Trustworthy Wireless Sensor Networks for Monitoring Humidity and Moisture Environments.

Wireless sensors networks (WSNs) are characterized by flexibility and scalability in any environment. These networks are increasingly used in agricultural and industrial environments and have a dual role in data collection from sensors and transmission to a monitoring system, as well as enabling the management of the monitored environment. Environment management depends on trust in the data collected from the surrounding environment, including the time of data creation. This paper proposes a trust model for monitoring humidity and moisture in agricultural and industrial environments. The proposed model uses a digital signature and public key infrastructure (PKI) to establish trust in the data source, i.e., the trust in the sensor. Trust in data generation is essential for real-time environmental monitoring and subsequent analyzes, thus timestamp technology is implemented here to further ensure that gathered data are not created or changed after the assigned time. Model validation is performed using the Castalia network simulator by testing energy consumption at the receiver and sender nodes and the delay incurred by creating or validating a trust token. In addition, validation is also performed using the Ascertia TSA Crusher application for the time consumed to obtain a timestamp from the free TSA. The results show that by applying different digital signs and timestamps, the trust entity of the WSN improved significantly with an increase in power consumption of the sender node by up to 9.3% and receiver node by up to 126.3% for a higher number of nodes, along with a packet delay of up to 15.6% and an average total time consumed up to 1.186 s to obtain the timestamp from the best chosen TSA, which was as expected.

Reliability and Versatility of Reverse Sural Island Neurofasciocutaneous Leg Flaps.

BACKGROUND: Distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous (NFC) flaps are a commonly used method for foot and ankle reconstruction given that they are much simpler and, at the same time, still efficient alternative to perforator flaps and free style free flaps. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the reliability and versatility of reverse sural island NFC flaps as a powerful and efficient method that can be used for repair of lower leg skin defects. This method does not require microsurgical facilities or extensive training. METHODOLOGY: Patients with soft tissue defects of the distal third of the leg and ankle region received reverse sural island NFC flaps. Inclusion criteria included an absence of damage to the sural neurovascular axis or communicating perforators, absence of peripheral vascular disease, and the presence of soft tissue defects deep enough to expose tendon or bone. Patients were assessed for flap (defect) size, pedicle length and location of defects, postoperative flap survival rates, and complications. Donor sites were closed directly or skin grafted. RESULTS: Of 24 consecutive patient (20 male; 4 female), all flaps except 1 (4.16%), survived, although partial necrosis was observed in 2 patients (8.33%). The overall major complication rate was 12.50%. Epidermolysis was noted in 1 patient (4.16%). Three cases of transient venous congestion resolved without additional complications. The overall minor complication rate was 16.66%. Minimal complications were associated with healing of donor sites. CONCLUSIONS: Reverse sural island NFC flaps provide adequate and aesthetically very acceptable coverage of soft tissue defects of the distal lower leg and proximal foot with no functional impairment.

Wireless Sensor Network in Agriculture: Model of Cyber Security.

Nowadays, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are widely used in agriculture monitoring to improve the quality and productivity of farming. In this application, sensors gather different types of data (i.e., humidity, carbon dioxide level, and temperature) in real-time scenarios. Thus, data gathering, transmission, and rapid response to new circumstances require a secured data mechanism to avoid malicious adversaries. Therefore, this paper focuses on data security from the data origin source to the end-user, and proposes a general data security model that is independent of the network topology and structure, and can be widely used in the agriculture monitoring application. The developed model considers practical aspects, the architecture of the sensor node, as well as the necessity to save energy while ensuring data security, and optimize the model through the application of organizational and technical measures. The model evaluation is conducted through simulation in terms of energy consumption. The result shows that the proposed model ensures good data security at the cost of a slight increase in energy consumption at receiver and sender nodes, and energy consumption per bit, up to 2%, 7%, and 1.3%, respectively, due to overhead added for authentication in the network.

