A framework for interactive end-user web automation

This research investigates the feasibility and usefulness of a Web-based model for end-user Web automation. The aim is to empower end users to automate their Web interactions. Web automation is defined here as the study of theoretical and practical techniques for applying an end-user programming model to enable the automation of Web tasks, activities, or interactions. To date, few tools address the issue of Web automation; moreover, their functionality and usage are limited. A novel model is presented, which combines end-user programming techniques and the software tools philosophy with the vision of the “Web as a platform.” The model provided a Web-based environment that enables the rapid creation of efficient and useful Web-oriented automation tools. It consists of a command line for the Web, a shell scripting language, and a repository of Web commands. A framework called Web2Sh (Web 2.0 Shell) has been implemented, which includes the design and implementation of scripting language (WSh) enabling end users to create and customise Web commands. A number of Web2Sh-core Web commands were implemented. There are two techniques for extending the system: developers can implement new core Web commands, and the use of WSh by end users to connect, customise, and parameterise Web commands to create new commands. The feasibility and the usefulness of the proposed model have been demonstrated by implementing several automation scripts using Web2Sh, and by a case study based experiment that was carried out by volunteered participants. The implemented Web2Sh framework provided a novel and realistic environment for creating, customising, and running Web-oriented automation tools

A framework for interactive end-user web automation

This research investigates the feasibility and usefulness of a Web-based model for end-user Web automation. The aim is to empower end users to automate their Web interactions. Web automation is defined here as the study of theoretical and practical techniques for applying an end-user programming model to enable the automation of Web tasks, activities, or interactions. To date, few tools address the issue of Web automation; moreover, their functionality and usage are limited. A novel model is presented, which combines end-user programming techniques and the software tools philosophy with the vision of the “Web as a platform.” The model provided a Web-based environment that enables the rapid creation of efficient and useful Web-oriented automation tools. It consists of a command line for the Web, a shell scripting language, and a repository of Web commands. A framework called Web2Sh (Web 2.0 Shell) has been implemented, which includes the design and implementation of scripting language (WSh) enabling end users to create and customise Web commands. A number of Web2Sh-core Web commands were implemented. There are two techniques for extending the system: developers can implement new core Web commands, and the use of WSh by end users to connect, customise, and parameterise Web commands to create new commands. The feasibility and the usefulness of the proposed model have been demonstrated by implementing several automation scripts using Web2Sh, and by a case study based experiment that was carried out by volunteered participants. The implemented Web2Sh framework provided a novel and realistic environment for creating, customising, and running Web-oriented automation tools

Augmented reality applications in the automotive industry

This research paper examines the implications and transformative capabilities of Augmented Reality (AR) within the automotive landscape. We examine how AR catalyses radical changes across various automotive functions, from design and manufacturing to customer engagement and vehicle operation. While AR is poised to elevate operational efficiencies significantly, it also presents challenges, such as AR content authoring complexity and hardware constraints that restrict mass consumer adoption. This paper surveys the current AR state-of-the-art technology, systems and pivotal automotive applications. The primary objective is to offer a thorough comprehension of the underlying concepts, methodologies, and applications that underpin the integration of AR within the automotive industry. It concludes by discussing potential barriers to AR implementation and outlines future avenues for research, including software scalability and the integration of cloud and edge computing to alleviate device limitations

A new one-parameter lifetime distribution and its regression model with applications.

Lifetime distributions are an important statistical tools to model the different characteristics of lifetime data sets. The statistical literature contains very sophisticated distributions to analyze these kind of data sets. However, these distributions have many parameters which cause a problem in estimation step. To open a new opportunity in modeling these kind of data sets, we propose a new extension of half-logistic distribution by using the odd Lindley-G family of distributions. The proposed distribution has only one parameter and simple mathematical forms. The statistical properties of the proposed distributions, including complete and incomplete moments, quantile function and Rényi entropy, are studied in detail. The unknown model parameter is estimated by using the different estimation methods, namely, maximum likelihood, least square, weighted least square and Cramer-von Mises. The extensive simulation study is given to compare the finite sample performance of parameter estimation methods based on the complete and progressive Type-II censored samples. Additionally, a new log-location-scale regression model is introduced based on a new distribution. The residual analysis of a new regression model is given comprehensively. To convince the readers in favour of the proposed distribution, three real data sets are analyzed and compared with competitive models. Empirical findings show that the proposed one-parameter lifetime distribution produces better results than the other extensions of half-logistic distribution

Synthesis and biological activities of new bis-indole derivatives via microwave irradiation

Halawa AH, Bedair AH, El-Agrody AM, et al. Synthesis and biological activities of new bis-indole derivatives via microwave irradiation. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B. 2017;72(9):639-646.Three new series of bis-indole derivatives were synthesized based on p-phenylenediamine (2-4, 5 and 6) and 4,4'-ethylenedianiline moieties (7-9) using facile and efficient condensation of three positional isomeric indole-carboxaldehyde derivatives (1a-c) with bifunctional amines upon microwave irradiation. The symmetric dimeric indole derivatives 2-4 as well as non-symmetric analogues 5 and 6 were obtained by in situ condensation of the respective positional 3-, 2- and 5-isomeric indole-carboxaldehydes with p-phenylenediamine, while compounds 7-9 resulted from respective condensation based on 4,4'-ethylenedianiline. Structures of the obtained compounds were deduced by advanced spectroscopic methods (H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR and MS). In agar diffusion assay, derivative 6 showed moderate antibacterial activity against various Gram positive and negative bacteria, while derivative 7 displayed moderate activity against several Gram positive bacteria. However, in Resazurin assay employing the human cervix carcinoma cell line (KB-3-1), derivatives 2-9 turned out to be inactive

