ATM & Biometric Solutions: A Case Study

The paper highlights security features for biometric systems along with application specific to a bank in Pakistan. Further, a comprehensive view of retinal scanning and application within the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm is discussed. Of the various forms of scanning techniques, fingerprint, iris, and facial have been selected as a security measure. However, the application of retinal scans for security within ATMs in Pakistan is novel. Retinal scans face many issues such as external pressures that can make the implementation of retinal scans difficult, proper technological advancements for implementing of retinal scans, costing and whether it will serve as a barrier and whether the overall concept of implementing retinal scans is a workable idea or not. The sample taken was of 80 close ended questionnaires filled along with 4 focus group discussions. The questions related to technology, economics and situational awareness concepts. The concept of automated houses and the use of objects with artificial intelligence were of special interest. It is shown that  external factors especially cost and technological limitations prohibit widespread adoption of biometric based retinal scans and implications for overall privacy and security that is present

Worldwide Disparities in Recovery of Cardiac Testing 1 Year Into COVID-19

BACKGROUND The extent to which health care systems have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide necessary cardiac diagnostic services is unknown.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on cardiac testing practices, volumes and types of diagnostic services, and perceived psychological stress to health care providers worldwide.METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations from baseline in cardiovascular diagnostic care at the pandemic's onset and 1 year later. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with procedure volume recovery.RESULTS Surveys were submitted from 669 centers in 107 countries. Worldwide reduction in cardiac procedure volumes of 64% from March 2019 to April 2020 recovered by April 2021 in high- and upper middle-income countries (recovery rates of 108% and 99%) but remained depressed in lower middle- and low-income countries (46% and 30% recovery). Although stress testing was used 12% less frequently in 2021 than in 2019, coronary computed tomographic angiography was used 14% more, a trend also seen for other advanced cardiac imaging modalities (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance; 22%-25% increases). Pandemic-related psychological stress was estimated to have affected nearly 40% of staff, impacting patient care at 78% of sites. In multivariable regression, only lower-income status and physicians' psychological stress were significant in predicting recovery of cardiac testing.CONCLUSIONS Cardiac diagnostic testing has yet to recover to prepandemic levels in lower-income countries. Worldwide, the decrease in standard stress testing is offset by greater use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities. Pandemic-related psychological stress among providers is widespread and associated with poor recovery of cardiac testing. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation