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25 pages, 911 KB

Open AccessArticle

Constraint-Efficient Comparators via Weighted Accumulation

by Marc Guzmán-Albiol, Marta Bellés-Muñoz, Rafael Genés-Durán and Jose Luis Muñoz-Tapia

Mathematics 2025, 13(24), 3959; https://doi.org/10.3390/math13243959 - 12 Dec 2025

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This article presents an optimized method for verifying the comparison of two binary numbers using the rank-1 constraint system (R1CS) representation, a standard framework for verifiable computation systems. In particular, we analyze different strategies for implementing strict comparisons of the form [...] Read more.

t > K

, where K is a known constant and t is an integer input to the comparison. We first analyze a lexicographic approach that, although conceptually straightforward, results in a large number of constraints due to its branching logic. To address this inefficiency, we introduce a weighted-accumulation method that computes an accumulator whose sign determines the comparison outcome. By assigning position-dependent weights to bit pairs and formulating the computation through degree-2 constraints, this method eliminates branching and significantly reduces the total number of constraints. In order to validate our designs, we implemented the described comparison algorithms in an R1CS compiler called circom, allowing us to generate and analyze the corresponding R1CS constraint systems in practice. Overall, the presented design not only ensures correctness but also demonstrates how careful exploitation of the R1CS structure can lead to efficient constraint settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Cryptography and Information Security with Application)

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11 pages, 228 KB

Open AccessArticle

Secure Processing and Distribution of Data Managed on Private InterPlanetary File System Using Zero-Knowledge Proofs

by Kyohei Shibano, Kensuke Ito, Changhee Han, Tsz Tat Chu, Wataru Ozaki and Gento Mogi

Electronics 2024, 13(15), 3025; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13153025 - 31 Jul 2024

Viewed by 2330

Abstract

In this study, a new data-sharing method is proposed that uses a private InterPlanetary File System—a decentralized storage system operated within a closed network—to distribute data to external entities while making its authenticity verifiable. Among the two operational modes of IPFS, public and private, this study focuses on the method for using private IPFS. Private IPFS is not open to the general public; although it poses a risk of data tampering when distributing data to external parties, the proposed method ensures the authenticity of the received data. In particular, this method applies a type of zero-knowledge proof, namely, the Groth16 protocol of zk-SNARKs, to ensure that the data corresponds to the content identifier in a private IPFS. Moreover, the recipient’s name is embedded into the distributed data to prevent unauthorized secondary distribution. Experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method for an image data size of up to 120 × 120 pixels. In future studies, the proposed method will be applied to larger and more diverse data types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Security, Privacy, Confidentiality and Trust in Blockchain)

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13 pages, 1162 KB

Open AccessArticle

Disinformation and Verification in a Digital Society: An Analysis of Strategies and Policies Applied in the European Regional TV Broadcasters of the CIRCOM Network

by Jose Rúas-Araújo, Talia Rodríguez-Martelo and Julia Fontenla-Pedreira

Societies 2023, 13(4), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13040081 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3781

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 health crisis has shone a spotlight on disinformation as the circulation of false information became more and more prominent. What the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined as an ‘infodemic’ poses a great risk for democracies and for society in general. In this context, public television channels, with their regional scope, actively participate in the fight against misinformation. This research aims to identify and classify the different verification initiatives and technological tools, as well as the different strategies and codes used in fact-checking tasks by European broadcasters belonging to the CIRCOM network. The methodology undertakes an exploratory approach and employs a questionnaire that is applied to a sample of the members of the network. Managers and professionals with executive profiles were asked about the management, operation and strategies used in the verification process. In light of the results obtained, it can be concluded that the current verification processes are based on human efforts, rather than technological tools, amounting to a total dependence on content curation by the writing teams in the newsroom. Thus, it is evidenced that in most cases, there is neither a specific department for verification, nor sufficient resources, despite the fact that all those surveyed regard disinformation as a priority issue, a threat to democratic integrity and a responsibility of public service media. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Political Communication and Public Political Participation in the Digital Societies)

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12 pages, 304 KB

Open AccessArticle

Verification Systems and Programs in Regional Television Stations That Are Members of the CIRCOM Network

by José Rúas-Araújo, Talía Rodríguez-Martelo and Carmen Máiz-Bar

Journal. Media 2022, 3(1), 1-12; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3010001 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4201

Abstract

Disinformation and the proliferation of fake news are global problems that affect the stability of democracies throughout the world. The capacity of distorted information to interfere in election processes or in political agendas has led different actors to create verification initiatives, which operate in partnership with the mass media. Recently, during the 2020 health crisis, false information has proved to have damaging power not only at the levels of politics or communication, but also at a health level. Therefore, the social need to access reliable and quality information, as well as verified information aimed at eradicating hoaxes, becomes evident. This paper focuses on the European context, analyzing the relationship between active verifiers and television stations that are members of the CIRCOM Network, considering their strategies and verification programs. Using a qualitative methodology an exploratory study has been carried out, mapping initiatives and stations by assessing their contribution of verified information to society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Beyond Fake News and Fact-Checking: The Political, Social and Technological Consequences of the Battle against Misinformation and Disinformation)

14 pages, 1780 KB

Open AccessReview

Integration of Bioinformatic Predictions and Experimental Data to Identify circRNA-miRNA Associations

by Martina Dori and Silvio Bicciato

Genes 2019, 10(9), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10090642 - 24 Aug 2019

Cited by 85 | Viewed by 7144

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently emerged as a novel class of transcripts, characterized by covalently linked 3′–5′ ends that result in the so-called backsplice junction. During the last few years, thousands of circRNAs have been identified in different organisms. Yet, despite their role as disease biomarker started to emerge, depicting their function remains challenging. Different studies have shown that certain circRNAs act as miRNA sponges, but any attempt to generalize from the single case to the “circ-ome” has failed so far. In this review, we explore the potential to define miRNA “sponging” as a more general function of circRNAs and describe the different approaches to predict miRNA response elements (MREs) in known or novel circRNA sequences. Moreover, we discuss how experiments based on Ago2-IP and experimentally validated miRNA:target duplexes can be used to either prioritize or validate putative miRNA-circRNA associations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue RNA Target Prediction Methods)

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22 pages, 4524 KB

Open AccessReview

Barcoding of Plant Viruses with Circular Single-Stranded DNA Based on Rolling Circle Amplification

by Holger Jeske

Viruses 2018, 10(9), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10090469 - 31 Aug 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8420

Abstract

The experience with a diagnostic technology based on rolling circle amplification (RCA), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses, and direct or deep sequencing (Circomics) over the past 15 years is surveyed for the plant infecting geminiviruses, nanoviruses and associated satellite DNAs, which have had increasing impact on agricultural and horticultural losses due to global transportation and recombination-aided diversification. Current state methods for quarantine measures are described to identify individual DNA components with great accuracy and to recognize the crucial role of the molecular viral population structure as an important factor for sustainable plant protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Viruses of Plants, Fungi and Protozoa)

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