On the second-order zero differential spectra of some power functions over finite fields

Boukerrou et al. (IACR Trans. Symmetric Cryptol. 2020(1), 331-362) introduced the notion of Feistel Boomerang Connectivity Table (FBCT), the Feistel counterpart of the Boomerang Connectivity Table (BCT), and the Feistel boomerang uniformity (which is the same as the second-order zero differential uniformity in even characteristic). FBCT is a crucial table for the analysis of the resistance of block ciphers to power attacks such as differential and boomerang attacks. It is worth noting that the coefficients of FBCT are related to the second-order zero differential spectra of functions. In this paper, by carrying out certain finer manipulations of solving specific equations over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_{p^n}$, we explicitly determine the second-order zero differential spectra of some power functions with low differential uniformity, and show that our considered functions also have low second-order zero differential uniformity. Our study pushes further former investigations on second-order zero differential uniformity and Feistel boomerang differential uniformity for a power function $F$

Nitric oxide synthase-3 promotes embryonic development of atrioventricular valves.

Nitric oxide synthase-3 (NOS3) has recently been shown to promote endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in the developing atrioventricular (AV) canal. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of NOS3 in embryonic development of AV valves. We hypothesized that NOS3 promotes embryonic development of AV valves via EndMT. To test this hypothesis, morphological and functional analysis of AV valves were performed in wild-type (WT) and NOS3(-/-) mice at postnatal day 0. Our data show that the overall size and length of mitral and tricuspid valves were decreased in NOS3(-/-) compared with WT mice. Echocardiographic assessment showed significant regurgitation of mitral and tricuspid valves during systole in NOS3(-/-) mice. These phenotypes were all rescued by cardiac specific NOS3 overexpression. To assess EndMT, immunostaining of Snail1 was performed in the embryonic heart. Both total mesenchymal and Snail1(+) cells in the AV cushion were decreased in NOS3(-/-) compared with WT mice at E10.5 and E12.5, which was completely restored by cardiac specific NOS3 overexpression. In cultured embryonic hearts, NOS3 promoted transforming growth factor (TGFβ), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP2) and Snail1expression through cGMP. Furthermore, mesenchymal cell formation and migration from cultured AV cushion explants were decreased in the NOS3(-/-) compared with WT mice. We conclude that NOS3 promotes AV valve formation during embryonic heart development and deficiency in NOS3 results in AV valve insufficiency

The Physiological Mechanism of Improved Formaldehyde Resistance in Petunia hybrida Harboring a Mammalian cyp2e1 Gene

AbstractCytochrome P450 CYP2E1 is mainly present in hepatocytes in the livers of mammals, where it plays an important role in the metabolism of xenobiotic organic substances. Previous studies showed that transgenic petunia (Petunia hybrid) plants harboring a mammalian cyp2e1 gene (designated cyp2e1-transgenic petunia) exhibited increased resistance to formaldehyde stress. In this study, we used cyp2e1-transgenic petunia plants to analyze physiological indexes related to formaldehyde stress responses. The results indicated that under formaldehyde stress, the malondialdehyde content in cyp2e1-transgenic petunia plants was lower than in β-glucuronidase gene (gus)-transgenic and wild-type petunia plants. The activities of both superoxide dismutase and peroxidase in the cyp2e1-transgenic plants were higher than in gus-transgenic and wild-type plants. The alcohol dehydrogenase activity was slightly increased and more glutathione was consumed. Additionally, under formaldehyde stress, the levels of plant hormones including indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin and abscisic acid in cyp2e1-transgenic petunia plants displayed decreasing trends, whereas the level of gibberellic acid displayed an increasing trend. In contrast, the indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin and abscisic acid levels in gus-transgenic and wild-type petunia plants displayed increasing trends, whereas the gibberellic acid level displayed a decreasing trend. At 72h after incubation of 0.5g of cyp2e1-transgenic petunia plants in 40mL of treatment solution containing formaldehyde at 50mg · L−1, the formaldehyde content remaining in the treatment solution was close to zero while approximately half of original formaldehyde remained in the treatment solutions containing gus-transgenic and wild-type petunia plants

Interferon-gamma inducible protein 10 (IP10) induced cisplatin resistance of HCC after liver transplantation through ER stress signaling pathway.

Tumor recurrence remains an obstacle after liver surgery, especially in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The acute-phase liver graft injury might potentially induce poor response to chemotherapy in recurrent HCC after liver transplantation. We here intended to explore the mechanism and to identify a therapeutic target to overcome such chemoresistance. The associations among graft injury, overexpression of IP10 and multidrug resistant genes were investigated in a rat liver transplantation model, and further validated in clinical cohort. The role of IP10 on HCC cell proliferation and tumor growth under chemotherapy was studied both in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism was revealed by detecting the activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathways. Moreover, the effect of IP10 neutralizing antibody sensitizing cisplatin treatment was further explored. In rat liver transplantation model, significant up-regulation of IP10 associated with multidrug resistant genes was found in small-for-size liver graft. Clinically, high expression of circulating IP10 was significant correlated with tumor recurrence in HCC patients underwent LDLT. Overexpression of IP10 promoted HCC cell proliferation and tumor growth under cisplatin treatment by activation of ATF6/Grp78 signaling. IP10 neutralizing antibody sensitized cisplatin treatment in nude mice. The overexpression of IP10, which induced by liver graft injury, may lead to cisplatin resistance via ATF6/Grp78 ER stress signaling pathway. IP10 neutralizing antibody could be a potential adjuvant therapy to sensitize cisplatin treatment

Application of the indirect fluorescent antibody assay in the study of malaria infection in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Reservoir, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>China Yangtze Three Gorges Project (TGP) is one of the biggest construction projects in the world. The areas around the Three Gorge Dam has a history of tertian malaria and subtertian malaria epidemic, but there are no overall data about malaria epidemics before the completion of the project. The objective of this study was to get a reliable baseline on malaria infection in the Yangtze River Three Gorges reservoir area and to provide reference data for future studies about the impact of the project on malaria epidemics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two surveys of malaria infection were carried out in area, at six-month intervals in May and October 2008. About 3,600 dual specimens blood film samples for parasite diagnosis and filter paper blood spots for serology (using the immunofluorescence antibody test) were collected from the general population, including school populations, whenever possible.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall percentage of positive response of the same population during post-transmission periods was about twice (1.40/0.72) of that in pre-transmission. Positive individuals under 15 years of age were detected in all the localities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A certain extent of malaria infection existed in this area. Additional studies are needed to determine the length of malaria experience, and chemotherapeutic intervention as well as the distribution of main vectors for transmission in this area.</p