Secure computation protocol of Chebyshev distance under the malicious model.

Secure multi-party computation of Chebyshev distance represents a crucial method for confidential distance measurement, holding significant theoretical and practical implications. Especially within electronic archival management systems, secure computation of Chebyshev distance is employed for similarity measurement, classification, and clustering of sensitive archival information, thereby enhancing the security of sensitive archival queries and sharing. This paper proposes a secure protocol for computing Chebyshev distance under a semi-honest model, leveraging the additive homomorphic properties of the NTRU cryptosystem and a vector encoding method. This protocol transforms the confidential computation of Chebyshev distance into the inner product of confidential computation vectors, as demonstrated through the model paradigm validating its security under the semi-honest model. Addressing potential malicious participant scenarios, a secure protocol for computing Chebyshev distance under a malicious model is introduced, utilizing cryptographic tools such as digital commitments and mutual decryption methods. The security of this protocol under the malicious model is affirmed using the real/ideal model paradigm. Theoretical analysis and experimental simulations demonstrate the efficiency and practical applicability of the proposed schemes.

PRMT1 promotes Warburg effect by regulating the PKM2/PKM1 ratio in non-small cell lung cancer.

Abnormal epigenetic modifications are involved in the regulation of Warburg effect in tumor cells. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) mediate arginine methylation and have critical functions in cellular responses. PRMTs are deregulated in a variety of cancers, but their precise roles in Warburg effect in cancer is largely unknown. Experiments from the current study showed that PRMT1 was highly expressed under conditions of glucose sufficiency. PRMT1 induced an increase in the PKM2/PKM1 ratio through upregulation of PTBP1, in turn, promoting aerobic glycolysis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The PRMT1 level in p53-deficient and p53-mutated NSCLC remained relatively unchanged while the expression was reduced in p53 wild-type NSCLC under conditions of glucose insufficiency. Notably, p53 activation under glucose-deficient conditions could suppress USP7 and further accelerate the polyubiquitin-dependent degradation of PRMT1. Melatonin, a hormone that inhibits glucose intake, markedly suppressed cell proliferation of p53 wild-type NSCLC, while a combination of melatonin and the USP7 inhibitor P5091 enhanced the anticancer activity in p53-deficient NSCLC. Our collective findings support a role of PRMT1 in the regulation of Warburg effect in NSCLC. Moreover, combination treatment with melatonin and the USP7 inhibitor showed good efficacy, providing a rationale for the development of PRMT1-based therapy to improve p53-deficient NSCLC outcomes.

Identification of a disulfidptosis-related prognostic signature for prediction of the effect of treatment in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Background: Disulfide, an essential compounds family, has diverse biological activity and can affect the dynamic balance between physiological and pathological states. A recently published study found that aberrant accumulation of disulfide had a lethal effect on cells. This mechanism of cell death, named disulfidptosis, differs from other known cell death mechanisms, including cuproptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. The relationship between disulfidptosis and development of cancer, in particular endometrial carcinoma, remains unclear. Methods: To address this knowledge gap, we performed a preliminary analysis of samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The samples were divided equally into a training group and a test group. A total of 2308 differentially expressed genes were extracted, and 11 were used to construct a prognostic model. Results: Based on the risk score calculated using the prognostic model, the samples were divided into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. Survival time, tumor mutation burden, and microsatellite instability scores differed significantly between the two groups. Furthermore, a between-group difference in treatment effect was predicted. Comparison with other models in the literature indicated that this prognostic model had better predictive anility. Conclusion: The results of this study provide a general framework for understanding the relationship between disulfidptosis and endometrial cancer that could be used for clinical evaluation and selection of appropriate personalized treatment strategies.

Bismuth: An Epitaxy-like Conversion Mechanism Enabled by Intercalation-Conversion Chemistry for Stable Aqueous Chloride-Ion Storage.

