Digital Commons Network^™

Robust And Efficient Methods For Key Generation Using Chaotic Maps And A2c Algorithm, Ali A. Mahdi, Mays M. Hoobi

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

In the current digital landscape, information security has become a critical necessity given the escalating frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks across global computing networks. Cryptography is the science and practice of securing information by transforming it into a format that is unreadable or inaccessible to unauthorized parties. The strength of the cryptography algorithm lies in the strength of used encryption key. Recently, the nonlinear behavior of chaotic maps has been utilized as a random source to generate robust key stream bits for cryptographic purposes. The aim of this paper is to introduce an efficient and robust system for generating strong …

Learning Techniques-Based Malware Detection: A Comprehensive Review, Sarah Fouad Ali, Musaab Riyadh Abdulrazzaq, Methaq Talib Gaata

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has significantly increased the threat landscape, with malwares arising as a critical concern. Advanced learning methods such as machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and federated learning (FL) are essential for handling complex IoT data. ML provides tools for pattern identification and detecting anomalies. DL boosts malware detection by automatically extracting features and identifying patterns. FL enables collaborative model training across decentralized devices, ensuring data privacy, which is crucial for diverse IoT systems. This comprehensive review specifically synthesizes ML, DL and FL for malware detection in the IoT environment, highlighting key …

Enhanced Audio Encryption Scheme: Integrating Blowfish, Hmac-Sha256, And Md5 For Secure Communication, Jenan Ayad, Noor Qaddoori, Hasanain Maytham

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

In today's communications, it is vital to protect audio data privacy before and after transfer. This work therefore introduces the enhanced audio encryption scheme (EAES), which employs the most effective techniques of cryptography and processes them to make it impossible for unauthorized persons or programs to access or change the contents of audio files. This method uses RSA to encrypt the Blowfish key, which is used for data encryption, the HMAC-SHA256 algorithm for integrity checks, and the Message-Digest algorithm (MD5) for the checking phase. The performance of the EAES is measured statistically via the MSE, PSNR, and correlation coefficient. For …

Smartphone Authentication Based On 3d Touch Sensor And Finger Locations On Touchscreens Via Decision-Making Techniques, Moceheb Lazam Shuwandy, Rawan Adel Fawzi Alsharida, Maytham M. Hammood

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Smartphone authentication systems must balance security and user convenience, which is a persistent challenge in the digital realm. Traditional biometrics, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, face vulnerabilities to spoofing and environmental conditions, limiting reliability. This study introduces a novel approach by integrating three-dimensional (3D) touch sensors with finger location data for authentication. The goal is to develop a system that improves accuracy while minimizing false positives and negatives, leveraging touch pressure and spatial interaction as unique biometric identifiers. Data from 20 participants, including pressure levels, spatial coordinates, and timestamps, were analysed using Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting …

Enhancing Traffic Data Security In Smart Cities Using Optimized Quantum-Based Digital Signatures And Privacy-Preserving Techniques, Tuqa Ghani Tregi, Mishall Al-Zubaidie

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

Securing big data in power plants is an important and fundamental step in the infrastructure of smart cities. In addition, it becomes a barrier if it is not controlled from the beginning. Security must be a combination of fast and robust properties. This research presents a traffic security system (TSS) in a smart city (SC). It is a novel paradigm meant to improve data security and integrity by means of a multilayered method. Advanced fault analysis, dual-stage pseudonymizing, quantum key distribution via the BB84 protocol, and Falcon signatures (FS) are combined in the proposed system. TSS enhances data security by …

Whose Decolonization? Prospects For Decolonizing African Art Music, Kofi Agawu

Publications and Research

Although they date back to the 1960s—the decade of African independence—decolonization discourses have gained a new visibility in today’s academies and social media. Targets of decolonization include universities (and numerous practices within), archives, museums, political and economic systems, and individuals from previously colonized nations. Questions remain, however, about what, why, and how to decolonize. This article explores the prospects for decolonizing African art music, a repertoire formed from the twin forces of missionization and colonization. Eschewing a big-picture approach, the author focuses on samples of African choralism, African pianism, African opera, and African symphonism to show that the dividing lines …

