Security Module Research Articles

Multi‐Channel Optical Encryption Film With Strong Circularly Polarized Luminescence and High Quantum Yield

AbstractDeveloping a sustainable security module with multiple optical states is important to deter counterfeits, but is challenging. This work designs a kind of chiral luminescent film through the co‐assembly of the CNCs and d‐glucose, simultaneously doped with the lanthanide complex and organic dye. Superior mechanical performance makes it undertake various deformations, including twist, and tension without breaking. Meanwhile, this film has unique optical characteristics. On the one hand, the chiroptical signals can be manipulated through the matching of the photonic bandgap and fluorescence peak. On the other hand, due to the co‐assembly with two luminophores, the film displays the excitation wavelength (Ex)‐dependent circularly polarized luminescence properties. Under the Ex of 275 nm, the film simultaneously integrates a large dissymmetry factor of −0.3898, a high quantum yield of 69.19%, and a considerable lifetime of 1381 µs, which has exceeded most reported chiral luminescent assemblies. These multimodal and convertible optics endow the film with practical applications in the anti‐counterfeit. It can be designed as a security label or used as a written paper to encrypt the information. Even in humid surroundings, this security effect is still ensured.

Multibarrier Collaborative Modulation Devices with Ultra-High Logic Operation Density.

The demands for highly miniaturized and multifunctional electronics are rapidly increasing. As scaling-down processes of transistors are restricted by physical limits, reconfigurable electronics with switchable operation functions for different tasks are developed for higher function integration based on split- or vertical-dual-gate structures. To promote the present reconfigurable electronics and exceed the function integration limit, the critical issue is to integrate complex operations into simple circuit forms by establishing more control dimensions. This work proposes a multibarrier collaborative (MBC) modulation architecture to increase the control dimension by multiple forms of potential barriers and achieves combinational and reconfigurable logic operations by a single MBC device. The MBC architecture exhibits ultrahigh logic operation density, including 58.8% area reduction for multiplexer operations and 71.4% area reduction for 4-logic reconfigurable operations. Besides, a hardware security module composed of 4 MBC devices implementing 8 types of logic operations is demonstrated. This work reveals an effective design of function integration for next-generation electronics.

Advanced Encryption Techniques for Database Security in Cloud Environments

This technical article explores advanced encryption techniques for enhancing database security in cloud environments, addressing the growing need for robust data protection as organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based solutions. The article covers encryption standards such as AES-256, RSA, and Elliptic Curve Cryptography, as well as key management approaches using Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and Key Management Services (KMS). It also delves into cutting-edge concepts like homomorphic encryption and quantum-resistant algorithms. The discussion encompasses performance optimization strategies and regulatory compliance considerations, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future trends in cloud database security.

Association between socioeconomic position of the household head, food insecurity and psychological health: an application of propensity score matching

BackgroundMental health outcomes can be influenced by various factors, one of which has recently gained attention, namely food security. Food security is paramount to maintaining not only physical, but also mental health. There is an increasing need to understand the interplay between food insecurity (FI) and mental health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of FI on psychological health (anxiety and depression) as well as to examine the modifying effect of socioeconomic position on this relationship.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Maputo City, Mozambique, in 1,842 participants. Data were collected through structured interviews using a modified version of the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Module to measure FI, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure anxiety and depression. A composite variable for psychological health was created. Propensity score matching and interaction effect analyses were employed to examine the effects of FI on psychological health and the moderating role of socioeconomic position.ResultsOf the 1,174 participants randomly assigned to propensity score matching, 787 were exposed to FI while 387 were unexposed. The analysis revealed stark disparities in psychological health outcomes associated with FI. The risk of poor psychological health among those exposed to FI was 25.79%, which was significantly higher than the 0.26% in unexposed individuals. The risk difference was 25.54% points (95% CI: 22.44–28.63), with a risk ratio of 99.82. Our assessment of population attributable fractions indicated that nearly all the risk for poor psychological health in the exposed group could be ascribed to FI. The interaction effects analysis revealed that socioeconomic status modifies this relationship. Specifically, heads of food-insecure households with a lower socioeconomic position tended to report poor mental health compared to their food-secure counterparts with a higher position.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the profound impact of FI on the mental health of household heads in Maputo City, socioeconomic position being a significant modifier. Addressing household FI along with the socioeconomic position of household heads could be pivotal to mental health promotion, especially among vulnerable populations.

