Authentic secret share creation techniques using visual cryptography with public key encryption

In the digital transparent world, share the secret messages are challenged one. Visual cryptography (VC) is safer method for information transfer without any distraction by hackers. It is giving more security to the information sharing through digital form. This method hides the messages into images. So intruder cannot understand the distorted image and the data communication become secured. Through VC method number of shares has been generated from the original images. So here each RGB pixel shares are separately created by Visual Secret Share (VSS) scheme. The created multiple shares of the secret images are encrypted and decrypted with RSA algorithm. In the encryption process the multiplication technique is used for key generation process and public key is used for encryption process and private key is used for decryption process. Secret image’s quality has been compared through the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Mean Square Error (MSE) values. The experimental result of decrypted image PSNR value is 156.32 and MSE value is 0.5031. The Number of Changing Pixel Rate (NPCR) and Unified Averaged Changed Intensity (UACI) values are compared for the secure level of the secret image. The result of decrypted image NPCR value is 69.44 and UACI value is 13.88. Finally, the experiment result shows that the proposed method is giving more security and quality of secret image sharing and also execution time is faster than existing method.

     

Water quality and taste sensitivity for basic tastes and metallic sensation

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of water quality on taste sensitivity for basic tastes and metallic sensation. To familiarize subjects with sensory analysis, they were asked to recognize tastes, distinguish between different concentrations of basic tastes, and realize their own taste sensitivity. The International Standard ISO 3972 describes a set of tests to measure taste sensitivity. A “neutral, tasteless, still and odourless water, preferably of known hardness” is recommended for preparing the dilutions and for rinsing the mouth. The standard also recommends a series of dilutions for acid (citric acid), bitter (caffeine), salty (sodium chloride), sweet (sucrose), umami (monosodium glutamate) and metallic (iron(II)sulfate). The question arises if water quality affects taste sensitivity.MethodsTwenty-three female subjects (mean age: 22), who were recruited at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, Faculty of Life Sciences, were tested. Deionized water, spring water and tap water were used for taste dilutions. In each experiment, subjects were initially familiarized with the basic tastes.ResultsIn comparison to taste thresholds in spring water, the recognition thresholds are higher using tap water, and lower using deionized water. When using deionized water, sour was detected by all subjects at the lowest concentrations. Iron(II)sulfate could best be matched to metallic sensation in deionized water. Results indicate that taste sensitivity is influenced by water quality.     

Formation of octa- and heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins during semi anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

Octa- and heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (OCDD and HpCDD) were formed during semi anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge at low temperature (20 degrees C). A twofold increase of OCDD and HpCDD was found after a digestion period of 192 days even if concentrations were corrected by corresponding accumulation factors caused by the degradation of biomass. Other polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were not increased. Under strictly anaerobic and aerobic conditions, however, no OCDD and HpCDD were formed. Semi anaerobic formation of OCDD and HpCDD may explain the prevalence of higher chlorinated PCDD in the homologues pattern typical for sewage sludge.     

CATC — A Computer Aided Tolerance Control system

Computer utilization in manufacturing systems is increasing at a rapid rate. Developments thus far have been disjointed. Much work needs to be done in the area of integrating computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM). Tolerance control is an important component in the integration of CAD and CAM. Selection of design tolerances affects the build-ability of a product. The selection of manufacturing processes and sequence of processes affects process tolerance stacking. Unexamined process tolerance stacking leads to scrap and rework. A computer aided tolerance control (CATC) system is presented in this paper. This system is based on the tolerance chart technique. The CATC system is interactive and uses computer graphics for information display. The system can be used for computer aided process planning (CAPP) and for CAD/CAM integration.     

In-depth material characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate from a forest biorefinery

Large-scale replacement of petroplastics with compostable plastics, like polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB) will contribute to elimination plastic pollution, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and valorize local biomass resources. Lignocellulose hydrolysates have emerged as potentially sustainable carbon sources for PHB production. For industrial processing, it is necessary to know the polymer properties. Yet, most studies on PHB samples from lignocellulose report few material properties. PHB samples produced from a pilot scale hardwood holocellulose hydrolysate conversion process were characterized and compared with PHB from a sugar hydrolysate and a commercial PHB powder. PHB from hardwood holocellulose hydrolysate was found to be comparable with commercial PHB in all properties. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis showed that all samples had similar thermal behavior, where the melting temperature was 176°C and the decomposition temperature was 293°C. From the melting enthalpy, all samples showed 63% crystallinity. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed a glass transition temperature at 5°C and a crystallization temperature of 57°C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed that the samples were homopolymers comprised of hydroxybutyrate units. The difference among the samples was the number average molecular mass, being lower for wood hydrolysate (246.4 kDa) than sugar hydrolysate (670.3 kDa).     

Behead and live long or the tale of cathepsin L

In recent decades Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be one of the most valuable model organisms of aging research. Pathways such as autophagy or the effect of substances like resveratrol and spermidine that prolong the replicative as well as chronological lifespan of cells were described for the first time in S. cerevisiae. In this study we describe the establishment of an aging reporter that allows a reliable and relative quick screening of substances and genes that have an impact on the replicative lifespan. A cDNA library of the flatworm Dugesia tigrina that can be immortalized by beheading was screened using this aging reporter. Of all the flatworm genes, only one could be identified that significantly increased the replicative lifespan of S.cerevisiae. This gene is the cysteine protease cathepsin L that was sequenced for the first time in this study. We were able to show that this protease has the capability to degrade such proteins as the yeast Sup35 protein or the human α‐synuclein protein in yeast cells that are both capable of forming cytosolic toxic aggregates. The degradation of these proteins by cathepsin L prevents the formation of these unfolded protein aggregates and this seems to be responsible for the increase in replicative lifespan.     

Postnatal Smoke Exposure Further Increases the Hepatic Nicotine Metabolism in Prenatally Smoke Exposed Male Offspring and Is Linked with Aberrant Cyp2a5 Methylation

Prenatal smoke exposure (PreSE) is a risk factor for nicotine dependence, which is further enhanced by postnatal smoke exposure (PostSE). One susceptibility gene to nicotine dependence is Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2A6, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of nicotine to cotinine in the liver. Higher CYP2A6 activity is associated with nicotine dependence and could be regulated through DNA methylation. In this study we investigated whether PostSE further impaired PreSE-induced effects on nicotine metabolism, along with Cyp2a5, orthologue of CYP2A6, mRNA expression and DNA methylation. Using a mouse model where prenatally smoke-exposed adult offspring were exposed to cigarette smoke for 3 months, enzyme activity, mRNA levels, and promoter methylation of hepatic Cyp2a5 were evaluated. We found that in male offspring, PostSE increased PreSE-induced cotinine levels and Cyp2a5 mRNA expression. In addition, both PostSE and PreSE changed Cyp2a5 DNA methylation in male groups. PreSE however decreased cotinine levels whereas it had no effect on Cyp2a5 mRNA expression or methylation. These adverse outcomes of PreSE and PostSE were most prominent in males. When considered in the context of the human health aspects, the combined effect of prenatal and adolescent smoke exposure could lead to an accelerated risk for nicotine dependence later in life.