Strongly Secure and Efficient Data Shuffle On Hardware Enclaves

Mitigating memory-access attacks on the Intel SGX architecture is an important and open research problem. A natural notion of the mitigation is cache-miss obliviousness which requires the cache-misses emitted during an enclave execution are oblivious to sensitive data. This work realizes the cache-miss obliviousness for the computation of data shuffling. The proposed approach is to software-engineer the oblivious algorithm of Melbourne shuffle on the Intel SGX/TSX architecture, where the Transaction Synchronization eXtension (TSX) is (ab)used to detect the occurrence of cache misses. In the system building, we propose software techniques to prefetch memory data prior to the TSX transaction to defend the physical bus-tapping attacks. Our evaluation based on real implementation shows that our system achieves superior performance and lower transaction abort rate than the related work in the existing literature.Comment: Systex'1

Prochlo: Strong Privacy for Analytics in the Crowd

The large-scale monitoring of computer users' software activities has become commonplace, e.g., for application telemetry, error reporting, or demographic profiling. This paper describes a principled systems architecture---Encode, Shuffle, Analyze (ESA)---for performing such monitoring with high utility while also protecting user privacy. The ESA design, and its Prochlo implementation, are informed by our practical experiences with an existing, large deployment of privacy-preserving software monitoring. (cont.; see the paper

Consumption patterns and living conditions inside Het Steen, the late medieval prison of Malines (Mechelen, Belgium)

Excavations at the Main Square (Grote Markt) of Malines (Mechelen, Belgium) have unearthed the building remains of a tower, arguably identifiable as the former town prison: Het Steen. When this assumption is followed, the contents of the fills of two cesspits dug out in the cellars of the building illustrate aspects of daily life within the early 14th-century prison. An integrated approach of all find categories, together with the historical context available, illuminates aspects of the material culture of the users of the cesspits, their consumption patterns and the living conditions within the building

Multiple reasons underlaying uncontrolled disease in the majority of chronic rhinosinusitis patients

BackgroundUp to 40% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remain uncontrolled despite guidelines of care being available, with an enormous socio-economic impact. The reasons for uncontrolled disease can be arbitrarily divided into disease-related, diagnosis-related, treatment-related, and patient-related factors. The relative contribution of each factor in uncontrolled CRS remains speculative. This explorative study aimed at determining the factors responsible for uncontrolled CRS in a tertiary care center, thereby identifying the most commons reasons for uncontrolled disease in CRS.MethodsPatients with uncontrolled CRS (n = 187) were asked to fill out a questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination at the outpatient clinic of the University Hospital of Leuven, Belgium. Two independent physicians evaluated the (multiple) reason(s) for uncontrolled disease.ResultsIn uncontrolled CRS, 66% of patients showed two or more reasons for uncontrolled disease according to the physicians' evaluation. Disease-related factors (70%) were most often considered the reason for uncontrolled disease, followed by treatment- (45%), patient- (42%), and diagnosis- (32%) related factors.ConclusionIn case of uncontrolled CRS, the different contributing factors to the uncontrolled nature need to be carefully addressed during diagnostic and therapeutic actions in order to define strategies to improve CRS care. Most uncontrolled CRS patients have multiple reasons contributing to their disease status, with disease-related factors being the most common factor

Determination of the prebiotic activity of wheat arabinogalactan peptide (AGP) using batch culture fermentation

Purpose To test the prebiotic activity of wheat arabinogalactan-peptide (AGP), which is a soluble dietary fibre composed of arabinogalactan polysaccharide linked to a 15-residue peptide, which accounts for up to 0.4% of the dry weight of wheat flour. Methods The prebiotic activity of AGP prepared from white wheat flour was tested using in-vitro fermentation by colonic bacteria in automated pH controlled anaerobic stirred batch cultures and compared to fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and wheat flour arabinoxylan (AX). Bacterial populations were measured using fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (flow-FISH) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were measured using HPLC. Results Fermentation of AGP resulted in a significant bifidogenic activity and increased concentrations of SCFAs, mainly acetate after 24 h of fermentation. Conclusions These results were comparable to those obtained with AX and confirm the prebiotic potential of AGP. Furthermore, fermentation of a mixture of AGP and AX was faster compared to the single substrates and more similar to FOS, indicating that combinations of fermentable carbohydrates with different structures are potentially more effective as prebiotics than single substrates

