Blockchain Papers

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Feb 29, 2020·Aptisi Transactions On Technopreneurship (ATT)
53 cites
Authentication Of Transaction Process In E-marketplace Based On Blockchain technology

Adiyanto Adiyanto, Rizki Febrianto


 The very rapid development of technology is currently causing a revolution digital and the era of technological disruption or known as industry 4.0. with the presence of this 4.0 industry occurred computer growth and record-keeping automation all fields. This allows every human job to be replaced by robots, causing changes in the trading system that was done directly can now be done online or also known as Marketplace. With trade conducted through the internet, the transaction process is carried out on a traditional or directly, is now turning to the digital transaction process through Internet. The transaction process carried out digitally requires accuracy, security, and good trust between seller and buyer. Management Customer Relations or better known as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one model that can be used in maintaining the relationship between the customer and the company. Blockchain technology is technology that is able to maintain the transaction process, to maintain management efficiency identity, tracking system implementation, identifying product authenticity, and synchronization recording data to all parties, is expected to increase trust and the relationship between the customer and the seller.

Open access
Blockchain Technology in Education and Learning
Information Retrieval and Data Mining
Original source
Feb 29, 2020·arXiv (Cornell University)
5 cites
ADF-GA: Data Flow Criterion Based Test Case Generation for Ethereum Smart Contracts

Pengcheng Zhang, Jianan Yu, Shunhui Ji

Testing is an important technique to improve the quality of Ethereum smart contract programs. However, current work on testing smart contract only focus on static problems of smart contract programs. A data flow oriented test case generation approach for dynamic testing of smart contract programs is still missing. To address this problem, this paper proposes a novel test case generation approach, called ADF-GA (All-uses Data Flow criterion based test case generation using Genetic Algorithm), for Solidity based Ethereum smart contract programs. ADF-GA aims to efficiently generate a valid set of test cases via three stages. First, the corresponding program control flow graph is constructed from the source codes. Second, the generated control flow graph is analyzed to obtain the variable information in the Solidity programs, locate the require statements, and also get the definition-use pairs to be tested. Finally, a genetic algorithm is used to generate test cases, in which an improved fitness function is proposed to calculate the definition-use pairs coverage of each test case with program instrumentation. Experimental studies are performed on several representative Solidity programs. The results show that ADF-GA can effectively generate test cases, achieve better coverage, and reduce the number of iterations in genetic algorithm.

Open access
2 source records
Software Testing and Debugging Techniques
Advanced Malware Detection Techniques
Adversarial Robustness in Machine Learning
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·arXiv
0 cites
Assuring the Integrity of Videos from Wireless-based IoT Devices using Blockchain

Dominik Danko, Suat Mercan, Mumin Cebe Kemal Akkaya

Blockchain technology has drawn attention fromvarious communities. The underlying consensus mechanism inBlockchain enables a myriad of applications for the integrityassurance of stored data. In this paper, we utilize Blockchaintechnology to verify the authenticity of a video captured by astreaming IoT device for forensic investigation purposes. Theproposed approach computes the hash of video frames beforethey leave the IoT device and are transferred to a remote basestation. To guarantee the transmission, we ensure that this hashis sent through a TCP-based connection. The hash is then storedon multiple nodes on a permissioned blockchain platform. Incase the video is modified, the discrepancy will be detected byinvestigating the previously stored hash on the blockchain andcomparing it with the hash of the existing frame in question.In this work, we present the prototype as proof-of-concept withexperiment results. The system has been tested on a RaspberryPi with different quality of videos to evaluate performance. Theresults show that the concept can be implemented with moderatevideo resolutions.

