Privacy in digital age: dead or alive?! Regarding the new EU data protection regulations

Purpose – To review and critically discuss the current state of privacy in the context of constant technological changes and to emphasize the pace of technological advancements and developments reached over the time when the last EU data protection laws came into effect. These facts inevitably affect the perception of privacy and raise the question of whether privacy is dead or takes the last breath in the digital age? This paper is an attempt to address this question. Design/Methodology/Approach – Based on the comparison and systematic analysis of scientific literature, the authors discuss problematic issues related to privacy and data protection in the technology era – where these issues are too complicated to be clearly regulated by laws and rules since “laws move as a function of years and technology moves as a function of months” (Ron Rivest). Therefore, this analytical approach towards the issue may help to facilitate reaching the best-fit decision in this area. Findings – The authors emphasize the change of perception of privacy, which originated and grew on the idea of “an integral part of our humanity”, the “heart of our liberty” and “the beginning of all freedoms” (Solove, 2008), leading to the recently raised idea that privacy is severely hanging with threat. The authors are of the opinion that legislation and regulation may be one of the best and effective techniques for protecting privacy in the twenty-first century, but it is not currently adequate (Wacks, 2012). One of the solutions lies in technology design. Research limitations/implications – The aspects of privacy and data protection in the European Union have been widely discussed recently because of their broad applicability. Therefore, it is hardly possible to review and cover all the important aspects of the issue. This article focuses on the roles of technology and legislation in securing privacy. The authors examine and provide their own views based on the critical analysis of the outstanding scientific material. Practical implications – The authors highlight the ongoing change of perception of privacy. If regulation is left behind the development of technology, privacy will hardly stay alive. On the other hand, if legislation is applied on an ex-ante basis, technological development will depend on the legislators. The balance of both may be the golden means and it basically depends on the coordinated behavior of all the stakeholders. Value – The article emphasizes that the rising role of sharp development of technology by itself does not violate privacy. It is the people using this technology and the policies they carry out that create violations (Garfinkel, 2000). In fact, threats, in the first instance, are the consequences of human behavior. In other words, technology can be a significant factor of violating or demolishing privacy, however, it may also be the major method of protecting it. The balance of both may be the key means

Study the Relation between Banking System Concentration and Unemployment-Rate in Iran

In this study, we investigated the relation between banking system concentration and unemployment-rate in Iran. Research aims included identifying effect of internal factors of banks on employment and also recognition of effect of bank internal factors on unemployment rate. In this study, dependent variable is unemployment rate (UIR) and independent variables are: bank concentration (BC), total size of bank (BS), credit risk (CR), liquidity risk (LR), and inflation control variable (ICV). Statistical population includes all banks of Iran. In order to study co-integration of variables, auto regression distributed lag method was used. And then research variables were investigated with taking hydro statistic and structural break into account. And they are tested by hydro statistic test. Some of them were in static level. And some of them became static by differentiation. In investigation of research hypothesis, short term, and long term relations for research models were met. Results indicated that banking concentration and unemployment have negative relation. In other word, by increase of banking concentration, and by increase of bank size, unemployment rate is decreased. Internal factors of banks have negative relation with unemployment rate while with increase of size sector bank, unemployment rate is decreased. Credit rate has positive relation so with increase of credit rate, unemployment rate is increased. Liquidity rate have negative relation with unemployment so with increase of credit rate, unemployment rate is increased. Liquidity rate has negative relation with unemployment so by increase of Liquidity rate, unemployment rate is increased so relation of inflation variable with unemployment rate is positive. Keywords: unemployment rate, banking concentration, credit rate, Liquidity rate, inflation JEL Classifications: E5, E31, J6

Kidney tertiary lymphoid structures in Lupus Nephritis develop into large interconnected networks and resemble lymph nodes in gene signature

