This paper proposes an anonymity based mechanism for providing privacy in IoT environment. Proposed scheme allows IoT entities to anonymously interacting and authenticating with each other, or even proving that they have trustworthy relationship without disclosing their identities. Authentication is based on an anonymous certificates mechanism where interacting IoT entities could unlinkably prove possession of a valid certificate without revealing any incorporated identity-related information, thereby preserving their privacy and thwarting tracking and profiling attacks. Through a security analysis, we demonstrate the reliability of our solution.

Two dihydropyrimidinone derivatives (DHPM) were synthesized via the multi-component reaction, the yield of the synthesis reached 90%, and their structures were proved by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The identified molecules were used for studying the corrosion inhibition of XC48 carbon steel in 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4 solution. The inhibitory potentials of these compounds were determined by electrochemical methods exploiting the potentiodynamic polarization curves (Tafel method) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Surface phenomena have been illustrated by atomic force microscopy. The results obtained show that the synthesized molecules are effective inhibitors, whose efficiency corrosion inhibition depends on the architecture of their structure, and it is proportional to the concentrations; it exceeds 94% for one of these inhibitors. The adsorption of these compounds on the metal surface approached the Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. Furthermore, the electronic properties obtained using density function theory are in a good consensus with the experimental efficiencies of inhibition. The molecular dynamics simulations have allowed also simulating the interactions between the inhibitors and the metallic surface.

Nickel chloride (NiCl2) is a heavy metal that may affect the function of the thyroid. Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements involved in thyroid hormone metabolism. However, little is reported about thyrotoxicity during gestation. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of selenium and zinc against NiCl2-induced thyrotoxicity in pregnant Wistar rats. Female rats were treated subcutaneously (s.c.) on the 3rd day of pregnancy, with NaCl 0.9% and served as control, NiCl2 (100 mg/kg body weight (BW)) alone, or in association with Se (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.), ZnCl2 (20 mg/kg, s.c.), or both of them simultaneously. Oxidative stress parameters, thyroid biomarkers, and histopathological examination were evaluated. Results showed that NiCl2 exposure caused a significant decrease in maternal body weight and an increase in absolute and relative thyroid weight compared to the controls. NiCl2 administration also led to decreased plasma triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) with a concomitant significant increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels when compared to that of control. In addition, an overall pro-oxidant effect was associated with a decrease in the reduced glutathione (GSH) and nonprotein thiol (NPSH) contents and the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA). These biochemical disturbances were confirmed by histological changes. However, the co-treatment of Se and/or ZnCl2 attenuates NiCl2-induced changes. Our findings suggested that Se and ZnCl2 ameliorated NiCl2-induced thyrotoxicity in pregnant Wistar rats by exhibiting antioxidant effects.

Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) is an environmental pollutant and an endocrine-disrupting metal. Se and Zn are essential trace elements, known to play a crucial role in thyroid homeostasis. However, there is a lack of data reporting thyrotoxicity during gestation. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of selenium and zinc against potassium dichromate–induced thyrotoxicity in pregnant Wistar rats. Thirty pregnant Wistar rats were divided into control and four treated groups receiving subcutaneously (s.c) on the 3rd day of pregnancy, K2Cr2O7 (10 mg/kg, s.c) alone, or in association with Se (0.3 mg/kg, s.c), ZnCl2 (20 mg/kg, s.c), or both of them simultaneously. The hormonal profile, oxidative stress biomarkers, DNA damage, and histological modifications were evaluated. Our main findings showed that K2Cr2O7 promoted hypothyroidism, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and histological alterations in the thyroid gland. The co-treatment with Se or ZnCl2 has mitigated K2Cr2O7-induced thyrotoxicity in pregnant Wistar rats by exhibiting antioxidant and genoprotective effects. However, the combined co-treatment of both of them was less thyroprotective, and therefore, further investigations on the synergetic interaction of Se and Zn against CrVI toxicity using different doses and exposure routes are required.