Deep Feed-Forward Neural Network-Based Biometric Authentication System with Biometric Identity and Reputation Score in Blockchain

The biometric authentication in today’s digital era has become a vital issue in security and privacy. Biometrics is currently becoming more significant specifically for higher security modules. Here, a deep feed-forward neural network-based biometric authentication system (DFFNN_biometric authentication system) is presented for biometric authentication utilizing a biometric fingerprint image. In blockchain network, biometric data are considered and the fingerprint images are fed as input. As an input fingerprint image, minutiae extraction is accomplished. Thereafter, a deep key is generated employing a deep residual network (DRN) for template protection. Thereafter, privacy protection template generation is conducted and the templates thus obtained are stored on a database (DB). On the other hand, a query fingerprint image is given as input in the authentication stage. The processes such as minutiae extraction, deep key generation using DRN and privacy protection template authentication are carried out as like it performed in the blockchain network. Additionally, the matching process is conducted between the output acquired in the authentication phase and image stored in DB. The reputation score is generated from authenticated biometric behavior. The DFFNN is utilized to generate a reputation score. Moreover, the DFFNN_biometric authentication system obtained a maximum accuracy of 90.8%, maximum genuine accept rate (GAR) of 0.936, minimum false acceptance rate (FAR) of 0.588, minimum false rejection rate (FRR) of 0.556 and maximum reputation score of 9.346.

HyperWallet: cryptocurrency wallet as a secure hypervisor-based application

We present VirtSecIO, a hypervisor-based platform for executing secure modules. VirtSecIO provides the modules with secure paths to peripheral devices, which can be shared between the modules and the operating system. Moreover, VirtSecIO is a thin hypervisor with a negligible performance overhead and a minimal attack surface. We demonstrate VirtSecIO’s abilities by developing HyperWallet, a secure module that acts as a hardware crypto-wallet, without requiring any dedicated hardware.

Enhancing healthcare cloud security with intelligent shuffled frog leaping optimized sequential long short-term memory (ISFLO-SLSTM)

Although medical image processing consumes much memory, computing time and specialized platforms are needed. As a result, it is crucial to implement cost-effective solutions to replace outdated ones. Due to these factors, we choose to adopt cloud computing to satisfy our needs for large-scale data processing. Meanwhile, this strategy offers accessibility to services upon request with excellent reliability and versatility. Therefore, employing cloud services rather than internal applications will assist healthcare organizations in outsourcing calculations to a third party, thereby reducing operating costs. However, to avoid malicious data leaks, comprehensive protection of information across unauthorized users and untrustworthy clouds is necessary. Different frameworks are created to allow consumers to save and analyze their information utilizing cloud-based computing. They are developed utilizing distributed systems, cryptosystems, or an amalgam of the two. The primary issue with applying cryptography methods for the enormous analysis of information on the cloud is the computing cost of image processing operations. Preventing unauthorized usage of healthcare records and private health details is the main concern. To secure data processing in a cloud environment by classifying image pixels, we offer a revolutionary intelligent shuffled frog jumping optimized sequential long short-term memory (ISFLO-SLSTM) approach. We added an additional layer, the cloud security module, to lower the danger of future medical data leakage. The effectiveness of the suggested strategy is assessed using medical RGB images taken from the Kaggle database. The findings of this study show how the ISFLO-SLSTM system has the potential to revolutionize healthcare information analysis by protecting patient privacy and security that utilizes the full extent of the latest machine learning methods.

Trustworthy Environmental Monitoring Using Hardware-Assisted Security Mechanisms.

Environmental monitoring is essential for safeguarding the health of our planet and protecting human health and well-being. Without trust, the effectiveness of environmental monitoring and the ability to address environmental challenges are significantly compromised. In this paper, we present a sensor platform capable of performing authenticated and trustworthy measurements, together with a lightweight security protocol for sending the data from the sensor to a central server anonymously. Besides presenting a new and very efficient symmetric-key-based protocol, we also demonstrate on real hardware how existing embedded security modules can be utilized for this purpose. We provide an in-depth evaluation of the performance and a detailed security analysis.

