A New PVSS Scheme with a Simple Encryption Function

A Publicly Verifiable Secret Sharing (PVSS) scheme allows anyone to verify the validity of the shares computed and distributed by a dealer. The idea of PVSS was introduced by Stadler in [18] where he presented a PVSS scheme based on Discrete Logarithm. Later, several PVSS schemes were proposed. In [2], Behnad and Eghlidos present an interesting PVSS scheme with explicit membership and disputation processes. In this paper, we present a new PVSS having the advantage of being simpler while offering the same features.Comment: In Proceedings SCSS 2012, arXiv:1307.8029. This PVSS scheme was proposed to be used to provide a distributed Timestamping schem

Molecular diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis in Tunisian patients: proposed algorithm for Northern Africa populations for the ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 and SCL4A1 genes

Background: Primary distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) caused by mutations in the genes that codify for the H+ -ATPase pump subunits is a heterogeneous disease with a poor phenotype-genotype correlation. Up to now, large cohorts of dRTA Tunisian patients have not been analyzed, and molecular defects may differ from those described in other ethnicities. We aim to identify molecular defects present in the ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 and SLC4A1 genes in a Tunisian cohort, according to the following algorithm: first, ATP6V1B1 gene analysis in dRTA patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or unknown hearing status. Afterwards, ATP6V0A4 gene study in dRTA patients with normal hearing, and in those without any structural mutation in the ATP6V1B1 gene despite presenting SNHL. Finally, analysis of the SLC4A1 gene in those patients with a negative result for the previous studies. Methods: 25 children (19 boys) with dRTA from 20 families of Tunisian origin were studied. DNAs were extracted by the standard phenol/chloroform method. Molecular analysis was performed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Results: In the index cases, ATP6V1B1 gene screening resulted in a mutation detection rate of 81.25%, which increased up to 95% after ATP6V0A4 gene analysis. Three ATP6V1B1 mutations were observed: one frameshift mutation (c.1155dupC; p.Ile386fs), in exon 12; a G to C single nucleotide substitution, on the acceptor splicing site (c.175-1G > C; p.?) in intron 2, and one novel missense mutation (c. 1102G > A; p. Glu368Lys), in exon 11. We also report four mutations in the ATP6V0A4 gene: one single nucleotide deletion in exon 13 (c.1221delG; p. Met408Cysfs* 10); the nonsense c.16C > T; p.Arg6*, in exon 3; and the missense changes c.1739 T > C; p.Met580Thr, in exon 17 and c.2035G > T; p.Asp679Tyr, in exon 19. Conclusion: Molecular diagnosis of ATP6V1B1 and ATP6V0A4 genes was performed in a large Tunisian cohort with dRTA. We identified three different ATP6V1B1 and four different ATP6V0A4 mutations in 25 Tunisian children. One of them, c.1102G > A; p.Glu368Lys in the ATP6V1B1 gene, had not previously been described. Among deaf since childhood patients, 75% had the ATP6V1B1 gene c. 1155dupC mutation in homozygosis. Based on the results, we propose a new diagnostic strategy to facilitate the genetic testing in North Africans with dRTA and SNHL.This research study was supported by PI09/90888 and PI11/01412 grants, from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain), by BIO08/ER/020 grant, from the EITB Maratoia-Bioef (Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research) and by the Tunisian Ministry of Scientific Research (Research Unit code 05/UR-09-04, University of Monastir) for DEH mobility

Ecological contribution of Fenton process for generation of a ready-to-reuse dyeing and finishing effluent

