Encoding Capacity Research Articles

Structured cerebellar connectivity supports resilient pattern separation.

The cerebellum is thought to helpdetect and correct errors between intended and executed commands1,2 and is critical for social behaviours, cognition and emotion3-6. Computations for motor control must be performed quickly to correct errors in real time and should be sensitive to small differences between patterns for fine error correction while being resilient to noise7. Influential theories of cerebellar information processing have largely assumed random network connectivity, which increases the encoding capacity of the network's first layer8-13. However, maximizing encoding capacity reduces the resilience to noise7. To understand how neuronal circuits address this fundamental trade-off, we mapped the feedforward connectivity in the mouse cerebellar cortex using automated large-scale transmission electron microscopy and convolutional neural network-based image segmentation. We found that both the input and output layers of the circuit exhibit redundant and selective connectivity motifs, which contrast with prevailing models. Numerical simulations suggest that these redundant, non-random connectivity motifs increase the resilience to noise at a negligible cost to the overall encoding capacity. This work reveals how neuronal network structure can support a trade-off between encoding capacity and redundancy, unveiling principles of biological network architecture with implications for the design of artificial neural networks.

Optimizing reduced capture antibody conjugation to encoded hydrogel microparticles for enhanced multiplex immunoassays

Multiplex detection of protein biomarkers in biological fluids facilitates high-throughput detection using small-volume samples, thereby enhancing efficacy of diagnostic assays and proteomic studies. Graphically encoded hydrogel microparticles conjugated with capture antibodies have shown great potential in multiplex immunoassays by providing superior sensitivity and specificity, a broad dynamic range, and large encoding capacity. Recently, the process of post-synthesis conjugation of reduced capture antibodies to unreacted acrylate moieties in hydrogel particles has been developed to efficiently prevent the aggregation of capture antibodies inside particles, which occurs when using conventional conjugation methods. This direct conjugation process yielded robust assay performance through homogeneous conjugation of the capture antibodies, and avoided the use of hydrolytically unstable linker additives. However, no research has been conducted to optimize the process of conjugating capture antibodies to the particles. We here present a strategy to optimize capture antibody conjugation based on the finding that excessive addition of capture antibodies during incubation can rather lower the amount of capture antibodies conjugated to the particles for some types of capture antibodies. Based on our optimized capture antibody conjugation process, a singleplex immunoassay for a selected target was conducted. Enhanced sensitivity compared with previous studies was confirmed. We also validated the increased specificity of multiplex detection through our optimization process. We believe that the optimization process presented herein for capture antibody conjugation will advance the field of encoded hydrogel microparticle-based immunoassays.

Multi-responsive graphene quantum dots hybrid self-healing structural color hydrogel for information encoding and encryption

Information security plays an important role in the era of big data. Attempts to improve security often require giving them more additional encryption strategies. Herein, a specially designed multi-responsive graphene quantum dots hybrid self-healing structural color hydrogel system was proposed. Firstly, monomers such as N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM), and dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were filled into the photonic crystal templates and then photo-cured. After hydrofluoric (HF) etching, the graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and the precursor solution containing dithiothreitol (DTT) and borax were filled into the inverse opal holes. Finally, the hybrid hydrogel integrating quantum dots and photonic crystals was prepared by curing at room temperature. The hybrid hydrogel exhibited excellent pH, temperature, and angle-responsive color-changing characteristics. Besides, it had fluorescent properties under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation and had photothermal conversion ability under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Furthermore, the hybrid hydrogel color matrix was prepared by utilizing its excellent quantum dots fluorescent properties, dynamically adjustable structural color, multi-responsive, and self-healing properties. Therefore, the color matrix formed by the hybrid hydrogel had strong information storage capacity and encoding capacity, which could perform various information encryption and decryption modes step-by-step. Furthermore, we developed a simple mini-program for the step-by-step identification and decryption process of the matrix, indicating that it had great practical value in the field of information security.

Multilevel Anti-Counterfeiting Based on Covert Structural Features Embedded in Femtosecond-Laser-Treated Gold Nanocluster/Graphene Hybrid Layer.

