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Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) obtains more attention due to their wide range of applications such as underwater oil field discovery, Tsunami monitoring systems, surveillance systems, and many more. In such a resource-constrained environment, sensors are more vulnerable to malicious attacks. Node authentication and secure communication is one of the vital issues in UWSNs. In this study, a secure and lightweight key management framework for UWSNs is proposed. The proposed framework includes key generation, key distribution, revocation, and authentication mechanisms along with lightweight implementation, and scalability. We use an elliptic curve-based algorithm for key distribution, and certificate revocation list (CRL) for key revocation. We also examine the performance of the proposed framework taking into account the amount of communication overhead as well as the level of security. The simulation results show that the proposed framework provides better security with less communication overhead compared to existing frameworks. This framework can be used for secure data communication in UWSNs, which has various applications in oceanography, environmental monitoring, and military operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety of adjunct eptifibatide in the setting of rescue angioplasty (PTCA) with or without stenting after full-dose thrombolytic therapy is not well defined. Our study was undertaken to assess the risk of hemorrhagic complications following use of eptifibatide in patients undergoing rescue PTCA/stenting following failed thrombolysis. Clinical records of 43 consecutive patients (53% males) who received eptifibatide during rescue PTCA/stenting following full-dose fibrinolytic therapy were reviewed. Data were collected for: timing of rescue PTCA following fibrinolytic use; concomitant use of other antiplatelet agents; hospital length of stay; in-hospital mortality; and incidence of bleeding complications. Bleeding complications were categorized as major or minor according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) study group criteria. Overall bleeding complications developed in 13 patients (30%), with 4 patients (9%) experiencing major bleeding. Univariate predictors of major bleeding complications were: older age; female sex; lower baseline platelet count; and time to initiation of eptifibatide following failed thrombolysis. On multivariate analysis, the only predictors of bleeding were gender (27% in females versus 3% in males; odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.9) and time to initiation of eptifibatide following failed thrombolysis (4.6 +/- 2 hours versus 11 +/- 9 hours; p<0.04; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-11.4). Use of potent antiplatelet agents during rescue PTCA/stenting results in an increased risk of bleeding. Careful attention to predictors of bleeding and, in particular, delaying eptifibatide administration following full-dose fibrinolytic use may result in the reduction of major and minor bleeding complications.