Random‑telegraph‑noise‑enabled true random number generator for hardware security

The future security of Internet of Things is a key concern in the cyber-security field. One of the key issues is the ability to generate random numbers with strict power and area constrains. “True Random Number Generators” have been presented as a potential solution to this problem but improvements in output bit rate, power consumption, and design complexity must be made. In this work we present a novel and experimentally verified “True Random Number Generator” that uses exclusively conventional CMOS technology as well as offering key improvements over previous designs in complexity, output bitrate, and power consumption. It uses the inherent randomness of telegraph noise in the channel current of a single CMOS transistor as an entropy source. For the first time multilevel and abnormal telegraph noise can be utilised, which greatly reduces device selectivity and offers much greater bitrates. The design is verified using a breadboard and FPGA proof of concept circuit and passes all 15 of the NIST randomness tests without any need for post-processing of the generated bitstream. The design also shows resilience against machine learning attacks performed by the LSTM neural network

The over-reset phenomenon in Ta2O5 RRAM device investigated by the RTN-based defect probing technique

IEEE Despite the tremendous efforts in the past decade devoted to the development of filamentary resistive-switching devices (RRAM), there is still a lack of in-depth understanding of its over-reset phenomenon. At higher reset stop voltages that exceed a certain threshold, the resistance at high resistance state reduces, leading to an irrecoverable window reduction. The over-reset phenomenon limits the maximum resistance window that can be achieved by using a higher Vreset, which also degrades its potential in applications such as multi-level memory and neuromorphic synapses. In this work, the over-reset is investigated by cyclic reset operations with incremental stop voltages, and is explained by defect generation in the filament constriction region of Ta2O5 RRAM devices. This is supported by the statistical spatial defects profile obtained from the random telegraph noise based defect probing technique. The impact of forming compliance current on the over-reset is also evaluated

Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) posturography in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate balance control with Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) posturography in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD: A cross controlled study was performed including 39 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with scores less than or equal to 4 in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and a homogeneous control group consisting of 65 healthy individuals, matched by the age and gender. The experimental group was distributed according to the EDSS scale scores in 0-2.5 and 3-4. To assess the vestibular system function, the patients underwent a neurotological evaluation, including posturography of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the values of the sway velocity and the ellipse area of the MS 0-2.5 group with the control and the MS 3-4 group with the control. A statistically significant difference was verified between the MS 0-2.5 and the MS 3-4 groups in the condition 3 ellipse area values. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of the balance control with posturography of Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU TM) enables the identification of abnormalities of the sway velocity and confidential ellipse in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

True Random Number Generator Based on Switching Probability of Volatile Gexse1-X Ovonic Threshold Switching Selectors

GexSe1-x Ovonic Threshold Switching (OTS) selector is a promising candidate to suppress the sneak current paths in resistive switching memory arrays. A novel method is developed to quantitatively characterize the variations in the threshold voltage (Vth), the hold voltage (Vhd), and the switching probability dependence on the OTS operation conditions. The time-to-switch-on/off (ton/toff) at a constant VOTS follows the Weibull distribution, based on which the dependence of switching probability on pulse waveform, bias, and time can be extracted and extrapolated. Based on this analysis, a novel technique for true random number generator (TRNG) application is proposed. The inherent variability in OTS threshold voltage results in a bimodal distribution of on/off states which can be easily converted into digital bits. The experimental evaluation shows that the proposed TRNG enables the generation of high-quality random bits that passed 12 tests in the NIST statistical test suite without complex external circuits for post-processing

Developing serious games for cultural heritage: a state-of-the-art review

Although the widespread use of gaming for leisure purposes has been well documented, the use of games to support cultural heritage purposes, such as historical teaching and learning, or for enhancing museum visits, has been less well considered. The state-of-the-art in serious game technology is identical to that of the state-of-the-art in entertainment games technology. As a result, the field of serious heritage games concerns itself with recent advances in computer games, real-time computer graphics, virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence. On the other hand, the main strengths of serious gaming applications may be generalised as being in the areas of communication, visual expression of information, collaboration mechanisms, interactivity and entertainment. In this report, we will focus on the state-of-the-art with respect to the theories, methods and technologies used in serious heritage games. We provide an overview of existing literature of relevance to the domain, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the described methods and point out unsolved problems and challenges. In addition, several case studies illustrating the application of methods and technologies used in cultural heritage are presented

