Counting Euler Tours in Undirected Bounded Treewidth Graphs

We show that counting Euler tours in undirected bounded tree-width graphs is tractable even in parallel - by proving a $\#SAC^1$ upper bound. This is in stark contrast to #P-completeness of the same problem in general graphs. Our main technical contribution is to show how (an instance of) dynamic programming on bounded \emph{clique-width} graphs can be performed efficiently in parallel. Thus we show that the sequential result of Espelage, Gurski and Wanke for efficiently computing Hamiltonian paths in bounded clique-width graphs can be adapted in the parallel setting to count the number of Hamiltonian paths which in turn is a tool for counting the number of Euler tours in bounded tree-width graphs. Our technique also yields parallel algorithms for counting longest paths and bipartite perfect matchings in bounded-clique width graphs. While establishing that counting Euler tours in bounded tree-width graphs can be computed by non-uniform monotone arithmetic circuits of polynomial degree (which characterize $\#SAC^1$) is relatively easy, establishing a uniform $\#SAC^1$ bound needs a careful use of polynomial interpolation.Comment: 17 pages; There was an error in the proof of the GapL upper bound claimed in the previous version which has been subsequently remove

TCP/IP stack fingerprinting for patch detection in a distributed Windows environment

Patch Management has become important in every system administrator\u27s work profile. A missing patch can be essentially considered a vulnerability as the hackers make use of the knowledge of the vulnerability from the security bulletin and attempt attacks for that vulnerability. An efficient patch management solution is necessary to counter known vulnerabilities. For this an inventory listing of the patches installed in each system called a patch audit helps the system administrators know the patch status and install only the necessary patches. An important problem in patch auditing is that there may be many systems in a network for which the administrator does not have administrative privileges and hence cannot find the patch status. Current patch management tools do not address this problem.;This thesis investigates the possibility of finding patterns for missing patches by using TCP/IP Stack Fingerprinting. Malformed TCP packets are sent to the target system and the TCP and IP headers of the response from it are analyzed to find out specific patterns for a missing patch.;Windows based systems are the primary target since they typically constitute a majority of the systems in a network. They are as well, considered to be the most vulnerable. This investigation limits itself to classifying DCOM RPC Buffer overflow vulnerabilities on Windows based systems

BNP AND NT-PRO BNP AS INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTIC BIOMARKERS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

The risk of developing heart failure (HF) with a reduced and preserved ejection fraction is known to increase with pre-diabetes and diabetic mellitus (DM). Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have been shown to be an important tool for assessing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in people with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), regardless of HF characteristics. Elevated levels of NPs were associated with an increased risk of readmission for HF, all-cause mortality, CVD mortality, HF progression, and readmission due to HF, according to earlier clinical investigations. In pre-diabetes and T2DM populations, the discriminative power of NPs for CVD death and HF-related clinical events has not been established beyond conventional CVD risk variables. The purpose of the review is to gather details regarding the predictive value of circulating NPs based on pre-diabetes and established T2DM presentation. Researchers have found that HFrEF or HFpEF in T2DM patients may necessitate a change in NP cutoff values to diagnose primary HF and identify HF-related risks. The relationship between clinical outcomes and the dynamic of circulating levels of NPs in diabetics treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors has to be clarified in big clinical trials in the future

An Alternate Approach to Determine the Explosibility of Dusts

A dust is classified as explosible based on the laboratory tests specified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E 1226. This standard requires that a dust be uniformly dispersed into an enclosed 20-Liter (L) chamber forming a dust cloud; a 10,000 Joule (10 kJ) flame is subsequently forced through the dust cloud and the resulting pressure rise is measured. If the pressure rise exceeds one bar (14.5 psig), it is assumed that a deflagration occurred, and the dust is classified as class „A‟ explosible dust. We have reported several flaws in the current ASTM testing protocols. The only indicator used by the ASTM method for assuming a deflagration had occurred in the test chamber is pressure rise. CAAQES has developed an alternative protocol that more accurately characterizes the explosibility of dusts. The CAAQES protocol for determining MEC is to test a wide range of concentrations of a dust in a 28.3-L (1 ft^(3)) Plexiglas chamber with a diaphragm and a stationary ignition source. If a self-propagating flame results as indicated by the diaphragm bursting, the Pressure vs. Time curve, and the flame leaving the chamber, a deflagration occurred during the test and the dust is explosible. Several dusts were tested along with cotton gin dust (CGD) for explosibility. The CGD does not have a MEC and hence it is non-explosible, contrary to the results reported by the Safety Consulting Engineers Inc. (SEC Inc.). The SCE Inc. tested CGD for explosibility based on the ASTM E1226 standard and reported CGD as class „A‟ explosible dust. The difference in test results triggered a research on characterizing a dust for explosibility by the CAAQES. The MECs of dusts were reported and compared with the MECs determined by Palmer in 1973 and the U.S. Bureau of Mines in1964. Further studies were also conducted to determine the dust properties affecting the explosibility of a dust. The CGD consisted of 87% inerts with a low energy content of 1400 J g^(-1). The properties of CGD rendered it non-explosible. Dusts were mixed with Fuller‟s earth and tested in the CAAQES chamber in order to study the effect of inert mass fraction of a dust on MECs. It was hypothesized that, at a specific concentration, the distance between the combustible particles must be at a certain distance to enable a flame to propagate from one particle to another. The distance between the combustible particles should be 450 to 700 m to propagate the flame from one particle to another in the CAAQES chamber. Approximately, 50% of inerts (Fuller‟s earth) prevented a deflagration for all dusts. The energy content of agricultural dusts should be above 7000 J g^(-1) to result in a deflagration. It was also concluded that the dust properties influences the explosibility of a dust

Analysis of SNRB in patients with lumbar radiculopathy resistant to conservative treatment

Background:The transforaminal application performed with SNRB (Selective nerve root blocks) should be more accurate. Moreover, the amount of corticosteroid and local anesthetic can be reduced compared to the amount of these agents administered with the epidural steroid.Methods:Prospective study of 72 patients with low back pain done in Sri Ramachandra medical centre, Chennai during April 2012 to April 2014. 46 patients were diagnosed to have inter vertebral disc and 26 patients with Lumbar canal stenosis. The patients were evaluated using VAS score and Oswestry disability index. The indication and determination of the therapeutic SNRB level was established by the spine surgeon after all the diagnostic test results had been obtained and after a detailed discussion with the patient. After confirming the correct placement of spinal needle with a short bevel with the help of contrast, a solution of 1ml of 0.5% sensorcaine with 1 ml of triamcinolone acetonide (Inj. kenocort) is injected.Results:Only 2 patients out of 72 had persistent pain and underwent surgery. 60 of our patients were comfortable and were able to proceed with their normal life/day to day activities following the administration of one block.Conclusion:Selective nerve root block is effective and less invasive intervention, and serves as an adjunct to non-operative treatment. The blocks give the best result in disc herniation cases, followed by favorable results in foraminal stenosis.