CTET+: A Beyond-Birthday-Bound Secure Tweakable Enciphering Scheme Using a Single Pseudorandom Permutation

In this work, we propose a construction of 2-round tweakable substitutionpermutation networks using a single secret S-box. This construction is based on non-linear permutation layers using independent round keys, and achieves security beyond the birthday bound in the random permutation model. When instantiated with an n-bit block cipher with ωn-bit keys, the resulting tweakable block cipher, dubbed CTET+, can be viewed as a tweakable enciphering scheme that encrypts ωκ-bit messages for any integer ω ≥ 2 using 5n + κ-bit keys and n-bit tweaks, providing 2n/3-bit security.Compared to the 2-round non-linear SPN analyzed in [CDK+18], we both minimize it by requiring a single permutation, and weaken the requirements on the middle linear layer, allowing better performance. As a result, CTET+ becomes the first tweakable enciphering scheme that provides beyond-birthday-bound security using a single permutation, while its efficiency is still comparable to existing schemes including AES-XTS, EME, XCB and TET. Furthermore, we propose a new tweakable enciphering scheme, dubbed AES6-CTET+, which is an actual instantiation of CTET+ using a reduced round AES block cipher as the underlying secret S-box. Extensivecryptanalysis of this algorithm allows us to claim 127 bits of security.Such tweakable enciphering schemes with huge block sizes become desirable in the context of disk encryption, since processing a whole sector as a single block significantly worsens the granularity for attackers when compared to, for example, AES-XTS, which treats every 16-byte block on the disk independently. Besides, as a huge amount of data is being stored and encrypted at rest under many different keys in clouds, beyond-birthday-bound security will most likely become necessary in the short term.

Demonstrating a single-block 3D-segmented plastic-scintillator detector

Three-dimensional finely grained plastic scintillator detectors bring many advantages in particle detectors, allowing a massive active target which enables a high-precision tracking of interaction products, excellent calorimetry and a sub-nanosecond time resolution. Whilst such detectors can be scaled up to several-tonnes, as required by future neutrino experiments, a relatively long production time, where each single plastic-scintillator element is independently manufactured and machined, together with potential challenges in the assembly, complicates their realisation. In this manuscript we propose a novel design for 3D granular scintillator detectors where O(1 cm3) cubes are efficiently glued in a single block of scintillator after being produced via cast polymerization, which can enable rapid and cost-efficient detector construction. This work could become particularly relevant for the detectors of the next-generation long-baseline neutrino-oscillation experiments, such as DUNE, Hyper-Kamiokande and ESSnuSB.

Bach to Batch

<p>Ōtaki Beach is an example of a small town by the sea romanticised by many New Zealanders, yet it suffers for not being able to grow without resorting to greenfield development and subdivision. Its coarse urban grain and wide roads prioritise cars and promote a sprawl of low-density, impermeable suburban blocks. Still, the old houses have their charm. This thesis explores how we can grow the population of Ōtaki Beach without resorting to further greenfield development. Early design experiments centred on large multi-residential structures sited in surrounding landscapes. The final proposal though, developed in the context of adaptive reuse, focuses on exploring the potential of a single block that serves as an example. The design experiments led to three main strategies. Firstly, unification of existing outdoor spaces generates shared landscape. Secondly, transverse pathways add permeability and refine block grain. Thirdly, selective preservation, unification and vertical stacking of existing structures constitute the formal strategy that increases density without consuming more land and gives rise to a specific architectural expression. Final design achieves: 4-fold increase in density, taking it from 63 people/km² to over 252 people/km²; refined block grain and permeability, by growing the number of public pathways from zero to three; over 3000m² of shared landscape.</p>

