Timing the Transient Execution: A New Side-Channel Attack on Intel CPUs

The transient execution attack is a type of attack leveraging the vulnerability of modern CPU optimization technologies. New attacks surface rapidly. The side-channel is a key part of transient execution attacks to leak data. In this work, we discover a vulnerability that the change of the EFLAGS register in transient execution may have a side effect on the Jcc (jump on condition code) instruction after it in Intel CPUs. Based on our discovery, we propose a new side-channel attack that leverages the timing of both transient execution and Jcc instructions to deliver data. This attack encodes secret data to the change of register which makes the execution time of context slightly slower, which can be measured by the attacker to decode data. This attack doesn't rely on the cache system and doesn't need to reset the EFLAGS register manually to its initial state before the attack, which may make it more difficult to detect or mitigate. We implemented this side-channel on machines with Intel Core i7-6700, i7-7700, and i9-10980XE CPUs. In the first two processors, we combined it as the side-channel of the Meltdown attack, which could achieve 100\% success leaking rate. We evaluate and discuss potential defenses against the attack. Our contributions include discovering security vulnerabilities in the implementation of Jcc instructions and EFLAGS register and proposing a new side-channel attack that does not rely on the cache system

Role of APE1 in differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in response to oxidative stress; Use of APE1 small molecule inhibitors to delineate APE1 functions

Oxidative DNA damage has been implicated in a number of central nervous system pathologies. The base excision repair (BER) pathway is one of the most important cellular protection mechanisms that respond to oxidative DNA damage. Human apurinic (apyrimidinic) endonuclease/redox effector factor (APE1/Ref-1 or APE1) is an essential enzyme in the BER pathway and is expressed in both mitotic and post-mitotic cells in humans. In neurons, a reduction of APE1 expression increases chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity, while overexpression of APE1 protects cells against the cytotoxicity. However, given the multiple functions of APE1, knockdown of total APE1 is not completely informative of whether it is the redox or DNA repair activity, or interactions with other proteins. Therefore, the use of selective small molecules that can block each function independent of the other is of great benefit in ascertaining APE1 function in post-mitotic cells. In this study, we chose differentiated SH-SY5Y cells as our post-mitotic cell line model to investigate whether a drug-induced decrease in APE1 DNA repair or redox activity contributes to the growth and survival of post-mitotic cells under oxidative DNA damaging conditions. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of WT-APE1 or C65-APE1 (repair competent) results in significant increase in cell viability after exposure to H2O2. However, the 177/226-APE1 (repair deficient) did not show a protective effect. This phenomenon was further confirmed by the use of methoxyamine (MX), which blocks the repair activity of APE1 that results in enhanced cell killing and apoptosis in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and in neuronal cultures after oxidative DNA damaging treatments. Blocking APE1 redox function by a small molecule inhibitor, BQP did not decrease viability of SH-SY5Y cells or neuronal cultures following oxidative DNA damaging treatments. Our results demonstrate that the DNA repair function of APE1 contributes to the survival of nondividing post-mitotic cells following oxidative DNA damage

Research progress on the role of lncRNA–miRNA networks in regulating adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by a decrease in osteoblasts and an increase in adipocytes in the bone marrow compartment, alongside abnormal bone/fat differentiation, which ultimately results in imbalanced bone homeostasis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes to maintain bone homeostasis. Several studies have shown that lncRNAs are competitive endogenous RNAs that form a lncRNA–miRNA network by targeting miRNA for the regulation of bone/fat differentiation in BMSCs; this mechanism is closely related to the corresponding treatment of OP and is important in the development of novel OP-targeted therapies. However, by reviewing the current literature, it became clear that there are limited summaries discussing the effects of the lncRNA–miRNA network on osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation in BMSCs. Therefore, this article provides a review of the current literature to explore the impact of the lncRNA–miRNA network on the osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs, with the aim of providing a new theoretical basis for the treatment of OP

Spatial effect of market sentiment on housing price: evidence from social media data in China

Market sentiment has become more easily spread between cities through social media. This study investigates the spatial effect of market sentiment on housing price in a social media environment. In order to extract home-buyer sentiment from social media, we use text sentiment analysis techniques and build a novel housing market sentiment index. A spatial econometric model of housing price volatility is subsequently constructed and the housing market sentiment index is included as an independent variable in the model. Using panel data from 30 large and medium-sized cities in China for 20 quarters from 2016 to 2020, the spatial effect of market sentiment on housing price is empirically analyzed by calculating direct and indirect effects. The results show that market sentiment had a significant positive effect on housing prices in the local and neighboring cities over the research period. However, the impact of market sentiment on housing price was heterogeneous in terms of geographical region; the direct effect was stronger in the eastern region than in the central and western regions, and the indirect effect was significant only in the eastern region. These findings can provide references for government to formulate housing market regulation policies and measures based on market sentiment

