Coursera Certificates 2025-2026

Created on Monday 20 July 2026, Updated on None.

Coursera is a good platform. 

Thanks to HEC, Pakistan for providing opportunity under the DLSEI. 

THE BIG IDEA: A Dataset from Tajrabat-e-Tabeeb

Wednesday 10 June 2026

A Dataset from Tajrabat-e-Tabeeb

The idea to develop a medical database is not new. A dataset acts as as source to train artificial intelligence model. Hakim Mohammed Said Shaheed has written a valuable book titled, Tajrabat-e-Tabeeb, published in 1973. The book contains 145 case studies organized in 9 sections; and 82 records. An early effort was established 02 May 2024 outlined two phases. Phase-1 outcome in the form of dataset. Phase-2 outcome in the form of a collaborative research and development roadmap.

The proposed idea converts the experiential journey as written by Hakim Mohammed Said Shaheed and published by Hamdard Foundation Pakistan; into a form directly useable by the advanced technology, such as, artificial intelligence based approaches and development of cyber-physical systems to assist medical expert.

Status: Submitted

Cryptography: True Randomness and Pseudorandomness

Sunday 24 May 2026

A random number (binary string) is a number drawn (selected) from a set of numbers in an unpredictable, independent manner. So each member of the set has an equal chance of being selected. This means the outcome (selected number) has nothing to do with the past or future selection. In computing, this is true randomness. Pseudorandomness is a number selection from the set of numbers that looks random-like. The application areas include cryptography, computer simulation, gaming, and statistics, to name a few. 

Example: Random string selection from a set of 3-bit binary strings 

Set = {0, 1}^3 = {000, 001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110, 111}

Probability [ each 3-bit binary string ] = 1/8 

Probability distribution = {1/8, 1/8, 1/8, 1/8, 1/8, 1/8, 1/8, 1/8}

Example: Pseudorandom string selection from a set of 3-bit binary strings according to a given selection process Pr [ string ].

Pr [ string ] = ¼, for strings 001, 011, 101, 111

                   = 0,  for strings 000, 010, 100, 110

Probability distribution = {0, 1/4, 0, 1/4, 0, 1/4, 0, 1/4}

Collatz Conjecture or 3n+1 Problem

Saturday 09 May 2026

Well, it is not a solution as the great mathematicians tried! After some rough work and thinking about probabilities in my mind. Calculation of probabilities for even or odd outside the loop and inside the loop reveals a difference of half. If input is even, there are two possibilities inside the loop, whereas for odd input, there is only even output. Considering internal probabilities equally likely, that is, 1/3.  

 

Simulating Randomized IND-CPA (Indistinguishability under Chosen-Plaintext Attack) on ASCON-AEAD 128

28 April 2026

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published NIST SP 800-232 [1] standards for lightweight cryptography for constrained devices in August 2025, based on the Ascon cipher. I am teaching a course on cryptography in the Spring 2026 semester at Hamdard University. With some effort, I simulated the indistinguishability experiment, chosen-plaintext attack [2] on the Ascon-AEAD 123 encryption scheme. The Ascon-AEAD 128 Python code was acquired from [3]. Additionally, a few more resources were explored for learning. 

The methods in the Python module ascon.py included both the encryption and decryption methods: ascon_encrypt and ascon_decrypt. For the simulation, only the ascon_encrypt was required. "Chosen-plaintext attacks capture the ability of an adversary to exercise (partial) control over what the honest parties encrypt." 

The smart adversary has access to the encryption scheme as a black box. A guess to make by the adversary against the challenge ciphertext to succeed with a probability much higher than 1/2.

The results of the experiment show: Pr[Exp = 1] ≤ 0.5 + negligible. In other words, the Ascon-AEAD 128 encryption scheme is CPA-secure.  

Note: Adversary has no choice but to output a guess in response to a challenge!

References:

[1]  Meltem Sönmez Turan, Kerry A. McKay, Donghoon Chang, Jinkeon Kang, John Kelsey (2025) Ascon-Based Lightweight Cryptography Standards for Constrained Devices. (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD), NIST Special Publication (SP) NIST SP 800-232. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-232

[2]  Katz. Introduction to Modern Cryptography, 3rd Ed. 2021

[3]  https://github.com/meichlseder/pyascon.git

15th Meeting of HU ERB

Tuesday 21 April 2026

The 15th meeting of Hamdard University Ethical Review Board was held at Bait al-Hikmah Board Room at 10 AM. I missed the last (14th) meeting as I have to visit Daska, Sialkot due demise of mother (may Allah bless her Janat ul Firdous Ameen). And father (may Allah bless him Janat ul Firdous Ameen) who passed away after a month. 

Orientation Day Spring 2026 Intake DAS

Monday 20 April 2026

The orientation session was held at FEST conference room.