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Public key encryption with equality test (PKEET) supports to check whether two ciphertexts encrypted under different public keys contain the same message or not. PKEET has many interesting applications such as keyword search on encrypted data, encrypted data partitioning for efficient encrypted data management, personal health record systems, spam filtering in encrypted email systems and so on. However, the PKEET scheme lacks an authorization mechanism for a user to control the comparison of its ciphertexts with others. In 2015, Ma et al. introduce the notion of PKEET with flexible authorization (PKEET-FA) which strengthens privacy protection. Since 2015, there are several follow-up works on PKEET-FA. But, all are secure in the random-oracle model. Moreover, all are vulnerable to quantum attacks. In this paper, we provide three constructions of quantum-safe PKEET-FA secure in the standard model. Proposed constructions are secure based on the hardness assumptions of integer lattices and ideal lattices. Finally, we implement the PKEET-FA scheme over ideal lattices., arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2005.03178

Objectives The Three-Factor-Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) is an established instrument to assess eating behavior in terms of dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger. Methods The aims of this study were to examine (1) the correlation between eating behavior and body mass index (BMI), (2) the correlation between eating behavior and masticatory performance in terms of bite size and eating speed, and (3) the effects of gender on these correlations in 56 healthy subjects (33 males [21.9 ± 2.8 years old] and 23 females [21.7 ± 2.2 years old]). Results We found a significant correlation between restraint and BMI only in females and between hunger and BMI only in males. However, disinhibition and BMI were significantly correlated in both males and females. We also found a significant correlation between bite size and hunger only in males and between eating speed and disinhibition in both males and females. Conclusions These findings underline the importance of gender-specific counselling and behavioral treatment of obesity.

Data in cloud has always been a point of attraction for the cyber attackers. Nowadays healthcare data in cloud has become their new interest. Attacks on these healthcare data can result in annihilating consequences for the healthcare organizations. Decentralization of these cloud data can minimize the effect of attacks. Storing and running computation on sensitive private healthcare data in cloud are possible by decentralization which is enabled by peer to peer (P2P) network. By leveraging the decentralized or distributed property, blockchain technology ensures the accountability and integrity. Different solutions have been proposed to control the effect of attacks using decentralized approach but these solutions somehow failed to ensure overall privacy of patient centric systems. In this paper, we present a patient centric healthcare data management system using blockchain technology as storage which helps to attain privacy. Cryptographic functions are used to encrypt patient’s data and to ensure pseudonymity. We analyze the data processing procedures and also the cost effectiveness of the smart contracts used in our system.

Phox2b encodes a paired-like homeodomain-containing transcription factor essential for development of the autonomic nervous system. Phox2b-expressing (Phox2b+) neurons are present in the reticular formation dorsal to the trigeminal motor nucleus (RdV) as well as the nucleus of the solitary tract and parafacial respiratory group. However, the nature of Phox2b+ RdV neurons is still unclear. We investigated the physiological and morphological properties of Phox2b+ RdV neurons using postnatal day 2-7 transgenic rats expressing yellow fluorescent protein under the control of Phox2b. Almost all of Phox2b+ RdV neurons were glutamatergic, whereas Phox2b-negative (Phox2b-) RdV neurons consisted of a few glutamatergic, many GABAergic, and many glycinergic neurons. The majority (48/56) of Phox2b+ neurons showed low-frequency firing (LF), while most of Phox2b- neurons (35/42) exhibited high-frequency firing (HF) in response to intracellularly injected currents. All, but one, Phox2b+ neurons (55/56) did not fire spontaneously, whereas three-fourths of the Phox2b- neurons (31/42) were spontaneously active. K+ channel and persistent Na+ current blockers affected the firing of LF and HF neurons. The majority of Phox2b+ (35/46) and half of the Phox2b- neurons (19/40) did not respond to stimulations of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, the trigeminal tract, and the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus. Biocytin labeling revealed that about half of the Phox2b+ (5/12) and Phox2b- RdV neurons (5/10) send their axons to the trigeminal motor nucleus. These results suggest that Phox2b+ RdV neurons have distinct neurotransmitter phenotypes and firing properties from Phox2b- RdV neurons and might play important roles in feeding-related functions including suckling and possibly mastication.

