Research Title: Neighbor discovery protocol anomaly detection using finite state machine and strict anomaly detection

Author: Firas M.H S Najjar, Published Year: 2015

Faculty: Information Technology

Abstract: Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) is a stateless protocol used by Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) to find hosts and routers in an IPv6 network. Lacking of authentication process makes NDP exposed to various attacks. Securing NDP is a critical task since the large deployment of the Internet is done in public areas such as airports, where no trust between users is existed. Many solutions were proposed to secure the NDP; however, most of them violate the design principle of NDP in terms of complexity and overhead. Hence, further research on NDP is needed in order to identify and model the points that would help improve NDP while reducing complexity. This research uses finite state machines (FSM) and Extended Finite State Machine (EFSM) to model the main mechanisms used by NDP for detecting NDP anomalies based on Strict Anomaly Detection. These models can be used as a network security tool or as research tool to study and investigate the behavior of NDP behavior.

Keywords: Neighbor discovery protocol anomaly detection

Research Title: Intrusion detection and prevention response based on signature-based and anomaly-based: Investigation study

Author: Firas M.H S Najjar, Published Year: 2012

(IJCSIS) International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security,, 10

Faculty: Information Technology

Abstract: One of the fundamental topics in network Signature security is to detect intrusions and prevent them from exposing or destroying important information, or breaking down systems. In these systems the main problem is how to insure the abnormal activity is a harmful activity and what the prop irate response to stop the attack without affecting the whole process of the systems, because wrong response may affect the system more than the attempted intrusion, and because most organizations try to detect every intrusion, they examine every suspicious event; which means that more malicious events are detected but more resources are

Keywords: Intrusion detection and prevention, signature-based and anomaly-based

Research Title: Reliable behavioral dataset for IPv6 neighbor discovery protocol investigation

Author: Firas M.H S Najjar, Published Year: 2015

2015 5th International Conference on IT Convergence and Security (ICITCS), Malaysia

Faculty: Information Technology

Abstract: Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP), which is the main supported protocol for IPv6, has some security issues due to its intuitive trust of every device inside the local area network. Securing NDP becomes an important research area as the Internet is deployed widely in public areas, such as airports, where the trust is not necessary between hosts, which may expose them to attacks. In addition, securing network from inside is necessary, particularly when security hierarchical exist between users. One of the major problems in conducting research on IPv6 security is the absence of a reliable dataset, which is essential in testing and evaluating the proposed solutions. This research develops a reliable dataset of IPv6 NDP by capturing the normal and abnormal behaviors of NDP using specific dependable tools. Reliable dataset helps to understand and distinguish between normal behavior and anomalies in IPv6 NDP.

Keywords: Neighbor Discovery Protocol, dataset, IPv6, NDP Behavior

Research Title: Conciseness, Financial Disclosure, and Market Reaction: A Textual Analysis of Annual Reports in Listed Chinese Companies

Author: Fahd Mohammed Saleh Al-Duais, Published Year: 2022

Faculty: Business

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the conciseness and complexity of financial disclosures and market reactions, using the annual reports of Chinese-listed B-share companies over the period 2006–2018. We employed a set of statistical methods that were derived from other fields, such as computational and event studies, in order to derive the English annual reports of Chinese-listed companies, as well as to obtain other key financial indicators from the CSMAR database. Markets react significantly to increased report length, which means that managers that present poor returns with manipulated financial reports could be hiding poor returns. Additionally, the findings of this study are robust to additional tests that use alternative proxies. Furthermore, the results of this paper reinforce the hypothesis that the readability of financial reports affects financial market response. The results indicate that more complex financial reports are correlated with lower current returns and negatively affect the expectations of future returns. For the purposes of avoiding the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the results, we utilized data up to 2018. In light of this circumstance, we recommend that future research be conducted that compares results from before and after the coronavirus pandemic. The findings of our study have important implications for regulators, managers, and investors. Investors should obtain relevant information through annual reports; therefore, the importance of style is less relevant. Managers should be encouraged to write their annual reports more concisely. This study concluded that these reports are significant outputs of firms, and are widely read by investors. The study also provides empirical evidence of market reactions that are associated with readability and earnings, as well as with surprise earnings; thus, the complexity of annual reports provided by a variety of investors, using computational and event analysis, should be reduced.

