Information Storage Research Articles

Information storage across a microbial community using universal RNA barcoding.

Gene transfer can be studied using genetically encoded reporters or metagenomic sequencing but these methods are limited by sensitivity when used to monitor the mobile DNA host range in microbial communities. To record information about gene transfer across a wastewater microbiome, a synthetic catalytic RNA was used to barcode a highly conserved segment of ribosomal RNA (rRNA). By writing information into rRNA using a ribozyme and reading out native and modified rRNA using amplicon sequencing, we find that microbial community members from 20 taxonomic orders participate in plasmid conjugation with an Escherichia coli donor strain and observe differences in 16S rRNA barcode signal across amplicon sequence variants. Multiplexed rRNA barcoding using plasmids with pBBR1 or ColE1 origins of replication reveals differences in host range. This autonomous RNA-addressable modification provides information about gene transfer without requiring translation and will enable microbiome engineering across diverse ecological settings and studies of environmental controls on gene transfer and cellular uptake of extracellular materials.

Probing structural defects and X-ray induced persistent luminescence mechanisms on rare earth-doped strontium sulfide materials.

Persistent luminescence is related to the existence of point defects in the crystal structure, which can be induced by the insertion of dopant ions to create trap levels for charge carriers. Strontium sulfide (SrS) is a promising host for X-ray activated phosphors due to its high luminescence yield and X-ray absorption efficiency. While the mechanisms of UV- and visible light-induced luminescence in rare-earth doped SrS have been previously explored, this work focuses on understanding X-ray induced mechanisms using synchrotron radiation techniques. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis suggested that rare-earth ions incorporate into the SrS lattice primarily as substitutional defects, with structural distortions depending on the differences in ionic radii between Sr2+ and RE2+/3+. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra revealed the mixed-valence nature of Ce in SrS:Ce and SrS:Eu,Ce materials, and also that X-ray irradiation triggers complex charge transfer processes. The X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) results showed that co-doped samples exhibited longer persistent luminescence decay times than their single-doped counterparts due to the increased number of defects. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between crystal defects and persistent luminescence in X-ray-activated phosphors, contributing to the design of more efficient materials for applications such as medical imaging, optical information storage, and industrial sensing.

Fluorescent Metallacycles via Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly: Preparation, Regulation, and Applications.

ConspectusFluorescence by small molecular dyes is renowned for its real-time, dynamic, and noninvasive nature. It has become indispensable across scientific domains, including information storage, optoelectronic materials, biosensing, and both diagnosing and treating diseases. Despite their widespread use, these molecular dyes suffer from several limitations due to the sensitivity of their photophysical properties to environmental factors, such as concentration, solvent composition, and polarity. These challenges become particularly prominent when assembling or aggregating fluorescent molecules; their optical characteristics often become unpredictable or uncontrollable. Alternative strategies to stabilize and tune fluorescence during preparation are therefore crucial.Metal coordination, a classical approach in supramolecular chemistry, offers a promising solution. Coordinating fluorescent dyes to metals precisely directs self-assembly, ensuring defined stoichiometries, geometries, and reversibility. The resulting multifunctional metallacycles combine the advantages inherent to molecular design and fluorescence, pushing the boundaries of fluorescence-based assemblies. We present a modular, directional, and controllable strategy for the self-assembly of supramolecular metallacycles with well-defined geometries, providing a new avenue to address the limitations of traditional small molecular dyes.A key innovation in this research lies in the incorporation of photochromic units into the metallacycles, tuning their photophysical properties reversibly under external illumination. Their emission wavelengths, chiralities, and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) signals can all be modulated dynamically. These characteristics offer the potential for holographic imaging, where fine control of fluorescence behavior is crucial. We introduce a novel multistep Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy that enables real-time monitoring of the metallacycle assembly dynamics. Our FRET approach has been employed to develop photosensitized oxygenation reactions and highly efficient light-harvesting systems, highlighting its versatility. The unique photophysical properties of our fluorescent metallacycles have been applied successfully in several fields. They detect heparin quantitatively, showcasing their potential in biosensing. They have been integrated into nanoagents for photothermal, photodynamic, and chemotherapeutic therapies guided by imaging, offering a multimodal approach to therapeutic intervention. Such precise control over fluorescence, energy transfer, and assembly dynamics not only opens new avenues in materials design but also underscores supramolecular metallacycles' potential for advancing fluorescence technologies. Integrating metal coordination into fluorescence represents a significant step in the design and application of functional fluorescent metallacycles. This design strategy both advances fundamental supramolecular chemistry and provides new insights into photophysical systems for sensing, imaging, and therapeutics.

