Reassembly and clustering bifragmented intertwined jpeg images using genetic algorithm and extreme learning machine

File carving tools are essential element of digital forensic investigation for recovering evidence data from computer disk drives. Today, JPEG image files are popular file formats that have less structured contents which make its carving possible in the absence of any file system metadata. However, completely recovering intertwined Bifragmented JPEG images into their original form without missing any parts or data of the image is a challenging due to the intertwined case might occur with non-JPEG images such as PDF, Text, Microsoft Office or random data. In this research, a new carving framework is presented in order to address the fragmentation issues that often occur in JPEG images which is called RX_myKarve. The RX_myKarve is an extended framework from X_myKarve, which consists of the following key components: (i) an Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) neural network for clusters classification using three existing content-based features extraction (Entropy, Byte Frequency Distribution (BFD) and Rate of Change (RoC)) to improve the identification of JPEG images content and support the reassembling process; (ii) a genetic algorithm with Coherence Euclidean Distance (CED) matric and cost function to reconstruct a JPEG image from a set of deformed and fragmented clusters in the scan area. The RX_myKarve is a framework that contains both structure-based carving and content-based carving approaches. The RX_myKarve is implemented as an Automatic JPEG Carver (AJC) tool in order to test and compare its performance with the state-of-the art carvers such as RevIt, myKarve and X_myKarve. It is applied to three datasets namely DFRWS (2006 and 2007) forensic challenges datasets and a new dataset to test and evaluate the AJC tool. These datasets have complex challenges that simulate particular fragmentation cases addressed in this research. The final results show that the AJC with the aid of the RX_myKarve framework outperform the X_myKarve, myKarve and RevIt. The RX_myKarve is able to completely carve 23.8% images more than X_myKarve, 45.4% images more than myKarve and 67% images more than RevIt in which AJC tool using RX_myKarve completely solves the research problem

Error Level Analysis Technique for Identifying JPEG Block Unique Signature for Digital Forensic Analysis

The popularity of unique image compression features of image files opens an interesting research analysis process, given that several digital forensics cases are related to diverse file types. Of interest has been fragmented file carving and recovery which forms a major aspect of digital forensics research on JPEG files. Whilst there exist several challenges, this paper focuses on the challenge of determining the co-existence of JPEG fragments within various file fragment types. Existing works have exhibited a high false-positive rate, therefore rendering the need for manual validation. This study develops a technique that can identify the unique signature of JPEG 8 × 8 blocks using the Error Level Analysis technique, implemented in MATLAB. The experimental result that was conducted with 21 images of JFIF format with 1008 blocks shows the efficacy of the proposed technique. Specifically, the initial results from the experiment show that JPEG 8 × 8 blocks have unique characteristics which can be leveraged for digital forensics. An investigator could, therefore, search for the unique characteristics to identify a JPEG fragment during a digital investigation process

CHORUS Deliverable 2.1: State of the Art on Multimedia Search Engines

Based on the information provided by European projects and national initiatives related to multimedia search as well as domains experts that participated in the CHORUS Think-thanks and workshops, this document reports on the state of the art related to multimedia content search from, a technical, and socio-economic perspective. The technical perspective includes an up to date view on content based indexing and retrieval technologies, multimedia search in the context of mobile devices and peer-to-peer networks, and an overview of current evaluation and benchmark inititiatives to measure the performance of multimedia search engines. From a socio-economic perspective we inventorize the impact and legal consequences of these technical advances and point out future directions of research