Qualitative and quantitative research on a relationship between food security and well-being among students in Almaty city

The main aim of this paper is to examine the potential influence of collectivism on the well-being and food insecurity of university students in Almaty. 35 college students were selected for qualitative in-depth interview. The primary objective of this study is to examine the potential influence of collectivism on the well-being and food insecurity of university students in Almaty. To this end, a qualitative in-depth interview was conducted with 35 college students. In addition, a quantitative analysis was conducted with 244 undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students from 5 universities to check significant, validity and reliability in spring semester of 2023 for quantitative analysis. Authors used mixed method. Firstly, qualitative in-depth interview with based on a set of literature-derived questions. Then, the USDA 6-item food security module survey was used to measure food insecurity. The World Health Organization Five Factor Well-Being Index used to measure wellbeing of the students. To measure collectivism Communal Orientation Scale (COS) with 14-items were used. It was found that well-being positively effect on food security and their significance is high. While, collectivism has a negative impact on their relation with a high level of significance.

Food Insecurity is Increasing and is More Common Among Persons with Chronic Liver Disease.

Effective interventions for metabolic liver disease include optimized nutritional intake. It is increasingly clear, however, that many patients with metabolic liver disease lack the resources to execute nutritional advice. Data on the trends of food insecurity are needed to prioritize public health strategies to address the burden of liver disease. Cross-sectional analysis of six waves of data from the 2007-2018, 24,847 subjects aged ≥20 years from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Food security was measured using the US Department of Agriculture's Core Food Security Module. Liver disease was defined as elevated liver enzymes and a risk factor: elevated BMI, diabetes, and/or excess alcohol consumption. Models were adjusted using age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, poverty-income ratio, smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, sugary beverage intake, Healthy Eating Inex-2015 score. Advanced liver disease was estimated using FIB-4 >2.67. The overall prevalence of liver disease was 24.6%, ranging from 21.1% (2017-2018) to 28.3% (2015-2016) (P-trend=0.85). 3.4% of participants had possible advanced liver disease, ranging from 1.9% (2007-2008) to 4.2% (2015-2016)(P-trend=0.07). Among those with liver disease, the prevalence of food insecurity was 13.6% in 2007-2008, which rose steadily to 21.6% in 2015-2016, before declining to 18.0% in 2017-2018 (P-trend=0.0004). Food insecurity rose more sharply for adults aged <50 years (2007-2008: 17.6%, 2015-2016: 28.0%, P-trend=0.004) compared to adults aged ≥50 years (2007-2008: 9.5%, 2015-2016: 16.5%, P-trend<0.0001). Food insecurity was more common among women, those with high BMI, and those with diabetes. Food insecurity is increasingly common among those with liver disease.

Foodinsecurity.london: Developing a food-insecurity prevalence map for London - a machine learning from food-sharing footprints

Introduction &amp; BackgroundThe ability of policymakers to positively transform food environments requires robust empirical evidence that can inform decisions. At present, there is limited data on food-insecurity in the UK that can be used to inform interventions by local authorities, due to the prohibitive costs and logistical challenges of administering longitudinal surveys. This study builds on existing research and a key pilot study developed in partnership between Olio - a food-sharing app with 7 million registered users as of 2023, the University of Nottingham and Havering Council in 2020, which resulted in the world’s first map prototype of food-insecurity. Objectives &amp; ApproachOur approach leverages Machine Learning methods applied to unprecedented food-acquisition behavioural data and open area-level deprivation statistics to model and predict individuals' experience of food-insecurity across London. We used Olio’s extensive network of users to distribute 2,849 surveys, asking respondents across London about their experiences of food-insecurity. The survey was distributed online, adapting the US Department of Agriculture Food Security module. Respondents were asked about their experiences, including (1) eating smaller meals or skipping meals, (2) being hungry but being unable to eat, and (3) not eating for a whole day, because they could not afford food or because they could not get access to food. Using the household, rather than the individual-level version of the food insecurity module helped shed light on the experience of vulnerable groups - such as children. Relevance to Digital FootprintsThe survey responses provided a ground truth about users' experiences of destitution. Deprivation metrics and digital footprint data in the form of food-acquisition behavioural data were then used in a Random Forests Machine Learning model to predict whether households were experiencing food-insecurity, achieving high accuracy. Food-sharing data from almost 50,000 London-based users active on Olio’s platform were then used to identify relevant food-seeking behaviours and aggregate recognised instances of food-insecurity at neighbourhood (MSOA) level. Conclusions &amp; ImplicationsTo identify and rank relevant socio-demographics and food-seeking behaviours most informative for describing food-insecurity an extensive variable selection analysis was performed. The resulting SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values showed that a combination of food solicitation and the general deprivation of an area were important predictors of food-insecurity.