Non-synaptic plasticity enables memory-dependent local learning

Synaptic plasticity is essential for memory formation and learning in the brain. In addition, recent results indicate that non-synaptic plasticity processes such as the regulation of neural membrane properties contribute to memory formation, its functional role in memory and learning has however remained elusive. Here, we propose that non-synaptic and synaptic plasticity are both essential components to enable memory-dependent processing in neuronal networks. While the former acts on a fast timescale for rapid information storage, the latter shapes network processing on a slower timescale to harness this memory as a functional component. We analyse this concept in a network model where pyramidal neurons regulate their apical trunk excitability in a Hebbian manner. We find that local synaptic plasticity rules can be derived for this model and show that the interplay between this synaptic plasticity and the non-synaptic trunk plasticity enables the model to successfully accommodate memory-dependent processing capabilities in a number of tasks, ranging from simple memory tests to question answering.

Altered Mode of Structural Changes in Solid Solutions Leading to Dual Modulation: Spin Transition Temperatures and Steps.

The development of high-density information storage materials requires precise control of electron spin states. Multistep spin-crossover (SCO) materials with multiple stable spin states are prime candidates for this purpose. However, accurate control of the dynamic SCO behavior, including the dual dynamic modulation of the spin transition temperature (Tc) and transition steps, has been a significant hurdle. In this study, we propose a new two-dimensional SCO solid solution system, [FeIII(H0.5LI)2-2x(H0.5LCl)2x]·H2O, where H0.5LX (LX for short) denotes 5-X-2-hydroxybenzylidene-hydrazinecarbothioamide, with X being I or Cl and x ranging from 0 to 1. The proposed system exhibits a unique nonmonotonic variation in Tc with x, obtaining a minimum at x = 0.7, allowing fine-tuning of Tc across a 66 K range and control over transition steps from two steps to one step, accomplishing dual modulation. Single-crystal diffraction analysis and periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the doped ligand LCl modulates the FeIIIN2O2S2 ligand field with increasing doped LCl ligands during the HS → LS transition in solid solutions, enabling dual dynamic modulation of the Tc and the number of transition steps from two steps to one step through dynamic variation in the structural contraction modes (from b- and c-axis contraction to a-axis contraction). This study motivates the synthetic control of dynamic SCO solid solutions through the altered mode of structural contraction as a complementary route to adjust their SCO behavior.

Super-multiplexed imaging and coding in the range of radio frequency

The era of the Internet has led to an information explosion, creating significant challenges for current techniques in information storage and access. High-performance strategies that expand existing methods offer a promising solution. Imaging-based approaches are vital for information perception but remain underexplored for information processing due to limited multiplexity. Here, we introduce 19F magnetic resonance imaging-Empowered information Assess and Storage Technique (FEAST), enabled by 22 fluorinated quaternary ammonium derivatives with distinct 19F chemical shifts. We developed three coding platforms for FEAST: fluorinated choline analog solutions, fluorinated deep eutectic solvents, and fluorinated ionogels. These platforms allow 2-spatial-dimensional applications, such as 16-bit encoding, “dual-color” watermarking, multiplexed Colorcodes, and encrypted QR codes, as well as 3-spatial-dimensional applications like “cubic” information storage, implanted anti-counterfeit labels, and FEAST-guided encryption. This work highlights FEAST’s potential for advanced information storage and access, which is inspiring for further developments with versatile and robust coding platforms.

Training and transfer test to study the referential understanding of conspecific photographs by goats

Individual recognition requires animals to compare available cues with stored information. For goats, living in stable social groups and forming social hierarchy, it is reasonable to assume they can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. This study focuses on the cognitive mechanisms underlying goats’ perception of conspecific photographs, particularly whether they demonstrate image equivalence. Two groups of goats were trained to discriminate between portrait photographs of familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. The goats in group A (n = 12) were trained to select familiar individuals, whereas the goats in group B (n = 12) were trained to select unfamiliar individuals. Subsequent transfer test was conducted to assess their ability to generalise learned preferences to novel photographs of previously unseen goats. During the first training tasks (Tr1 and Tr2), no differences in learning performance between the two groups were observed. However, in the later tasks (Tr3 and Tr4), the goats in Group A exhibited better learning performance than did those in Group B. In the transfer test, five goats in Group A, but only one goat in Group B, demonstrated preferences for novel familiar or unfamiliar conspecifics. The superior performance of Group A goats in Tr3 and Tr4 and the number of goats that successfully transferred the familiarity concept to novel individuals provide compelling evidence for the formation of true image equivalence. While goats can establish image equivalence through familiarity, the abstraction of unfamiliar concepts is a more challenging cognitive task.

