Two-server password-only authenticated key exchange

Typical protocols for password-based authentication assume a single server that stores all the information (e.g., the password) necessary to authenticate a user. An inherent limitation of this approach, assuming low-entropy passwords are used, is that the user?s password is exposed if this server is ever compromised. To address this issue, it has been suggested to share a user?s password information among multiple servers, and to have these servers cooperate (possibly in a threshold manner) when the user wants to authenticate. We show here a two-server version of the password-only key-exchange protocol of Katz, Ostrovsky, and Yung (the KOY protocol). Our work gives the first secure two-server protocol for the password-only setting (in which the user need remember only a password, and not the servers? public keys), and is the first two-server protocol (in any setting) with a proof of security in the standard model. Our work thus fills a gap left by the work of MacKenzie et al. (2006) [31] and Di Raimondo and Gennaro (2006) [16]. As an additional benefit of our work, we show modifications that improve the efficiency of the original KOY protocol.     

FQL‐RED: an adaptive scalable schema for active queue management

In a potentially congested network, random early detection (RED) active queue management (AQM) proved effective in improving throughput and average queuing delay. The main disadvantage of RED is its sensitive parameters that are impossible to estimate perfectly and adjust manually because of the dynamic nature of the network. For this reason, RED performs differently during different phases of a scenario and there is no guarantee that it will have optimal performance. Giving adaptability to RED has been the subject of broad research studies ever since RED was proposed. After a substantial study of AQM schemes and presenting a novel categorization for so‐called modern approaches utilizing artificial intelligence tools to improve AQM, this paper proposes an algorithm enhancing RED as an add‐on patch that makes minimal changes to the original RED. Being built on the basis of AQM schemes like ARED and Fuzzy‐RED, this algorithm inherits adaptability and is able to adjust RED inaccurate parameters regarding network traffic status, trying to optimize throughput and average queuing delay in a scenario. This algorithm is a Q‐learning method enhanced with a fuzzy inference system to provide RED with self‐adaptation and improved performance as a result. Given the name of FQL‐RED, this algorithm outperformed RED, ARED, and Fuzzy‐RED, as the OPNET simulations show. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantifying Prefibrillar Amyloids in vitro by Using a “Thioflavin‐Like” Spectroscopic Method

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders, proteins accumulate into ordered aggregates, called amyloids. Recent evidence suggests that these structures include both large, insoluble fibrils and smaller, prefibrillar structures, such as dimers, oligomers, and protofibrils. Recently, focus has shifted to the prefibrillar aggregates because they are highly neurotoxic and their levels appear to correlate with cognitive impairment. Thus, there is interest in finding methods for specifically quantifying these structures. One of the classic ways of detecting amyloid formation is through the fluorescence of the benzothiazole dye, thioflavin T (ThT). This reagent has been a “workhorse” of the amyloid field because it is robust and inexpensive. However, one of its limitations is that it does not distinguish between prefibrillar and fibrillar aggregates. We screened a library of 37 indoles for those that selectively change fluorescence in the presence of prefibrillar amyloid‐β (Aβ). From this process, we selected the most promising example, tryptophanol (TROL), to use in a quantitative “thioflavin‐like” assay. Using this probe in combination with electron microscopy, we found that prefibrils are largely depleted during Aβ aggregation in vitro but that they remain present after the apparent saturation of the ThT signal. These results suggest that a combination of TROL and ThT provides greater insight into the process of amyloid formation by Aβ. In addition, we found that TROL also recognizes other amyloid‐prone proteins, including ataxin‐3, amylin, and CsgA. Thus, this assay might be an inexpensive spectroscopic method for quantifying amyloid prefibrils in vitro.     

Single string planning problem arising in liner shipping industries: A heuristic approach

We propose an efficient heuristic approach for solving instances of the Single String Planning Problem (SSPP) arising in the liner shipping industry. In the SSPP a Liner Service Provider (LSP) only revises one of its many operational strings, and it is assumed that the other strings are unchangeable. A string is a service route composed of a sequence of port calls—a call is a visit to a port followed by loading/unloading operations made by a vessel. In a string the vessel's round trip terminates at the same port that it started from, and the port calls follow a published itinerary. The SSPP is regularly encountered by all LSPs, and a major part of their seasonal network planning process is devoted to repeatedly solving SSPP for different regions using experts' knowledge. Despite the practical importance of the problem, very little has been written about it in the literature. A revision is carried out in the form of a controlled re-sequencing, insertion and elimination of ports from along the current string, given a set of ports limited to those that exist on the string and a set of potential ones. The outcome determines the required capacity, service level (frequency), call sequence, etc., corresponding to the LSP's seasonal strategy. Exact decomposition methods are limited and can solve only very small size instances—small in terms of the number of ports, vessel classes, vessel number and commodities. In contrast, the proposed heuristic method is an efficient approach for obtaining high quality and practical solutions to real-size instances in significantly less computational time.     

Liquid Biomarkers for Improved Diagnosis and Classification of CNS Tumors

Liquid biopsy, as a non-invasive technique for cancer diagnosis, has emerged as a major step forward in conquering tumors. Current practice in diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) tumors involves invasive acquisition of tumor biopsy upon detection of tumor on neuroimaging. Liquid biopsy enables non-invasive, rapid, precise and, in particular, real-time cancer detection, prognosis and treatment monitoring, especially for CNS tumors. This approach can also uncover the heterogeneity of these tumors and will likely replace tissue biopsy in the future. Key components of liquid biopsy mainly include circulating tumor cells (CTC), circulating tumor nucleic acids (ctDNA, miRNA) and exosomes and samples can be obtained from the cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and serum of patients with CNS malignancies. This review covers current progress in application of liquid biopsies for diagnosis and monitoring of CNS malignancies.     

