Showing 1–12 of 12 results for author: Karim, H A

Who Gets Access? Global Region and Academic Status Bias in AI-Generated Academic Gatekeeping Scenarios

Authors: Nouar AlDahoul, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Myles Joshua Toledo Tan

Abstract: Equitable access to scientific knowledge often depends on informal gatekeeping decisions, particularly when resources such as paywalled articles, datasets, or professional materials such as curriculum vitae (CV) must be shared selectively. We introduce a controlled simulation framework in which large language model (LLM)-based professors must grant access to only one requestor. Across prompts, req… ▽ More Equitable access to scientific knowledge often depends on informal gatekeeping decisions, particularly when resources such as paywalled articles, datasets, or professional materials such as curriculum vitae (CV) must be shared selectively. We introduce a controlled simulation framework in which large language model (LLM)-based professors must grant access to only one requestor. Across prompts, requesters vary systematically by global region (Global North vs. Global South) and academic seniority (undergraduate student, PhD candidate, postdoctoral researcher, and tenured professor), while all other factors remain constant. Across varying evaluation scenarios, LLMs exhibit contrasting academic status biases, with some prioritizing PhD candidates, while others favor tenured professors. However, when global regions differ, a distinct divergence emerges based on model architecture: while many frontier LLMs systematically favor requesters from the Global South due to pro-equity bias that results from equity-focused safety alignment, open-weight and small models frequently flip this preference to favor the Global North, reflecting the global region bias and unaligned geographic distribution of their baseline pre-training data. Our findings highlight how normative assumptions embedded in model behavior can shape gatekeeping decisions, underscoring the importance of auditing AI systems for fairness and value alignment. △ Less

Submitted 27 June, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Fine-tuned Vision Language Model for Localization of Parasitic Eggs in Microscopic Images

Authors: Chan Hao Sien, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Nouar AlDahoul

Abstract: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections continuously affect a large proportion of the global population, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where access to specialized diagnostic expertise is limited. Although manual microscopic diagnosis of parasitic eggs remains the diagnostic gold standard, the approach can be labour-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. This p… ▽ More Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections continuously affect a large proportion of the global population, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where access to specialized diagnostic expertise is limited. Although manual microscopic diagnosis of parasitic eggs remains the diagnostic gold standard, the approach can be labour-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. This paper aims to utilize a vision language model (VLM) such as Microsoft Florence that was fine-tuned to localize all parasitic eggs within microscopic images. The preliminary results show that our localization VLM performs comparatively better than the other object detection methods, such as EfficientDet, with an mIOU of 0.94. This finding demonstrates the potential of the proposed VLM to serve as a core component of an automated framework, offering a scalable engineering solution for intelligent parasitological diagnosis. △ Less

Submitted 14 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Semantic-Aware Advanced Persistent Threat Detection Using Autoencoders on LLM-Encoded System Logs

Authors: Waleed Khan Mohammed, Zahirul Arief Irfan Bin Shahrul Anuar, Mousa Sufian Mousa Mitani, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Nouar AlDahoul

Abstract: Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are among the most challenging cyberattacks to detect. They are carried out by highly skilled attackers who carefully study their targets and operate in a stealthy, long-term manner. Because APTs exhibit "low-and-slow" behavior, traditional statistical methods and shallow machine learning techniques often fail to detect them. Previous research on APT detection ha… ▽ More Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are among the most challenging cyberattacks to detect. They are carried out by highly skilled attackers who carefully study their targets and operate in a stealthy, long-term manner. Because APTs exhibit "low-and-slow" behavior, traditional statistical methods and shallow machine learning techniques often fail to detect them. Previous research on APT detection has explored machine learning approaches and provenance graph analysis. However, provenance-based methods often fail to capture the semantic intent behind system activities. This paper proposes a novel anomaly detection approach that leverages semantic embeddings generated by Large Language Models (LLMs). The method enhances APT detection by extracting meaningful semantic representations from unstructured system log data. First, raw system logs are transformed into high-dimensional semantic embeddings using a pre-trained transformer model. These embeddings are then analyzed using an Autoencoder (AE) to identify anomalous and potentially malicious patterns. The proposed method is evaluated using the DARPA Transparent Computing (TC) dataset, which contains realistic APT attack scenarios generated by red teams in live environments. Experimental results show that the AE trained on LLM-derived embeddings outperforms widely used unsupervised baseline methods, including Isolation Forest (IForest), One-Class Support Vector Machine (OC-SVM), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Performance is measured using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC-ROC), where the proposed approach consistently achieves superior results, even in complex threat scenarios. These findings highlight the importance of semantic understanding in detecting non-linear and stealthy attack behaviors that are often missed by conventional detection techniques. △ Less