Immune aggregates organized as tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are observed within the kidneys of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis (LN). Renal TLS was characterized in lupus-prone New Zealand black × New Zealand white F1 mice analyzing cell composition and vessel formation. RNA sequencing was performed on transcriptomes isolated from lymph nodes, macrodissected TLS from kidneys, and total kidneys of mice at different disease stages by using a personal genome machine and RNA sequencing. Formation of TLS was found in anti–double-stranded DNA antibody–positive mice, and the structures were organized as interconnected large networks with distinct T/B cell zones with adjacent dendritic cells, macrophages, plasma cells, high endothelial venules, supporting follicular dendritic cells network, and functional germinal centers. Comparison of gene profiles of whole kidney, renal TLS, and lymph nodes revealed a similar gene signature of TLS and lymph nodes. The up-regulated genes within the kidneys of lupus-prone mice during LN development reflected TLS formation, whereas the down-regulated genes were involved in metabolic processes of the kidney cells. A comparison with human LN gene expression revealed similar up-regulated genes as observed during the development of murine LN and TLS. In conclusion, kidney TLS have a similar cell composition, structure, and gene signature as lymph nodes and therefore may function as a kidney-specific type of lymph node

One pot electrochemical synthesis of poly(melamine) entrapped gold nanoparticles composite for sensitive and low level detection of catechol

A simple and cost effective synthesis of nanomaterials with advanced physical and chemical properties have received much attention to the researchers, and is of interest to the researchers from different disciplines. In the present work, we report a simple and one pot electrochemical synthesis of poly(melamine) entrapped gold nanoparticles (PM-AuNPs) composite. The PM-AuNPs composite was prepared by a single step electrochemical method, wherein the AuNPs and PM were simultaneously fabricated on the electrode surface. The as-prepared materials were characterized by various physicochemical methods. The PM-AuNPs composite modified electrode was used as an electrocatalyst for oxidation of catechol (CC) due to its well-defined redox behavior and enhanced electro-oxidation ability towards CC than other modified electrodes. Under optimized conditions, the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for the determination of CC. The DPV response of CC was linear over the concentration ranging from 0.5 to 175.5 μM with a detection limit of 0.011 μM. The PM-AuNPs composite modified electrode exhibits the high selectivity in the presence of range of potentially interfering compounds including dihydroxybenzene isomers. The sensor shows excellent practicality in CC containing water samples, which reveals the potential ability of PM-AuNPs composite modified electrode towards the determination of CC in real samples

Voltammetric determination of catechol based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite consisting of graphene oxide and polymelamine

The authors describe an voltammetric catechol (CC) assay based on the use of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a composite consisting of graphene oxide and polymelamine (GO/PM). The modified GCE was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy and FTIR. Cyclic voltammetry reveals a well-defined response to CC, with an oxidation peak current that is distinctly enhanced compared to electrodes modified with GO or PM only. The combined synergetic activity of GO and PM in the composite also results in a lower oxidation potential. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) shows a response that is linear in the 0.03 to 138 μM CC concentration range. The detection limit is 8 nM, and the sensitivity is 0.537 μA⋅μM−1 ⋅cm−2 . The sensor is selective for CC even in the presence of potentially interfering compounds including hydroquinone, resorcinol and dopamine. The modified GCE is highly reproducible, stable, sensitive, and shows an excellent practicability for detection of CC in water samples

Tertiary Lymphoid Structures:Autoimmunity Goes Local

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are frequently observed in target organs of autoimmune diseases. TLS present features of secondary lymphoid organs such as segregated T and B cell zones, presence of follicular dendritic cell networks, high endothelial venules and specialized lymphoid fibroblasts and display the mechanisms to support local adaptive immune responses toward locally displayed antigens. TLS detection in the tissue is often associated with poor prognosis of disease, auto-antibody production and malignancy development. This review focuses on the contribution of TLS toward the persistence of the inflammatory drive, the survival of autoreactive lymphocyte clones and post-translational modifications, responsible for the pathogenicity of locally formed autoantibodies, during autoimmune disease development

Validity of Choice of Law and Jurisdiction Clauses in Consumer Cloud Contracts under European Law

While standard form contracts provide a convenient and economical way for a consumer to purchase a cloud services, they facilitate the incorporation of unfair contract terms. Typically, contracts between CSPs and cloud consumers are not subject to effective negotiation. In such contracts, which are prepared by the CSPs in advance, CSPs have all the bargaining power and the consumer has no effective opportunity to negotiate the terms. One of those terms that is included in a cloud contract, is the choice of law and jurisdiction clause. This clause puts the consumer at a disadvantage and discourages him from suing by being compelled to bring his action before the courts in which the CSP has its principle place of business. Therefore, this term might be unfair, for the purposes of the unfair terms regime, as it deters consumers from assertingtheir rights. Also, including such clauses in a cloud contract is contrary to the mandatory rules in the Brussels I and Rome I Regulations that restrict the parties freedom to choose the competent court and the applicable law in consumer contracts. Hence, the present thesis is an attempt to address the aforementioned problem

