Forensic steganalysis for identification of steganography software tools using multiple format image

<p>Today many steganographic software tools are freely available on the Internet, which helps even callow users to have covert communication through digital images. Targeted structural image steganalysers identify only a particular steganographic software tool by tracing the unique fingerprint left in the stego images by the steganographic process. Image steganalysis proves to be a tough challenging task if the process is blind and universal, the secret payload is very less and the cover image is in lossless compression format. A payload independent universal steganalyser which identifies the steganographic software tools by exploiting the traces of artefacts left in the image and in its metadata for five different image formats is proposed. First, the artefacts in image metadata are identified and clustered to form distinct groups by extended K-means clustering. The group that is identical to the cover is further processed by extracting the artefacts in the image data. This is done by developing a signature of the steganographic software tool from its stego images. They are then matched for steganographic software tool identification. Thus, the steganalyser successfully identifies the stego images in five different image formats, out of which four are lossless, even for a payload of 1 byte. Its performance is also compared with the existing steganalyser software tool.</p>

Structural Interpretation of Seismic Data of Mishrif Formation in East Abu-Amoud Field, South-eastern Iraq

The seismic method depends on the nature of the reflected waves from the interfaces between layers, which in turn depends on the density and velocity of the layer, and this is called acoustic impedance. The seismic sections of the East Abu-Amoud field that is located in Missan Province, south-eastern Iraq, were studied and interpreted for updating the structural picture of the major Mishrif Formation for the reservoir in the Abu-amoud field. The Mishrif Formation is rich in petroleum in this area, with an area covering about 820 km2. The seismic interpretation of this study was carried out utilizing the software of Petrel-2017. The horizon was calibrated and defined on the seismic section with well-logs data (well tops, check shot, sonic logs, and density logs) in the interpretations process for identifying the upper and lower boundaries of Mishrif Formation. As well, mapping of two-way time and depth structural maps was carried out, to aid in understanding the lateral and vertical variations and to show the formation of the structural surfaces. The study found that Mishrif thickness increases toward the east, which means that it increases from the Abu-Amoud field in Nasiriyah towards the East Abu-Amoud field in Missan province. The aim of the study is to draw a high-resolution structural image of the East Abu Amoud field in southeast Iraq and to show the types of the existing faults and structures in the study area.

2D Seismic Reflection Study of the Cretaceous-Tertiary Period in Qasab-Jawan Area in Northwestern Iraq

A seismic study was conducted to re-interpret the Qasab and Jawan oil field in northern Iraq, south of the city of Mosul, by reprocessing and interpreting many seismic sections of a number of field surveys that included the field area. Two reflectors are detected, represented by Hartha Formations which were deposited during the Cretaceous age and Euphrates Formation which was deposited during the Tertiary age in order to stabilize the structural image of this field. The study was achieved by reinterpreting seismic sections using the Petrel program, where time, velocity and depth maps were prepared for the two formations. The study showed that the Qasab and Jawan fields generally consist of a structural closure located at the wells of the northern dome. This closure extends to the south east and deviates towards the east in the form of a structural rift. The study concluded the existence of a transverse fault that cuts Qasab and Jawan structures, forming a structural trap that represents the southern part of Qasab structure.

An updated review of teriflunomide's use in multiple sclerosis

Teriflunomide, a once daily, oral disease-modifying therapy, has demonstrated consistent efficacy, safety and tolerability in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and with a first clinical episode suggestive of MS treated up to 12 years. This review is an update to a previous version that examined data from the teriflunomide core clinical development program and extension studies. Data have since become available from active comparator trials with other disease-modifying therapies, treatment-related changes in brain volume (analyzed using structural image evaluation using normalization of atrophy) and real-world evidence including patient-reported outcomes. Initial data on the potential antiviral effects of teriflunomide in patients with MS, including case reports of patients infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), are also presented.

