Ou: Automating the Parallelization of Zero-Knowledge Protocols

A zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is a powerful cryptographic primitive used in many decentralized or privacy-focused applications. However, the high overhead of ZKPs can restrict their practical applicability. We design a programming language, Ou, aimed at easing the programmer\u27s burden when writing efficient ZKPs, and a compiler framework, Lian, that automates the analysis and distribution of statements to a computing cluster. Lian uses programming language semantics, formal methods, and combinatorial optimization to automatically partition an Ou program into efficiently sized chunks for parallel ZK-proving and/or verification. We contribute: • A front-end language where users can write proof statements as imperative programs in a familiar syntax; • A compiler architecture and implementation that automatically analyzes the program and compiles it into an optimized IR that can be lifted to a variety of ZKP constructions; and • A cutting algorithm, based on Pseudo-Boolean optimization and Integer Linear Programming, that reorders instructions and then partitions the program into efficiently sized chunks for parallel evaluation and efficient state reconciliation

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Age and gender differences in expressive flexibility and the association with depressive symptoms in adolescents

ObjectiveThis study investigated age and gender differences in the ability to flexibly enhance and suppress facial expressions according to situational demands, known as expressive flexibility (EF), as well as its relationship with depressive symptoms in adolescents.MethodsThe participants included 766 Chinese high school students aged between 12 and 18 years (mean age = 14.96 years, standard deviation = 2.04; 52.2% female). Data on EF and depressive symptoms were collected using self-report questionnaires.ResultsGirls scored higher on enhancement abilities than boys, but with no significant gender difference in suppression abilities. There were also no significant age-related differences in enhancement and suppression abilities. Only enhancement ability was negatively associated with depressive symptoms.ConclusionThe development of EF abilities was stable among adolescents, with varying effects in terms of gender, and the importance of EF and enhancement abilities in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents was highlighted

Emotion regulation as a mediator on the relationship between emotional awareness and depression in elementary school students

As a cognitive skill, emotional awareness plays a fundamental role in emotional intelligence and significant effect on the development of individuals’ social adaptation. However, the role of emotional awareness in children’s social adaptation, especially emotional development, remains unclear, the current study sought to determine the significant influence of emotional awareness in children’s emotional development. By using cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs, the current study explored the relationship between emotional awareness and children’s depression, as well as the mediation effect of emotion regulation on this relationship. The sample comprised 166 Chinese elementary school students (89 girls and 77 boys) ranging from 8 to 12 years old. After adjusting for demographic variables (gender, grade, etc.), the results showed that children with high emotional awareness were less likely to adopt expressive suppression as an emotion regulation strategy and had lower depression levels currently and in the future. In contrast, children with low emotional awareness were more likely to use suppression strategies and showed higher depression levels. Thus, the results indicated that emotional awareness could predict children’s current and future depression status. Meanwhile, emotional regulation strategies are an important mediating variable explaining the relationship between emotional awareness and children’s depression. Implications and limitations were also discussed

circRNF10 Regulates Tumorigenic Properties and Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer through the miR-934/PTEN/PI3k-Akt Axis

Circular RNA (circRNA), a type of non-coding RNA, has received a great deal of attention with regard to the initiation and progression of tumors. However, the molecular mechanism and function of circRNAs in breast cancer (BC) remain unclear. In the current study, we discovered that hsa_circ_0028899 (also called circRNF10) was significantly reduced in BC tissues, and a higher level of circRNF10 was markedly related to a favorable prognosis. The results of CCK8, colony formation, Transwell, ELISA, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity assays indicated that increased circRNF10 expression could significantly repress the proliferation, invasion, and migration of BC cells and enhance the killing efficiency of NK cells against BC cells. According to these biological functions, the possible role and molecular mechanism of circRNF10 in BC cells were further investigated. We used bioinformatics prediction tools to predict circRNF10-bound miRNAs, which were verified by many experimental studies, including FISH, luciferase reporter assays, RIP, and Western blots. These data suggest that circRNF10 serves as a molecular sponge for miR-934 to further regulate PTEN expression and PI3k/Akt/MICA signaling in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Altogether, these findings reveal that circRNF10 functions as a novel anti-oncogene in BC via sponging miR-934 and suppressing the PI3K/Akt/MICA pathway

Rigid Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence of 1,2,3-Triaryl Indenes as an Ultrasensitive Sensor for D₂O in H₂O

The intriguing aggregation-induced emission has recently been applied in the electrochemiluminescence, called aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIE-ECL), which is conducive to solving the water insolubility and aggregation-caused quenching for most organic luminescence probes. However, AIE-ECL still has the problems of low luminous efficiency and limited practical application. In this work, we disclosed the AIE-ECL properties of 1,2,3-triaryl-substituted indenes containing rigid structures. Experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrated that such a rigid structure could significantly enhance the aromaticity and stability and thereby the luminescence performance of these indenes. Moreover, according to the finding of hydrogen/deuterium exchange for active hydrogen in indene under electrical excitation, ultrasensitive detection for D2O in H2O was realized by such an indene-based AIE-ECL system. Our research not only provided an attractive strategy to enhance the luminescence property for an AIE-active luminophore but also established a superior sensor toward D2O

Database Resources of the National Genomics Data Center, China National Center for Bioinformation in 2021

The National Genomics Data Center (NGDC), part of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB), provides a suite of database resources to support worldwide research activities in both academia and industry. With the explosive growth of multiomics data, CNCB-NGDC is continually expanding, updating and enriching its core database resources through big data deposition, integration and translation. In the past year, considerable efforts have been devoted to 2019nCoVR, a newly established resource providing a global landscape of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences, variants, and haplotypes, as well as Aging Atlas, BrainBase, GTDB (Glycosyltransferases Database), LncExpDB, and TransCirc (Translation potential for circular RNAs). Meanwhile, a series of resources have been updated and improved, including BioProject, BioSample, GWH (Genome Warehouse), GVM (Genome Variation Map), GEN (Gene Expression Nebulas) as well as several biodiversity and plant resources. Particularly, BIG Search, a scalable, one-stop, cross-database search engine, has been significantly updated by providing easy access to a large number of internal and external biological resources from CNCB-NGDC, our partners, EBI and NCBI. All of these resources along with their services are publicly accessible at https://bigd.big.ac.cn