The conventional nanoscale anti-counterfeiting scheme, exhibiting limited encoding capacity, faces growing challenges of being falsified with the advent of advanced high-resolution equipment. In this study, we propose a multilevel anti-counterfeiting device based on a femtosecond laser (fs-laser) treated plasmonic gold nanocluster/graphene (AuNC/Gr) hybrid structure integrated with a resonant cavity. The covert structural features encoded in random colored patterns, optical reflection spectra, and Raman spectra constitute three classes of anti-counterfeiting signatures, which originate from the AuNC-covered Gr, which initiates plasmonic and thermal couplings. The attendant inverted thermal distribution is presumed to confine the structural features to the AuNC-Gr interface while leaving no detectable traces on the surface of AuNC/Gr even under advanced high-resolution equipment. Therefore, the proposed approach achieves multilevel anti-counterfeiting accomplishing physically unclonable functions in the form of random colored patterns, reflection spectra, and Raman spectra. As the first report for realizing remarkable optical modulation (i.e., random colored patterns) without any surface trace or damage via fs-laser-AuNC/Gr interaction, our study also discloses the outstanding performance of Gr in fs-laser-induced optothermoplasmonic lithography on near-percolation metal films. Simultaneously, the demonstrated fs-laser-processed plasmonic hybrid structure in conjunction with a resonant cavity is anticipated to expand the encoding capabilities for nanoscale anti-counterfeiting while avoiding the risk of being imitated because of the covert structural features.

Coding of Non‐Linear White‐Light Luminescence from Gold‐Silicon Structures for Physically Unclonable Security Labels

AbstractLuminescent security labels are effective platforms for protection of consumer goods from counterfeiting. However, the lifetimes of such security approaches are limited due to narrow‐band photoluminescent features of the label elements, which can be used for the protection technology disclosure. In this paper, a novel concept for the application of non‐linear white‐light luminescence from hybrid metal–semiconductor structures fabricated by direct femtosecond laser writing for the creation of physically unclonable security labels is proposed. A close connection is demonstrated between the internal composition of hybrid structures, which is controlled at the fabrication stage, and their non‐linear optical signals. It is shown that the application of decorrelation procedure based on discrete cosine transform and polar codes for label coding can overcome the problem of the white‐light photoluminescent spectra correlation. The proposed fabrication approach and coding strategy allows reaching a high degree of device uniqueness (up to 99%), bit uniformity (close to 0.5), and encoding capacity up to 1.25 × 10437 in a single label element. The results demonstrate that the barriers for the application of white‐light luminescent nano‐objects for the creation of physically unclonable labels are removed.

Direct laser printing of high-resolution physically unclonable function anti-counterfeit labels

Security labels combining facile structural color readout and physically unclonable one-way function (PUF) approach provide promising strategy for fighting against forgery of marketable products. Here, we justify direct femtosecond-laser printing, a simple and scalable technology, for fabrication of high-resolution (12 500 dots per inch) and durable PUF labels with a substantially large encoding capacity of 10895 and a simple spectroscopy-free optical signal readout. The proposed tags are comprised of laser-printed plasmonic nanostructures exhibiting unique light scattering behavior and unclonable 3D geometry. Uncontrollable stochastic variation of the nanostructure geometry in the process of their spot-by-spot printing results in random and broadband variation of the scattering color of each laser printed “pixel,” making laser-printed patterns unique and suitable for PUF labeling.

Simultaneous brain cell type and lineage determined by scRNA-seq reveals stereotyped cortical development.

Mutations are acquired frequently, such that each cell's genome inscribes its history of cell divisions. Common genomic alterations involve loss of heterozygosity (LOH). LOH accumulates throughout the genome, offering large encoding capacity for inferring cell lineage. Using only single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of mouse brain cells, we found that LOH events spanning multiple genes are revealed as tracts of monoallelically expressed, constitutionally heterozygous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs). We simultaneously inferred cell lineage and marked developmental time points based on X chromosome inactivation and the total number of LOH events while identifying cell types from gene expression patterns. Our results are consistent with progenitor cells giving rise to multiple cortical cell types through stereotyped expansion and distinct waves of neurogenesis. This type of retrospective analysis could be incorporated into scRNA-seq pipelines and, compared with experimental approaches for determining lineage in model organisms, is applicable where genetic engineering is prohibited, such as humans.

