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Within the electronic design automation (EDA) domain, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions have emerged as formidable tools, yet they typically augment rather than redefine existing methodologies. These solutions often repurpose deep learning models from other domains, such as vision, text, and graph analytics, applying them to circuit design without tailoring to the unique complexities of electronic circuits. Such an “AI4EDA” approach falls short of achieving a holistic design synthesis and understanding, overlooking the intricate interplay of electrical, logical, and physical facets of circuit data. This study argues for a paradigm shift from AI4EDA towards AI-rooted EDA from the ground up, integrating AI at the core of the design process. Pivotal to this vision is the development of a multimodal circuit representation learning technique, poised to provide a comprehensive understanding by harmonizing and extracting insights from varied data sources, such as functional specifications, register-transfer level (RTL) designs, circuit netlists, and physical layouts. We champion the creation of large circuit models (LCMs) that are inherently multimodal, crafted to decode and express the rich semantics and structures of circuit data, thus fostering more resilient, efficient, and inventive design methodologies. Embracing this AI-rooted philosophy, we foresee a trajectory that transcends the current innovation plateau in EDA, igniting a profound “shift-left” in electronic design methodology. The envisioned advancements herald not just an evolution of existing EDA tools but a revolution, giving rise to novel instruments of design-tools that promise to radically enhance design productivity and inaugurate a new epoch where the optimization of circuit performance, power, and area (PPA) is achieved not incrementally, but through leaps that redefine the benchmarks of electronic systems’ capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of different soluble proteins, including collagen peptides (CP), soy protein hydrolysate (HSPI), whey protein isolate (WPI), sodium caseinate (SC), and egg white protein (EWP), on the structural and mechanical properties of blends containing soy protein isolate (SPI) and wheat gluten (WG) were investigated using high-moisture extrusion. The addition of CP and HSPI resulted in a more pronounced fibrous structure with increased voids, attributing to their plasticizing effect that enhanced polymer chain mobility and reduced viscosity. WPI, SC, and EWP acted as crosslinking agents, causing early crosslink formation and decreased polymer chain mobility. These structural variations directly influenced the tensile properties of the extrudates, with CP displaying the highest anisotropic index. Moreover, the presence of soluble proteins impacts the permeability of the extrudates. These insights shed light on how soluble proteins can be used to modify the properties of SPI-WG blends, making them suitable for meat analogue production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased soil salinization is among the main factors that limits safe rice production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to alleviate the toxic effects of salt stress in plants. However, more studies on AMF combined with other functional microorganisms are needed to further improve salt tolerance in rice. Therefore, the compound inoculum Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) together with two functional microorganisms, Piriformospora indica (Pi) and Agrobacterium rhizogenes (Ar) was evaluated for their effect on the rice growth, photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, ion homeostasis, and the expression of salt tolerance-related genes under 0, 80, 120 and 160 mM salt stress conditions. The results showed that: (1) the rice seedling biomass of the AMF compound inoculant treatment group was significantly higher than that of the non-inoculation treatment group (P < 0.05); (2) under NaCl stress, inoculation with AMF compound inoculants can activate the rice antioxidant enzyme system and improve osmoregulation ability; (3) AMF compound inoculants can increase the concentration of K+ in the plant and inhibit the transfer of Na+ to rice leaves, maintaining a high K+/Na+; and (4) AMF compound inoculants could induce and regulate the overexpression of genes related to salt tolerance, photosynthesis and ion homeostasis in rice, and improve the tolerance of rice under salt stress. Our study showed that AMF compound inoculants could improve the adaptability of rice under NaCl stress and promote plant growth by regulating the photosynthetic gas exchange parameter, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability, and ion homeostasis of plants. These results suggest that AMF compound inoculants may play an important role in improving rice productivity in salinized soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (HSPI) as a plasticizer in the soy protein mixture-wheat gluten (SP-WG) extrudates on its structural and mechanical properties during high moisture extrusion. Those SP were prepared by mixing soy protein isolate (SPI) and HSPI with different ratios. HSPI primarily consisted of small molecular weight peptides measured with size exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The elastic modulus of SP-WG blends decreased with increased HSPI contents through the closed cavity rheometer. Adding HSPI at low concentrations (≤30 wt% of SP) enhanced a fibrous appearance and higher mechanical anisotropy while adding more HSPI resulted in a compact and brittle structure and tended to be isotropic. It can be concluded that the partial addition of HSPI as a plasticizer can promote the formation of a fibrous structure with enhanced mechanical anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vehicular environment, Location Based Services (LBS) are widely deployed to provide a service or a piece of information that is related to the location of a driver. Though a series of technologies, such as anonymity, mix zone or private information retrieval, can be exploited to protect the drivers