Food Security: An Unmet Need in Outpatient Burn Care.

Nutrition is paramount for wound healing after burn injury. With rising food prices and time off work due to burn injuries, access to adequate nutrition may be a significant financial stressor. We asked patients at an outpatient burn clinic to complete the Household Food Security Module, which queries about food security over the preceding 12 months. Demographics and burn characteristics were abstracted from the medical record. We assessed the overall prevalence of food insecurity, risk factors for food insecurity, and potential effects of food insecurity on nutritional status and wound healing time. Wound healing time was assessed via Cox regression while adjusting for burn depth, total body surface area burned, and diabetes. Over 40% of participants reported experiencing food insecurity; it was more common in patients who preferred Spanish language (p=0.014) or were unemployed (p=0.049). Just over half of participants experiencing food insecurity were using any food assistance resources. Among patients more than 30 days from burn injury, patients who were food insecure had larger burns (p=0.01). Experience of food insecurity was not associated presence of malnutrition on nutrition-focused physical exam (p=0.47). Wound healing time for burns managed in the outpatient setting was associated with burn depth (p<0.001), but not food insecurity (p=0.95), burn size (p=0.17), or diabetes (p=0.14). Although food insecurity did not result in malnutrition or negatively impact wound healing time, it is important for providers to routinely screen for food insecurity due to increased nutritional requirements and loss of wages after burn injury.

Prolonged Early Food Insecurity and Child Feeding Practices among a Low-Income Hispanic Population: Role of Parenting Stress

ObjectiveTo examine associations between prolonged early household food insecurity (FI) during pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood, and child feeding practices, and the mediating role of dysfunctional parent-child interactions. MethodsWe conducted secondary longitudinal analyses of data from the Starting Early Program (StEP) randomized controlled trial, which studied a primary care-based child obesity prevention program for low-income Hispanic families. Our independent variable was FI, using the USDA Food Security Module, during the third trimester of pregnancy and at child ages 10- and 19-months. Frequency of reported FI was defined by the number of periods with FI (0, 1, 2, or 3). Our dependent variables were feeding practices at child age 28-months using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. Our mediating variable was dysfunctional parent-child interactions using the Parenting Stress Index subscale at age 19-months. We used linear regression to determine associations between frequency of reported FI and feeding practices adjusting for covariates, and mediation analyses to determine if dysfunctional parent-child interactions mediate these associations. ResultsThree hundred and forty four mothers completed assessments at child age 28-months. Of the 12 feeding practices examined, higher frequency of reported FI was positively associated with using food as a reward, restriction of food for weight control, and using food for emotional regulation, and was negatively associated with monitoring of less healthy foods. There was a significant indirect effect of frequency of reported FI on these practices through dysfunctional parent-child interactions. ConclusionHigher frequency of reported FI was associated with four feeding practices, through dysfunctional parent-child interactions. Understanding these pathways can inform preventive interventions.

Exploring reasons for high levels of food insecurity and low fruit and vegetable consumption among university students post-COVID-19

High rates of food insecurity and low consumption of fruit and vegetables among university students have been observed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and intensified during the pandemic. This study aimed to investigate food insecurity among university students and its associations with sociodemographic factors, fruit and vegetable consumption behaviours, and preferred campus programs to address these issues. A convenience sample of 237 Australian university students completed a cross-sectional online survey from October to December 2022. Food insecurity was assessed using the 10-item US Adult Food Security Module, applying the Canadian classification scheme. Sociodemographic variables, fruit and vegetable consumption behaviours, and perceptions of fruit and vegetable access and their affordability were included in the survey. Students were also asked to select the most suitable program(s) and provide reasons for their choice using open-ended questions. Approximately half of respondents (46.4%) were identified as food insecure. The proportion of students meeting the recommended intake of vegetables as specified in the Australian Dietary Guidelines was very low (5.1%) compared with fruit (46.2%). Low fruit consumption was significantly associated with food insecurity (OR = 1.81; 95%CI 1.03, 3.18, p = 0.038). Factors such as the perceived lower accessibility and higher price of fruit and vegetables were significantly associated with higher odds of food insecurity. In terms of potential programs, a free fruit and vegetable campaign was the most popular program, with affordability and physical access being the most frequently cited reasons. These findings suggest that food insecurity is associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption in university students. Therefore, transforming campus food environments and developing food policies at the university level must be considered to address food and nutrition security in university students.

