A Machine Learning Approach For Enhancing Security And Quality Of Service Of Optical Burst Switching Networks

The Optical Bust Switching (OBS) network has become one of the most promising switching technologies for building the next-generation of internet backbone infrastructure. However, OBS networks still face a number of security and Quality of Service (QoS) challenges, particularly from Burst Header Packet (BHP) flooding attacks. In OBS, a core switch handles requests, reserving one of the unoccupied channels for incoming data bursts (DB) through BHP. An attacker can exploit this fact and send malicious BHP without the corresponding DB. If unresolved, threats such as BHP flooding attacks can result in low bandwidth utilization, limited network performance, high burst loss rate, and eventually, denial of service (DoS). In this dissertation, we focus our investigations on the network security and QoS in the presence of BHP flooding attacks. First, we proposed and developed a new security model that can be embedded into OBS core switch architecture to prevent BHP flooding attacks. The countermeasure security model allows the OBS core switch to classify the ingress nodes based on their behavior and the amount of reserved resources not being utilized. A malicious node causing a BHP flooding attack will be blocked by the developed model until the risk disappears or the malicious node redeems itself. Using our security model, we can effectively and preemptively prevent a BHP flooding attack regardless of the strength of the attacker. In the second part of this dissertation, we investigated the potential use of machine learning (ML) in countering the risk of the BHP flood attack problem. In particular, we proposed and developed a new series of rules, using the decision tree method to prevent the risk of a BHP flooding attack. The proposed classification rule models were evaluated using different metrics to measure the overall performance of this approach. The experiments showed that using rules derived from the decision trees did indeed counter BHP flooding attacks, and enabled the automatic classification of edge nodes at an early stage. In the third part of this dissertation, we performed a comparative study, evaluating a number of ML techniques in classifying edge nodes, to determine the most suitable ML method to prevent this type of attack. The experimental results from a preprocessed dataset related to BHP flooding attacks showed that rule-based classifiers, in particular decision trees (C4.5), Bagging, and RIDOR, consistently derive classifiers that are more predictive, compared to alternate ML algorithms, including AdaBoost, Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes, SVM-SMO and ANN-MultilayerPerceptron. Moreover, the harmonic mean, recall and precision results of the rule-based and tree classifiers were more competitive than those of the remaining ML algorithms. Lastly, the runtime results in ms showed that decision tree classifiers are not only more predictive, but are also more efficient than other algorithms. Thus, our findings show that decision tree identifier is the most appropriate technique for classifying ingress nodes to combat the BHP flooding attack problem

Semi-Compact and Semi-Lindelӧf Spaces via Neutrosophic Crisp Set Theory

The aim of this paper is devoted to introduce and study the concepts of semi-compact (resp. semi-Lindelӧf, locally semi-compact) spaces in a neutrosophic crisp topological space. Several properties, functions properties of neutrosophic crisp semi-compact spaces are studied. In addition to these, we introduce and study the definition of neutrosophic crisp semi-Lindelӧf spaces and neutrosophic crisp locally semi-compact spaces. We show that neutrosophic crisp semi-compact spaces is preserved under neutrosophic crisp irresolute function and neutrosophic crisp pre-semi-closed function with neutrosophic crisp semi-compact point inverses

The effect of added pumpkin flour on sensory and textural quality of rice bread

The impact of added pumpkin flour (1-10 g/100 g) on sensory and textural quality of rice bread was studied on rice biologically leavened rice bread. Specific volume, baking loss, crumb springiness, cohesiveness and resilience decreased with increasing amount of pumpkin flour. The opposite trend was found in crumb hardness and chewiness. Color measurements revealed that the lightness decreased and the greenness increased with increasing amount of pumpkin flour. Bread crumb and crust characteristics were not significantly impacted by the amount of added pumpkin flour. Additionally, the bread taste and flavor were decreased in breads with 8-10 g/100 g of added pumpkin flour, resulting in their lower overall acceptability. Weak impact of added pumpkin flour on sensory evaluation of rice bread may be related to a reduced amount of the panelists involved in this study. The addition of 1-7 g/100 g of pumpkin flour seems to be applicable to rice bread production. More extensive study will, however, be performed to describe the impact of added pumpkin flour on sensory quality of rice bread in more details.[IGA/FT/2017/004

