bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Artificial Intelligence-based Intrusion Detection System
Authors:   American University in the Emirates, Dubai, UAE, Almuhairi Thani ,   American University in the Emirates, Dubai, UAE,   American University in the Emirates, Dubai, UAE, Almarri Ahmad , Hokal Khalid
Published: September 2021

Intrusion detection systems have been used in many systems to avoid malicious attacks. Traditionally, these intrusion detection systems use signature-based classification to detect predefined attacks and monitor the network's overall traffic. These intrusion detection systems often fail when an unseen attack occurs, which does not match with predefined attack signatures, leaving the system hopeless and vulnerable. In addition, as new attacks emerge, we need to update the database of attack signatures, which contains the attack information. This raises concerns because it is almost impossible to define every attack in the database and make the process costly also. Recently, research in conjunction with artificial intelligence and network security has evolved. As a result, it created many possibilities to enable machine learning approaches to detect the new attacks in network traffic. Machine learning has already shown successful results in the domain of recommendation systems, speech recognition, and medical systems. So, in this paper, we utilize machine learning approaches to detect attacks and classify them. This paper uses the CSE-CIC-IDS dataset, which contains normal and malicious attacks samples. Multiple steps are performed to train the network traffic classifier. Finally, the model is deployed for testing on sample data.
The perceptions and beliefs of cannabis use among Canadian genitourinary cancer patients
Authors: Taneja Shipra , Guo Yanbo , Slaven Marissa , Lalani Aly-Khan , Shaw Erynn , Tajzler Camilla , Hotte Sebastien , Kapoor Anil
Published: September 2021

Introduction: The legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada in 2018 has led to many patients being curious about the benefits of taking cannabis in conjunction with their cancer treatment. We investigated the perceptions among genitourinary cancer (GUC) patients regarding cannabis use as part of their care plans.
Methods: A survey was created to explore current cannabis use behaviors, reasons for cannabis use, and the beliefs of cannabis usefulness towards cancer-related care, including cancer treatment, among GUC patients. The survey was distributed across Canada online via RedCAP through social media platforms, email, and patient advocacy groups. The survey was active from August to December 2020.
Results: Of eighty-five responses, fifty-two met inclusion for analysis. Participants included 11 bladder, 26 kidney, and 15 prostate cancer patients. Many (48.1%) participants used cannabis daily and 75% had been using it for more than one year. Cannabis was consumed through oil-based products, edibles, and smoking. The most common reasons for using cannabis were cancer-related anxiety, to prevent cancer progression, cancer-related pain, recreational use, and other non-cancer-related illness or symptoms. Participants believed cannabis improved their sleep (70.2%), anxiety (65.9%), and overall mood (72.3%). Most participants were either unsure (38.3%) or neutral (31.9%) in the belief that cannabis might decrease their cancer progression.
Conclusions: GUC patients use cannabis for a variety of cancer- and non-cancer-related symptoms. Many patients believe cannabis has benefited their cancer-related symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of healthcare providers remaining familiar with current evidence on cannabis to support patient conversations about cannabis use.
The impact of a multidisciplinary small renal mass clinic on patient treatment decisions
Authors: Earis Danielle , Wall Chris , Sinclair Nicolette , Domes Trustin , Jana Kunal
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Small renal masses (SRMs) are managed with active surveillance (AS), thermal ablation (TA), irreversible electroporation (IRE), or surgery, depending on patient and tumor factors. A novel SRM multidisciplinary clinic (SRMC), involving urologists and interventional radiologists, was established to provide patients with information on treatments options. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the SRMC on treatment decision-making
Methods: Demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment decisions were prospectively collected on patients (n=216) attending the SRMC between 2016 and 2019. A retrospective historic cohort (n=238) seen by urologists was used as a control group. Key variables were analyzed and compared. Patient satisfaction (n=27) was surveyed and responses were summarized and explored.
Results: Mean age, tumor size, and pathology was similar between groups; however, the SRMC cohort had more male patients (65.7% vs. 53.8%, p=0.009). Chosen treatment modality differed significantly between cohorts (p<0.0001). Patients in the historic cohort were treated by AS (41.5%), surgery (37.9%), TA (11.9%), watchful waiting (7.9%), and IRE (0.8%). SRMC patients were treated by TA (42.2%), AS (26.7%), surgery (21.3%), IRE (7.6%), and watchful waiting (2.2%). Post-hoc analysis revealed statistically significant differences in proportions of AS, TA, IRE, and surgery between cohorts. Patients reported high satisfaction with the collaborative approach.
Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach may have an impact on patient treatment decision-making for SRMs. Consultations involving a urologist and an interventional radiologist resulted in more TA and IRE and less AS and surgery. Future studies should evaluate if these findings occur in other centers.
Systematic review of robotic radical cystectomy functional and quality of life outcomes
Authors: Jue Joshua S. , Mikhail David , Feuerstein Michael A.
Published: September 2021

