Speedy Error Reconciliation

Introducing small errors in the lattice-based key exchange protocols, although it is resistant to quantum computing attacks, will cause both parties to only get roughly equal secret values, which brings uncertainty to the negotiation of the key agreement. The role of the error reconciliation mechanism is to eliminate this uncertainty and ensure that both parties can reach a consensus. This paper designs a new error reconciliation mechanism: Speedy Error Reconciliation (SER), which can efficiently complete key negotiation while ensuring key correctness and security. SER exploits the properties of the approximate secret values σ1 and σ2 shared by the two parties, and simultaneously reconciles the most and least significant bits of the secret value, and a two-bit key can be obtained by one coordination. By sharing g-bit auxiliary information between two entities, SER expands the fault tolerance interval during reconciliation and improves the success rate of consensus. To test the actual performance of SER, we integrate it into key ex- change protocols based on LWE, RLWE, and MLWE, such as Frodo and NewHope. By comparing parameters such as failure rate, security strength, and the number of CPU rounds, we find that SER performs well in various modes, especially in RLWE-based protocol. Since SER doubles the error to reconcile the least significant bit, which in turn leads to a relatively large error in SER; while the RLWE-based key ex- change scheme adopts a polynomial ring and selects a large parameter q, which is very suitable for SER. Compared with Frodo and NewHope, SER improves the reconciliation efficiency of the per-bit key by 61.6% and 797.6%, respectively

A Flyback Converter-based Hybrid Balancing Method for Series-Connected Battery Pack in Electric Vehicles

An active balancing method based on two flyback converters is proposed for series-connected battery pack. Balanced energy can be transferred between the whole battery and any single cell. The proposed topology reduces the number of energy storage components, the volume and the cost of the balancing system. And it has the characteristics of fast balancing speed and high balancing efficiency. Based on the topology, a dual-objective hybrid control strategy is proposed, which can reduce the highest voltage and boost the lowest voltage in the charging or discharging process of the cells simultaneously, so as to improve the balancing speed. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method has a good balancing effect and can significantly improve the consistency of series battery pack. This work is potentially significant in terms of improved reliability of battery packs and savings of costs and lives in safety-critical applications

Inhibition of CDK9 activity compromises global splicing in prostate cancer cells

Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) phosphorylates RNA polymerase II to promote productive transcription elongation. Here we show that short-term CDK9 inhibition affects the splicing of thousands of mRNAs. CDK9 inhibition impairs global splicing and there is no evidence for a coordinated response between the alternative splicing and the overall transcriptome. Alternative splicing is a feature of aggressive prostate cancer (CRPC) and enables the generation of the anti-androgen resistant version of the ligand-independent androgen receptor, AR-v7. We show that CDK9 inhibition results in the loss of AR and AR-v7 expression due to the defects in splicing, which sensitizes CRPC cells to androgen deprivation. Finally, we demonstrate that CDK9 expression increases as PC cells develop CRPC-phenotype both in vitro and also in patient samples. To conclude, here we show that CDK9 inhibition compromises splicing in PC cells, which can be capitalized on by targeting the PC-specific addiction androgen receptor.Peer reviewe

Identification and characterization of microRNAs involved in ascidian larval metamorphosis