The smart grid, as an emerging cyber-physical system, is attractive because of features such as distributed energy control and robust load fluctuation management. The demand Response (DR) component in smart grids helps in maintaining demand-supply balance and in controlling consumer side electricity bills. One of the visions of smart grids is to have communication between consumers and suppliers facilitate certain types of DR strategies, e.g., demand bidding (DR-DB). DR-DB is an incentive-based DR, where certain incentives are awarded to consumers who participate in DR events. However, privacy and security in the DR-DB bidding process are of paramount importance as potentially sensitive consumer data is used during the process. In this paper, we propose a private and secure bidding protocol for incentive-based demand-response systems using cryptographic primitives without assuming any trusted third-party. We analyze the security and privacy guarantees; and show that the various stages in our proposed demand bidding are computationally feasible, in terms of cryptographic primitives, through performance evaluation on three different computing environments.

Diverse algae form algae canopies and turfs with various community structures, which play an important ecological role in coastal waters. Acoustic methods have been suggested and applied as effective quantitative methods for some algae canopy measurements across a large-scale area. However, these approaches face difficulties in accurately classifying turfs from barren seafloor due to weak backscattering strength. Thus, to estimate the community structure of various algae assemblages, we developed a classification method using a combination of acoustic-derived physical distance and backscattering strength parameters using a scientific echosounder. The prediction accuracy for algae or barren seafloor using four machine learning methods based on seven parameters was higher than that for the manual classification results based only on the acoustic physical distance. The classification accuracies of six types of algae canopy, turf, and barren seafloor were also higher than those obtained based only on commonly used seafloor parameters. Hence, machine learning methods based on the seven derived parameters from acoustic data are suggested to be effective for the classification. Applications in the classification and distribution estimations of various types of algae canopies, turfs, and potential algae habitat areas are promising.

A signcryption, which is an integration of a public key encryption and a digital signature, can provide confidentiality and authenticity simultaneously. Additionally, a signcryption associated with equality test allows a third party (e.g., a cloud server) to check whether or not two ciphertexts are encrypted from the same message without knowing the message. This application plays an important role especially in computing on encrypted data. In this paper, we propose the first lattice-based signcryption scheme equipped with a solution to testing the message equality in the standard model. The proposed signcryption scheme is proven to be secure against insider attacks under the learning with errors assumption and the intractability of the short integer solution problem. As a by-product, we also show that some existing lattice-based signcryptions either is insecure or does not work correctly.

The Changjiang (Yangtze) River plume has a direct impact on phytoplankton biomass in the East China Sea (ECS). The present study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of depth-integrated chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations from the surface to the euphotic depth (Ze; ∑ChlZe∑ChlZe) using samples collected at 50 stations in the ECS during a cruise in June 2007. However, spatial coverage was limited because the Ze, obtained from radiometric measurement of the vertical diffuse attenuation of solar irradiance, was only available at the 20 daytime stations. To address this limitation, it was determined that Ze could be expressed empirically using the vertical means of Chl-a concentration, turbidity, and salinity in the euphotic zone. Using this relationship, the potential value of Ze at night-time or low-light stations was calculated, and a dataset of (∑ChlZe)(∑ChlZe) for the entire research area was obtained. A low salinity surface water mass (LSSW) was identified on the eastern continental shelf (125.0°–126.5°E, 30.0°–31.0°N), probably part of the Yellow Sea Mixed Water, but clearly influenced by Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) extending from the west. The Taiwan Current Warm Water mass (TCWW) was located to the south of the LSSW. Other oceanic water masses, including Kuroshio Surface Water, were located to the east of the LSSW. The means of the Ze and ∑ChlZe∑ChlZe in the LSSW were significantly shallower and higher, respectively, compared with the TCWW and other oceanic water masses (p

