Efficient Signatures Verification System Based on Artificial Neural Networks

Biometrics refer to the system of authenticating identities of humans, using features like retina scans, thumb and fingerprint scanning, face recognition and also signature recognition. Signatures are a simple and natural method of verifying a person’s identity. It can be saved as an image and verified by matching, using neural networks. Signature verification can be offline or online. In this work, we present a system for offline signature verification. The user has to submit a number of signatures that are used to extract two types of features, statistical features and structural features. A vector obtained from each of them is used to train propagation neural network in the verification stage. A test signature is then taken from the user, to compare it with those the network had been trained with. A test experiment was carried out with two sets of data. One set is used as a training set for the propagation neural network in its verification stage. This set with four signatures form each user is used for the training purpose. The second set consists of one sample of signature for each of the 20 persons is used as a test set for the system. A negative identification test was carried out using a signature of one person to test others’ signatures. The experimental results for the accuracy showed excellent false reject rate and false acceptance rate

Designing and Developing an Online Services System: A Case of Maybank Students' Residential Hall

When internet services became cheap and available in the world, many organizations use it to enhance its benefits and to communicate with users in anywhere and anytime. Because that most universities used the facilities in online services to increase their abilities in organizing work. Online services are not limited to use in the universities for e-learning only. Although, the students who interact with online services increasingly, a common problem is that students online services need more efficient interaction. In other words, the sites lack usability; this research to design and develop an online services system for Maybank Students’ Residential Hall aid to solve this problem and to support the communication between students and residential hall staff

Synthesis and characterization of some new ruthenium (II) complexes as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells

New ruthenium (II) complexes, [Ru(DHZ)2(bpy)], [Ru(SCN)2(bpy)(DMSO)2], [Ru(SCN)2(dmbpy)(DMSO)2] and [RuCl2(salen)]-2, where bpy = 2,2'- bipyridine, DHZ = 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone, dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2' bipyridine and salen = 2,2'- ethylenebis(nitrilomethylidene)diphenol were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and thermal analysis. From data of these investigations the structural formula and the mode of bonding were obtained. These complexes were successfully applied to sensitization of nano-crystalline TiO2 based solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic efficiencies of the studied DSSCs increase in the following order [Ru(DHZ)2(bpy)]< [Ru(SCN)2(bpy)(DMSO)2]< [Ru(SCN)2(dmbpy)(DMSO)2]< [RuCl2(salen)]-2. This increase is in agreement with the light harvesting of these complexes as indicated from their absorption spectra. Ferrioxalate complex enhanced the performance of some investigated cells. Therefore, a mechanism of this improvement has been postulated. Polyaniline as well as iodine doped polyaniline modified FTO electrode has been tested as promising counter electrodes. The efficiencies of the cells using iodine doped polyaniline is higher than that of polyaniline, which is assignable to the high conductivity of iodine

Federated Learning over Energy Harvesting Wireless Networks

In this paper, the deployment of federated learning (FL) is investigated in an energy harvesting wireless network in which the base station (BS) employs massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) to serve a set of users powered by independent energy harvesting sources. Since a certain number of users may not be able to participate in FL due to the interference and energy constraints, a joint energy management and user scheduling problem in FL over wireless systems is formulated. This problem is formulated as an optimization problem whose goal is to minimize the FL training loss via optimizing user scheduling. To find how the factors such as transmit power and number of scheduled users affect the training loss, the convergence rate of the FL algorithm is first analyzed. Given this analytical result, the user scheduling and energy management optimization problem can be decomposed, simplified, and solved. Further, the system model is extended by considering multiple BSs. Hence, a joint user association and scheduling problem in FL over wireless systems is studied. The optimal user association problem is solved using the branch-and-bound technique. Simulation results show that the proposed user scheduling and user association algorithm can reduce training loss compared to a standard FL algorithm.Comment: To appear in IEEE Internet of Things Journa

Improving high-altitude UV–Vis resistance of PBO braided tendons of NASA’s super pressure balloons