Abstract Background Metamorphosis takes place within the life cycle of most marine invertebrates. The marine ascidian is a classical model to study complex cellular processes and underlying molecular mechanisms involved in its larval metamorphosis. The detailed molecular signaling pathways remain elusive, though extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) have been revealed to regulate cell migration, differentiation, and apoptosis in ascidian larval organ regression and juvenile organ development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Large numbers of miRNAs have been demonstrated to be involved in many developmental and metamorphic processes. However, the identification of miRNAs in ascidian larval metamorphosis has not yet been investigated. Results Totally, 106 known and 59 novel miRNAs were screened out through RNA-sequencing of three small RNA libraries from 18 to 21-h post-fertilization (hpf) tailbud embryos as well as from 42 hpf larvae (after tail regression) in Ciona savignyi. Expression profiling of miRNAs was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR, showing that the expression levels of csa-miR-4040, csa-miR-4086, csa-miR-4055, csa-miR-4060, csa-miR-216a, csa-miR-216b, csa-miR-217, csa-miR-183, and csa-miR-92c were significantly higher in 42 hpf larvae, whereas those of csa-miR-4018a, csa-miR-4018b, and csa-miR-4000f were higher in 18 and 21 hpf embryos; then, their expression in 42 hpf larvae became significantly low. For these 12 miRNAs, whose expression levels significantly changed, we predicted their target genes through the combination of miRanda and TargetScan. This prediction analysis revealed 332 miRNA-target gene pairs that were associated with the ERK, JNK, and transforming growth factor beta signaling pathways, suggesting that the identified miRNAs are involved in the regulation of C. savignyi larval metamorphosis via controlling the expression of their target genes. Furthermore, we validated the expression of five selected miRNAs by northern blotting. Among the selected miRNAs, the expression patterns of csa-miR-4018a, csa-miR-4018b, and csa-miR-4000f were further examined by whole-mount in situ hybridization. The results showed that all three miRNAs were specifically expressed in a cell population resembling mesenchymal cells at the head and trunk part in swimming larvae but not in metamorphic larvae. Utilizing the luciferase assay, we also confirmed that miR-4000f targeted Mapk1, suggesting that the csa-miR-4018a/csa-miR-4018b/csa-miR-4000f cluster regulates larval metamorphosis through the Mapk1-mediated signaling pathway. Conclusions Totally, 165 miRNAs, including 59 novel ones, were identified from the embryos and larvae of C. savignyi. Twelve of them showed significant changes in expression before and during metamorphosis. In situ hybridization and northern blotting results revealed that three miRNAs are potentially involved in the signaling regulatory network for the migration and differentiation of mesenchymal cells in larval metamorphosis. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay revealed that Mapk1 is a target of csa-miR-4000f. Our results not only present a list and profile of miRNAs involved in Ciona metamorphosis but also provide informative cues to further understand their function in ascidian larval metamorphosis

Research on the Development Strategy of China's Electric Power Enterprises under the Background of Innovation Drive

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that improving the scientific and technological innovation system, stimulating innovation vitality, accelerating the implementation of innovation-driven development strategies, promoting the deep integration of the innovation chain, industry chain, capital chain, and talent chain, opening up new fields and new tracks for development, and constantly shaping development New kinetic energy and new advantages.This paper studies and sorts out the new opportunities and existing problems of electric power enterprises, and analyze the necessity of adopting a diversified strategic development. The study believes that under the situation of continuous advancement of power reform, whether the development strategy adapts to the situation of the times will have a direct impact on the economic and social benefits of power companies

A Heuristic Algorithm for Solving Triangle Packing Problem

The research on the triangle packing problem has important theoretic significance, which has broad application prospects in material processing, network resource optimization, and so forth. Generally speaking, the orientation of the triangle should be limited in advance, since the triangle packing problem is NP-hard and has continuous properties. For example, the polygon is not allowed to rotate; then, the approximate solution can be obtained by optimization method. This paper studies the triangle packing problem by a new kind of method. Such concepts as angle region, corner-occupying action, corner-occupying strategy, and edge-conjoining strategy are presented in this paper. In addition, an edge-conjoining and corner-occupying algorithm is designed, which is to obtain an approximate solution. It is demonstrated that the proposed algorithm is highly efficient, and by the time complexity analysis and the analogue experiment result is found

Regulation of G1 Arrest and Apoptosis in Hypoxia by PERK and GCN2-Mediated eIF2α Phosphorylation12