The exploitation of new anion battery systems based on high-abundance oceanic elements (e.g., F-, Cl-, and Br-) is a strong supplement to the current metal cation (e.g., Li+, Na+) battery technologies. Bismuth (Bi), the rare anion-specific anode species nearest to practical application for chloride ion storage, is plagued by volume expansion and structure collapse due to limited control of its conversion behavior. Here, we reveal that a unique epitaxy-like conversion mechanism in the monocrystalline Bi nanospheres (R3m group) can drastically inhibit grain pulverization and capacity fading, which is enabled by Cl- intercalation in their interlayer space. The Bi nanosphere anode can self-evolve and transform into a rigid BiOCl nanosheet-interlaced structure after the initial conversion reaction. With this epitaxy-like conversion mechanism, the Bi anode exhibits a record-high capacity of 249 mAh g-1 (∼1.2 mAh cm-2) at 0.25 C and sustains more than 1400 h with 20% capacity loss. Pairing this anode with a Prussian blue cathode, the full battery can deliver an ultrahigh desalination capacity of 127.1 m gCl gBi-1. Our study milestones the understanding of conversion-type anode structures, which is an essential step toward the commercialization of aqueous batteries.

Root-soil-microbiome interaction in the rhizosphere of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) under different levels of heavy metal pollution.

Heavy metal pollution of the soil affects the environment and human health. Masson pine is a good candidate for phytoremediation of heavy metal in mining areas. Microorganisms in the rhizosphere can help with the accumulation of heavy metal in host plants. However, studies on its rhizosphere bacterial communities under heavy metal pollution are still limited. Therefore, in this study, the chemical and bacterial characteristics of Masson pine rhizosphere under four different levels of heavy metal pollution were investigated using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, soil chemistry and analysis of plant enzyme activities. The results showed that soil heavy metal content, plant oxidative stress and microbial diversity damage were lower the farther they were from the mine dump. The co-occurrence network relationship of slightly polluted soils (C1 and C2) was more complicated than that of highly polluted soils (C3 and C4). Relative abundance analysis indicated Sphingomonas and Pseudolabrys were more abundant in slightly polluted soils (C1 and C2), while Gaiella and Haliangium were more abundant in highly polluted soils (C3 and C4). LEfSe analysis indicated Burkholderiaceae, Xanthobacteraceae, Gemmatimonadaceae, Gaiellaceae were significantly enriched in C1 to C4 site, respectively. Mantel analysis showed that available cadmium (Cd) contents of soil was the most important factor influencing the bacterial community assembly. Correlation analysis showed that eight bacterial genus were significantly positively associated with soil available Cd content. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the rhizospheric bacterial community of Masson pine trees under different degrees of heavy metal contamination, which lays the foundation for beneficial bacteria-based phytoremediation using Masson pines in the future.

IL-17A/F double producing T cells, unstable Tregs and quiescent TRMs in clinically healed lesions are potential cellular candidates for recurrence of psoriasis.

Biological antibodies targeting key cytokines such as IL-17 and IL-23 have revolutionized psoriasis outcome. However, the recurrence remains an urgent challenge to be addressed. Currently, most of the descriptions of skin T-cell characteristics in psoriasis are derived from lesional and non-lesional skin, and their characteristics in resolved lesions (clinically healed lesions) remain vague. In order to further elucidate the cellular mechanism of recurrence, we performed single-cell sequencing and multiplexed immunohistochemical staining of T-cell subsets in autologous resolved lesion (RL), on-site recurrent psoriatic lesion (PL), and adjacent normal-appearing skin (NS) of psoriasis. By comparing with PL and NS tissues, we identified three potential cellular candidates for recurrence in clinically healed lesions: IL-17A/F double producing T cells, unstable Tregs and quiescent TRMs. Our results provide research clues for elucidating the immunological recurrence mechanism of psoriasis, and further work is needed to deepen our findings.

Molecular Localization of Health-Promoting Peptides Derived from Fish Protein Hydrolyzates on Fish Muscle Proteins.

