Performance evaluation of different CRL distribution schemes embedded in WMN authentication

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have emerged as a promising technology to provide low cost and scalable solutions for high speed Internet access and additional services. In hybrid WMNs, where mesh clients also act as relaying agents and form a mesh client network, it is important to provide users with an efficient anonymous and accountable authentication scheme. Accountability is required for the malicious users that are to be identified and revoked from the network access and related services. Promising revocation schemes are based on Certification Revocation Lists (CRLs). Since in hybrid WMNs mesh clients also authenticate other clients, distribution of these CRLs is an important task. In this paper, we propose and examine the performance of different distribution schemes of CRLs and analyze authentication performance in two scenarios: in one scenario all mesh routers and mesh clients obtain CRLs and in the second one, CRLs are held only by the mesh routers and mesh clients acting as relaying agents require CRL checking to be performed from the router in authenticating another client

SecurePL: a compiler and toolbox for practical and easy secure multiparty computation

Secure multiparty computation is basically about techniques that allow multiple parties to jointly carry out computations that are based on data from each of the players while the data held by each player remains private to that player. Since the beginning of the notion of secure multiparty computation, many algorithms and methods were introduced on how to achieve this goal. This thesis first introduces different methods to do secure multiparty computation and later focusing on Secret sharing based multiparty computation it explains how efficient and secure multiparty operations can be done. Also while introducing secret sharing based secure multiparty computation we introduce a novel technique which allows to do secure multiparty computation using the Asmuth Bloom secret sharing scheme, which is not possible in the original scheme. The aim of this thesis is the design and implementation of a programming language and libraries for secure multiparty computation, SecurePL. We show that our tool’s ease of use and security allows even a person who has absolutely no knowledge about security or cryptography to write applications that can do secure multiparty computation

Prognostic significance of survivin, β-catenin and p53 expression in urothelial carcinoma

Survivin, β-catenin, and p53 are well-known cell-cycle and apoptosis regulators of tumorigenesis. Urothelial carcinomas (UCs) are the most common of the human cancers. Compared to superficial tumors (Ta, CIS, or T1), invasive UCs are important with regard to recurrence, progression, and mortality. Therefore, we examined whether survivin, β-catenin, and p53 could be used as the biomarkers for the early prediction of the invasiveness of UCs and the overall survival of the patients. We investigated the prognostic expressions of those biomarkers in UC (n=147) and in non-muscle invasive UC (NMI-UC) (n=113), using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. Spearman's correlation analysis and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used for statistical interpretation. High expressions of β-catenin, survivin, and p53 were associated with a high T stage, recurrence, progression, mortality, low recurrence-free survival, low progression-free survival and low overall survival (p < 0.01). Similar findings were achieved for recurrence and progression in the NMI-UC group, except for mortality. Moreover, a positive correlation was shown between p53 and β-catenin and between p53 and survivin (r=0.221, p < 0.01; r=0.236, p < 0.01, respectively). Survivin, p53, and β-catenin overexpression, as prognostic markers, might suggest that the UCs are biologically aggressive with the poor prognosis. Thus, dysregulation of those these cell-cycle and apoptosis regulators in bladder carcinoma could be used as a molecular marker to determine the best treatment strategy and could contribute to the development of targeted therapies

“The Lolelaplap (Marshall Islands) in Us: Sailing West to East (Ralik→Ratak) to These Our Atolls (Aelon Kein Ad) Ad Jolet Jen Anij (Our Blessed Inheritance from God)”

This paper discusses the expansion of Oceania through a Marshallese indigenous lens as a focal point. It explains that decolonizing methodologies allows reclaiming of space for mental liberation and reassurement of constitutional rights. It highlights similar occurrences of decolonization practices meeting resistance in the 21st century all while strengthening the human right argument that no human deserves any less than their fellow human brothers and sisters. It argues that an indigenous imagery can only be viewed through an indigenous lens where the researches’ level of purity is retained and unfiltered. It nevertheless argues that Marshallese ethnolinguistics reveal the same cultural practices in America, Judeo-Christianity, and Oceania thus dictating the reality that “we are the same not withstanding one stays here and one there (Bedbedjin Bedbedjen, Bedbedjinma wot Kwe)”. It further explains the importance in these similarities and how Marshallese spirituality predates introduced American Judeo-Christianity despite the latter attempting to marginalize the former. It concludes by stating that Marshallese contributions on the global stage are rooted in that culture of love (IaKwe) which is echoed by the custom(s) revealing the significance of Marshallese validation academically, spiritually, economically, & socially to prevent institutionalized discrimination. This paper ends stating that the agency to know one’s self and how one should fit in the world, is a human right in itself and Marshallese are entitled to this sense of self worth through knowing thy self by thy self where real thinking takes place in one’s own mind as we all live our own lives

