First-Order Masked Kyber on ARM Cortex-M4

In this work, we present a fast and first-order secure Kyber implementation optimized for ARM Cortex-M4. Most notably, to our knowledge this is the first liberally-licensed open-source Cortex-M4 implementation of masked Kyber. The ongoing NIST standardization process for post-quantum cryptography and newly proposed side-channel attacks have increased the demand for side-channel analysis and countermeasures for the finalists. On the foundation of the commonly used PQM4 project, we make use of the previously presented optimizations for Kyber on a Cortex-M4 and further combine different ideas from various recent works to achieve a better performance and improve the security in comparison to the original implementations. We show our performance results for first-order secure implementations. Our masked Kyber768 decapsulation on the ARM Cortex-M4 requires only 2 978 441 cycles, including randomness generation from the internal RNG. We then practically verify our implementation by using the t-test methodology with 100 000 traces

Of “raisins” and “yeast”: mobilisation and framing in the East German revolution of 1989

There is no shortage of literature on the social movements that arose in East Germany in 1989. Numerous studies have shed light upon the nature, scale and dynamics of the uprising of that year. But on certain issues questions remain. No consensus exists, for example, on the relationship between the “civic groups” (New Forum, Democratic Awakening, etc.) and the street protests of the autumn of 1989. Were these simply two facets of a single movement? Or are they better characterised as two distinct streams within the same movement delta? Did the street protests push the civic movement activists into the limelight? Or is it more accurate to say, with Reinfried Musch, that “the civic movement brought the people onto the streets”?1 This paper considers two contrasting interpretations of these issues, and finds both wanting. An alternative interpretation is offered, one that draws upon Marc Steinberg's “dialogical” development of frame theory

ReSurveyGermany: Vegetation-plot time-series over the past hundred years in Germany

Vegetation-plot resurvey data are a main source of information on terrestrial biodiversity change, with records reaching back more than one century. Although more and more data from re-sampled plots have been published, there is not yet a comprehensive open-access dataset available for analysis. Here, we compiled and harmonised vegetation-plot resurvey data from Germany covering almost 100 years. We show the distribution of the plot data in space, time and across habitat types of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS). In addition, we include metadata on geographic location, plot size and vegetation structure. The data allow temporal biodiversity change to be assessed at the community scale, reaching back further into the past than most comparable data yet available. They also enable tracking changes in the incidence and distribution of individual species across Germany. In summary, the data come at a level of detail that holds promise for broadening our understanding of the mechanisms and drivers behind plant diversity change over the last century

Bone morphogenetic proteins − 7 and − 2 in the treatment of delayed osseous union secondary to bacterial osteitis in a rat model

Background: Bone infections due to trauma and subsequent delayed or impaired fracture healing represent a great challenge in orthopedics and trauma surgery. The prevalence of such bacterial infection-related types of delayed non-union is high in complex fractures, particularly in open fractures with additional extensive soft-tissue damage. The aim of this study was to establish a rat model of delayed osseous union secondary to bacterial osteitis and investigate the impact of rhBMP-7 and rhBMP-2 on fracture healing in the situation of an ongoing infection. Methods: After randomization to four groups 72 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a transverse fracture of the midshaft tibia stabilized by intramedullary titanium K-wires. Three groups received an intramedullary inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus (103 colony-forming units) before stabilization and the group without bacteria inoculation served as healing control. After 5 weeks, a second surgery was performed with irrigation of the medullary canal and local rhBMP-7 and rhBMP-2 treatment whereas control group and infected control group received sterile saline. After further 5 weeks rats were sacrificed and underwent biomechanical testing to assess the mechanical stability of the fractured bone. Additional micro-CT analysis, histological, and histomorphometric analysis were done to evaluate bone consolidation or delayed union, respectively, and to quantify callus formation and the mineralized area of the callus. Results: Biomechanical testing showed a significantly higher fracture torque in the non-infected control group and the infected rhBMP-7- and rhBMP-2 group compared with the infected control group (p < 0.001). RhBMP-7 and rhBMP-2 groups did not show statistically significant differences (p = 0.57). Histological findings supported improved bone-healing after rhBMP treatment but quantitative micro-CT and histomorphometric results still showed significantly more hypertrophic callus tissue in all three infected groups compared to the non-infected group. Results from a semiquantitative bone-healing-score revealed best bone-healing in the non-infected control group. The expected chronic infection was confirmed in all infected groups. Conclusions: In delayed bone healing secondary to infection rhBMP treatment promotes bone healing with no significant differences in the healing efficacy of rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-7 being noted. Further new therapeutic bone substitutes should be analyzed with the present rat model for delayed osseous union secondary to bacterial osteitis