Using Perfusion Contrast for Spatial Normalization of ASL MRI Images in a Pediatric Craniosynostosis Population

Spatial normalization is an important step for group image processing and evaluation of mean brain perfusion in anatomical regions using arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI and is typically performed via high-resolution structural brain scans. However, structural segmentation and/or spatial normalization to standard space is complicated when gray-white matter contrast in structural images is low due to ongoing myelination in newborns and infants. This problem is of particularly clinical relevance for imaging infants with inborn or acquired disorders that impair normal brain development. We investigated whether the ASL MRI perfusion contrast is a viable alternative for spatial normalization, using a pseudo-continuous ASL acquired using a 1.5 T MRI unit (GE Healthcare). Four approaches have been compared: (1) using the structural image contrast, or perfusion contrast with (2) rigid, (3) affine, and (4) nonlinear transformations – in 16 healthy controls [median age 0.83 years, inter-quartile range (IQR) ± 0.56] and 36 trigonocephaly patients (median age 0.50 years, IQR ± 0.30) – a non-syndromic type of craniosynostosis. Performance was compared quantitatively using the real-valued Tanimoto coefficient (TC), visually by three blinded readers, and eventually by the impact on regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) values. For both patients and controls, nonlinear registration using perfusion contrast showed the highest TC, at 17.51 (CI 6.66–49.38) times more likely to have a higher rating and 17.45–18.88 ml/100 g/min higher CBF compared with the standard normalization. Using perfusion-based contrast improved spatial normalization compared with the use of structural images, significantly affected the regional CBF, and may open up new possibilities for future large pediatric ASL brain studies.

Application of data hashing tools to accelerate classification decisions in structural image recognition methods

The subject of this research is the image classification methods based on a set of key points descriptors. The goal is to increase the performance of classification methods, in particular, to improve the time characteristics of classification by introducing hashing tools for reference data representation. Methods used: ORB detector and descriptors, data hashing tools, search methods in data arrays, metrics-based apparatus for determining the relevance of vectors, software modeling. The obtained results: developed an effective method of image classification based on the introduction of high-speed search using hash structures, which speeds up the calculation dozens of times; the classification time for the considered experimental descriptions increases linearly with decreasing number of hashes; the minimum metric value limit choice on setting the class for object descriptors significantly affects the accuracy of classification; the choice of such limit can be optimized for fixed samples databases; the experimentally achieved accuracy of classification indicates the efficiency of the proposed method based on data hashing. The practical significance of the work is - the classification model’s synthesis in the hash data representations space, efficiency proof of the proposed classifiers modifications on image examples, development of applied software models implementing the proposed classification methods in computer vision systems.

Historic squares’ identity expression: Namik Kemal Square, Famagusta-Cyprus

Historic square's naturalistic layers harmonize in contrast with man's unstable taste, changing intentions with time, and neoliberal policies. Consequently, the challenge of what will stand out on the square's expression to the future remains an enormous pertinence amid the identity struggle. Recall that historic squares represent the bedrock for the chronological events that shaped human settlements, be it socio-economic, cultural, religious, political, art and architecture, educational, and folklore. This paper aims to analyze the square's identity as part of its historical and cultural representation. Besides, examine the layers on the surfaces (facades) facing it and their functional changes from history to now. The paper adopted an integrated study approach, using a literature review simultaneously with fieldwork to perform the analysis to describe and observe beyond the structural image to the social implications of the surrounding works of art, architecture, and nature. Based on the results, Namik Kemal Square is characterized socially, physically, and functionally by the surfaces of Lusignan, Venetian, Ottoman, British, Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to now. The square exemplifies a mix of hard/soft surfaces and old/new textual layers. Presently, some functions have changed; others are changing, while only a small percentage maintained uncompromising character. The study hypothesizes that though place remains, occupancy changes with pre-existing tissues. Therefore, the surfaces of the diverse identities about people's existence in a setting (square) should be conserved for livability. Furthermore, design principles that will displace the square's identity should be discouraged.

Novel nonlinear reconstruction method with grey-level quantisation units for electron tomography

We report a new computed tomography reconstruction method, named quantisation units reconstruction technique (QURT), applicable to electron and other fields of tomography. Conventional electron tomography methods such as filtered back projection, weighted back projection, simultaneous iterative reconstructed technique, etc. suffer from the ‘missing wedge’ problem due to the limited tilt-angle range. QURT demonstrates improvements to solve this problem by recovering a structural image blurred due to the missing wedge and substantially reconstructs the structure even if the number of projection images is small. QURT reconstructs a cross-section image by arranging grey-level quantisation units (QU pieces) in three-dimensional image space via unique discrete processing. Its viability is confirmed by model simulations and experimental results. An important difference from recently developed methods such as discrete algebraic reconstruction technique (DART), total variation regularisation—DART, and compressed sensing is that prior knowledge of the conditions regarding the specimen or the expected cross-section image is not necessary.