Arquiteturas federadas para integração de dados biomédicos

Doutoramento Ciências da ComputaçãoThe last decades have been characterized by a continuous adoption of IT solutions in the healthcare sector, which resulted in the proliferation of tremendous amounts of data over heterogeneous systems. Distinct data types are currently generated, manipulated, and stored, in the several institutions where patients are treated. The data sharing and an integrated access to this information will allow extracting relevant knowledge that can lead to better diagnostics and treatments. This thesis proposes new integration models for gathering information and extracting knowledge from multiple and heterogeneous biomedical sources. The scenario complexity led us to split the integration problem according to the data type and to the usage specificity. The first contribution is a cloud-based architecture for exchanging medical imaging services. It offers a simplified registration mechanism for providers and services, promotes remote data access, and facilitates the integration of distributed data sources. Moreover, it is compliant with international standards, ensuring the platform interoperability with current medical imaging devices. The second proposal is a sensor-based architecture for integration of electronic health records. It follows a federated integration model and aims to provide a scalable solution to search and retrieve data from multiple information systems. The last contribution is an open architecture for gathering patient-level data from disperse and heterogeneous databases. All the proposed solutions were deployed and validated in real world use cases.A adoção sucessiva das tecnologias de comunicação e de informação na área da saúde tem permitido um aumento na diversidade e na qualidade dos serviços prestados, mas, ao mesmo tempo, tem gerado uma enorme quantidade de dados, cujo valor científico está ainda por explorar. A partilha e o acesso integrado a esta informação poderá permitir a identificação de novas descobertas que possam conduzir a melhores diagnósticos e a melhores tratamentos clínicos. Esta tese propõe novos modelos de integração e de exploração de dados com vista à extração de conhecimento biomédico a partir de múltiplas fontes de dados. A primeira contribuição é uma arquitetura baseada em nuvem para partilha de serviços de imagem médica. Esta solução oferece um mecanismo de registo simplificado para fornecedores e serviços, permitindo o acesso remoto e facilitando a integração de diferentes fontes de dados. A segunda proposta é uma arquitetura baseada em sensores para integração de registos electrónicos de pacientes. Esta estratégia segue um modelo de integração federado e tem como objetivo fornecer uma solução escalável que permita a pesquisa em múltiplos sistemas de informação. Finalmente, o terceiro contributo é um sistema aberto para disponibilizar dados de pacientes num contexto europeu. Todas as soluções foram implementadas e validadas em cenários reais

New Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

As result of progress, endoscopy has became more complex, using more sophisticated devices and has claimed a special form. In this moment, the gastroenterologist performing endoscopy has to be an expert in macroscopic view of the lesions in the gut, with good skills for using standard endoscopes, with good experience in ultrasound (for performing endoscopic ultrasound), with pathology experience for confocal examination. It is compulsory to get experience and to have patience and attention for the follow-up of thousands of images transmitted during capsule endoscopy or to have knowledge in physics necessary for autofluorescence imaging endoscopy. Therefore, the idea of an endoscopist has changed. Examinations mentioned need a special formation, a superior level of instruction, accessible to those who have already gained enough experience in basic diagnostic endoscopy. This is the reason for what these new issues of endoscopy are presented in this book of New techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

HyperBody: An Experimental VR Game Exploring the Cosmotechnics of Game Fandom through a Posthumanist Lens

Interdependencies among ACGN (Anime, Comics, Games, and Novels) communities in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are growing. However, game studies and fan studies remain distinct disciplines. This cross-disciplinary thesis bridges this gap by investigating "game-fandom" practices in VR production, defined as the fusion of game and fan studies within the ACGN context. Drawing from Yuk Hui's "cosmotechnics" and Karen Barad's posthumanist perspective, this research reconsiders the relationship between cosmology, morality, and technology (Hui 2017). It employs "intra-action" to emphasise the indivisible, dynamic relations among specified objects (Barad 2007). Cultural practices in C-pop idol groups, Chinese BL (Boys' Love) novels, science fiction, and modding communities are analysed, illuminating the ACGN fandom's cultural, technological, and affective dimensions. This work features the creation, description, and evaluation of an experimental VR game, "HyperBody", which integrates the written thesis by reflecting game-fandom's cosmotechnics and intra-actions. The thesis offers two significant contributions: "queer tuning", a theory illuminating new cultural, technological, and affective turns within fandom and computational art, and a "diffractive" approach, forming a methodological framework for posthuman performative contexts. This diffractive framework enables practical contributions such as creating and describing experimental VR productions using the sound engine. It also highlights a thorough evaluation approach reconciling quantitative and qualitative methods in VR production analysis, investigating affective experiences, and exploring how users engage creatively with queer VR gamespaces. These contributions foster interdisciplinary collaboration among VR, game design, architecture, and fandom studies, underscoring the inextricable link among ethics, ontology, and epistemology, culminating in a proposed ethico-onto-epistem-ological framework

Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

NPS 140/101150.February 2010.Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179.Includes bibliographical references

Social work with airports passengers

Social work at the airport is in to offer to passengers social services. The main methodological position is that people are under stress, which characterized by a particular set of characteristics in appearance and behavior. In such circumstances passenger attracts in his actions some attention. Only person whom he trusts can help him with the documents or psychologically