Evaluation of Open-Source E-Voting Systems Using Helios Voting in Public University Elections

In the ideal model, universities are naturally constituted by democratic decisions involving voting from different collegiate bodies, commissions, sectors, and the general community. Following the trend of digital democracy, electronic voting tools have been significantly applied in Public Universities in recent years, accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the characteristics of electronic voting software is that they have several layers of security and protocols that protect the integrity of a virtual election. This paper used the "Attack Tree"and "Risk Assessment"methods to propose and present a heuristic method of security assessment, which could serve as a model for future digital elections applied in Public Universities. © 2022 ACM.

A study of sustained androgen signaling dependence in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

Background: Advanced androgen signaling inhibition, a prevailing therapy approach in advanced prostate cancer, incurs variable response. Therapy selection guided by predictors is an unmet need. Methods: We reviewed MDACC GU department and Hellenic Sister Institute records for Abiraterone Acetate (AA) treated mCRPC patients (pts) with extraordinary response (absence of radiographic/clinical progression for ≥3 years). We compared to reported findings for COU-AA-302 and real world experience to identify candidate predictors of outcome. We applied a previously proposed COU-AA-302 response prognostic model. Archived diagnostic and subsequent tumor specimens were retrieved for molecular characterization. Results: Forty four of 430 reviewed mCRPC pts had extraordinary response. Table depicts features. Median time to AA discontinuation was 5.8 yr (range 3-12.5+) and 20 pts are on treatment. Safety profile is acceptable with no overt increase in fractures or cardiovascular, metabolic morbidity. All pts experienced >50% PSA decline with nadir ≤0.1 in 80%, occurring within 5mo (median) (range <1-57). Median time to PSA progression 5.9 yr (95% CI 4.4-7.5), median rPFS 11.5 yr. Median OS 9.4 yr (95% CI 8.1-10.7). Pretreatment features differed significantly from other datasets for: Longer time from cancer diagnosis (median 8.5 yr), longer time to CRPC (median 3.1 yr), bone metastatic burden (63% ≤3 lesions), and PSA (median 5.5 yr). We applied the model to the cohort and it predicted only 7/44 (16%). Tissue analyses to be reported at meeting due to COVID19 research shutdown. [Formula presented] Conclusions: Extraordinary response to enhanced androgen signaling inhibition in mCRPC appears linked to androgen signaling ‘addiction’ and limited disease volume. Available prognostic models are not sensitive enough to guide selection. Routine biopsy derived predictors will help guide therapeutic strategies and improve curative fraction in advanced prostate cancer. Ref: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clgc.2017.07.014. Clinical trial identification: MDACC: PA16-0736. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: S.K. Subudhi: Advisory/Consultancy: Valeant;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Dendreon;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, and Ownership interest: Apricity Health;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Janssen;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Polaris;Advisory/Consultancy: Amgen;Advisory/Consultancy: Bayer;Advisory/Consultancy: Exelixis;Research grant/Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers-Squibb;Research grant/Funding (institution): AstraZeneca;Honoraria (self): Compugen;Honoraria (self): Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy;Honoraria (self): Society for Immunotherapy od Cancer. C. Logothetis: Honoraria (institution), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Janssen;Research grant/Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers-Squibb;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Pfizer. E. Efstathiou: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Sanofi;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Janssen;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Astellas;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Tolmar;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Bayer;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Merck;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pfizer;Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research g ant/Fun ing (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Oric. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Sewage monitoring as a surveillance epidemiological tool for COVID-19 control: a case study in the city of Belo Horizonte

The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool and sewage samples highlights the possibility of mapping the circulation of the virus and even estimating the number of infected people through the systematic monitoring of sewage in a specific region. Therefore, this is an important epidemiological tool for large-scale indirect testing, including symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. This project was conceived for the detection and quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples collected in 15 watersheds of the Arrudas and Onca streams, aiming to understand the dynamics of spread and the prevalence of the virus in these regions/watersheds. These sub-basins exhaust the effluents generated by a population of approximately 1.5 million people in the municipality of Belo Horizonte and part of Contagem. Weekly composite samples were collected during the morning periods in seventeen monitoring points (15 water sheds + influent to 2 sewage treatment plants). RNA detection and quantification were performed in the laboratory using RT-qPCR. The results obtained in four weeks of monitoring (epidemiological weeks 21 to 24) showed an increase in the occurrence of the virus, reaching 100% of the monitored regions investigated in epidemiological week 24. The infected population, estimated by sewage monitoring in Belo Horizonte, showed exponential growth, being up to 20 times higher than those of accumulated confirmed cases. As for the dynamics of virus spread, RNA concentrations have shown to be quite variable in the monitored regions with higher percentages of the estimated infected population in the northern and north-eastern portions of Belo Horizonte.