Online/Offline MA-CP-ABE with Cryptographic Reverse Firewalls for IoT.

Devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) usually use cloud storage and cloud computing to save storage and computing cost. Therefore, the efficient realization of one-to-many communication of data on the premise of ensuring the security of cloud storage data is a challenge. Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based Encryption (CP-ABE) can not only protect the security of data in the cloud and achieve one-to-many communication but also achieve fine-grained access control for data. However, the single-authority CP-ABE faces the crisis of single point of failure. In order to improve security, the Multi-Authority CP-ABE (MA-CP-ABE) is adopted. Although there are provably-secure MA-CP-ABE schemes, Edward Snowden's research shows that provably-secure cryptographic schemes are vulnerable to backdoor attacks, resulting in secret disclosure, and thus threatening security. In addition, ABE requires huge computational overhead in key generation, encryption and decryption, which increase with the increase in the number of attributes and the complexity of the access structure, and there are a large number of resource-constrained devices in the IoT. To mitigate this issue, we construct the Online/Offline MA-CP-ABE with Cryptographic Reverse Firewalls (OO-MA-CP-ABE-CRFs) scheme. This scheme not only uses Cryptographic Reverse Firewall (CRF) to resist backdoor attacks but also uses online/offline key generation, online/offline encryption and outsourcing encryption technology to optimize the efficiency of the MA-CP-ABE scheme with reverse firewall, reducing the storage and computing cost of users. Finally, the security of the OO-MA-CP-ABE-CRFs scheme is proved, and the experimental results indicate that the scheme is efficient and practical.

A Lattice-Based Homomorphic Proxy Re-Encryption Scheme with Strong Anti-Collusion for Cloud Computing.

The homomorphic proxy re-encryption scheme combines the characteristics of a homomorphic encryption scheme and proxy re-encryption scheme. The proxy can not only convert a ciphertext of the delegator into a ciphertext of the delegatee, but also can homomorphically calculate the original ciphertext and re-encryption ciphertext belonging to the same user, so it is especially suitable for cloud computing. Yin et al. put forward the concept of a strong collusion attack on a proxy re-encryption scheme, and carried out a strong collusion attack on the scheme through an example. The existing homomorphic proxy re-encryption schemes use key switching algorithms to generate re-encryption keys, so it can not resist strong collusion attack. In this paper, we construct the first lattice-based homomorphic proxy re-encryption scheme with strong anti-collusion (HPRE-SAC). Firstly, algorithm TrapGen is used to generate an encryption key and trapdoor, then trapdoor sampling is used to generate a decryption key and re-encryption key, respectively. Finally, in order to ensure the homomorphism of ciphertext, a key switching algorithm is only used to generate the evaluation key. Compared with the existing homomorphic proxy re-encryption schemes, our HPRE-SAC scheme not only can resist strong collusion attacks, but also has smaller parameters.

Association between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome in patients suffering from bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have shown that bipolar patients have increased serum uric acid levels. High serum uric acid levels could play a role contributing to high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is known to increase the risk of developing a number of life threatening diseases including coronary heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. This study investigated the association between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome and its components in individuals suffering from bipolar disorders. METHODS: This study recruited 318 inpatients suffering from bipolar disorders from Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital in China and 160 healthy subjects from the same region as the controls. We used National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Adapted criteria (NCEP ATP-III A) for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Hyperuricemia was determined as serum uric acid level above 420 µmol/L in men and 360 µmol/L in women (N Engl J Med 359(17):1811-1821, 2008). RESULTS: Among 318 bipolar patients, there was higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (42.5%) and hyperuricemia (27.7%) than healthy controls (21.9 and 11.9%). Bipolar patients with metabolic syndrome had increased prevalence of hyperuricemia (OR = 3.0, CI95 [1.7-5.4]). Hypertriglyceridemia and larger waist circumference (WC) were associated with hyperunicemia (OR = 1.8, CI95 [1.1-3.1], OR = 1.9, CI95 [1.1-3.4]). Hyperuricemia was associated with metabolic syndrome in bipolar patients (p < 0.001) and especially with hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.9, CI95 [1.1-3.1] and increased WC (OR = 2.1 [1.2-4.0]). Bipolar patients over 50 years of age and hyperuricemia were highly prone to develop metabolic syndrome (OR = 14.0, CI95 [5.0-39.0]). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricemia was highly associated with development of metabolic disorder particularly for aged patients suffering from bipolar disorders. Early prevention of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome may lead better life for bipolar patients when they get older.