This systematic review summarizes the urinary continence, male sexual function, and female sexual function outcomes after robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). Greater intracorporeal diversion use, longer followup, and clearly stated urinary continence definitions have revealed RARC urinary continence rates for orthotopic ileal neobladders that are similar to those after open radical cystectomy (ORC) when using the strictest continence definitions. Nerve-sparing technique appears to be well-used in most studies, with short-term and long-term RARC potency rates similar those after ORC when using the strictest potency definitions. Level 1 evidence using validated questionnaires suggests that quality of life outcomes are also similar.
Fellowship training in endourology: Impact on percutaneous nephrolithotomy access patterns
Authors: Saluk Jennifer , Ebel Joshua , Rose Justin , Posid Tasha , Sourial Michael , Knudsen Bodo
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains the treatment of choice for kidney stones larger than 2 cm. Few studies have examined the reasons why some urologists obtain their own PCNL access while others prefer to have interventional radiology (IR) obtain access. The objective of this study was to investigate what factors influence this decision.
Methods: A survey was posted to the American Urological Association’s (AUA) Young Urologist Community. Descriptive statistics and exploratory analyses were used to summarize practice trends and motivating factors.
Results: All 99 respondents began practicing within the past 11 years. Ninety-two currently perform PCNLs and 47% of them obtain their own access. Endourology fellowship-trained physicians were more likely to currently obtain their own access (75%) compared to urologists who completed non-endourology fellowships (75% vs. 23%, p=0.58) and non-fellowship-trained urologists (75% vs. 45%, p=0.01). Logging >50 cases during training also predicted physicians obtaining their own access and having a larger annual number of PCNL cases. The most common motivator for obtaining one’s own access was preference to control their own access point (95%).
Conclusions: Urologist-obtained PCNL access was associated with greater training experience (endourology fellowship) and current annual PCNL case volume. Urologist-reported factors that influenced the decision to obtain one’s own access include control of access, comfort level, and both physician and patient convenience. By identifying the factors that influence practice patterns, we may better address barriers, improve education to make urologist-obtained PCNL access feasible even without fellowship training, and ultimately improve outcomes and quality of care.
Is metformin use associated with changes in urinary parameters in stone formers?
Authors: Rosen Daniel , Bamberger Jacob N. , Kaplan-Marans Elie , Paranjpe Ishan , Kapoor Arjun , Gallante Blair , Atashsokhan Daniel J. , Zampini Anna M. , Khusid Johnathan A. , Atallah William M. , Gupta Mantu
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of nephrolithiasis and is often treated with metformin. The relationship between metformin and nephrolithiasis formation remains unclear as studies have demonstrated conflicting results.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of stone-forming patients at our stone clinic prior to the initiation of stone-directed medical management. Patients were grouped based on diabetic status and diabetic medication regimen. Outcomes evaluated were 24-hour urinary parameters and specimen stone type using univariate Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-squared analyses. Multivariate analyses controlling for metabolic syndrome components and HbA1c were performed.
Results: Data were available for 505 patients, of whom 147 were diabetic and 358 were not. On multivariate analyses controlling for HbA1c and other comorbidities, diabetic patients on metformin still had worse urinary parameters, including urine pH, than non-diabetic patients (pH = -0.33, -0.37, p<0.05). Patients with DM on metformin did not exhibit significant differences in 24-hour urine findings compared to patients with DM not on metformin (p>0.05 for all urinary parameters).
Conclusions: Stone-forming patients with DM on metformin were associated with urinary abnormalities similar to those not on metformin. Cohort studies comparing urinary parameters of patients prospectively started on metformin are necessary to further elucidate metformin’s role, if any, in combatting nephrolithiasis.
Development and initial validation of a cost-effective, re-usable, ultrasound-compatible suprapubic catheter insertion training simulator
Authors: Randhawa Harkanwal , Wang Yuding , Hoogenes Jen , Uy Michael , Shayegan Bobby , Kapoor Anil , Matsumoto Edward D.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Suprapubic catheterization (SPC) is a fundamental skill required of urology trainees. A lack of affordable simulation models and unpredictability of bedside SPCs limit experiential learning opportunities. Our objective was to develop and initially validate a re-usable, low-cost, ultrasound (US)-compatible SPC simulator for acquiring skills that transfer to the bedside.
Methods: The model was constructed using six components. Staff urologists and interventional radiologists (IRs) conducted a SPC and rated the model on three domains with multiple subcategories on a five-point Likert scale: anatomic realism; usefulness as a training tool; and global/overall reaction. Participants in our first-year urology “boot camp” received SPC training, practiced, and were evaluated via an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Staff ratings and OSCE scores determined the model’s initial face and content validity.
Results: Twelve staff physicians participated in the study. The mean scores for urologists and IRs, respectively, were: anatomical realism: 4.10 and 3.70; usefulness as a training tool: 4.23 and 4.24; and overall reaction: 4.40 and 4.44. Staff strongly agreed that the model should be incorporated into the residency curriculum. Over the past four years, 25 boot camp participants scored a mean of 99.7% (±1.8) on the OSCE, with high technical performance and entrustment scores (4.8 and 4.7, respectively). The model cost $55 CAD.
Conclusions: This novel, multiple-use, low-cost, easily reproducible US-compatible SPC simulator demonstrated initial face and content validity via high staff urologist and IR ratings and OSCE scores of first-year urology residents. Additional research is required for construct validation.
Chronic pain associated with penile prostheses may persist despite revision or explantation
Authors: Campbell Jeffrey D. , Chan Ernest Pang , Di Pierdominico Andrew , Karakus Serkan , Trock Bruce , Brock Gerald B. , Burnett Arthur L.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation is the gold-standard treatment for medically refractory erectile dysfunction. New chronic pain after IPP implantation is rarely discussed and the optimal treatment is unclear. We evaluated whether IPP reoperation for a primary indication of chronic pain improves patients’ symptoms. Our secondary aim was to explore factors associated with resolution or persistence of pain after IPP reoperation.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 315 patients who had an IPP revision or explantation at two high-volume prosthetic centers between May 2007 and May 2017. We excluded patients who had device malfunction, pain for <2 months, pain associated with infection or erosion, and patients without long-term followup data. Persistent pain was diagnosed based on patient self-report.
Results: A total of 31 patients met our criteria for having undergone a surgical revision (n=18) or explantation (n=13) for pain relief. Eighteen (58%) patients had persistent pain despite surgical intervention. Only patients who had pain secondary to a device malposition improved after reoperation (n=13). A prior diagnosis of a chronic pain syndrome was associated with persistent pain despite intervention. Pain improvement was not associated with age, comorbid conditions, duration of implant, or the number of surgical revisions performed.
Conclusions: Surgical intervention for chronic penile prosthesis pain is unlikely to relieve symptoms, particularly for patients with chronic pain disorders. Patients should be counselled that IPP reoperative procedures as a treatment for pain should be avoided unless the device is identified to be malpositioned, and consideration of alternative therapeutic options may be more beneficial.
Predictive radiomics signature for treatment response to nivolumab in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Malone Eoghan R. , Sim Hoa-Wen , Stundzia Audrius , Pierre Sacha , Metser Ur , O'Malley Martin , Sacher Adrian G. , Sridhar Srikala S. , Hansen Aaron R.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: The anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab is currently approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC); approximately 25% of patients respond. We hypothesized that we could identify a biomarker of response using radiomics to train a machine learning classifier to predict nivolumab response outcomes.
Methods: Patients with mRCC of different histologies treated with nivolumab in a single institution between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively identified. Patients were labelled as responders (complete response [CR]/particle response [PR]/durable stable disease [SD]) or non-responders based on investigator tumor assessment using RECIST 1.1 criteria. For each patient, lesions were contoured from pre-treatment and first post-treatment computed tomography (CT) scans. This information was used to train a radial basis function support vector machine classifier to learn a prediction rule to distinguish responders from non-responders. The classifier was internally validated by a 10-fold nested cross-validation.
Results: Thirty-seven patients were identified; 27 (73%) met the inclusion criteria. One hundred and four lesions were contoured from these 27 patients. The median patient age was 56 years, 78% were male, 89% had clear-cell histology, 89% had prior nephrectomy, and 89% had prior systemic therapy. There were 19 responders vs. eight non-responders. The lesions selected were lymph nodes (60%), lung metastases (23%), and renal/adrenal metastases (17%). For the classifier trained on the baseline CT scans, 69% accuracy was achieved. For the classifier trained on the first post-treatment CT scans, 66% accuracy was achieved.
Conclusions: The set of radiomic signatures was found to have limited ability to discriminate nivolumab responders from non-responders. The use of novel texture features (two-point correlation measure, two-point cluster measure, and minimum spanning tree measure) did not improve performance.
Women Entrepreneurs and Business Angel: A Difficult Relationship
Authors: Giglio Ferdinando
Published: September 2021

