Obfuscated Fuzzy Hamming Distance and Conjunctions from Subset Product Problems

We consider the problem of obfuscating programs for fuzzy matching (in other words, testing whether the Hamming distance between an $n$-bit input and a fixed $n$-bit target vector is smaller than some predetermined threshold). This problem arises in biometric matching and other contexts. We present a virtual-black-box (VBB) secure and input-hiding obfuscator for fuzzy matching for Hamming distance, based on certain natural number-theoretic computational assumptions. In contrast to schemes based on coding theory, our obfuscator is based on computational hardness rather than information-theoretic hardness, and can be implemented for a much wider range of parameters. The Hamming distance obfuscator can also be applied to obfuscation of matching under the $\ell_1$ norm on $\mathbb{Z}^n$. We also consider obfuscating conjunctions. Conjunctions are equivalent to pattern matching with wildcards, which can be reduced in some cases to fuzzy matching. Our approach does not cover as general a range of parameters as other solutions, but it is much more compact. We study the relation between our obfuscation schemes and other obfuscators and give some advantages of our solution

Immunogenic and Antigenic Profiles of Nine Lactococcus garvieae Strains from Different Rainbow Trout Farms

The aims of this study were to determine differences with respect to immunogenic potency in the antigenic profiles of nine Lactococcus garvieae strains from Turkey, Spain, and England, to develop a bacterin, and to examine the immunological response of rainbow trout to the bacterin. The strains had identical Western blot patterns with 30, 37, 40, 46, 52, and 66 kDA mw protein bands. After culturing the bacteria, proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to Immobilon membranes. The membranes were incubated with hyperimmune rabbit sera obtained by immunizing a rabbit against L. garvieae. One group of 50 fish was immunized with formalin- killed bacterin prepared from the most immunogenic strain of L. garvieae. A second group of 50 fish served as an unimmunized control. Four weeks after vaccination, both groups were chal- lenged intraperitoneally with a homologous strain. The protection rate of the bacterin was judged by the relative percent survival (RPS) of the groups. A significantly high level of protection was achieved in the vaccinated group (88.8% RPS)

Effects of lisinopril on NMDA receptor subunits 2A and 2B levels in the hippocampus of rats with l-NAME-induced hypertension

PubMed: 22943192Hypertension is major risk factor leading to cerebrovascular pathologies. N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and renin-angiotensin system are involved in neuronal plasticity, as well as cognitive functions in the hippocampus. In this study, we examined the effects of lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, on the levels of hippocampal NMDAR subunits; NR2A and NR2B in l-NAME (N?-nitro-l-arginine Methyl Ester)-induced hypertensive rats. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured as a marker for lipid peroxidation. Compared with the control group, the MDA level was significantly increased after 8 weeks in the l-NAME-treated group. Rats treated with lisinopril and l-NAME plus lisinopril were found to have significantly decreased hippocampal MDA levels. Regarding the hippocampal concentrations of NR2A and NR2B, there were no statistically significant differences between groups. We demonstrated that lisinopril treatment has no direct regulatory effect on the levels of NR2A and NR2B in the rat hippocampus. Our results showed that Lisinopril could act as an antioxidant agent against hypertension-induced oxidative stress in rat hippocampus. The findings support that the use of lisinopril may offer a good alternative in the treatment of hypertension by reducing not only blood pressure but also prevent hypertensive complications in the brain. © 2012 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc

Levels in patients with Behcet's disease

Annual European Congress of Rheumatology -- JUN 08-11, 2005 -- Vienna, AUSTRIAWOS: 00022990910124

EVALUATION OF LYMPHOTOXIN-ALPHA C804A GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN PATIENTS WITH ISOLE CORONARY ARTERY ECTASIA

WOS: 000317946500308

GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS OF THE HUMAN PLATELET ANTIGENS-1 IN ISOLE CORONARY ARTERY ECTASIA

WOS: 000317946500310

stress?

A variety of experimental studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of melatonin, based on its antioxidant activity. In a prospective randomized study, the effects of melatonin were investigated in experimental head trauma-induced oxidative stress in rabbits. The experimental study was performed on 30 rabbits. The animals were divided into three groups. Group I (sham procedure): a right parietal craniotomy was performed on each animal, and the dura mater was left intact. Group II: experimental brain trauma (EBT) was performed on each animal using a 1 cm inner diameter x 10 cm long glass tube, through which a 20 g weight (0.5 cm diameter) was dropped onto the brain at the craniotomy site, causing a contusional head trauma. Group III: the same EBT model was performed, but 2.5 mg/kg melatonin was injected intraperitoneally four times (total dose 10 mg/kg); these injections were performed 20 min before the operation, during the trauma, 1 h later and 2 h later. The rabbits were sacrificed after the EBT at 24 h after the brain trauma. The activities of the three principal antioxidant enzymes-catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)-were determined, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation, and glutathione (GSH) were measured in brain homogenates. MDA levels were found to be higher in the EBT group than in the EBT+melatonin group or the sham procedure group. The SOD activity was found to be higher in the EBT group than in the sham procedure group. Enzymatic parameters (except for SOD) were significantly higher in melatonin-treated animals than in EBT animals. GSH levels in melatonin-treated animals were decreased compared with EBT animals. In conclusion, the data indicate that melatonin protects against free radical-mediated oxidative changes in brain tissue by boosting antioxidant enzymes, and in particular lowering lipid peroxidation in rabbits with EBT.C1 S Demirel Univ, Sch Med, Dept Neurosurg, Isparta, Turkey.Pamukkale Univ, Dept Neurosurg, Denizli, Turkey.S Demirel Univ, Sch Med, Dept Physiol, Isparta, Turkey.S Demirel Univ, Sch Med, Dept Clin Biochem, Isparta, Turkey