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

MRI Findings of Brain Metastases in Lung Cancers

Brain metastasis is a serious clinical problem in patients with lung cancers and a particular factor affecting the mortality and morbidity. The presence of brain metastasis and the number of the metastatic focusi are important for the treatment decision. In this study we aimed to analyze the brain metastases due to lung cancers retrospectively. The study involved 103 patients who had brain metastases. The patients were evaluated in terms of localizations of the brain metastases, histopathologic types, lesion characteristics and solidarity or multiplicity. In all of the cases, the most frequent metastases were to frontal lobe (38,5%). In SCLC and NSCLC, frontal lobe was the most frequent metastatic localization. In all the metastatic focusi, 46.6% of multiple and 53.4% of solid brain metastases were present. The multiple metastasis rate detected in SCLC&#8217;s was 82.3% and was the greatest in all the cases. The squamous cell cancers had 67.5% solid metastasis and this rate was the highest among all the types. Also, our study showed that brain metastasis of lung cancer cases had solid characteristics of 59.3%, the 38.3% included cystic component and 6.1% had hemorrhagic characteristics. In epidermoid carcinomas, cystic metastases were the most to be detected and the rate was 69.7%. In the hemorrhagic metastatic types, adenocarcinomas had the highest rate with 10.7%. In conclusion, we suppose that in lung cancers, the properties of the brain metastases will offer a positive prediction for the method prior to the treatment. However, since the metastases from the epidermoid lung cancers are frequently located in frontal lobe and mostly as single lesions, we predict that these would benefit more from the treatment. [Med-Science 2014; 3(1.000): 1092-102

Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Turkish version of the revised Leeds Disability Questionnaire in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background/aim: The revised Leeds Disability Questionnaire (RLDQ) is a unique assessment tool for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS); its comprehensive structure includes posture and neck flexibility parameters. The aim of the study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish RLDQ in patients with AS. Materials and methods: A total of 100 AS patients were enrolled in the study. In the first evaluation, patients filled out the Dougados Functional Index (DFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in addition to RLDQ. Then, patients were refilled the revised RLDQ in the second assessment. Results: The mean age of the patients (40 women, 60 men) was 48.3 +/- 12.6 years. The test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the RLDQ total score were excellent. ICC score and Cronbach's alpha score were calculated as 0.853 and 0.905, respectively. The SEM and MDC values calculated for the RLDQ total score were 2.74 and 7.60, respectively. RLDQ had degrees of correlation with DFI, HAQ, and BASFI of 0.814, 0.742, and 0.852, respectively. Construct validity was excellent (r > 0.50, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The Turkish version of the RLDQ was found to be valid and reliable in patients with AS. It should be emphasized that the RLDQ is a distinctive and valuable tool that focuses separately on neck, posture, or other mobility parameters in the clinical assessment of AS

FLARE-RA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Turkish

Background: Flare Assessment in Rheumatoid Arthritis (FLARE-RA) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) to evaluate the flare-related symptoms of individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in the last three months. Objective: The present study aimed to demonstrate the translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the FLARE-RA. Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric analysis study was conducted with a total of 80 patients (61 Women, 19 Men; 49.6 ± 15.4 years). Patients filled-out the Global Health Assessment (GHA), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28), Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (RAQoL), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in addition to the Turkish FLARE-RA. In addition, participants’ Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded. Thirty patients refilled the FLARE-RA again, one-week later. Results: In the cross-cultural adaptation, translation procedures and pilot study, each item of the Turkish version of the FLARE-RA was found to be comprehensible. The ICC (two-way random-effect, single-measure model) and alpha values of the Turkish FLARE-RA were 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. The MDC95 values calculated for the FLARE-RA, FLARE-RA-arthritis, and FLARE-RA-symptoms scores were 2.01, 1.60, and 1.18, respectively. FLARE-RA, FLARE-RA-arthritis, and FLARE-RA-symptoms scores were highly correlated with VAS-rest, VAS-activity, DAS-28, RAQoL, and HAQ scores (r > 0.50). On the other hand, scores of FLARE-RA, FLARE-RA-arthritis, and FLARE-RA-symptoms were moderately correlated with the GHA-patient subscale, GHA-clinician subscale, ESR, and duration of morning stiffness (0.35 < r < 0.50). Conclusion: The present study results demonstrated the reliability and validity of the Turkish FLARE-RA. FLARE-RA is a practical tool to assess the flare of RA patients

Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome a Predisposing Factor for Pilonidal Sinus Disease?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pilonidal sinus may be increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the prevalence and risk factors of pilonidal sinus disease in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome in the same population. DESIGN: This was a case-control study. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in a Turkish rural district state hospital. PATIENTS: This study included 40 female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 120 female patients without polycystic ovary syndrome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of pilonidal sinus, age, BMI, number of baths per week, daily sitting time, and family history of pilonidal sinus were recorded. RESULTS: Pilonidal sinus was detected in 22.5% (12.5% asymptomatic pits, 10% symptomatic) of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 1.7% of the control group (p < 0.001). No difference was noted between the 2 groups in terms of BMI (p = 0.219). Family history was similar between the case and control groups (p = 0.520). No significant difference was noted between the 2 groups in terms of insufficient hygiene and daily sitting time (p = 0.763, p = 0.706). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk of pilonidal sinus was significantly higher in patients with a positive family history (p = 0.008). LIMITATIONS: The number of patients in the case and control groups in the study was limited. In addition, the control group may not fully reflect the general population because it was composed of only patients who presented to the general surgery and gynecology outpatient clinic for other reasons. The control group was not age matched. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that the prevalence of pilonidal sinus was significantly higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome