Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Machine Learning Approach in Dementia Patient Classification using Principal Component Analysis

: Dementia is one of the brain diseases that were significantly affecting the global population. Mainly it is exposed to older people with an association of memory loss and thinking ability. Unfortunately, there are no proper medications for dementia prevention. Doctors are suggesting that early prediction of this disease can somehow help the patient by slowdown the dementia progress. Nowadays, many computer scientists were using machine learning (ML) algorithms and data-mining operations in the healthcare environment for predicting and diagnosing diseases. The current study designed to develop an ML model for better classification of patients associated with dementia. For that, we developed a feature extraction method with the involvement of three supervised ML techniques such as support vector machines (SVM), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and logistic regression (LR). Principal component analysis (PCA) was selected to extract relevant features related to the targeted outcome. Performance measures were assessed with accuracy, precision, recall, and AUC values. The accuracy of SVM, LR, and KNN was found as 0.967, 0.983, and 0.976, respectively. The AUC of LR (0.997) and KNN (0.966) were recorded the highest values. With the highest AUC values, KNN and LR were considered optimal classifiers in dementia prediction.
Achieving Privacy, Security, and Interoperability among Biometric Networks using Symmetric Encryption

: Privacy, security, and interoperability of biometrics systems are fundamental for any segment of a society that uses it. In this work, we developed a network that uses a symmetric encryption scheme, to ensure the anonymous index data exchange and registration of a person, and an interoperability communication protocol to process identiﬁcation requests between different biometric systems. Our main contribution is the construction of a non-reversible encryption index that can safely traverse, without decrypting it, the network of connections between different biometric systems with an interoperability and data integrity communication protocol. The advantages of our work are the mitigation of known encryption and network attacks, the creation of a random initialization vector, without sending it over the network, but feasible to be calculated for all the accredited Biometric Service Providers, the increased security of biometric database, that not only relies about templates, and the improvement of IEEE Biometric Open Protocol Standard. The security analysis of the scheme and the results conﬁrm that the network holds anonymity of a person and that it is possible to interoperate this data with an enhanced integrity protocol.
External Contextual Factors in Information Security Behaviour

: Human behaviour is often considered to be irrational, difficult to understand, and challenging to manage. This phenomenon has a direct impact on the way in which humans behave when confronted with information security which, in turn, complicates how security is to be managed. This research attempts to investigate the role that contextual factors play in how humans behave, specifically with regards to information security. Contextual factors are identified that influence human behaviour in general. These factors are conceptualised in relation to existing models of behaviour and subsequently mapped to information security behaviour. A practical research exercise, relating to information security behaviour, is conducted with a university residence as the contextual environment. The specific contextual factors, and how they relate to information security, are discussed. Information security behavioural threshold analysis is employed to evaluate the impact of the identified contextual factors on the residence’s security behaviour. The results are reflected upon, based on the results from the threshold analysis. The paper concludes by highlighting the contributions that were made towards understanding contextual factors in information security.
Keyword Extraction in German: Information-theory vs. Deep Learning

: This paper reports the results of a study on automatic keyword extraction in German. We employed in general two types of methods: (A) an unsupervised method based on information theory (Shannon, 1948). We employed (i) a bigram model, (ii) a probabilistic parser model (Hale, 2001) and (iii) an innovative model which utilises topics as extra-sentential contexts for the calculation of the information content of the words, and (B) a supervised method employing a recurrent neural network (RNN). As baselines, we employed Tex-tRank and the TF-IDF ranking function. The topic model (A)(iii) outperformed clearly all remaining models, even TextRank and TF-IDF. In contrast, RNN performed poorly. We take the results as ﬁrst evidence, that (i) information content can be employed for keyword extraction tasks and has thus a clear correspondence to semantics of natural language’s, and (ii) that - as a cognitive principle - the information content of words is determined from extra-sentential contexts, that is to say, from the discourse of words.
A Comparison of Blockchain-based PKI Implementations

: Blockchain technology has recently been proposed by many authors for decentralized key management in the context of Public Key Infrastructures (PKIs). Instead of relying on trusted key servers – centralized or decentralized –, the conﬁrmation and revocation of keys is distributed over a multitude of participants. A pletheora of implementations exist, all of which rely on different properties of blockchains. In this paper, we motivate the most relevant properties of blockchains as well as PKI and how they are linked. Furthermore, we provide an overview of state-of-the-art blockchain-based PKI implementations and compare them with respect to these properties. While all analyzed implementations fullﬁl the basic requirements of PKIs, we ﬁnd that (i) privacy is very often neglected; and (ii) only a small subset is evaluated with respect to both, complexity and cost. In order to provide a guideline for future blockchain-based PKI implementations, we conclude with a set of recommendations based on our ﬁndings.
Development of testbed for cyber-manufacturing security issues

