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South Africans are not accustomed to the dry arid climate and sweltering heat in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify the common health conditions pre-Hajj, during the 5 days of Hajj and on return to South Africa from Hajj amongst the 2023 pilgrims. A QR code and a mobile link to a self-administered questionnaire was sent to all 3500 South African pilgrims. Five hundred and seventy-seven pilgrims returned the completed surveys. Mean age of the participants was 48 years (SD 12) with a higher female representation (3:2). Forty eight percent (279) had pre-existing chronic conditions. Forty five percent (259) reported being ill during their stay in the Kingdom, 20% (115) reported having an illness during the main 5 days, whilst 51% (293) reported having an illness within 7 days of returning to South Africa. Only six pilgrims were admitted to hospital after their return home. Respiratory tract linked symptoms were the most frequently reported (95% pre Hajj and 99% post Hajj). Participants who reported having a chronic condition (AOR 1.52 95% CI 1.09–2.11) and engaging in independent exercising prior to Hajj (AOR 1.52–1.07–2.10) were at an increased likelihood of developing an illness within 7 days of returning home. Post travel surveillance swabs to identify potential pathogens that the returning pilgrims are incubating should be explored to guide further interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a three-level static RAM cell with a single BL based on 16 nm BWG CNFET technology is proposed for use in high-performance IoT platforms. The proposed memory structure in a bit-interleaved architecture compatible design consists of a standard triple buffer gate (STB) based on the BWG CN-TGDI method and a pair of transmission gates as an access network. In the STB cell structure, the threshold voltage calibration by the flat band voltage parameter of the CNTs has been used to improve the static noise margin at logic level '1'. In addition, pseudo-resistor and stacked transistor structures have been used to control the single static current path during logic level '1' generation and cell leakage current, respectively. The simulation results based on the Monte Carlo method show that the hardware performance parameters PDP and EDP for the proposed design have been improved by 38.8% and 31%, respectively, compared to the counterpart structure. Moreover, the proposed architecture has shown a more reasonable result in terms of noise immunity than the best-performing design by 1.93 times. Finally, to investigate a real-world application, the triple memory structure has been used to store the colored QR code image with the data content of three values using the proposed hardware algorithm. The obtained results for the quality evaluation metrics, PSNR and MSSIM, emphasize the suitability of the proposed memory architecture for the development of next-generation SoCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let I be the commutative non-unital ring of order 4 defined by generators and relations. I = a , b ∣ 2 a = 2 b = 0 , a 2 = b , a b = 0. Alahmadi et al. have classified QSD codes, Type IV codes (QSD codes with even weights) and quasi-Type IV codes (QSD codes with even torsion code) over I up to lengths n = 6 , and suggested two building-up methods for constructing QSD codes. In this paper, we construct more QSD codes, Type IV codes and quasi-Type IV codes for lengths n = 7 and 8, and describe five new variants of the two building-up construction methods. We find that when n = 8 there is at least one QSD code with minimun distance 4, which attains the highest minimum distance so far, and we give a generator matrix for the code. We also describe some QSD codes, Type IV codes and quasi-Type IV codes with new weight distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing need for high-speed services, coupled with data-intensive technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), is expected to exacerbate congestion within existing Radio Frequency (RF) communication systems. As a result, Free Space Optics (FSO) has emerged as a promising alternative to RF, offering superior data transmission capabilities. Additionally, ensuring security has become a crucial concern to safeguard sensitive information. Accordingly, in this paper, an FSO system is proposed that uses an Identity Column Shift Matrix (ICSM) code for higher and confidential data transformation. The ICSM code is one of the Spectral-Amplitude-Optical-Code-Division-Multiple Access (SAC-OCDMA) codes which is characterized by easy construction due to zero cross-correlation property. Moreover, the effectiveness of clear, haze, fog and rain conditions are considered while examining the proposed model performance in addition to real meteorological data for two cities (Alexandria, Egypt, and Pune, India). Eye diagrams, received power, and Bit Error Rate (BER) are the evaluation parameters used for the proposed model performance. The simulation results reveal that as weather becomes severe, the FSO span decreases, and the performance becomes worst. As for clear weather, an FSO link of 26 km is obtained which is decreased to 1.1 km under the dense level of fog. Regarding the two cities, the distance covered by the information signal during rainy weather in Pune is 6.7 km, which is smaller than that in Alexandria due to Pune's higher attenuation value. These transmission ranges are obtained with an overall capacity of 3 × 10 Gbps, received power < − 22.8 dBm, and BER below 10–5.6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a construction of quantum codes from Hermitian self-orthogonal matrix product codes over the finite fields. This construction is applied to obtain numerous new quantum codes, and all of them have higher rate than current quantum codes available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel blockchain-based multilevel security and authentication application is proposed to address the problem of counterfeiting in the medicine supply chain. In this blockchain-enabled application, multiple computers owned by different supply chain organizations collaborate in a distributed fashion to establish a trustworthy network. By adopting a resource-efficient Hyperledger Fabric framework, the proposed system aims to enhance transparency, integrity, and traceability in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Hyperledger Fabric blockchain also adds network security, privacy preservation, real-time tracking, and reliability features to the proposed system. Moreover, the proposed system also incorporates a blockchain-based QR code watermarking layer for authentication and verification. A validation module is designed that empowers buyers to validate the identity and history of serialized medicinal products, and buyer identity validation ensures that only legitimate buyers can access the products. Simulation outcomes and performance measurements demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system, including location traceability, QR code authentication, and verification. The Caliper tool has been used to measure the performance of the proposed system in terms of execution time, throughput, latency, and resource statistics for up to 100,000 transactions and 20 peers. The highest throughput achieved is 417.5 TPS (transactions per second) with 100,000 transactions and eight peers. The QR code authentication performance is tested under various noisy, cropped, and blurred attacks. We presented simulation outcomes of the implemented supply chain as well as chain code algorithms. The results indicate improved scalability, validation mechanisms, throughput, latency, and