Variations of the McEliece Cryptosystem

Two variations of the McEliece cryptosystem are presented. The first one is based on a relaxation of the column permutation in the classical McEliece scrambling process. This is done in such a way that the Hamming weight of the error, added in the encryption process, can be controlled so that efficient decryption remains possible. The second variation is based on the use of spatially coupled moderate-density parity-check codes as secret codes. These codes are known for their excellent error-correction performance and allow for a relatively low key size in the cryptosystem. For both variants the security with respect to known attacks is discussed

Integrative analysis of the microbiome and metabolome of the human intestinal mucosal surface reveals exquisite inter-relationships

Background: Consistent compositional shifts in the gut microbiota are observed in IBD and other chronic intestinal disorders and may contribute to pathogenesis. The identities of microbial biomolecular mechanisms and metabolic products responsible for disease phenotypes remain to be determined, as do the means by which such microbial functions may be therapeutically modified. Results: The composition of the microbiota and metabolites in gut microbiome samples in 47 subjects were determined. Samples were obtained by endoscopic mucosal lavage from the cecum and sigmoid colon regions, and each sample was sequenced using the 16S rRNA gene V4 region (Illumina-HiSeq 2000 platform) and assessed by UPLC mass spectroscopy. Spearman correlations were used to identify widespread, statistically significant microbial-metabolite relationships. Metagenomes for identified microbial OTUs were imputed using PICRUSt, and KEGG metabolic pathway modules for imputed genes were assigned using HUMAnN. The resulting metabolic pathway abundances were mostly concordant with metabolite data. Analysis of the metabolome-driven distribution of OTU phylogeny and function revealed clusters of clades that were both metabolically and metagenomically similar. Conclusions: The results suggest that microbes are syntropic with mucosal metabolome composition and therefore may be the source of and/or dependent upon gut epithelial metabolites. The consistent relationship between inferred metagenomic function and assayed metabolites suggests that metagenomic composition is predictive to a reasonable degree of microbial community metabolite pools. The finding that certain metabolites strongly correlate with microbial community structure raises the possibility of targeting metabolites for monitoring and/or therapeutically manipulating microbial community function in IBD and other chronic diseases

Evaluation of DNA ploidy in relation with established prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma are diagnosed with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy in relation with established clinical and laboratory variables in such patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two hundred and twenty six patients were studied retrospectively. Twenty two potential prognostic variables (demographics, clinical parameters, biochemical markers, treatment modality) were examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean survival time was 38.41 weeks (95% c.i.: 33.17–43.65), median survival 27.00 weeks (95% c.i.: 23.18–30.82). On multivariate analysis, 10 factors had an independent effect on survival: performance status, local extension of tumor, distant metastases, ploidy score, anemia under epoetin therapy, weight loss, pain, steatorrhoea, CEA, and palliative surgery and chemotherapy. Patients managed with palliative surgery and chemotherapy had 6.7 times lower probability of death in comparison with patients without any treatment. Patients with ploidy score > 3.6 had 5.0 times higher probability of death in comparison with patients with ploidy score < 2.2 and these with ploidy score 2.2–3.6 had 6.3 times higher probability of death in comparison with patients with ploidy score < 2.2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>According to the significance of the examined factor, survival was improved mainly by the combination of surgery and chemotherapy, and the presence of low DNA ploidy score.</p

Identification of 15 new psoriasis susceptibility loci highlights the role of innate immunity

To gain further insight into the genetic architecture of psoriasis, we conducted a meta-analysis of 3 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and 2 independent data sets genotyped on the Immunochip, including 10,588 cases and 22,806 controls. We identified 15 new susceptibility loci, increasing to 36 the number associated with psoriasis in European individuals. We also identified, using conditional analyses, five independent signals within previously known loci. The newly identified loci shared with other autoimmune diseases include candidate genes with roles in regulating T-cell function (such as RUNX3, TAGAP and STAT3). Notably, they included candidate genes whose products are involved in innate host defense, including interferon-mediated antiviral responses (DDX58), macrophage activation (ZC3H12C) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling (CARD14 and CARM1). These results portend a better understanding of shared and distinctive genetic determinants of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders and emphasize the importance of the skin in innate and acquired host defense

Nonsmokers\u27 Perceptions Of Cigarette Smokers\u27 Credibility, Likeability, Attractiveness, Considerateness, Cleanliness, And Healthiness

This study examined perceptions of male and female models depicted smoking or not smoking cigarettes. Undergraduate students viewed photographs of smoking or nonsmoking models and then rated the models\u27 credibility, homophily, attractiveness, likeability, considerateness, cleanliness, and healthiness. Analysis indicated that being viewed as a cigarette smoker damaged people\u27s images. With the exception of two dimensions of credibility, smokers, compared to nonsmokers, were rated less favorably on every variable examined in this study. These results are discussed. © 2010 Eastern Communication Association

Nonsmoker’s Perceptions of Male and Female Cigarette Smokers’ Credibility, Likeability, Attractiveness, Considerateness, Cleanliness, and Healthiness

This study examined perceptions of male and female models depicted smoking or not smoking cigarettes. Undergraduate students viewed photographs of smoking or nonsmoking models and then rated the models\u27 credibility, homophily, attractiveness, likeability, considerateness, cleanliness, and healthiness. Analysis indicated that being viewed as a cigarette smoker damaged people\u27s images. With the exception of two dimensions of credibility, smokers, compared to nonsmokers, were rated less favorably on every variable examined in this study. These results are discussed

Pressure effect on the magnetic susceptibility of low dimensional organic conductors &#945;-, &#946;-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 and (TMTSF)2X (X=ClO4, PF6, ReO4)

The pressure dependence of the static susceptibility of the &#945; and &#946; phases of (BEDT-TTF)2I3 and of (TMTSF)2X for X = CI04, PF6, Re04 was measured using a Faraday balance up to a pressure of 10 kbar. The fractional pressure dependence &#963; InXs/&#963;P is -2.0%/kbar and -3.3%/kbar for the &#945;- and &#946;-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 respectively and it is temperature independent. For (TMTSF)2X &#963;1nXs/&#963;P is about -3.0%/kbar at room temperature and increases to -4.8%/kbar on cooling. Both the magnitude and temperature dependence of the fractional pressure dependence in those two families are in contrast with the behaviour in TTF-TCNQ, where the magnitude is -8.%kbar and decreases with decreasing temperature

Magnetic susceptibility of &#945; and &#946; phases of di[bis(ethylenediothiolo)tetrathiafulvalene] tri-iodide [(BEDT-TTF)2I3] under pressure

We report static magnetic susceptibility data, &#967;(T), for the &#945; and &#946; phases of the organic conductor di[bis(ethylenediothiolo)tetrathiafulvalene] tri-iodide [(BEDT-TTF)2I3] both at ambient pressure and under applied pressures of up to 10 kbar. Ambient pressure ESR data for both phases below 300 K are also presented. The temperature dependence of the spin susceptibility &#967;s&#946;(T) for the superconductor &#946;-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 is unusually small for organic conductors; the pressure derivative &#8706;ln&#967;s&#946;/&#8706;P is found to be only moderate in magnitude (-3.3% per kbar) and independent of temperature below 300 K. For the &#945;q phase, &#8706;ln&#967;s&#945;/&#8706;P&#8771;-2.0%/Kbar at ambient temperature