Synthesis of diverse amide linked bis-indoles and indole derivatives bearing coumarin-based moiety: cytotoxicity and molecular docking investigations

Halawa AH, Abd El-Gilil SM, Bedair AH, et al. Synthesis of diverse amide linked bis-indoles and indole derivatives bearing coumarin-based moiety: cytotoxicity and molecular docking investigations. MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY RESEARCH. 2018;27(3):796-806.New amide linked bis-indoles 10a, b, and 12 have been synthesized by treatment of tryptamine (9) or 5-aminoindole (11) with oxalyl chloride or adipoyl chloride. In addition, a newly indole derivatives 14-16 incorporated or fused with coumarin moieties have been prepared through the reaction of 9 or 11 with 4-chloro-3-formylcoumarin (13a) or 4-chloro-3-nitrocoumarin (13b). Further, 13-(3-nitrophenyl)-6,13-dihydrochromeno[4,3-b]pyrrolo[3,2-f]quinolin-12(3H)-one (20) has been produced via one-pot Mannish reaction of 11, 4-hydroxycoumarin (17), and 3-nitrobenzaldehyde (18) in the presence of N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) as a catalyst. A mixture of 3-[(3H-indol-3-ylidene)methyl]-4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (24A), and 3-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methylene]chroman-2,4-dione (24B) has been obtained with ratio 1:1 through Knoevenagel condensation reaction of indole-3-carboxaldehyde (21) and 17. Structures of the obtained compounds have been assigned by sophisticated spectroscopic techniques (H-1-NMR, C-13-NMR, and 2D NMR) and mass spectrometry. All the synthesized compounds have been screened for their cytotoxic activity against the human cervix carcinoma cell line (KB-3-1), where compounds 14a, 16, and 20 exhibit the highest potent activity (IC50 = 1.8, 2.2, and 7.9 A mu M, respectively) in comparison with the positive control (+)-Griseofulvin (IC50 = 19.2 A mu M), whereas the tautomeric mixture 24A, B show moderate activity (IC50 = 71.3 A mu M). Moreover, molecular docking study of the synthesized compounds toward the matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) (PDB ID: 1MNC) has also discussed

Synthesis, biological activity and molecular modeling study of new Schiff bases incorporated with indole moiety

Halawa AH, Abd El-Gilil SM, Bedair AH, et al. Synthesis, biological activity and molecular modeling study of new Schiff bases incorporated with indole moiety. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. 2017;72(11-12):467-475.A new series of heterocyclic Schiff bases 2-9 containing indole moiety were synthesized by facile and efficient condensation of indole-3/2/5-carboxaldehyde (1a/1b/1c) with different aromatic and heterocyclic primary amines using conventional and/or microwave irradiation methods. The structures of the obtained compounds were assigned by sophisticated spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques (1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and MS). The synthesized compounds were screened for their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities. In vitro cytotoxicity screening revealed that compound 5 exhibited moderate activity against KB-3-1 cell line (IC50 = 57.7 mu M) while 5-indolylimino derivative 7 indicated close to the activity (IC50 = 19.6 mu M) in comparison with the positive control (+)-Griseofulvin (IC50 = 19.2 mu M), while the tested compounds 5, 6b, 7 and 9 revealed good or moderate antibacterial activity. In addition, molecular docking study of Schiff bases 2-9 was performed by Molecular Operating Environment (MOE 2014.09) program on the matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) (Protein Data Bank (PDB) ID: 1MNC) in an attempt to explore their mode of action as anticancer drugs

New bioactive compounds from the marine-derived actinomycete Nocardiopsis lucentensis sp. ASMR2

Eliwa EM, Abdel-Razek AS, Frese M, et al. New bioactive compounds from the marine-derived actinomycete Nocardiopsis lucentensis sp. ASMR2. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B. 2017;72(5):351-360

Metal-free domino amination-Knoevenagel condensation approach to access new coumarins as potent nanomolar inhibitors of VEGFR-2 and EGFR

Eliwa EM, Frese M, Halawa AH, et al. Metal-free domino amination-Knoevenagel condensation approach to access new coumarins as potent nanomolar inhibitors of VEGFR-2 and EGFR. Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews. 2021;14(4):576-597.A metal-free, atom-economy and simple work-up domino amination-Knoevenagel condensation approach to construct new coumarin analogous (4a-f and 8a-e) was described. Further, new formyl (5a,d-f) and nitro (9a,d-f) coumarin derivatives were synthesized via C-N coupling reaction of various cyclic secondary amines and 4-chloro-3-(formyl-/nitro)coumarins (1a,c), respectively. The confirmed compounds were screened for their in vitro anti-proliferative activity against KB-3-1, A549 and PC3 human cancer cell lines using resazurin cellular-based assay. Among them, coumarin derivatives 4e and 8e displayed the best anti-cervical cancer potency (KB-3-1) with IC50 values of 15.5 ± 3.54 and 21 ± 4.24 µM, respectively. Also, 4e showed the most promising cytotoxicity toward A549 with IC50 value of 12.94 ± 1.51 µM. As well, 9d presented a more significant impact of potency against PC3 with IC50 7.31 ± 0.48 µM. Moreover, 8d manifested selectivity against PC3 (IC50 = 20.16 ± 0.07 µM), while 8e was selective toward KB-3-1 cell line (IC50 = 21 ± 4.24 µM). Matching with docking profile, the enzymatic assay divulged that 8e is a dual potent single-digit nanomolar inhibitor of VEGFR-2 and EGFR with IC50 values of 24.67 nM and 31.6 nM that were almost equipotent to sorafenib (31.08 nM) and erlotinib (26.79 nM), respectively