A Survey on Exotic Signatures for Post-quantum Blockchain: Challenges and Research Directions

Blockchain technology provides efficient and secure solutions to various online activities by utilizing a wide range of cryptographic tools. In this article, we survey the existing literature on post-quantum secure digital signatures that possess exotic advanced features and that are crucial cryptographic tools used in the blockchain ecosystem for (1) account management, (2) consensus efficiency, (3) empowering scriptless blockchain, and (4) privacy. The exotic signatures that we particularly focus on in this work are the following: multi-/aggregate, threshold, adaptor, blind, and ring signatures. Herein the term "exotic"refers to signatures with properties that are not just beyond the norm for signatures, e.g., unforgeability, but also imbue new forms of functionalities. Our treatment of such exotic signatures includes discussions on existing challenges and future research directions in the post-quantum space. We hope that this article will help to foster further research to make post-quantum cryptography more accessible so that blockchain systems can be made ready in advance of the approaching quantum threats

Data-driven modeling of the olfactory neural codes and their dynamics in the insect antennal lobe

Recordings from neurons in the insects' olfactory primary processing center, the antennal lobe (AL), reveal that the AL is able to process the input from chemical receptors into distinct neural activity patterns, called olfactory neural codes. These exciting results show the importance of neural codes and their relation to perception. The next challenge is to \emph{model the dynamics} of neural codes. In our study, we perform multichannel recordings from the projection neurons in the AL driven by different odorants. We then derive a neural network from the electrophysiological data. The network consists of lateral-inhibitory neurons and excitatory neurons, and is capable of producing unique olfactory neural codes for the tested odorants. Specifically, we (i) design a projection, an odor space, for the neural recording from the AL, which discriminates between distinct odorants trajectories (ii) characterize scent recognition, i.e., decision-making based on olfactory signals and (iii) infer the wiring of the neural circuit, the connectome of the AL. We show that the constructed model is consistent with biological observations, such as contrast enhancement and robustness to noise. The study answers a key biological question in identifying how lateral inhibitory neurons can be wired to excitatory neurons to permit robust activity patterns

Coherent Network Analysis of Gravitational Waves from Three-Dimensional Core-Collapse Supernova Models

Using predictions from three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamics simulations of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), we present a coherent network analysis to detection, reconstruction, and the source localization of the gravitational-wave (GW) signals. We use the {\tt RIDGE} pipeline for the analysis, in which the network of LIGO Hanford, LIGO Livingston, VIRGO, and KAGRA is considered. By combining with a GW spectrogram analysis, we show that several important hydrodynamics features in the original waveforms persist in the waveforms of the reconstructed signals. The characteristic excess in the spectrograms originates not only from rotating core-collapse, bounce and the subsequent ring down of the proto-neutron star (PNS) as previously identified, but also from the formation of magnetohydrodynamics jets and non-axisymmetric instabilities in the vicinity of the PNS. Regarding the GW signals emitted near at the rotating core bounce, the horizon distance extends up to $\sim$ 18 kpc for the most rapidly rotating 3D model in this work. Following the rotating core bounce, the dominant source of the GW emission shifts to the non-axisymmetric instabilities. The horizon distances extend maximally up to $\sim$ 40 kpc seen from the spin axis. With an increasing number of 3D models trending towards explosion recently, our results suggest that in addition to the best studied GW signals due to rotating core-collapse and bounce, the time is ripe to consider how we can do science from GWs of CCSNe much more seriously than before. Particularly the quasi-periodic signals due to the non-axisymmetric instabilities and the detectability should deserve further investigation to elucidate the inner-working of the rapidly rotating CCSNe.Comment: PRD in pres

Envisioning the Future of Cyber Security in Post-Quantum Era: A Survey on PQ Standardization, Applications, Challenges and Opportunities

The rise of quantum computers exposes vulnerabilities in current public key cryptographic protocols, necessitating the development of secure post-quantum (PQ) schemes. Hence, we conduct a comprehensive study on various PQ approaches, covering the constructional design, structural vulnerabilities, and offer security assessments, implementation evaluations, and a particular focus on side-channel attacks. We analyze global standardization processes, evaluate their metrics in relation to real-world applications, and primarily focus on standardized PQ schemes, selected additional signature competition candidates, and PQ-secure cutting-edge schemes beyond standardization. Finally, we present visions and potential future directions for a seamless transition to the PQ era