Quasi-3-D Au mushrooms with programmable morphology for high-capacity flexible plasmonic encoding

Plasmonic encoding composed of metallic nanostructures makes a great contribution to the practical application of information encryption. However, most reports have so far shown the preparation of single or binary plasmonic encoding patterns because of the technical difficulty of assembling multiplex nanostructures on a single platform, which cannot satisfy the requirements of high encoding capacity for increasing information security. Herein, we developed a strategy based on plasma etching combined with in-situ growth to fabricate patterned arrays of quasi-three-dimensional (3-D) plasmonic Au nano-mushrooms with controlled morphologies, and successfully realized ideal high-capacity plasmonic encoding by arranging Au nano-mushrooms on one platform. On this basis, such multiplex encoding patterns have been transferred to the flexible substrate to realize the triple-mode encryption of the Morse code of “FUNSOM”, indicating great prospects in the applications of information encryption and data storage.

TranSalNet: Towards perceptually relevant visual saliency prediction

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have significantly advanced computational modelling for saliency prediction. However, accurately simulating the mechanisms of visual attention in the human cortex remains an academic challenge. It is critical to integrate properties of human vision into the design of CNN architectures, leading to perceptually more relevant saliency prediction. Due to the inherent inductive biases of CNN architectures, there is a lack of sufficient long-range contextual encoding capacity. This hinders CNN-based saliency models from capturing properties that emulate viewing behaviour of humans. Transformers have shown great potential in encoding long-range information by leveraging the self-attention mechanism. In this paper, we propose a novel saliency model that integrates transformer components to CNNs to capture the long-range contextual visual information. Experimental results show that the transformers provide added value to saliency prediction, enhancing its perceptual relevance in the performance. Our proposed saliency model using transformers has achieved superior results on public benchmarks and competitions for saliency prediction models.The source code of our proposed saliency model TranSalNet is available at:https://github.com/LJOVO/TranSalNet.

Edible Matrix Code with Photogenic Silk Proteins.

Counterfeit medicines are a healthcare security problem, posing not only a direct threat to patient safety and public health but also causing heavy economic losses. Current anticounterfeiting methods are limited due to the toxicity of the constituent materials and the focus of secondary packaging level protections. We introduce an edible, imperceptible, and scalable matrix code of information representation and data storage for pharmaceutical products. This matrix code is digestible as it is composed of silk fibroin genetically encoded with fluorescent proteins produced by ecofriendly, sustainable silkworm farming. Three distinct fluorescence emission colors are incorporated into a multidimensional parameter space with a variable encoding capacity in a format of matrix arrays. This code is smartphone-readable to extract a digitized security key augmented by a deep neural network for overcoming fabrication imperfections and a cryptographic hash function for enhanced security. The biocompatibility, photostability, thermal stability, long-term reliability, and low bit error ratio of the code support the immediate feasibility for dosage-level anticounterfeit measures and authentication features. The edible code affixed to each medicine can serve as serialization, track and trace, and authentication at the dosage level, empowering every patient to play a role in combating illicit pharmaceuticals.

A High-Security mutual authentication system based on structural color-based physical unclonable functions labels

Optical physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have been considered to be one of the powerful tools to curb counterfeiting due to the unpredictable preparation process and identifiable information content. Responsive colloidal photonic crystals capable of controlling and manipulating light propagation exhibit low optical loss, stability and hiding function, which are more suitable to accomplish the safety and practicability of optical PUF labels. Herein, structural color-based PUF labels (SCPLs) prepared by injection-casting colloidal crystals propose a highly efficient and stable PUF authentication. With the decimal encode of the reflection intensity level at each pixel, the SCPL can achieve a theoretical encoding capacity of 102500 at 50 × 50 pixels. Utilizing the responsiveness of SCPLs, the PUF features can be switched between invisible and visible states to hide PUF information. Moreover, authentication experiments confirmed that the robustness of SCPL reached 0.994 and 0.960 in tensile test and wetting–drying cycle test, respectively, indicating that SCPL with hiding function, low optical loss and stability can be authenticated multiple times in practical applications. Interestingly, a high-security mutual authentication system for supply chain based on digital storage secret keys is proposed to showcase the strong application potential of SCPLs for various fields such as confidentiality of materials/technologies, dynamic anti-counterfeiting/camouflage, etc.

