Privacy-Preserving Ride Sharing Scheme for Autonomous Vehicles

The transport sector is set to undergo an overall change with the advent of autonomous vehicles embedded with artificial intelligence and machine learning. Autonomous vehicles will not only make the road safer but also will improve the efficiency of the modern transport system. Ride sharing is a major gamechanger in the transport industry. Autonomous Vehiclescan make ride sharingpopular, convenientand necessary because it eliminates the need of a driver and will help in recuperating the initial cost of the vehicle. In current scenario, the organization of ride sharing requires the users to disclose sensitive private information not only about the pick-up and drop-off locations but also other details such as name and contact details. In this paper, we propose a scheme to facilitate ride sharing and address the privacy issues that plague down the current industry. The scheme encrypts data using similarity measurement technique to preserve the privacy of the user. The ride sharing route is divided into cells, which is further represented by one bit in a binary vector. Binary vectors are used to represent the trip data of each user.The encryption of the vector data is submitted to a server. The server can measure the similarity of the users’ trip data and find other users who can share rides along the same route without knowing the data. The proposed scheme can facilitate ride sharing without disclosing private information. The scheme is implemented using Visual C on a real map. The measurements from the results have confirmed that the scheme is effective when ride sharing becomes popular and the server needs to organize a large number of rides in short time

Genetic analysis of HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form 02_AG, B and C subtype-specific envelope sequences from Northern India and their predicted co-receptor usage

HIV-1 epidemic in India is largely driven by subtype C but other subtypes or recombinants have also been reported from several states of India. This is mainly due to the co-circulation of other genetic subtypes that potentially can recombine to generate recombinant/mosaic genomes. In this study, we report detail genetic characterization of HIV-1 envelope sequences from North India (Delhi and neighboring regions). Six of 13 were related to subtype C, one B and the rest six showed relatedness with CRF02_AG strain. The subtype C possessed the highly conserved GPGQ motif but subtype B possessed the GPGR motif in the V3 loop as observed earlier. While most of the sequences suggested CCR5 co-receptor usage, one subtype C sample clearly indicated CXCR4 usage. A successful mother to child transmission was established in two pairs. Thus, co-circulation of multiple subtypes (B and C) and the recombinant CRF02_AG strains in North India suggests a rapidly evolving scenario of HIV-1 epidemic in this region with impact on vaccine formulation. Since this is the first report of CRF02_AG envelope from India, it will be important to monitor the spread of this strain and its impact on HIV-1 transmission in India

Classical Spin Models with Broken Continuous Symmetry: Random Field Induced Order and Persistence of Spontaneous Magnetization

We consider a classical spin model, of two-dimensional spins, with continuous symmetry, and investigate the effect of a symmetry breaking unidirectional quenched disorder on the magnetization of the system. We work in the mean field regime. We show, by numerical simulations and by perturbative calculations in the low as well as in the high temperature limits, that although the continuous symmetry of the magnetization is lost, the system still magnetizes, albeit with a lower value as compared to the case without disorder. The critical temperature at which the system starts magnetizing, also decreases with the introduction of disorder. However, with the introduction of an additional constant magnetic field, the component of magnetization in the direction that is transverse to the disorder field increases with the introduction of the quenched disorder. We discuss the same effects also for three-dimensional spins.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, RevTeX

Recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion in a child due to diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion in children with no identifiable cause is a rare presentation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 4-year-old Indian girl who presented with recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. Diffuse lymphangiomatosis was suspected when associated pulmonary involvement, soft tissue mediastinal mass, and lytic bone lesions were found. Pericardiectomy and lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis. Partial clinical improvement occurred with thalidomide and low-dose radiotherapy, but our patient died from progressive respiratory failure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic pericardial effusion of unclear cause.</p

Ultracold atomic gases in optical lattices: mimicking condensed matter physics and beyond

We review recent developments in the physics of ultracold atomic and molecular gases in optical lattices. Such systems are nearly perfect realisations of various kinds of Hubbard models, and as such may very well serve to mimic condensed matter phenomena. We show how these systems may be employed as quantum simulators to answer some challenging open questions of condensed matter, and even high energy physics. After a short presentation of the models and the methods of treatment of such systems, we discuss in detail, which challenges of condensed matter physics can be addressed with (i) disordered ultracold lattice gases, (ii) frustrated ultracold gases, (iii) spinor lattice gases, (iv) lattice gases in "artificial" magnetic fields, and, last but not least, (v) quantum information processing in lattice gases. For completeness, also some recent progress related to the above topics with trapped cold gases will be discussed.Comment: Review article. v2: published version, 135 pages, 34 figure