Neutrosophic Crisp α-Topological Spaces

In this paper, a generalization of the neutrosophic topological space is presented. The basic definitions of the neutrosophic crisp α-topological space and the neutrosophic crisp α-compact space with some of their characterizations are deduced. Furthermore, we aim to construct a netrosophic crisp α-continuous function, with a study of a number its properties

Evaluation of selected physicochemical parameters of extra virgin olive oil commercialized in the Czech market and stored during a period of 5 months

The scope of this work was to evaluate the development of selected physicochemical parameters (free acidity, peroxide value and specific extinction coefficients in ultraviolet) of extra virgin olive oil, commercialized in the Czech market and stored for a time period of 5 months (at 20 ±5 °C). The tested extra virgin olive oil samples were stored under conditions simulating domestic and commercial storage environment, in which the impact of light and headspace volume were also examined. Moreover, all the analyzed samples fell within the established "extra virgin olive oil category", thus proving their legitimacy, authentication and excellent quality. Furthermore, all the monitored physicochemical parameters were affected by the progress of the storage period, the rising volume of headspace (due to more available oxygen in the container) and exposition to light, resulting in decreasing quality of the examined extra virgin olive oil samples. In addition, the storage of extra virgin olive oil samples in dark containers reported sufficient resistance to oxidation processes up to a period of 3 months, however, after this period signs of oil quality deterioration were reported. Nevertheless, if exposition to light occurred, accelerated decrease in the quality of the extra virgin olive oil samples was observed. © 2017 Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences, License

Early versus Late Trophic Feeding: Effect on Health Status of Low Birth Weight Neonates

This study aimed to compare the effect of early versus late trophic feeding on the health status of low birth weight neonates. A comparative descriptive design was utilized on a convenience sample of one hundred low birth weight neonates, fifty of them for early group trophic feeding and the other fifty for late feeding. Sample was collected from two NICUs in Cairo University Hospitals from May 2013 till February 2014 to answer the research question” Does health status of low birth weight (LBW) neonates who start early trophic feeding better than those who started late trophic feeding?” Three tools were developed by researchers: socio-demographic data, nutritional recording sheet and observational check list for feeding tolerance signs and it filled by researchers daily for every neonate from admission till discharge. Results revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in the clinical and maternal characteristics of neonates in the two groups. The birth weight was increased significantly for early group than late in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week. Amount of parenteral nutrition, hospital stay significantly less in early compared to late feeding group; late group experienced a highly significance incidence of milk intolerance and infection signs in the first week only. The benefits of early trophic feeding shown by this study strongly support its use for the LBW neonates. Early trophic feeding must be encouraged for all low birth weight neonates were recommended. Keywords: Early, Late Trophic Feeding, Health Status, Low Birth Weight Neonate

Evaluation of selected physicochemical parameters of extra virgin olive oil commercialized in the Czech market and stored during a period of 5 months

The scope of this work was to evaluate the development of selected physicochemical parameters (free acidity, peroxide value and specific extinction coefficients in ultraviolet) of extra virgin olive oil, commercialized in the Czech market and stored for a time period of 5 months (at 20 ±5 °C). The tested extra virgin olive oil samples were stored under conditions simulating domestic and commercial storage environment, in which the impact of light and headspace volume were also examined. Moreover, all the analyzed samples fell within the established "extra virgin olive oil category", thus proving their legitimacy, authentication and excellent quality. Furthermore, all the monitored physicochemical parameters were affected by the progress of the storage period, the rising volume of headspace (due to more available oxygen in the container) and exposition to light, resulting in decreasing quality of the examined extra virgin olive oil samples. In addition, the storage of extra virgin olive oil samples in dark containers reported sufficient resistance to oxidation processes up to a period of 3 months, however, after this period signs of oil quality deterioration were reported. Nevertheless, if exposition to light occurred, accelerated decrease in the quality of the extra virgin olive oil samples was observed