Bach to Batch

<p>Ōtaki Beach is an example of a small town by the sea romanticised by many New Zealanders, yet it suffers for not being able to grow without resorting to greenfield development and subdivision. Its coarse urban grain and wide roads prioritise cars and promote a sprawl of low-density, impermeable suburban blocks. Still, the old houses have their charm. This thesis explores how we can grow the population of Ōtaki Beach without resorting to further greenfield development. Early design experiments centred on large multi-residential structures sited in surrounding landscapes. The final proposal though, developed in the context of adaptive reuse, focuses on exploring the potential of a single block that serves as an example. The design experiments led to three main strategies. Firstly, unification of existing outdoor spaces generates shared landscape. Secondly, transverse pathways add permeability and refine block grain. Thirdly, selective preservation, unification and vertical stacking of existing structures constitute the formal strategy that increases density without consuming more land and gives rise to a specific architectural expression. Final design achieves: 4-fold increase in density, taking it from 63 people/km² to over 252 people/km²; refined block grain and permeability, by growing the number of public pathways from zero to three; over 3000m² of shared landscape.</p>

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early colorectal cancer

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early colorectal cancer. From 2014 to 2020 at the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Centre of Oncology, 165 patients with stage cTis-T1N0M0 colorectal cancer were treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection, including 103 women and 62 men aged from 29 to 89 years (mean age 64 years). A single block resection was achieved in all cases, regardless of size and location. Intra- and early postoperative complications were observed in 14 (8.4%) patients, there was no postoperative mortality. In the presented study, endoscopic submucosal dissection showed technical success in 100% of cases, with a risk of postoperative complications of 4.2% and appeared curative in 80.7% of cases. Thus, this technique can be recommended for the treatment of early colorectal cancer due to its high efficiency and safety.

Multiblock Analysis Applied to Fluorescence and Absorbance Spectra to Estimate Total Polyphenol Content in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A fast and easy methodology to estimate total polyphenol content in extra virgin olive oil was developed by applying the chemometric multiblock method sequential and orthogonalized partial least squares (SO-PLS) in order to combine front-face emission fluorescence spectra (270 nm excitation wavelength) and absorbance spectra. The hypothesis of this work stated that inner-filter effects in fluorescence spectra that would reduce the estimation performance of a single block model could be overcome by incorporating the absorbance spectral information of the compounds causing them. Different spectral preprocessing algorithms were applied. Double cross-validation with 50 iterations was implemented to improve the robustness of the obtained results. The PLSR model on the single block of fluorescence raw spectra achieved an RMSEP of 177.11 mg·kg−1 as the median value, and the complexity of the model was high, as the median value of latent variables (LVs) was eight. Multiblock SO-PLS models with pretreated fluorescence and absorbance spectra provided better performance, although artefacts could be introduced by transformation. The combination of fluorescence and absorbance raw data decreased the RMSEP median to 134.45 mg·kg−1. Moreover, the complexity of the model was greatly reduced, which contributed to an increase in robustness. The median value of LVs was three for fluorescence data and only one for absorbance data. Validation of the methodology could be addressed by further work considering a higher number of samples and a detailed composition of polyphenols.

Dual Block HER2 Assessment Increased HER2 Immunohistochemistry Positive Rate in Resected Specimens of Gastric Cancer: A Prospective Multicenter Clinical Trial From China

Background Former single center studies indicated that HER2 assessment with two primary tumor blocks (dual block HER2 assessment) could be an efficient and practical approach to overcome the adverse impact of heterogeneity and acquire a HER2 positive rate in gastric cancer (GC). This multicenter prospective clinical trial (NCT 02843412) was launched to verify its value and generality. Methods A total of 3806 participants with primary GCs have been enrolled from 8 hospitals in China. Two primary tumor blocks were selected and recorded as block 1 and block 2 after histological evaluation. An HER2 (4B5) rabbit monoclonal antibody was used for the immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. In total patients, HER2 IHC positive (3+) rate with dual block assessment (9.4%) was higher than that with single block assessment (block 1: 7.8%, block 2: 7.8%) (P < 0.001). Compared with single-block assessment, dual-block assessment increased the positive rate by approximate 20%. Similarly, HER2 equivocal (2+) rate was increased in dual block assessment (25.8%), which was higher than that in single block assessment (block 1: 20.3%, block 2: 20.9%) (P < 0.001). Conversely, dual block assessment demonstrated a lower HER2 negative (0/1+) rate (64.8%) than single block assessment (block1: 71.9%, block 2: 71.3%) (P < 0.001). These findings were also confirmed in individual hospitals. Conclusions Dual block HER2 assessment effectively increased HER2 IHC positive rate in resected specimens of GC. We recommended dual block HER2 assessment be promoted in routine clinical practice in GC.