In recent times, therapy for renal anemia has changed dramatically in that iron administration has increased and doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have decreased. Here we used a prospective, observational, multicenter design and measured the serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels every 3 months for 2 years in 1086 patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy. The associations of adverse events with fluctuations in ferritin and hemoglobin levels and ESA and iron doses were measured using a Cox proportional hazards model for time-dependent variables. The risks of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease (CCVD), infection, and hospitalization were higher among patients who failed to maintain a target-range hemoglobin level and who exhibited high-amplitude fluctuations in hemoglobin compared with patients who maintained a target-range hemoglobin level. Patients with a higher compared with a lower ferritin level had an elevated risk of CCVD and infectious disease. Moreover, the risk of death was significantly higher among patients with high-amplitude ferritin fluctuations compared with those with a low ferritin level. The risks of CCVD, infection, and hospitalization were significantly higher among patients who were treated with high weekly doses of intravenous iron compared with no intravenous iron. Thus, there is a high risk of death and/or adverse events in patients with hemoglobin levels outside the target range, in those with high-amplitude hemoglobin fluctuations, in those with consistently high serum ferritin levels, and in those with high-amplitude ferritin fluctuations.

Marine animals, and sea urchin species in particular, have several advantages for use in environmental research. However, the spawned eggs of the sea urchin quickly lose fertility, although the fertile period can be lengthened by the addition of antibiotics to the sea water (Epel et al., 2004). We evaluated five species of Japanese sea urchin and the gametes of Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus could be maintained for 2 weeks or more at low temperature with the addition of antibiotics to sea water. We also demonstrated the practicality of shipping these preserved gametes as experimental material for universities and schools to use immediately for bioassays of physical and chemical impacts on the marine environment.

Seasonal and spring interannual variations in chlorophyll- a (Chl) and total suspended matter (TSM) in the Yellow and East China Seas through a 10-year period were examined by using new datasets from Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Ocean Color Project (YOC) algorithms. YOC SCHL calculations are based on a combination of the SeaWiFS standard algorithm and a local empirical algorithm for areas of low and high normalized water-leaving radiance 555 nm, respectively. YOC SCHL was lower than the standard SCHL in areas with high concentrations of resuspended sediment, especially along the Chinese and Korean coasts and around the Changjiang Bank from fall to spring. YOC SCHL was high in areas of low TSM in the middle of the Yellow Sea, and offshore of the Changjiang Bank in April, indicating the occurrence of spring blooms. In these areas, TSM was dominated by phytoplankton cells and phytoplankton-related organic particles. Offshore from the Changjiang River mouth and around the Changjiang Bank, YOC SCHL and TSM in March were low and high, respectively, with maximum YOC SCHL values occurring around the Changjiang Bank in May. Spring bloom started with decrease in resuspended sediment concentrations in these areas. During summer, YOC SCHL values were high and TSM concentrations were low; TSM was dominated by organic particles related to phytoplankton activity when Changjiang River diluted water moved from the river mouth to east of the bank. YOC SCHL in spring offshore from the Changjiang River mouth increased significantly during the 10 years, and correspond to an increase in red tide events. In the middle of the Yellow Sea, maximum YOC SCHL in spring increased gradually and significantly during the 10 years. Many of the spatial and temporal variations in YOC SCHL were consistent with a range of earlier in situ descriptions. Our results indicate that the satellite ocean data with proper algorithms is a powerful tool to analyze phytoplankton dynamics in moderate-high suspended sediment area.

Note: Special Issue: Pacific Asian Marginal Seas, 資料番号: PA1110109000

We identified a double mutation in a patient with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, located in the tRNA Ala (m.5628T>C) and tRNA Lys (m.8348A>G) genes. Both mutations were previously described separately and considered pathogenic, however the same mutations were also reported as polymorphisms or phenotype modulator. We analyzed the proportion of each mutation in isolated muscle fibers by single fiber-polymerase chain reaction to investigate the contribution of each mutation to mitochondrial deficiency. Our findings demonstrated that the mutations were heteroplasmic in skeletal muscle and both mutations were present in all single muscle fibers. The proportions of the m.5628T>C mutation were not significantly different between normal and cytochrome- c -oxidase (COX) deficient fibers. However, a significant higher proportion of the m.8348A>G mutation was observed in COX deficient fibers. Homoplasmic m.8348A>G was only observed in COX negative fibers. In conclusion, we provide a piece of evidence toward the pathogenicity of the m.8348A>G mutation and suggest that m.5628T>C is probably a neutral polymorphism.

