An example of proving UC-realization with formal methods

In the universal composability framework we consider ideal functionalities for secure messaging and signcryption. Using traditional formal methods techniques we show that the secure messaging functionality can be UC-realized by a hybrid protocol that uses the signcryption functionality and a public key infrastructure functionality. We also discuss that the signcryption functionality can be UC-realized by a secure signcryption scheme

Quantum Circuits for the Unitary Permutation Problem

We consider the Unitary Permutation problem which consists, given $n$ unitary gates $U_1, \ldots, U_n$ and a permutation $\sigma$ of $\{1,\ldots, n\}$, in applying the unitary gates in the order specified by $\sigma$, i.e. in performing $U_{\sigma(n)}\ldots U_{\sigma(1)}$. This problem has been introduced and investigated by Colnaghi et al. where two models of computations are considered. This first is the (standard) model of query complexity: the complexity measure is the number of calls to any of the unitary gates $U_i$ in a quantum circuit which solves the problem. The second model provides quantum switches and treats unitary transformations as inputs of second order. In that case the complexity measure is the number of quantum switches. In their paper, Colnaghi et al. have shown that the problem can be solved within $n^2$ calls in the query model and $\frac{n(n-1)}2$ quantum switches in the new model. We refine these results by proving that $n\log_2(n) +\Theta(n)$ quantum switches are necessary and sufficient to solve this problem, whereas $n^2-2n+4$ calls are sufficient to solve this problem in the standard quantum circuit model. We prove, with an additional assumption on the family of gates used in the circuits, that $n^2-o(n^{7/4+\epsilon})$ queries are required, for any $\epsilon >0$. The upper and lower bounds for the standard quantum circuit model are established by pointing out connections with the permutation as substring problem introduced by Karp.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Development of SARS-CoV-2 N-protein specific capture ELISA

Ta na dijagnoza ljudi sa sumnjom na infekciju SARS-CoV-2 je od suštinskog zna aja za suzbijanje globalnog širenja COVID-19. Prisustvo SARS-CoV-2 može se otkriti RT-PCRom (otkriva RNK virusa) ili detekcijom prisustva virusnih antigena u biološkim te nostima ELISA-om ili sli nom tehnikom koje koriste antitela razvijena u životinjama. Cilj studije je bio uspostavljanje kvantitativnog testa koji se zasniva na koriš enju poliklonskih seruma za rutinsko odre ivanje koncentracije SARS-CoV-2 nukleokapsidnog proteina merenjam apsorbancije u standardnoj mikrotitarskoj plo ici sa 96 bunara. Za potrebe razvoja testa proizveden je rekombinantni N-protein i koriš en za proizvodnju antiseruma u miševima i ze evima. Proizvedeni antiserumi su pre iš eni i odre en im je titar. Poliklonskiantiserumi visokog afiniteta specifi ni za N-protein koriš eni su za razvoj ELISA testa specifi nog za ovaj protein. Test se zasniva na koriš enju poliklonskih seruma miševa koji su adherirani na dno bunara mikrotitarske plo ice za hvatanje N-proteina iz uzorka. Razli ite koncentracije rekombinantnog N-proteina su koriš ene za standardnu krivu za kvantifikaciju proteina. N-protein vezan za antitela miševa je detektovan ze jim poliklonskim serumom i anti-ze jim antitelom povezanim sa enzimom koji obezbe uje spektrofotometrijsko merenje. Uspešno smo razvili prototip ELISA testa za kvantifikaciju N-proteina sa granicom detekcije u opsegu od ng/mL. Prose na vrednost LOD za prototip ELISA testa za detekciju N-proteina je 9,2 ng/mL, dok je prose na vrednost LOQ 10,2 ng/mL. Pokazali smo da su proizvedeni poliklonski antiserumi pogodni za detekciju N-proteina sa sli nim ili boljim afinitetom i specifi noš u od komercijalnih antitela. Štaviše, prototip ELISA testa se može koristiti sa zadovoljavaju om pouzdanoš u za kvantifikaciju N-proteina u uzorcima bogatim proteinima, poput ljudskih seruma.The accurate diagnosis of people with suspected infection with the SARS-CoV-2 is essential to curb the global spread of COVID-19. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 can be detected by RT-PCR (it detects RNA of the virus) or by the presence of viral antigens in biological fluids in ELISA or similar techniques using antibodies developed in animals. The aim of the study was the establishment of a quantitative polyclonal sera-based test for routine measurement of the concentration of SARS CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein using absorbance measurement in a standard 96-well microtiter plate. For the purposes of the test development, recombinant N protein was produced and used for the production of mice and rabbit antisera. Produced antisera were purified and titer was determined. High-affinity polyclonal N-protein specific antisera were used for N-protein specific ELISA test development. The test is based on mice polyclonal sera adhered to microtiter plate bottom for the capture of the N protein from the specimen. Various concentrations of the recombinant N-protein were used to generate a standard curve for protein quantification. The N-protein bound to the mice antibodies was detected with rabbit polyclonal sera and anti-rabbit antibody coupled to an enzyme that provides spectrophotometric measurement. We have successfully developed the prototype ELISA for the quantification of N-protein with the detection limit being in the range of ng/mL. The average LOD value for the prototype ELISA was determined to be 9.2 ng/mL, while the average LOQ value was 10.2 ng/mL. We have demonstrated that produced polyclonal antisera are suitable for the detection of N-protein with affinity and specificity similar to, or better than commercial antibodies. Furthermore, the prototype ELISA can be used with satisfactory confidence for quantification of the N-protein in protein-rich samples, similar to human sera.Poster: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5362

