Security Enhanced Anonymous User Authenticated Key Agreement Scheme Using Smart Card

Nowadays, the password-based remote user authentication mechanism using smart card is one of the simplest and convenient authentication ways to ensure secure communications over the public network environments. Recently, Liu et al. proposed an efficient and secure smart card based password authentication scheme. However, we find that Liu et al.’s scheme is vulnerable to the off-line password guessing attack and user impersonation attack. Furthermore, it also cannot provide user anonymity. In this paper, we cryptanalyze Liu et al.’s scheme and propose a security enhanced user authentication scheme to overcome the aforementioned problems. Especially, in order to preserve the user anonymity and prevent the guessing attack, we use the dynamic identity technique. The analysis shows that the proposed scheme is more secure and efficient than other related authentication schemes.

Enhancement of Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells through Supplementation of <i>Platycodon grandiflorum</i>in Doraji Roots

The current study reports the evidence of enhancement in power generation from cellulosic biomass in microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems by supplementing dried Doraji (Platycodon grandiflorum) roots powder. Mediator-less two chamber H-type MFCs were prepared using rumen fluid as anode inocula to convert finely ground pine tree (Avicel) at 2% (w/v) to electricity. Dried Doraji roots were ground to pass 1 mm sieve and added to the anode of MFC at 0.1% w/v dosage for treatment. MFC power and current across an external resistor were measured daily for 10 d. At the end of incubation on d10, collected gases were measured for total gas volume and analyzed for gas composition on gas chromatography. Supplementation of Doraji roots powder to MFC anode chamber increased power generation and CO2 production. Over the 10d experimental period, power density normalized to anode surface area were between 17.0 and 37.7 with average of 32.5 mW/m2 in Doraji MFCs, and between 16.8 and 19.8 with average of 18.2 mW/m2 in control group. CO2 production increased and methane to CO2 ratio decreased in Doraji root treatment comparing to control group. These observations imply that Doraji root components would inhibit methanogenesis and alter microbial fermentation of cellulose compounds favorable to produce bioenergy efficiently in MFC.

Magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers for pulsed focused ultrasound treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND The robust fibroinflammatory stroma characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDA)impedes effective drug delivery.Pulsed focused ultrasound(pFUS)can disrupt this stroma and has improved survival in an early clinical trial.Non-invasive methods to characterize pFUS treatment effects are desirable for advancement of this promising treatment modality in larger clinical trials.AIM To identify promising,non-invasive pre-clinical imaging methods to characterize acute pFUS treatment effects for in vivo models of PDA.METHODS We utilized quantitative magnetic resonance imaging methods at 14 tesla in three mouse models of PDA(subcutaneous,orthotopic and transgenic-KrasLSLG12D/+,Trp53LSL-R172H/+,Cre or“KPC”)to assess immediate tumor response to pFUS treatment(VIFU 2000 Alpinion Medical Systems;475 W peak electric power,1 ms pulse duration,1 Hz,duty cycle 0.1%)vs sham therapy,and correlated our results with histochemical data.These pFUS treatment parameters were previously shown to enhance tumor permeability to chemotherapeutics.T1 and T2 relaxation maps,high(126,180,234,340,549)vs low(7,47,81)b-value apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)maps,magnetization transfer ratio(MTR)maps,and chemical exchange saturation transfer(CEST)maps for the amide proton spectrum(3.5 parts per million or“ppm”)and the glycosaminoglycan spectrum(0.5-1.5 ppm)were generated and analyzed pre-treatment,and immediately post-treatment,using ImageJ.Animals were sacrificed immediately following post-treatment imaging.The whole-tumor was selected as the region of interest for data analysis and subsequent statistical analysis.T-tests and Pearson correlation were used for statistical inference.RESULTS Mean high-b value ADC measurements increased significantly with pFUS treatment for all models.Mean glycosaminoglycan CEST and T2 measurements decreased significantly post-treatment for the KPC group.Mean MTR and amide CEST values increased significantly for the KPC group.Hyaluronic acid focal intensities in the treated regions were significantly lower following pFUS treatment for all animal models.The magnetic resonance imaging changes observed acutely following pFUS therapy likely reflect:(1)Sequelae of variable degrees of microcapillary hemorrhage(T1,MTR and amide CEST);(2)Lower PDA glycosaminoglycan content and associated water content(glycosaminoglycan CEST,T2 and hyaluronic acid focal intensity);and(3)Improved tumor diffusivity(ADC)post pFUS treatment.CONCLUSION T2,glycosaminoglycan CEST,and ADC maps may provide reliable quantitation of acute pFUS treatment effects for patients with PDA.

Patterns of Pediatric Malaria Incidence and Outcomes in Kasungu, Malawi in 2016

Malawi is resource poor country in Africa with one of the highest infant and child mortality rates in the world. Malaria is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among children in Malawi. Studies have shown barriers to care of sick children and the formal health sector has shown sub-optimal patient assessments and overreliance on antibiotic treatment of a child with fever. In 2017, a team of students from Korea and USA audited clinic registers of six health centres under the hospital’s administration of Kasungu District in Malawi for the year of 2016. The clinics were included in the study were those that contributed to the largest number of patients in the district annually. The aim of the audit was to examine treatment outcomes of all children presenting with fever and on whom a definitive diagnosis or presumptive diagnosis of malaria was made at the 6 chosen clinics in Kasungu for improvement of health information system for the district health office. The number of children with malaria ranged between 80 and 440 per month, with the peak occurring between the rainy months of February to May. Peak mortality rate occurred in September and November at 21%. Patients presented with multiple symptoms of fever, convulsion, pallor, vomiting, cough, diarrhea, abdominal pain and headache. Average mortality rate differed between traditional authorities, ranging from 4% to 15%. Off-season high mortality finding promotes more studies looking into socioeconomic and hospital support. Multiple symptoms among patients treated for malaria is a common finding emphasizing the need to integrate household practices for malaria prevention, good malaria case management and linkage with community care of childhood illness (CCM) programs at the clinics in the district.

Management Performance Evaluation Model of Korean Construction Firms

Corporate management performance evaluation currently focuses on financial aspects;however, it is necessary to identify and manage elements that contribute to increased economic values in the long run. When it comes to construction firms, most previous research did not cover weighting and estimation approaches for non-financial elements that ultimately influence financial status. In this research, the objective is to develop a management performance evaluation model for Korean construction firms. The model includes financial factors and non-financial factors. This research investigated actual data from Korean construction firmsandclassifiedtheir characteristics. This study is performed in two steps. First, this study derives KPIs for performance measurement techniques and weights the KPIs. And then, it applies the performance data of construction firms to the technique. The findings of this study show that Korean construction firms consider customers to be the foremost priority, converse to previous research which argued that the internal business process was the top priority. The performance measurement results can be fed back into strategies and plans to shed light on issues, reflect on management plans for subsequent years and modify mid to long-term strategies. Therefore, the developed model can help decision-makers effectively revise their management plans.