4D Encryption System: Hydrophilic–Hydrophobic Polyurethane Actuators with Smart Color Switching for High‐Capacity Data Storage

AbstractNatural communication methods have influenced the creation of sophisticated artificial materials capable of coherent and abundant responses to stimuli, a crucial necessity for developing applications such as dynamic encryption systems and high‐density information storage. However, existing materials for encryption and information storage are limited by predictable, single‐stimulus responses and lack the capacity for dynamic, continuous, and programmable changes. To address this gap, a bioinspired multicolor fluorescent polyurethane actuator is developed that combines dynamic color and shape adaptability within a single material platform. This smart actuator mimics the turgor‐driven movements of Oxalis corniculata through a hydrophilic/hydrophobic network that enables water diffusion, hydrogen bonding, and dynamic bond exchange. It responds to multiple stimuli, including temperature, pH, and excitation wavelength, exhibiting reversible multi‐state deformations and programmable fluorescence across red, green, blue, and even white light. The deformation behavior is supported by finite element simulations, ensuring precise control and predictability. Additionally, the tunable trichromatic fluorescence of the actuator underpins a 3D and 4D information encoding system, demonstrating increased information storage capacity and encryption security. The employment of micro‐processing technology in the fabrication of micro‐hidden optical encryption chips has been demonstrated, thus paving the way for underwater communication encryption technologies and adaptive materials.

Altermagnetic behavior in OsO2 : Parallels with RuO2

We investigate and compare the electronic structure of OsO2 with the extensively studied RuO2. Calculations show that OsO2 exhibits antiferromagnetism and spin splitting driven by crystal symmetry, a characteristic of altermagnetism and similar to RuO2. Examination of the Fermi surface, with and without spin-orbit coupling, reveals that OsO2 has lower Fermi group velocities compared to RuO2, suggesting limited charge carrier mobility in OsO2. While this characteristic may constrain its performance in high-speed electronic transport applications, it may also enhance stability for spin-based information storage in spintronics. Additionally, comparison of the vibrational properties of these rutile oxide systems demonstrates dynamical stability, typical mass dependent behaviors, and favorable agreement with measured Raman data. The calculated phonon density of states for RuO2 also agrees with our neutron scattering data. These observations substantiate the implications of the electronic and vibrational behaviors in OsO2 and RuO2, encouraging further investigation of their potential for emerging technological applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Ferroelectric state induced by surface oxidation in black phosphorus monolayer: a first-principles study

Abstract Two-dimensional ferroelectric materials have attracted widespread research interest due to their potential applications memory storage, sensors, and energy harvesting. In this work, based on first-principles calculations, we find that surface oxidation can transform the originally non-ferroelectric black phosphorus monolayer into a ferroelectric phase. The ferroelectric origin can be understood based on the structural transformation, from Pmna (α-P) to Pmn21 (α-PO), accompanied with inversion-center breaking, consistent with the ferroelectric phase reported in Bi monolayer (Adv. Funct. Mater., 28, 1707383, 2018; Nature, 617, 67, 2023). The in-plane polarization reaches up to 1.66×10-10 C/m, which is larger than those of most reported two-dimensional materials and meets the readability requirements for information storage units. The ferroelectric switching barrier is calculated to be 32.3 meV/atom, satisfying the writable requirements and larger enough to protect the written information. Additionally, the ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations further show that the failure temperature of ferroelectric α-PO is about 450K, which is higher than room temperature. These results suggest that the α-PO is a potential candidate for application in the field of miniaturised and integrated multifunctional electronics.

A Blockchain-Enabled AI-Driven Secure Searchable Encryption Framework for Medical IoT Systems.

Blockchain technology is widely adopted in the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) for information storage and retrieval. The integration of blockchain with IoMT systems enhances security; however, it raises privacy and security in data searching and storage. This study proposes a novel Binary Spring Search (BSS) technique based on group theory and integrated with a hybrid deep neural network approach to enhance the security and trustworthiness of IoMT. The proposed method incorporates secure key revocation and dynamic policy updates. The proposed framework leverages blockchain technology for immutable and decentralized data management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) for dynamic data analysis and threat detection, and advanced searchable encryption techniques to facilitate secure and efficient data queries. The proposed patient-centered data access model that combines blockchain technology with trust chains makes our method safer and more efficient and demonstrates a return on investment. Furthermore, our blockchain-based architecture ensures the integrity and immutability of medical data generated by IoMT devices, allowing for decentralized and tamper-proof storage. We used the hyper-ledger fabric tool, known as OrigionLab, for simulations in a blockchain context. We claim that the suggested framework provides a more searchable and secure solution to the healthcare system when compared to the other methods given through our findings. The simulation results show that our algorithm significantly reduces transaction time while maintaining high levels of security, making it a robust solution for managing Patient Health Records (PHR) in a decentralized manner.