This article aims to analyze the phenomenon of the business angel, considered one of the main ways of obtaining external financing by women entrepreneurs.

Through a search conducted on the Scopus database, 26 articles have been selected that deal with the problem of finding external sources required by women entrepreneurs. It has been shown that women entrepreneurs are discriminated against by business angels for various reasons including the lack of work experience acquired, the level of education and the lack of social networks useful for interacting with them. The business angel phenomenon has been analyzed in China, Japan, and Sweden, therefore, research could be conducted in Italy, given the scarcity. Furthermore, only the business angel was analyzed as a source of external financing so other ways to receive resources from the external environment could be discussed. This is an article that deals with the problem on how women entrepreneurs find themselves having to face when they decide to start their own business.
Deelneming aan een criminele organisatie en ne bis in idem
Authors: de Graaf F.C.W. (Fanny)
Published: September 2021

Deelneming aan een criminele organisatie en ne bis in idem

In deze bijdrage wordt ingegaan op de toepassing van het ne bis in idem-beginsel in gevallen waarin de verdachte onder meer wordt verweten te hebben deelgenomen aan een criminele organisatie (art. 140 Sr). Daarbij wordt in het bijzonder aandacht besteed aan twee arresten van de Hoge Raad in zaken waarin het ging om een vervolging wegens deelneming aan een criminele organisatie ná een vervolging wegens een concreet – binnen die organisatie gepleegd – delict en vice versa. Er wordt ingegaan op de vraag op welke wijze kan worden getoetst of het ne bis in idem-beginsel in dergelijke gevallen aan een tweede vervolging in de weg staat, waarbij voornoemde arresten kritisch worden geanalyseerd. De bijzondere structuur van artikel 140 Sr speelt in dit verband een belangrijke rol.
Een andere betekenis van het dossier J.A. Poch voor het Nederlandse strafrecht
Authors: Machielse A.J. (Ad) , Myjer B.E.P. (Egbert)
Published: September 2021

Een andere betekenis van het dossier J.A. Poch voor het Nederlandse strafrecht

Deze bijdrage is een reactie op een eerdere publicatie in NTS van de hand van Rozemond en Van der Wilt. Machielse en Myjer schrijven dat Rozemond en Van der Wilt kennelijk geen oog hebben gehad voor de inhoud van de onderzoeksopdracht aan de Commissie Dossier J.A. Poch. De Nederlandse autoriteiten waren in de zaak Poch gebonden aan verdragen, wetgeving, rechtspraak en internationale omgangsvormen. Nederland heeft zich altijd voorstander getoond van internationale samenwerking op het gebied van opsporing en vervolging. Toen Argentinië aan Nederland verzocht rechtshulp te verlenen en inlichtingen te verschaffen nadat tegen Poch verdenking was gerezen van medeplegen van internationale misdrijven heeft Nederland aan dat verzoek gehoor gegeven.
The Resilience of Democracy in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Massart Tom , Vos Thijs , Egger Clara , Dupuy Claire , Morel-Jean Constance , Magni-Berton Raul , Roché Sébastian
Published: September 2021

The Resilience of Democracy in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Since January 2020, European countries have implemented a wide range of restrictions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet governments have also implemented democratic compensators in order to offset the negative impacts of restrictions. This article aims to account for the variation of their use between Belgium, the Netherlands and France. We analyse three drivers: the strength of counterpowers, the ruling parties’ ideological leanings and political support. Building on an original data set, our results distinguish between embedded and ad hoc compensators. We find that ad hoc compensators are championed mainly by counterpowers, but also by ideology of the ruling coalitions in Belgium and the Netherlands and used strategically to maintain political support in France. Evidence on the link between embedded compensators and counterpowers is more ambiguous.
Opposition in Times of COVID-19 – To Support or Not to Support?
Authors: Vande Walle Britt , Wolfs Wouter , Van Hecke Steven
Published: September 2021

Opposition in Times of COVID-19 – To Support or Not to Support?

COVID-19 has hit many countries all over the world, and its impact on (party) politics has been undeniable. This crisis situation functions as an opportunity structure incentivising opposition forces to support the government. Not much is known about what drives opposition parties to (not) support the government in crisis situations. This article integrates the literature on rally-around-the-flag, political opportunity structures, party types and party goals. More specifically, we focus on the behaviour of opposition parties towards the government’s crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyse whether and how the party type influences the position of the party vis-à-vis the governmental coalition, focusing on the case of Belgium. We categorise the seven opposition parties in Belgium as challenger or mainstream parties and explain their behaviour on the basis of policy-, office- or vote-seeking motives. Our analysis is based on party voting behaviour, elite interviews and an analysis of the main plenary debates.
Rosyjski mechanizm destabilizacji
jako współczynnik strategii walki –
wybrane aspekty
Authors: Kwiatkowski Wojciech
Published: September 2021

Dążenia do ingerowania państwa „X” w politykę wewnętrzną państwa „Y” i próby
wpływania na nastroje jego ludności nie są zjawiskiem nowym. Poszczególne organizmy
państwowe starają się umocnić swój przekaz i uskutecznić go przy wykorzystaniu
mechanizmów destabilizacji. Ich zakres oraz wymiar bywa bardzo zróżnicowany.
Niezwykle szerokie spektrum w tej dziedzinie można przypisać Federacji Rosyjskiej.
Przygotowany artykuł ma umożliwić przegląd wybranych aspektów mechanizmu
używanych przez Rosjan celem prowadzenia działań destabilizacyjnych. Przedstawione
zostały przykłady z lat 2014–2020, kiedy to stosowane przez Kreml zabiegi
socjotechniczne miały bardzo intensywny charakter. Przybliżono zatem rosyjską
działalność w postaci m.in. posługiwania się elementami wojny hybrydowej, jak
chociażby szerzenie dezinformacji czy używanie środków w obszarze fake newsów.
Ponadto dotknięto tematu działań wymierzonych w jedność i integralność terytorialną
państw. Niniejszy artykuł w głównej mierze traktuje o problemie w ujęciu
polskim, ale poruszono także zagadnienia o wymiarze międzynarodowym. Zaprezentowano
przykłady działalności wymierzonej tak w państwo i społeczeństwo polskie, jak również innych krajów. Poznanie przytoczonych wymiarów mechanizmu
powinno uwrażliwić odbiorców na treść udostępnianych informacji i zmusić ich
do refleksji nad źródłem transmisji oraz autentycznością przekazu.
Relations between UN Sustainable Development Goals and societal security. Part 2
Authors: Kęsoń Tadeusz , Gromek Paweł
Published: September 2021