Open access
cs.CR
cs.CY
cs.NI
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·International Journal of Information Technology
18 cites
Blockchain technology for electoral process in Africa: a short review

Mahtab Alam, Mukhtar Opeyemi Yusuf, Nazifi Alhassan Sani

Abstract The electoral process has suffered from deep political instability following the post-colonial independence of most African nations. Moreover, the electoral process in many countries is characterized by massive rigging, high cost of electoral materials, and declaration of false results. In this paper, we will present a review of the blockchain Technology and some of the potential roles to play in conducting a transparent election. This paper opines that with the emergence of the blockchain technology, African Nations should tap from it and build a reliable, secure, and convenient electoral voting system. It further suggests that a blockchain electoral voting system will eliminate most of the challenges faced by African nations in conducting a free, fair and transparent election with low cost and total security. The issue of election rigging is almost completely eradicated with this technology (if properly installed). An attempt to alter/manipulate records (votes) in the system’s database can be spotted easily, because of its rigorous consensus rules, such an attempt is considered void and denied permission to access, alter, or destroy any of the previously saved votes. However, the paper argues that there are institutional challenges to implementing this technology within the continent. Specifically, there is a need to educate the masses as well as create robust policies that can accommodate this technology within the continent. Failure to acknowledge these challenges may well prevent the application of blockchain technology in African electoral process in the foreseeable future.

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Internet Traffic Analysis and Secure E-voting
FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology
1 cites
Block Chain Based Authentication Technique

Information Technology, Sipna COET, Amravati, India., Pratiksha P. Gofane, Vijay S. Gulhane, Information Technology, Sipna COET, Amravati, India. · 6 authors

The Block-chain technology contain multiple blocks are interconnected to each other with help of previous hash and current hash. The Block-chain is technology which is used to enable for moving some coin, data and assets from one user to another user. Where using hash algorithm, cryptographic algorithm and block-chain maintenance/updating. Block-chain technology contain the previous hash of first block is always zero that is called genesis block and current block will generate according to the data. In block-chain technology after complete the first block system automatically generated new block. Second block contain the previous hash will be always current hash of first block for interconnect the blocks and chain will formed ahead. According to this chain automatically detect there some transparency and this transparency says that block chain is very secured technology. This block-chain technology with transaction is very safe for companies, colleges and business. It is layered framework technology. Where perception layer, transmission layer, storage layer and application layer are present. In block-chain technology transaction contain there need not any third trusted party. Previous concept of block-chain with IOT that is not secured where some disadvantages of limited storage present and reduce that limitation we are using distributed ledger of block-chain technology. Where system have occurred peer to peer transaction. Further, block-chain contain well organized their weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats of block-chain based transaction application. In block-chain contain using with OTP this block-chain will be more secured and easily transfer the money. Their future scope in business, education and companies.

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
IoT and Edge/Fog Computing
Internet of Things and AI
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·arXiv (Cornell University)
1 cites
Toward Active and Passive Confidentiality Attacks On Cryptocurrency\n Off-Chain Networks

Utz Nisslmueller, Klaus-Tycho Foerster, Stefan Schmid, Christian Decker

Cryptocurrency off-chain networks such as Lightning (e.g., Bitcoin) or Raiden\n(e.g., Ethereum) aim to increase the scalability of traditional on-chain\ntransactions. To support nodes in learning about possible paths to route their\ntransactions, these networks need to provide gossip and probing mechanisms.\nThis paper explores whether these mechanisms may be exploited to infer\nsensitive information about the flow of transactions, and eventually harm\nprivacy. In particular, we identify two threats, related to an active and a\npassive adversary. The first is a probing attack: here the adversary aims to\ndetect the maximum amount which is transferable in a given direction over a\ntarget channel by actively probing it and differentiating the response messages\nit receives. The second is a timing attack: the adversary discovers how close\nthe destination of a routed payment actually is, by acting as a passive\nman-in-the middle and analyzing the time deltas between sent messages and their\ncorresponding responses. We then analyze the limitations of these attacks and\npropose remediations for scenarios in which they are able to produce accurate\nresults.\n

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Internet Traffic Analysis and Secure E-voting
Smart Grid Security and Resilience
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology
1 cites
Immutable and Privacy Protected E-Certificate Repository on Blockchain