Bloody Sunday, Bloody Ireland, Bloody Textiles, Catherine Harper Phd

Arts and Design

The fabric of the island of Ireland is marked by the leakage of persistent sores and unhealed wounds borne by the unhealed messy flesh of the national body, which is symbolically swaddled, shrouded, stifled and sheltered by cloth. Ireland is a stained and bloodied cloth, marked irreversibly by conflict and abuse, bloodied by repression and denial, sullied by hunger and history. Blood, flowing from stigmata onto cloth, haemorrhage in extremis from wounds, real or imagined, is steeped deep into the Irish psyche, reflecting a narrative of abjection, sacrifice, memory and mourning.

Women On Boards Annual Monitoring Report 2024, Center For Entrepreneurship And Innovation

Faculty Books

The AUC Egypt women on boards monitoring report is issued annually to track and monitor the presence and representation of women on boards towards meeting the goal of having 30% women on boards by 2030. The importance of improving representation of women on boards stems from the fact that it is one of the good governance pillars, in addition to the positive impact on firm performance and profitability. The National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030 has accordingly promoted for increasing the leadership roles of women and holding key positions in public institutions and companies, setting the target …

Assessing The Clinical Meaningfulness Of Slowing Cdr-Sb Progression With Disease-Modifying Therapies For Alzheimer's Disease, Sarah M Hartz, Suzanne E Schindler, Marissa L Streitz, Krista L Moulder, Jessica Mozersky, Guoqiao Wang, Chengjie Xiong, John C Morris

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: For many patients and caregivers, a major goal of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is to extend independence in instrumental and basic activities of daily living (IADLs and BADLs). The goal of this study was to estimate the effect of treatments on the time remaining independent in IADLs and BADLs.

METHODS: Participants at the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC) who met eligibility criteria for recent DMT trials were studied: age ≥60 years at baseline, clinical diagnosis of very mild or mild AD dementia (global Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR] score 0.5 or 1), biomarker confirmation …

Effects Of Obesity On Plasma Biomarker And Amyloid Pet Trajectories In Alzheimer's Disease, Soheil Mohammadi, Farzaneh Rahmani, Mahsa Dolatshahi, Suzanne E Schindler, Cyrus A Raji, Adni Collaborators

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its impact on AD blood biomarker (BBM) and amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) trajectories is unknown.

METHODS: One thousand two hundred twenty-eight plasma samples from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were assessed using six leading commercial tests (C2N, Fujirebio, Janssen, ALZpath, Roche, and Quanterix). Amyloid PET scans were used to assess amyloid burden in Centiloids (CLs). Spearman partial correlations assessed cross-sectional associations, while linear mixed-effects models examined the longitudinal impact of obesity status on BBMs and CLs.

RESULTS: Higher body mass index at baseline was correlated with lower …

Schistosomiasis Interventions In Africa: Assessment And Systematic Review, Christopher Yaw Dumevi, George Boateng Kyei, Patience B Tetteh-Quarcoo, James-Paul Kretchy, Irene Ayi, Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

System Readiness And The Patient Care Pathway For Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis And Treatment, B Joy Snider, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Promising therapeutic interventions that target the underlying pathophysiology are changing the landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. The AD care pathway must be transformed to meet the challenge of bringing these new therapies to the increasing number of people living with AD within the existing healthcare framework. Challenges include identifying patients who may benefit from treatment interventions early in the course of the disease, ensuring that diagnostic tools are accessible and accurate, and developing capabilities to monitor the effectiveness of interventions over time. These challenges must be addressed at all levels, from primary care settings to tertiary treatment centers; this …

Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of A Novel Dental Health Education Program To Improve Dental Care Utilization By Bhutanese-, Burmese-, And Swahili-Speaking Refugees In A Midwestern United States City, Chandra Swanson, Katherine Gordon, Kelly Kreisler, Elizabeth Montgomery Collins