Sustainable development goals constitute the main measures of risk-oriented sustainable
development. The article presents the results of a literature study on the
relationship between these objectives and universal security, which indeed refers
to the most important utilitarian values. In the second part, attention is drawn to
seven goals: ‘accessible and clean energy’, ‘economic growth and decent work’, ‘innovation,
industry, infrastructure’, ‘less inequality’, ‘sustainable cities and communities’,
‘responsible consumption and production’, and ‘climate action’. As a result of the
review of the Web of Science® Data Collection database, 46 articles were selected
to serve as a basis for a literature survey. In the second part of the presentation
of obtained research results, we proved that issues related to general survival and
social development indirectly shape universal security in sustainable development,
especially in the contexts of threats to human life and health, their social nature, promptness in responding to threats, and characteristics of threats. All identified
relationships can be used to improve the link between universal security and sustainable
development, increasing the potential to protect core utilitarian values in
light of contemporary global development strategies.
Wybrane technologie wspierające procesy decyzyjne w Państwowej Straży Pożarnej jako produkt prac badawczo-rozwojowych realizowanych na rzecz bezpieczeństwa powszechnego
Authors: Nepelski Mariusz
Published: September 2021

Technologie wspierające procesy decyzyjne z reguły tworzą systemy informatyczne,
które wprowadzane są między innymi w instytucjach odpowiedzialnych za
bezpieczeństwo. Jedną z takich instytucji jest Państwowa Straż Pożarna, która
wdraża zamawiane technologie oraz tworzy własne poprzez udział swoich jednostek
organizacyjnych w pracach badawczych i rozwojowych. W działalność tę
intensywnie włączają się dwie jednostki naukowe: Szkoła Główna Służby Pożarniczej
oraz Centrum Naukowo-Badawcze Ochrony Przeciwpożarowej im. Józefa
Tuliszkowskiego – PIB. Jednym ze źródeł finansowania budowanych technologii
wspomagających procesy decyzyjne w Państwowej Straży Pożarnej jest Narodowe
Centrum Badań i Rozwoju. Instytucja ta w porozumieniu z Ministrem Obrony
Narodowej i ministrem właściwym do spraw wewnętrznych prowadzi działania
związane z badaniami na rzecz bezpieczeństwa i obronności państwa. W ramach
konkursów ogłaszanych w związku z realizacją zamawianych tematów badawczych finansowane są przedsięwzięcia, które w największym stopniu rokują rzeczywiste
zwiększenie bezpieczeństwa państwa. Co istotne, część z nich ukierunkowana jest na
ochronę ludności i ratownictwo. Celem realizowanych programów i projektów jest
nie tylko zwiększenie potencjału polskich podmiotów naukowych i przemysłowych,
ale także dążenie do niezależności technologicznej poprzez tworzenie polskiego
know-how w zakresie krytycznych technologii z obszaru bezpieczeństwa i obronności
państwa. W artykule zostaną zidentyfikowane technologie wspomagające procesy
decyzyjne wytworzone przez konsorcja naukowo-przemysłowe, których liderem
lub partnerem była Szkoła Główna Służby Pożarniczej oraz Centrum Naukowo-
-Badawcze Ochrony Przeciwpożarowej im. Józefa Tuliszkowskiego – PIB. Opisane
technologie wykorzystywane są min. w procesie kształcenia kadr Państwowej Straży
Pożarnej oraz w rzeczywistych działaniach ratowniczych.
Development of Proposed Ensemble Model for Spam e-mail Classification
Authors: Shrivas Akhilesh Kumar , Dewangan Amit Kumar , Ghosh S M , Singh Devendra
Published: September 2021

Spam e-mail documents classification is a very challenging task for e-mail users, especially non IT users. Billionsof people using the internet and face the problem of spam e-mails. The automatic identification and classificationof spam e-mails help to reduce the problem of e-mail users in managing a large amount of e-mails. This work aimsto do a significant contribution by building a robust model for classification of spam e-mail documents using datamining techniques. In this paper, we use Enorn1 data set which consists of spam and ham documents collectedfrom Kaggle repository. We propose an Ensemble Model-1 that is an ensemble of Multilayer Perceptron (MLP),Naïve Bayes and Random Forest (RF) to obtain better accuracy for the classification of spam and hame-mail documents.Experimental results reveal that the proposed Ensemble Model-1 outperforms other existing classifiers aswell as other proposed ensemble models in terms of classification accuracy. The suggested and proposed EnsembleModel-1 produces a high accuracy of 97.25% for classification of spam e-mail documents.
A Data Mining Technique to Improve Configuration Prioritization Framework for Component-Based Systems: An Empirical Study
Authors: Ali Atif , Hafeez Yaser , Ali Sadia , Hussain Shariq , Yang Shunkun , Jamal Malik Arif , Afzaal Abbasi Aaqif
Published: September 2021