ABSTRACT Future manufacturing systems such as Industry 4.0, Cloud Manufacturing, or Cyber-Manufacturing System (CMS) rely on the seamless integration of cyber and physical domains in the manufacturing systems. However, this increased connectivity within a factory and between factories enlarges the attack surface for malicious individuals. Potential intrusions – especially cyber-physical attacks – can cause profound damages to the manufacturing system. In order to detect, prevent and overcome the cyber-physical attacks, an experimental environment to investigate cyber-physical attacks in CMS was developed. This paper presents details of a testbed, called Cyber-Manufacturing System Security Testbed (CSST). It was designed to investigate cyber-physical intrusions and validate their detection methods in the CMS environment. Cyber and physical components of the CSST are described along with how they interact and are constructed to address the security issues. Results from using the CSST at both component and system levels are analyzed and presented.
Dynamic Characteristics of an Offshore Wind Turbine with Tripod Suction Buckets via Full-Scale Testing

The dynamic characteristics of an offshore wind turbine with tripod suction buckets are investigated through finite element analysis and full-scale experiments. In finite element analysis, an integrated framework is suggested to create a simple yet accurate high fidelity model. The integrated framework accounts for not only the strain dependency of the soil but also for all dynamics in the seabed, including those of the soil, suction bucket skirt, and cap. Hence, the model accurately describes the coupling effect of translational and rotational motions of the seabed. The prediction results are compared to the experimental results obtained via full-scale testing in four stages during construction and in several operational conditions. The comparison shows that the stiffness of the suction bucket cap and strain dependency of the soil play a significant role in predicting natural frequency, suggesting that these two factors should be considered in finite element analysis for the accurate prediction of dynamic responses of an offshore wind conversion system. Moreover, dynamic analysis of the strain and acceleration measured during operational conditions shows that strain is more robust than acceleration with regard to the characterization of the overall dynamics of an offshore wind conversion system because the natural frequency of an offshore wind turbine is very low. It can be inferred that the measurement of strain is a more effective way to monitor the long-term evolution of dynamic characteristics. The suggested integrated framework and measurement campaign are useful not only to avoid conservatism that may incur additional costs during load calculation and design phases but also to establish an intelligent operation and maintenance strategy with a novel sensing technique.
CoProtect: Collaborative Management of Cryptographic Keys for Data Security in Cloud Systems

Cryptography key management system plays a very central role in the cloud data security. Nonetheless, a great part of the current commercial solutions rely on cloud providers that hold both the encrypted data and the related private master key of their served customers in their secure key vaults, having a de-facto total control on their customer digital assets. Conversely, entrusting customer companies for key holding can be dangerous as witnessed by many cases of key loss or theft. In this work we present CoProtect, a novel architecture to protect the cryptography keys in cloud systems that leverage on the cooperation between the cloud provider and the customer company. With such trust model, we present the proposed data management strategy, the key generation and the crypto procedures, and a proof of concept.
Secure Comparison and Interval Test Protocols based on Three-party MPC

Multiparty Computation (MPC) is a technology that enables computations to be performed without exposing private data. Three main approaches are employed to construct an MPC: secret-sharing schemes, homomorphic encryption, and garbled circuit. Although secret-sharing based MPC involves lower communication cost generally, it requires more round communications for concrete protocols such as comparisons or interval tests. Herein, we propose a five-round secure comparison protocol and a five-round interval test protocol using a shuffling protocol based on a three-party secret-sharing scheme. Additionally, we compare our protocols with existing protocols based on rounds and multiplications.
Solar-aided hydrogen production methods for the integration of renewable energies into oil ampamp; gas industries

This paper integrates solar energy, regarded as the most abundant renewable energy in the world, into oil and gas industries to produce the hydrogen required in crude oil upgrader processes. Three alternatives of producing hydrogen from solar energy were proposed, namely, Solar Steam Methane Reforming using a Volumetric Receiver Reactor (SSMR-VRR), Solar Steam Methane Reforming using Molten Salt (SSMR-MS), and Solar Thermal Power generation coupled with Water Electrolysis (STP-WE). Simulations of all alternatives have been done to produce 2577 kmol per hour hydrogen: that is, the demand in the crude oil upgrader process. The technical, economic, and environmental analysis is performed to compare the results of the alternatives with the conventional steam reforming of natural gas. The results suggest that SSMR-VRR has the lowest levelized cost of hydrogen production, which is $2.5 per kg of hydrogen; SSMR-MS has a highest energy efficiency of 68%, and STP-WE has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. The economic analysis suggests that currently the thermochemical processes (SSMR-VRR and SSMR-MS) have potential for producing hydrogen required by the crude oil upgrader; however, as the renewable energy technologies progress that may lead to their capital cost decrease, solar thermal power with water electrolysis (STP-WE) will become a more promising sustainable option for hydrogen production.
Articles : The Stimulatory Effect of Garnoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus on the Antioxidant Enzyme Catalase