resource consumption compared to existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the proliferation of high-quality copying devices and the significant profits of counterfeit products, it is critical to establish an effective scheme for detecting and preventing the counterfeiting of goods. At present, most anti-faking schemes leave much to be desired in terms of cost, convenience, and ability to facilitate pre-sale authentication. The paper designs a unique textured pattern and proposes a triple anti-counterfeiting authentication (TACA). First, the textured pattern consists of triple encryptions (the first is that the key area of the QR code is covered, the second includes scale and Arnold transformation, and the third involves replacing the black areas of the pattern with random multi-level grayscales), the abundant details in the texture not only effectively conceal information, but also that their distortion will increase. Second, TACA comprises interpretability analysis (IA), spectral feature analysis (SFA), and spot matching analysis (SMA) in a cascaded way. In further detail, IA mainly exploits the positional transformation of individual pixels and the block features of local regions to restore interpretability. SFA uses the low-frequency subgraph of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) at a specified scale to capture macroscopic structural information. SMA is able to capture the detailed information of the pattern by utilizing SURF to detect the peak region rate positions and employing BRISK to accurately describe them before. Finally, this paper investigates the robustness of the proposed anti-counterfeiting scheme under a variety of copying methods (replicating, scanning-printing), capturing devices (smartphones), and attack scenarios (no attack, cropping, noise, blur). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated a novelty system known as optical code division multiple access-free space optics (OCDMA-FSO) based on a new two-dimensional successive weight (2D-SW) code. The proposed approach is developed to be employed in incoherent wireless optical networks to improve channel capacity, support a large number of concurrent users, accommodate a high bits rate, and eliminate the effect of electromagnetic and multiple access interferences. A new mathematical analysis for the proposed system has been detailed, including the expression of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and bit error rate (BER). Accordingly, the numerical outcomes of the mathematical analysis at a total data rate of 260 Gbps revealed that the proposed system enhanced the channel capacity to 2.04, 1.6, 3.32, 1.47, 1.68, 1.33, and 2.29 times than those of the systems based on the two-dimensional codes family including perfect difference (2D-PD), both diluted perfect difference (2D-DPD) and dynamic cyclic shift (2D-DCS), hybrid flexible cross-correlation/modified double weight (FCC/MDW), hybrid zero cross-correlation/multi-diagonal (2D-ZCC/MD), modified prime code (2D-MPC), hybrid prime code (2D-HPC), and one-dimensional successive weight (1D-SW), respectively. It can save − 4.9 dBm, − 2.9 dBm, − 4.3 dBm, and − 2.2 dBm of received power in comparison to both 2D-DPD, 2D-DCS, 2D-ZCC/MD, 2D-MPC, and 2D-HPC codes respectively, and it keeps − 6.2 dBm when moving from 1D-SW to 2D-SW. Moreover, the suggested network is also studied using Optisystem software at 30 Gbps of each channel, where it achieves a low BER value reaching 1.72 × 10 - 33 with a high transmission quality reaching 11.99 at a lengthy range attaining 1.3 km. Consequently, the results demonstrate that the proposed system can satisfy optical communication needs and be implemented in the next generations of wireless optical networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral properties of the high-temperature plasma obtained by exposing a nickel layer to a source of high-power X-ray radiation (a power of 6–10 TW with a duration of 7–10 ns) based on a Z-pinch, formed during implosion of tungsten multi-wire arrays at the Angara-5-1 facility, are studied. In this case, the Z‑pinch radiation heats the target and turns it into the hot plasma, and the same radiation probes the target plasma to determine the spectral dependence of the transmission of this plasma. An original scheme is proposed for measuring the incident, transmitted and self-emission of a target simultaneously in one experiment in the frame mode using a grazing incidence diffraction spectrograph. Using laser shadow imaging, experimental data are obtained on the velocity of the plasma expansion on the irradiated and back sides of the target, which reached 100 km/s. Targets made of thin Ni layers deposited on a mylar film are studied. An irradiation-induced multiple increase in the transmission of the target plasma in the EUV range is observed compared to the transmittance of the target in the cold state. The dependence of the absorption spectrum of the plasma and the accompanying self-radiation of the target on the power and shape of the heating pulse is studied. The measurement results are compared with numerical calculations performed using the RALEF-2D two-dimensional radiation code, which has been repeatedly used previously to simulate similar experiments. The shape of the spectral dependence of the transmission in the experiment and calculation is similar in the range of ∼30–200 Å, but the model plasma transmission (∼0.8–0.9) is higher than that obtained using a spectrograph and X-ray multi-frame photography (∼0.5–0.6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using QR code-enabled medical bracelets for congenital heart disease (CHD) patients after hospital discharge to ensure quick communication of vital information to other medical personnel in emergency situations. A prospective study was conducted where QR code-enabled medical bracelets were given to families of postoperative pediatric cardiac patients. The QR code linked to a secure medical information sheet detailing the patient's cardiac history. Post-study surveys were completed by providers and families to assess their experiences with the bracelet. Of the 20 participants enrolled, 65% used the QR bracelet when seeking medical care. 55% found the bracelet useful, and 70% rated their experience as either "positive" or "very positive". Additionally, 80% recommended the bracelet for other patients undergoing cardiac procedures. The use of QR code bracelets for postoperative CHD patients has shown high levels of satisfaction from families and providers, potentially reducing medical errors and treatment delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