Department of Software Engineering, In the current application development strategies, families of productsare developed with personalized configurations to increase stakeholders’ satisfaction. Product lines have theability to address several requirements due to their reusability and configuration properties. The structuringand prioritizing of configuration requirements facilitate the development processes, whereas it increases theconflicts and inadequacies. This increases human effort, reducing user satisfaction, and failing to accommodatea continuous evolution in configuration requirements. To address these challenges, we propose a framework formanaging the prioritization process considering heterogeneous stakeholders priority semantically. Featuresare analyzed, and mined configuration priority using the data mining method based on frequently accessed andchanged configurations. Firstly, priority is identified based on heterogeneous stakeholder’s perspectives usingthree factors functional, experiential, and expressive values. Secondly, the mined configuration is based on frequentlyaccessed or changed configuration frequency to identify the new priority for reducing failures or errorsamong configuration interaction. We evaluated the performance of the proposed framework with the help ofan experimental study and by comparing it with analytical hierarchical prioritization (AHP) and Clustering.The results indicate a significant increase (more than 90 percent) in the precision and the recall value of theproposed framework, for all selected cases.
A Prioritization Approach for Regression Test Cases Based on a Revised Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Alrawashdeh Thamer , ElQirem Fuad , Althunibat Ahmad , Alsoub Roba
Published: September 2021

The regression testing is a software-based testing approach executed to verify that changes made to the softwaredo not affect the existing functionality of the product. On account of the constraints of time and cost, it isimpractical to re-execute all the test cases for software whenever a change occurs. In order to overcome sucha problem in the selection of regression test cases, a prioritization technique should be employed. On the basisof some predefined criterion, the prioritization techniques create an execution schedule for the test cases, sothe higher priority test cases can be performed earlier than the lower priority test cases in order to improvethe efficiency of the software testing. Many prioritization criteria for regression test cases have been proposedin software testing literature; however, most of such techniques are code-based. Keeping in view this fact, thisresearch work has proposed a prioritization approach for regression test cases generated from software specificationswhich are based on the criterion of the Average Percentage Transition Coverage (APTC) by using arevised genetic algorithm. This criterion evaluates the rate of transitions coverage by incorporating knowledgeabout the significance of transitions between activates in the form of weights. APTC has been used as a fitnessevaluation function in a genetic algorithm to measure the effectiveness of a test cases sequence. Moreover, inorder to improve the coverage percentage, the proposed approach has revised the genetic algorithm by solvingthe problem of the optimal local solution. The experimental results show that the proposed approach demonstratesa good coverage performance with less execution time as compared to the standard genetic algorithmand some other prioritization techniques.
Automated State-Machine-Based Analysis of Hostname Verification in IPsec Implementations
Authors: Guo Jiaxing , Gu Chunxiang , Chen Xi , Lu Siqi , Wei Fushan
Published: September 2021

Owing to the advent and rapid development of Internet communication technology, network security protocols with cryptography as their core have gradually become an important means of ensuring secure communications. Among numerous security protocols, certificate authentication is a common method of identity authentication, and hostname verification is a critical but easily neglected process in certificate authentication. Hostname verification validates the identity of a remote target by checking whether the hostname of the communication partner matches any name in the X.509 certificate. Notably, errors in hostname verification may cause security problems with regard to identity authentication. In this study, we use a model-learning method to conduct security testing for hostname verification in internet protocol security (IPsec). This method can analyze the problems entailed in implementing hostname verification in IPsec by effectively inferring the deterministic finite automaton model that can describe the matching situation between the certificate subject name and the hostname for different rules. We analyze two popular IPsec implementations, Strongswan and Libreswan, and find five violations. We use some of these violations to conduct actual attack tests on the IPsec implementation. The results show that under certain conditions, attackers can use these flaws to carry out identity impersonation attacks and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Novel Algorithm for Agent Navigation Based on Intrinsic Motivation Due to Boredom
Authors: Loyola Oscar , Kern John , Urrea Claudio
Published: September 2021

We propose a novel algorithm for the navigation of agents based on reinforcement learning, using boredomas an element of intrinsic motivation. Improvements obtained with the inclusion of this element over classicstrategies are shown through simulations. Boredom is modeled through a chaotic element that generates conditionsfor the creation of routes when the environment does not offer any reward, allowing prompting the robotto navigate. Our proposal seeks to avoid what classical algorithms suffer in scenarios without rewards, generatinglosses of time in the resolution. We demonstrate experimentally that by adding the element of boredomit is possible to generate routes in scenarios in which rewards do not exist, allowing the use of these strategiesin real circumstances and facilitating the robot's navigation towards its objective. The most important contributionsustained by this work corresponds to the fact that it is possible to improve navigation in completelyadverse scenarios for a navigation algorithm based on rewards.
Application of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Obstructive Nephropathy
Authors: Xu Hua-Jian , Zhang Hanwen , Yu Juan , Lin Fan , Lei Yi
Published: September 2021