From Expert Discipline to Common Practice: A Vision and Research Agenda for Extending the Reach of Enterprise Modeling

The benefits of enterprise modeling (EM) and its contribution to organizational tasks are largely undisputed in business and information systems engineering. EM as a discipline has been around for several decades but is typically performed by a limited number of people in organizations with an affinity to modeling. What is captured in models is only a fragment of what ought to be captured. Thus, this research note argues that EM is far from its maximum potential. Many people develop some kind of model in their local practice without thinking about it consciously. Exploiting the potential of this “grass roots modeling” could lead to groundbreaking innovations. The aim is to investigate integration of the established practices of modeling with local practices of creating and using model-like artifacts of relevance for the overall organization. The paper develops a vision for extending the reach of EM, identifies research areas contributing to the vision and proposes elements of a future research Agenda

Modeling the TNFα-Induced Apoptosis Pathway in Hepatocytes

The proinflammatory cytokine TNFα fails to provoke cell death in isolated hepatocytes but has been implicated in hepatocyte apoptosis during liver diseases associated with chronic inflammation. Recently, we showed that TNFα is able to sensitize primary murine hepatocytes cultured on collagen to Fas ligand-induced apoptosis and presented a mathematical model of the sensitizing effect. Here, we analyze how TNFα induces apoptosis in combination with the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D (ActD). Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to TNFR activation turns out to be critical for sustained activation of JNK which then triggers mitochondrial pathway-dependent apoptosis. In addition, the amount of JNK is strongly upregulated in a ROS-dependent way. In contrast to TNFα plus cycloheximide no cFLIP degradation is observed suggesting a different apoptosis pathway in which the Itch-mediated cFLIP degradation and predominantly caspase-8 activation is not involved. Time-resolved data of the respective pro- and antiapoptotic factors are obtained and subjected to mathematical modeling. On the basis of these data we developed a mathematical model which reproduces the complex interplay regulating the phosphorylation status of JNK and generation of ROS. This model was fully integrated with our model of TNFα/Fas ligand sensitizing as well as with a published NF-κB-model. The resulting comprehensive model delivers insight in the dynamical interplay between the TNFα and FasL pathways, NF-κB and ROS and gives an example for successful model integration

<scp>ReSurveyEurope</scp>: A database of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe

AbstractAimsWe introduce ReSurveyEurope — a new data source of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe, compiled by a collaborative network of vegetation scientists. We describe the scope of this initiative, provide an overview of currently available data, governance, data contribution rules, and accessibility. In addition, we outline further steps, including potential research questions.ResultsReSurveyEurope includes resurveyed vegetation plots from all habitats. Version 1.0 of ReSurveyEurope contains 283,135 observations (i.e., individual surveys of each plot) from 79,190 plots sampled in 449 independent resurvey projects. Of these, 62,139 (78%) are permanent plots, that is, marked in situ, or located with GPS, which allow for high spatial accuracy in resurvey. The remaining 17,051 (22%) plots are from studies in which plots from the initial survey could not be exactly relocated. Four data sets, which together account for 28,470 (36%) plots, provide only presence/absence information on plant species, while the remaining 50,720 (64%) plots contain abundance information (e.g., percentage cover or cover–abundance classes such as variants of the Braun‐Blanquet scale). The oldest plots were sampled in 1911 in the Swiss Alps, while most plots were sampled between 1950 and 2020.ConclusionsReSurveyEurope is a new resource to address a wide range of research questions on fine‐scale changes in European vegetation. The initiative is devoted to an inclusive and transparent governance and data usage approach, based on slightly adapted rules of the well‐established European Vegetation Archive (EVA). ReSurveyEurope data are ready for use, and proposals for analyses of the data set can be submitted at any time to the coordinators. Still, further data contributions are highly welcome.</jats:sec