Cup versus bottle feeding for hospitalized late preterm infants in Egypt: A quasi-experimental study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although previous studies have demonstrated beneficial breastfeeding outcomes when cup feeding rather than bottle feeding was used for feeding preterm infants, cup feeding has not been implemented in Egypt. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of using cup feeding as an exclusive method of feeding preterm infants during hospitalization on breastfeeding outcomes after discharge.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A quasi-experimental design, with the control group studied first, was used to examine the effect of cup feeding for preterm infants on breastfeeding outcomes after discharge. Sixty preterm infants (mean gestational age was 35.13 weeks and mean birth weight was 2150 grams) were recruited during Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay. Control group infants (n = 30) received only bottle feedings during hospitalization and the experimental group (n = 30) received only cup feedings during hospitalization. Both groups were followed up after discharge for six weeks to evaluate infant's breastfeeding behavior and mother's breastfeeding practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA for testing the differences between the cup feeding and bottle feeding groups over six weeks after discharge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cup fed infants demonstrated significantly more mature breastfeeding behaviors when compared to bottle fed infants (p < 0.01) over six weeks, and had a significantly higher proportion of breast feedings one week after discharge (p = 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cup fed infants were more exclusively breast fed one week after discharge, supporting the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative recommendations for using cup feeding and avoiding bottle feeding when providing supplementation for preterm infants. The current study provides initial evidence for the implementation of cup feeding as a method of supplementation for late preterm infants during hospitalization.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinical Trial NCT00756587.</p

Effect of Prefeeding Oral Stimulation Program on Preterm Infants' Feeding Performance

One of the most common feeding problems of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is difficulty reaching full oral feeding. The use of an individualized, evidence-based approach is strongly recommended to assist preterm infants in transitioning from gavage to full oral feeding. Hence, this study evaluates the effect of a 5-min. prefeeding oral stimulation program on oral feeding duration, total oral intake rate and net- leakage of preterm infants who were defined as inefficient feeders. A quasi- experimental design was used on a purposive sample composed of fifty five preterm infants selected from two NICUs of Cairo University Hospitals. Twenty eight as a control group who were left to hospital routine care, and twenty seven as intervention group. Three minutes of manual perioral and intraoral stimulation followed by two minutes of sucking on a pacifier was applied to the intervention group for two consecutive days twice per day. Results revealed that the intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in total oral intake rate, less net leakage and shorter oral feeding duration than the control group. In conclusion, prefeeding oral stimulation program improved the preterm infants' feeding performance. Such an intervention should be implemented for inefficient preterm infants in the NICUs because it is safe, simple and inexpensive. Key words: Prefeeding oral stimulation program - Feeding performance -Preterm infants.

The effect of auditory stimulation on pain response of preterm infants

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of auditory stimulation on preterm infants' pain responses. A quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. Thirty preterm infants were recruited for the study. They were one group used for three days as day one (routine care), day two (music intervention) and day three (recorded mother voice intervention) before, during and after blood sample procedure (heel prick) from Cairo University hospitals (El Monira and Kasar Aini). A tool containing two parts was used for data collection: 1) socio-demographic data for the preterm infants and the mothers, 2) Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) tool for physiological responses (heart rate, oxygen saturation) behavioral state, brow bulge, eye squeeze, nasolabial furrow and respiratory rate was determined. Results of the study showed that during heel prick the majority of preterm infants (96.7%) who were exposed to recorded mother voice had highly statistical significant no or minimal pain followed by music groups (66.7%). On the other hand, nearly half of the cases (46.7%) had moderate pain and (30%) had severe pain among control group. There were significant differences between the three groups in the behavioral state, brow bulge, eye squeeze and nasolabial furrow (P≤0.001) and improved oxygen saturation (P≤0.05). After heel prick, the preterm infants (100%) who were exposed to recorded mother voice had highly statistically significant no or minimal pain in the items of behavioral state, eye squeeze and nasolabial furrow (P≤0.001), brow bulge was significantly lower (P≤0.05) when comparing by control or music group. In Conclusion, exposure to recorded mother voice during heel prick of preterm infants is better than exposure to music or no intervention and this was manifested by lower pain level, decrease heart rate, improved oxygen saturation and respiration. Key words: Auditory stimulation; recorded mother voice; music; pain response; physiological responses; behavioral stat