Keywords: conciseness; annual report; textual analysis; future returns; Chinese-listed companies; Fog index

Research Title: Metabolic Syndrome (MS): Definition, Classification and Potential Associated Factors

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 6:360-369

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Many lifestyle-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been identified. The most powerful and consistent risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity (particularly central obesity) and diabetes mellitus, which are also known as metabolic syndrome. It is also commonly used term was insulin resistance syndrome (Syndrome X). At present, there is various accepted definition of the metabolic syndrome. When comparing to the defining level between The Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII) and World Health Organization (WHO), a higher blood pressure was required in WHO than in ATPIII. Instead of waist circumferences in ATPIII, body mass index (or increased waist: hip ratio) was used in WHO. The requirement of objective evidence of insulin resistance in WHO requirement should give more power to predict diabetes than does ATPIII, but like ATPIII, the presence of type 2 diabetes does not exclude a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The differences in diagnostic criteria for this syndrome are partially responsible for variations in the reported prevalence among different studies. Metabolic syndrome is correlated with different possible factors which may associate and predict its existence and intensity. Some of these factors are explained in this review.

Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome (MS), Diabetes, Lipids Disorder, Blood Pressure (BP), Obesity & the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III).

Research Title: Effect of Birhi Variety of Date Palm Fruits, (Phoenix dactylifera L.) at the Tamr Stage on Serum Glucose Levels in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

Journal of Agricultural Science, 8:110-118

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of a dietary preparation of Birhi tamr (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on serum glucose levels and body weight in normal, diabetic insulin-treated and diabetic insulin-untreated rats. Diabetes was partially induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (32.25 mg/kg). Thirty six male Sprague-Dawley rats (239 ± 8.4 g) were divided into two normal, two diabetic insulin-treated and two diabetic insulin-untreated groups. Each group was fed a diet containing either 0% or 10% tamr for six weeks. Fasting serum glucose levels were determined by enzymatic-calorimetric method using a standard kit procedure. Feeding 10% tamr did not show significant differences (P > 0.05) in serum glucose levels in any of the normal and insulin-treated diabetic rats. Insulin-untreated diabetic rats fed 0% tamr or 10% tamr exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher serum glucose levels (496 ± 81.6, 315 ± 61.1 mg/dl respectively) compared to normal (147 ± 5.3, 156 ± 7.6 mg/dl respectively) and insulin-treated diabetic rats (227 ± 17.6, 268± 18.9 mg/dl respectively). Feeding 10% tamr to insulin-untreated rats induced significant (P < 0.05) reduction in this variable. The findings of the present study may provide support for the favorable effect of date palm fruits as tamr, on blood glucose in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. This effect cannot be simply explained on the basis of the macro-nutrient composition of tamr. However, due to the apparent effects of tamr on blood glucose in normal and insulintreated and insulin-untreated diabetic rats, the possible presence of insulin-like substance in tamr may not be excluded. The mechanism of action of the blood glucose-lowering effect of tamr awaits further investigation.

Keywords: date palm fruit, Birhi vaiety (Phoenix dactylifera L.), streptozotocin (STZ), serum glucose, sprague-dawley rat

Research Title: Relationship between Birth Weight and Body Growth of Awassi Lambs during Early Weaning

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2015

Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 5:95-99

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: A study was conducted to find the relationship between body weight of male and female Awassi lambs at birth with their body development at early weaning period. Sixty lambs were used and divided into two groups (I, II). Each group was consisted of 30 lambs and divided into two subgroups (15 male and 15 female). Groups formed according to body weight at birth as follows: Group I, lambs with less than 3kg of weight; and Group II, lambs with more or equal than 3 kg of weight. Lambs were kept with their mothers and suckling ad libitum throughout the experimental period and were weighed at birth day (1 day old), at 30 days, and at 60 days. Differences between groups of lambs at 60 days of age were significant (p<0.05). Correlations ranged from low to moderate among the respective traits and ranged between positive from 0.505 to 0.762 and negative from - 0.181 to -0.513. Highest correlation in this study found between age (1-60) in male lambs (0.762) and in female lambs (0.659) of group II. The correlation coefficient effect at 60 days of age was higher in males than females lambs (p<0.05) where the correlation coefficient was 66% for male and 50% for female lambs. Therefore, lambs with heavier birth weights, showed the best production results in the development of body weight during the period of 60 days of early weaning process, which indicated that selection of lambs with greater birth weight may contribute to increasing Awassi lamb body development and growth.

