DEBH: detecting and eliminating black holes in mobile ad hoc network

Security in mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is one of the key challenges due to its special features e.g. hop-by-hop communications, dynamic topology, and open network boundary that received tremendous attention by scholars. Traditional security methods are not applicable in MANET due to its special properties. In this paper, a novel approach called detecting and eliminating black holes (DEBH) is proposed that uses a data control packet and an additional black hole check table for detecting and eliminating malicious nodes. Benefiting from trustable nodes, the processing overhead of the security method decreases by passing time. Ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) routing protocol is used as the routing protocol in our design. After finding the freshest path using AODV, our design checks the safety of selected path. In case of detecting any malicious node, it is isolated from the entire network by broadcasting a packet that contains the ID of malicious nodes. Simulation results show that DEBH increases network throughput and decreases packet overhead and delay in comparison with other studied approaches. Moreover, DEBH is able to detect all active malicious nodes which generates fault routing information.     

Control point policy: part 1–efficiency within make-to-order environments

The recognition of the desire for punctual delivery of products has lead to the use of the service level as a common performance criterion for measuring the proportion of products that meet due dates specified by the customer. To successfully increase the service level, a manufacturing system may respond more quickly to orders by reducing the levels of in-process inventory in the system and hence decrease throughput times. This paper examines the use of the recently developed Control Point Policy (CPP) in improving service levels in re-entrant, ‘make-to-order’ manufacturing systems and compares its effectiveness with that of the Critical Ratio scheduling rule. Simulation studies have been undertaken to provide insight into how and when to apply the CPP policy within such environments with results indicating that, in cases requiring small storage areas between machines, the CPP results in better service level performance.     

Surgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 2

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) remains controversial. In addition, the rarity of MEN 2A-related hyperparathyroidism has not allowed for a separate strategy for this condition. This study examines our surgical experience with MEN 1- and MEN 2A-related hyperparathyroidism and attempts to define a rational therapeutic approach to each. METHODS: Between 1970 and 1991, 124 patients underwent surgery for MEN-related hyperparathyroidism at our institution. Primary cervical explorations were performed in 84 patients with MEN 1 and 18 with MEN 2A. An additional 22 patients with MEN 1 underwent reoperative surgery. All patients with MEN 2A underwent concomitant thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid cancer. RESULTS: Compared with patients with MEN 1, patients with MEN 2A, had a lower preoperative serum Ca2+ level and fewer symptoms or complications of hypercalcemia. Multiple gland disease was evident in 90% and 83%, respectively, of patients with MEN 1 and MEN 2A. Primary explorations in patients with MEN 1 resulted in surgical cure in 94%, persistent hypercalcemia occurring in no patient undergoing subtotal resection compared with 17% of patients in whom more conservative resections were performed (p = 0.005). In patients with MEN 1, 10-year recurrence of hypercalcemia was 16% for primary explorations and 30% for reoperative procedures. In contrast, all patients with MEN 2A, whether treated by total, subtotal, or lesser resections, were cured after surgery and none had recurrence during a median follow-up of 5.8 years. CONCLUSIONS: In MEN 1 the surgical principles should be (1) identification of all four glands, (2) subtotal resection to ensure cure and facilitate possible reoperation, and (3) excision of supernumerary thymic glands. In MEN 2A we should identify and resect all enlarged glands for cure, but routine subtotal resection need not be performed because this condition is readily cured and recurrence is rare.     

Lymphokine-activated killer cells induce differentiation in MCF-7 breast carcinoma nodules but not in mastosis nodules maintained in three-dimensional culture

In order to better understand the interaction between activated lymphocytes and breast carcinoma cells, we studied the degree of infiltration, the membrane contacts established and their cytostatic and cytolytic effects in MCF-7 nodules maintained in three-dimensional culture. A comparison was made with nodules of a nonmalignant, immortalized mastosis cell line. Histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopical observations were performed as well as DNA synthesis measurements in the two components of the coculture. The lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells adhered more frequently to the carcinoma nodules than to the mastosis nodules. They actively penetrated into both of them. The penetration remained peripheral, and only a few cells migrated more deeply. The LAK cells established close cell-to-cell contacts with the two types of nodules, and intercellular gaps were formed: damaged cells could be seen near the activated killer cells. In MCF-7 nodules, a 5-fold inhibition of proliferation occurred, and extensive necrotic zones developed; this was accompanied by a general tendency for glandular redifferentiation. In mastosis nodules, necrosis also developed but no cell differentiation occurred and proliferation was less inhibited (2 times). Interleukin-2 alone enhanced DNA synthesis in mastosis nodules but had no effect on MCF-7 nodules, and no extending necrosis could be seen in both types of nodules. The cytolytic effects of LAK cells combined with their redifferentiating effect in MCF-7 breast carcinoma nodules may be a useful indication for further breast cancer therapy research.     