Comparison of S100&#946; levels, and their correlation with hemodynamic indices in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with three different anesthetic techniques

Cardiac surgery with aid of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with neurological dysfunction. The presence of cerebrospecific protein S100&#946; in serum is an indicator of cerebral damage. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of three different anesthesia techniques, on S100&#946; levels, in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting on CPB. A total of 180 patients were divided into three groups - each of who received sevoflurane, isoflurane and total intravenous anesthesia as part of the anesthetic technique, respectively. S100 were evaluated from venous sample at following time intervals - prior to induction of anesthesia (T1), after coming off CPB (T2); 12 h after aortic cross clamping (T3) and 24 h after aortic cross clamping (T4). In all three groups, maximal rise in S100&#946; levels occurred after CPB which gradually declined over next 24 h, the levels at 24 h post-AOXC being significantly higher than baseline levels. Significantly low levels of S100&#946; were noted at all postdose hours in the sevoflurane group, as compared to the total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group, and at 12 and 24 h postaortic cross clamp, in comparison to the isoflurane group. Comparing the isoflurane group with the TIVA group, the S100 levels were lower in the isoflurane group only at 24 h postaortic cross clamp. It was concluded that maximum rise in S100&#946; levels occurs immediately after CPB with a gradual decline in next 24 h. The rise in S100&#946; levels is significantly less in patients administered sevoflurane in comparison to isoflurane or TIVA. Hemodynamic parameters had no influence on the S100&#946; levels during the first 24 h after surgery

Spontaneous expectoration of a Blalock-Taussig shunt a decade after operation

An eleven-year-old boy expectorated a foreign body in cough that was identified as the prosthetic graft used for a Blalock-Taussig shunt. The shunt procedure was done 10 years earlier, and a definitive repair for tetralogy of Fallot was done a year later. He had no other symptoms, and a computed tomography (CT) angiogram did not reveal any other significant anomaly. The reason for this extremely rare event is unclear

Acute hemodynamic effects of inhaled nitroglycerine, intravenous nitroglycerine, and their combination with intravenous dobutamine in patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension

<b>Objectives:</b> The presence of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) affects the prognosis of patients; therefore, it is important to treat it. The aim of this study is to compare the acute hemodynamic effects of inhaled nitroglycerine (iNTG), intravenous nitroglycerine (IV NTG) alone and their combination with intravenous dobutamine (IV DOB) during the early postoperative period, in patients with PAH undergoing mitral valve or double valve replacement surgery. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> In the study, 40 patients with secondary PAH were administered iNTG 2.5 &#956;g/kg/min, IV NTG 2.5 &#956;g/kg/min, a combination of iNTG 2.5 &#956;g/kg/min &#x002B; IV DOB 10 &#956;g/kg/min, and IV NTG 2.5 &#956;g/kg/min &#x002B; IV DOB 10 &#956;g/kg/min for 10 minutes each following valve replacement surgery, in random order. The hemodynamic parameters were recorded before (T0) and immediately after the intervention. (T1). <b> Results:</b> iNTG effectively decreased mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), and the PVR / SVR ratio, without affecting arterial pressures, systemic vascular resistance or mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO₂ ). IV NTG produced both systemic and pulmonary vasodilation along with a significant fall in SvO₂ . The combination of iNTG and IV DOB caused a significant decrease in mPAP and PVRI, with no significant change in SVRI, PVR / SVR ratio, and SvO₂ . A combination of IV NTG &#x002B; IV DOB caused both pulmonary and systemic vasodilatation with a significant decrease in SvO₂ . None of the drugs caused any significant change in the cardiac index. <b> Conclusion:</b> All drugs were of similar efficacy in reducing the pulmonary vascular resistance index. Only iNTG produced selective pulmonary vasodilatation, while IV NTG and its combination with IV dobutamine had a significant concomitant systemic vasodilatory effect