Mobile distributed authentication protocol

Networks access control is a crucial topic and authentication is a pre-requisite of that process. Most existing authentication protocols (for example that used in the GSM mobile network) are centralised. Depending on a single entity is undesirable as it has security, trust and availability issues. This paper proposes a new protocol, GSM-secure network access protocol (G-SNAP). In G-SNAP, the authentication procedure and network access control is handled by a quorum of authentication centres. The advantages of the novel protocol include increased security, availability and distributed trust

Globalisation and Higher Education in the Arab Gulf States. Gari Donn and Yahya Al Manthri Oxford : Symposium Books Ltd. (2010) pp. 176 Pbk. £24.00 ISBN 9781873927311

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The dialects languages and Arab words cited by Alsaheb Bin Abbad (D. 385 H) in Al-Muheet's dictionary of the language = اللهجات واللغات وأقوال العرب التي استشهد بها الصاحب بن عباد (ت 385ه) في معجم المحيط في اللغة

تتابع هذ الدراسة اللهجات التي أوردها واستشهد بها ابن عباد في معجمه الصاحب في اللغة، ودراسة تحليلية للمواد والشروح التي تناثرت في ثنايا المعجم. تكمن المشكلة في أن الدراسات التي ناقشت ووافقت على كتاب معجم المحيط في اللغة لم تستجل المنهج الذي استعمله ابن عباد في الموضوعات والقضايا التي طرحها بين دفات معجمه، إذ لم يحظ هذا الجانب بدراسة متعمقة؛ لذا تهدف الدراسة إلى بيان منهجه في الاستشهاد باللهجات واللغات، وعرض منهج في الاستشهاد بالشواهد الشعرية وأقوال العرب من خلال المنهج الوصفي وتحليل وتعليل وإحصاء اللهجات. توصلت الدراسة إلى النتائج الآتية: كان لذكر اللهجات العربية المتنوعة جعل اللهجات داخل معجم المحيط بي اللغة كيانا يستحق الدراسة والتحليل، واستشهد الصاحب بن عباد خلال شرحه للمواد للعديد من اللغات واللهجات؛ حيث كان أكثرها ورودا لغة هذيل 40 مرة، ثم أهل اليمن 34 مرة، ولغة أهل فارس 28 مرة، ولغة حميلا 20 مرة، وقلل الصاحب بن عباد من الاستشهاد بالأشعر العربية. ****************************************************************************** This study follows the languages and dialects mentioned and cited by Ibn Abbad in his surrounding dictionary on the language, and an analytical study of the materials and explanations that were scattered throughout the dictionary. The problem lies in the fact that the studies that were discussed and stood on the book “The Lexicon of the Ocean in Language” did not record the approach used by Ibn Abbad in the topics and issues that he brought up between the books of his lexicon, as this aspect did not receive an in-depth and careful study. Therefore, the study aims to: Explain his method in citing dialects and languages, and present his method in citing poetic evidence and sayings of the Arabs. Through the descriptive method, analysis, explanation and statistics, the study reached the following results: The mention of the various Arabic dialects has made the Arabic dialects within the ocean dictionary in the language an entity worthy of study and analysis. Al-Saheb bin Abbad was martyred during his explanation of the materials for many languages and dialects, as the most roses were Hudhayl's language 40 times, then the people of Yemen 34 times, the language of the people of Persia 28 times and the language of Hamir 20 times. Al-Saheb Bin Abbad reduced his citation to Arabic poetry

Associative effects of activated carbon biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on wheat for reducing nickel food chain bioavailability

