This article examines the problem of estimating the states of Markovian jumping competitive neural networks, where the estimation is done using stochastic sampled-data control with time-varying delay. Instead of continuously measuring the states, the network relies on sampled measurements, and a sampled-data estimator is proposed. The estimator uses probabilistic sampling during two sampling periods, following a Bernoulli distribution. The article also takes into account the possibility of actuator failure in real systems. To ensure the exponentially mean-square stability of the delayed neural networks, the article constructs a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) that includes information about the bounds of the delay. The sufficient conditions for stability are derived in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by employing modified free matrix-based integral inequalities. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The on-line signature is a biometric attribute which can be used for identity verification. It is a very useful characteristic because it is commonly accepted in societies across the world. However, the verification process using this particular biometric feature is a rather difficult one. Researchers working on identity verification involving the on-line signature might face various problems, including the different discriminative power of signature descriptors, the problem of a large number of descriptors, the problem of descriptor generation, etc. However, population-based algorithms (PBAs) can prove very useful when resolving these problems. Hence, we propose a new method for on-line signature partitioning using a PBA in order to improve the verification process effectiveness. Our method uses the Differential Evolution algorithm with a properly defined evaluation function for creating the most characteristic partitions of the dynamic signature. We present simulation results of the proposed method for the BioSecure DS2 database distributed by the BioSecure Association.

The article “Attitudes of Catholic clergies to the application of ChatGPT in unite religious communities” investigates the perspectives of the Catholic clergy on the integration of ChatGPT technology in religious environments. Bearing in mind that communication technologies are becoming an integral part of every aspect of life, including religious practices, the study delves into the potential, advantages, and challenges associated with using ChatGPT to support religious discourse. Adopting a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven Polish priests, addressing the diversity within the group. The respondents, who play important roles in organising the life of Catholic religious communities, highlighted ChatGPT’s potential in enhancing the dissemination of information, educational initiatives, and pastoral care. However, they also expressed concerns about the technology’s impact on genuine human interactions and the preservation of religious practices.

In biometrics, methods which are able to precisely adapt to the biometric features of users are much sought after. They use various methods of artificial intelligence, in particular methods from the group of soft computing. In this paper, we focus on on-line signature verification. Such signatures are complex objects described not only by the shape but also by the dynamics of the signing process. In standard devices used for signature acquisition (with an LCD touch screen) this dynamics may include pen velocity, but sometimes other types of signals are also available, e.g. pen pressure on the screen surface (e.g. in graphic tablets), the angle between the pen and the screen surface, etc. The precision of the on-line signature dynamics processing has been a motivational springboard for developing methods that use signature partitioning. Partitioning uses a well-known principle of decomposing the problem into smaller ones. In this paper, we propose a new partitioning algorithm that uses capabilities of the algorithms based on populations and fuzzy systems. Evolutionary-fuzzy partitioning eliminates the need to average dynamic waveforms in created partitions because it replaces them. Evolutionary separation of partitions results in a better matching of partitions with reference signatures, eliminates disproportions between the number of points describing dynamics in partitions, eliminates the impact of random values, separates partitions related to the signing stage and its dynamics (e.g. high and low velocity of signing, where high and low are imprecise-fuzzy concepts). The operation of the presented algorithm has been tested using the well-known BioSecure DS2 database of real dynamic signatures.

In the verification of identity, the aim is to increase effectiveness and reduce involvement of verified users. A good compromise between these issues is ensured by dynamic signature verification. The dynamic signature is represented by signals describing the position of the stylus in time. They can be used to determine the velocity or acceleration signal. Values of these signals can be analyzed, interpreted, selected, and compared. In this paper, we propose an approach that: (a) uses an evolutionary algorithm to create signature partitions in the time and velocity domains; (b) selects the most characteristic partitions in terms of matching with reference signatures; and (c) works individually for each user, eliminating the need of using skilled forgeries. The proposed approach was tested using Biosecure DS2 database which is a part of the DeepSignDB, a database with genuine dynamic signatures. Our simulations confirmed the correctness of the adopted assumptions.