Submitted 30 January, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Brain Tumor Classification from MRI Scans via Transfer Learning and Enhanced Feature Representation

Authors: Ahta-Shamul Hoque Emran, Hafija Akter, Abdullah Al Shiam, Abu Saleh Musa Miah, Anichur Rahman, Fahmid Al Farid, Hezerul Abdul Karim

Abstract: Brain tumors are abnormal cell growths in the central nervous system (CNS), and their timely detection is critical for improving patient outcomes. This paper proposes an automatic and efficient deep-learning framework for brain tumor detection from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The framework employs a pre-trained ResNet50 model for feature extraction, followed by Global Average Pooling (… ▽ More Brain tumors are abnormal cell growths in the central nervous system (CNS), and their timely detection is critical for improving patient outcomes. This paper proposes an automatic and efficient deep-learning framework for brain tumor detection from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The framework employs a pre-trained ResNet50 model for feature extraction, followed by Global Average Pooling (GAP) and linear projection to obtain compact, high-level image representations. These features are then processed by a novel Dense-Dropout sequence, a core contribution of this work, which enhances non-linear feature learning, reduces overfitting, and improves robustness through diverse feature transformations. Another major contribution is the creation of the Mymensingh Medical College Brain Tumor (MMCBT) dataset, designed to address the lack of reliable brain tumor MRI resources. The dataset comprises MRI scans from 209 subjects (ages 9 to 65), including 3671 tumor and 13273 non-tumor images, all clinically verified under expert supervision. To overcome class imbalance, the tumor class was augmented, resulting in a balanced dataset well-suited for deep learning research. △ Less

Submitted 26 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

An Efficient Deep Learning Framework for Brain Stroke Diagnosis Using Computed Tomography Images

Authors: Md. Sabbir Hossen, Eshat Ahmed Shuvo, Shibbir Ahmed Arif, Pabon Shaha, Anichur Rahman, Md. Saiduzzaman, Fahmid Al Farid, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Abu Saleh Musa Miah

Abstract: Brain stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, underscoring the need for precise and rapid prediction techniques. Computed Tomography (CT) scan is considered one of the most effective methods for diagnosing brain strokes. Most stroke classification techniques use a single slice-level prediction mechanism, requiring radiologists to manually select the most critical… ▽ More Brain stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, underscoring the need for precise and rapid prediction techniques. Computed Tomography (CT) scan is considered one of the most effective methods for diagnosing brain strokes. Most stroke classification techniques use a single slice-level prediction mechanism, requiring radiologists to manually select the most critical CT slice from the original CT volume. Although clinical evaluations are often used in traditional diagnostic procedures, machine learning (ML) has opened up new avenues for improving stroke diagnosis. To supplement traditional diagnostic techniques, this study investigates machine learning models for early brain stroke prediction using CT scan images. This research proposes a novel machine learning approach to brain stroke detection, focusing on optimizing classification performance with pre-trained deep learning models and advanced optimization strategies. Pre-trained models, including DenseNet201, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, ResNet50, and Xception, are used for feature extraction. Feature engineering techniques, including BFO, PCA, and LDA, further enhance model performance. These features are then classified using machine learning algorithms, including SVC, RF, XGB, DT, LR, KNN, and GNB. Our experiments demonstrate that the combination of MobileNetV2, LDA, and SVC achieved the highest classification accuracy of 97.93%, significantly outperforming other model-optimizer-classifier combinations. The results underline the effectiveness of integrating lightweight pre-trained models with robust optimization and classification techniques for brain stroke diagnosis. △ Less