Contemporary service theories integrated into construction project management

Project management plays an important role in successful completion of construction projects. One trend in the construction sector is a growing emphasis on project management. Ineffective integration of project management of project-based enterprises and operational processes of project owners, contractors and consultants prevents synergistic effects and causes resource waste and management inefficiency. Contemporary service theories, specifically service science and service-dominant logic, elucidate the involvement of clients in the creation of value and reinforce the nested relationship between project management service providers and clients. This study expands understanding of service theories by complementing service systems from project management and proposes a new framework for project management service systems, embedding service exchange and value co-creation in the construction processes. Research outcomes represent the importance of project management embedded with service theories in the construction industry and suggestions of research questions for future work

Effects of Devoflurane and Sevoflurane on Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia

Objective: To compare effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods Eighty elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia under open surgery were enrolled in this study, ASA I ~ II, were divided into group A (desflurane group) and group B (sevoflurane group) randomly. Intravenous drugs included midazolam 0.03 mg / kg, sufentanil 0.5ug / kg, propofol 1-2mg / kg, vecuronium 0.1 mg / kg. All patients were treated with desflurane or sevoflurane to maintain anesthesia, with depth 1.2 ~ 1.4MAC. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores were recorded before operation and 1h, 6h, 12h, 24h and 48h after operation. Results The MMSE scores of the two groups had no significant difference before operation but were significantly lower than those before operation (P <0.05). The MMSE scores of patients in group recovered at 12h after operation(P <0.05). Scores of group B returned in 24h after operation. Scores of group A were higher than group B at 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after operation, the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion The recovery time of cognitive function in elderly desflurane anesthesia patients was significantly less than that of sevoflurane

A Single Intravenous Injection of Oxycodone Hydrochloride In The Treatment of Acute Post-operative Pain after Laparoscopic Rectal Tumor Resection

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a single intravenous injection of oxycodone hydrochloride in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal tumor resection with acute postoperative pain and evaluate the quality of Anesthesia recovery period. Methods: 60 patients for laparoscopic rectal tumor resection, were randomly divided into two groups (n=30 each): oxycodone hydrochloride injection group (group I) and fentanil injection group (group II). oxycodone 0.05mg / kg (saline dilution of 1mg / ml) or fentanil 0.1ug / kg was injected intravenously at the end of surgery. Assessing the OAA / S sedation grade and Prince-Henry postoperative pain scores. Results: Demographic data and anesthesia characteristics were similar in the two groups. Group II’s Prince-Henry pain score was significantly higher than the group I’s (P <0.01). Conclusion: xycodone injection can reduce the incidence of acute pain after Laparoscopic rectal tumor resection, and effectively relieve the occurred acute pain, the clinical use of oxcodone is safe and effective

A Single Intravenous Injection of Oxycodone Hydrochloride In The Treatment of Acute Post-operative Pain after Laparoscopic Rectal Tumor Resection

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a single intravenous injection of oxycodone hydrochloride in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal tumor resection with acute postoperative pain and evaluate the quality of Anesthesia recovery period. Methods: 60 patients for laparoscopic rectal tumor resection, were randomly divided into two groups (n=30 each): oxycodone hydrochloride injection group (group I) and fentanil injection group (group II). oxycodone 0.05mg / kg (saline dilution of 1mg / ml) or fentanil 0.1ug / kg was injected intravenously at the end of surgery. Assessing the OAA / S sedation grade and Prince-Henry postoperative pain scores. Results: Demographic data and anesthesia characteristics were similar in the two groups. Group II’s Prince-Henry pain score was significantly higher than the group I’s (P <0.01). Conclusion: xycodone injection can reduce the incidence of acute pain after Laparoscopic rectal tumor resection, and effectively relieve the occurred acute pain, the clinical use of oxcodone is safe and effective

Effects of Devoflurane and Sevoflurane on Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia

Objective: To compare effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods Eighty elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia under open surgery were enrolled in this study, ASA I ~ II, were divided into group A (desflurane group) and group B (sevoflurane group) randomly. Intravenous drugs included midazolam 0.03 mg / kg, sufentanil 0.5ug / kg, propofol 1-2mg / kg, vecuronium 0.1 mg / kg. All patients were treated with desflurane or sevoflurane to maintain anesthesia, with depth 1.2 ~ 1.4MAC. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores were recorded before operation and 1h, 6h, 12h, 24h and 48h after operation. Results The MMSE scores of the two groups had no significant difference before operation but were significantly lower than those before operation (P <0.05). The MMSE scores of patients in group recovered at 12h after operation(P <0.05). Scores of group B returned in 24h after operation. Scores of group A were higher than group B at 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after operation, the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion The recovery time of cognitive function in elderly desflurane anesthesia patients was significantly less than that of sevoflurane