BIOLOGICAL INSPIRED INTRUSION PREVENTION AND SELF-HEALING SYSTEM FOR CRITICAL SERVICES NETWORK

With the explosive development of the critical services network systems and Internet, the need for networks security systems have become even critical with the enlargement of information technology in everyday life. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) provides an in-line mechanism focus on identifying and blocking malicious network activity in real time. This thesis presents new intrusion prevention and self-healing system (SH) for critical services network security. The design features of the proposed system are inspired by the human immune system, integrated with pattern recognition nonlinear classification algorithm and machine learning. Firstly, the current intrusions preventions systems, biological innate and adaptive immune systems, autonomic computing and self-healing mechanisms are studied and analyzed. The importance of intrusion prevention system recommends that artificial immune systems (AIS) should incorporate abstraction models from innate, adaptive immune system, pattern recognition, machine learning and self-healing mechanisms to present autonomous IPS system with fast and high accurate detection and prevention performance and survivability for critical services network system. Secondly, specification language, system design, mathematical and computational models for IPS and SH system are established, which are based upon nonlinear classification, prevention predictability trust, analysis, self-adaptation and self-healing algorithms. Finally, the validation of the system carried out by simulation tests, measuring, benchmarking and comparative studies. New benchmarking metrics for detection capabilities, prevention predictability trust and self-healing reliability are introduced as contributions for the IPS and SH system measuring and validation. Using the software system, design theories, AIS features, new nonlinear classification algorithm, and self-healing system show how the use of presented systems can ensure safety for critical services networks and heal the damage caused by intrusion. This autonomous system improves the performance of the current intrusion prevention system and carries on system continuity by using self-healing mechanism

FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY (FNAC) IN DIAGNOSIS OF TUMORAL CALCINOSIS, A REPORT OF THREE CASES

Introduction: Tumoral calcinosis (T.C.) is very rare and generally of unknown aetiology characterized by calcific deposits in the soft tissues. Commonly seen in the second decade of life (reported age range 15 months to 83 years). We are reporting 3 cases of T. C. who were initially diagnosed by FNAC. Two of the 3 cases were female siblings who were referred to us as possible cases of recurrent fibrosarcomas following surgical excision. Case reports:  (1) Two female siblings aged 17 and 14 years  complaining of large swelling in the upper   outer right thigh and the left outer upper thigh around the hip joints respectively. There was no limitation of movement. The masses recurred within a short period after total excision. Neither specimen was subjected to histopathology. Clinical examination showed two masses each approximately 30cm maximum diameter and 10 cm width. In addition the younger sister showed an additional mass 4.5 cm in the outer aspect of her right elbow. (2) 18 months old female child, unrelated to the above two cases, presented with an egg-sized mass in the mid-lateral aspect of her right thigh  cystic and mobile.There is a history of quinine injection in the same area. No positive family history of a similar condition. All three cases showed normocalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia with specks of calcification on x - ray and cysts in ultrasound. FNAC showed structureless gung , calcium granules and inflammatory cells including foreign body type multinucleated giant cells. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of T. C. Discussion: Described the three types of T. C. (familial, idiopathic, and that in patients of chronic renal failure on dialysis). The differential diagnoses were also discussed as well as lines of management such as Ca++ supplementation, phosphate restriction, acetazolamide, parathyroidectomy and the treatment of choice is total surgical excision. To our best knowledge this is the first time to report the use of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of T. C. in Sudan.&nbsp

Awareness of Dental Team towards HIV Positive Patients in Sudan

Background: The deficit of awareness about the mode of transmission and the use of safety equipment may explain the stigma HIV positive patients faced in health care services worldwide, in particular in Sudan. The paper intends to examine the knowledge and the use of standard precaution measures by oral health professionals.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Ribat University Teaching Hospital, Sudan. A, convenient sample of 105 oral health professionals was interviewed. A self-administrated questionnaire developed in English and translated in Arabic by the author was handled to the participants. The research instrument comprised sociodemographic information, HIV knowledge, awareness towards the mode of transmission and the use of safety equipment and measures. Data were entered in Epi InfoTM 7.1.5.0 and analyzed with SPSS 21 for MS Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). A reliability analysis of the scale of measurement based on Cronbach’s alpha method was performed to assess the quality of the answers of the participants.Results: Of the 97 participants, 50.5% had poor knowledge of HIV oral signs.  Concerning the use of safety equipment (n=105), only 29.5% were “Fully aware”. Of the 105 participants, ways of prevention of transmission were reported to be known by 94.3%. The study revealed that 59.6% of the participants (n=105) were “Fully aware” and 40.4% were “Not aware” about the appropriate measures to be taken.Conclusions: The results of the study suggested that oral health professionals lack knowledge about HIV signs and use of safety standards, these weakened their awareness. These findings had implications for continuing education for all oral health professions to incorporate evidence-based on HIV transmission and prevention

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

A Survey in Modern Techniques in Digital Forensic Evidence in Graphics Design Applications

Digital forensics syndicates computer science theories, including computer architecture, applications, operating systems, file systems, software engineering, and computer networking as well as legal procedures that describe criminal and civil litigation, cyberlaw, and rules of evidence. This paper explores the modern techniques innovated in gathering digital forensic evidence from certain design application that proof counterfeit image or document was formed. The extrapolation is created by linking  digital forensic information gathered with the imaginable deeds established such as scanning, printing, editing, saving, importing, exporting the fake documents or images. The file generated by the particular graphic application is analyzed to accumulate the digital forensic information that concludes if the system is used for designing counterfeit document or image

Hybrid Framework Human Computer Interaction Art and Experiences

The expansion in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) field has not only been in excellence of interaction, it has also experienced different branching in computer arts. Instead of designing regular interfaces, the different research branches have had different focus on the concepts of multi-modality rather than uni-modality, pleasure, intelligent adaptive interfaces rather than command/action based ones, and finally active with human engagement rather than passive interfaces. One important area that contributes to creative practice in art is HCI, or interaction design in particular. An innovated framework for human computer interaction based on both pleasure and human engagement that exploit modern computer arts components and technologies is introduced. In designing for engagement, the artist needs to consider where they sit in this space and what kind of engagement or engagement process they are concerned with. On other designing issue many artwork consider pleasure as form of interaction with specific characteristics. Providing a context in which appropriate interaction design decisions can be made and the nature of the interactive experience must be addressed.&nbsp

Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study

Medical and health science students represent future health professionals, and their perceptions are essential to increasing awareness on genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics. Lack of education is one of the significant barriers that may affect health professional’s ability to interpret and communicate pharmacogenomics information and results to their clients. Our aim was to assess medical and health science students’ knowledge, attitudes and perception for a better genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire distributed electronically to students recruited using random and snowball sampling methods. A total of 510 students consented and completed the questionnaire between December 2018 and October 2019. The mean knowledge score (SD) for students was 5.4 (±2.7). There were significant differences in the levels of knowledge by the year of study of bachelor’s degree students, the completion status of training or education in pharmacogenomics (PGX) or pharmacogenetics and the completion of an internship or study abroad program (p-values < 0.05. The top two barriers that students identified in the implementation of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics were lack of training or education (59.7%) and lack of clinical guidelines (58.7%). Concerns regarding confidentiality and discrimination were stated. The majority of medical and health science students had positive attitudes but only had a fair level of knowledge. Stakeholders in the UAE must strive to acquaint their students with up-to-date knowledge of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics