A Novel Image Encryption Scheme Based on Elliptic Curves over Finite Rings

Image encryption based on elliptic curves (ECs) is emerging as a new trend in cryptography because it provides high security with a relatively smaller key size when compared with well-known cryptosystems. Recently, it has been shown that the cryptosystems based on ECs over finite rings may provide better security because they require the computational cost for solving the factorization problem and the discrete logarithm problem. Motivated by this fact, we proposed a novel image encryption scheme based on ECs over finite rings. There are three main steps in our scheme, where, in the first step, we mask the plain image using points of an EC over a finite ring. In step two, we create diffusion in the masked image with a mapping from the EC over the finite ring to the EC over the finite field. To create high confusion in the plain text, we generated a substitution box (S-box) based on the ordered EC, which is then used to permute the pixels of the diffused image to obtain a cipher image. With computational experiments, we showed that the proposed cryptosystem has higher security against linear, differential, and statistical attacks than the existing cryptosystems. Furthermore, the average encryption time for color images is lower than other existing schemes.     

Slow attractive canonical invariant manifolds for reactive systems

We analyze the efficacy of a standard manifold-based reduction method used to simplify reaction dynamics and find conditions under which the reduction can succeed and fail. In the standard reduction, a heteroclinic trajectory linking saddle and sink equilibria is taken as a candidate reduced manifold which we call a Canonical Invariant Manifold (CIM). We develop and exercise analytic tools for studying the local behavior of trajectories near the CIM. In so doing, we find conditions under which nearby trajectories are attracted to the CIM (ACIM) as well as conditions for which the dynamics on the ACIM are slow (SACIM). The method is demonstrated on a (1) simple model problem, (2) Zel’dovich mechanism for nitric oxide production, and (3) hydrogen–air system. For systems that evolve in a three-dimensional composition space, we find that normal stretching away from the CIM in a volume-shrinking vector field is admitted and that depending on the magnitude of the local rotation rate, may or may not render the CIM to be attractive. The success and failure of the candidate CIM as a SACIM is displayed for the model system. Results for the Zel’dovich mechanism and hydrogen–air systems are less definitive, though for specific conditions a SACIM is identified for both systems.     

Chemical Synthesis of Phosphorylated Ubiquitin and Diubiquitin Exposes Positional Sensitivities of E1‐E2 Enzymes and Deubiquitinases

Modification of ubiquitin by phosphorylation extends the signaling possibilities of this dynamic signal, as it could affect the activity of ligases and the processing of ubiquitin chains by deubiquitinases. The first chemical synthesis of phosphorylated ubiquitin and of Lys63‐linked diubiquitin at the proximal, distal or both ubiquitins is reported. This enabled the examination of how such a modification alters E1‐E2 activities of the ubiquitination machinery. It is found that E1 charging was not affected, while the assembly of phosphorylated ubiquitin chains was differentially inhibited with E2 enzymes tested. Moreover, this study shows that phosphorylation interferes with the recognition of linkage specific antibodies and the activities of several deubiquitinases. Notably, phosphorylation in the proximal or distal ubiquitin unit has differential effects on specific deubiquitinases. These results support a unique role of phosphorylation in the dynamics of the ubiquitin signal.     

4,5-Dibenzyloxybenzyne as a synthon for diels-alder reactions. The synthesis of 6,7-dihydroxy-1,4-ethano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines as rigid analogs of adrenergic agents. Assignment of proton and carbon-13 NMR parameters using homonuclear and heteronuclear two-dimensional chemical shift correlation NMR spectroscopy

The synthesis of several rigid analogs of catecholamine type of adrenergic agents is reported. Their synthesis began with a Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 4,5-dibenzyloxybenzyne (generated from 4,5-dibenzyloxyan-thranilic acid) to 1-(2-trans-phenylvinyl)-2-pyridone and 1-benzyl-3-benzyloxy-2-pyridone. The unsaturated amides so produced were reduced first with hydrogen and palladium and then with lithium aluminum hydride to provide 6,7-dihydroxy-1,4-ethano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines. Homonuclear and heteronuclear two-dimensional chemical shift correlation nmr spectroscopy confirmed the structure of the bridged tetra-hydroisoquinolines and led to the unambiguous assignment of the ¹H and ¹³C nmr chemical shifts of key compounds.     

