Efficient Erasable PUFs from Programmable Logic and Memristors

At Oakland 2013, Rührmair and van Dijk showed that many advanced PUF (Physical Unclonable Function)-based security protocols (e.g. key agreement, oblivious transfer, and bit commitment) can be vulnerable if adversaries get access to the PUF and reuse the responses used in the protocol after the protocol execution. This observation implies the necessity of erasable PUFs for realizing secure PUF-based protocols in practice. Erasable PUFs are PUFs where the responses of any single challenge-response pair (CRP) can be selectively and dedicatedly erased, without affecting any other responses. In this paper, we introduce two practical implementations of erasable PUFs: Firstly, we propose a full-fledged logical version of an erasable PUF, called programmable logically erasable PUF or PLayPUF, where an additional constant-size trusted computing base keeps track of the usage of every single CRP. Knowing the query history of each CRP, a PLayPUF interface can \textit{automatically} erase an individual CRP, if it has been used for a certain number of times. This threshold can be programmed a-priori to limit the usage of a given challenge in the future before erasure. Secondly, we introduce two nanotechnological, memristor-based solutions: mrSHIC-PUFs and erasable mrSPUFs. The mrSHIC-PUF is a weak PUF in terms of the size of CRP space, and therefore its readout speed has to be limited intentionally to prolong the time for exhaustive reading. However, each individual response can be {\it physically} altered and erased for good. The erasable mrSPUF, as the second proposed physical erasable PUF, is a strong PUF in terms of the size of CRP space, such that no limit on readout speed is needed, but it can only erase/alter CRPs in groups. Both of these two physical erasable PUFs improve over the state-of-the-art erasable SHIC PUF, which does not offer reconfigurability of erased CRPs making the erasable SHIC PUF less practical. In passing, we contextualize and locate our new PUF type in the existing landscape, illustrating their essential advantages over variants like reconfigurable PUFs

Opposite effects of single-dose and multidose administration of the ethanol extract of danshen on

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of single-and multidose administration of the ethanol extract of danshen on in vivo CYP3A activity in healthy volunteers. A sequential, open-label, and three-period pharmacokinetic interaction study design was used based on 12 healthy male individuals. The plasma concentrations of midazolam and its metabolite 1-hydroxymidazolam were measured. Treatment with single dose of the extract caused the mean max of midazolam to increase by 87% compared with control. After 10 days of the danshen extract intake, the mean AUC 0-12 , max , and 1/2 of midazolam were decreased by 79.9%, 66.6%, and 43.8%, respectively. The mean clearance of midazolam was increased by 501.6% compared with control. The in vitro study showed that dihydrotanshinone I in the extract could inhibit CYP3A, while tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone could induce CYP3A. In conclusion, a single-dose administration of the danshen extract can inhibit intestinal CYP3A, but multidose administration can induce intestinal and hepatic CYP3A

Characterization of the Dynamic Imbibition Displacement Mechanism in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs Using the NMR Technique

An experimental technique is developed to investigate the dynamic imbibition displacement mechanism in tight sandstone formations of the Yanchang group of the Ordos basin. By combining the dynamic imbibition core flooding experiments and NMR technique, the effects of the injection volume and rate on displacement efficiency are investigated. Moreover, the displacement efficiency of dynamic imbibition is compared with that of static imbibition. This study gains insights into the micromechanisms of dynamic imbibition in tight sandstone formations. It is found that the relative displacement efficiency of dynamic imbibition increases with the increase of injection volume. But the increment amplitude decreases with the increase of injection volume. With the same injection volume, the core displacement efficiency of dynamic imbibition with high permeability is obviously improved. However, the core displacement efficiency decreases rapidly with the increase of injection volume. Optimal injection volumes are recommended for tight sandstone formations with different permeabilities. With the increase of the displacement rate, the core displacement efficiency of dynamic imbibition shows a trend of first rising and then declining. There exists an optimal displacement rate in dynamic imbibition displacement, and the optimal displacement rate almost linearly increases with the increase of core permeability. The static imbibition displacement efficiency increases with the increase of soaking time, but the increment amplitude slows down obviously. The displacement efficiency of static imbibition in small pores is higher than that of dynamic imbibition. The displacement efficiency of dynamic imbibition in large pores or microcracks is significantly higher than that of static imbibition. This study provides theoretical support for the optimization and improvement of the waterflooding recovery process in tight sandstone reservoirs.Peer Reviewe