The four previously reported health-promoting dipeptides, valine-tyrosine, lysine-tryptophan, methionine-phenylalanine, and arginine-isoleucine, found in the fish muscle hydrolyzates, were mainly located in the myosin subfragment-1 heavy chain, whereas the health-promoting tripeptide, alanine-lysine-lysine, was found in the fibrous rod consisting of the myosin subfragment-2 and light meromyosin with a regular coiled-coil structure of α-helix, irrespective of the fish species. Furthermore, the localization of these peptides either in the random coil, ß-sheet, or α-helix was also examined in the three-dimensional image, showing no specific tendency. Surprisingly, the same trend was observed even for the mammalian rabbit fast muscle myosin heavy chain. Since a trade-off between myofibrillar ATPase and structural stability has been reported for fish living at low environmental temperatures, it is speculated that fish muscle proteins, when ingested, are easily digested by various proteases in the human digestive tract and provide various health-promoting peptides also in vivo. While fish actin contained only two dipeptides, methionine-phenylalanine and valine-tyrosine, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, one of the major components of fish muscle water-soluble protein, contained all of the four dipeptides and one tripeptide mentioned above.

Development and validation of prediction model for fall accidents among chronic kidney disease in the community.

Background: The population with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has significantly heightened risk of fall accidents. The aim of this study was to develop a validated risk prediction model for fall accidents among CKD in the community. Methods: Participants with CKD from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included. The study cohort underwent a random split into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 70 to 30%. Logistic regression and LASSO regression analyses were applied to screen variables for optimal predictors in the model. A predictive model was then constructed and visually represented in a nomogram. Subsequently, the predictive performance was assessed through ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Result: A total of 911 participants were included, and the prevalence of fall accidents was 30.0% (242/911). Fall down experience, BMI, mobility, dominant handgrip, and depression were chosen as predictor factors to formulate the predictive model, visually represented in a nomogram. The AUC value of the predictive model was 0.724 (95% CI 0.679-0.769). Calibration curves and DCA indicated that the model exhibited good predictive performance. Conclusion: In this study, we constructed a predictive model to assess the risk of falls among individuals with CKD in the community, demonstrating good predictive capability.

Iron single atoms anchored on ultrathin carbon nitride photocatalyst for visible light-driven water decontamination.

Graphitic carbon nitride has gained considerable attention as a visible-light photocatalyst. However, its photocatalytic efficiency is restricted by its limited capacity for absorbing visible light and swift recombination of charge carriers. To overcome this bottleneck, we fabricated an atomic Fe-dispersed ultrathin carbon nitride (Fe-UTCN) photocatalyst via one-step thermal polymerization. Fe-UTCN showed high efficiency in the photodegradation of acetaminophen (APAP), achieving > 90 % elimination within 60-min visible light irradiation. The anchoring of Fe atoms improved the photocatalytic activity of UTCN by narrowing the bandgap from 2.50 eV to 2.33 eV and suppressing radiative recombination. Calculations by density functional theory revealed that the Fe-N4 sites (adsorption energy of - 3.10 eV) were preferred over the UTCN sites (adsorption energy of - 0.18 eV) for the adsorption of oxygen and the subsequent formation of O2•-, the dominant reactive species in the degradation of APAP. Notably, the Fe-UTCN catalyst exhibited good stability after five successive runs and was applicable to complex water matrices. Therefore, Fe-UTCN, a noble-metal-free photocatalyst, is a promising candidate for visible light-driven water decontamination.

Four-Leaf Clover Shape Agglomerate Keratoacanthomas: A Case Report.

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a papule, plaque, or nodule in an exposed area, with a crater-like horn plug in the center. Multiple KAs are rare disorders, especially when the lesions are agglomerated together. Herein, we report a case of 65-year-old man who presented with four red nodules of different sizes on the right side of the chest. The lesions were clustered, with central keratotic cores, similar in appearance to a four-leaf clover. The nodules were completely removed by excisional surgery and the diagnosis of Agglomerate KAs was made based on clinical and pathological results. A 6-year follow-up found no recurrence.