Comparative survey of coordinated regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-somatotropic axis in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) and humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis).

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Somatotropic (HPS) axis is the essential endocrine system playing important roles in animal growth. Here, the HPS axis were characterized in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) and humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis), two marine cultured tropical teleosts representing fast and slow growth patterns, respectively. Through genomic and transcriptomic survey, 32 and 35 HPS genes were characterized in T. ovatus and C. altivelis. Functional domain and phylogeny revealed their conserved function among teleost lineages, with more ssts and igfbps identified and actively expressed in C. altivelis than in T. ovatus. The regulation of HPS genes responding to external stimuli revealed that T. ovatus HPS genes, including gh, igf1/2, igfbp1a/b, igfbp2b and igfbp5b, were differentially expressed under temperature or starvation challenges, while C. altivelis HPS genes were sensitive to salinity change with sst1.2, ghrhrb, igf1, igf2r, igfbp1a and igfbp5a regulated in brains. Strong interactive connectivity of igfbps was found in both T. ovatus and C. altivelis. Moreover, HPS genes evolved differently between T. ovatus and C. altivelis, and positively selected sites were detected in more C. altivelis HPS genes, like in functional domains of igf1ra and igf1rb. The igf1ra evolved faster than igf1rb in teleosts, which may contribute to their functional divergence. In conclusion, this study represented different regulatory and evolutionary patterns of HPS axis between T. ovatus and C. altivelis, which are vital in regulating their growth and will provide comprehensive insights into the cultivation of T. ovatus and C. altivelis in aquaculture.

Transcriptomic Networks Reveal the Tissue-Specific Cold Shock Responses in Japanese Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Low temperature is among the important factors affecting the distribution, survival, growth, and physiology of aquatic animals. In this study, coordinated transcriptomic responses to 10 °C acute cold stress were investigated in the gills, hearts, livers, and spleens of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), an important aquaculture species in east Asia. Histological examination suggested different levels of injury among P. olivaceus tissues after cold shock, mainly in the gills and livers. Based on transcriptome and weighted gene coexpression network analysis, 10 tissue-specific cold responsive modules (CRMs) were identified, revealing a cascade of cellular responses to cold stress. Specifically, five upregulated CRMs were enriched with induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs), mainly corresponding to the functions of "extracellular matrix", "cytoskeleton", and "oxidoreductase activity", indicating the induced cellular response to cold shock. The "cell cycle/division" and "DNA complex" functions were enriched in the downregulated CRMs for all four tissues, which comprised inhibited DEGs, suggesting that even with tissue-specific responses, cold shock may induce severely disrupted cellular functions in all tissues, reducing aquaculture productivity. Therefore, our results revealed the tissue-specific regulation of the cellular response to low-temperature stress, which warrants further investigation and provides more comprehensive insights for the conservation and cultivation of P. olivaceus in cold water.

Corrigendum: Cathelicidin-derived antiviral peptide inhibits herpes simplex virus 1 infection.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1201505.].

Cathelicidin-derived antiviral peptide inhibits herpes simplex virus 1 infection.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a widely distributed virus. HSV-1 is a growing public health concern due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains and the current lack of a clinically specific drug for treatment. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the development of peptide antivirals. Natural host-defense peptides which have uniquely evolved to protect the host have been reported to have antiviral properties. Cathelicidins are a family of multi-functional antimicrobial peptides found in almost all vertebrate species and play a vital role in the immune system. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-HSV-1 effect of an antiviral peptide named WL-1 derived from human cathelicidin. We found that WL-1 inhibited HSV-1 infection in epithelial and neuronal cells. Furthermore, the administration of WL-1 improved the survival rate and reduced viral load and inflammation during HSV-1 infection via ocular scarification. Moreover, facial nerve dysfunction, involving the abnormal blink reflex, nose position, and vibrissae movement, and pathological injury were prevented when HSV-1 ear inoculation-infected mice were treated with WL-1. Together, our findings demonstrate that WL-1 may be a potential novel antiviral agent against HSV-1 infection-induced facial palsy.