Dual-Block Elastic Stain Significantly Increasing Visceral Pleural Invasion(VPI) Positivity and Analysis of Potential Predictors of VPI in Peripheral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background: Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) is a critical component in the staging of peripheral non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Single tumor tissue block for elastic stain is conducive to identifying pleural invasion in routine pathologic examination. We aim to investigate whether dual-block elastic stain increase VPI positivity compared with single-block elastic stain, further analyze the potential predictors of VPI status.Methods: Resected 8419 consecutive peripheral NSCLC cases including tumor size≤3cm 6008 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Total cases were divided into a cohort using one tumor tissue paraffin block (single-block group, n=5184) and a cohort using dual tumor tissue paraffin blocks (dual-block group, n=3235) for elastic stain. Each case was performed with Victoria-blue van Gieson staining to assess VPI status. The clinicopathologic features of patients were collected from the electronic medical record system.Results: The overall incidence of VPI was 12.4% (1047/8419) in peripheral NSCLC patients. The VPI positivity detected by dual-block elastic stain was significantly higher than that by single-block elastic stain (17.7% (573/3235) v.s. 9.1% (474/5184), P＜0.001). The presence of VPI in T1 ≤3cm patients detected by single and dual block elastic stain was 6.3% (235/3730) and 12.0% (273/2278), respectively (P＜0.001). Therefore, 5.7% T1 patients (stage IA) are additionally upstaged to T2a (stage IB) by dual block elastic stain. But the incidence of VPI in pT2a patients had no significant difference between single-block group and dual-block group (16.8% vs 17.1%, P=0.916). The lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, poor differentiated carcinomas and the presence of STAS status could be well significant predictors of VPI (P＜0.001). Area under the ROC curve of adenocarcinoma morphology was 0.263 for lepidic pattern, 0.544 for acinar and papillary pattern, and 0.720 for micropapillary and solid pattern in predicting invasion of pleura.Conclusion: Our results indicated that using dual-block elastic stain identify more VPI positive T1 NSCLC patients who are upstaged to T2a and could benefit from optimal management after post-operation. The application of dual-block elastic stain is an efficient and practical method to detect VPI, especially for patients with high-risk prognostic factors.

The relevance of rock shape over mass—implications for rockfall hazard assessments

The mitigation of rapid mass movements involves a subtle interplay between field surveys, numerical modelling, and experience. Hazard engineers rely on a combination of best practices and, if available, historical facts as a vital prerequisite in establishing reproducible and accurate hazard zoning. Full-scale field tests have been performed to reinforce the physical understanding of debris flows and snow avalanches. Rockfall dynamics are - especially the quantification of energy dissipation during the complex rock-ground interaction - largely unknown. The awareness of rock shape dependence is growing, but presently, there exists little experimental basis on how rockfall hazard scales with rock mass, size, and shape. Here, we present a unique data set of induced single-block rockfall events comprising data from equant and wheel-shaped blocks with masses up to 2670 kg, quantifying the influence of rock shape and mass on lateral spreading and longitudinal runout and hence challenging common practices in rockfall hazard assessment.

The analysis of the clinical case in the stepped treatment of multiple choledocholithiasis and locally advanced kidney cancer

This article is devoted to the analysis of the clinical case which includes the clinical manifestations and treatment of multiple choledocholithiasis and locally advanced kidney cancer. A staged surgery was performed. Retrograde papillosphincterotomy with cholechocholitholite extraction was done at the first stage. The second stage includes laparotomy, removal of the tumor of the right kidney / adrenal gland as a single block, cholecystectomy after preliminary angiography and embolization of the vessels feeding the tumor. The presented successful observation demonstrates one of the modern approaches in the treatment of patients with comorbid pathology.