Molecular Analysis of Organ Malformations Featuring Congenital Limb Malformations and an Organ Lateralization Defect

Das Verständnis der Pathogenese genetisch bedingter Malformationen konnte in den letzten Jahren entscheidend durch molekulargenetische Analysen und die Untersuchung von Tiermodellen verbessert werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit untersuchten wir die molekularen Grundlagen eines kongenitalen Organlateralisierungsdefekts beim Menschen und verschiedener Extremitätenmalformationen beim Menschen und im Mausmodell. Die Untersuchungen umfassten die Identifizierung und Charakterisierung von Mutationen der schweren Dyneinkette DNAH11, der Rezeptor-Tyrosinkinase ROR2 und des Signalmoleküls GDF5 bei Primär Ziliärer Dyskinesie/Kartagener Syndrom bzw. bei Brachydaktylie Typ B und Typ C. Darüber hinaus führten wir eine detaillierte entwicklungsbiologische Analyse der Extremitätenmalformationen der Ror2-/- Maus und der „short digits“ (Dsh) Mausmutante durch. Insbesondere konnten wir den molekulargenetischen Defekt der Dsh Mutante sowie die entwicklungsbiologischen Grundlagen der Brachydaktylie bei heterozygoten Dsh/+ Mäusen aufklären. So liegt der Dsh Mutante eine 11,7 Megabasen umfassende genomische Inversion zugrunde, die zur Dislokation von long range cis- regulatorischen Enhancern des Shh-Gens führt. Die Brachydaktylie bei Dsh/+ Mäusen ist die Folge einer späten ektopen Shh-Reexpression während der phalangealen Chondrozytendifferenzierung. Zusammenfassend liefern die Untersuchungen einen wichtigen Beitrag zum Verständnis molekulargenetischer Grundlagen angeborener Extremitätenmalformationen und Lateralisierungsdefekte beim Mensch und im Mausmodell.Our understanding of the pathogenesis of congenital genetic malformations has been greatly advanced by molecular analysis and the exploration of animal models. Here, we analyzed the molecular causes of a congenital organ lateralization defect in humans and limb malformations in humans and mice. We identified and characterized mutations in the dynein heavy chain DNAH11, in the ROR2 receptor tyrosine kinase and in the GDF5 signaling molecule as underlying causes for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia/Kartagener Syndrome and Brachydactyly Type B and Type C, respectively. In addition, we analyzed the Ror2-/- and „short digits“ (Dsh) mouse mutants as models for limb malformations. Most interestingly, we identified the molecular genetic defect underlying the Dsh mutant and elucidated the developmental pathology of the brachydactyly in heterozygous Dsh/+ mice. Our findings show that the Dsh mutant is caused by an 11.7 megabase genomic inversion that leads to dislocation of several long range cis-regulatory enhancers of the Shh gene. The brachydactyly in Dsh/+ mice results from a late ectopic Shh re-expression during phalangeal chondrocyte differentiation. Our analysis represents a significant contribution to the understanding of the molecular genetic basis of congenital limb malformations and lateralization defects in humans and mice

Genetics of congenital hand anomalies

Congenital limb malformations exhibit a wide spectrum of phenotypic manifestations and may occur as an isolated malformation and as part of a syndrome. They are individually rare, but due to their overall frequency and severity they are of clinical relevance. In recent years, increasing knowledge of the molecular basis of embryonic development has significantly enhanced our understanding of congenital limb malformations. In addition, genetic studies have revealed the molecular basis of an increasing number of conditions with primary or secondary limb involvement. The molecular findings have led to a regrouping of malformations in genetic terms. However, the establishment of precise genotype-phenotype correlations for limb malformations is difficult due to the high degree of phenotypic variability. We present an overview of congenital limb malformations based on an anatomic and genetic concept reflecting recent molecular and developmental insights