Background: Obstructive nephropathy is a common clinical disease. Objectives: To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in obstructive nephropathy. Materials and Methods: Forty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were examined in this study. Thirty-two animals underwent complete obstruction of the left ureter, while eight animals underwent a sham surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before surgery and within different intervals after surgery. Eight rats from the experimental group and two rats from the sham group were used in each interval. Following MRI, the animals were sacrificed and sent for medical examinations. The scanning sequences included positioning, transverse T2-weighted (T2W), coronal, and coronal DTI sequences. Image postprocessing was performed after DTI to measure DTI parameters, including apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA), and to reconstruct DTI fiber traces. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the parameters between the cortex and medulla and between different intervals. Results: The fiber tracing showed that the obstructed renal fiber bundles were sparse and disordered. The ADC and FA values of the renal cortex, extrarenal medulla, and inner medulla decreased with prolonged hydrops and were negatively correlated with the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and the renal tubulointerstitial lesion grade (r < 0, P < 0.001). Comparison of the cortex, extrarenal medulla, and inner medulla showed the following trends for the ADC and FA values: cortex > extrarenal medulla > inner medulla and cortex < extrarenal medulla < inner medulla, respectively. Conclusions: DTI in obstructive nephropathy not only can reflect the degree of renal interstitial fibrosis and accurately indicate the renal function, but also can provide information regarding renal blood perfusion, water metabolism, and ultrastructural changes.
A Survey of Perspectives and Factors in the Development of Medical Tourism in the Middle East
Authors: Hosseini Fatemeh , Mirzaei Abasat
Published: September 2021

Context: One of the most important sciences in the tourism industry, which has numerous financial and social benefits, is health and medical tourism. The health tourism industry is an organized trip out of the living environment to maintain, promote, or restore the health of the mind and body of an individual through medical intervention. Evidence Acquisition: Firstly, 80 articles were identified in different sources. After removing duplicate copies, the number of articles relevant to the study title reached 58. After reviewing the abstracts or full-texts, 35 articles were included in the study based on defined criteria. Results: The gradual growth of medical tourism has numerous economic and social benefits for both the host community and guests. If medical tourism grows, numerous economic sectors will be directly and indirectly affected, providing ground for social cohesion and integration. The health sector is a critical sector for the development of countries in terms of income and employment, including numerous sub-departments, such as hospitals, medical devices, and clinical trials. Coastal tourism and natural resources are also crucial in terms of income and employment. Conclusions: Factors affecting medical and health tourism include medical travel agencies, the Internet and social media, political and economic conditions, commitment to post discharge services, regulatory standards, price transparency, confidentiality of patient medical records, and care costs. Medical issues are related to travel legal issues, residence and flight visas, quality and credibility of health care, and specialty of physician’s credentials.
For Better or for Worse
Authors: Liberman Alida ,   Department of Philosophy, Florida State University
Published: September 2021

I answer two questions: (1) what are people doing when they exchange conventional wedding vows? and (2) under what circumstances are these things morally and rationally permissible to do? I propose that wedding pledges are public proclamations that are simultaneously both private vows and interpersonal promises, and that they are often subject to uncertainty. I argue that the permissibility of uncertain wedding promises depends on whether the uncertainty stems from doubts about one’s own internal weakness of will and susceptibility to temptation or from the expectation that external circumstances might change. I then explain why uncertainty is a prima facie challenge for unconditional wedding vows, and I offer a solution: rational wedding vows are unconditional in their content but implicitly conditional in their structure; the spouse pledges to act in certain ways unconditionally, so long as they remain in the spousal role. I respond to objections to my view (including Elizabeth Brake’s claim that the permissibility of unilateral divorce undermines an understanding of wedding vows as promises), and conclude with some suggestions about what marrying couples should do to ensure permissible pledges.
Entrepreneurship education around the world: A possible comparison
Authors: Boffo Vanna , Gamberi Letizia , Lim Hyejeen , Aisha Noor
Published: September 2021

Technological changes and innovation trends are quickly transforming jobs and professions. What is the added value of humans in a technological world? Many studies highlight the relevance of creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset for an individual to be able to seize opportunities and generate new ideas and values for the society, community , and economy. The main aim of this article is to illustrate the policies and programs of entrepreneurship education in Italy, South Korea and India. Starting from a review of definitions and based on the comparative method, our findings indicate that entrepreneurship education is emerging as an educational concept that could support students' growth to face new challenges today and in the future.
Programmes and methods for developing entrepreneurial skills in higher education
Authors: Daddi Debora , Boffo Vanna , Buragohain Debahash , Iyaomolere Tobi
Published: September 2021