Magnetic Assembly‐Assisted Photoprogrammable Circularly Polarized Luminescence Patterns in Flexible PDMS Films

AbstractCircularly polarized luminescence (CPL) material has been widely exploited in 3D display, information encryption, etc. However, in situ generation and dynamic modulation of CPL signals to achieve programmable CPL patterns remains challenging due to elusory interactions between fluorescence and the chiral microstructures. A novel strategy is proposed combining the controllable magnetic field‐assisted assembly and photo‐patterning technique to form the twisted stacking chiral heterostructure, consisting of orientated magnetic Ag@Fe3O4 nanowires (NWs) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film embedded with achiral dyes and orientated polydiacetylene (PDA) chains. In a designed chiral system, the orientated PDA chains after in situ photo‐polymerization can serve as the polarizer to produce linear polarized fluorescence, while the aligned Ag@Fe3O4 NWs on the surface of PDMS films act as phase retarder, favoring in situ CPL generation. Furthermore, the CPL characteristics, including the wavelength and handedness, can be switched by the thermo‐chromatic transition of PDA, thus, the programmable micropatterns with tailorable CPL distributions can be achieved. By employing the above fluorescence and CPL signals as two orthogonal information channels, the system possesses brilliant information storage capabilities, favoring multistage information encryption. This study proposes a novel strategy for the fabrication of programmable CPL micropatterns toward multiple information storage and encryption.

TAM ORTA TƏHSİL SƏVİYYƏSİ ÜZRƏ BİOLOGİYA FƏNNİNİN TƏDRİSİNDƏ İKT-dən İSTİFADƏ

Our modern society has joined a historical process called informatization. This process is carried out by computerization. Informatization plays a major role in the education of the younger generation as the main source of scientific, technical and socio-economic development of society. As a result of informatiza-tion and computerization, the use of ICT has become a necessity. ICT is actually a field that encompasses a wide range of technologies related to the acquisition, storage, reuse and protection of information. Every student who has a weak performance in using ICT in biology lessons increases his interest in learning the subject and can master practical experiences in a safe environment with the help of virtual laboratories.

Development of software for collecting cleft-specific data in Malaysia

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the development of a cleft-specific database for collecting and analyzing data on patients with cleft from birth to adulthood. However, such a database currently does not exist in Malaysia. The objective of this study was to develop a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) database software for Malaysia to streamline data collection and support comprehensive research to enhance outcomes of care.MethodsThe development of the database software involves several key stages, including determining the requirements, designing the software interface, implementing the system, conducting thorough testing, and completing comprehensive documentation. The database software was mainly developed internally within the research institution. The team involved in developing the clinical database includes cleft clinicians, software developers, software designers, members of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association Malaysia (CLAPAM), and experts in database development.ResultsAn online and offline database software has been developed to store information on patients with CL/P in Malaysia. It is designed to be user-friendly, accommodating multiple specialties and capable of storing photographs, radiology, and three-dimensional files. Various methods have been implemented to ensure data security. Additionally, documentation including video tutorials, consent forms, and hard copy versions has been developed to complement the database.ConclusionA specialized cleft-specific database software has been successfully developed for use in Malaysia to improve data management and support CL/P patient care.

Unlocking the potential of up-conversion charging for rapid and high-resolution optical storage with phosphors.

Current optical storage technologies utilizing phosphor media face challenges in achieving rapid and precise data recording with visible or infrared light, primarily due to the constraints of traditional charging techniques. Here, we introduce a cutting-edge method termed up-conversion charging (UCC) to address these challenges, enabling rapid and high-resolution data storage in phosphors. Our study focuses on the unique two-step ionization and non-linear charging characteristics of UCC in storage phosphors, specifically in a gallate composition Gd3Ga5O12:Cr3+. Remarkably, this technique enables data writing with high solution, requiring only 0.01 s of exposure per bit when utilizing a portable laser engraver equipped with visible-emitting diode lasers. The present strategy not only enhances recording efficiency but also ensures long-term data retention and superior rewritability. Moreover, we illustrate the versatility of UCC storage across various material systems through thermally- and optically-stimulated luminescence. Our outcomes highlight the transformative potential of the UCC method in advancing optical storage applications, offering significant improvements in the development of information storage solutions.

