Episode 2 : Information Privacy – Professions of Trust

Privacy isn’t dead. It’s hiring. Part two of our conversation with Trevor Hughes explores the new-era professions that are emerging as a result of the digital revolution. Hughes explores the parallels between the American Industrial Revolution and the digital revolution as well as the cross-disciplinary, entrepreneurial skill sets needed to help guide privacy professionals through this unprecedented era of change

The Promise and Shortcomings of Privacy Multistakeholder Policymaking: A Case Study

With formal privacy policymaking processes mired in discord, governments and regulators in the United States and Europe have turned to the private sector seeking assistance and solutions. Multistakeholder-driven self-regulation and co-regulation have been pursued in a variety of contexts ranging from online privacy and transparency for mobile applications to protection of transborder data flows. This article focuses on one such process, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) discussion of a Do Not Track (DNT) standard, as a case study. It critically analyzes the procedural pitfalls, which hampered the quest to reach a compromise solution acceptable by groups with diametrically opposed interests, including industry players, government regulators, and privacy advocates. It is based on a series of interviews that the Authors conducted with participants in the process, including leading industry, civil society, and the government players. Proponents of multistakeholder processes, including the U.S. government, suggests that this mode of policymaking benefits from important advantages, including an opportunity to coopt industry experts, move swiftly to conclusion, and garner industry support. The reality, however, is that the W3C process featured few of these benefits. It was protracted, rife with hardball rhetoric and combat tactics, based on inconsistent factual claims, and under constant threat of becoming practically irrelevant due to lack of industry buy-in. Perhaps this should not be surprising. The way DNT has been framed—as a veritable “on/off” switch for an entire industry—inevitably raised the stakes for a common accord. Indeed, DNT crystalizes a deep ideological divide about right and wrong in online behavior, with one side arguing that merely collecting users’ information is wrong, and the other side claiming a right—in fact a business imperative—to use such information for multiple goals. Add to that a healthy portion of competitive maneuvering within the industry, and you get a combustive mix

Cache County Water Demand/Supply Model

This report descibes a municipal water demand forecasting model for use in areas of mixed rural and urban housing types. A series of residential demand functions were derived which forecast water demand based on the ype and density of housing and season. Micro sampling techniques were used to correlate water use data and explanatory variable data for low, medium, and high density housing. The demand functions were incorporated into a geographic information system (GIS) platform cosisting of a desk-top mapping program, MapInfo, coupled with a user interface program written in Visual Basic. The GIS-based model analyzes water demand at the census block level and aggregates the block level demands to a total city residential water demand. Averaged values of explanatory variables for each block are derived using the spacial relations of the block to map objects which have as attributes the various explanatory variable data. The model was applied to each of 23 community water systems in Cache County, Utah. The model projects future demands to the year 2020 based upon the individual community growth rate estimates produced by the Utah state demographers. In addition to projecting future demands, the model includes a supply allocation module which matches each systme\u27s demand with individual water supply sources

