Moving target network steganography

A branch of information hiding that has gained traction in recent years is network steganography. Network steganography uses network protocols are carriers to hide and transmit data. Storage channel network steganography manipulates values in protocol header and data fields and stores covert data inside them. The timing channel modulates the timing of events in the protocol to transfer covert information. Many current storage channel network steganography methods have low bandwidths and they hide covert data directly into the protocol which allows discoverers of the channel to read the confidential information. A new type of storage channel network steganography method is proposed and implemented which abstracts the idea of hiding data inside the network protocol. The addition of a moving target mechanism rotates the locations of data to be evaluated preventing brute force attacks. The bandwidth of the algorithm can also be controlled by increasing or decreasing the rate of packet transmission. A proof of concept is developed to implement the algorithm. Experimental run times are compared with their theoretical equivalents to compare the accuracy of the proof of concept. Detailed probability and data transfer analysis is performed on the algorithm to see how the algorithm functions in terms of security and bandwidth. Finally, a detection and mitigation analysis is performed to highlight the flaws with the algorithm and how they can be improved

Case report of mucha-habermann disease

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA), also known as a Mucha-Habermann disease, is an uncommon, idiopathic, and acquired dermatosis. The disease is characterized by erythematous, scaly, papules, and polymorphic lesions which often progresses to hemorrhagic necrosis and heals with varioliform scarring. A febrile ulceronecrotic variant of PLEVA, also termed pityriasis lichenoides (PL) with ulceronecrosis and hyperthermia (PLUH) or febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD), is a severe variant of PLEVA. The disease is characterized by the acute onset of large, more destructive, coalescent papules, leading to ulceronecrotic skin lesions associated with high fever and other systemic symptoms. In spite of the presence of multiple treatment modalities with variable success rate, the disease has poor prognosis. Here, we report the case of a 17-year-old male patient who presented with typical features of FUMHD and responded well to systemic administration of corticosteroid therapy

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

Breast cancer management pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic: outcomes from the UK ‘Alert Level 4’ phase of the B-MaP-C study

Abstract: Background: The B-MaP-C study aimed to determine alterations to breast cancer (BC) management during the peak transmission period of the UK COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of these treatment decisions. Methods: This was a national cohort study of patients with early BC undergoing multidisciplinary team (MDT)-guided treatment recommendations during the pandemic, designated ‘standard’ or ‘COVID-altered’, in the preoperative, operative and post-operative setting. Findings: Of 3776 patients (from 64 UK units) in the study, 2246 (59%) had ‘COVID-altered’ management. ‘Bridging’ endocrine therapy was used (n = 951) where theatre capacity was reduced. There was increasing access to COVID-19 low-risk theatres during the study period (59%). In line with national guidance, immediate breast reconstruction was avoided (n = 299). Where adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted (n = 81), the median benefit was only 3% (IQR 2–9%) using ‘NHS Predict’. There was the rapid adoption of new evidence-based hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 781, from 46 units). Only 14 patients (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their treatment journey. Conclusions: The majority of ‘COVID-altered’ management decisions were largely in line with pre-COVID evidence-based guidelines, implying that breast cancer survival outcomes are unlikely to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, in this study, the potential impact of delays to BC presentation or diagnosis remains unknown

Electron microscopic observation and analysis of HpDnaBWt, DelN2, DelN3 and DelC1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The domain structure of DnaB helicase: the N-terminal domain can be dispensable for helicase activity whereas the extreme C-terminal region is essential for its function"</p><p></p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2007;35(9):2861-2874.</p><p>Published online 11 Apr 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1888833.</p><p>© 2007 The Author(s)</p> Above four proteins were processed for electron microscopy as described in the materials and methods and individual sample was scanned under a Morgagni 268 transmission electron microscope at 80 kV voltage. More than hundred images were captured in each case and the raw images were processed using IMAGIC software. The left panel in each pair shows the unprocessed image and the right panel shows the processed image. HpDnaBWt was found in both C6 and C3 conformations whereas DelN2 was found only in C3 conformations. Bars in the panels are equivalent to 10 nm

ATPase activity of the wild-type and different deletion mutant proteins

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The domain structure of DnaB helicase: the N-terminal domain can be dispensable for helicase activity whereas the extreme C-terminal region is essential for its function"</p><p></p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2007;35(9):2861-2874.</p><p>Published online 11 Apr 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1888833.</p><p>© 2007 The Author(s)</p> ATPase assay using various HpDnaB forms. Enzyme-linked ATPase assays were performed using protocol as described in the materials and methods either in the absence or presence of DNA. The rates of the reactions against different substrate (ATP) concentrations were plotted for HpDnaBWt, HpDnaBDelN1, HpDnaBDelN2 and HpDnaBDelN3 as shown in panels A, C, E and G, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plots of the same enzymes were also plotted either in the absence or presence of DNA in each case (panels B, D, F and H, respectively). Maximum velocity of the reaction (Vmax) and turn-over number (Kcat) were calculated in each case (as shown in )

() Far-UV circular dichroism spectra of wild-type and different mutant variants of the helicase

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The domain structure of DnaB helicase: the N-terminal domain can be dispensable for helicase activity whereas the extreme C-terminal region is essential for its function"</p><p></p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2007;35(9):2861-2874.</p><p>Published online 11 Apr 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1888833.</p><p>© 2007 The Author(s)</p> CD spectra were measured for each protein in a 2 mm path length quartz cell and data were collected at 1.0 nm wavelength resolution. The arrowheads indicate the CD spectra of the respective protein. () Intrinsic fluorescence spectra of wild-type and different deletion mutants. The fluorescence emission spectra of wild-type and different mutant forms of HpDnaB (as indicated) were recorded from 300 to 400 nm at 25°C. The excitation wavelength was 278 nm and data were collected at 0.5 nm wavelengths resolution. The arrowheads indicate the CD spectra of the respective protein