Heavy metal stress and less nutrient availability are some of the major concerns in agriculture. Both abiotic stresses have potential to decrease the crops productivity. On the other hand, organic fertilizers i.e., activated carbon biochar (ACB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase nutritional and heavy metal like Nickel (Ni) stress tolerance and provide immunity to plants for their survival in unfavorable environments. Previous studies have only looked at single applications of either ACB or AMF thus far. There is limited evidence of their synergistic effects, especially in plants growing in soil contaminated with nickel (Ni). To cover the knowledge gap of combined use of AMF inoculation (Glomus intraradices) and/or wheat straw biochar amendments on wheat growth, antioxidant activities and osmolytes concentration, present study is conducted. The use of either the AMF inoculant or the ACB alone resulted in improved wheat growth and decreased Ni uptake. Furthermore, sole AMF or ACB also reduced Ni stress effectively, allowing wheat to grow faster and reducing soil Ni transfer into plant tissue. In comparison to a control, adding ACB with AMF inoculant considerably increased fungal populations. The most significant increase in wheat growth and decrease in tissue Ni contents came from amending soil with AMF inoculant and biochar. Inducing soil alkalinization and causing Ni immobilization, as well as decreasing Ni phyto-availability, the combination treatment had a synergistic impact. These findings imply that AMF inoculation in ACB treatment could be used not only for wheat production but also for Ni-contaminated soil phyto-stabilization. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Integral effects of brassinosteroids and timber waste biochar enhances the drought tolerance capacity of wheat plant

Drought stress is among the major threats that affect negatively crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Probably, application of some additives such as biochar and/or brassinosteroids could mitigate this stress; however, the mechanism beyond the interaction of these two applications is not well inspected. Accordingly, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on wheat (a strategic crop) grown under deficit irrigation levels (factor A) i.e., 35% of the water holding capacity (WHC) versus 75% of WHC for 35 days while considering the following additives, i.e., (1) biochar [BC, factor B, 0, 2%] and (2) the foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide [BR, factor C, 0 (control treatment, C), 1 (BR1) or 3 (BR2) mu mol)]. All treatments were replicated trice and the obtained results were statistically analyzed via the analyses of variance. Also, heat-map conceits between measured variables were calculated using the Python software. Key results indicate that drought stress led to significant reductions in all studied vegetative growth parameters (root and shoot biomasses) and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and total contents) while raised the levels of oxidative stress indicators. However, with the application of BC and/or BR, significance increases occurred in the growth attributes of wheat plants, its photosynthetic pigments, especially the combined additions. They also upraised the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants while decreased stress indicators. Furthermore, they increased calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content within plants. It can therefore be deduced that the integral application of BR and BC is essential to mitigate drought stress in plants.Peer reviewe

Exogenously applied ZnO nanoparticles induced salt tolerance in potentially high yielding modern wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Salinity stress is one of the potential threats that adversely affect the productivity of many cereal crops worldwide. Spraying plants with nano-Zn particles may lessen effectively such negative impacts on plants; yet its mode of action is still not well explored. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of spraying nano-Zn particles with varying concentrations (0, 20, 50 and 80 mg L-1) on two wheat cultivars irrigated with saline water (EC = 6.3 dS m-1) versus a non-saline one. The key results revealed that root and shoot weights decreased significantly under salinity stress conditions, while improved considerably with nano-Zn-particles foliar application up to 50 mg nanoZn L-1; thereafter significant reductions occurred. Also, shoot and root lengths as well as plant leaf area index improved considerably owing to this foliar application. Clearly, roots and shoots weights of wheat plants sprayed with nano-Zn particles under salinity stress conditions exhibited higher values than the corresponding ones that was grown under non-saline conditions without nano-Zn-particles applications. Unexpectedly, this foliar spray led to significant reductions in plant pigments and also in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in plants. Yet, this foliar spray enhanced formation of total soluble sugars and proline, and raised significantly Ca contents in wheat roots and shoots, and to some extent K contents. In conclusion, the foliar application of nano-Zn particles increased plant growth under salty stress conditions via two parallel processes, i.e., stimulating formation of osmolytes and stimulating nutrient uptake which may, in turn, increase plant metabolism. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CCPeer reviewe

Investigation of photon, neutron and proton shielding features of H3BO3–ZnO–Na2O–BaO glass system

