Blockchain-Based Authentication and Trust Management Mechanism for Smart Cities.

Security has always been the main concern for the internet of things (IoT)-based systems. Blockchain, with its decentralized and distributed design, prevents the risks of the existing centralized methodologies. Conventional security and privacy architectures are inapplicable in the spectrum of IoT due to its resource constraints. To overcome this problem, this paper presents a Blockchain-based security mechanism that enables secure authorized access to smart city resources. The presented mechanism comprises the ACE (Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments) framework-based authorization Blockchain and the OSCAR (Object Security Architecture for the Internet of Things) object security model. The Blockchain lays out a flexible and trustless authorization mechanism, while OSCAR makes use of a public ledger to structure multicast groups for authorized clients. Moreover, a meteor-based application is developed to provide a user-friendly interface for heterogeneous technologies belonging to the smart city. The users would be able to interact with and control their smart city resources such as traffic lights, smart electric meters, surveillance cameras, etc., through this application. To evaluate the performance and feasibility of the proposed mechanism, the authorization Blockchain is implemented on top of the Ethereum network. The authentication mechanism is developed in the node.js server and a smart city is simulated with the help of Raspberry Pi B+. Furthermore, mocha and chai frameworks are used to assess the performance of the system. Experimental results reveal that the authentication response time is less than 100 ms even if the average hand-shaking time increases with the number of clients.

Anatomic measurements of the anterior and posterior ethmoid arteries in cadaveric heads using endoscopic sinus instrumentation.

The challenges of endoscopic sinus surgery lie in the complexity of the anatomy of the nasal vault and side walls and the proximity to critical structures. Additionally, operating in a three-dimensional space while relying on a two-dimensional image for surgical navigation can be a disorienting task. Successful sinus surgery relies on the surgeon having a clear understanding of the anatomy and relationships within the operative field. We performed a study of 8 adult cadaveric heads to better elucidate the location of the ethmoid arteries in relation to an accessible external landmark, the nasal sill. Sinus endoscopy was performed on the heads to identify and measure the distance from the nasal sill to the anterior and posterior ethmoid arteries. We found that the distance from the nasal sill to the anterior ethmoid artery was approximately 6.0 cm, and the distance to the posterior ethmoid artery was approximately 6.7 cm. The interarterial distance was approximately 1.2 cm. With a better understanding of these vessels, surgeons will be better able to avoid them during surgery and thereby minimize the risk of excessive intraoperative bleeding and perioperative orbital hematoma.

Oblique septal crossbar graft for anterior septal angle reconstruction.

Nasal septal deformity is a central feature of the crooked nose, contributing to functional and aesthetic problems. Straightening of the septum often requires resection, scoring, or incision of the septum--maneuvers that inevitably weaken the cartilaginous dorsal and caudal L-shaped struts, which together are known as the L-strut. Compromise of this L-strut predisposes to septal buckling, recurrent deviation, and saddle nose deformity. We describe our experience with the oblique septal crossbar, a structural graft that allows biomechanically sound anterior septal angle reconstruction during septorhinoplasty. The technique improves dorsal septal support and facilitates correction of the crooked nose. The open septorhinoplasty approach and swinging door maneuver are followed by placement of a diagonally oriented crossbar graft, obtained from cartilage or the perpendicular plate. The approach allows consistent midline correction and buttressing of the nasal dorsum, with no complications to date.

Apoptosis genes in human alveolar macrophages infected with virulent or attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a pivotal role for tumor necrosis factor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-dependent apoptosis of alveolar macrophages (AM) after infection with avirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) results in bacillary death and the destruction of a growth niche for the pathogen. This response is minimized after infection with virulent strains of Mtb. To study the genetic control of Mtb-induced apoptosis, we used microarrays to interrogate the expression profile of infected human AM. Although we found variation in gene expression between different donors of AM, a set of genes were constant for each condition. A group of proapoptotic genes were downregulated after infection by virulent Mtb strain H37Rv, whereas infection with avirulent Mtb H37Ra led to a gene expression profile that would favor macrophage apoptosis. Neutralizing TNF in macrophage cultures infected with H37Ra changed the gene expression profile to one that resembled the profile of macrophages infected with H37Rv. These data reveal that apoptosis-related genes are regulated differently by virulent or attenuated Mtb strains, and are consistent with the hypothesis that virulent Mtb interfere with TNF death signaling. Given the importance of TNF in host defense against tuberculosis, the ability to repress the expression of genes activated by TNF may constitute a bacillary virulence mechanism.