Super pressure balloons (SPBs) are used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for ultra-long duration ballooning (ULDB) missions which carry various scientific explorations to support space and earth sciences research activities. The resistance to photo-degradation of load-bearing braided tendons of SPBs is critical to the success of ULDB missions. Recognizing the critical need to improve UV and visible light (UV–Vis) protective performance of p-phenylene-2, 6-benzobisoxazole (PBO) braids, North Carolina State University and NASA’s Balloon Program collaborated to investigate the effectiveness of sheath extrusion method in improving the UV–Vis resistance of tendons. This study included two PBO tendon types – 48,000 (48k) denier tendons and 72,000 (72k) denier tendons. Using a sheath extrusion method, the tendons were covered with UV protective sheath of low-density polyethylene containing two types of UV inhibitors – TiO2 rutile nanoparticles and PolyOne PE White CC®. Bare and sheathed tendons were subjected to artificial UVB exposure in the lab as well as to both high altitude and ground exposure during flight missions conducted by NASA. Protection against radiation exposure was evaluated by determining the loss of tensile strength after exposure. UV–Vis protection of tendons improved with an increase in sheath thickness as well as UV inhibitor content in the sheath. The results also showed that 72k denier braids had higher resistance against UV degradation compared to 48k denier braids. In-flight exposure results confirmed the comparative UV protective performance of tendons exposed to accelerated artificial UVB exposure in lab. 72k denier tendon covered with sheath containing 10% PE White CC® (sheath thickness of 0.37 mm) experienced the lowest strength loss among all tendon samples to high-altitude exposure during flight missions. The study has also utilized UV–Vis transmittance of the sheath covering the braids as a method of evaluating the performance of the protective sheaths

Green Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Screening of New Metal Complexes Incorporating Schiff Base

A Schiff base ligand of o-vanillin and 4-aminoazobenzene and its transition metal complexes of Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), and Zr(IV) were prepared under microwave irradiation as a green approach compared to the conventional method. The structures of new compounds have been characterized and elucidated via elemental and spectroscopic analyses. In addition, magnetic susceptibility, electron spin resonance, and electronic spectra of the synthesized complexes explained their geometrical structures. The thermal stability of Cu(II), Zn(II), and Zr(IV) complexes was studied by thermo-gravimetric analyses (TGA). Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations were used to calculate the thermal and dehydration decomposition activities of proposed structures kinetically. Surface morphologies of the solid compounds were imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size of prepared complexes was measured by using a particle size analyzer at a diffraction angle of 10.9°. The geometry structures of the synthesized compounds were verified utilizing electronic spectra, ESR spectrum, and magnetic moment value. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity. Also, the anticancer activity of the free Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes were studied against two cell lines: human colon (HCT-116) and human liver cancer cells (HepG-2). The obtained results showed that the Cu(II) complex displayed the highest cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 18 and 22 μg/mL for HepG-2 and HCT, respectively) compared to the free Schiff base ligand.publishedVersio

Effects of administration of 10 nm or 50 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on blood profile, liver and kidney functions in male albino rats

This work aimed to investigate the effect of acute and chronic administration of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on liver and kidney functions, blood glucose concentration, lipid profile, and haematological parameters in male albino rats. Two experiments were conducted. In acute study: Fifty-four adult mature male rats were randomly assigned into three equal groups (18 per group). Group 1 (control group): in which rats were received intramuscular (i.m) injection of 1 ml normal saline 0.9%. Group 2 (50 nm GNPs group): rats were i.m. injected with a single dose of 75 µg 50 nm GNPs/kg body weight (bwt). In Group 3 (10 nm GNPs group): rats were i.m. injected with a single dose of 75 µg 10 nm GNPs/kg bwt. In chronic study: Eighteen adult male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups (6 per group). Group І (control): rats were intramuscular (i.m) repeatedly injected with 1 ml normal saline 0.9% once/week 5 for weeks. Group 2 (50 nm GNPs): rats were i.m. injected with once/week with a dose of 75 µg 50 nm GNPs/kg bwt) for 5 weeks. In Group 3 (10 nm GNPs): male rats were i.m. injected with once/week with a dose of 75 µg 50 nm GNPs/kg bwt for 5 weeks, followed by 3 weeks washout period for all groups. Blood was collected at 3, 7, and 60 days in acute experiment, while, they were collected only before and after 2 months in chronic experiment. Acute and chronic administration of GNPs (10 or 50 nm size) in male albino rats induced no significant alterations for liver and kidney functions, lipid profile parameters and different haematological parameters at days 3 and 60 of the study. However, on day-7 post-treatment, GNPs-treated rats showed significantly (P <0.05) higher serum ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, glucose, and different lipid profile and decreased HDL level. Chronic administration of 10 nm or 50 nm GNPs significantly (P <0.05) decreased serum glucose levels. In conclusion acute or chronic administration of 10 nm or 50 nm GNPs could alter the liver, kidney functions and blood profile on day 7 post-treatment, however, these values returned to the normal levels on day 60 post- injection. Also, the chronic administration of GNPs induced a hypoglycemic effect in male albino rats