Mogroside V reduced the excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitigated the Ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory condition of the colon, characterized by repeated attacks, a lack of effective treatment options, and significant physical and mental health complications for patients. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a vital intracellular organelle in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is induced when the body is exposed to adverse external stimuli. Numerous studies have shown that ERS-induced apoptosis plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of UC. Mogroside V (MV), an active ingredient of Monk fruit, has demonstrated excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of MV on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC and its potential mechanisms based on ERS. The results showed that MV exerted a protective effect against DSS-induced UC in mice as reflected by reduced DAI scores, increased colon length, reduced histological scores of the colon, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as decreased intestinal permeability. In addition, the expression of ERS pathway including BIP, PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, as well as the apoptosis-related protein including Caspase-12, Bcl-2 and Bax, was found to be elevated in UC. However, MV treatment significantly inhibited the UC and reversed the expression of inflammation signaling pathway including ERS and ERS-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the addition of tunicamycin (Tm), an ERS activator, significantly weakened the therapeutic effect of MV on UC in mice. These findings suggest that MV may be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of DSS-induced UC by inhibiting the activation of the ERS-apoptosis pathway, and may provide a novel avenue for the treatment of UC.

Research on high sensitivity piezoresistive sensor based on structural design.

With the popularity of smart terminals, wearable electronic devices have shown great market prospects, especially high-sensitivity pressure sensors, which can monitor micro-stimuli and high-precision dynamic external stimuli, and will have an important impact on future functional development. Compressible flexible sensors have attracted wide attention due to their simple sensing mechanism and the advantages of light weight and convenience. Sensors with high sensitivity are very sensitive to pressure and can detect resistance/current changes under pressure, which has been widely studied. On this basis, this review focuses on analyzing the performance impact of device structure design strategies on high sensitivity pressure sensors. The design of structures can be divided into interface microstructures and three-dimensional framework structures. The preparation methods of various structures are introduced in detail, and the current research status and future development challenges are summarized.

Establishment of glioma prognosis nomogram based on the function of meox1 in promoting the progression of cancer.

Background: Gliomas stand out as highly predominant malignant nervous tumors and are linked to adverse treatment outcomes and short survival periods. Current treatment options are limited, emphasizing the need to identify effective therapeutic targets. The heterogeneity of tumors necessitates a personalized treatment approach with an effective grouping system. Meox1 has been implicated in promoting tumor progression in diverse cancers; nonetheless, its role in gliomas remains unelucidated. Material/methods: Utilized immunohistochemistry to assess the expression of Meox1 protein in glioma tissues. Proliferation and invasion assays were conducted on wild-type and meox1-overexpressed glioma cells using the CCK8 and Transwell assays, respectively. The expression levels of meox1 and its related genes in gliomas were obtained from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), along with the corresponding patient survival periods. LASSO regression modeling was employed to construct a scoring system for patients with gliomas, categorizing them into high-/low-risk groups. Additionally, a nomogram for predicting the survival period of patients with glioma was developed using multivariate logistic analysis. Results: We attempted, for the first time, to demonstrate heightened expression of Meox1 in glioma tumor tissues, correlating with significantly increased invasion and proliferation abilities of glioma cells following meox1 overexpression. The scoring system effectively stratified patients with glioma into high-/low-risk groups, revealing differences in the survival period and immunotherapy efficacy between the two groups. The integration of this scoring system with other clinical indicators yielded a nomogram capable of effectively predicting the survival period of individuals with gliomas. Conclusions: Our study established a stratified investigation system based on the levels of meox1 and its related genes, providing a novel, cost-effective model for facilitating the prognosis prediction of individuals with glioma.

Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Aspects of Blaschko Linear Psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Blaschko linear psoriasis (BLP) is characterized by the linear distribution of psoriatic skin lesions along the Blaschko lines. BLP can be divided into type I and type II, mainly on the basis of clinical manifestations. BLP can easily cause psychological burdens in patients and clinical confusion for physicians. Here, we summarize clinical cases to provide a better understanding of BLP. METHODS: The subjects included patients with BLP who visited our dermatology departments and those reported in the literature obtained from the PubMed and Wanfang databases. Quantitative data were presented as means ± SD (standard deviation), and qualitative data were represented by the frequency. Student's t test was employed to compare means, whereas chi-square tests were used for analyzing qualitative data. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients with BLP (5 our patients, 69 from literature) were included, with 61 type I and 13 type II patients. We summarize BLP's characteristics as follows: (1) More frequent in male individuals, especially in type II; (2) Earlier onset than classical psoriasis; (3) Mainly distributed unilaterally, and no preference for left or right site; (4) Asymptomatic or slight pruritus; (5) Mostly negative family history of psoriasis; (6) Possible involvement of the nails/scalp (mainly for type II); (7) Possible exogenous triggering or aggravation factors; (8) Possible concomitant classical plaque or guttate psoriasis lesions, especially in type II; (9) Conforming to histopathology features of classical psoriasis; (10) Relatively favorable response to antipsoriatic treatment, although poor for superimposed areas in type II. CONCLUSION: This study analyzed the clinical characteristics and therapeutic aspects of BLP. Compared with published studies, we have new findings, such as gender bias. Besides traditional antipsoriatic treatment, a personalized selection of biologics may also be a promising choice. Dermatologists should recognize and understand the significance of this disease, and provide patients with appropriate psychological counseling and clinical treatments.

Cytosolic ABA Receptor Kinases phosphorylate the D6 PROTEIN KINASE leading to its stabilization which promotes Arabidopsis growth.

The polar auxin transport is required for proper plant growth and development. D6 PROTEIN KINASE (D6PK) is required for the phosphorylation of PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carriers to regulate auxin transport, while the regulation of D6PK stabilization is still poorly understood. Here, we found that Cytosolic ABA Receptor Kinases (CARKs) redundantly interact with D6PK, and the interactions are dependent on CARKs' kinase activities. Similarly, CARK3 also could interact with paralogs of D6PK, including D6PKL1, D6PKL2, and D6PKL3. The genetic analysis shows that D6PK acts the downstream of CARKs to regulate Arabidopsis growth, including hypocotyl, leaf area, vein formation, and the length of silique. Loss-of-function of CARK3 in overexpressing GFP-D6PK plants leads to reduce the level of D6PK protein, thereby rescues plant growth. In addition, the cell-free degradation assays indicate that D6PK is degraded through 26 S proteasome pathway, while the phosphorylation by CARK3 represses this process in cells. In summary, D6PK stabilization by the CARK family is required for auxin-mediated plant growth and development.

Suppression of photoreactivation of E. coli by excimer far-UV light (222 nm) via damage to multiple targets.

Low-pressure mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm (UV254) are used widely for disinfection. However, subsequent exposure to visible light results in photoreactivation of treated bacteria. This study employed a krypton chloride excimer lamp emitting at 222 nm (UV222) to inactivate E. coli. UV222 and UV254 treatment had similar E. coli-inactivation kinetics. Upon subsequent irradiation with visible light, E. coli inactivated by UV254 was reactivated from 2.71-log to 4.75-log, whereas E. coli inactivated by UV222 showed negligible photoreactivation. UV222 treatment irreversibly broke DNA strands in the bacterium, whereas UV254 treatment primarily formed nucleobase dimers. Additionally, UV222 treatment caused cell membrane damage, resulting in wizened, pitted cells and permeability changes. The damage to the cell membrane was mainly due to the photolysis of proteins and lipids by UV222. Furthermore, the photolysis of proteins by UV222 destroyed enzymes, which blocked photoreactivation and dark repair. The multiple damages can be further evidenced by 4.0-61.1 times higher quantum yield in the photolysis of nucleobases and amino acids for UV222 than UV254. This study demonstrates that UV222 treatment damages multiple sites in bacteria, leading to their inactivation. Employing UV222 treatment as an alternative to UV254 could be viable for inhibiting microorganism photoreactivation in water and wastewater.