The development of entrepreneurial competences among graduates is considered an important resource in many countries, not only because through these competences graduates can better contribute to the economic well-being of their communities by creating enterprises but also because through them, they can better direct their career development in any sector. The most successful entrepreneurship education programmes combine the development of technical and transversal skills using specific methodologies. In this paper, we evaluate in a comparative way the extent to which university-based entrepreneurship education programmes in Italy, India and Nigeria use methods that develop participants' ability to move from ideation to the implementation of something new. The literature review shows some differences between the programmes and methods developed in the three countries but also some shared strategies in adopting lines of development aimed at increasing students' entrepreneurial skills.
Prison andragogy or learning opportunities in Hungarian prisons
Authors: Károly-Molnár Attila , Kraiciné-Szokoly Mária
Published: September 2021

Successful reintegration is the goal of prison education in Hungarian penitentiaries. Prisons support prisoners with primary school education, high school education, and vocational training. These forms of learning within prison are implemented to prepare prisoners for their release, so they can integrate into the labor market afterwards (Penal Act CCXL, 2013). In the context of successful reintegration, we assume that prisoners are capable of being trained. Based on this supposition, three studies were conducted on learning and education in prison at Eötvös Loránd University Doctoral School. First, theoretical research was conducted about prison: the learning possibilities of prison, examining what it provides, what it allows, what it prevents. Second, a survey was conducted on some prisoners' perceptions of their learning opportunities. Third, an interview was carried out that has examined the perceptions of prison learning with some educators teaching in the penitentiary. Our studies on prison learning have confirmed some of our hypotheses reflected in the following statements. In Hungary, the training of prisoners is an essential part of prison life, furthermore, education can be implemented through pieces of training that can be essential tools for personal development in prison. Although most prisoners look for learning opportunities, the way they approach learning is seemingly different. Teachers who work in prison say there is a huge possibility in educating prisoners, but they would require more tools and a more functional learning environment in order to do their best.
Academic writing from the perspective of critical pedagogy: A form of resistance to neoliberal ideology in higher education
Authors: Kuzmanović-Jovanović Ana
Published: September 2021

The goal of this paper is to introduce, by pointing out the great influence of the ideology of neoliberalism on certain transformations of modern educational policies, the possible forms of resistance to these policies, relying on the framework of critical pedagogy and focusing on the practice of academic writing on the level of university education. I begin with the premise that it is of vital importance for true democracy that the university becomes and remains the area of emancipation and freedom, not just academic freedom but also freedom of the wider social community. I proceed to explain how and why neoliberalism jeopardizes this important social-historical role of the university. I suggest the principles and agenda of critical pedagogy as a form of resistance to the spread of these harmful policies at the university. In the end, I present the concept of academic writing based on the principles of solidarity and collaboration as an important element of redefining academic practices in accordance with the requirements of critical pedagogy, for the sake of preservation of the humanistic bases of university education.
Professionalisation through further education: An international comparison of non-formal education programmes for adult educators
Authors: Kleinschmidt Jessica , Schwarz Jörg , Lucas Kadine , Upenieks Reinis , Adaramola Adeniyi
Published: September 2021

Professionalism is a core topic in international discourse on adult education. Its importance is due not least to the need for professional self-assurance given the heterogeneity of the field of adult education, which is characterised not only by a wide range of working conditions, employment forms and responsibilities but also by the different qualifications and professional backgrounds of adult educators. Therefore, further education programmes for adult educators could be one important pillar in the professionalisation of adult education. At the same time, however, heterogeneous personnel structures make the seemingly simple question of further education for adult educators increasingly complex. While at the international level there is particular emphasis on professionalisation by means of academic degree programmes, the focus of the present paper is on non-formal further education for adult educators. It compares similarities and differences using country-specific examples of non-formal further education programmes for adult educators and seeks to explain them. The results are obtained using an international comparative research methodology. The cases (non-formal programmes) from Latvia, Brazil, Germany and Nigeria are examined by focusing on their target groups, structures, content and aims. The degree to which they are embedded in specific organisational and institutional structures and (national) policies also plays a role. The starting point for a critical reflection is the question: How can non-formal further education programmes contribute to the individual professionalisation of adult educators?
Contexts of recognition of prior learning: A comparative study of RPL initiatives in Brazil, Portugal, and Germany
Authors: Alves Natália , Schmidt-Lauff Sabine , Doutor Catarina , Campos Lucas
Published: September 2021

The main purpose of this paper is to reflect on and compare the different 'realities' of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) regarding informal and non-formal learning contexts in three countries: Brazil, Portugal, and Germany. In Brazil, the Certific Network is a public policy that addresses the recognition and certification of prior learning. In Portugal, the Qualifica Programme is dedicated to the recognition of learnings and skills acquired throughout life. In Germany, the ProfilPass Project focuses on the values or skills acquired informally and non-formally. Regarding the international-comparative analysis methodology, the paper studies and compares these initiatives considering three comparative axes: 1) central aims, 2) target groups, 3) formats and structures of action. Such comparative research shows the importance of understanding RPL concepts and practical realities in different social, political and economic contexts.