PURE: A Framework for Analyzing Proximity-based Contact Tracing Protocols

Many proximity-based tracing (PCT) protocols have been proposed and deployed to combat the spreading of COVID-19. In this article, we take a systematic approach to analyze PCT protocols. We identify a list of desired properties of a contact tracing design from the four aspects of Privacy, Utility, Resiliency, and Efficiency (PURE). We also identify two main design choices for PCT protocols: what information patients report to the server and which party performs the matching . These two choices determine most of the PURE properties and enable us to conduct a comprehensive analysis and comparison of the existing protocols.

IP Geolocation through Reverse DNS

IP Geolocation databases are widely used in online services to map end-user IP addresses to their geographical location. However, they use proprietary geolocation methods, and in some cases they have poor accuracy. We propose a systematic approach to use reverse DNS hostnames for geolocating IP addresses, with a focus on end-user IP addresses as opposed to router IPs. Our method is designed to be combined with other geolocation data sources. We cast the task as a machine learning problem where, for a given hostname, we first generate a list of potential location candidates, and then we classify each hostname and candidate pair using a binary classifier to determine which location candidates are plausible. Finally, we rank the remaining candidates by confidence (class probability) and break ties by population count. We evaluate our approach against three state-of-the-art academic baselines and two state-of-the-art commercial IP geolocation databases. We show that our work significantly outperforms the academic baselines and is complementary and competitive with commercial databases. To aid reproducibility, we open source our entire approach and make it available to the academic community.

The Order & Complexity Toolbox for Aesthetics (OCTA): A systematic approach to study the relations between order, complexity, and aesthetic appreciation

Do individuals prefer stimuli that are ordered or chaotic, simple or complex, or that strike the right balance of order and complexity? Earlier research mainly focused on the separate influence of order and complexity on aesthetic appreciation. When order and complexity were studied in combination, stimulus manipulations were often not parametrically controlled, only rather specific types of order (i.e., balance or symmetry) were studied, and/or the multidimensionality of order and complexity was ignored. Progress has also been limited by the lack of an easy way to create reproducible and expandible stimulus sets, including both order and complexity manipulations. The Order & Complexity Toolbox for Aesthetics (OCTA), a Python toolbox that is also available as a point-and-click Shiny application, aims to fill this gap. OCTA provides researchers with a free and easy way to create multi-element displays varying qualitatively (i.e., different types) and quantitatively (i.e., different levels) in order and complexity, based on regularity and variety along multiple element features (e.g., shape, size, color, orientation). The standard vector-based output is ideal for experiments on the web and the creation of dynamic interfaces and stimuli. OCTA will not only facilitate reproducible stimulus construction and experimental design in research on order, complexity, and aesthetics. In addition, OCTA can be a very useful tool in any type of research using visual stimuli, or even to create digital art. To illustrate OCTA’s potential, we will propose several possible applications and diverse questions that can be addressed using OCTA.

On Community in the Political Theology of Jacob Taubes

The present paper aims to analyse through a systematic approach the notion of “community” encountered in the works of Jacob Taubes. Under a theologico-political scenario, the author discusses the political framework of Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans. According to Taubes, the Apostle inaugurates a new type of sovereignty — acquired by the grace of God, and not by the divine law. Ultimately, the plan of Paul is to create a new “life” for the community of Christians through spirit (gr. πνεῦμα) and the highest form of love (gr. ἀγάπη). According to the author, the Letter to the Romans perfectly illustrates the transformation of the political, where the idea of hierarchy is replaced with the one of equilibrium; under this equation religion is not authority, but participation in community. From a more practical point of view, the political theology of Jacob Taubes is interested in answering the following dilemma: how is it possible for a community that sees its Lord crucified on the Cross not to create rebellions, but, on the contrary, to generally cultivate an obedient attitude towards state authority? Ultimately, while mapping the author’s understanding of community, the paper also brings into attention what the transformation of the political means for Taubes and why political theology is the scenario that accommodates the revolutionised community.

ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF GENERICS AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD DOMESTIC PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND REPRODUCED DRUGS/ GENERICS

Цель исследования - определить уровень информированности среди населения как по вопросам генериков, так и о фармацевтической промышленности Казахстана. Анкета была разработана с применением системного подхода к её структуре и с соответствующими вопросами, проведён метод онлайн опроса и осуществлена обработка анкет представителей разных сфер деятельности, результаты анкетирования приведены в сравнительном аспекте с использованием диаграмм. При составлении вопросов особое внимание было уделено к вопросам касающихся предпочтений потребителей при выборе страны- производителя, а также их отношение к воспроизведенным препаратам. В публикации затрагивается тема пользы производства генериков по мнению потребителей, а также их личный опыт использования воспроизведенных препаратов. Вопросы были сгруппированы по трем блокам для более структурированного описания ответов: вводные вопросы; опыт применения; Отечественные производители. При формировании вопросов анкеты был соблюден принцип однозначности и краткости The purpose of the study was to determine the level of awareness among the population on both generics and the pharmaceutical industry in Kazakhstan. The questionnaire was developed using a systematic approach to its structure and with appropriate questions, an online survey method was conducted and questionnaires were processed by representatives of different areas of activity, the results of the survey are given in a comparative aspect with the use of charts. During the preparation of the questions, special attention was paid to the questions concerning the consumers' preferences when choosing the country of manufacture, as well as their attitude towards reproductions. The publication addresses the topic of the benefits of generic production in the opinion of consumers, as well as their personal experience of using reproduced drugs. The questions were grouped into three blocks for a more structured description of the answers: introductory questions; experience of use; and Domestic manufacturers. The principle of unambiguity and brevity was respected in the formation of the questions of the questionnaire.

Situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

In the presented work, the author examines the situation with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, where they were forced to settle down after 1948. The article examines international and Lebanese documents, which made it possible to understand the status of the Palestinians. The work carried out by scientists in the fi eld is of interest, since they had the opportunity to conduct surveys and interviews. The author relied on a systematic approach in the presented study. The paper examines the social problems Palestinians face while living in refugee camps. The problems of access to basic needs, employment, marriage unions are noted. It also focuses on the issue of security for ordinary Palestinians, since the Lebanese security forces are unable to provide it, and Palestinian groups periodically feud with each other, which sometimes infl icts irreparable blow to the people. From the author's point of view, the problem of Palestinian refugees persists due to the complex confessional balance in Lebanon and is unlikely to be resolved in the foreseeable future, which endangers stability not only in the camps, but also in Lebanon itself.

Systematic Mapping of Long-Term Urban Challenges

This paper investigates on long-term challenges faced by local governments. Using empirical evidence from Estonia, this paper aims to help fill a research gap in that there is a lack of a systematic approach on how to analyze common urban challenges via direct involvement of local governments. In terms of conceptual framework, a unique combination of public value theory and mission-oriented innovation is proposed. The data is collected via questionnaire, interviews and workshops involving up to 35 local governments. It is important that instead of current problems relating only to one city, this study focuses on finding shared, long-term challenges and, from them, generates a list of top 10 challenges. This provides valuable input to initiating new research and innovation projects in the key, smart city domains (e.g., energy, mobility, built environment, governance and data).

Sensitivity analysis of agent-based models: a new protocol

Agent-based models (ABMs) are increasingly used in the management sciences. Though useful, ABMs are often critiqued: it is hard to discern why they produce the results they do and whether other assumptions would yield similar results. To help researchers address such critiques, we propose a systematic approach to conducting sensitivity analyses of ABMs. Our approach deals with a feature that can complicate sensitivity analyses: most ABMs include important non-parametric elements, while most sensitivity analysis methods are designed for parametric elements only. The approach moves from charting out the elements of an ABM through identifying the goal of the sensitivity analysis to specifying a method for the analysis. We focus on four common goals of sensitivity analysis: determining whether results are robust, which elements have the greatest impact on outcomes, how elements interact to shape outcomes, and which direction outcomes move when elements change. For the first three goals, we suggest a combination of randomized finite change indices calculation through a factorial design. For direction of change, we propose a modification of individual conditional expectation (ICE) plots to account for the stochastic nature of the ABM response. We illustrate our approach using the Garbage Can Model, a classic ABM that examines how organizations make decisions.

Analysis of the glyco-code in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma identifies glycan-mediated immune regulatory circuits

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive malignancies with a 5-year survival rate of only 9%. Despite the fact that changes in glycosylation patterns during tumour progression have been reported, no systematic approach has been conducted to evaluate its potential for patient stratification. By analysing publicly available transcriptomic data of patient samples and cell lines, we identified here two specific glycan profiles in PDAC that correlated with progression, clinical outcome and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) status. These different glycan profiles, confirmed by glycomics, can be distinguished by the expression of O-glycan fucosylated structures, present only in epithelial cells and regulated by the expression of GALNT3. Moreover, these fucosylated glycans can serve as ligands for DC-SIGN positive tumour-associated macrophages, modulating their activation and inducing the production of IL-10. Our results show mechanisms by which the glyco-code contributes to the tolerogenic microenvironment in PDAC.