P2P Email Encryption by An Identity-Based One-Way Group Key Agreement Protocol

As a result of high-tech companies such as Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft offering free email services, email has become a primary channel of communication. However, email service providers have traditionally offered little in the way of message privacy protection. This has made emails, of which billions are sent around the world on any day, an attractive data source for personal identity information thieves. Google was one of the first companies to provide substantial email privacy protection when they began using the HTTPS always-on option to encrypt messages sent through their email service, Gmail. Unfortunately, Gmail\u27s encryption option does not offer true point-to-point encryption since the encrypted emails are decrypted and stored in plaintext form on Google\u27s servers. This type of approach poses a security vulnerability which is unacceptable to security-minded users such as highly sensitive government agencies and private companies. For these users, true point-to-point encryption is needed. This paper introduces an identity-based one-way group key agreement protocol and describes a point-to-point email encryption scheme based on the protocol. Both the security proofs and the efficiency analysis, with experimental results, of the new scheme are provided

Drawing out perceptions: Using drawing as a method to understand public perceptions of homelessness and crime

This article considers the ways in which we as a society see victims of crime, particularly those who fall into Miers’ category of ‘delinquent victims’. Focusing on homelessness in the United Kingdom, the article is critical of the ‘victim’ label, which is arguably at odds with real crime victims, yet produces the victims we do see as well as those we do not. While those experiencing homelessness suffer from heightened levels of victimisation, they are also less likely to attain victim status. The following discussion seeks to rationalise this paradox by suggesting that being seen as homeless is somehow incompatible with being seen as a victim. Given the importance of the visual, drawing is employed as a research method to understand public perceptions of homelessness and crime. The resulting visual representations are unanticipated, yet significant, and often omit the crime component entirely, instead focusing on stereotypical representations of homelessness. The article concludes by emphasising the importance of seeing and suggests directions for future research

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV in Irish prisoners, part II: prevalence and risk in committal prisoners 1999.

The results of a census survey of 1205 Irish prisoners, published in August 1999, showed that the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B was 9%, the prevalence of infection with hepatitis C was 37%, and the prevalence of infection with HIV was 2%. The current report presents the results of a survey of committal prisoners. The reason the committal survey was undertaken was to ensure adequate representation of short-term prisoners, and to determine if the prevalence of the infections differed in committal prisoners from that found in 'resident' prisoners. Five of the seven Irish committal prisons were included in the survey. A total of 607 prisoners took part in the survey, a response rate of 96%. The survey consisted of completing a four page questionnaire and collecting a sample of oral fluid for testing for antibodies to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. The fieldwork was carried out between 6th April and 1st May 1999. Overall the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B among committal prisoners was 6%, the prevalence of infection with hepatitis C was 37% and the prevalence of HIV was 2%. Almost one quarter (140/596) of the committal prisoners tested and evidence of at least one of the three infections. Prevalence in women prisoners was significantly higher: 22% for hepatitis B, 56% for hepatitis C, and 10% for HIV. Prevalence was also higher among drug users (18% for hepatitis B, 72% for hepatitis C, and 6% for HIV) and in the Dublin prisons. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that injecting drug use was by far the most important predictor of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection. Female gender was an independent risk factor for all three infections. Reporting treatment for sexually transmitted infection, and increasing time spent in prison, were also associated with higher rates of hepatitis C. Among injecting drug users, sharing needles in prison and high frequencies of injecting in the previous month were linked to increased risk of hepatitis C infection. The prevalence of HIV was higher in those who had spent more than three of the last 10 years in prisons

Situating stigma: an ethnographic exploration of how stigma arises in interactions at different stages of people’s drug use journeys

The association between stigma and drug use has been widely researched. However, to fully understand the nuances of stigma, as experienced by people who use drugs (PWUD), it is argued that we must look at the situations within which stigma is encountered. To obtain an ‘up close’ look at situated stigma, data are drawn from two ethnographic studies—one set in a homeless hostel in the South of England and the other at a substance use service in South Wales. This article explores how PWUD experience and negotiate stigma at different stages of their drug use. We identify three notable themes across these settings. Firstly, ‘othering’ occurs in two distinct ways, by othering the past self or distancing from other PWUDs. Secondly, ‘drug exceptionalism’ is used to justify an individual’s drug use and express frustration at the associations between legality, social harm, and stigma. Finally, in ‘negotiating identities’, individuals present alternate identity roles to either demonstrate clashes in identity or to promote a conventionally positive sense of self. This article contributes to the existing literature on stigma, firstly, by comparing the stigma management strategies of those in active drug use and recovery and, secondly, by using this to highlight the importance of ethnography and situated stigma within this field

