass attached arm for obtaining variations in the frequency response function are presented. Secondly, the frequency response functions of the smart beam are investigated experimentally by using different piezoelectric patch combinations and the analytical models of the smart beam around its first resonance frequency region for various servomotor arm angle configurations are obtained. Then, a linear quadratic regulator controller is designed and used to simulate the suppression of free and forced vibrations which are performed both in time and frequency domain. In parallel to simulations, experiments are conducted to observe the closed loop behavior of the smart beam and the results are compared as well. Finally, active vibration suppression of the smart beam is investigated by using a linear controller with a neural network based adaptive element which is designed for the purpose of overcoming the undesired consequences due to variations in the real system