Mixed Integer Programming Models for Water Resources Management

A regional water quality control model is developed by linking a steady-state water quality simulation model with an optimization model. The water quality simulation model can be applied to complex river systems with both point and nonpoint loads using multiple interdependent pollution parameters described by either linear or nonlinear equations. Twelve water quality parameters can be modeled simultaneously: four non conservative constituents (or conservative constituents if the decay rate is set equal to zero); coliform bacteria (MPN); phosphorus; biochemical oxygen demand (BOD); ammonia (NH3); nitrate (NO3); dissolved oxygen (DO); temperature (°C); and algae. The water quality model is used to generate constraint equation for the optimization model. The optimization model is formulated as an integer programming problem in which the integer decision variables are wastewater treatment levels or diffuse source management practices to be determined for each load. The model considers the addition or upgrading of wastewater treatment with structural and nonstructural schemes for both point and diffuse pollution sources. A least cost solution is found subject to water quality standards at surveillance points. Additional constraints can include uniform and zoned uniform treatment. Low flow augmentation and bypass piping can be considered with slight water quality simulation model modification. A simulation model-optimization model iteration procedure is used to find an optimum solution. The regional water quality model is applied to two problems, a hypothetical problem and the Jordan River in Utah. The hypothetical consists of four pollution discharge points, at which seven possible treatment levels are available for six quality constituents: phosphorus; biochemical oxygen demands; ammonia; nitrate; dissolved oxygen; and algae. Water quality standards for three constituents are imposed at five surveillance points along the river. The portion of the Jordan River examined consists of seven pollution discharge points, at which seven treatment levels are available for the same six quality constituents as in the hypothetical problem. Water quality standards for two constituents are imposed at three surveillance points. The cost minimization problem for the Jordan River (1975 flows) required tertiary sand filters at all point loads at an increase from current costs of $1,75,881 per year to meet stream water quality standards. To assist in gaining familiarity with the linked simulation optimization model, several sensitivity studies are performed. The sensitivity of the optimal solution to two model input parameters is investigated. These parameters are the water quality equation coefficients and the water quality stream standards. Substantial reductions in treatment costs were possible by making minor changes in some of the input parameters. In the hypothetical problem, 10 percent increase in the ammonia decay rate or a 15 percent increase in the maximum specific algae growth rate would result in a 16 percent reduction in the minimum system treatment cost. A 10 percent relaxation of the stream standards at all surveillance points would result in a 54 percent reduction in the minimum system treatment costs. The optimal solution’s sensitivity to changes in headwater and point discharge flow is also investigated. The optimal treatment scheme for the projected 1995 flows in the Jordan River was the same as for the 1975 flows. The increase from current costs for the 1995 flows was$2,407,092 per year

Municipal Water Resources Analysis for Area Potentially Impacted by MX Missile Complex in Utah

Scope of Report: This report analyzes the impact of the proposed MX Missile complex upon existing municipal water supply and waste treatment systems serving selected communitites either near the perimeter or within the Utah portion of the proposed MX complex boundary. As can be seen from the location map in Figure 1, possible sites for elements within the total MX missile complex have been identified in 14 Utah desert valleys in the five counties, from north to south, of Tooele, Juab, Millard, Beaver, and Iron. The 60,000 people, who live in these counties according to the 1975 census, are largely located in their eastern ends of the base of a series of mountain ranges with numerous peaks over 10,000 feet. Sites closer to these mountains have a more dependable and higher quality water supply from the snowpack runoff. Surface runoff evaporates or infiltrates underground and waters generally become more saline as one moves further west into the desert. The desert ranges, separting the 14 valleys, are lowever, generate much less runoff, and streams flow only for short periods, during spring snowmelt or summer thunderstorm, to recharge aquifers along the basin margins. Interstate 15, the main highway from Salt Lake to Las Vegas, passes through the towns of Nephi, Fillmore, Beaver, Parowan, and Cedar City and the best farming country in the region along the base of the mountain ranges at the eastern edge of these counties. About 20 miles further west, the Union Pacific Railroad corridor passes through the towns of Delta and Milford and several small villages of population less than 50 as it roughly demarcates the farming country to the east from the desert valleys being considered as MX missile sites further west. The 100-mile wide strip between the Union Pacific Corridor and the Nevada border is extremely sparsely inhabited with the largest single community begin the 60 people who live at Garrison. Generally, nature provides more water on the basin margins along the eastern sides of these five counties. However, because the water is more readily available and easier to develop there, almost all available supplies are fully appropriated and new users can only obtain water by purchasing prior rights. Further west, surface water (and therefore early development) has been very limited, and significant amounts of groundwater remain upappropriated. Much would have to be pumped from deeper aquifers. The specific communities assigned for analysis of their water supply and wastewater treatment systems in this study are Delta, Milford and Cedar City plus an overview of impact upon the water supply situation in the smaller communities of Hinckley, Deseret, Oasis (all a few miles southwest of Delta) and Garrison, near the Utah-Nevada border. The locations of these cities and villages in relation to the potential MX storage sites are shown in Figure 1. The report begins by presenting the pertinent hydrologic information, particularly groundwater hydrology, for areas immediately adjacent to the communities of interest. The hydrology of the other valleys where the MX sites are contemplated is not within the scope of this report. The second major section of the report is a description of the existing municipal water systems for these seven communities, their current water requirements, their capacity without any expansion, and, finally, and assessment of the expansion in water rights and various components of each system which would be required to serve an assumed MX related growth scenario in each region. The final section is a similar analysis of existing wasteawter collection and treatment facilities and of how they would be affected by the growth scenarios. In addition to possible MX related growth, the Delta area is also facing probable construction of a very large coal-fired power generating complex known as the Intermountain Power Project (IPP). The water and wastewater demand projections are based upon the assumed normal growth without MX (including the proposed Intermountain Power Project (IPP) impact in the Delta area) plus MX related growth. The MX-related population gorwth projected for Utah amounts to a population increase of 30,000 (employees, dependents and indirect) by 1987 at the peak of MX consturction. The population increase would assume to be distributed by community as follows