The current study aims to explore the shielding properties of multi-component borate-based glass series. Seven glass-samples with composition of (80-y)H3BO3–10ZnO–10Na2O–yBaO where (y = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol.%) were synthesized by melt-quench method. Various shielding features for photons, neutrons, and protons were determined for all prepared samples. XCOM, Phy-X program, and SRIM code were performed to determine and explain several shielding properties such as equivalent atomic number, exposure build-up factor, specific gamma-ray constants, effective removal cross-section (SR), neutron scattering and absorption, Mass Stopping Power (MSP) and projected range. The energy ranges for photons and protons were 0.015–15 MeV and 0.01–10 MeV, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient (µ/?) was also determined experimentally by utilizing two radioactive sources (166Ho and 137Cs). Consistent results were obtained between experimental and XCOM values in determining µ/? of the new glasses. The addition of BaO to the glass matrix led to enhance the µ/? and specific gamma-ray constants of glasses. Whereas the remarkable reductions in SR, MSP, and projected range values were reported with increasing BaO concentrations. The acquired results nominate the use of these glasses in different radiation shielding purposes

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

A comparison of Saudi and United States faculty use of information and communication technology tools

The purpose of this descriptive and comparative study was to identify Information and Technology Communication (ICT) tools used by Saudi faculty and United States faculty, and to investigate relationships between their perceptions of ICT applications and ICT use. A questionnaire was sent to 292 Saudi faculty from six Saudi universities and 253 US faculty from five universities. The questionnaire gathered information about the use of and attitudes toward ICT applications. Results found that 65% of the United States faculty taught part or all of a course online as compared to only 26% of Saudi faculty. Saudi faculty used Social Media applications significantly more often than US faculty. Saudi faculty also reported using Google Documents, Photos and Website links significantly more often than US faculty while US faculty used podcasts and text documents significantly more often. Results from a path analysis of the relationships between ICT attitudes and actual ICT use based on Davis' (1993) TAM framework found that for Saudi faculty, system was the only variable significantly related to actual ICT Use. Ease of Use was significantly related to Perceived Value while Perceived Value was significantly related to Attitude Toward ICT Use. For US faculty, again, system was the only variable to have a significant relationship with Actual ICT use. Perceived Value was found to have a significant effect on Attitude Toward Use of ICT tools. The larger relationship between system use and actual ICT tool use for US faculty suggests that they had more access thus more experience using ICT tools than Saudi faculty. In addition, differences in attitudes toward ICT between Saudi and US faculty may be due Saudi faculty's primary use of social media and email applications as compared to US faculty's use a variety of more complex ICT applications including Audio. Overall results from this study suggest that Saudi faculty would benefit from training in the use of a variety of ICT application in addition to social media and email within the context of Learning Management Systems while US faculty would benefit from training in the use of social media applications as an instructional tool

THE EXTENT TO WHICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN TABUK CITY ARE AWARE OF AND USE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN MATHEMATCS

The purpose of this study is to examine the awareness and use of professional standards in mathematics by elementary mathematics teachers in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The researcher used a mixed-method (survey and focus group discussion), which consisted of three main questions for the survey and eleven questions for the focus group. The group sampling consisted of 137 male elementary math teachers in Tabuk City for the survey and 10 male elementary math teachers in Tabuk City for the focus group discussion. The research focused on eight professional standards in the study: lesson planning, teaching, learning environment, assessment, interaction, enrichment, innovation, and creativity. In addition, the researcher looked at 31 sub-standards of the general eight standards. The survey results showed that the elementary mathematics teachers in Tabuk City ranked quite low in all eight standards. In addition, the focus group discussions revealed that the elementary mathematics teachers lacked an awareness of the importance of using professional standards and that they did not use the standards in their teaching. There were no statistical significant differences among the responses of the teachers based on their years of experience in the classroom. There were also no significant statistical differences among the responses of the teachers based on their educational levels