The Association Between Food Insecurity and Census Tract-Based Indexes in an Urban Academic Reproductive Clinic: Can Residence Predict Food Insecurity in Reproductive Patients? [ID 2683613

INTRODUCTION: Identifying food-insecure patients remains a priority in reproductive clinics given nutrition’s effect on maternal health. We sought to determine the association between self-reported food insecurity with census tract-based indexes including the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI), Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) low-income and low-food access areas (LILAs), to identify which indexes can help identify at-risk patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey study (UMBHP-00099693) of patients presenting for reproductive care at one urban academic center. Food insecurity was scored as greater than 0 on the 6-Item USDA Food Security Module, and living within a LILA was collected from the 2019 USDA database. We categorized social vulnerability as moderate/low/very low vulnerability or high/very high vulnerability using the SVI. We categorized childhood opportunity using the COI as very low/low and moderate/high/very high. RESULTS: Of the 179 participants in the study, 84 (47%) reported food insecurity. The following proportions lived in a: LILA 96 (54%); high/very high vulnerability tract 138 (77%); and low/very low childhood opportunity (CO) tract 144 (86%). Living within a LILA was associated with an increased odds of experiencing food insecurity (odds ratio [OR] 1.8 [1.0, 3.4]). Living within a high/very high vulnerability tract was not significantly associated with food insecurity (OR 1.2 [0.6, 2.4]), nor was living within a low/very low CO tract (OR 1.6 [0.8, 3.5]). CONCLUSION: Residence within a LILA could be associated with food insecurity in patients seeking reproductive care, which can inform the development of future clinical and geographic interventions. As one in two patients were food insecure, we recommend universal screening of all patients at reproductive appointments.

HSM4SSL: Leveraging HSMs for Enhanced Intra-Domain Security

In a world where digitization is rapidly advancing, the security and privacy of intra-domain communication within organizations are of critical concern. The imperative to secure communication channels among physical systems has led to the deployment of various security approaches aimed at fortifying networking protocols. However, these approaches have typically been designed to secure protocols individually, lacking a holistic perspective on the broader challenge of intra-domain communication security. This omission raises fundamental concerns about the safety and integrity of intra-domain environments, where all communication occurs within a single domain. As a result, this paper introduces HSM4SSL, a comprehensive solution designed to address the evolving challenges of secure data transmission in intra-domain environments. By leveraging hardware security modules (HSMs), HSM4SSL aims to utilize the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol within intra-domain environments to ensure data confidentiality, authentication, and integrity. In addition, solutions proposed by academic researchers and in the industry have not addressed the issue in a holistic and integrative manner, as they only apply to specific types of environments or servers and do not utilize all cryptographic operations for robust security. Thus, HSM4SSL bridges this gap by offering a unified and comprehensive solution that includes certificate management, key management practices, and various security services. HSM4SSL comprises three layers to provide a standardized interaction between software applications and HSMs. A performance evaluation was conducted comparing HSM4SSL with a benchmark tool for cryptographic operations. The results indicate that HSM4SSL achieved 33% higher requests per second (RPS) compared to OpenSSL, along with a 13% lower latency rate. Additionally, HSM4SSL efficiently utilizes CPU and network resources, outperforming OpenSSL in various aspects. These findings highlight the effectiveness and reliability of HSM4SSL in providing secure communication within intra-domain environments, thus addressing the pressing need for enhanced security mechanisms.

Public assistance, living environments, and food insecurity: A comparative community case study

Food insecurity continues to affect certain seg­ments of the U.S. population at the household and individual levels even when the economy is experi­encing growth. This recognition has led to the design and implementation of food assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, targeting food hardship in low-income families. This is in addition to other types of government assistance, such as housing subsidies and public housing, as low-income households and individuals face similar challenges in housing security. Concern over “concentrated poverty” in traditional public housing environment has contributed to a shift toward mixed-income developments, envisaged to improve the living conditions and economic opportunities of public-housing residents. This paper provides a compara­tive assessment of food insecurity in traditional and mixed-income public housing communities. It also examines the effect of nonhousing public assis­tance on food insecurity and the temporal relation­ship between the timing of food hardship and the receipt of assistance. Administering a modified version of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Household Food Security Module to the majority of residents in the two communities, the researchers found negligible differences in food insecurity between recipients and nonrecipients of government assistance. Nevertheless, government assistance appeared to improve the probability of being food secure as it interacted with living envi­ronments, suggestive of greater beneficial effect in the environment of mixed-income housing. The results show that the number of households experi­encing reduced food intake was lowest in the first two weeks and highest during the fourth week of the month.