Safety and immunogenicity of H1/IC31®, an adjuvanted TB subunit vaccine, in HIV-infected adults with CD4+ lymphocyte counts greater than 350 cells/mm3: a phase II, multi-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Novel tuberculosis vaccines should be safe, immunogenic, and effective in various population groups, including HIV-infected individuals. In this phase II multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the safety and immunogenicity of the novel H1/IC31 vaccine, a fusion protein of Ag85B-ESAT-6 (H1) formulated with the adjuvant IC31, was evaluated in HIV-infected adults. METHODS: HIV-infected adults with CD4+ T cell counts >350/mm3 and without evidence of active tuberculosis were enrolled and followed until day 182. H1/IC31 vaccine or placebo was randomly allocated in a 5:1 ratio. The vaccine was administered intramuscularly at day 0 and 56. Safety assessment was based on medical history, clinical examinations, and blood and urine testing. Immunogenicity was determined by a short-term whole blood intracellular cytokine staining assay. RESULTS: 47 of the 48 randomised participants completed both vaccinations. In total, 459 mild or moderate and 2 severe adverse events were reported. There were three serious adverse events in two vaccinees classified as not related to the investigational product. Local injection site reactions were more common in H1/IC31 versus placebo recipients (65.0% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.015). Solicited systemic and unsolicited adverse events were similar by study arm. The baseline CD4+ T cell count and HIV viral load were similar by study arm and remained constant over time. The H1/IC31 vaccine induced a persistent Th1-immune response with predominately TNF-α and IL-2 co-expressing CD4+ T cells, as well as polyfunctional IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 expressing CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSION: H1/IC31 was well tolerated and safe in HIV-infected adults with a CD4+ Lymphocyte count greater than 350 cells/mm3. The vaccine did not have an effect on CD4+ T cell count or HIV-1 viral load. H1/IC31 induced a specific and durable Th1 immune response. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR201105000289276

Impaired myocardial function does not explain reduced left ventricular filling and stroke volume at rest or during exercise at high altitude