Comparative analysis of clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate both the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of a very rare skin cancer - Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) - and to review the relevant literature. METHODS: The study group was composed of 12 patients, with mean age 53.08±10.26 years. Multiple subcutaneous masses and lymph node metastases were surgically removed. Paraffin blocks of formaldehyde-fixed tumor tissue were cut and stained for histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies. The following antibodies (Dacopatt) were used: Chromogranin A, CK20, CK7, Melan A, CD20 and CD45Ro. RESULTS: The tumors involved the dermis while sparing the epidermis. The most frequently affected sites were sun-exposed skin (8 patients on the head and neck) and the most common histological subtype of MCC was the intermediate variant. Six patients had lymph node metastasis and 2 had locoregional recurrences. Haematogenous lung metastases of MCC and primary located in the trunk were found only in our youngest patient (36-year-old). Immunostaining revealed positive reactivity for neuroendocrine and epithelial markers and negative reactivity for melanoma, B/T lymphomas and small cell metastatic lung carcinoma. CONCLUSION: MCC is a rare malignant primary cutaneous neoplasm with epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation, demanding wide local excision. The pathological differential diagnosis includes basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and metastatic small cell lung carcinoma. The diagnosis of MCC is possible only immunohistochemically, by using the wide spectrum of antibodies, characteristic of microscopically similar tumors.

Recycling and Reinforcing Intimomedial Flap of the Infrarenal Aorta Using Anterior Longitudinal Ligament in Patients With Acute Trauma With Bowel Injuries.

We present a patient with blunt abdominal trauma with severe acute right limb ischemia and clinical signs of diffuse peritonitis. Computed tomography angiography showed circumferential dissection of the infrarenal aorta with occlusion of the right common iliac artery. We opted for simultaneous abdomen exploration and open repair of injured aorta. Critical weakening of the aortic wall with imminent rupture was identified intraoperatively. Aortotomy cranially from bifurcation showed circumferential intimomedial dissection. The fixation of fragile intimomedial flap of aortic dissection was achieved with reinforcement using an anterior longitudinal ligament. The long aortoiliac arteriotomy was repaired using a great saphenous vein patch. Patient had uneventful postoperative course and was discharged after 7 days. In patients with abdominal polytrauma with peritonitis, and no available endovascular tools, open surgery for circumferential aortic dissection is possible and successful. Described reinforcement of the posterior aortic wall to the anterior longitudinal ligament should be added to the armamentarium of aortic injury treatment.

The use of total ossicular replacement prosthesis after radical tympanomastoidectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This paper presents our operative method for hearing recovery after the previous radical tympanomasto-idectomy, radical trepanation of the temporal bone (trepanatio radicalis ossis temporalis--TROT) in eight patients submitted to operations for giant cholesteatotoma. METHODS: All the patients were admitted to our clinic after TROT. There were no signs of cholesteatoma or infection. The patients refused any stent implantations or any hearing aids due to possible aesthetic problems. The described procedure developed in two steps. The first one was to restore the destroyed cavum tympany and to covert with chondroperichondral new membrane with a pin-like "guide" as collumela. The second step was to insert a TORP (total ossicular replacement prosthesis) after guide excision. RESULTS: After the first operation (stage one) there were no infections in the operated area nor chondroperichondral graft rejection. Postoperative audiometry (6 to 8 weeks) was done to demonstrate the improvement of air conduction. Three months following the first, the second (stage two) operation was performed and 2.5 to 3 months after this operation even greater audiometry revealed hearing improvement in air- and bone-conduction. The patients were dismissed from the hospital 2 days after each procedure without any complications. They did not experience any dizziness, vomiting nor a severe pain. Three months after the second operative stage, otoscopic findings were very good. The audiometry findings after a 3-months period (after stage one) and 3 months after final TORP insertion was done for each of the patients. After one year, the audiometric curve was the same. Clinical and audiometry follow up demonstrated a hearing recovery and closure of air bone gap (ABG) to values of 5 to 15 dB. CONCLUSION: The use of TORP after radical tympanomastoidectomy is feasible. The first step of the procedure is the fixation of a neomembrane. A stabilized neomembrane is essential for light overpressure on the prosthesis and this is important for optimal or better conductivity. A better hearing recovery is confirmed with audiometric findings and ABG reduction to 5-15 dB. This method could be performed in all patients (with good bone-conduction) after radical tympanomastoidectomy for better hearing.