QR codes are widely used in the traceability of commodities, but the QR codes are easy to become blurred during the acquisition process of mobile phones, which affects their normal identification, so it is necessary to deblur them. This paper proposes a sub-regional deblurring method based on prior knowledge of the gradient and intensity of positioning patterns. Firstly, the QR code is divided into four regions according to the positions of three finder positioning patterns and one alignment positioning pattern. The content invariance of the four positioning patterns can avoid the interference of the content to the estimation of the blur kernel, and also take into account the non-uniformity of the QR code blur. Then the gradient and intensity priors are used to estimate the blur kernels of the position patterns in the four regions, and the calculated blur kernels are applied to the corresponding respective regions for deblurring. Finally, the four deblurred regions are stitched together to obtain the entire deblurring image. The experimental results show that the proposed method performs well in terms of deblurring effect and computational time, surpassing similar deblurring methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose to study neural networks' loss surfaces by methods of topological data analysis. We suggest to apply barcodes of Morse complexes to explore topology of loss surfaces. An algorithm for calculations of the loss function's barcodes of local minima is described. We have conducted experiments for calculating barcodes of local minima for benchmark functions and for loss surfaces of small neural networks. Our experiments confirm our two principal observations for neural networks' loss surfaces. First, the barcodes of local minima are located in a small lower part of the range of values of neural networks' loss function. Secondly, increase of the neural network's depth and width lowers the barcodes of local minima. This has some natural implications for the neural network's learning and for its generalization properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular data storage is becoming a viable alternative to traditional information storage systems. Here, we propose a method where the presence or absence of a given molecule in a mixture of compounds represents a bit of information. As a novel approach, direct analysis in real time (DART) ionization mass spectrometry is used to recover and decode the information stored at the molecular level. Nicotinic acid derivatives were synthesized and used as the 'bit compounds'. Their volatility and ease of ionization make these molecules especially suitable for DART-MS detection. The application of DART-MS as a method with an ambient ionization technique, enables the re-reading of digital chemical codes embedded in the material of ordinary objects. Our method is designed to store and read back short pieces of digital information, up to several hundred bits. These codes can have the function of barcodes or QR codes, as shown in our proof-of-principle applications. First, modelling a QR code as a link to our university's website, three solutions were prepared, each representing 22 bits. Proceeding further, the bit compounds were incorporated into a polymer matrix that is suitable for 3D printing, and a toy ship was created with a hidden barcode. In addition, decoding software was developed to process the DART-MS spectra. The nicotinic acid components representing the bits dominated the DART-MS spectra and error-free decoding was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular data storage is becoming a viable alternative to traditional information storage systems. Here, we propose a method where the presence or absence of a given molecule in a mixture of compounds represents a bit of information. As a novel approach, direct analysis in real time (DART) ionization mass spectrometry is used to recover and decode the information stored at the molecular level. Nicotinic acid derivatives were synthesized and used as the 'bit compounds'. Their volatility and ease of ionization make these molecules especially suitable for DART-MS detection. The application of DART-MS as a method with an ambient ionization technique, enables the re-reading of digital chemical codes embedded in the material of ordinary objects. Our method is designed to store and read back short pieces of digital information, up to several hundred bits. These codes can have the function of barcodes or QR codes, as shown in our proof-of-principle applications. First, modelling a QR code as a link to our university's website, three solutions were prepared, each representing 22 bits. Proceeding further, the bit compounds were incorporated into a polymer matrix that is suitable for 3D printing, and a toy ship was created with a hidden barcode. In addition, decoding software was developed to process the DART-MS spectra. The nicotinic acid components representing the bits dominated the DART-MS spectra and error-free decoding was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sense of touch is one of the major perception channels. Neural coding of object textures conveyed by rodents' whiskers has been a model to study early stages of haptic information uptake. While high-precision spike timing has been observed during whisker sweeping across textured surfaces, the exact nature of whisker micromotions that spikes encode remains elusive. Here, we discovered that a single micro-collision of a whisker with surface features generates vibrational eigenmodes spanning frequencies up to 10 kHz. While propagating along the whisker, these high-frequency modes can carry up to 80% of shockwave energy, exhibit 100× smaller damping ratio, and arrive at the follicle 10× faster than low frequency components. The mechano-transduction of these energy bursts into time-sequenced population spike trains may generate temporally unique "bar code" with ultra-high information capacity. This hypothesis of pre-neuronal processing of haptic signals based on dispersive temporal separation of the vibrational modal frequencies can shed light on neural coding of haptic signals in many whisker-like sensory organs across the animal world as well as in texture perception in primate's glabrous skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better understand and to compare interleavings between persistence modules, we elaborate on the algebraic structure of interleavings in general settings. In particular, we provide a representation-theoretic framework for interleavings, showing that the category of interleavings under a fixed translation is isomorphic to the representation category of what we call a shoelace. Using our framework, we show that any two interleavings of the same pair of persistence modules are themselves interleaved. Furthermore, in the special case of persistence modules over R , we show that matchings between barcodes correspond to the interval-decomposable interleavings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-view subspace clustering, which partitions multi-view data into their respective underlying subspaces, has achieved the remarkable clustering performance by extracting abundant complementary information from data of different views. However, existing subspace clustering methods almost suffer from very heavy computational burden that restricts their capacity on computational efficiency for large-scale datasets. Recently, hashing/binary code learning has attracted intensive attentions due to fast Hamming distance computation and much less storage requirement, but existing related research does not explore underlying subspace clustering structure well that widely exists in real-world data. In order to handle the both issues, in this paper, we propose a multi-view subspace clustering method named Hashing Multi-view Sparse Subspace Learning (HMSSL). HMSSL incorporates multi-view binary code learning and binary sparse subspace learning with a "thin" dictionary into a unified framework. HMSSL encodes multi-view real-valued features in the original space into compact common binary codes in the Hamming space for fast Hamming distance computation by multi-view binary code learning and learns the binary sparse subspace representation matrix for exploring the underlying subspace clustering structure efficiently and effectively by binary sparse subspace learning with a "thin" dictionary matrix. All the columns of the dictionary matrix are randomly and uniformly sampled from all the columns of the compact common binary code matrix. We design an effective binary optimization algorithm based on alternating direction multiplier method and analyze its time complexity. Extensive experiments performed on six benchmark multi-view datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of