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Estimating Preclinical Amyloid Positivity: A Case Study Transporting Adni To Aric, Emma K Stapp, Elizabeth Rose Mayeda, Elizabeth A Stuart, Rebecca F Gottesman, Scott C Zimmerman, Dean F Wong, Thomas H Mosley, Michael E Griswold, M Maria Glymour, Melinda C Power, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias researchers have benefited from deeply phenotyped clinical samples; however, there is a critical need for estimates that generalize to diverse, representative populations. Use of a statistical approach from causal inference, "transport," may allow generalization of findings from clinical samples to other target populations. Here we explore the feasibility and validity of extending results from a clinical sample, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), to a community-based target sample, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Positron Emission Tomography Amyloid Imaging Study (ARIC-PET) using transport estimation and a standard approach, direct standardization, which itself can be …

Plasma Nfl And Cognitive Functioning In Older Adults: The Moderating Role Of Hdl Cholesterol, Ramkrishna K Singh, Semere Bekena, Yiqi Zhu, Carlos Cruchaga, Steven E Arnold, Beau M Ances, Ganesh M Babulal

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a marker of neuroaxonal injury associated with cognitive decline. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has neuroprotective properties, but its interaction with neurodegeneration remains unclear. This study examined whether HDL moderates the association between NfL and cognitive performance.

METHODS: Baseline data from 417 participants in the Aging Adult Brain Connectome study were analyzed. Plasma NfL and HDL were measured via Simoa and enzymatic assays; cognition was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC). Generalized linear models were used to evaluate NfL and HDL interactions, adjusting for demographics. Sensitivity …

Impact Of Genetic Counseling And Testing In Individuals At High Risk Of Familial Alzheimer's Disease From Latin America: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial, Pablo M Bagnati, Ellen Ziegemeier, Eric Mcdade, Randall J Bateman, Jorge J Llibre-Guerra, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study involved evaluating a tailored genetic counseling and testing (GCT) protocol for families at risk of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) in Latin America (LatAm), focusing on essential cultural and regional adaptations.

METHODS: We conducted a non-randomized controlled trial among ADAD families in Colombia and Argentina. Participants were categorized based on their decision to learn their genetic status (GS), with further comparisons between mutation-positive versus mutation-negative participants who learned their status. Psychological impacts were measured using validated scales for anxiety and depression.

RESULTS: Of the 122 eligible participants, 97 completed the GCT protocol, and 87 opted to learn …

Data-Driven Approach To Dynamic Resting State Functional Connectivity In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Enigma-Pgc Ptsd Study, Carissa W. Tomas, Evan M. Gordon, Et Al

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Iliac Crest Bone Block Autograft Transfer For Ballistic Posterior Glenoid Fracture: A Case Report, Jordan Cook Serotte, Hayden Baker, Cody Lee, Jason A Strelzow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis-Like Paraneoplastic Syndrome As Initial Presentation Of Nodular Sclerosis Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, Michel Attieh, Seyed Reza Taha, Selim Nasser, Fouad Boulos

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) presenting with initial skeletal symptoms as a paraneoplastic phenomenon is extremely rare. Herein, we report the case of a 26-year-old man with nodular sclerosis classical HL (NSCHL) who presented with low back pain as the initial symptom. Imaging studies were unremarkable except for right S1-S2 sacral marrow edema on MRI, and multiple biopsies showed only inflammatory changes, resulting in a tentative diagnosis of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. Later in the course of the disease, after performing routine series of MRIs, lymphadenopathy was finally detected. Core biopsies of the axillary and pelvic lymph nodes subsequently confirmed the diagnosis …

Wireless Modular Implantable Neural Device With One-Touch Magnetic Assembly For Versatile Neuromodulation, Inho Kang, John Bilbily, Choong Yeon Kim, Chuanqian Shi, Manish K Madasu, Eun Young Jeong, Kyle E Parker, Do A Kwon, Bum-Joon Jung, Jae-Soon Yang, Juhyun Lee, Noah D L Kabbaj, Wonhee Lee, Jun-Bo Yoon, Ream Al-Hasani, Jianliang Xiao, Jordan G Mccall, Jae-Woong Jeong

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Multimodal neural interfaces open new opportunities in brain research by enabling more sophisticated and systematic neural circuit dissection. Integrating complementary features across distinct functional domains, these multifunctional neural probes have greatly advanced the interrogation of complex neural circuitry. However, introducing multiple functionalities into a compact form factor for freely behaving animals presents substantial design hurdles that complicate the device or require more than one device. Moreover, fixed functionality poses challenges in meeting the dynamic needs of chronic neuroscience inquiry, such as replacing consumable parts like batteries or drugs. To address these limitations, the modular implantable neural device (MIND) is introduced …