Cardiotoxicity Associated with Trastuzumab Therapy in Taiwan: A Single Medical Center's 5-Year Experience

AbstractIntroductionTrastuzumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, targets the external domain of HER2 to improve the efficacy of HER2-positive breast cancer treatment and inhibit carcinoma cellular proliferation. The purpose of this study was to identify early changes in cardiac function and dimensional changes in heart size in patients treated with trastuzumab.Materials and MethodsSeventy three female patients with Her2/neu overexpression (IHC 3+/Fish +) in breast cancer underwent echocardiography before and after trastuzumab therapy.ResultsCardiac complications developed in 14 patients (19.2%), including asymptomatic left ventricle systolic dysfunction (n = 12), symptomatic heart failure (n = 2), new asymptomatic left bundle branch block (n = 1), new negative T waves on electrocardiogram (n = 2), pericardial effusion (n = 1), and death (n = 1). No significant deterioration in diastolic function was noted, and right heart diameters and function did not change significantly. Most patients remained in an asymptomatic stage of cardiac disease. A significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was observed in 14 patients (19.2%), and new mitral regurgitation (≥ grade 1) was noted after 3 months of trastuzumab therapy in 7 patients (9.6%).ConclusionsTrastuzumab led to measurable decreases in LVEF (but only 2.7% was symptomatic heart failure) and new mitral regurgitation. Therefore, regular follow-up with echocardiography is essential for early detection and prevention of trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy

Feasibility and acceptability of web-based enhanced relapse prevention for bipolar disorder (ERPonline):trial protocol

BACKGROUND: Relapse prevention interventions for Bipolar Disorder are effective but implementation in routine clinical services is poor. Web-based approaches offer a way to offer easily accessible access to evidence based interventions at low cost, and have been shown to be effective for other mood disorders. METHODS/DESIGN: This protocol describes the development and feasibility testing of the ERPonline web-based intervention using a single blind randomised controlled trial. Data will include the extent to which the site was used, detailed feedback from users about their experiences of the site, reported benefits and costs to mental health and wellbeing of users, and costs and savings to health services. We will gain an estimate of the likely effect size of ERPonline on a range of important outcomes including mood, functioning, quality of life and recovery. We will explore potential mechanisms of change, giving us a greater understanding of the underlying processes of change, and consequently how the site could be made more effective. We will be able to determine rates of recruitment and retention, and identify what factors could improve these rates. DISCUSSION: The findings will be used to improve the site in accordance with user needs, and inform the design of a large scale evaluation of the clinical and cost effectiveness of ERPonline. They will further contribute to the growing evidence base for web-based interventions designed to support people with mental health problems

“They seem to listen more now I have an advocate”: a study into the implementation of parental advocacy in Wales

Purpose: Parental advocacy is an emerging area of research and policy interest in Wales and across the UK. Although there is little research in the UK context to date, international research has indicated that parental advocacy can improve the relationship between parent and professional in the field of child protection social work. This paper aims to ascertain how the implementation of a parental advocacy programme supports parents to play a meaningful role in decision-making when children’s services are working with them and their families. Design/methodology/approach: This study used interviews, surveys and focus groups to obtain qualitative data from 18 parents, seven parent advocates, two advocacy managers and four social workers, to explore the potential impact of parental advocacy on decision-making. The study identified challenges in implementing parental advocacy, particularly relating to awareness of the service. Participants also discussed experiences of the child protection system and how parents are supported by advocates. Findings: Despite challenges surrounding implementation, initial findings were encouraging, and generated examples of how parental advocacy services have helped parents to understand children’s services and develop relationships of trust with social care professionals. In doing so, this study identified potential mechanisms that may be useful to support future service delivery. Originality/value: This paper and research is novel as it explores parental advocacy within the Welsh context. Although there has been research conducted into parental advocacy, this has largely come from the USA. This research comes from the evaluation of an innovative and promising parental advocacy scheme in Wales