Evaluation of knowledge, experiences, and fear toward prescribing and dispensing corticosteroids among Egyptian healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study

Background: Corticosteroids (CS) are essential drugs in the treatment of several medical conditions. Assuming different roles, physicians and pharmacists play a primary role in prescribing and dispensing these medications to optimize patients' clinical management. The data on assessing knowledge and experience of healthcare professionals toward CS is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare knowledge, experience, and fears towards CS among Egyptian physicians and pharmacists. Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administrated, validated online questionnaire was used to collect the data from Egyptian healthcare professionals. The questionnaire consisted of four sections with multiple choice questions: sociodemographic (7 questions), knowledge about CS (13 questions), experience with CS prescription/dispensing (5 questions), and fears and preferences toward CS prescription/dispensing (13 questions). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 600 responses were analyzed in this study. The study sample was almost two-half of healthcare providers: 303 (50.5%) pharmacists and 297 (49.5%) physicians. Pharmacists had marginally higher knowledge scores as compared to those recorded for physicians (11.29 versus 10.16, respectively; P = 0.047). Physicians had more experience choosing corticosteroids in treatment plans based on their experience (51.8% vs 38.5%) and guideline recommendations (72.8% vs 50.9%) than pharmacists. However, pharmacists had more experience dealing with corticosteroid use based on patients' preferences (19.5% vs 4.9%) and showed a broader scope of experiencing side effects of corticosteroids with their patients. The two professions demonstrated high levels of fear, with pharmacists acknowledging significantly lower concerns about CS than physicians (3.72 versus 4.0, respectively; P = 0.003). Conclusion: Discrepancies exist among healthcare professionals in knowledge and experience, favoring better scientific knowledge of pharmacists related to corticosteroids. Based on these findings, the interprofessional collaborative efforts would provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that maximizes the benefits of CS while minimizing their risks

Shear strength of reinforced mortar beams containing polyvinyl alcohol fibre (PVA)

The current study aims to assess the shear behaviour of reinforced mortar beams including Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibre (PVA) ranges from 0 to 2.25%, fly ash (55%) and silica fume (15%). Fourteen beams were experimentally tested under two concentrated loads. In addition, a finite element model was developed to predict the crack pattern, load–deflection, energy absorption, and shear strength results of the test beams. The studied variables were different percentages of PVA fibres, shear span to depth ratio (a/d), and transverse reinforcement (stirrups) ratio. The fly ash and silica fume were kept constant in all the studied mixes to achieve a compressive strength above 55 MPa at the time of testing (90 days) and to improve PVA-mortar properties. It was found that the inclusion of PVA improves the shear behavior of the tested beams in terms of crack pattern and ductility. It was observed also that reducing a/d led to enhancing the shear capacity without changing the mode of failure. In addition, PVA played the same role as the stirrups and their effect on the ultimate shear capacity was increased with reducing the volume of stirrups. Moreover, the PVA fibres were more effective in lower shear span to depth ratio (a/d = 1.5) giving an enhancement of shear resistance of 221%. The non-linear finite element model showed excellent agreement with the experimental results and the ratio of the predicted to experimental ultimate strength ranged between 0.91 and 1.09. The authors recommend a combination of fly ash, silica fume and at least 1.5% PVA in the presence of minimum stirrups reinforcement (5U6/m) or adding 2.25% PVA without stirrups to achieve adequate shear behaviour and to improve the ductility of PVA-mortar beams