To create a rehabilitation protocol following reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), through a literature review. The literature review was conducted in the Medline and Embase databases, to search for data on biomechanical concepts and analyses relating to the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee. The search strategy was set up using the following rules: problem or injury in association with anatomical location terms; or surgical intervention procedure in association with rehabilitation terms. We began the process in this manner and subsequently introduced restrictions on certain terms to improve the search specificity. To design the protocol, a table was created for better data assessment, based on the time that elapsed between surgery and the start of physiotherapy. A rehabilitation protocol was created to improve weight-bearing control in the initial weeks after surgery, with the aid of a knee brace. Our aim was to achieve gains in total range of motion of the knee, which should be attained by the third month, thereby avoiding contractures resulting from the tissue healing process. Strengthening exercises and sensory-motor training were guided accordingly, thus avoiding overload on the graft and respecting the healing phases. The protocol proposed through this review was based on the current evidence relating to this subject.

There is no doubt that the natural environment is crucial for our daily life. Since seas and oceans occupy approximately 70% of the global surface, adverse changes in the marine environment sooner or later will have some type of impact on our society. The dynamic powerful marine environment provides us not only with material and concrete benefits, but also with spiritual and emotional treats. All this contributes to maintain and enhance the quality of our lives. Italian and Japanese scientists investigating on marine organisms impacted by polluted environments, anthropogenic factors, and emerging contaminants gathered together in a meeting promoted by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) to report their studies, exchange knowledge and information, and discuss these topics with the belief that their researches might contribute to improve the quality of the marine environment and, by doing that, improve our healthy living on Earth. Several model organisms were the object of the reported studies, including marine mammals, fishes, echinoderms, crustaceans, cnidarians, copepods, diatoms, sponges. Reports ranged from field campaign studies on whole organisms to laboratory experiments. Cellular, biochemical and molecular biology analyses were employed, aimed at understanding the mechanisms involved in the stress response to environmental hazards.

The phenomenon of multiple necking in superplastic Zn–22Al was studied experimentally and analytically. Experiments revealed a proportional relation between the wavelength of multiple necking and the square root of the ratio between the strain rate and strain, which is explained on the basis of diffusion of defects under inhomogeneous strain distributions. The order of magnitude of the diffusion coefficient and the activation energy suggest that strain diffusion can result from the flow of atomic vacancies accompanied by grain boundary sliding in the superplastic state. Moreover, the analytic derivation shows the relation between the present model and second-order strain gradient theory.

Biochemical defects in the respiratory chain are mostly associated with deficiencies in Complexes I, III and IV, caused by nuclear or mitochondrial DNA mutations. Combined defects including Complex II have been reported very rarely and have muscular symptoms as the main manifestation, including muscle weakness, exercise intolerance and myoglobinuria. We report a patient with a fatal progressive myopathy and muscle biopsy showing diffuse reduction in succinate dehydrogenase activity, ragged red fibers and intense lipid accumulation. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) histochemistry demonstrated 30% of fibers with increased subsarcolemmal staining while 27% were COX negative. Western blotting analysis showed reduction in the expression of the 39 kDa subunit of Complex I, subunit II of Complex IV and the 70 kDa subunit of Complex II. Our findings suggest that the patient had a complex pattern of mitochondrial dysfunction affecting multiple respiratory chain complexes (I, II and IV) and fatty acid metabolism. This report adds a new histological pattern associated to combined deficiencies of respiratory chain with involvement of Complex II and shows that this disease may be fatal with a rapid progression.