HMSSL in comparison with ten state-of-the-art baselines in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct part-markings (DPMs) can be formed into metal castings, using additively manufactured two-dimensional matrix encoded tags (AM2D) placed in a sand or shell mold. It has been unclear how thin a part can be and yet form a readable DPM. There must be sufficient molten metal to burn away the tag, and sufficient feeding pressure to form the 2D matrix code dot pattern. Here the formability limit for the casting of any AM2D (polymer) tag is shown to be the smallest heat energy from the latent heat of condensation needed to raise the temperature of the tag to ignition to burn the tag from the mold. The minimal part thickness that can be utilized is thereby derived. The minimum thickness is calculated to predict a part of various materials and compared positively with experiments. This provides a means to compute required part metal thickness to positively form a DPM tag before casting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular data storage is becoming a viable alternative to traditional information storage systems. Here, we propose a method where the presence or absence of a given molecule in a mixture of compounds represents a bit of information. As a novel approach, direct analysis in real time (DART) ionization mass spectrometry is used to recover and decode the information stored at the molecular level. Nicotinic acid derivatives were synthesized and used as the 'bit compounds'. Their volatility and ease of ionization make these molecules especially suitable for DART-MS detection. The application of DART-MS as a method with an ambient ionization technique, enables the re-reading of digital chemical codes embedded in the material of ordinary objects. Our method is designed to store and read back short pieces of digital information, up to several hundred bits. These codes can have the function of barcodes or QR codes, as shown in our proof-of-principle applications. First, modelling a QR code as a link to our university's website, three solutions were prepared, each representing 22 bits. Proceeding further, the bit compounds were incorporated into a polymer matrix that is suitable for 3D printing, and a toy ship was created with a hidden barcode. In addition, decoding software was developed to process the DART-MS spectra. The nicotinic acid components representing the bits dominated the DART-MS spectra and error-free decoding was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sense of touch is one of the major perception channels. Neural coding of object textures conveyed by rodents' whiskers has been a model to study early stages of haptic information uptake. While high-precision spike timing has been observed during whisker sweeping across textured surfaces, the exact nature of whisker micromotions that spikes encode remains elusive. Here, we discovered that a single micro-collision of a whisker with surface features generates vibrational eigenmodes spanning frequencies up to 10 kHz. While propagating along the whisker, these high-frequency modes can carry up to 80% of shockwave energy, exhibit 100× smaller damping ratio, and arrive at the follicle 10× faster than low frequency components. The mechano-transduction of these energy bursts into time-sequenced population spike trains may generate temporally unique "bar code" with ultra-high information capacity. This hypothesis of pre-neuronal processing of haptic signals based on dispersive temporal separation of the vibrational modal frequencies can shed light on neural coding of haptic signals in many whisker-like sensory organs across the animal world as well as in texture perception in primate's glabrous skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to modeling the technological process of marking the surface of metal products using pulsed lasers. The described mathematical model makes it possible to select the optimal technological parameters of laser marking in order to form marking symbols with specified color characteristics on the surface of products made of non-ferrous metals and alloys with various chemical compositions, taking into account the physical properties of the material being marked. The developed technological regimes have been tested and recommended for marking serial products made of corrosion-resistant steels and non-ferrous metals and alloys for various industrial application. The use of four or eight colors in a color matrix code instead of only black and white in a two-dimensional code allows increasing the code capacity to two or three bits of information, depending on the number of color layers. Operating with 4 or 8 stable color shades, including the background color, it is possible to form two- and three-layer color matrix codes on the surface of each of the listed materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random DNA barcodes are a versatile tool for tracking cell lineages, with applications ranging from development to cancer to evolution. Here, we review and critically evaluate barcode designs as well as methods of barcode sequencing and initial processing of barcode data. We first demonstrate how various barcode design decisions affect data quality and propose a new design that balances all considerations that we are currently aware of. We then discuss various options for the preparation of barcode sequencing libraries, including inline indices and Unique Molecular Identifiers (UMIs). Finally, we test the performance of several established and new bioinformatic pipelines for the extraction of barcodes from raw sequencing reads and for error correction. We find that both alignment and regular expression-based approaches work well for barcode extraction, and that error-correction pipelines designed specifically for barcode data are superior to generic ones. Overall, this review will help researchers to approach their barcoding experiments in a deliberate and systematic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the Internet has enabled the QR code to become the most frequently applied two-dimensional barcode in daily life and in commercial advertisements, and its application continues to be more diversified to include warehouse management, electronic tickets, mobile payments, etc. The standard QR code consists of black and white modules, which display a monotonous visual effect. Since graph patterns are much easier to understand than text characters, showing the subject by patterns inside the QR code is the easiest way to understand implicit content. This research involves the development of a methodology called ARM-QR, in which the QR code is integrated with full-color images, and deep learning technology is used to beautify it. First, the region of interest (ROI) of the color image is automatically identified using Mask R-CNN. The QR code's visual beautification is further adjusted by the content of the object. Discrete wavelet transform and contrast sensitivity functions are also used to strengthen the visual perception of the QR code and reduce the impact of a low print resolution on the graphic legibility. The ARM-QR code's visual quality is intensively verified by visual quality indices, which include the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Mean-Square Error (MSE), Structural Similarity Index Metric (SSIM), and Gradient Magnitude Similarity Deviation (GMSD) based on evaluating the experimental data. The results of the experiment confirm that the visual beautification of the QR code generated in this research is of higher quality than that in other QR code beautification studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring the traceability