Privacy in Digital Age: Dead or Alive?! Regarding the New EU Data Protection Regulations

Purpose – To review and critically discuss the current state of privacy in the context of constant technological changes and to emphasize the pace of technological advancements and developments reached over the time when the last EU data protection laws came into effect. These facts inevitably affect the perception of privacy and raise the question of whether privacy is dead or takes the last breath in the digital age? This paper is an attempt to address this question.Design/Methodology/Approach – Based on the comparison and systematic analysis of scientific literature, the authors discuss problematic issues related to privacy and data protection in the technology era – where these issues are too complicated to be clearly regulated by laws and rules since “laws move as a function of years and technology moves as a function of months” (Ron Rivest). Therefore, this analytical approach towards the issue may help to facilitate reaching the best-fit decision in this area.Findings – The authors emphasize the change of perception of privacy, which originated and grew on the idea of “an integral part of our humanity”, the “heart of our liberty” and “the beginning of all freedoms” (Solove, 2008), leading to the recently raised idea that privacy is severely hanging with threat. The authors are of the opinion that legislation and regulation may be one of the best and effective techniques for protecting privacy in the twenty-first century, but it is not currently adequate (Wacks, 2012). One of the solutions lies in technology design.Research limitations/implications – The aspects of privacy and data protection in the European Union have been widely discussed recently because of their broad applicability. Therefore, it is hardly possible to review and cover all the important aspects of the issue. This article focuses on the roles of technology and legislation in securing privacy. The authors examine and provide their own views based on the critical analysis of the outstanding scientific material.Practical implications – The authors highlight the ongoing change of perception of privacy. If regulation is left behind the development of technology, privacy will hardly stay alive. On the other hand, if legislation is applied on an ex-ante basis, technological development will depend on the legislators. The balance of both may be the golden means and it basically depends on the coordinated behavior of all the stakeholders.Value – The article emphasizes that the rising role of sharp development of technology by itself does not violate privacy. It is the people using this technology and the policies they carry out that create violations (Garfinkel, 2000). In fact, threats, in the first instance, are the consequences of human behavior. In other words, technology can be a significant factor of violating or demolishing privacy, however, it may also be the major method of protecting it. The balance of both may be the key means.Research type – general review

Investigation of the Interaction of Sertraline with Calf Thymus DNA by Spectroscopic Methods

The interaction of the antidepressant drug, sertraline, with calf thymus double stranded DNA (dsDNA) in physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was investigated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), viscosity measurements and DNA melting studies. The absorption spectra of the drug with DNA showed a hyperchromic effect. Using Hoechst reagent as a fluorescence probe, quenching of the emission peak occurred in the DNA-Hoechst mixture when sertraline was added. The FTIR spectra revealed minor groove binding mode between the drug and the dsDNA. The binding constant of sertraline to DNA was calculated using spectroscopic data. The calculated thermodynamic parameters suggested that electrostatic interactions are important forces in the formation of sertraline-DNA complex

Investigation on TiO2 nanophotocatalysts performance in simultaneous removal of hiumic acid and biological contaminants (E.Coli) from contaminated water under UV light irradiation

Contamination of drinking water by organic materials (humic acid) and biological contamination (E.coli) even in small amounts during the water disinfection process by chlorine cause to the formation of disinfection by-products those impacts on human and other creatures’ health. In this study the ability of TiO2 to remove humic acid and E.coli from contaminated water was investigated. At first, using scanning electron microscopy (TEM) and XRD, the properties of TiO2 nanoparticles were determined. The samples of water containing different amount of humic acid and E.coli and TiO2 were inserted in photoreactor under UV (30W) irradiation. The effect of operational parameters including light intensity, TiO2 dosage and time was investigated. The results of experiments were revealed that under suitable conditions ([TiO2]= 245 mg/L, light intensity= 140 W/m2 and time=85 min) more than 94% of absorption in 254 nm and 70% total organic carbon were removed. Also, the photocatalytic process caused to inactivate the E.Coli, effectively