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

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

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

Preparation of polyurethane nanofibers containing cefixime trihydrate: in vitro release kinetic studies

In this study, polyurethane nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning process. An Antibiotic drug, Cefixime trihydrate, was loaded on polyurethane nanofibers. The physical condition and interaction of drug within these nanofibers were studied by FT-IR and SEM. In vitro release studies showed a burst release at the initial stage followed by a sustained release of Cefixime from this system up to 70 h. This burst release can be favorable to reduce the associated surgical site infections, since most of the bacteria are introduced to the surgical site at the time of surgery or in the immediate after the surgery, zero order, first order, Higuchi, Korsmeyere - Peppas equation were utilized to characterize the system

An amplified electrochemical sensor employing a polymeric film and graphene quantum dots/multiwall carbon nanotubes in a deep eutectic solvent for sensitive analysis of paracetamol and 4-aminophenol

Herein, a nanocomposite consisting of graphene quantum dots, a deep eutectic solvent and carboxyl functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (GQDs + DES + MWCNTs-COOH) was prepared. After electropolymerization of l-arginine on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with the GQDs + DES + MWCNTs-COOH nanocomposite, an electrochemical sensor was fabricated. The morphology of the GQDs + DES + MWCNTs-COOH/PARG surface was characterized via field emission electron microscopy. The sensor allowed excellent performance to be obtained for the analytical monitoring of paracetamol and its metabolite 4-aminophenol. Under the optimal conditions, the prepared electrochemical sensor exhibited wide linear dynamic ranges from 0.030 to 110 μmol L-1 and 0.050 to 100 μmol L-1 for paracetamol and 4-aminophenol, respectively. Moreover, the detection limits were 0.010 μmol L-1 and 0.017 μmol L-1, for paracetamol and 4-aminophenol, respectively. The practical applicability of the constructed sensor was explored by the determination of both compounds in human fluid samples and acceptable results were obtained

Removal of Organic Dyes from Industrial Wastewaters Using UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/Fe (II), UV/H2O2/Fe (III) Processes

UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/Fe (II) and UV/H2O2/Fe (III) processes are very effective in removing pollutants from wastewater and can be used for treatment of dyestuff units wastewaters. In this study, Rhodamine B was used as a typical organic dye. Rhodamine B has found wide applications in wax, leather, and paper industries. The results from this study showed that this dye was degradable in the presence of hydrogen peroxide under UV-C irradiation (30W mercury light) and Photo-Fenton process. The dye was resistant to UV irradiation. In the absence of UV irradiation, the decolorization efficiency was very negligible in the presence of hydrogen. The effects of different system variables such as initial dye concentration, duration of UV irradiation, and initial hydrogen peroxide concentration were investigated in the UV/H2O2 process. Investigation of the kinetics of the UV/H2O2 process showed that the semi-log plot of the dye concentration versus time was linear, suggesting a first order reaction. It was found that Rhodamine B decolorization efficiencies in the UV/H2O2/Fe (II) and UV/H2O2/Fe (III) processes were higher than that in the UV/H2O2 process. Furthermore, a solution containing 20 ppm of Rhodamine B was decolorized in the presence 18 mM of H2O2 under UV irradiation for 15 minutes. It was also found that addition of 0.1 mM Fe(II) or Fe(III) to the solution containing  20  ppm of the dye and 5 mM H2O2 under UV light  illumination decreased removal time to 10 min

Signal amplification for sumatriptan sensing based on polymeric surface decorated with Cu nanoparticles

A new nanocomposite, Cu NPs/poly-melamine, was deposited on a glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry. The uniform deposition of the nanocomposite was observed by the field emission scanning electron microscopy. The electron transfer characteristics of the drug sumatriptan (SUM), was greatly improved on the modified electrode. The prepared electrode was used for the sensitive determination of SUM by the differential pulse voltammetry. Linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration ranges of 0.08–0.58 and 0.58–6.5 μM, and the detection limit of 0.025 μM. The proposed method was evaluated by the determination of SUM in human biological fluids such as urine and blood plasma with satisfactory results (recovery > 99 %)

Study of controlled pulsed illumination (CPI) efficiency in the homogeneous UV-LED/S2O82− process for the removal of organic dye from contaminated water

The present investigation aims to shed light on the efficiency of the irradiation-based advanced oxidation processes using controlled pulsed illumination (CPI) in a homogeneous process. A more in-depth emphasis has been applied considering the ultraviolet-light emitting diodes/persulfate (LED/S2O82−) system. Irradiation-driven processes can present unexpected behaviour under a pulsed irradiation compered to continuous irradiation. This behaviour can be explained by Parrando's paradox concept. The removal efficiency of organic dyes under a continuous illumination source was compared to the CPI system employing a pulsed UV-LED/S2O82− photoreactor to explore CPI performance. The efficiency of the pulsed UV-LED/PS method was investigated using three organic dyes as model pollutants and duty cycle and pulse period as parameters of the pulsed irradiation source. The duty cycle and pulse period have a crucial impact on the pulsed system efficiencies, which were studied in the values of 10 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, 90 %, and 99 % for pulse periods from 1 ms (ms) to a few hundred ms in the current study. For all experiments, the electrical energy consumption (EEO) values were calculated, and the CPI values were compared to the continuous illumination values. According to the results, duty cycles and pulse periods of (10 %, 800 ms), (10 %, 1 ms), and (10 %, 800 ms), with the EEO amounts of 58.29, 120.65, and 29.62 kWh per order showed the best performance for the removal of organic dyes, respect to continuous irradiation and other CPI experiments in terms of saving energy. Besides, the game theory and the collision hypothesis were scrutinized to justify the achieved results