Dioxouranium(VI) complexes of aliphatic (mono- and di-) hydrazone-oximes

Summary Uranyl acetate dihydrate reacts with several hydrazone-oximes, derived from aliphatic (mon-annd di-) hydrazides and 2,3-butanedione monoxime in the absence of NaOAc, to form complexes of general formulae [UO₂(HL)₂] and [UO₂(HL)₂SZ] (where H₂L=aliphatic acid monohydrazone-oximes; S=EtOH and Z=H₂O). With aliphatic acid dihydrazone and monomaleoyl-hydrazone-oximes, different complexes have been synthesized in 50% EtOH and in the absence of NaOAc. The products have been characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivities, spectral (u.v., i.r., n.m.r.), pH, conductometric titrations, molecular weights and magnetic measurements. I.r. spectral data indicate that the aliphatic hydrazone-oximes, except monomaleoyl-hydrazone-oxime, behave in a similar way to tridentate ligandsvia the azomethine nitrogen and the NOH groups, with replacement of a hydrogen atom from the latter group. On the other hand, malonyl dihydrazone- and adipoyldihydrazone-oximes coordinate in a bi-, and tridentate manner, respectively, towards one uranyl ion, while monomaleoyl- and oxaloyldihydrazone-oximes behave in a penta-and hexadentate fashion, respectively, towards two uranyl ions. Elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements as well as spectral data confirm the existence of a binuclear complex for monomaleoyl- and oxaloyldihydrazone-oximes, whereas a monomer for the rest. Finally, the role of solvent, absence of NaOAc and the type of ligand on the structure of the complexes are discussed.     

Crystallization kinetics of PHB/PVAc blends using time resolved dielectric spectroscopy

Crystallization kinetics of poly(hydroxy butyrate), PHB, and its blends with poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, have been thoroughly investigated using broadband dielectric technique over a wide range of frequencies (10⁻²-10⁵ Hz) as functions of crystallization temperature and blend composition. The dielectric strength of the amorphous segments, Δε, which is directly proportional to the volume fraction of the mobile amorphous phase in the blend decreases exponentially with increasing the crystallization time. However, on the other hand, the dielectric strength of the rigid amorphous segments, Δε_α′, which is related to the percentage of crystallinity in the blend increases dramatically with increasing crystallization time. A great variation in the dynamical constraints of relaxation segments with increasing crystallization time has been observed as a result of different environments, which would lead to a variation in the consistency of the cooperative regions. The value of the dielectric constant, ε′, decreases dramatically with increasing crystallization time, after that it reaches an equilibrium value at the end of the crystallization process. This dramatic decrease in the value of ε′ as a result of crystallization at a given crystallization temperature, was taken as an accurate evaluation for the amount of the amorphous phase that has undergone crystallization considering the theoretical approach of Avrami. The Avrami exponent, n, was found to be crystallization temperature, T_c, independent (n ∼ 3) indicating a three-dimensional crystal growth for pure PHB. The crystallization rate constant, k, increases greatly with increasing T_c due to the high crystallization rate. In the blend the value of n was found to be concentration dependent (n ∼ 1.8-3.2). The different values of n indicate that the shapes of the growing crystals are affected by blend concentration. For n ∼ 1.8, the crystals can either grow sporadically as rods or instantaneously as disks, while for n ∼ 3 a three-dimensional crystal growth takes place.     

Meldrum's acids as acylating agents in the catalytic intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction

[reaction: see text] The intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatics with Meldrum's acid derivatives catalyzed by metal trifluoromethanesulfonates is reported. Meldrum's acids are easily prepared, functionalized, handled, and purified. The synthesis of polysubstituted 1-indanones from benzyl Meldrum's acids was investigated thoroughly, and it was shown that a variety of catalysts were effective, while accommodating a diversity of functional groups under mild conditions. The scope, limitations, and functional group tolerance (terminal alkene and alkyne, ketal, dialkyl ether, dialkyl thioether, aryl methyl ether, aryl TIPS and TBDPS ethers, nitrile- and nitro-substituted aryls, alkyl and aryl halides) for a variety of 5-benzyl (enolizable Meldrum's acids) and 5-benzyl-5-substituted Meldrum's acids (quaternized Meldrum's acids), forming 1-indanones and 2-substituted-1-indanones, respectively, are delineated. This method was further applied to the synthesis of 1-tetralones, 1-benzosuberones, and the potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil. Rate of cyclization as a function of ring size was established for various benzocyclic ketones via competition experiments: 1-tetralones form faster than both 1-indanones and 1-benzosuberones, and 1-benzosuberones cyclize faster than 1-indanones.     

Synthesis and physico-chemical studies on transition metal complexes of symmetric bis-Schiff base ligands

Transition Metal Chemistry - A new series of symmetric bis-Schiff bases derived from 1,2-diaminoethane with bis-salicylaldehyde (H2L1) and/or bis-o-hydroxyacetophenone (H2L2) have been prepared....     

Screening and confirmation of drugs in horse urine by using a simple column extraction procedure

A simple and reproducible column (Clean Screen-DAU, copolymeric bonded-phase silica column) extraction procedure has been described for the screening and confirmation of drugs in horse urine. The recovery of drugs by the column extraction was better than or comparable to the recovery by the liquid-liquid extraction, which is commonly used in the equine analytical laboratories. The column extraction provided broad coverage of drugs, separated extracts into three fractions (acidic/neutral, steroids, basic), produced a cleaner extract, and eliminated the need for special liquid-liquid extraction procedures for different drugs. The column extract was cleaner and did not contain impurities, whereas, the liquid-liquid extract was relatively impure and the extract required further thin-layer chromatographic cleanup. The column extraction procedure was used to confirm the presence of several potent drugs, such as fentanyl, etorphine, and mazindol.