of Pu-erh tea products is crucial in the production and sale of tea, as it is a key means to ensure their quality and safety. The common approach used in traceability systems is the utilization of bound Quick Response (QR) codes or Near Field Communication (NFC) chips to track every link in the supply chain. However, counterfeiting risks still persist, as QR codes or NFC chips can be copied and inexpensive products can be fitted into the original packaging. To address this issue, this paper proposes a tea face verification model called TeaFaceNet for traceability verification. The aim of this model is to improve the traceability of Pu-erh tea products by quickly identifying counterfeit products and enhancing the credibility of Pu-erh tea. The proposed method utilizes an improved MobileNetV3 combined with Triplet Loss to verify the similarity between two input tea face images with different texture features. The recognition accuracy of the raw tea face dataset, ripe tea face dataset and mixed tea face dataset of the TeaFaceNet network were 97.58%, 98.08% and 98.20%, respectively. Accurate verification of tea face was achieved using the optimal threshold. In conclusion, the proposed TeaFaceNet model presents a promising approach to enhance the traceability of Pu-erh tea products and combat counterfeit products. The robustness and generalization ability of the model, as evidenced by the experimental results, highlight its potential for improving the accuracy of Pu-erh tea face recognition and enhancing the credibility of Pu-erh tea in the market. Further research in this area is warranted to advance the traceability of Pu-erh tea products and ensure their quality and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of medical image content protection and security sharing, the introduction of blockchain technology has a problem in that the secret key may be lost and cannot be recovered. Therefore, this paper proposes an authenticable medical image-sharing scheme based on an embedded small shadow QR code and a blockchain framework. First, a small shadow image is obtained by employing a secret image-sharing method based on the Chinese remainder theorem. Then, the shadow image is embedded into a QR code with error correction. This not only ensures the security and integrity of the shadow image transmission in the public channel but also avoids the problem where the secret key is lost and cannot be recovered. Compared with some existing excellent schemes, our scheme adopts a hash bit stream for authentication purposes and employs smart contracts to authenticate and restore secret images, thus reducing the local load. In addition, experiments validate that the recovered secret medical image is lossless and that the cover QR code is more robust and secure. This method is suitable for medical image content protection and security sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of the era of big data, privacy computing analyzes and calculates data on the premise of protecting data privacy, to achieve data 'available and invisible'. As an important branch of secure multi-party computation, the geometric problem can solve practical problems in the military, national defense, finance, life, and other fields, and has important research significance. In this paper, we study the similarity problem of geometric graphics. First, this paper proposes the adjacency matrix vector coding method of isomorphic graphics, and use the Paillier variant encryption cryptography to solve the problem of isomorphic graphics confidentiality under the semi-honest model. Using cryptography tools such as elliptic curve cryptosystem, zero-knowledge proof, and cut-choose method, this paper designs a graphic similarity security decision protocol that can resist malicious adversary attacks. The analysis shows that the protocol has high computational efficiency and has wide application value in terrain matching, mechanical parts, biomolecules, face recognition, and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study codes generated by elements that come from group matrix rings. We present a matrix construction which we use to generate codes in two different ambient spaces: the matrix ring M k (R) and the ring R, where R is the commutative Frobenius ring. We show that codes over the ring M k (R) are one sided ideals in the group matrix ring M k (R) G and the corresponding codes over the ring R are G k -codes of length kn. Additionally, we give a generator matrix for self-dual codes, which consist of the mentioned above matrix construction. We employ this generator matrix to search for binary self-dual codes with parameters [72, 36, 12] and find new singly-even and doubly-even codes of this type. In particular, we construct 16 new Type I and 4 new Type II binary [72, 36, 12] self-dual codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanide-based, spectrally shifting, and multi-color luminescent upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have received much attention in the last decades because of their applicability as reporter for bioimaging, super-resolution microscopy, and sensing as well as barcoding and anti-counterfeiting tags. A prerequisite for the broad application of UCNPs in areas such as sensing and encoding are simple, robust, and easily upscalable synthesis protocols that yield large quantities of UCNPs with sizes of 20 nm or more with precisely controlled and tunable physicochemical properties from low-cost reagents with a high reproducibility. In this context, we studied the reproducibility, robustness, and upscalability of the synthesis of β-NaYF4:Yb, Er UCNPs via thermal decomposition. Reaction parameters included solvent, precursor chemical compositions, ratio, and concentration. The resulting UCNPs were then examined regarding their application-relevant physicochemical properties such as size, size distribution, morphology, crystal phase, chemical composition, and photoluminescence. Based on these screening studies, we propose a small volume and high-concentration synthesis approach that can provide UCNPs with different, yet controlled size, an excellent phase purity and tunable morphology in batch sizes of up to at least 5 g which are well suited for the fabrication of sensors, printable barcodes or authentication and recycling tags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An implementation of the tomographic reconstruction of the beam transverse phase space portrait based on fast simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique, which is rarely used in accelerator physics, is presented. The developed diagnostic procedure has been performed at the INR RAS high-intensity linear accelerator of hydrogen ions and has been experimentally tested in the beam energy range from several tens to several hundred MeV. The applicability of data from different beam-profile monitors is shown, and the tomographic method is compared to the standard transverse profiles method. A procedure for verifying reconstructed data is proposed for use in transfer matrix codes, and examples of its use in case of significantly nonelliptical phase portraits are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barcode-based tracking of individuals is revolutionizing animal behavior studies, but further progress hinges on whether in addition to determining an individual's location, specific behaviors can be identified and monitored. We achieve this goal using information from the barcodes to identify tightly bounded image regions that potentially show the behavior of interest. These image regions are then analyzed with convolutional neural networks to verify that the behavior occurred. When applied to a challenging test case, detecting