In this study, real wastewater from a dyeing factory and previously treated by biological processes was decolorized by Fenton oxidation. Direct and reactive dyebaths and the related auxiliaries constituted the polluted effluents. A synthetic wastewater was also prepared in the same way in order to compare degradation performance. The study was performed with a systematic approach, searching optimum values of H2O2 and FeSO4 concentrations, pH, temperature and the chemical structure of each tested dye. Depollution results showed that the oxidation behaviour of synthetic and real wastewaters was very similar, especially during the first stage where the breaking of chromophore groups allowed fast colour removal. However, it was found that higher ratios of [H2O2]/[FeSO4] must be engaged in the case of real wastewaters. Results also showed that the catalytic oxidation yielded a fast and complete depollution at [H2O2]/[FeSO4] = 70, pH 3 and temperature 40°C. For experiments with direct dye, colour and COD removals were, respectively, 90% and 87% in the case of real wastewater. Reactive real wastewater showed non-stable oxidation evolution due to the hydrolysed dyestuff and this led to 83% and 45% decolourization and COD removal, respectively. Better depollution results were noted for the synthetic wastewater experiments. This finding was related to the non-stable composition of the real wastewater and the unknown chemical and physical interferences between its compounds. After sedimentation, reuse of the treated wastewater for new dyeing experiments was also investigated. For this purpose, the whole process was run under complete recycling mode and the previously treated effluent was re-used as fresh dyebath. Results in terms of colour depth and fastness showed that dyeing performances were very similar, and an important opportunity is offered by reusing wastewater treated by Fenton oxidation process

Effect of Grafted and Dyed Polyamide Nets on the Adhesion of Three Marine Bacterial Strains

Marine biofouling seriously affects the field of aquaculture. On the one hand, it causes structural fatigue of nets and on the other hand, it has harmful consequences on the health of farmed species. The aims of this study were to develop antibacterial nets using methacrylic acid and dyes. At first, polyamide 6.6 nets were grafted with methacrylic acid following two methods and dyed with 3 specific dyes. Then, modified nets were evaluated with SEM and XPS to obtain morphological and chemical information. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of nets was assessed against three bacterial strains at a laboratory scale and at a real scale by calculating the Colonies Forming Units (CFU) / gram. All treated nets showed an inhibition level higher than 65%. Besides, nets dyed with direct dye Tubantin and grafted with MA after plasma activation, showed an inhibition level higher than 95%. Also, nets modified with MA after plasma and reactive dye Bezaktiv S showed the best antifouling activity against three bacteria strains

High frequency of W1327X mutation in glycogen storage disease type III patients from central Tunisia

International audienceGlycogen storage disease type III (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of glycogen debranching enzyme (AGL). It is characterized by hepatomegaly, progressive myopathy, cardiomyopathy and fasting hypoglycemia. Several mutations in AGL gene have been described in different populations. The W1327X mutation was reported in one Tunisian patient resident in Italy. We looked in this report to determine the frequency of W1327X mutation among Tunisian patients. The W1327X mutation was screening in 26 GSD III patients originated from various geographic locations in Tunisia. The sequence analysis revealed that among nine patients carried the W1327X mutation. Eight of them were from six unrelated families and they were originated from Mahdia (centre of Tunisia) suggesting the existence of a founder effect in this region. Taking into account historical migratory waves, screening for this mutation should be performed in priority for molecular diagnosis confirmation of GSD III in North African populations

History of settlement of villages from Central Tunisia by studying families sharing a common founder Glycogenosis type III mutation

International audienceGlycogen storage disease type III (GSD III; Cori disease; Forbes disease) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder resulting from deficient glycogen debrancher enzyme activity in liver and muscle. In this study, we focused on a single AGL gene mutation p.W1327X in 16 Tunisian patients from rural area surrounding the region of Mahdia in Central Tunisia. This constitutes the largest pool of patients with this mutation ever described. This study was performed to trace the history of the patients' ancestries in a single region. After extraction of genomic DNA, exon 31 of AGL gene was sequenced. The patients were investigated for the hypervariable segment 1 of mitochondrial DNA and 17 Y-STR markers. We found that the p.W1327X mutation was a founder mutation in Tunisia Analysis of maternal lineages shows an admixture of autochthonous North African, sub-Saharan and a predominance of Eurasian haplogroups. Heterogeneity of maternal haplogroups indicates an ancient settlement. However, paternal gene flow was highly homogeneous and originates from the Near East. We hypothesize that the p.W1327X mutation was introduced into the Tunisian population probably by a recent migration event; then the mutation was fixed in a small region due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages and genetic drift. The screening for this mutation should be performed in priority for GSD III molecular diagnosis, for patients from the region of Mahdia and those from regions sharing the same settlement history