Antioxidant enzymes, scavengers of the reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI), are involved in numerous defense systems in cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the hot-water extracts of two medicinally potent mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus lieiteus) on the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes in vitro and in vivo. The mushroom extracts stimulated the catalase activity in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, whereas the other antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were unaffected by the extracts. The catalytic activity of catalase in the liver and brain was significantly increased after the oral treatment of the mushroom extracts (2.5 g/㎏) to ICR mice for 2 months. Western blot analysis of the liver and brain tissues revealed that the expression level of catalase in the mice, treated with both mushroom extracts, was significantly increased compared to that of the control mice. However, the level of the SOD expression in the mice treated with the natural product extracts was unchanged under the same experimental conditions. Although the mechanisms for the stimulatory effect of the catalase expression by these extracts remains unclear, these results suggest that the ingredients of the Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus extracts act as an activator of catalase, and regulate the expression of catalase at the translationat or transcriptional level.
The ProFitMap-neck - a questionnaire for measuring symptoms and functional limitations in neck pain: reliability, validity and cross-cultural adaptation of the Turkish version

Background/aim The Profile Fitness Mapping neck questionnaire (ProFitMap-neck) is a reliable and valid assessment instrument for measuring neck-related symptoms and functional limitations in people with neck pain, but a Turkish version of it had not been published. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptation, validity, and intrarater reliability of the Turkish version of the ProFitMap-neck. Materials and methods Two hundred and thirty-five individuals with chronic neck pain were enrolled in the study. Intrarater reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for internal consistency. For concurrent validity, ProFitMap-neck scores were compared with neck disability index (NDI) and visual analoguepain scale (VAS) scores using Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis. The ProFitMap-neck, NDI, VAS, and short form health survey (SF-36) were administered to all participants. Results For intrarater analysis, ICC ranged between 0.72 and 0.84. The total score was 0.83, indicating excellent reliability. The correlation of the ProFitMap-neck with NDI and VAS was 0.71 and 0.68, respectively, indicating good concurrent validity. Conclusion The ProFitMap-neck is an evaluation instrument with sufficient validity and reliability to be used for evaluating Turkish patients with neck pain. Use of this scale can reveal how, how often, and how much these patients’ pain affects their symptoms and functional activities.
Open Versus Closing Wedge Osteotomy and Application to Mandibular Reconstruction.

PURPOSE To review the specific techniques of closing wedge osteotomy and open osteotomy, compare their clinical and radiographic outcomes, and apply these findings to mandibular reconstruction. METHODS A thorough review of the otolaryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and orthopedic surgery literature was conducted in the Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases using the terms 'osteotomy' and 'mandibular reconstruction. ' RESULTS Traditionally, open osteotomies were thought to result in greater rates of malunion. However, multiple meta-analyses within the orthopedic literature have refuted this. Closing wedge osteotomies, on the other hand, may increase the chance of damaging a perforator. Again, no studies have evaluated the relationship between type of osteotomy and flap survival or wound healing. The particular type of osteotomy performed often depends on the type of osseous flap being utilized. CONCLUSIONS Open osteotomies are a viable and even preferred alternative, particularly in flaps without consistent perforators, such as scapular free flaps.
Biolarvicidal effects of nine Bacillus strains against larvae of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae) and nontarget organisms.