Hypoxia is a common microenvironment in solid tumors and is correlated with tumor progression by regulating cancer cell survival. Recent studies suggest that activation of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum-related kinase (PERK) and phosphorylation of α subunit of eIF2 (eIF2α) confer cell adaptation to hypoxic stress. However, eIF2α is still phosphorylated at a lowered level in PERK knockout cells under hypoxic conditions. The mechanism for eIF2α kinase(s) (eIF2AK)-increased cell survival is not clear. In this report, we provide evidence that another eIF2AK, the amino acid starvation-dependent general control of amino acid biosynthesis kinase (GCN2), is also involved in hypoxia-induced eIF2α phosphorylation. We demonstrate that both GCN2 and PERK mediate the cell adaptation to hypoxic stress. High levels of eIF2α phosphorylation lead to G1 arrest and protect cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Reduced phosphorylation of eIF2α by knocking out either PERK or GCN2 suppresses hypoxia-induced G1 arrest and promotes apoptosis in accompany with activation of p53 signal cascade. However, totally abolishing phosphorylation of eIF2α inhibits G1 arrest without promoting apoptosis. On the basis of our results, we propose that the levels of eIF2α phosphorylation serve as a “switch” in regulation of G1 arrest or apoptosis under hypoxic conditions

MicroRNA-34a, Prostate Cancer Stem Cells, and Therapeutic Development

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a highly heterogeneous disease and typically presents with multiple distinct cancer foci. Heterogeneity in androgen receptor (AR) expression levels in PCa has been observed for decades, from untreated tumors to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) to disseminated metastases. Current standard-of-care therapies for metastatic CRPC can only extend life by a few months. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a subpopulation of cancer cells that exists in almost all treatment-naive tumors. Additionally, non-CSCs may undergo cellular plasticity to be reprogrammed to prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) during spontaneous tumor progression or upon therapeutic treatments. Consequently, PCSCs may become the predominant population in treatment-resistant tumors, and the “root cause” for drug resistance. microRNA-34a (miR-34a) is a bona fide tumor-suppressive miRNA, and its expression is dysregulated in PCa. Importantly, miR-34a functions as a potent CSC suppressor by targeting many molecules essential for CSC survival and functions, which makes it a promising anti-PCSC therapeutic. Here, we conducted a comprehensive literature survey of miR-34a in the context of PCa and especially PCSCs. We provided an updated overview on the mechanisms of miR-34a regulation followed by discussing its tumor suppressive functions in PCa. Finally, based on current advances in miR-34a preclinical studies in PCa, we offered potential delivery strategies for miR-34a-based therapeutics for treating advanced PCa

SOC Estimation with an Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter Based on Model Parameter Optimization

State of charge (SOC) estimation is generally acknowledged to be one of the most important functions of the battery management system (BMS) and is thus widely studied in academia and industry. Based on an accurate SOC estimation, the BMS can optimize energy efficiency and protect the battery from being over-charged or over-discharged. The accurate online estimation of the SOC is studied in this paper. First, it is proved that the second-order resistance capacitance (RC) model is the most suitable equivalent circuit model compared with the Thevenin and multi-order models. The second-order RC equivalent circuit model is established, and the model parameters are identified. Second, the reasonable optimization of model parameters is studied, and a reasonable optimization method is proposed to improve the accuracy of SOC estimation. Finally, the SOC is estimated online based on the adaptive unscented Kalman filter (AUKF) with optimized model parameters, and the results are compared with the results of an estimation based on pre-optimization model parameters. Simulation experiments show that, without affecting the convergence of the initial error of the AUKF, the model after parameter optimization has a higher online SOC estimation accuracy

Telomerase Protects Werner Syndrome Lineage-Specific Stem Cells from Premature Aging

Werner syndrome (WS) patients exhibit premature aging predominantly in mesenchyme-derived tissues, but not in neural lineages, a consequence of telomere dysfunction and accelerated senescence. The cause of this lineage-specific aging remains unknown. Here, we document that reprogramming of WS fibroblasts to pluripotency elongated telomere length and prevented telomere dysfunction. To obtain mechanistic insight into the origin of tissue-specific aging, we differentiated iPSCs to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs). We observed recurrence of premature senescence associated with accelerated telomere attrition and defective synthesis of the lagging strand telomeres in MSCs, but not in NPCs. We postulate this “aging” discrepancy is regulated by telomerase. Expression of hTERT or p53 knockdown ameliorated the accelerated aging phenotypein MSC, whereas inhibition of telomerase sensitized NPCs to DNA damage. Our findings unveil a role for telomerase in the protection of accelerated aging in a specific lineage of stem cells