Unclonable Anti‐Counterfeiting Labels Based on Plasmonic‐Patterned Nanostructures

Herein this study, plasmonic‐patterned nanostructures are applied to fabricate unclonable anti‐counterfeiting labels. Patterned Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are constructed by the skillful combination of diblock copolymer polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) self‐assembly with shadow mask lithography to provide a simple and universal approach for large‐area fabrication of patterned nanostructures. The AuNP pattern can be made visible by increasing the nanoparticle size. A surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)‐based physical unclonable function (PUF) security label with a large encoding capacity is fabricated by depositing malachite green (MG) on the surface. The broadening of the size distribution of the AuNPs after their growth and the increased disorder in their arrangement confer the security label with unique and unclonable characteristics. The as‐prepared optical PUF security label is read out by a confocal Raman spectrometer to extract binary codes, which are then authenticated through comparison. These SERS‐based PUF security labels, which combine patterning with stochastic spectral encoding, not only provide rich and diverse patterns but are also promising for anti‐counterfeiting applications in areas such as rigid silicon‐based optoelectronic materials and devices.

Reconfigurable Optical Physical Unclonable Functions Enabled by VO2 Nanocrystal Films

Optical physical unclonable function (PUF) is one of the most promising hardware security solutions, which has been proven to be resistant to machine learning attacks. However, the disordered structures of the traditional optical PUFs are usually deterministic once they are manufactured and therefore exhibit fixed challenge-response behaviors. Herein, a reconfigurable PUF (R-PUF) is proposed and demonstrated by using the reversible phase transition behavior of VO2 nanocrystals combined with TiO2 disordered nanoparticles. Both the simulation and experiment results show that the near-infrared laser speckle pattern of the R-PUF can be almost completely altered after the phase transition of VO2 nanocrystals, resulting in a reconfigurable and reproducible optical response. The similarity of the response speckles shows an obvious hysteresis loop during the rise and drop of temperature, providing a simple way to regulate and control the response behaviors of the R-PUF. More importantly, the hysteretic characteristic provides a new dimension to describe the challenge-response behavior of the R-PUF besides the laser speckle, providing an effective way to improve the security and encoding capacity of the optical PUFs. The proposed R-PUF can be employed as a promising security primitive for high robustness and high-security authentication and encryption.

Efficient quantum secure direct communication scheme based on single photons

In this work, we first introduce the specific steps of a quantum-secure direct communication scheme that sends a single photon at a time. Based on the basic steps of the scheme, it is gradually extended to a quantum secure direct communication scheme that transmits single-photon sequences twice and four times, with emphasis on the coding rules corresponding to each scheme. The purpose is that through the above scheme, it can be intuitively seen in the subsequent efficiency analysis that with the increase of the number of transmissions, the classification of single photons can be increased, and the encoding capacity of each single photon and the transmission efficiency of quantum states in the entire communication can be greatly improved. Finally, a universal scheme and coding rules for quantum secure direct communication by sending single photons in an integer power of 2 are proposed, and after security analysis the scheme proves to be safe and feasible. Through the efficiency analysis, the communication efficiency of this scheme is higher than that of the existing scheme, and the implementation of this scheme only uses a single photon, does not involve with quantum entanglement, and this scheme has more application values.

Racemized photonic crystals for physical unclonable function.

As Internet of Things-based technologies continue to digitalize our society, the development of secure and robust identification systems against evolving adversaries remains a grave challenge. Recently, physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have garnered tremendous scientific interest due to their intrinsic randomness, which makes them difficult to counterfeit. Herein, we present a facile approach for fabricating optical PUFs using spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking of molecular self-assembly. The PUF composed of racemic helical structures that generate chiroptical signals exhibits high encoding capacity (∼1013 000), precise recognition rate, and impressive reconfigurability. The present study demonstrates that the utilization of random symmetry breaking is a promising approach to the design of high-level security systems.

Unclonable Photonic Crystal Hydrogels with Controllable Encoding Capacity for Anticounterfeiting.

Inspired by the formation of random sparkling microcrystallines in naturally precious opals, we develop a new strategy to produce a class of unclonable photonic crystal hydrogels (UPCHs) induced by the electrostatic interaction effect, which further achieve unclonable encoding/decoding and random high-encrypted patterns along with an ultrahigh and controllable encoding capacity up to ca. 2 × 10166055. Owing to the randomness of colloidal crystals in the self-assembly process, UPCHs with randomly distributed sparkling spots are endowed with unpredictable/unrepeatable characteristics. This, coupled with the water response of UPCHs with angle dependence and robustness, can upgrade the encryption level and address some limitations of easy fading, limited durability, and high cost in practical uses of existing unclonable materials. Interestingly, UPCHs can be readily patterned to exhibit reliable and rapid authentication by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning, which can find broad applications in developing unbreakable and portable information storage/steganography systems not limited to anticounterfeiting.