Development of SARS-CoV-2 N-protein specific capture ELISA

Ta na dijagnoza ljudi sa sumnjom na infekciju SARS-CoV-2 je od suštinskog zna aja zasuzbijanje globalnog širenja COVID-19. Prisustvo SARS-CoV-2 može se otkriti RT-PCRom (otkriva RNK virusa) ili detekcijom prisustva virusnih antigena u biološkim te nostimaELISA-om ili sli nom tehnikom koje koriste antitela razvijena u životinjama. Cilj studijeje bio uspostavljanje kvantitativnog testa koji se zasniva na koriš enju poliklonskih serumaza rutinsko odre ivanje koncentracije SARS-CoV-2 nukleokapsidnog proteina merenjamapsorbancije u standardnoj mikrotitarskoj plo ici sa 96 bunara. Za potrebe razvoja testaproizveden je rekombinantni N-protein i koriš en za proizvodnju antiseruma u miševima ize evima. Proizvedeni antiserumi su pre iš eni i odre en im je titar. Poliklonskiantiserumivisokog afiniteta specifi ni za N-protein koriš eni su za razvoj ELISA testa specifi nog zaovaj protein. Test se zasniva na koriš enju poliklonskih seruma miševa koji su adheriranina dno bunara mikrotitarske plo ice za hvatanje N-proteina iz uzorka. Razli itekoncentracije rekombinantnog N-proteina su koriš ene za standardnu krivu zakvantifikaciju proteina. N-protein vezan za antitela miševa je detektovan ze jimpoliklonskim serumom i anti-ze jim antitelom povezanim sa enzimom koji obezbe ujespektrofotometrijsko merenje. Uspešno smo razvili prototip ELISA testa za kvantifikacijuN-proteina sa granicom detekcije u opsegu od ng/mL. Prose na vrednost LOD za prototipELISA testa za detekciju N-proteina je 9,2 ng/mL, dok je prose na vrednost LOQ10,2 ng/mL. Pokazali smo da su proizvedeni poliklonski antiserumi pogodni za detekcijuN-proteina sa sli nim ili boljim afinitetom i specifi noš u od komercijalnih antitela.Štaviše, prototip ELISA testa se može koristiti sa zadovoljavaju om pouzdanoš u zakvantifikaciju N-proteina u uzorcima bogatim proteinima, poput ljudskih seruma.The accurate diagnosis of people with suspected infection with the SARS-CoV-2 isessential to curb the global spread of COVID-19. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 can bedetected by RT-PCR (it detects RNA of the virus) or by the presence of viral antigens inbiological fluids in ELISA or similar techniques using antibodies developed in animals.The aim of the study was the establishment of a quantitative polyclonal sera-based test forroutine measurement of the concentration of SARS CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein usingabsorbance measurement in a standard 96-well microtiter plate. For the purposes of the testdevelopment, recombinant N protein was produced and used for the production of miceand rabbit antisera. Produced antisera were purified and titer was determined. High-affinitypolyclonal N-protein specific antisera were used for N-protein specific ELISA testdevelopment. The test is based on mice polyclonal sera adhered to microtiter plate bottomfor the capture of the N protein from the specimen. Various concentrations of therecombinant N-protein were used to generate a standard curve for protein quantification.The N-protein bound to the mice antibodies was detected with rabbit polyclonal sera andanti-rabbit antibody coupled to an enzyme that provides spectrophotometric measurement.We have successfully developed the prototype ELISA for the quantification of N-proteinwith the detection limit being in the range of ng/mL. The average LOD value for theprototype ELISA was determined to be 9.2 ng/mL, while the average LOQ value was10.2 ng/mL. We have demonstrated that produced polyclonal antisera are suitable for thedetection of N-protein with affinity and specificity similar to, or better than commercialantibodies. Furthermore, the prototype ELISA can be used with satisfactory confidence forquantification of the N-protein in protein-rich samples, similar to human sera.Abstract: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5361

(extended abstract)

An example of proving UC-realization wit

Чекання Годо на "Землі обітованій"

Phycocyanobilin (PCB) is a blue tetrapyrrole chromophore of C-phycocyanin, the main protein of the microalga Spirulina, with numerous proven health-related benefits. We examined binding of PCB to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and how it affects protein and ligand stability. Protein fluorescence quenching and microscale thermophoresis demonstrated high-affinity binding (K-a = 2 x 10(6) M-1). Spectroscopic titration with molecular docking analysis revealed two binding sites on BSA, at the inter-domain cleft and at subdomain IB, while CD spectroscopy indicated stereo-selective binding of the P conformer of the pigment to the protein. The PCB protein complex showed increased thermal stability. Although complex formation partly masked the antioxidant properties of PCB and BSA, a mutually protective effect against free radical-induced oxidation was found. BSA could be suitable for delivery of PCB as a food colorant or bioactive component. Our results also highlight subtle differences between PCB binding to bovine vs. human serum albumin. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer-reviewed article: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3035]Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3139

The impacts of seawater physicochemical parameters and sediment metal contents on trace metal concentrations in musselsa chemometric approach

The concentrations of Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn, and Hg were studied in Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from the coastal area of Montenegro. The impact of seawater temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total organic carbon (TOC), and metal content in sediment samples on the metal contents in mussels collected from three locations in four different seasons was analyzed by a Pearson correlation coefficient (r), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA). These analyses were used to discriminate groups of samples, elements, and seawater parameters, according to similarity of samples chemical composition in different seasons, as well as the impact of seawater parameters and surface sediment composition on the mussels' element concentrations. Synergistic interactions occurred between seawater TOC, Fe, and Al concentrations in mussels. Compared with other studies, which are usually performed under constant laboratory conditions where mussels undergo only one stress at a time, this study was performed in nature. The analyses showed the importance of considering simultaneously acting environmental parameters that make determining of separate impacts of each factor selected very difficult and complex