Elevated CTC at baseline was a strong prognostic factor in this cohort. Early on-treatment changes were observed in CTC-ER and ctDNA, but not in overall CTC number. Integrating multiple biomarkers in prospective trials may improve outcome prediction and ET resistance mechanisms' identification over a single biomarker.

The application of confusion and diffusion processes on the three individual components of an RGB image is not secure and efficient, so this problem needs to be addressed. In this paper, a novel RGB image cipher is proposed using chaotic systems, 15-puzzle artificial intelligence problem and DNA computing. First of all the given color image is decomposed into its red, green and blue gray scale images. Then these gray scale images are concatenated to make a single gray scale image. This single gray scale image is further divided into different blocks. A block level permutation (BLP) is proposed on this gray scale image by using the 15-puzzle problem. A pixel level permutation is applied to further randomize the image pixels. This confused image is then DNA encoded. Afterwards, a diffusion process is applied on this DNA encoded image. Lastly this DNA diffused image is converted back into the decimal. Further, this single gray scale image is broken into three gray scale images. These three images are combined to get the final color cipher image. To create the plaintext sensitivity, SHA 256 hash function has been used. Both the simulation and a comprehensive security analyses suggest the robustness and the impregnability of the proposed scheme which in turn signals towards the real world applicability of the scheme.

To enhance the ablation performance and mechanical strength of silicone rubber (SR), pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were dispersed in the polymer matrix using dispersion kneader and two roller mixing mill. Electrical resistivity (100–300°C) was reduced with increasing filler concentration in the host matrix due to the presence and even dispersion of the nanofiller in the rubber matrix. The SR nanocomposite (1 wt % filler contents) has 28% better thermal stability and 100% improvement in the ultimate tensile strength is achieved as compared with the pristine polymer matrix counterpart. Oxy‐acetylene torch was used to evaluate the ablation rates, % char yield, and backface temperature evolution at the back facet of nanoablators during the flame exposure for a specific duration. Ablation performance of the fabricated ablative nanocomposites was enhanced with increasing nanotubes concentration in the polymer matrix. Thermal stability and heat quenching ability of the SR nanocomposites were gradually augmented with increasing filler loadings in the host matrix. Porous silica char, polymer pyrolysis, char composition, and uniform dispersion of MWNTs in the rubber matrix were also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

No abstract

In order to enhance salt rejection level and high pressure mechanical integrity, functionalized nanokaolin decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes (FNKM, 0–5 wt % loading) were incorporated into a cellulose acetate (CA) matrix using high temperature solution mixing methodology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) were used to characterize the prepared membranes. The obtained results revealed that with increasing FNKM concentration in the host polymeric matrix, composite membrane’s structural, functional, thermal, water permeation/flux and salt rejection characteristics were also modified accordingly. Percent enhancement in salt rejection was increased around threefold by adding 5 wt % FNKM in CA.

No abstract

Hundreds of image encryption algorithms have been developed for the security and integrity of images through the combination of DNA computing and chaotic maps. This combination of the two instruments is not sufficient enough to thwart the potential threats from the cryptanalysis community as the literature review suggests. To inject more robustness and security stuff, a novel image encryption scheme has been written in this research by fusing the chaotic system, DNA computing and castle -a chess piece. As the plain image is input, its pixels are shifted to the scrambled image at the randomly chosen pixel addresses. This scrambling has been realized through the routine called Image Scrambler using Castle (ISUC). Castle randomly moves on the hypothetical large chessboard. Pixels taken from the plain image are shifted to the addresses of the scrambled image, where castle lands in each iteration. After the plain image is scrambled, it is DNA encoded. Two mask images are also DNA encoded. Then to throw the diffusion effects in the cipher, DNA Addition and DNA XOR operations between the DNA encoded pixels data and the DNA encoded mask images have been conducted. Next, the pixels data are converted back into their decimal equivalents. Four dimensional chaotic system has been used to get the chaotic vectors. The hash codes given by the SHA-256 function have been used in the cipher to introduce the plaintext sensitivity in its design. We got an information entropy of 7.9974. Simulation carried out through the machine, and the thorough security analyses demonstrate the good security effects, defiance to the varied attacks from the cryptanalysis community, and the bright prospects for some real world application of the proposed image cipher.

No abstract