Custody in the age of digital assets : The path to building market infrastructure fit for a tokenised economy

This paper charts the dynamic evolution of finance and capital markets amid the digital asset surge. Tracing the historical trajectory from conventional banking to the current digital era, the paper underscores the intertwined narrative of finance and technology. Distributed ledger technology (DLT) and digital assets take centre stage, driving continuous financial operations and reshaping market dynamics. Custody emerges as a pivotal factor in this digital transformation. Established financial institutions strategically invest in digital asset infrastructure, recognising the seismic potential of tokenisation. Research from major companies projects significant tokenisation of assets, prompting global banks to align their strategies accordingly. The paper explores diverse use cases, from custody and trading services for cryptocurrencies to tokenising financial securities and real-world assets. Navigating the regulatory landscape proves crucial, with varying regulations across jurisdictions posing challenges. A unified regulatory framework is advocated for fostering global adoption. The paper delves into the technological nuances of safeguarding digital assets, exploring key management solutions such as multiparty computation (MPC) and hardware security modules (HSMs). The paper anticipates a shift towards recentralisation as the digital asset market matures, with established financial institutions and custodians poised to leverage trust, balance sheets and regulatory compliance to open up commercial opportunities in the digital asset space. In essence, the paper provides a sweeping overview of the current digital asset landscape, offering insights into challenges, opportunities and technological considerations shaping the digital asset custody value chain.

IMPROVEMENT OF DATABASE PROTECTION SYSTEM FROM UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION BASED ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND PROOF-OF-WORK CONSENSUS ALGORITHM

In today's digital world, there is an active use of databases, and the relevance of protecting them is growing every day. After all, databases can contain a wide range of confidential information (personal, financial, government, commercial, etc.), unauthorized access to which will lead to irreversible negative consequences, including material damage, reputational losses, and even legal problems. In addition, the number and complexity of cyberattacks is growing every day. Attackers use various methods to gain unauthorized access to databases, such as the use of software vulnerabilities, social engineering methods, brute force attacks, etc. Therefore, the problem of increasing the security of databases against unauthorized modification is of great importance. In this regard, this paper proposes to address this issue by using blockchain technology in combination with the Proof-Of-Work consensus algorithm, which ensures the security and integrity of the system, and helps prevent fraud and abuse by using cryptographic methods to protect the blockchain from unauthorized access and modification. It is also worth noting that the Proof-of-Work algorithm has a number of other advantages, such as decentralization, transparency, and data immutability after it is added. Thus, to achieve the goal, the subject area was analyzed, the known methods on which the operation of database security systems is based were investigated, the architecture and algorithm of the security module were created, which allows for decentralized data storage and, accordingly, increases the level of their security by using a special consensus protocol to coordinate the contents of the registry, as well as cryptographic hashing algorithms and electronic digital signatures to ensure the integrity of the parameter transfer transaction.

Deep‐Q‐Network hybridization with extended Kalman filter for accelerate learning in autonomous navigation with auxiliary security module

AbstractThis article proposes an algorithm for autonomous navigation of mobile robots that mixes reinforcement learning with extended Kalman filter (EKF) as a localization technique, namely EKF‐DQN, aiming to accelerate the maximization of the learning curve and improve the reward values obtained in the learning process. More specifically, Deep‐Q‐Networks (DQN) are used to control the trajectory of an autonomous robot in an environment with many obstacles. To improve navigation capability in this environment, we also propose a fusion of visual and nonvisual sensors. Due to the ability of EKF to predict states, this algorithm is used as a learning accelerator for the DQN network, predicting future states and inserting this information into the memory replay. Aiming to increase the safety of the navigation process, a visual safety system is also proposed to avoid collisions between the mobile robot and people circulating in the environment. The efficiency of the proposed control system is verified through computational simulations using the CoppeliaSIM simulator with code insertion in Python. The simulation results show that the EKF‐DQN algorithm accelerates the maximization of rewards obtained and provides a higher success rate in fulfilling the mission assigned to the robot when compared to other value‐based and policy‐based algorithms. A demo video of the navigation system can be seen at: https://bit.ly/3reEZrU.