Application of rare earth upconversion luminescent material in anti-counterfeiting technologies

Rare earth upconversion luminescent nanomaterials exhibits several unique advantages including large anti-stokes shifts, narrow emission bands, adjustable fluorescence lifetimes, and multi-mode emission, making them ideal for anti-counterfeiting applications. This paper explores the application of these materials in various printing technologies, including inkjet printing, screen printing, nano-imprint lithography, and aerosol spray, for the creation of secure anti-counterfeiting patterns. Rare earth doped upconversion luminescent nanomaterials can be printed into a variety of anti-counterfeiting patterns, which has significant application potential in the fields of optical anti-counterfeiting, information storage and labeling. The upconversion luminescence mechanism is discussed in detail, followed by an analysis of recent advances in the field. The existing anti-counterfeiting printing technology and excitation mode of rare earth upconversion luminescence nanomaterials in the anti-counterfeiting and security field in recent years. Finally, rare earth upconversion luminescent materials have great potential for application in the field of secure anti-counterfeiting, and the unique luminescent mode ensures the uncopyability of anti-counterfeiting products. are addressed, and the prospect and expectation of the future development direction are presented. UCNPs, anti-counterfeiting printing technology, excitation mode together, is expected to contribute to the field of security technology.

Structural determinants of soft memory in recurrent biological networks

Abstract Recurrent neural networks are frequently studied in terms of their information-processing capabilities. The structural properties of these networks are seldom considered, beyond those emerging from the connectivity tuning necessary for network training. However, real biological networks have non-contingent architectures that have been shaped by evolution over eons, constrained partly by information-processing criteria, but more generally by fitness maximization requirements. Here, we examine the topological properties of existing biological networks, focusing in particular on gene regulatory networks in bacteria. We identify structural features, both local and global, that dictate the ability of recurrent networks to store information on the fly and process complex time-dependent inputs.

Program the “Light‐Flashable” 2D Fluorescent Lifetime Microbarcodes for Precision Information Storage

AbstractThe output signals of dynamic microbarcodes with precise control over dimensions can be reversibly altered in response to external stimuli, which have emerged as a promising alternative to information encoding. However, the complexity of multi‐dimensional encoding and the high requirements for precision in nano/microscale fabrication still present significant challenges. Herein, “Light‐Flashable” two‐dimensional (2D) polymeric fluorescent lifetime microbarcodes are prepared with excellent control of size, components, and functionalities using the technique known as living crystallization‐driven self‐assembly seeded growth method, optimizing for nanoscale spatial programmability of encoding patterns, light‐triggered dynamic output, and quantitative fluorescence lifetime output. By carefully modulating the output signals, the integration of photoswitchable spiropyrans facilitates “Light‐Flashable” dynamic signaling by controlling energy transfer between the fluorescent components and spiropyrans on the 2D platelet surfaces. This energy transfer enables the manipulation of light‐responsive fluorescence lifetimes and enhances the robustness of information storage. Consequently, the development of such state‐of‐the‐art information carriers, capable of managing complex light patterns and storing data in 3D space, will be essential for achieving extremely high data densities.

Enhanced Photochromism and Thermochromism in Zirconium Halide Perovskite through Bismuth Doping and Thermal Recrystallization

AbstractPhotochromic/thermochromic materials face challenges in practical applications due to limited stability and single‐mode responses. Herein, a strategy is presented to achieve both highly stable photochromism and thermochromism in a single‐phase Cs₂ZrCl₆ halide perovskite through trap and energy level manipulation via Bi3⁺ doping and thermal recrystallization. Strikingly, the synthesis of this allochroic perovskite is expeditious, requiring only ≈10 s via a co‐precipitation method. Bi3⁺ doping creates unique defects with a broad trap depth distribution, resulting in highly stable photochromic properties. Upon UV irradiation (254 or 365 nm), the color of Cs₂ZrCl₆:0.02Bi3⁺ changes from white to pink, which can be physically visible to the naked eye with a luminance of ≈50 cd m−2 and maintained >20 days under ambient light. Additionally, a thermochromic response is observed, with the photoluminescence shifting from blue to cyan after being kept at 523 K, associated with a ≈20 nm redshift in the emission band. These dual allochroic properties enable the potential use for multimodal information storage and advanced anti‐counterfeiting applications. This work not only introduces a novel Cs₂ZrCl₆ perovskite with dual allochroic capabilities but also provides new insights into the design of allochroic materials through strategic trap and energy level engineering.

Neuronal theta oscillation of hippocampal ensemble and memory function.

Neuronal theta oscillation of hippocampal ensemble and memory function.