Role of Stabilization Heat Treatment Inducing γ′-γ″ Co-Precipitates and η Phase on Tensile Behaviors of Inconel 706

Inconel 706 (IN706) alloy is commonly used in aircraft engines and power plant components that must meet very high performance requirements. The stabilization treatment has a significant effect on the precipitation and evolution of the reinforcing phases of the alloy, favoring the creep properties and adversely affecting the room-temperature tensile properties. However, the mechanism of the effect of the stabilization treatment on the mechanical properties of the alloys remains unclear. In this study, the effect of stabilization treatment time on the microstructure and tensile properties of IN706 alloy was investigated. The results showed that as the stabilization time gradually increased, the tensile strength remained basically unchanged (about 1250 MPa), the yield strength decreased from 1031 MPa to 985 MPa, and the plasticity decreased from 28.2% to 20.2%. The stabilization treatment induces the precipitation of granular, rod-shaped, and needle-like η phases at grain boundaries, accompanied by the appearance of a precipitate free zone (PFZ). Since the η phase is enriched with Ti and Nb, its precipitation along the grain boundary results in the depletion of Ti and Nb in the surrounding regions, thereby constraining the precipitation of the γ′ and γ″ phases, resulting in the appearance of PFZ. With increasing stabilization time, the size increase and volume fraction decrease in γ′-γ″ co-precipitates due to the precipitation of η-phase precipitates, leading to a decrease in their yield strength. Combined with in situ tensile tests, it was found that the decrease in the elongation of the stabilization treatment samples was due to the presence of η phase at the grain boundaries, which induced stress concentration and cracking at the grain boundaries. The results show that the mechanical properties of the material were gradually enhanced as the stabilization time decreased. This means it can help to choose the suitable process for IN706 alloy in different service conditions

Opposite Effects of Single-Dose and Multidose Administration of the Ethanol Extract of Danshen on CYP3A in Healthy Volunteers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of single- and multidose administration of the ethanol extract of danshen on in vivo CYP3A activity in healthy volunteers. A sequential, open-label, and three-period pharmacokinetic interaction study design was used based on 12 healthy male individuals. The plasma concentrations of midazolam and its metabolite 1-hydroxymidazolam were measured. Treatment with single dose of the extract caused the mean Cmax of midazolam to increase by 87% compared with control. After 10 days of the danshen extract intake, the mean AUC0–12, Cmax, and t1/2 of midazolam were decreased by 79.9%, 66.6%, and 43.8%, respectively. The mean clearance of midazolam was increased by 501.6% compared with control. The in vitro study showed that dihydrotanshinone I in the extract could inhibit CYP3A, while tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone could induce CYP3A. In conclusion, a single-dose administration of the danshen extract can inhibit intestinal CYP3A, but multidose administration can induce intestinal and hepatic CYP3A

Construction of a diagnostic model for hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma using machine learning and artificial neural networks and revealing the correlation by immunoassay

HBV infection profoundly escalates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility, responsible for a majority of HCC cases. HBV-driven immune-mediated hepatocyte impairment significantly fuels HCC progression. Regrettably, inconspicuous early HCC symptoms often culminate in belated diagnoses. Nevertheless, surgically treated early-stage HCC patients relish augmented five-year survival rates. In contrast, advanced HCC exhibits feeble responses to conventional interventions like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, leading to diminished survival rates. This investigation endeavors to unearth diagnostic hallmark genes for HBV-HCC leveraging a bioinformatics framework, thus refining early HBV-HCC detection. Candidate genes were sieved via differential analysis and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Employing three distinct machine learning algorithms unearthed three feature genes (HHIP, CXCL14, and CDHR2). Melding these genes yielded an innovative Artificial Neural Network (ANN) diagnostic blueprint, portending to alleviate patient encumbrance and elevate life quality. Immunoassay scrutiny unveiled accentuated immune damage in HBV-HCC patients relative to solitary HCC. Through consensus clustering, HBV-HCC was stratified into two subtypes (C1 and C2), the latter potentially indicating milder immune impairment. The diagnostic model grounded in these feature genes showcased robust and transferrable prognostic potentialities, introducing a novel outlook for early HBV-HCC diagnosis. This exhaustive immunological odyssey stands poised to expedite immunotherapeutic curatives' emergence for HBV-HCC