Submitted 18 December, 2025; v1 submitted 4 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: Preprint version. Submitted for peer review

Empowering the Grid: Collaborative Edge Artificial Intelligence for Decentralized Energy Systems

Authors: Eddie de Paula Jr, Niel Bunda, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Nouar AlDahoul, Myles Joshua Toledo Tan

Abstract: This paper examines how decentralized energy systems can be enhanced using collaborative Edge Artificial Intelligence. Decentralized grids use local renewable sources to reduce transmission losses and improve energy security. Edge AI enables real-time, privacy-preserving data processing at the network edge. Techniques such as federated learning and distributed control improve demand response, equi… ▽ More This paper examines how decentralized energy systems can be enhanced using collaborative Edge Artificial Intelligence. Decentralized grids use local renewable sources to reduce transmission losses and improve energy security. Edge AI enables real-time, privacy-preserving data processing at the network edge. Techniques such as federated learning and distributed control improve demand response, equipment maintenance, and energy optimization. The paper discusses key challenges including data privacy, scalability, and interoperability, and suggests solutions such as blockchain integration and adaptive architectures. Examples from virtual power plants and smart grids highlight the potential of these technologies. The paper calls for increased investment, policy support, and collaboration to advance sustainable energy systems. △ Less

Submitted 11 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.

Comments: 16 pages, 1 table

CAGN-GAT Fusion: A Hybrid Contrastive Attentive Graph Neural Network for Network Intrusion Detection

Authors: Md Abrar Jahin, Shahriar Soudeep, Fahmid Al Farid, M. F. Mridha, Raihan Kabir, Md Rashedul Islam, Hezerul Abdul Karim

Abstract: Cybersecurity threats are growing, making network intrusion detection essential. Traditional machine learning models remain effective in resource-limited environments due to their efficiency, requiring fewer parameters and less computational time. However, handling short and highly imbalanced datasets remains challenging. In this study, we propose the fusion of a Contrastive Attentive Graph Networ… ▽ More Cybersecurity threats are growing, making network intrusion detection essential. Traditional machine learning models remain effective in resource-limited environments due to their efficiency, requiring fewer parameters and less computational time. However, handling short and highly imbalanced datasets remains challenging. In this study, we propose the fusion of a Contrastive Attentive Graph Network and Graph Attention Network (CAGN-GAT Fusion) and benchmark it against 15 other models, including both Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and traditional ML models. Our evaluation is conducted on four benchmark datasets (KDD-CUP-1999, NSL-KDD, UNSW-NB15, and CICIDS2017) using a short and proportionally imbalanced dataset with a constant size of 5000 samples to ensure fairness in comparison. Results show that CAGN-GAT Fusion demonstrates stable and competitive accuracy, recall, and F1-score, even though it does not achieve the highest performance in every dataset. Our analysis also highlights the impact of adaptive graph construction techniques, including small changes in connections (edge perturbation) and selective hiding of features (feature masking), improving detection performance. The findings confirm that GNNs, particularly CAGN-GAT Fusion, are robust and computationally efficient, making them well-suited for resource-constrained environments. Future work will explore GraphSAGE layers and multiview graph construction techniques to further enhance adaptability and detection accuracy. △ Less

Submitted 27 April, 2025; v1 submitted 2 March, 2025; originally announced March 2025.

Comments: Accepted in 38th International Conference on Industrial, Engineering & Other Applications of Applied Intelligent Systems (IEA/AIE 2025), Kitakyushu, Japan, Jul 2025

A Conceptual Exploration of Generative AI-Induced Cognitive Dissonance and its Emergence in University-Level Academic Writing

Authors: Carl Errol Seran, Myles Joshua Toledo Tan, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Nouar AlDahoul

Abstract: The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into university-level academic writing presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in relation to cognitive dissonance (CD). This work explores how GenAI serves as both a trigger and amplifier of CD, as students navigate ethical concerns, academic integrity, and self-efficacy in their writing practices. By synthesizing empi… ▽ More The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into university-level academic writing presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in relation to cognitive dissonance (CD). This work explores how GenAI serves as both a trigger and amplifier of CD, as students navigate ethical concerns, academic integrity, and self-efficacy in their writing practices. By synthesizing empirical evidence and theoretical insights, we introduce a hypothetical construct of GenAI-induced CD, illustrating the psychological tension between AI-driven efficiency and the principles of originality, effort, and intellectual ownership. We further discuss strategies to mitigate this dissonance, including reflective pedagogy, AI literacy programs, transparency in GenAI use, and discipline-specific task redesigns. These approaches reinforce critical engagement with AI, fostering a balanced perspective that integrates technological advancements while safeguarding human creativity and learning. Our findings contribute to ongoing discussions on AI in education, self-regulated learning, and ethical AI use, offering a conceptual framework for institutions to develop guidelines that align AI adoption with academic values. △ Less

Submitted 8 February, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Comments: 9 pages, 1 figure

Advancing Vehicle Plate Recognition: Multitasking Visual Language Models with VehiclePaliGemma

Authors: Nouar AlDahoul, Myles Joshua Toledo Tan, Raghava Reddy Tera, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Chee How Lim, Manish Kumar Mishra, Yasir Zaki

Abstract: License plate recognition (LPR) involves automated systems that utilize cameras and computer vision to read vehicle license plates. Such plates collected through LPR can then be compared against databases to identify stolen vehicles, uninsured drivers, crime suspects, and more. The LPR system plays a significant role in saving time for institutions such as the police force. In the past, LPR relied… ▽ More License plate recognition (LPR) involves automated systems that utilize cameras and computer vision to read vehicle license plates. Such plates collected through LPR can then be compared against databases to identify stolen vehicles, uninsured drivers, crime suspects, and more. The LPR system plays a significant role in saving time for institutions such as the police force. In the past, LPR relied heavily on Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which has been widely explored to recognize characters in images. Usually, collected plate images suffer from various limitations, including noise, blurring, weather conditions, and close characters, making the recognition complex. Existing LPR methods still require significant improvement, especially for distorted images. To fill this gap, we propose utilizing visual language models (VLMs) such as OpenAI GPT4o, Google Gemini 1.5, Google PaliGemma (Pathways Language and Image model + Gemma model), Meta Llama 3.2, Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet, LLaVA, NVIDIA VILA, and moondream2 to recognize such unclear plates with close characters. This paper evaluates the VLM's capability to address the aforementioned problems. Additionally, we introduce ``VehiclePaliGemma'', a fine-tuned Open-sourced PaliGemma VLM designed to recognize plates under challenging conditions. We compared our proposed VehiclePaliGemma with state-of-the-art methods and other VLMs using a dataset of Malaysian license plates collected under complex conditions. The results indicate that VehiclePaliGemma achieved superior performance with an accuracy of 87.6\%. Moreover, it is able to predict the car's plate at a speed of 7 frames per second using A100-80GB GPU. Finally, we explored the multitasking capability of VehiclePaliGemma model to accurately identify plates containing multiple cars of various models and colors, with plates positioned and oriented in different directions. △ Less

Submitted 14 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Comments: 33 pages, 9 figures

Can Personalized Medicine Coexist with Health Equity? Examining the Cost Barrier and Ethical Implications

Authors: Kishi Kobe Yee Francisco, Andrane Estelle Carnicer Apuhin, Myles Joshua Toledo Tan, Mickael Cavanaugh Byers, Nicholle Mae Amor Tan Maravilla, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Nouar AlDahoul