Prevalence of non Helicobacter pylori species in patients presenting with dyspepsia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Helicobacter species associated with human infection include <it>Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter heilmannii </it>and <it>Helicobacter felis </it>among others. In this study we determined the prevalence of <it>H. pylori </it>and non-<it>Helicobacter pylori </it>organisms <it>H. felis and H. heilmannii </it>and analyzed the association between coinfection with these organisms and gastric pathology in patients presenting with dyspepsia. Biopsy specimens were obtained from patients with dyspepsia on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for rapid urease test, histology and PCR examination for Helicobacter genus specific 16S rDNA, <it>H. pylori </it>phosphoglucosamine mutase (<it>glmM</it>) and urease B (<it>ureB</it>) gene of <it>H. heilmannii </it>and <it>H. felis</it>. Sequencing of PCR products of <it>H. heilmannii </it>and <it>H. felis </it>was done.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two hundred-fifty patients with dyspepsia were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 39 ± 12 years with males 162(65%). Twenty-six percent (66 out of 250) were exposed to cats or dogs. PCR for Helicobacter genus specific 16S rDNA was positive in 167/250 (67%), <it>H. pylori glmM </it>in 142/250 (57%), <it>H. heilmannii </it>in 17/250 (6%) and <it>H. felis </it>in 10/250 (4%), respectively. All the <it>H. heilmannii </it>and <it>H. felis </it>PCR positive patients were also positive for <it>H. pylori </it>PCR amplification. The occurrence of coinfection of <it>H. pylori </it>and <it>H. heilmannii </it>was 17(6%) and with <it>H. felis </it>was 10(4%), respectively. Only one out of 66 exposed to pets were positive for <it>H. heilmannii </it>and two for <it>H. felis</it>. Histopathology was carried out in 160(64%) of 250 cases. Chronic active inflammation was observed in 53(56%) (p = 0.001) of the patients with <it>H. pylori </it>infection alone as compared to 3(37%) (p = 0.73) coinfected with <it>H. heilmannii </it>and <it>H. pylori </it>and 3(60%) coinfected with <it>H. felis </it>and <it>H. pylori </it>(p = 0.66). Intestinal metaplasia was observed in 3(3%)(p = 1.0) of the patients with <it>H. pylori </it>infection alone as compared to 2(25%) (p = 0.02) coinfected with <it>H. heilmannii </it>and <it>H. pylori </it>and 1(20%) coinfected with <it>H. felis </it>and <it>H. pylori </it>(p = 0.15).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of <it>H. heilmannii </it>and <it>H. felis </it>was low in our patients with dyspepsia. Exposure to pets did not increase the risk of <it>H. heilmannii </it>or <it>H. felis </it>infection. The coinfection of <it>H. pylori </it>with <it>H. heilmannii </it>was seen associated with intestinal metaplasia, however this need further confirmation.</p

Use of television, videogames, and computer among children and adolescents in Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This survey determined the practices about television (video inclusive), videogames, and computer use in children and adolescents in Italy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A self-administered anonymous questionnaire covered socio-demographics; behaviour about television, videogames, computer, and sports; parental control over television, videogames, and computer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 54.1% and 61% always ate lunch or dinner in front of the television, 89.5% had a television in the bedroom while 52.5% of them always watched television there, and 49% indicated that parents controlled the content of what was watched on television. The overall mean length of time daily spent on television viewing (2.8 hours) and the frequency of watching for at least two hours per day (74.9%) were significantly associated with older age, always ate lunch or dinner while watching television, spent more time playing videogames and using computer. Those with parents from a lower socio-economic level were also more likely to spend more minutes viewing television. Two-thirds played videogames for 1.6 daily hours and more time was spent by those younger, males, with parents that do not control them, who watched more television, and who spent more time at the computer. The computer was used by 85% of the sample for 1.6 daily hours and those older, with a computer in the bedroom, with a higher number of computers in home, who view more television and play videogames were more likely to use the computer.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Immediate and comprehensive actions are needed in order to diminish time spent at the television, videogames, and computer.</p

Duty of Karius: media framing of concussion following the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final

Concussion is a growing issue within sport, including within soccer. Despite the developing medical understanding of concussion, there is still an array of sociocultural discourses and misconceptions around it. In the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, Liverpool Football Club goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a head collision in the 48th minute. Postmatch, he was subsequently diagnosed as being concussed. As a result of his concussion, Karius’ performance was arguably impeded, with suggestions that this may have resulted in him making some key errors in the game. Through an analysis of media framing in 52 news articles in the days following the incident, four dominant frames were identified: deflection away from concussion, misunderstanding concussion, education on concussion, and recommendations. Frames that focussed on the lack of awareness and preventative measures that are present in soccer served to highlight the lack of significance afforded to concussion at this particular point in time. In particular, we highlight differences in concussion discourses between those working inside and outside the soccer industry. Overall, these findings contribute to the growing body of sociological work examining concussion in sport

Neuro and hepatic toxicological profile of (S)-2,4-diaminobutanoic acid in embryonic, adolescent and adult zebrafish

(S)-2,4-Diaminobutanoic acid (DABA) is a noncanonical amino acid often co-produced by cyanobacteria along with β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) in algal blooms. Although BMAA is a well-established neurotoxin, the toxicity of DABA remains unclear. As part of our development of biocompatible materials, we wish to make use of DABA as both a building block and as the end-product of enzymatically-induced depolymerization; however, if it is toxic at very low concentrations, this would not be possible. We examined the toxicity of DABA using both in vivo embryonic and adult zebrafish models. At higher sub-lethal concentrations (700 µM), the fish demonstrated early signs of cardiotoxicity. Adolescent zebrafish were able to tolerate a higher concentration. Post-mortem histological analysis of juvenile zebrafish showed no liver or brain abnormalities associated with hepato- or neurotoxicity. Combined, these results show that DABA exhibits no overt toxicity at concentrations (100-300 µM) within an order of magnitude of those envisioned for its application. This study further highlights the low-cost and ease of using zebrafish as an early-stage toxicological screening tool