Psychosocial Behavioral Phenotypes Of Racially/Ethnically Minoritized Older Adults Enrolled In Habs-Hd Differ On Neuroimaging Measures Of Brain Age Gap, Hippocampal Volume, And Cortical Thickness, Alexandra L Clark, Makenna B Mcgill, Alexandra J Weigand, Julie K Wisch, Kalen Petersen, Beau Ances, Meredith N Braskie, Sid O'Bryant, Kelsey R Thomas, Habs‐Hd Study Team

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study examined whether previously identified psychosocial behavioral phenotypes differed on structural neuroimaging markers.

METHODS: Latent profile analysis (LPA) employed in a sample of 1820 community-dwelling older adults (1118 Hispanic and 702 Black) replicated previous Low Resource/Low Distress, High Resource/Low Distress, and Low Resource/High Distress phenotype classifications. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) adjusting for relevant factors examined phenotype differences on neuroimaging outcomes of predicted brain age gap (BAG) (DeepBrainNet

RESULTS: The Low Resource/Low Distress and Low Resource/High Distress phenotypes had significantly higher predicted BAGs relative to the High Resource/Low Distress phenotype, and the Low Resource/High Distress group displayed significantly lower …

Multi-Echo Acquisition And Thermal Denoising Advances Precision Functional Imaging, Julia Moser, Alyssa K Labonte, Michael J Myers, Babatunde Adeyemo, Abraham Z Snyder, Evan M Gordon, Nico U F Dosenbach, Timothy O Laumann, Chad M Sylvester, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The characterization of individual functional brain organization with Precision Functional Mapping has provided important insights in recent years in adults. However, little is known about the ontogeny of inter-individual differences in brain functional organization during human development. Precise characterization of systems organization during periods of high plasticity is likely to be essential for discoveries promoting lifelong health. Obtaining precision functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data during development has unique challenges that highlight the importance of establishing new methods to improve data acquisition, processing, and analysis. Here, we investigate two methods that can facilitate attaining this goal: multi-echo (ME) data acquisition …

Proceedings Of The 12th Annual Deep Brain Stimulation Think Tank: Cutting Edge Technology Meets Novel Applications, Alfonso Enrique Martinez-Nunez, Nico U F Dosenbach, Evan M Gordon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Think Tank XII was held on August 21st to 23rd. This year we showcased groundbreaking advancements in neuromodulation technology, focusing heavily on the novel uses of existing technology as well as next-generation technology. Our keynote speaker shared the vision of using neuro artificial intelligence to predict depression using brain electrophysiology. Innovative applications are currently being explored in stroke, disorders of consciousness, and sleep, while established treatments for movement disorders like Parkinson's disease are being refined with adaptive stimulation. Neuromodulation is solidifying its role in treating psychiatric disorders such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, particularly for …

Characterization Of Plasma At(N) Biomarkers Among A Racial And Ethnically Diverse Community-Based Cohort: An Habs-Hd Study, Melissa E Petersen, Beau M Ances, Et Al

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers of Amyloid(A), Tau(T), and Neurodegeneration(N) have been increasingly studied to fill the gap in our understanding of racial and ethnic differences. This study aimed to examine the relationship between plasma AT(N) biomarkers and (1) AT(N) neuroimaging biomarkers, (2) demographics, (3) medical comorbidities, and (4) cognitive diagnosis.

