Querying Schemas With Access Restrictions

We study verification of systems whose transitions consist of accesses to a Web-based data-source. An access is a lookup on a relation within a relational database, fixing values for a set of positions in the relation. For example, a transition can represent access to a Web form, where the user is restricted to filling in values for a particular set of fields. We look at verifying properties of a schema describing the possible accesses of such a system. We present a language where one can describe the properties of an access path, and also specify additional restrictions on accesses that are enforced by the schema. Our main property language, AccLTL, is based on a first-order extension of linear-time temporal logic, interpreting access paths as sequences of relational structures. We also present a lower-level automaton model, Aautomata, which AccLTL specifications can compile into. We show that AccLTL and A-automata can express static analysis problems related to "querying with limited access patterns" that have been studied in the database literature in the past, such as whether an access is relevant to answering a query, and whether two queries are equivalent in the accessible data they can return. We prove decidability and complexity results for several restrictions and variants of AccLTL, and explain which properties of paths can be expressed in each restriction.Comment: VLDB201

Taming Existence in RDF Querying

We introduce the recursive, rule-based RDF query language RDFLog. RDFLog extends previous RDF query languages by arbitrary quantifier alternation: blank nodes may occur in the scope of all, some, or none of the universal variables of a rule. In addition RDFLog is aware of important RDF features such as the distinction between blank nodes, literals and URIs or the RDFS vocabulary. The semantics of RDFLog is closed (every answer is an RDF graph), but lifts RDF’s restrictions on literal and blank node occurrences for intermediary data. We show how to define a sound and complete operational semantics that can be implemented using existing logic programming techniques. Using RDFLog we classify previous approaches to RDF querying along their support for blank node construction and show equivalence between languages with full quantifier alternation and languages with only ∀∃ rules

Imported malaria and its implication to achievement of malaria-free Bhutan

As Bhutan nears malaria elimination, imported malaria through cross-border human mobility has emerged as major source of transmission. This report highlights key epidemiological characteristics of imported infections and the need to strengthen targeted surveillance and response interventions by the national elimination program to achieve elimination and sustain it

Stand zur IT-Sicherheit deutscher Stromnetzbetreiber : technischer Bericht

Innerhalb des Forschungsprojektes „Sichere Informationsnetze bei kleinen und mittleren Energieversorgern“ (SIDATE) wurde eine Umfrage zum Stand der IT-Sicherheit bei deutschen Stromnetzbetreibern durchgeführt. Das Projekt selbst beschäftigt sich mit der Informations- Sicherheit bei kleinen und mittleren Energieversorgern. Zur Durchführung der Umfrage wurden alle 881 im August 2016 bei der Bundesnetzagentur gelisteten Betreiber angeschrieben. In dem Umfragezeitraum vom 1. September 2016 bis zum 15. Oktober 2016 antworten 61 (6.9%) der Betreiber. Der Fragebogen fokussiert die Umsetzung der rechtlichen Anforderungen und die Implementierung eines Informationssicherheitsmanagementsystems (ISMS). Weiterhin wurden Fragen zu dem Leitsystem, Netzaufbau, Prozessen, organisatorischen Strukturen und der Büro-IT gestellt

Entwicklung IT-basierter interorganisationaler Krisenmanagement-Infrastrukturen für Stromausfälle

Große Stromausfälle, wie beispielsweise der Ausfall der Stromversorgung im Nordosten der USA (2003) oder der Ausfall in weiten Teilen von West-Europa (2005), machen die fundamentale Bedeutung von Strom in unserem täglichen Leben deutlich. Sie zeigen auch, welche wichtige Rolle die Kooperation und Zusammenarbeit zwischen allen Beteiligten der Bewältigungs- und Wiederherstellungsarbeit spielt. Die Erfahrungen aus diesen Ausfällen legen nahe, dass Stromnetzbetreiber, Feuerwehr, Polizei, Behörden und Bürger einer Vielzahl von unterschiedlichen Herausforderungen in der interorganisationalen Kommunikation und innerhalb von Informations- und Koordinierungsprozessen gegenüberstehen. Ziel des Forschungsprojekts "InfoStrom", welches vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung seit 2010 und bis Ende 2013 gefördert wird, ist die Entwicklung von Konzepten, um diese Zusammenarbeit zu unterstützten und letztlich zu verbessern. In diesem Beitrag werden potentielle Fragen und zukünftige Themen und erzielte Ergebnisse dargestellt, die sich auf die benutzerzentrierte Technologieentwicklung im Krisenmanagement und auf domain-spezifische Probleme, wie die Verbesserung der Integration von Bürgern in das Krisenmanagement, den Umgang mit Informationsunsicherheiten oder die Unterstützung des interorganisationalen Lernens, beziehen