Keywords: Awassi sheep, Body growth, Correlation, Early weaning

Research Title: Nutritional and Health Outcomes of Household Food Insecurity (HFIS)

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Poverty, food security and malnutrition are major concerns among international health, development and economic organizations. Attention has been focused on means of eliminating food insecurity and hunger world-wide. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Household food security is the application of this concept to the family level, with individuals within households as the focus of concern. (FAO, 2009). The complex nature of food security indicates that in order to achieve a food secure status in a population, a range of aspects need to be assessed. Some examples on these encircle equitable sharing among household members; sufficient household production dedicated towards subsistence; use of soil, water and biodiversity conservation techniques; and the sanitary aspects of cooking. (Bhattacharya et al., 2004). Because of conceptuality, the food insecurity is a multidimensional array of behaviors and perceptions and its potential determinants and consequences are wide-ranging and multidimensional. As a result, the emerging direct qualitative measures of food security offer large potential for use at the international, national and sub-national levels. Furthermore, the increased attention has led to the realization that newer methods for monitoring the prevalence and severity of hunger and food insecurity are needed and that such methods need to be developed in a manner that reflects the perception of food security and hunger by those affected, e.g. the poor (Kennedy, 2002b). Definitions, Measurements, Socio-Demographic and Economic Aspects of Household Food Insecurity (HFIS) had been extensively explained in previous work (Hamad & Ashraf, 2016). In this review, the work focused on the Nutritional and Health Outcomes of Household Food Insecurity (HFIS)

Keywords: Health Outcomes, Anthropometric Measurement, Nutritional Outcomes, Metabolic Syndrome and Biochemical Markers

Research Title: Comparison Between the Effects of Different Sources of Dietary Fiber on Blood Lipid Profile in Rats

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 6:70-77

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different sources of dietary fiber on serum lipids and lipoproteins in Sprague-Dawley rats, namely total cholesterol (TC), Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high–density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) triglyceride (TG), and (HDL-C/LDL-C) ratio. The experimental diets included casein diet, untreated wheat bran diet, soaked wheat bran diet, Arabic white bread diet, lupine diet, chickpea and pectin diet. Each group of rats (6/group) was fed one of the seven prepared diets for 6 weeks. Untreated wheat bran has hypercholesterolemic effect since it significantly (p<0>0.05) from casein and pectin diets, but it has also decreased LDL-C. White bread was found to have no hypocholesterolemic effect in comparison with treated brans groups and control group; it raised TG, TC and LDL-C levels. Pectin had a similar behavior in a remarkable decrease blood TC and LDL-C cholesterol. White bread was found to have no hypocholesterolemic effect in comparison with treated brans groups and control group; it raised TG, TC and LDL-C levels. It is concluded that the behavior of cereals and legumes varies in its effect on cholesterol– lowering ability. Preparation of wheat bran foods by soaking improve some physiological characteristics of insoluble fibers, particularly lowering total cholesterol TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C).

Keywords: Dietary fiber, Arabic bread, Wheat bran, Soaking, Chickpea, Lupine, Pectin, Lipoproteins, Rat

Research Title: Prevalence of Obesity among Jordanian School-aged Adolescents in Greater Amman

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing, 33:91-96

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity among Jordanian school female adolescents in greater Amman. A representative random sample of 501 female adolescents school children, 10 to 17 years of age was recruited from 3 schools from greater Amman. The anthropometric data for adolescents (10-17 years old) were entered and compared to the growth reference curves/charts developed in 2006/2007 by the World Health Organization (WHO) using WHO 2009 AnthroPlus software. After sorting and cleaning of the data, descriptive analysis was conducted to obtain prevalence of obesity, overweight, and thinness. Malnourished children were defined as those with overweight, obese, or thinness. The overall average prevalences of thinness, normal weight, overweight, and obesity were 7.2% , 46.8%, 36.2% and 9.9 %, respectively. Among the thinness category (WAZ <-2 SD) , the highest percentage (16.7%) is for 16-17 age group followed by 14-15 age group (6.7%) while it is 5.3% in 10-11 age group. An overall prevalence of malnutrition characterized by overweight and obesity together among all age groups is 46.1%. As a conclusion, the study showed that more than half (53.3%) of Jordanian school adolescents in greater Amman are malnourished, with a prevalence of overweight, obesity and thinness at the same time, requiring different strategies to control either type. Further research about the dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors of Jordanian adolescents is recommended.

Keywords: Prevalence, Obesity, School-aged children, Adolescents, Greater Amman, Jordan