Nine bacterial strains isolated from different insect hosts were identified by using Sherlock Microbial Identification (MIS) system. Cell suspensions of the bacteria were tested for their larvicidal activity against the larvae of Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory conditions. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) profiles and profiles of nutrient substrate utilization by the most effective strains were determined. Nitrogen fixation, antibiotic resistance and salt tolerance of these strains were also investigated. Separately, they were tested for toxicity in non-target aquatic organisms, including common water fleas, Daphnia magna and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). Tested strains were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis (6 strains), Bacillus sphaericus (2 strains) and Brevibacillus brevis (1 strain). The identification was also confirmed by BIOLOG system. A mortality of 100% of Culex larvae was observed after 24 and/or 48 hrs, following treatment with the cell suspension of Brevibacillus brevis FD1, B. sphaericus FD48 and B. sphaericus FD49 strains. Major fatty acids of B. sphaericus FD48 and FD49 strains were C15:0 iso, C15:0 anteiso and C16:1 w7c alcohol. Major fatty acids of the B. brevis FD1 strain was C15:0 anteiso, C15:0 iso and C17:0 anteiso. B. sphaericus FD48 and FD49 strains had similar substrate utilization patterns. Methyl pyruvate was the only substrate utilized by FD1, FD48 and FD49 strains. The strains grew in N-free Döbereiner culture medium, toleranced to salt and were resistant to amikacin, kanamycin, penicillin, tobramycin, ofloxacin and sulphamethoxazole. B. brevis FD1, B. sphaericus FD48 and FD49 whole culture gave an LC50 of approximately 10 3 cells/ mL for susceptible C. pipiens larvae, whereas a concentrated 10 cells/ml culture had not affected any in common water fleas and Nile tilapia survival. No mortality was observed throughout the 3-week experiment. In conclusion, B. brevis FD1, B. sphaericus FD48 and FD49 strains can be developed and recommended for biocontrol of mosquitoes.
Evaluation of novel serological markers and autoantibodies in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background The use of serological markers to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans is well‐established. Because of the frequency of IBD in dogs and resources required for its diagnosis with current methods, new approaches are desired. Objective The goal is to evaluate novel serologic markers to differentiate clinical cohorts in dogs with gastrointestinal (GI) disease and assess their potential to develop a serum‐based IBD diagnostic test. Animals Seventy dogs diagnosed with biopsy‐confirmed IBD, 23 dogs with non‐IBD predominantly acute GI diseases, and 58 normal dogs. Methods Prospective control study. ELISA methods were developed to detect autoantibodies to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (APMNA) and calprotectin (ACNA), antibodies against gliadins (AGA), microbial outer membrane porin C (ACA), and flagellins (AFA) isolated from diseased dogs based on clinical and histopathological scoring. Results IBD dogs displayed a 39%‐76% prevalence of seropositivity against selected serologic markers that markedly decreased to 0%‐13% in non‐IBD and normal dogs. ROC analysis showed statistical significance in differentiating the cohorts, with seropositivity against OmpC being the highest single performance marker. The combination of markers such as OmpC and APMNA reached specificities of 93%‐99% and 79%‐98% and sensitivities of 76%‐97% and 66%‐86% when comparing IBD versus normal cohorts and non‐IBD cohorts, respectively. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Seropositivity of canine immunoglobulins A against selected serologic markers in dogs appears promising in the detection and differentiation of IBD versus other acute GI conditions. Among them, antibody reactivity to Escherichia coli OmpC and canine autoantibodies against polymorphonuclear leukocytes displayed the highest single marker discriminating performance.
Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects and Bone Loss in the Tibia by Flap Transfer and Bone Transport by Distraction Osteogenesis: A Case Series and Our Experience.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of flap transfer followed by delayed bone transport using external fixator on the soft tissue defect with segmental tibial loss. METHODS A total of 14 patients with soft tissue defects and bone loss were treated with flap transfer combined followed by delayed bone transport using external fixator from January 2010 to January 2017 and, successfully, follow-up were included. Demographic data and data on clinical outcomes and complications were obtained from hospital record. The mean age was 35.5 years, and the average time from injury to reconstructive surgery was 4.14 months. The average soft tissue and bone defect sizes were 33.57 cm and 7.04 cm, respectively. Local or free flap was created to reconstruct the soft tissue defects. The Ilizarov external fixator or Orthofix limb reconstruction system (OLRS) was used to reconstruct bony defects by bifocal or trifocal bone transport using delayed distraction osteogenesis. The functional results were evaluated by Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov scoring system, and all postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS The mean duration of follow-up after removal of fixator was 29.49 ± 4.34 months (range, 24-38 months). All wounds healed after 1-stage operation, and all transferred flaps were survived. The average interval between flap coverage and bone transportation was 13.4 weeks (range, 8-24 weeks). Eight patients used bifocal, and 6 patients used trifocal approach for bone transportation. An average external fixation time was 208.5 days (range, 168-235 days) and external fixation index was 33.6 days/cm (range, 18.8-46.5 days/cm). Superficial necrosis of the flap edge was noted in 4 cases, after debridement and regular dressing, the flap healed successfully. Bone union was achieved in all patients except 4 cases that occurred with docking site nonunion which achieved satisfactory union after application of accordion maneuver and autografting of iliac bone. All patients achieved satisfactory functional recovery and were able to walk normally. CONCLUSIONS The flap transfer followed by delayed distraction osteogenesis using external fixator which can be used for successful reconstruction of bone and soft tissue defects in lower leg.