Abstract: Personalized medicine (PM) promises to transform healthcare by providing treatments tailored to individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. However, its high costs and infrastructure demands raise concerns about exacerbating health disparities, especially between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While HICs benefit from advanced PM application… ▽ More Personalized medicine (PM) promises to transform healthcare by providing treatments tailored to individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. However, its high costs and infrastructure demands raise concerns about exacerbating health disparities, especially between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While HICs benefit from advanced PM applications through AI and genomics, LMICs often lack the resources necessary to adopt these innovations, leading to a widening healthcare divide. This paper explores the financial and ethical challenges of PM implementation, with a focus on ensuring equitable access. It proposes strategies for global collaboration, infrastructure development, and ethical frameworks to support LMICs in adopting PM, aiming to prevent further disparities in healthcare accessibility and outcomes. △ Less

Submitted 4 November, 2024; originally announced November 2024.

Comments: 30 pages, 1 figure

On the eigenvalues of the fermionic angular eigenfunctions in the Kerr metric

Authors: Davide Batic, Suzan Hamad Abdul Karim, Marek Nowakowski

Abstract: In view of a result recently published in the context of deformation theory of linear Hamiltonian systems, we reconsider the eigenvalue problem associated to the angular equation arising after the separation of the Dirac equation in the Kerr metric and we show how efficiently a quasi-linear first order PDE for the angular eigenvalues can be derived. We also prove that it is not possible to obtain… ▽ More In view of a result recently published in the context of deformation theory of linear Hamiltonian systems, we reconsider the eigenvalue problem associated to the angular equation arising after the separation of the Dirac equation in the Kerr metric and we show how efficiently a quasi-linear first order PDE for the angular eigenvalues can be derived. We also prove that it is not possible to obtain an ordinary differential equation for the eigenvalues where the role of the independent variable is played by the particle energy or the black hole mass. Finally, we construct new perturbative expansions for the eigenvalues in the Kerr case and obtain an asymptotic formula for the eigenvalues in the case of a Kerr naked singularity. △ Less

Submitted 11 August, 2022; originally announced August 2022.

Comments: 11 pages

Journal ref: Entropy 2022, 24(8), 1083

Localization and Classification of Parasitic Eggs in Microscopic Images Using an EfficientDet Detector

Authors: Nouar AlDahoul, Hezerul Abdul Karim, Shaira Limson Kee, Myles Joshua Toledo Tan

Abstract: IPIs caused by protozoan and helminth parasites are among the most common infections in humans in LMICs. They are regarded as a severe public health concern, as they cause a wide array of potentially detrimental health conditions. Researchers have been developing pattern recognition techniques for the automatic identification of parasite eggs in microscopic images. Existing solutions still need im… ▽ More IPIs caused by protozoan and helminth parasites are among the most common infections in humans in LMICs. They are regarded as a severe public health concern, as they cause a wide array of potentially detrimental health conditions. Researchers have been developing pattern recognition techniques for the automatic identification of parasite eggs in microscopic images. Existing solutions still need improvements to reduce diagnostic errors and generate fast, efficient, and accurate results. Our paper addresses this and proposes a multi-modal learning detector to localize parasitic eggs and categorize them into 11 categories. The experiments were conducted on the novel Chula-ParasiteEgg-11 dataset that was used to train both EfficientDet model with EfficientNet-v2 backbone and EfficientNet-B7+SVM. The dataset has 11,000 microscopic training images from 11 categories. Our results show robust performance with an accuracy of 92%, and an F1 score of 93%. Additionally, the IOU distribution illustrates the high localization capability of the detector. △ Less

Submitted 3 August, 2022; originally announced August 2022.

Comments: 6 pages, 7 figures, to be published in IEEE International Conference on Image Processing 2022

ACM Class: I.2.1; I.4.5; I.4.9; I.5.4; J.3