Updatable encryption (UE) is a cryptosystem that allows clients to outsource encrypted data to untrusted servers and periodically rotating the encryption keys. The server can update the encrypted ...data from an old key to a new key using an update token generated by the client without revealing any information about the plaintext. In this paper, we propose a new security model for UE that considers the possibility of an adversary corrupting all update tokens and keys of the past epochs. We show that our security model is consistent with the actual application scenarios of UE. We construct the first UE scheme based on NTRU, named NTRU-UE. Our scheme employs the generalized key-switching technique to achieve backward-leak uni-directional key updates and uni-directional ciphertext updates. Additionally, we use the ciphertext-masking technique to achieve random-update. We prove that the new scheme satisfies the security requirements in our model. Furthermore, we evaluate the security levels of our scheme in both classical and quantum models. We also present the implementation efficiency of our scheme and the number of times the key can be updated under our recommended parameters. These results fill the long-term gap in theory and practical application of UE.
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Levornidazole, which was originally used to inhibit anaerobic and protozoal infections, is currently known to possess a novel pharmacological effect. In this study, we investigated ...the possible modulation by levornidazole of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated IL-1β and IL-18 release from macrophages. The NLRP3 inflammasome could be activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus ATP or monosodium urate (MSU) in PMA-pretreated THP-1 macrophages. Surprisingly, an in vitro study showed that levornidazole suppressed IL-1β and IL-18 secretion by blocking the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. However, dextrornidazole barely suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome. Levornidazole displays activity similar to that of dextrornidazole against clinical anaerobic bacteria, and they possess the same pharmacokinetic properties. Moreover, both of these compounds were unable to ameliorate T cell-mediated inflammation. Therefore, we used the widely applied NLRP3 inflammasome-related models of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and LPS-induced endotoxin shock to confirm the novel pharmacological effect of levornidazole in vivo. The in vivo studies verified the novel activity of levornidazole because the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by levornidazole contributed to a better ameliorating effect than that of dextrornidazole in the in vivo models tested. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect of levornidazole was found to be at least partially achieved by decreasing the mitochondrial ROS generation without inhibiting NF-κB activation. In summary, these data describe a new pharmacological effect of levornidazole as an inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Context
To unravel the effects of the C vacancy, doping N type and number, the adsorption of HCHO and O
2
was investigated on the graphene (Gr)-based supported Pt single atom by density functional ...theory calculations. The electronegativity of the vacancy and N-doped Gr was a crucial factor both for the anchoring for a Pt and the further adsorption of HCHO and O
2
on the supported Pt. The electronegativity can be tuned by the C vacancy number (1V and 2V), the doping N type (graphitic-N, pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N) and the doping pyridinic-N number (1N ~ 4N). The high electronegativity of the vacancy and N-doped Gr favored the anchoring for a Pt compared to the Gr, while too high electronegativity was detrimental for further adsorption of adsorbates on the supported Pt. The Bader charge analysis proved that the electronegativity followed the trend as pyrrolic-N > pyridinic-N > graphitic-N, and 4N-Gr > 2V-Gr > 3N-Gr > 2N-Gr > 1N-Gr > 1V-Gr > Gr. As a result, the pyridinic-N, the 1V-Gr, 1N-Gr and 2N-Gr with the suitable electronegativity achieved both stronger anchoring for a Pt and more favorable adsorption of HCHO and O
2
on the supported Pt than the pristine Gr support.
Methods
Periodic DFT calculation was performed using the VASP code. The PAW method and the GGA-PBE functionals were used. Part of work was also carried out by the DSPAW procedure of Device Studio.
Graphical Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a signaling pathway required to maintain endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and hepatic lipid metabolism. Here, we identify an essential role for the ...inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease 1α (IRE1α)-X box binding protein 1 (XBP1) arm of the UPR in regulation of hepatic very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and secretion. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of Ire1α reduces lipid partitioning into the ER lumen and impairs the assembly of triglyceride (TG)-rich VLDL but does not affect TG synthesis, de novo lipogenesis, or the synthesis or secretion of apolipoprotein B (apoB). The defect in VLDL assembly is, at least in part, due to decreased microsomal triglyceride-transfer protein (MTP) activity resulting from reduced protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) expression. Collectively, our findings reveal a key role for the IRE1α-XBP1s-PDI axis in linking ER homeostasis with regulation of VLDL production and hepatic lipid homeostasis that may provide a therapeutic target for disorders of lipid metabolism.
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► Ire1α deletion impairs hepatic VLDL assembly, but not lipogenesis or apoB secretion ► IRE1α-XBP1s regulates TG partitioning into the smooth ER for VLDL assembly ► Inactivation of IRE1α in hepatocytes reduces PDI expression and MTP activity ► PDI restores MTP function and promotes VLDL secretion in Ire1α-deleted hepatocytes
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of pollutants that ubiquitously present in environment and hard to be degraded by microorganisms. Herein, we reported a novel ...photocatalytic-bacterial coupled removal system to treat PAH-polluted water. Using pyrene as the model pollutant, we demonstrated that the removal percentage of different groups was in order: 63.89% ± 1.03% (Vis-Biological) > 61.27% ± 1.08% (UV-Biological) > 59.58% ± 1.15% (UV) > 57.41% ± 1.13% (Vis) > 6.65% ± 0.72% (Biological) > 1.70% ± 0.34% (Control), showing the coupled system significantly improved the removal percentage of pyrene. Additionally, we observed that the coupled system driven by visible light showed higher removal percentage than UV light, exhibiting a good potential for future application. Sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that alpha diversity (richness, evenness and diversity) got promoted and data of the relative abundance showed that Pseudomonadaceae was substituted as the dominant bacteria for Planococcaceae, with some other functional bacteria quickly acclimatizing in the bacterial community. Difference analysis indicated that over half of top fifteen genera were generally different significantly (p < 0.001) among two different samples, and UV light altered structure and composition of bacterial community more than visible light. Functional features’ change suggested that the bacterial community not only protected itself but also participated in degrading pyrene. Overall, our study offered a new method for PAH degradation and contributed to further understanding of coupled catalytic-bacterial degradation processes.
•The combination of photocatalysis and biodegradation promoted PYR removal.•Dominant bacteria altered along with some functional bacteria quickly acclimatizing.•UV light-induced combined system altered bacteria community more than visible light.•Functional features adjusted to shield bacterial community and remove PYR.
In the quest to elevate the sodium‐ion intercalation kinetics of transition metal oxide electrodes, the intrinsic low conductivity of these materials often acts as a bottleneck, restricting Na+ ...storage. Herein, the mechanism behind sodium‐ion diffusion kinetics in MnO2 is explored, specifically focusing on the manipulation of π* antibonding orbital occupancy. This is accomplished through strategic doping with strongly electron‐withdrawing Rh3+ (t2g6eg0), enhancing the hybridization of Mn 3d‐O 2p orbitals and significantly increasing the electrical conductivity of MnO2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results demonstrate that the smaller orbital energy difference between Rh3+ eg and Mn4+ t2g, compared to that between Rh3+ eg and Mn4+ eg, fosters direct electron transfer from the Mn4+ t2g to the vacant Rh3+ eg. This electron movement induces an upshift in the Mn‐t2g orbital energy levels while concurrently diminishing the occupancy of π* antibonding orbitals formed via Mn t2g‐O 2p hybridization. The resultant Rh‐MnO2 electrode exhibits an impressive specific capacity of 335 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a substantial rate capacity of 224.8 F g−1 at 20 A g−1. This investigation elucidates the intricate mechanism underlying the sluggish kinetics of sodium ion intercalation within transition metal oxide frameworks.
Driving electron transfer from the Mn t2g orbitals to the unoccupied Rh3+ eg orbitals upshifts Mn t2g orbital energy and simultaneously depletes the occupancy of π* antibonding orbitals of MnO2, culminating in an amplified Mn 3d‐O 2p orbital hybridization and a spike in electron mobility.
To deal with the traffic congestion issues caused by the imbalance between supply and demand in parking lots, this study proposes a graph-based scheme generation method for variable traffic ...organization in parking lots. A graph-based methodological framework is developed to dynamically generate feasible traffic organization schemes and adapt the road networks of parking lots based on fluctuating demands. First, we design a parking lot-tailored enhanced primal approach by adding a directedness attribute while maintaining road continuity to ensure correspondence between generated graphs and traffic organization schemes. A graph generation algorithm is then designed to generate all feasible schemes in the scenario, deploying the depth-first search algorithm to check the connectivity of each graph and narrowing down feasible options based on domain knowledge. Finally, the initial parking space distribution and parking demand are used as inputs to calculate the total vehicle cruising time under each scheme, serving as the key indicator to select the optimal organization scheme. A single-level parking lot model is developed to verify the performance of our method under six initial parking space distributions. This model is built using the multi-agent simulation platform AnyLogic version 8.8.6, which enables the quick transformation of organization schemes by customizing the behavior of different agents. The results show that the optimal organization scheme generated by the proposed method can reduce vehicle cruising time by 15–46% compared to conventional traffic organization, varying according to parking space distributions. The significance of this study lies in its potential to mitigate traffic congestion in parking lots, thereby enhancing overall efficiency and user satisfaction. By dynamically adapting to fluctuating parking demands, this method provides a robust solution for urban planners and parking lot operators aiming to optimize traffic flow and reduce unnecessary delays.
Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are key in electrochemical energy storage, offering cost‐effectiveness and a broad potential window. However, their full potential is limited by poor understanding of ...their slow reaction kinetics and stability issues. This study diverges from conventional complex nano‐structuring, concentrating instead on spin‐related charge transfer and orbital interactions to enhance the reaction dynamics and stability of TMOs during energy storage processes. We successfully reconfigured the orbital degeneracy and spin‐dependent electronic occupancy by disrupting the symmetry of magnetic cobalt (Co) sites through straightforward strain stimuli. The key to this approach lies in the unfilled Co 3d shell, which serves as a spin‐dependent regulator for carrier transfer and orbital interactions within the reaction. We observed that the opening of these ′spin gates′ occurs during a transition from a symmetric low‐spin state to an asymmetric high‐spin state, resulting in enhanced reaction kinetics and maintained structural stability. Specifically, the spin‐rearranged Al−Co3O4 exhibited a specific capacitance of 1371 F g−1, which is 38 % higher than that of unaltered Co3O4. These results not only shed light on the spin effects in magnetic TMOs but also establish a new paradigm for designing electrochemical energy storage materials with improved efficiency.
The unlocked birdcage symbolizes the material opening its spin gates, with the liberated bird representing charges. By unlocking the spin gates, the movement of charges becomes smooth and unrestricted, corresponding to the enhanced dynamics and stability of transition metal oxides during energy storage processes.
Manganese‐based oxides (MnOx) suffer from sluggish charge diffusion kinetics and poor cycling stability in sodium ion storage. Herein, an interfacial electric field (IEF) in CeO2/MnOx is constructed ...to obtain high electronic/ionic conductivity and structural stability of MnOx. The as‐designed CeO2/MnOx exhibits a remarkable capacity of 397 F g−1 and favorable cyclic stability with 92.13% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles. Soft X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and partial density of states results reveal that the electrons are substantially injected into the Mn t2g orbitals driven by the formed IEF. Correspondingly, the MnO6 units in MnOx are effectively activated, endowing the CeO2/MnOx with fast charge transfer kinetics and high sodium ion storage capacity. Moreover, In situRaman verifies a remarkably increased structural stability of CeO2/MnOx, which is attributed to the enhanced Mn─O bond strength and efficiently stabilized MnO6 units. Mechanism studies show that the downshift of Mn 3d‐band center dramatically increases the Mn 3d‐O 2p orbitals overlap, thus inhibiting the Jahn–Teller (J–T) distortion of MnOx during sodium ion insertion/extraction. This work develops an advanced strategy to achieve both fast and sustainable sodium ion storage in metal oxides‐based energy materials.
A strong electron injection from CeO2 to MnOx induces electron accumulation in Mn t2g orbitals. Consequently, the formed interfacial electric field efficiently promotes charge transfer kinetics in MnOx. The downward shift of the Mn 3d band center stabilizes the Mn octahedral structure, suppressing the J–T distortion in MnOx during the sodium ion insertion/extraction process, thereby enhancing stability.
Photocatalytic ammonia synthesis technology is one of the important methods to achieve green ammonia synthesis. Herein, two samples of Cu ion-doped W18 O49 with different morphologies, ultra-thin ...nanowires (Cu-W18 O49 -x UTNW) and sea urchin-like microspheres (Cu-W18 O49 -x SUMS), are synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. Subsequently, Cu2 O-W18 O49 -x UTNW/SUMS is synthesized by in situ reduction, where the NH3 production rate of Cu2 O-W18 O49 -30 UTNW is 252.4 µmol g-1 h-1 without sacrificial reagents, which is 11.8 times higher than that of the pristine W18 O49 UTNW. The Cu2 O-W18 O49 -30 UTNW sample is rich in oxygen vacancies, which promotes the chemisorption and activation of N2 molecules and makes the N≡N bond easier to dissociate by proton coupling. In addition, the in situ reduction-generated Cu2 O nanoparticles exhibit ideal S-scheme heterojunctions with W18 O49 UTNW, which enhances the internal electric field strength and improves the separation and transfer efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. Therefore, this study provides a new idea for the design of efficient nitrogen fixation photocatalysis.
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