Field evaluation of a novel semi-quantitative point-of-care diagnostic for G6PD deficiency in Indonesia

Background: The WHO recommends routine testing of G6PD activity to guide radical cure in patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria. Females may have intermediate G6PD enzyme activity and to date, only complex diagnostics are able to reliably identify them. The semi-quantitative G6PD diagnostic “One Step G6PD Test” (Humasis, RoK; “RDT”) is a lateral flow assay that can distinguish deficient, intermediate, and normal G6PD status and offers a simpler diagnostic alternative. Methods: G6PD status of participants enrolled in Malinau and Nunukan Regencies and the capital Jakarta was assessed with the RDT, and G6PD activity was measured in duplicate by reference spectrophotometry. The adjusted male median (AMM) of the spectrophotometry measurements was defined as 100% activity; 70% and 30% of the AMM were defined as thresholds for intermediate and deficient G6PD status, respectively. Results were compared to those derived from spectrophotometry at the clinically relevant G6PD activity thresholds of 30% and 70%. Results: Of the 161 participants enrolled, 10 (6.2%) were G6PD deficient and 12 (7.5%) had intermediate G6PD activity by spectrophotometry. At the 30% threshold, the sensitivity of the RDT was 10.0% (95%CI: 0.3–44.5%) with a specificity of 99.3% (95%CI: 96.4–100.0%); the positive predictive value was 50.0% (95%CI: 1.3–98.7%) and the negative predictive value 94.3% (95%CI: 89.5–97.4%). The corresponding figures at the 70% threshold were 22.7% (95%CI: 7.8–45.4%), 100.0% (95%CI: 97.4–100.0%), 100.0% (95%CI: 47.8–100.0%) and 89.1% (95%CI: 83.1–93.5%), respectively. Conclusion: While there is a dire need for an easy-to-use, economical, semi-quantitative diagnostic for the point of care, the observed performance of the “One Step G6PD Test” in its current form was insufficient to guide antimalarial treatment

A review of the current status of G6PD deficiency testing to guide radical cure treatment for vivax malaria

Plasmodium vivax malaria continues to cause a significant burden of disease in the Asia-Pacific, the Horn of Africa, and the Americas. In addition to schizontocidal treatment, the 8-aminoquinoline drugs are crucial for the complete removal of the parasite from the human host (radical cure). While well tolerated in most recipients, 8-aminoquinolines can cause severe haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient patients. G6PD deficiency is one of the most common enzymopathies worldwide; therefore, the WHO recommends routine testing to guide 8-aminoquinoline based treatment for vivax malaria whenever possible. In practice, this is not yet implemented in most malaria endemic countries. This review provides an update of the characteristics of the most used G6PD diagnostics. We describe the current state of policy and implementation of routine point-of-care G6PD testing in malaria endemic countries and highlight key knowledge gaps that hinder broader implementation. Identified challenges include optimal training of health facility staff on point-of-care diagnostics, quality control of novel G6PD diagnostics, and culturally appropriate information and communication with affected communities around G6PD deficiency and implications for treatment

Sicherheitsarena - Ein Ansatz zur Verbesserung des Krisenmanagements durch Kooperation und Vernetzung

Die organisationübergreifende Vernetzung von Feuerwehr, Polizei, Hilfsorganisationen, dem THW, der öffentlichen Verwaltung und Infrastrukturbetreibern, wie beispielsweise Stromnetzbetreibern, ist vor allem bei großen Schadenslagen unabdingbar. Ziel des Forschungsprojekts „Info-Strom“ (www.infostrom.org), welches vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung seit 2010 und bis Ende 2013 gefördert wird (Fö.-Kz. 13N10712), ist die Entwicklung von Konzepten sowie Software, um diese Zusammenarbeit zu unterstützten und letztlich zu verbessern. Die entstandene Software wird derzeit in zwei Kreisen in NRW, dem Kreis SiegenWittgenstein und dem Rhein Erft Kreis, getestet und evaluiert