Engraving Polyamide Layers by In Situ Self-Etchable CaCO3 Nanoparticles Enhances Separation Properties and Antifouling Performance of Reverse Osmosis Membranes.

Nanovoids within a polyamide layer play an important role in the separation performance of thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. To form more extensive nanovoids for enhanced performance, one commonly used method is to incorporate sacrificial nanofillers in the polyamide layer during the exothermic interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction, followed by some post-etching processes. However, these post-treatments could harm the membrane integrity, thereby leading to reduced selectivity. In this study, we applied in situ self-etchable sacrificial nanofillers by taking advantage of the strong acid and heat generated in IP. CaCO3 nanoparticles (nCaCO3) were used as the model nanofillers, which can be in situ etched by reacting with H+ to leave void nanostructures behind. This reaction can further degas CO2 nanobubbles assisted by heat in IP to form more nanovoids in the polyamide layer. These nanovoids can facilitate water transport by enlarging the effective surface filtration area of the polyamide and reducing hydraulic resistance to significantly enhance water permeance. The correlations between the nanovoid properties and membrane performance were systematically analyzed. We further demonstrate that the nCaCO3-tailored membrane can improve membrane antifouling propensity and rejections to boron and As(III) compared with the control. This study investigated a novel strategy of applying self-etchable gas precursors to engrave the polyamide layer for enhanced membrane performance, which provides new insights into the design and synthesis of TFC membranes.

Ultrasensitive detection of zearalenone based on electrochemiluminescent immunoassay with Zr-MOF nanoplates and Au@MoS2 nanoflowers.

In this work, an effective competitive-type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was constructed for zearalenone determination by using Zr-MOF nanoplates as the ECL luminophore and Au@MoS2 nanoflowers as the substrate material. Zr-MOF have an ultra-thin sheet-like structure that accelerates the transfer of electrons, ions and co-reactant intermediates, which exhibited strong and stable anodic luminescence. The three-dimensional Au@MoS2 nanoflowers would form a thin film modification layer on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). And its good electrical conductivity and higher specific surface area utilization further improving the sensitivity of the ECL immunosensor. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed immunosensor exhibited satisfactory stability, sensitivity and accuracy, and its ECL signal was proportional to the logarithm of ZEN concentration (0.0001-100 ng/mL) and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.034 pg/mL. In addition, the results of recovery experiment acquired for wheat flour and pig urine samples further proved the feasibility of the immunosensor for the detection of real samples, indicating its potential for ultrasensitive detection of ZEN.

Nanometric Cu-ZnO Particles Supported on N-Doped Graphitic Carbon as Catalysts for the Selective CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol.

The quest for efficient catalysts based on abundant elements that can promote the selective CO2 hydrogenation to green methanol still continues. Most of the reported catalysts are based on Cu/ZnO supported in inorganic oxides, with not much progress with respect to the benchmark Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. The use of carbon supports for Cu/ZnO particles is much less explored in spite of the favorable strong metal support interaction that these doped carbons can establish. This manuscript reports the preparation of a series of Cu-ZnO@(N)C samples consisting of Cu/ZnO particles embedded within a N-doped graphitic carbon with a wide range of Cu/Zn atomic ratio. The preparation procedure relies on the transformation of chitosan, a biomass waste, into N-doped graphitic carbon by pyrolysis, which establishes a strong interaction with Cu nanoparticles (NPs) formed simultaneously by Cu2+ salt reduction during the graphitization. Zn2+ ions are subsequently added to the Cu-graphene material by impregnation. All the Cu/ZnO@(N)C samples promote methanol formation in the CO2 hydrogenation at temperatures from 200 to 300 °C, with the temperature increasing CO2 conversion and decreasing methanol selectivity. The best performing Cu-ZnO@(N)C sample achieves at 300 °C a CO2 conversion of 23% and a methanol selectivity of 21% that is among the highest reported, particularly for a carbon-based support. DFT calculations indicate the role of pyridinic N doping atoms stabilizing the Cu/ZnO NPs and supporting the formate pathway as the most likely reaction mechanism.