On the effect of process temperature on the performance of activated carbon bed hydrogen storage tank

A numerical model is used to investigate hydrogen charging in packed bed storage tank as function of the charging process temperature. The model is based on the solution of the 2D transport equations for mass, momentum and energy in porous media. The equation system is characterized by the existence of adsorption source terms in both mass and energy equations along with very low Mach number flow condition. It was solved using a pressure splitting technique. Results showed that heating effects due to mechanical energy dissipation and to the exothermal character of the adsorption reaction are enhanced at low temperature. They result in a significant tank capacity reduction. This reduction reaches 25% of the total storage capacity as predicted assuming isothermal charging process. Unlike what has been suggested in several previous studies the major part of the tank capacity decrease is mainly due to the decrease of the gas density. Using recently developed activated carbon monolith with a conductivity exceeding 10 W m^?1 K^?1 can help in limiting the heating effect and reducing this capacity limitation. It makes possible the development of packed bed storage tanks that fulfill the DOE recommendations.     

Statistical factor-screening and optimization in slurry phase bioremediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene contaminated soil

Since slurry phase bioremediation is a promising treatment for recalcitrant compounds such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), a statistical study was conducted for the first time to optimize TNT removal (TR) in slurry phase. Fractional factorial design method, 2(IV)(7-3), was firstly adopted and four out of the seven examined factors were screened as effective. Subsequently, central composite design and response surface methodology were employed to model and optimize TR within 15 days. A quadratic model (R(2) = 0.9415) was obtained, by which the optimal values of 6.25 g/L glucose, 4.92 g/L Tween 80, 20.23% (w/v) slurry concentration and 5.75% (v/v) inoculum size were estimated. Validation experiments at optimal factor levels resulted in 95.2% TR, showing a good agreement with model prediction of 96.1%. Additionally, the effect of aeration rate (0-4 vvm) on TR was investigated in a 1-liter bioreactor. Maximum TR of 95% was achieved at 3 vvm within 9 days, while reaching the same removal level in flasks needed 15 days. This reveals that improved oxygen supply in bioreactor significantly reduces bioremediation time in comparison with shake flasks.     

Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds and their effects on antioxidant activity in pomegranate juices of eight Iranian cultivars

Important health-promoting compounds, including six types of anthocyanins, phytoestrogenic flavonoids and ellagic acid were determined individually in pomegranate juices (Punica granatum L.) of eight Iranian cultivars by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to UV–vis detector (HPLC–UV) using individual calculation from the peak area based on standard curves of each component. Total phenolics and antioxidant activities were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively, and compared among the cultivars. The predominant anthocyanins were delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside (372–5301 mg/l) followed by cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside (242–2361 mg/l), delphinidin 3-glucoside (49–1042 mg/l) and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside (7–90 mg/l), respectively. The highest level of total tannins was found in Sweet Alak cultivar (3 mg/l). Saveh Black Leather showed the highest level of ellagic acid (160 mg/l). Antioxidant activity varied among the cultivars (18–42 Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity) and was directly related to the total phenolics in each type of juice.     

Review of A secret sadness: The hidden relationship patterns that make women depressed.

Reviews the book, A secret sadness: The hidden relationship patterns that make women depressed by Valerie Whiffen (see record 2007-04584-000). This book targets the lay audience in an attempt to explain depression from a cognitive perspective. In the introduction and first chapter of the book, the author describes the phenomenon of depression, clarifies some common misunderstandings, and provides a clear rationale for focusing on depressed women's relationships as a way of understanding this pervasive and debilitating disorder. The role of stress in depression is elaborated upon in Chapter 3. In the fourth chapter, the author discusses how culturally prescribed gender roles can lead to depression in women. In Chapters 5-7, the author uses attachment theory to examine how characteristics of the family of origin (harsh parenting practices, neglect, physical and sexual abuse) can influence depression. In the eighth chapter, the author reviews the robust evidence on the association between depression and distress in romantic relationships. The ninth chapter focuses on another key relationship that can be impacted by depression: the mother-child bond. Here again, the author is careful not to draw premature causal links that are not warranted by extant data. In the tenth and final chapter of the book, the author discusses treatment options for depression and summarises the current state of knowledge on effective and efficacious interventions. This book is recommended to depressed clients who have difficulties in their interpersonal lives, as well as to therapists who work with depressed patients and couples/families in distress. It is also a useful resource for the clinical training of graduate students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enhancement in electrical and thermal performance of high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber composites for outdoor insulating applications

High-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber composites are highly desirable as outdoor insulating materials due to their immense thermal and electrical performance. The aim of this work is to study the role of co-combined fillers (modified fumed silica [MFS], titanium dioxide [TiO₂], with graphene [G]) on electrical and thermal properties of silicone rubber (S) composites. The dielectric response of S/MFS_10 phr and S/TiO₂_20 composites tailored with 2 phr G was characterized by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The hybrid filler/composites were found to show higher thermal stability when 2 phr G was added. In addition, a low quantity of G filler was found to slightly increase the AC dielectric breakdown strength of the S/MFS_10 and S/TiO₂_20, where an improvement of 3 and 5% was found, respectively. Several steps were observed in the thermal decomposition of the S rubber composites by thermogravimetric analysis-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Our findings revealed great potentials for fabricating hybrid-filler/silicone rubber composites with enhanced electrical and thermal properties for outdoor insulating applications.