Impaired myocardial systolic contraction and diastolic relaxation have been suggested as possible mechanisms contributing to the decreased stroke volume (SV) observed at high altitude (HA). To determine whether intrinsic myocardial performance is a limiting factor in the generation of SV at HA, we assessed left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic mechanics and volumes in 10 healthy participants (aged 32 ± 7; mean ± SD) at rest and during exercise at sea level (SL; 344 m) and after 10 days at 5,050 m. In contrast to SL, LV end-diastolic volume was ∼19% lower at rest (P = 0.004) and did not increase during exercise despite a greater untwisting velocity. Furthermore, resting SV was lower at HA (∼17%; 60 ± 10 vs. 70 ± 8 ml) despite higher LV twist (43%), apical rotation (115%), and circumferential strain (17%). With exercise at HA, the increase in SV was limited (12 vs. 22 ml at SL), and LV apical rotation failed to augment. For the first time, we have demonstrated that EDV does not increase upon exercise at high altitude despite enhanced in vivo diastolic relaxation. The increase in LV mechanics at rest may represent a mechanism by which SV is defended in the presence of a reduced EDV. However, likely because of the higher LV mechanics at rest, no further increase was observed up to 50% peak power. Consequently, although hypoxia does not suppress systolic function per se, the capacity to increase SV through greater deformation during submaximal exercise at HA is restricted. during initial exposure to hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude (HA), cardiac output for a given absolute workload is increased to compensate for a lower arterial oxygen content before returning to baseline levels with acclimatization (8). However, after 2-5 days of acclimatization, the required cardiac output is generated through a lower stroke volume (SV) and higher heart rate (38). The reduced SV is suggestive of either lower ventricular filling, potentially caused in part by an impaired myocardial relaxation, or impaired ejection secondary to systolic contractile dysfunction. There is, however, a paucity of data in humans supporting a direct effect of hypoxia on myocardial function at HA (25, 41). The suggestion that hypoxia may impair myocardial systolic function during exercise was proposed nearly 50 years ago (3) and has been revisited more recently (27–29). Negative inotropic effects of hypoxia (arterial oxygen tension of 44 mmHg) have been shown in intact animal models (39) and isolated myocardial fibers under severe hypoxia (1% O2) (33). Exercise training under hypobaric hypoxia is also associated with altered mechanical properties at a cellular level in rodents (9), although chronic hypoxia alone did not decrease myofilament sensitivity to calcium. However, in contrast to animal studies, data in humans indicate that systolic function is maintained or enhanced at HA. For example, Suarez et al. (37) reported the maintenance of systolic function after gradual decompression to a barometric pressure of 282 mmHg, a finding that was subsequently confirmed by numerous investigations during acute and prolonged hypoxic exposure (6, 10, 12, 23, 31). However, of these studies, only Suarez et al. (37) investigated systolic function during light exercise (60 W), where function appeared to be maintained. It is not known whether systolic function is maintained at higher exercise intensities. It has also been speculated that reduced oxygen availability may impair diastolic relaxation at HA (15, 18) and thus explain the decreased left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (EDV) commonly observed (2, 6, 18). However, despite numerous studies reporting a decrease in plasma volume and altered transmitral filling patterns (2, 6, 20), myocardial relaxation was only previously investigated during hypoxia in dogs (15), and no data exist examining LV relaxation during exercise at high altitude. By using sensitive, noninvasive imaging techniques (two-dimensional speckle tracking), it is now possible to examine the LV deformation mechanics (strain, twist, and untwist velocity) that underpin LV systolic and diastolic function. LV strain and twist have been shown to be sensitive measures of global and regional myocardial function, and reveal subclinical dysfunction in patients where ejection fraction is unchanged (16, 22). In addition, diastolic LV untwist velocity correlates well with invasive measures of LV stiffness and provides a temporal link between relaxation and the development of intraventricular pressure gradients (30, 43). Therefore, examination of LV mechanics at HA may determine whether the decreased SV observed at HA is dependent on impaired myocardial relaxation and/or myocardial contractile dysfunction or confirm previous findings of preserved ventricular function during exercise (37). We therefore assessed systolic and diastolic ventricular mechanics during incremental exercise at sea level and HA to examine whether impaired myocardial relaxation or systolic dysfunction explains the previously reported reduction in SV at HA. We hypothesized that at HA, 1) ventricular filling would be lower at rest and during exercise and would be accompanied by a reduction in untwist velocity and 2) systolic mechanics would be impaired during exercise at HA

Capability of Integer Programming Algorithms in Solving Water Resource Planning Problems

The feasibility of optimizing large regional water resource planning problems by means of integer programming algorithms is analyzed. Two types of integer programming models are developed: (1) A water supply model including 23 separate but geographically related community systems; and (2) a river basin water quality model including 15 point sources of wastewater, 4 types of pollutants, 6 surveillance points, and 7 alternative treatment processes. The water supply model was structured as a mixed integer problem (some continuous variables included) while the water quality model was an all integer problem. Four integer programming algorithms were tested on the sample problems as follows: (1) MXINT – The Burroughs B6700 TEMPO package algorithm; (2) FMPS-MIP – The UNIVAC 1108 MPS package algorithm; (3) GMINT – A proprietary algorithm authored by A. M. Geoggrion and R.D. McBride; and ($) AIP – A 0,1 algorithm which uses the Balas additive concept. Several versions (sizes) of both problems were successfully solved by one or more of the algorithms with computational efforts ranging from less than 1 to more than 40 minutes of CPU time