Lazy Random Walk Efficient for Pollard’s Rho Methoｄ Attacking on G3 over Barreto-Naehrig Curve (Corrected)

Pairing–based cryptosystems are well implemented with Ate–type pairing over Barreto–Naehrig (BN) curve. Then, for instance, their securities depend on the difficulty of Discrete Logarithm Problem (DLP) on the so–denoted G3 over BN curve. This paper, in order to faster solve the DLP, first proposes to utilize Gauss period Normal Basis (GNB) for Pollard’s rho method, and then considers to accelerate the solving by an adoption of lazy random walk, namely tag tracing technique proposed by Cheon et al

Squaring Algorithm Efficient for Cubic Extension Field Derived with Pseudo Gauss Period Normal Basis

Recently, pairing–based cryptographies have attracted much attention. For fast pairing calculation, not only pairing algorithms but also arithmetic operations in extension field should be efficient. Especially for final exponentiation included in pairing calculation, squaring is more important than multiplication. This paper considers squaring algorithms efficient for cubic extension field which is often used for pairing implementaions

Evaluating temperature effects on leaching behavior of geogenic arsenic and boron from crushed excavated rocks using shaking and nonshaking batch tests

The leaching behavior of arsenic and boron is evaluated in this work through two types of excavated rocks with geogenic contaminants under different temperatures. Excavated rocks with geogenic contaminants are expected to be used in embankments with appropriate countermeasures being taken against the risks brought about by geogenic contamination. The leaching behavior might change because of changes in the ground temperature. However, the effects of temperature on the leaching behavior of such rocks have not been well examined. Herein, batch leaching tests at temperatures between 5 and 60 °C were performed under shaking and nonshaking conditions. Mudstone and shale rock were crushed into particles smaller than 2 mm, which were required for the tests. The tests were carried out for durations ranging from 6 h to 15 days because changes in leaching kinetics also require careful evaluation. After conducting the nonshaking tests for 15 days at 40 °C, the mudstone sample leached arsenic and boron at concentrations of approximately 0.7 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. The arsenic and boron concentrations were about 20 and 40% higher than those of the sample leached at a temperature of 20 °C. Elevated temperatures were seen to increase the leaching kinetics of the toxic elements. For the shale rock sample, the leaching rate for arsenic was 7.7 × 10⁻²/h at 40 °C, which was about 2.5 times greater than the value at 30 °C. The nonshaking tests showed higher leaching amounts of arsenic and boron than the shaking tests, especially at elevated temperatures. As unrealistic estimations should be avoided, nonshaking tests are suggested. Moreover, nonshaking tests lasting longer than 6 h are necessary due to the relatively slow dissolution of minerals

B-Cell-Activating Factor Affects the Occurrence of Thyroid Autoimmunity in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Interferon Alpha

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients frequently suffer from thyroid disorders during interferon therapy. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between serum B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels and the presence of antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) in CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. Six months after the therapy, anti-TPO antibody was detected in 10 (males, 1; females, 9) of 50 patients. The mean age of these patients was higher than that of the anti-TPO-negative patients (61 yr versus 55 yr). Before treatment, the serum BAFF levels of the anti-TPO-positive patients were higher than those of the anti-TPO-negative patients. After starting therapy, the serum BAFF levels of both the anti-TPO-positive and -negative patient groups were elevated. Our findings suggest that the serum BAFF concentration before therapy can predict the risk of thyroid autoimmunity in elderly female patients with CHC

Distinct contribution of Fc receptors and angiotensin II-dependent pathways in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis

Distinct contribution of Fc receptors and angiotensin II-dependent pathways in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis.BackgroundThe contribution of antibody and/or immune-complex to the pathogenesis of immunologically-mediated glomerulonephritis is not fully understood, although it has been recently clarified that Fc receptors (FcRs) play critical roles in the inflammatory cascade. We therefore re-evaluated the classical model of glomerulonephritis, anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis (Anti-GBM GN), from the standpoint of FcRs and also investigated the residual FcR-independent mechanisms.MethodsWe adopted an Anti-GBM GN mouse model that has two strains deficient in the FcR γ chain [γ(-/-)] or FcγRIIB [RII(-/-)], and analyzed functional (urinary protein, serum creatinine, BUN) and pathological changes of the glomeruli. For the analyses of FcR-independent mechanisms, several doses of nephrotoxic serum were applied, and then mice were treated either with cobra venom factor or an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist in γ(-/-) mice.ResultsIn γ(-/-) mice, renal injuries were dramatically attenuated with an absence of polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) influx, while RII(-/-) mice suffered accelerated glomerular injuries in spite of a normal PMN influx. In the absence of FcR-dependent effects in γ(-/-) mice, the FcR-independent pathway lead to chronic renal damage characterized by mesangial proliferation and progressive expansion of mesangial area, with monocyte/macrophage accumulation and with the expression of α smooth muscle actin in the mesangial cells and interstitium. Those injuries in γ(-/-) mice were not attenuated by the decomplementation, but completely abolished by using an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist.ConclusionsOur results clearly demonstrate that FcRs play a pivotal role in Anti-GBM GN, especially in its acute phase. We further clarified the existence of FcR and complement-independent but antibody-dependent pathway. Furthermore, we found that those pathological changes were strongly related to the renin-angiotensin system

Epicutaneous Administration of Papain Induces IgE and IgG Responses in a Cysteine Protease Activity-Dependent Manner

ABSTRACTBackground: Epicutaneous sensitization to allergens is important in the pathogenesis of not only skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis but also "atopic march" in allergic diseases such as asthma and food allergies. We here examined antibody production and skin barrier dysfunction in mice epicutaneously administered papain, a plant-derived occupational allergen belonging to the same family of cysteine proteases as mite major group 1 allergens.Methods: Papain and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease were patched on the backs of hairless mice. Tran- sepidermal water loss was measured to evaluate the skin barrier dysfunction caused by the proteases. Papain or that treated with an irreversible inhibitor specific to cysteine proteases, E64, was painted onto the ear lobes of mice of an inbred strain C57BL/6. Serum total IgE levels and papain-specific IgE and IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA.Results: Papain and V8 protease patched on the backs of hairless mice caused skin barrier dysfunction and increased serum total IgE levels, and papain induced the production of papain-specific IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b. Papain painted onto the ear lobes of C57BL/6 mice induced papain-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2c, and IgG2b, whereas papain treated with E64 did not. IgG1 was the most significantly induced papain-specific IgG subclass among those measured.Conclusions: We demonstrated that the epicutaneous administration of protease not only disrupted skin barrier function, but also induced IgE and IgG responses in a manner dependent on its protease activity. These results suggest that protease activity contained in environmental sources contributes to sensitization through an epicutaneous route

Three-dimensional human placenta-like bud synthesized from induced pluripotent stem cells

Placental dysfunction is related to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, but there is no effective treatment for it. Recently, various functional three-dimensional organs have been generated from human induced-pluripotent cells (iPSCs), and the transplantation of these iPSCs-derived organs has alleviated liver failure or diabetes mellitus in mouse models. Here we successfully generated a three-dimensional placental organ bud from human iPSCs. The iPSCs differentiated into various lineages of trophoblasts such as cytotrophoblast-like, syncytiotrophoblast-like, and extravillous trophoblast-like cells, forming organized layers in the bud. Placental buds were transplanted to the murine uterus, where 22% of the buds were successfully engrafted. These iPSC-derived placental organ buds could serve as a new model for the study of placental function and pathology

MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION OF LI-ION COORDINATION STRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT PROPERTIES IN LIB ELECTROLYTES: INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR SIZE

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently attracting much attention because electric vehicles and large storage batteries are becoming widespread. For lightweight and efficient usability, LIB performance for safety, capacity, charge/discharge cycle characteristics, and electric current must be improved. Development of high performance LIB relies mostly on progress of materials used for electrolytes and electrodes. In particular, electrolytes are an important factor because they play a role in carrying charged substances, i.e. ions, between separated electrodes. The ion-carrying performance depends on the choice of electrolyte, and thus, in this study, we discuss the relationship between the geometric shape of molecules used as electrolytes and their physical properties, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We showed that, as the smaller solvent is used, ionic conductivity of the system is further enhanced. MD simulations showed that there are two main reasons for this behavior. First, a smaller radius allows the solvent molecule to diffuse easily. Consequently, when solvent molecules frequently surround a lithium ion, and the diffusion coefficient of the lithium ion becomes larger. Second, because small solvent molecules naturally come close to ions, salt (composed of cations and anions) is forced to be dissociated because of the solvent molecules, and the degree of salt dissociation increases