position information, the data proprietorship is always ignored. In addition, since the embedded systems like Onboard Unit are generally recourse-constrained, efficient schemes are urgent for now. In this paper, we presented a novel oblivious transfer protocol based on Number Theory Research Unit Encryption and structured a security LBS scheme in terms of it. Comparing with Jannati and Bahrak's protocol, it is concluded that our scheme is more efficient and practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), a sensitive technique for gene expression analysis, depends on the stability of the reference genes used for data normalization under different experimental conditions. Bursaphelenchus mucronatus, a pine-parasitic nematode varying in virulence, is widely distributed in natural pine forests throughout the northern hemisphere, but has not been investigated with respect to the identification of reference genes suitable for the normalization of RT-qPCR data. In the present study, eight candidate reference genes were analyzed in B. mucronatus under different habitat conditions and at different developmental stages. The expression stability of these genes was assessed by geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, delta Cq, and RefFinder algorithms. In general, our results identified encoding beta-tubulin as the most stable gene. Moreover, pairwise analysis showed that three reference genes were sufficient to normalize the gene expression data under each set of conditions, with genes encoding beta-tubulin, 18S ribosomal RNA and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme being the most suitable reference genes for different habitat conditions, whereas genes encoding beta-tubulin, histone, and 18S ribosomal RNA exhibited the most stable expression at different developmental stages. Validation of the selected reference genes was performed by profiling the expression of the fatty acid- and retinol-binding protein gene in different habitats, and by profiling the expression of the arginine kinase gene at different developmental stages. This first systematic analysis for the selection of suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR in B. mucronatus will facilitate future functional analyses and deep mining of genetic resources in this nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soya protein isolate (SPI)/alginate (ALG)/montmorillonite (MMT)/thymol (THY) nanocomposite films were prepared with a codrying process to enhance the antimicrobial stability. The results showed higher gelation point temperature and more stable gelling network were obtained by the addition of MMT. Better thermal stability and sustained release effect was found in the coblended film containing MMT, in which THY release rate at 25 °C decreased with increasing MMT concentration but increased with temperature at a constant relative humidity. The SPI/ALG/THY, SPI/ALG/THY-CO and SPI/ALG/THY-CO-0.6 (MMT content = 0.6 g g−1 SPI) films effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli by 0.95, 0.91 and 0.70 log cfu mL−1 and of Staphylococcus aureus by 0.94, 0.89 and 0.73 log cfu mL−1, respectively, on the surface of raw sausage, compared to the control film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Notch2 is a critical membrane receptor for B-cell functions, and also displays various biological roles in lymphoma pathogenesis. In this article, we reported that 3 of 69 (4.3%) diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) exhibited a truncate NOTCH2 mutation at the nucleotide 7605 (G/A) in the cDNA sequence, which led to partial deletion of the C-terminal of PEST (proline-, glutamic acid-, serine- and threonine-rich) domain. The truncate Notch2 activated both the Notch2 and the NF-κB signals and promoted the proliferation of B-cell lymphoma cell lines, including DLBCL and Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines. Moreover, the ectopic proliferation was completely inhibited by ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), an NF-κB inhibitor. Simultaneously, PDTC also reduced the expression level of Notch2. Based on these results, we conclude that the Notch2 receptor with PEST domain truncation enhances cell proliferation which may be associated with the activation of the Notch2 and the NF-κB signaling. Our results are expected to provide a possible target for new DLBCL therapies by suppressing the Notch2 and the NF-κB signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wilms’ tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) is a nuclear protein, which is ubiquitously expressed in many tissues. Furthermore, in various types of malignancies WTAP is overexpressed and plays a role as an oncogene. The function of WTAP in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), however, remains unclear. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was applied to evaluate the levels of WTAP expression in DLBCL tissues and normal lymphoid tissues. Overexpression and knock-down of WTAP in DLBCL cell lines, verified on mRNA and protein level served to analyze cell proliferation and apoptosis in DLBCL cell lines by flow cytometry. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), IP, and GST-pull down assessed the interaction of WTAP with Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) as well as determined the extend of its ubiquitinylation. Results: WTAP protein levels were consistently upregulated in DLBCL tissues. WTAP promoted DLBCL cell proliferation and improved the ability to confront apoptosis, while knockdown of WTAP in DLBCL cell lines allowed a significant higher apoptosis rate after treatment with Etoposide, an anti-tumor drug. The stable expression of WTAP was depended on Hsp90. In line, we demonstrated that WTAP could form a complex with BCL6 via Hsp90 in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: WTAP is highly expressed in DLBCL, promoting growth and anti-apoptosis in DLBCL cell lines. WTAP is a client protein of Hsp90 and can appear in a complex with BCL6 and Hsp90 in DLBCL. Down-regulation of WTAP could improve the chemotherapeutic treatments in DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]