Design and analysis of a truncated elliptical-shaped chipless RFID tag

This article presents a novel polarization-insensitive chipless radio frequency identification tag having an encoding capacity of 11 bits. The proposed resonator design comprises discontinuous arc slots forming truncated elliptically shape offering 1:1 slot to bit correspondence with suppressed unwanted harmonic resonances. Electromagnetic performance analysis of the proposed tag design is done over an ungrounded Rogers RT duroid® 5880 laminate. The overall tag design covers a footprint of 15 × 15 × 0.508 mm3 offering convincingly appreciable bit density of 4.88 bits/cm2 . The realized tags are analyzed for real-world electromagnetic performance resulting in an agreement between measured and computed results. The proposed work finds its applications in the food and beverage industry.

TAMI-66. FUNCTIONAL ALTERATIONS IN CORTICAL PROCESSING OF SPEECH IN GLIOMA-INFILTRATED CORTEX

Abstract INTRODUCTION Recent developments in the biology of malignant gliomas have demonstrated that glioma cells interact with neurons through both paracrine signaling and electrochemical synapses. Glioma-neuron interactions consequently modulate the excitability of local neuronal circuits, and it is unclear the extent to which glioma-infiltrated cortex can meaningfully participate in neural computations. For example, gliomas may result in a local disorganization of activity that impedes the transient synchronization of neural oscillations. Alternatively, glioma-infiltrated cortex may retain the ability to engage in synchronized activity, in a manner similar to normal-appearing cortex, but exhibit other altered spatiotemporal patterns of activity with subsequent impact on cognitive processing. METHODS Here, we acquired invasive electrophysiologic recordings to sample both normal-appearing and glioma-infiltrated cortex during speech initiation in order to measure language task-related circuit dynamics of IDH-wild-type glioblastoma patients. We then applied an information theoretical framework to directly compare the encoding capacity and decodability of signals arising from these regions. RESULTS We find that glioma-infiltrated cortex engages in synchronous activity during task performance in a manner similar to normal-appearing cortex, but recruits a diffuse spatial network. On a temporal scale, we show that glioma-infiltrated cortex has lower capacity for information encoding when performing nuanced tasks such as speech production of monosyllabic versus polysyllabic words. As a result, temporal decoding strategies for distinguishing monosyllabic from polysyllabic words were feasible for signals arising from normal-appearing cortex, but not from glioma-infiltrated cortex. CONCLUSION These findings inform our understanding of cognitive processing in patients with malignant gliomas and have implications for patient survival, neuromodulation, and prosthetics in patients with malignant gliomas.

Endothelial Dysfunction through Oxidatively Generated Epigenetic Mark in Respiratory Viral Infections.

The bronchial vascular endothelial network plays important roles in pulmonary pathology during respiratory viral infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A(H1N1) and importantly SARS-Cov-2. All of these infections can be severe and even lethal in patients with underlying risk factors.A major obstacle in disease prevention is the lack of appropriate efficacious vaccine(s) due to continuous changes in the encoding capacity of the viral genome, exuberant responsiveness of the host immune system and lack of effective antiviral drugs. Current management of these severe respiratory viral infections is limited to supportive clinical care. The primary cause of morbidity and mortality is respiratory failure, partially due to endothelial pulmonary complications, including edema. The latter is induced by the loss of alveolar epithelium integrity and by pathological changes in the endothelial vascular network that regulates blood flow, blood fluidity, exchange of fluids, electrolytes, various macromolecules and responses to signals triggered by oxygenation, and controls trafficking of leukocyte immune cells. This overview outlines the latest understanding of the implications of pulmonary vascular endothelium involvement in respiratory distress syndrome secondary to viral infections. In addition, the roles of infection-induced cytokines, growth factors, and epigenetic reprogramming in endothelial permeability, as well as emerging treatment options to decrease disease burden, are discussed.

Chaotic Organic Crystal Phosphorescent Patterns for Physical Unclonable Functions (Adv. Mater. 44/2021)

Security Labeling In article 2102542, Dong Hyuk Park, Wook Park, Sunkook Kim, and co-workers demonstrate chaotic phosphorescent patterns based on an organic crystal and MoS2 heterostructure for physical unclonable functions (PUFs). Phosphorescent-pattern-based PUFs achieve superior microscale randomness and no-cloning code with ease of fabrication. In image analysis, an encoding capacity as a single PUF domain of more than 1017 is achieved on a 25 μm-cubic MoS2 sample.