social liquid transfer (trophallaxis) in the honey bee hive, this approach yielded a 67% higher sensitivity and an 11% lower error rate than the best detector for honey bee trophallaxis so far. We were furthermore able to automatically detect whether a bee donates or receives liquid, which previously required manual observations. By applying our trophallaxis detector to recordings from three honey bee colonies and performing simulations, we discovered that liquid exchanges among bees generate two distinct social networks with different transmission capabilities. Finally, we demonstrate that our approach generalizes to detecting other specific behaviors. We envision that its broad application will enable automatic, high-resolution behavioral studies that address a broad range of previously intractable questions in evolutionary biology, ethology, neuroscience, and molecular biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish three methods of constructing quantum error-correcting codes (QECCs) via quantum construction X of the Euclidean dual over finite fields. Then, we construct six classes of new QECCs. In addition, our obtained QECCs have the rate better than the ones available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bhattacharyya parameters are used in the theory of polar codes to determine positions of frozen and information bits. These parameters characterize rate of polarization of channels , , which are constructed in a special way from the original channel , where is the channel length, . In the case where is a binary symmetric memoryless channel, we present two series of formulas for the parameters : for , , and for , . The formulas require of the order of addition operations for the first series and of the order of for the second. In the cases , the obtained expressions for the parameters have been simplified by computing the sums in them. We show potential generalizations for the values of in the interval . We also study combinatorial properties of the polarizing matrix of a polar code with Arıkan's kernel. In particular, we establish simple recurrence relations between rows of the matrices and . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Muscid flies belonging to the order Diptera, Family Muscidae, are notoriously famous for their ability to transmit disease-causing organisms to humans, livestock, and even plants. The huge species count of this group not only makes the classical method of identification laborious but also error-prone. Therefore, in this study, we analysed cytochrome oxidase 1 (cox1) barcodes to test their ability to discriminate between studied taxonomic groups. In our study, we used a total of 42 specimens, excluding the outgroup, of 14 species belonging to 5 genera representing 4 subfamilies were used. 11 specimens were collected from the lower Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India, including the vulnerable Sagar Islands, each showing a very high AT content (average = 69%), especially in the 1st codon position. Cox1 barcodes were able to distinguish between species with very high interspecific genetic divergence. The percentage of intraspecific genetic divergences ranges from 0% to 2.2% for the studied dataset, with the interspecific range being very high, from 0.58% to 28.8%. 1000 bootstrapped Maximum likelihood (ML) with Kimura-2-parameter phylogenetic tree and similar bootstrap-based IQ-Tree was constructed based on cox1 gene, for clarity. The ML tree is used to understand the delimitation of the species using Poisson Tree Process (PTP) analysis. The phylogenetic and delimitation study determined that most of the genus level clusters are monophyletic. The subfamily Muscinae showed non-monophyletic lineage as seen by the separation of genera Musca from genera Haematobia in both ML and IQ-Tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic engraving machines have several industrial applications, such as nameplates, identification codes, and bar code engraving. It can also be used for engraving messages or pictures on decorative items in homes. Additionally, the proposed algorithm can be extended for obtaining the paths for 3D printers. The engraving process happens when the designs, messages, or pictures are carved into any item. The cost of engraving can be optimized by minimizing the movements of the automatic engraving machine. The movements include engraving motions and air motions. This work proposes a fast algorithm for obtaining the engraving path that guarantees the air motions are at most 150% of the optimal. Optimum engraving paths are commonly obtained using exponential time algorithms. The proposed algorithm is a 3/2 approximation algorithm that obtains the engraving path in polynomial time. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm computes an efficient engraving path in a short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing full-length cystoscopy videos is challenging for documentation and research purposes. We therefore designed a surgeon-guided framework to extract short video clips with bladder lesions for more efficient content navigation and extraction. Screenshots of bladder lesions were captured during transurethral resection of bladder tumor, then manually labeled according to case identification, date, lesion location, imaging modality, and pathology. The framework used the screenshot to search for and extract a corresponding 10-seconds video clip. Each video clip included a one-second space holder with a QR barcode informing the video content. The success of the framework was measured by the secondary use of these short clips and the reduction of storage volume required for video materials. From 86 cases, the framework successfully generated 249 video clips from 230 screenshots, with 14 erroneous video clips from 8 screenshots excluded. The HIPPA-compliant barcodes provided information of video contents with a 100% data completeness. A web-based educational gallery was curated with various diagnostic categories and annotated frame sequences. Compared with the unedited videos, the informative short video clips reduced the storage volume by 99.5%. In conclusion, our framework expedites the generation of visual contents with surgeon's instruction for cystoscopy and potential incorporation of video data towards applications including clinical documentation, education, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current digital information age, PDF417 code has become an indispensable tool in daily life because it is extensively used. By the universal use of PDF417 code applications, mobile code scanning has become an indispensable part of people's lives. Before scanning a PDF417 code, it is extremely important to confirm the security of the two-dimensional code, thus we need to take the necessary means to authenticate the two-dimensional code. Many researchers have proposed a digital watermarking algorithm that combines binary image watermarking technology and PDF417 code technology in view of the poor anti-counterfeiting performance of PDF417 codes. These algorithms can effectively resist replication, forgery and tampering attacks. However, these algorithms are limited to the use of mobile phone applications and cannot be integrated into mobile phones, which brings inconvenience to users. Therefore, this paper proposes a watermarking algorithm for PDF417 codes which is suitable for mobile terminal detection. First, based on the characteristics of PDF417 codes, the algorithm finds the appropriate boundary position to embed the watermark information and the watermark information is used for pixel inversion. Then, the geometrically distorted image of PDF417 obtained from the mobile phone is preprocessed and corrected into a relatively standard PDF417. Finally, the watermark information is extracted by the boundary error calculation. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the watermark which is embedded by this method can be extracted by mobile phone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound mixtures represent an alternative, additional approach to DNA and synthetic sequence-defined macromolecules in the field of non-conventional molecular data storage, which may be useful depending on the target application. Here, we report a fast and efficient method for information storage in molecular mixtures by the direct use of commercially available chemicals and thus, zero synthetic steps need to be performed. As a proof of principle, a binary coding language is used for encoding words in ASCII or black and white pixels of a bitmap. This way, we stored a 25 × 25-pixel QR code (625 bits) and a picture of the same size. Decoding of the written information is achieved via spectroscopic (1H NMR) or chromatographic (gas chromatography) analysis. In addition, for a faster and automated read-out of the data, we developed a decoding software, which also orders the data sets according to an internal "ordering" standard. Molecular keys or anticounterfeiting are possible areas of application for information-containing compound mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We define notions of differentiability for maps from and to the space of persistence barcodes. Inspired by the theory of diffeological spaces, the proposed framework uses lifts to the space of ordered barcodes, from which derivatives can be computed. The two derived notions of differentiability (respectively, from and to the space of barcodes) combine together naturally to produce a chain rule that enables the use of gradient descent for objective functions factoring through the space of barcodes. We illustrate the versatility of this framework by showing how it can be used to analyze the smoothness of various parametrized families of filtrations arising in topological data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic matrix addressed displays capable of presenting arbitrary grayscale images typically require complex device architectures including switching components to provide unique pixel addressability. Here, we demonstrate high-yield manufacturing of passive matrix addressed electrochromic displays on flexible substrates by solely using screen printing. The simple pixel architecture, obtained by printing only three active layers on top of each other, concurrently provides both the electrochromic functionality and the critical non-linear pixel switching response that enables presentation of arbitrary grayscale images in the resulting passive matrix addressed displays. The all-printed display technology exhibits unprecedented performance and is further verified by dynamic QR codes, to exemplify utilization within authentication, packaging, or other emerging Internet of Things applications requiring a low-cost display for data visualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical quality control is used in foundries to identify special cause defects and root causes by correlating process input variations with casting defects. A difficulty exists in associating process data collected with individual cast parts as the parts are processed through the foundry and then out into the supply chain. Typically, alphanumeric labels for marking castings and manual identification of the castings with route-paper based tracing approaches have been used. Such manual-based systems make root cause analysis of quality defect issues tedious. This study presents the development of a semi-automated approach using 3D printed sand mold inserts shaped as 2D matrix codes which thereby permit directly cast identification code into the parts. This enables automated part tracking at the very beginning of the casting process including mold making. Automated scan based tracking of parts through a foundry and subsequent supply chain allows for statistical process data collected to also be associated with each part processed with unique identification, building upon the part history and pedigree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential of illustrated barcodes of picturebooks in the educational context. The study reviews the modification by artists of conventional and mandatory barcodes into creative barcode placements in picturebooks. By raising awareness of the aesthetic subtleties of barcodes, the paper articulates how these attractive and ironical peritextual elements may have pedagogical applicability. The study brings to the surface these invisible artistic elements to better appreciate their aesthetic potential for read alouds. For exploring the rich diversity of depictions, a corpus of 500 illustrated barcodes was grouped and analyzed into categories with the creators' explanation for the use of these artistic peritextual features. Findings based on quantitative and qualitative content analysis suggest that illustrated barcodes comprise significant information that educators may use during picturebook read aloud sessions. Educators familiar with the hidden information within illustrated barcodes may guide children into exploring these peritextual features and talk about them during interactive storytime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic-acid barcoding is an enabling technique for many applications, but its use remains limited in emerging long-read sequencing technologies with intrinsically low raw accuracy. Here, we apply so-called NS-watermark barcodes, whose error correction capability was previously validated in silico, in a proof of concept where we synthesize 3840 NS-watermark barcodes and use them to asymmetrically tag and simultaneously sequence amplicons from two evolutionarily distant species (namely Bordetella pertussis and Drosophila mojavensis) on the ONT MinION platform. To our knowledge, this is the largest number of distinct, non-random tags ever sequenced in parallel and the first report of microarray-based synthesis as a source for large oligonucleotide pools for barcoding. We recovered the identity of more than 86% of the barcodes, with a crosstalk rate of 0.17% (i.e., one misassignment every 584 reads). This falls in the range of the index hopping rate of established, high-accuracy Illumina sequencing, despite the increased number of tags and the relatively low accuracy of both microarray-based synthesis and long-read sequencing. The robustness of NS-watermark barcodes, together with their scalable design and compatibility with low-cost massive synthesis, makes them promising for present and future sequencing applications requiring massive labeling, such as long-read single-cell RNA-Seq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefiting from the development of the Internet and smart devices, it is now convenient to transmit images anywhere and anytime, which poses a new challenge for image security. The Visual Cryptography Scheme (VCS) is a secret sharing method for protecting an image without a key, the merit of VCS is the human visual system (HVS) can restore the secret image by simply superimposing qualified shares, without any computation. To eliminate noise-like shares in traditional VCS, this paper presents a novel QR code-based expansion-free and meaningful visual cryptography scheme (QEVCS), which generates visually appealing QR codes for transmitting meaningful shares. When distributing on public networks, this scheme does not attract the attention of potential attackers. By limiting the gray-level of a halftoned image, QEVCS both keep the computation-free of visual cryptography