Comparison of the bactericidal action of amikacin, netilmicin and tobramycin in free and liposomal formulation against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Glycoprotein Ibalpha (GP Ibalpha; CD 42b; hereafter GPIBA) is a component of the cell surface receptor for the von Willebrand factor (vWf) on platelets. Immunizations against various platelet surface antigens play a major role in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and in post-transfusion purpura. Only one antigenic polymorphism in GPIBA has thus far been established: the HPA-2 (Ko) alloantigen system. To screen other polymorphisms in GPIBA systematically, we analyzed the whole coding sequence of the GPIBA gene in 50 Finnish blood donors using the single-strand conformation polymorphism method. In addition to the known polymorphisms, we detected three others. Sequencing of the gene segments carrying the new polymorphisms revealed that none of them changed the predicted amino acid sequence. Polymorphism designated RS was located five base pairs upstream from the initiation codon at position 3064 and had the gene frequency of 16% for R and 84% for S, respectively, in the Finnish population, and it was detectable by the restriction enzyme Hae III. The EF polymorphism was at position 3842 (Asn242) and the gene frequencies were 97% for E and 3% for F. The KL polymorphism was at position 4142 (Arg342) and the gene frequencies were 98% for K and 2% for L. The five polymorphic positions in GPIBA formed altogether six different alleles of the gene. The data suggest that there are only a few variable amino acids in GPIBA.     

Enhanced photocatalytic performance and impact of annealing temperature on TiO2/Gd2O3:Fe composite

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - This work relates to an experimental study concerning the elaboration of the composite material TiO2/Gd2O3:Fe (TiO–Gd:Fe) from powders...     

Characterization of Secure Multiparty Computation Without Broadcast

A major challenge in the study of cryptography is characterizing the necessary and sufficient assumptions required to carry out a given cryptographic task. The focus of this work is the necessity of a broadcast channel for securely computing symmetric functionalities (where all the parties receive the same output) when one third of the parties, or more, might be corrupted. Assuming all parties are connected via a point-to-point network, but no broadcast channel (nor a secure setup phase) is available, we prove the following characterization:

• A symmetric n-party functionality can be securely computed facing \(n/3\le t<n/2\) corruptions (i.e., honest majority), if and only if it is \((n-2t)\) -dominated; a functionality is k-dominated, if any k-size subset of its input variables can be set to determine its output to some predetermined value.
• Assuming the existence of one-way functions, a symmetric n-party functionality can be securely computed facing \(t\ge n/2\) corruptions (i.e., no honest majority), if and only if it is 1-dominated and can be securely computed with broadcast.

It follows that, in case a third of the parties might be corrupted, broadcast is necessary for securely computing non-dominated functionalities (in which “small” subsets of the inputs cannot determine the output), including, as interesting special cases, the Boolean XOR and coin-flipping functionalities.

     

Completeness for Symmetric Two-Party Functionalities: Revisited

Understanding the minimal assumptions required for carrying out cryptographic tasks is one of the fundamental goals of theoretic cryptography. A rich body of work has been dedicated to understanding the complexity of cryptographic tasks in the context of (semi-honest) secure two-party computation. Much of this work has focused on the characterization of trivial and complete functionalities (resp., functionalities that can be securely implemented unconditionally, and functionalities that can be used to securely compute all functionalities). Most previous works define reductions via an ideal implementation of the functionality; i.e., f reduces to g if one can implement f using a black-box (or oracle) that computes the function g and returns the output to both parties. Such a reduction models the computation of f as an atomic operation. However, in the real world, protocols proceed in rounds, and the output is not learned by the parties simultaneously. In this paper, we show that this distinction is significant. Specifically, we show that there exist symmetric functionalities (where both parties receive the same outcome) that are neither trivial nor complete under “black-box reductions,” and yet the existence of a constant-round protocol for securely computing such a functionality implies infinitely often oblivious transfer (meaning that it is secure for infinitely many values of the security parameter). In light of the above, we propose an alternative definitional infrastructure for studying the triviality and completeness of functionalities.     

Determination of green‐bond strength in tacky poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels

Pressure‐sensitive tack is the adhesive property related to bond formation. It is a key issue when formulating hydrogel poultices for transdermal delivery, dressings, and bioelectrodes. Quantitative tack gives an indication of the potential ease and success of application when gels are brought into contact with skin. The effects of different dwell times and constant pressures on bond formation between tacky poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels and a skin model were explored in the current study; these were correlated with viscoelastic properties in order to elucidate structure–function relationships. A rolling tack test was performed using a novel apparatus capable of simultaneously controlling the pressure and dwell time in a hydrogel/skin‐model‐probe system. PVA gels were formed via the freeze–thaw technique using Ca²⁺ ions. Lower calcium availability in PVA gels resulted in longer dwell times required to complete bond formation, decreased creep compliance (at 0.01 s) and a decreased G′_{(ω = 40)}/G′_{(ω = 0.01)} ratio, all three leading to a loss in tack strength. All tested gels were found to have pressure‐sensitive tack. The results of this study support the applicability of a rheological methodology and a novel tack‐testing procedure to quantify green‐bond formation in pressure‐sensitive‐adhesive PVA hydrogels. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2130–2135, 2003     

Recent trends in the lipid‐based nanoencapsulation of antioxidants and their role in foods

Antioxidants may be utilised for two main purposes, to protect the sensory and nutritive quality of the food and/or to protect the body against chronic and age‐related diseases. Generally, antioxidants are subject to process degradation and, when given to the body in their free form, cannot pass cell membranes and are rapidly cleared from the general circulation. Because of their unique properties, lipid‐based nanoencapsulation systems enhance the performance of antioxidants by improving their solubility and bioavailability, in vitro and in vivo stability, and preventing their unwanted interactions with other food components. This paper reviews nanoliposomes, archaeosomes and nanocochleates with respect to their potential applications as antioxidant carriers in foods. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

The multidimensional driving style inventory--scale construct and validation

Two studies were conducted in order to develop a multidimensional instrument of driving style. In Study 1, we developed a self-report scale assessing four broad domains of driving style-the multidimensional driving style inventory (MDSI). A factor analysis revealed eight main factors, each one representing a specific driving style--dissociative, anxious, risky, angry, high-velocity, distress reduction, patient, and careful. In addition, significant associations were found between the eight factors, on the one hand, and gender, age, driving history, and personality measures of self-esteem, need for control, impulsive sensation seeking, and extraversion, on the other. In Study 2, further associations were found between the eight driving style factors and measures of trait anxiety and neuroticism. The discussion focused on the validity and utility of a multidimensional conceptualization of driving style.