DPIV/T-driven convective heat transfer simulation

We present a new approach to simulating unsteady heat transfer, with only very few degrees of freedom, by employing directly eigenmodes extracted from DPIV/DPIT experimental data. In particular, we formulate Galerkin low-dimensional systems of the coupled Navier-Stokes and energy equations using hierarchical empirical eigenfunctions extracted from an ensemble of velocity and temperature snapshots. We demonstrate that even severely truncated Galerkin representations (two velocity modes and four temperature modes) produce simulations capable of capturing the dynamics of the flow and heat transfer. This finding is documented by applying proper orthogonal decomposition to water flow past a heated circular cylinder at Reynolds number 610.     

Reactor core power measurement using Cherenkov radiation and its application in Tehran Research Reactor

Cherenkov radiation is a process that could be used as an extra channel for power measurement to enhance redundancy and diversity of a reactor. This is especially easy to establish in a pool type research reactor. A simple photo diode array is used in Tehran Research Reactor to measure and display power in parallel with the existing conventional detectors. Experimental measurements on this channel showed that a good linearity exists above 100 kW range. The system has been in use for more than a year and has shown reliability and precision. Nevertheless, the system is subject to further modifications, in particular for application to lower power ranges.     

Optimization of Propofol Dose Estimated During Anesthesia Through Artificial Intelligence by Genetic Algorithm: Design and Clinical Assessment

Neural Processing Letters - This paper addresses the application of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to assign the optimal dose of propofol as a vital anesthetic drug considering...     

Integral distinguishers for reduced-round Stribog

In January 2013, the Stribog hash function officially replaced GOST R 34.11-94 as the new Russian cryptographic hash standard GOST R 34.11-2012. In this paper we investigate the structural integral properties of reduced-round versions of the Stribog compression function and its internal permutation. Specifically, we present forward and backward higher order integrals that can be used to distinguish 4 and 3.5 rounds, respectively. Using the start from the middle approach, we combine the two proposed integrals to get 6.5-round and 7.5-round distinguishers for the internal permutation and 6-round and 7-round distinguishers for the compression function.     

Advances and controversies in the diagnosis and management of medullary thyroid carcinoma

In tasks requiring sustained attention, human alertness varies on a minute time scale. This can have serious consequences in occupations ranging from air traffic control to monitoring of nuclear power plants. Changes in the electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectrum accompany these fluctuations in the level of alertness, as assessed by measuring simultaneous changes in EEG and performance on an auditory monitoring task. By combining power spectrum estimation, principal component analysis and artificial neural networks, we show that continuous, accurate, noninvasive, and near real-time estimation of an operator's global level of alertness is feasible using EEG measures recorded from as few as two central scalp sites. This demonstration could lead to a practical system for noninvasive monitoring of the cognitive state of human operators in attention-critical settings.     

A complex, high cloacal malformation: case report

Several studies suggested that frequent eating may increase colon cancer risk. To further clarify this issue, a case-control study was carried out in six areas of Italy on 1,225 incident cases < 75 years of age with histologically confirmed colon cancer and 4,154 control subjects. The controls were hospitalized for acute, nonneoplastic conditions unrelated to long-term dietary modifications. After allowance for education, physical activity, intake of vegetables, and major energy sources, there was a trend of increasing risk with increasing eating frequency (odds ratio for > or = 4 vs. < or = 2 daily meals = 1.24). Coffee intake, which was inversely associated with cancer risk, exerted a modification effect, with an odds ratio of 1.89 for frequent eaters who drank fewer than two cups of coffee per day. Frequent eating increases, whereas high coffee intake decreases, the excretion of bile acids, which are suspected to be carcinogenic to the colon. Thus, it is conceivable that frequent coffee intake may counterbalance the effect of frequent eating.