and the size of recovery image same as the secret images. The experimental results show the effectiveness of QEVCS when preserving the privacy of images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to image-based quick response (QR) codes, acoustic QR codes have some advantages. However, an acoustic QR scanner cannot recognize an acoustic QR code at a distance of more than two meters from an acoustic QR announcer. To this end, we propose a new sort of acoustic QR code, called an audible acoustic QR code (AAQRC), which employs humanly audible sound to carry users' information directly. First, a user's string of characters is translated into a string of pitches. Then, the related algorithms convert the string of pitches into a playable audio file. As a result, an AAQRC is generated, consisting of the audio itself. AAQRC recognition is the opposite process of AAQRC generation. Compared with the existing approach for acoustic QR codes, the new method can recognize acoustic QR codes at a longer distance, even if there are obstacles between the AAQRC announcer and AAQRC scanner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technology, approaches for assessing biological ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparations have also advanced. Using a multi-barcode sequencing approach, all biological ingredients could be identified from TCM preparations in theory, as long as their DNA is present. The biological ingredients of several classical TCM preparations were analyzed successfully based on this approach in previous studies. However, the universality, sensitivity and reliability of this approach on a diverse set of TCM preparations remain unclear. In this study, we selected four representative TCM preparations, namely Bazhen Yimu Wan, Da Huoluo Wan, Niuhuang Jiangya Wan, and You Gui Wan, for concrete assessment of the multi-barcode sequencing approach. Based on ITS2 and trnL biomarkers, we have successfully detected the prescribed herbal materials (PHMs) in these representative TCM preparations (minimum sensitivity: 77.8%, maximum sensitivity: 100%). The results based on ITS2 have also shown higher reliability than trnL at species level, while their combination could provide higher sensitivity and reliability. The multi-barcode sequencing approach has shown good universality, sensitivity and reliability in decoding these four representative TCM preparations. In the omics big-data era, this work has undoubtedly made one step forward for applying multi-barcode sequencing approach in PHMs analysis of TCM preparation, towards better digitization and modernization of drug quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that if n > k 2 then a k-dimensional linear code of length n over F q 2 has a truncation which is linearly equivalent to a Hermitian self-orthogonal linear code. In the contrary case we prove that truncations of linear codes to codes equivalent to Hermitian self-orthogonal linear codes occur when the columns of a generator matrix of the code do not impose independent conditions on the space of Hermitian forms. In the case that there are more than n common zeros to the set of Hermitian forms which are zero on the columns of a generator matrix of the code, the additional zeros give the extension of the code to a code that has a truncation which is equivalent to a Hermitian self-orthogonal code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of high-throughput parallel sequencing poses new challenges for large-scale barcoding and sequencing library construction. Here, we present droplet combinational indexed transposon insertion sequencing (dCITI-Seq), in which samples are indexed by the direct insertion of index-containing adaptors through transposition. The random combination of two sets of adaptors with known barcodes and massively parallel transposition was realized via a robust droplet pairing and merging platform. This strategy potentially enlarges the indexing capacity and decreases index crosstalk. Also, dCITI-Seq exhibited a lower GC base preference than conventional in-tube transposition library preparation. With a custom bioinformatic processing, it could be further applied to large-scale single-cell sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Statistic scripts are often made by mathematicians and cryptic for clinicians or non-mathematician scientists. Nevertheless, almost all research projects necessitate the application of some statistical tests or at least an understanding thereof. The present review aims on giving an overview of the most common statistical terms and concepts. It further ensures good statistical practice by providing a five-step approach guiding the reader to the correct statistical test. Methods and results: First, different types of variables and measurements to describe a data set with means of descriptive statistics are introduced. The basic thoughts and tools of interferential statistics are presented, and different types of bias are discussed. Then in the final paragraph, the most commonly used statistical tests are described. A smartphone app accessible via QR code finally guides the reader in five steps to the correct statistical test, depending on the data used in order to avoid commonly performed mistakes. Conclusions: The five-step approach sets a new minimal standard for good statistical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization is a popular fundamental technique of linear algebra, having wide-spread applications in state-of-the art and next-generation signal processing and communication technologies including Blind Source Separation, Independent Component Analysis, MIMO technology, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, and QR Decomposition. On the other hand, Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer (CORDIC) is a technique being extensively used for the efficient implementation of complex arithmetic operations in various signal processing and communication modules. For all the aforementioned applications including FastICA and QR decomposition, CORDIC is being used widely for all the modules except GS where still costly multipliers, dividers, square root, and addition operations are being used. It motivated us to investigate the design for GS using CORDIC resulting in low-power and low-complex architecture of the entire design. In this paper, we propose a CORDIC-based low-complexity, low-power architecture design methodology for the n-dimensional GS algorithm where a single CORDIC unit can be re-used for implementation of several processing and communication modules on-chip. The proposed architecture precludes the use of additional arithmetic units to perform costly operations by recursive use of CORDIC, and thus significantly reduces its hardware complexity. The proposed architecture reduces the power consumption by 74–86 % and the area by 12–40 % for 3D to 6D GS, respectively, over the conventional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce double Quadratic Residue Codes (QRC) of length n = p + q for prime numbers p and q in the ambient space F 2 p × F 2 q. We give the structure of separable and non-separable double QRC over this alphabet and we show that interesting double QR codes in this space exist only in the case when p = q. We give the main properties for these codes such as their idempotent generators and their duals. We relate these codes to codes over rings and show how they can be used to construct interesting lattices. As an applications of these codes, we provide examples of self-dual, formally self-dual and optimal double QRC. We also provide examples of best known quantum codes that are derived from double-QRC in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]