A Ring Learning with Errors-Based Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based Proxy Re-Encryption Scheme for Secure Big Data Sharing in Cloud Environment.

Owing to the huge volume of big data, users generally use the cloud to store big data. However, because the data are out of the control of users, sensitive data need to be protected. The ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption scheme can not only effectively control the access of big data, but also decrypt the ciphertext as long as the user's attributes satisfy the access structure of ciphertext, so as to realize one to many big data sharing. When the user's attributes do not satisfy the access structure of ciphertext, the attribute-based proxy re-encryption scheme can be used for big data sharing. The ciphertext-policy attribute-based proxy re-encryption (CP-ABPRE) scheme combines the characteristics of the ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption scheme and proxy re-encryption scheme. In a CP-ABPRE scheme, on the one hand, the data owner can use the ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption scheme to encrypt the big data for cloud storage, to realize the access control of the big data. On the other hand, the proxy (cloud service provider) can convert ciphertext under one access structure into ciphertext under another access structure, thus realizing big data sharing between users of different attribute sets. In this article, we modify the existing attribute-based encryption scheme based on Ring Learning With Errors (RLWE), add re-encryption key generation algorithm, re-encryption ciphertext generation algorithm, and re-encryption ciphertext decryption algorithm, and construct CP-ABPRE scheme. In the construction of the re-encryption key, we introduce a random vector and hide the vector in the key by threshold technology. Finally, a CP-ABPRE scheme supporting threshold access structure is constructed based on RLWE. Compared with the existing attribute-based proxy re-encryption schemes, our scheme has smaller public parameters, can encrypt multiple plaintext bits at a time, and can resist selective access structure and chosen plaintext attack, so it is more suitable for big data sharing in cloud environment.

Prevalence and clinical-demographic correlates of hyperhomocysteinemia in inpatients with bipolar disorder in a Han Chinese population.

Recent studies have reported that hyperhomocystinemia (HHcy) is highly prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), placing them at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and possibly serving as a disease biomarker. However, the correlation of HHcy with demographic or clinical parameters is not well known. In this study, we examined the prevalence of HHcy and its association with these parameters in a sample of Chinese BD patients. Fasting plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels were determined in 198 BD inpatients and 84 healthy controls. HHcy was defined when Hcy concentration exceeded 15.0µmol/L. Affective symptomatology was assessed by the Young Mania Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions severity scale. Compared to healthy controls, BD patients had a significantly higher prevalence (34.85% vs. 19.05%) of HHcy and a higher absolute level of homocysteine. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that BD patients with HHcy were more likely to be male, have elevated BMI, more frequent treatment on lithium but less on valproate. These results suggest that Chinese inpatients with bipolar disorder have a higher rate of HHcy than the general population, and those at greatest risk are male, have an elevated BMI, and take more lithium but less valproate therapy.

[Effects of drip irrigation under mulching on cotton root and shoot biomass and yield].

By using bidirectional sampling method with soil drill, the effects of different amounts of drip irrigation (2618, 2947, 3600 and 4265 m3 x hm(-2)) under mulching on the root distribution, aboveground growth, and yield of cotton was studied in field. The results indicated that irrigation amount affected the root and shoot growth significantly. In all irrigation treatments, cotton root was mainly distributed in mulched area, occupying 60.65%-73.45% of total root biomass, while only 39.35%-26.55% was distributed in bare area. Water stress increased rooting depth, root biomass, and the extent of lateral rooting. Significant differences were observed in the biological characteristics and the biomass accumulation and allocation of cotton plant among different irrigation treatments. Over-irrigation (4265 m3 x hm(-2)) increased plant height, width of inverse fourth leaf, and amounts of branch and bud, and thus, accelerated biomass accumulation rate. Over-irrigation also increased the root/shoot ratio and the proportion of biomass allocated to vegetative organs, but increased the fruit abscission rate and therefore reduced the economic yield. It was suggested that both excessive soil moisture content and water stress could affect the biomass accumulation and allocation in different cotton organs and at various life stages. Under the conditions of our experiment, 3600 m3 x hm(-2) was the optimal irrigation amount.