A multi-purpose watermarking scheme based on hybrid of lifting wavelet transform and Arnold transform

This paper introduces a new multi-purpose image watermarking algorithm which based on a hybrid of lifting wavelet transform (LWT) and Arnold transform for copyright protection and image authentication. In the proposed scheme, the original image is first decomposed by LWT into four subbands. Then the robust watermark which is a binary logo image is decomposed by Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) as such only the high frequency subband of the watermark are embedded in the low frequency subband of the original image. The fragile watermark is block wise self-generated from the original image and scrambled using Arnold transform which is later embedded in the spatial domain of the robust watermarked image. Self-generated fragile watermark supports self-authentication with high localization, whereas scrambling the fragile watermark increases the security of the algorithm. On the other hand, the lifting scheme approaches have almost one half the amounts of operations compared to the DWT based approaches. The overall system has been tested against various attacks and the results demonstrated that the robust watermark can be decoded successively under each attack. In addition, the proposed algorithm can detect any tampering attempts

A study on multipurpose watermarking techniques for image

Conventional single watermark systems are mainly aimed at accomplishing a single goal, either for forgery detection or image copyright protection. This limitation has resulted in the introduction of multipurpose or otherwise known as multifunction watermarking algorithms, with the prime objective of simultaneously achieving both goals. Research in this domain has attracted tremendous interest in recent years, mainly due to its challenging nature in effectively satisfying both aims without degrading one another. However, most of the recent studies have not indicated a clear distinction between multipurpose and multiple watermarks (or cocktail watermarking) algorithms. This paper differentiates between these two types of digital watermarking systems and focuses on multipurpose watermarking due to its significance. In addition, it presents a state of the art survey on the theories, models, features, and algorithms that have been implemented in designing a multipurpose watermarking algorithm. It highlights the recent trends in related techniques and most reliable results attained, whilst also pointing the possible future research directions that can be investigated

Improved metabolic function and cognitive performance in middle-aged adults following a single dose of wild blueberry

Purpose: Research has demonstrated cognitive benefits following acute polyphenol-rich berry consumption in children and young adults. Berry intake also has been associated with metabolic benefits. No study has yet examined cognitive performance in middle-aged adults. We investigated the relationships among cognitive and metabolic outcomes in middle-aged adults following wild blueberry (WBB) consumption. Methods: Thirty-five individuals aged 40 to 65 years participated in a randomized, double blind, cross-over study. Participants consumed a breakfast meal and 1-cup equivalent WBB drink or matched placebo beverage on two occasions. Participants completed cognitive tasks and had blood drawn before and at regular intervals for 8 h after each meal/treatment. Changes in episodic memory and executive function (EF) were assessed alongside plasma levels of glucose, insulin, and triglyceride. Results: Analysis of the memory related Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT) word recognition measure revealed a decrease in performance over the test day after placebo intake, whereas performance after WBB was maintained. For the AVLT word rejection measure, participants identified more foils following WBB in comparison to placebo. Benefits were also observed for EF on the Go-NoGo task with fewer errors following WBB intake on cognitively demanding invalid NoGo trials in comparison to placebo. Furthermore, in comparison to placebo, response times were faster for the Go-NoGo task, specifically at 4h and 8h following WBB treatment. We also observed reduced post meal glucose and insulin, but not triglyceride, concentrations in comparison to placebo over the first 2h following ingestion. Though the addition of Age, BMI, glucose and insulin as covariates to the analysis reduced the significant effect of beverage for AVLT word rejection, metabolic outcomes did not interact with treatment to predict cognitive performance with the exception of one isolated trend. Conclusions: This study indicated acute cognitive benefits of WBB intake in cognitively healthy middle-aged individuals, particularly in the context of demanding tasks and cognitive fatigue. WBB improved glucose and insulin responses to a meal. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which WBB improves cognitive function

Design of high performance copyright protection watermarking based on lifting wavelet transform and bi empirical mode decomposition

This paper developed new and efficient image watermarking scheme for copyright protection based on Lifting wavelet transform (LWT) and Bi- dimensional Empirical Mode Decomposition (BEMD). A LWT has been selected because it is fast, less computational cost and maintains the integrity of the recovered watermark. The BEMD transform can separate the image from the most robust to the least sensitive or fragile frequency bands. This advantage is utilised in this study for the purpose of embedding the watermark in the robust part of BEMD, i.e. the residue (r). In addition, the embedding process has been performed in the low sub-band of LWT decomposed image as the low sub-band is more robust to image processing such as JPEG compression. The robust watermark which is grey scale image is decomposed using DWT to enhance the security and select only high sub-band as it has less impact on the quality of the watermarked image. As a result, the original image’s visual quality can be preserved and the concealed watermark could be successfully retrieved even if the watermarked images have undergone severe attacks like JPEG, rotation, Gamma correction, filtering, additive noise, translation, shearing, and scaling. Furthermore, the improved scheme offers greater robustness against many image processing operations, in comparison to the current schemes about copyright protection

Age-based Study of Postprandial Lipemia in Hypertensives and Cigarette Smokers

Abstract Background and Objective: In this review, we have mainly examined the effect of age, smoking and hypertension on post prandial triglycerides, since an exaggerated postprandial accumulation of triglyceride promotes the development of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that smoking and hypertension are independently associated with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and indirectly associated with atherosclerosis. Materials and methods: Lipid profiles were studied in 52 hypertensives, 48 smokers and 52 age, sex and body mass index matched healthy controls. Four age groups were made between 31-70 years. Fasting and postprandial triglyceridemia were determined sequentially at fasting and at 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, 4 hr, 5 hr and 6 hr post load in the blood sample. Results: The repeated-measures analysis of triglyceride levels showed a distinct behavior of the age groups throughout the 6 hours in both controls and cases. The differences in behavior were significant (p<0.05). Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting triglycerides did not differ much significantly over time between the groups. However, the postprandial plasma triglyceride concentration (mg/dL) increased significantly in hypertensives (226.5±82.9) and smokers (210.6±71.8) compared to control group (152±56.9), p<0.05. Increase in postprandial triglycerides was found with age and a positive correlation was found between increase in fasting triglycerides and post prandial triglycerides. Conclusion: Aging, hypertension and smoking has a significant effect on postprandial lipemia in healthy, young individuals revealing a close link between aging, hypertension, smoking, post prandial triglycerides and atherosclerosis

A Fractional Order Investigation of Smoking Model Using Caputo-Fabrizio Differential Operator

Smoking is a social trend that is prevalent around the world, particularly in places of learning and at some significant events. The World Health Organization defines smoking as the most important preventable cause of disease and the third major cause of death in humans. In order to analyze this matter, this study typically emphasizes analyzing the dynamics of the fractional order quitting smoking model via the Caputo-Fabrizio differential operator. For the numerical solution of the considered model, the Laplace transform with the Adomian decomposition method (LADM) and Homotopy perturbation method (HPM) is applied, and the comparison of both the achieved numerical solutions is presented. Moreover, numerical simulation for the suggested scheme has been presented in various fractional orders with the aid of Matlab and the numerical results are supported by illustrative graphics. The simulation reveals the aptness of the considered model