Short-Term Creatine Supplementation May Alleviate the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score and Lean Body Mass Loss in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this recordBackground Creatine supplementation has been proposed to alleviate muscle loss in various populations, but has not been investigated in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Thus, our objective was to evaluate whether creatine supplementation could attenuate the loss of lean body mass (LBM) and malnutrition‐inflammation score (MIS) in HD patients. Methods A randomized, placebo‐controlled, double blind, parallel‐design study included HD patients, of both sexes, aged 18–59 years. The patients were allocated to a Placebo Group (PG; n = 15; received maltodextrin, 1st week: 40 g/day and 2nd–4th weeks: 10 g/day) and a Creatine Group (CG; n = 15; received creatine plus maltodextrin, 1st week: 20 g/day of creatine plus 20 g/day of maltodextrin and 2nd–4th weeks: 5 g/day of creatine plus 5 g/day of maltodextrin). Pre and post the intervention, patients were evaluated for food intake, MIS, body composition and biochemical parameters. Results CG group attenuated the MIS (Pre: 5.57 ± 0.72 vs. Post: 3.85 ± 0.47 score, P = 0.003) compared with PG (Pre: 5.71 ± 0.97 vs. Post: 5.36 ± 0.95 score, P = 0.317) (supplement × time P = 0.017, effect size: 0.964). The change of LBM was greater in CG than in PG (CG: Δ0.95 vs PG: Δ0.13 kg). At post‐intervention, 28.6% of PG patients presented LBM loss and 71.4% remain stable. In contrast, 14.4% of CG patients had LBM loss, 42.8% remain stable and 42.8% gained. Food intake and quality of life did not change. CG increased the BMI and gait speed in post‐compared to pre‐moment, but no difference among the groups. Conclusion In HD patients, four weeks of creatine supplementation may alleviate the MIS as well as attenuate the LBM loss compared to placeboCapes, Brazi

GeSe-based Ovonic Threshold Switching Volatile True Random Number Generator

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a novel technique for true random number generator (TRNG) application using GeSe-based Ovonic threshold switching (OTS) selector devices. The inherent variability in OTS threshold voltage results in a bimodal distribution of on/off states which can be easily converted into digital bits. The experimental evaluation shows that the proposed TRNG enables the generation of high-quality random bits that passed 12 tests in the National Institute of Standards and Technology statistical test suite without complex external circuits for post-processing. The randomness is further evidenced by the prediction rate of ∼50% using machine learning algorithm. Compared with the TRNGs based on non-volatile memories, the volatile nature of OTS avoids the reset operation, thus further simplifying the operation and improving the generation frequency

Gauge-independent MS‾\overline{MS} renormalization in the 2HDM

We present a consistent renormalization scheme for the CP-conserving Two-Higgs-Doublet Model based on $\overline{MS}$ renormalization of the mixing angles and the soft-$Z_2$-symmetry-breaking scale $M_{sb}$ in the Higgs sector. This scheme requires to treat tadpoles fully consistently in all steps of the calculation in order to provide gauge-independent $S$-matrix elements. We show how bare physical parameters have to be defined and verify the gauge independence of physical quantities by explicit calculations in a general $R_{\xi}$-gauge. The procedure is straightforward and applicable to other models with extended Higgs sectors. In contrast to the proposed scheme, the $\overline{MS}$ renormalization of the mixing angles combined with popular on-shell renormalization schemes gives rise to gauge-dependent results already at the one-loop level. We present explicit results for electroweak NLO corrections to selected processes in the appropriately renormalized Two-Higgs-Doublet Model and in particular discuss their scale dependence.Comment: 52 pages, PDFLaTeX, PDF figures, JHEP version with Eq. (5.23) correcte

Supersymmetric Monojets at the Large Hadron Collider

Supersymmetric monojets may be produced at the Large Hadron Collider by the process qg -> squark neutralino_1 -> q neutralino_1 neutralino_1, leading to a jet recoiling against missing transverse momentum. We discuss the feasibility and utility of the supersymmetric monojet signal. In particular, we examine the possible precision with which one can ascertain the neutralino_1-squark-quark coupling via the rate for monojet events. Such a coupling contains information on the composition of the neutralino_1 and helps bound dark matter direct detection cross-sections and the dark matter relic density of the neutralino_1. It also provides a check of the supersymmetric relation between gauge couplings and gaugino-quark-squark couplings.Comment: 46 pages, 10 figures. The appendix has been rewritten to correct an error that appears in all previous versions of the appendix. This error has no effect on the results in the main body of the pape