METHODS: Data were analyzed from

RESULTS: Differences in the AT(N) biomarkers were found across racial/ethnic groups. Plasma Aβ42/40 was found to be associated with PET amyloid positivity only among NHW participants, while plasma NfL was found to correlate with Meta-ROI among NHB and Hispanic participants. Ptau181 was associated with …

Cervical Cancer In Women With Hiv: A Call To Action For Equitable Prevention In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Jonathan Klutse, Yeena Abla Tay, Dzidzor Aku Attoh, Emmanuel Frimpong Gyekye, Charlotte Borteley Bortey, Esenam Dzifa Buatsi, Charlayne Cherylyn Oppong, Helena Lamptey, Collins Stephen Ahorlu, George Boateng Kyei, Evelyn Yayra Bonney

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cervical cancer is preventable; however, it remains the leading cause of death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Women with HIV (WWHs) have a sixfold higher risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer than women without HIV. Cervical cancer can be prevented by vaccination against high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPVs) and by screening for and treating precancer cervical lesions. While these preventive measures are routinely available to WWHs in developed countries, they are lacking in most LMICs, where the burden of HIV and cervical cancer is the highest. To prevent cervical cancer deaths among WWHs in LMICs, it is imperative …

Protocol For The Asian Cohort For Alzheimer's Disease (Acad) Study, Pei-Chuan Ho, Walter A Kukull, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: To address knowledge gaps in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, the Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD) Study will recruit over 5000 participants of Asian descent aged 60 or older in the United States and Canada. The current focus is on participants with Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese ancestry, with the goal of characterizing both genetic and non-genetic risk factors. ACAD has assembled a culturally and linguistically appropriate data collection protocol, as well as a biosample collection protocol. Recruitment strategies follow community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to encourage research participation and engage Asian communities in brain health education.

METHODS: The ACAD …

Early Alzheimer's Disease Patient Care Pathway And Health System Readiness: A Framework For Integrated Care, Ilya M Nasrallah, Erik S Musiek, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

UNLABELLED: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often underdiagnosed, especially at early stages when symptoms are mild, and patients may benefit from new and recently approved anti-amyloid therapies. An updated patient care pathway may facilitate timely diagnosis and intervention. We conducted a scan of published information and convened an expert panel of health care professionals to gain insights on early AD care pathways. We developed an Early AD Patient Care Pathway as an implementation guide that includes new diagnostic and treatment modalities and addresses needs and opportunities. The Early AD Patient Care Pathway focuses on patient identification, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management …

Discovering Subtypes With Imaging Signatures In The Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome Consortium Using Weakly Supervised Clustering, Bhargav Teja Nallapu, Kellen K Petersen, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the heterogeneity of brain structure in individuals with the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR) may improve the current risk assessments of dementia.

METHODS: We used data from six cohorts from the

RESULTS: Three subgroups (Groups A, B, and C) were identified through MRI-based clustering with significant differences in regional brain volumes, gait speeds, and performance on Trail Making (Part-B) and Free and Cued Selective Reminding Tests.

DISCUSSION: Based on structural MRI, our results reflect heterogeneity in the population with moderate and slow gait, including those with MCR. Such a data-driven approach could help pave new pathways toward dementia …

Variations In Greater Trochanter Height As A Relation To Patient Demographics: Implications For Femoral Nail Design, Jordan A Haber, Amogh I Iyer, Matthew Dulas, Douglas Weaver, Jason A Strelzow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Intramedullary nail fixation is the "gold standard" for surgical intervention of femoral fractures. While many aspects of nail design and patient anatomy have received specific focus, anatomic variations in proximal femoral geometry and greater trochanteric height variation have been poorly studied. Understanding the potential relationship of the greater trochanter to patient demographics may provide an opportunity to improve implant placement. Retrospective review of x-ray and computed tomography images of the proximal femur was performed. Inclusion criteria consisted of skeletally mature patients over 18 years old with imaging of the proximal femur. Inclusion criteria identified 296 patients. Mean age of included …

Physical Activity As A Resistance Or Resilience Mechanism In Down Syndrome Alzheimer's Disease, Victoria L Fleming, Beau M Ances, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lifestyle factors such as engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reduce risk or delay the onset of AD. This study aimed to determine whether MVPA confers a

METHODS: Analyses included 69 adults with DS (aged 26-58) who participated in a longitudinal study across 3.29 years. An actigraphy accelerometer assessed MVPA across 7 days. Directly administered and informant-reported measures assessed cognitive functioning, specifically memory and dementia symptoms. Neuroimaging biomarkers quantified amyloid beta (Aβ) burden, as assessed via positron emission tomography imaging.

RESULTS: In regression models, baseline MVPA was …