R.L. Kashyap, Karan Arora, Aniqa Azam, Megha Sharma

Fake education certificates or fake degree is one of the major concerns in higher education. This fraud can be minimized if there is a tamper-proof and confidential registry of certificates wherein not one but multiple certified authorities verifies and stores the issued certificate in immutable repositories with proper privacy maintained. Secondly, there should be a mechanism for retrieving the authentic certificate without much cost and time. Blockchain is an immutable, shared, distributed ledger without the control of a single centralized authority that fits very well for the discussed use case. The proposed work, PrivateCertChain, has implemented the idea for university having multiple affiliated colleges, by deploying and verifying digitally signed e-certificate on Ethereum Blockchain. Multiple affiliated colleges can serve as the miners for verifying the signature of the issuer. For privacy concerns, the content of the certificate will be hashed and this hashed value will be stored in Blockchain along with the roll number of the certificate holder. Once the transaction hash is generated, it will be converted to QR code. The QR code is shared with the respective owner of the certificate and it will also serve as the credential of the certificate. Thus, anyone having the credential can view the authentic certificate which is kept on the blockchain, by scanning QR through the dedicated application designed for verification. The proposed solution can be a foolproof mechanism against all frauds as it guards for integrity, confidentiality, authenticity, and privacy of educational certificates.

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
IoT and Edge/Fog Computing
Advanced Steganography and Watermarking Techniques
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·arXiv (Cornell University)
4 cites
Real time Smart Contracts for IoT using Blockchain and Collaborative Intelligence based Dynamic Pricing for the next generation Smart Toll Application

Misha Abraham, Himajit Aithal, K Mohan

The confluence of Internet of Things(IoT) , Blockchain(BC) and Artificial Intelligence(AI) acts as a key accelerator for enabling Machine Economy. To be ready for future businesses these technologies needs to be adapted by extending the IoT capabilities to Economy of Things (EoT) capabilities. In this paper we focus on one such implementation experience for Smart Toll Transaction application in the domain of mobility. Our paper showcases a possible solution by leveraging negotiations, decision making, distributed learning capabilities at the devices level using AI-enabled Multi-Agent Systems and the real-time smart contracts between the Cars and Tolls using Blockchain. This solution also showcases the monetization of real time data coming from various IoT devices which are part of vehicles and infrastructure. While blockchain secures the privacy of the participants it also acts as an economic transactional layer and governance layer between the devices in the networ

Open access
2 source records
cs.DC
cs.MA
cs.SE
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·arXiv (Cornell University)
6 cites
Atomic Crosschain Transactions White Paper

Peter Robinson, Raghavendra Ramesh, John Brainard, Sandra Johnson

Atomic Crosschain Transaction technology allows composable programming across private Ethereum blockchains. It allows for inter-contract and inter-blockchain function calls that are both synchronous and atomic: if one part fails, the whole call graph of function calls is rolled back. It is not based on existing techniques such as Hash Time Locked Contracts, relay chains, block header transfer, or trusted intermediaries. BLS Threshold Signatures are used to prove to validators on one blockchain that information came from another blockchain and that a majority of the validators of that blockchain agree on the information. Coordination Contracts are used to manage the state of a Crosschain Transaction and as a repository of Blockchain Public Keys. Dynamic code analysis and signed nested transactions are used together with live argument checking to ensure execution only occurs if the execution results in valid state changes. Contract Locking and Lockability enable atomic updates.

Open access
2 source records
cs.CR
Distributed systems and fault tolerance
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime
20 cites
Illegal Gambling and Its Operation via the Darknet and Bitcoin: An Application of Routine Activity Theory

Sinyong Choi, Kyung-Shick Choi, Yesim Sungu-Eryilmaz, Heekyung Park

The Darknet and Bitcoins have been widely utilized by those who wish to anonymously perform illegal activities in cyberspace. Restricted in many countries, gambling websites utilize Bitcoin payments that allow users to freely engage in illegal gambling activities with the absence of a formal capable guardian. Despite the urgency and limited knowledge available to law enforcement regarding this issue, few empirical studies have focused on illegal gambling websites. The current study attempts to examine the characteristics and operations of online gambling websites on both the Darknet and Surface Web, which allow Bitcoin payments. The findings suggest that both websites on the Surface Web and Darknet have similar and distinctive features that attract and encourage online users to engage in extensive illegal gambling activities and potentially other illegal activities as well. The study concludes with policy recommendations to remedy the issue of online gambling.

Open access
2 source records
Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Original source
Feb 28, 2020·International Journal of Operations Research and Information Systems
37 cites
The Relationship Between Bitcoin and Stock Market

Xin Wang, Xi Chen, Peng Zhao

This article analyzes the relationship between Bitcoin and the stock market by using a vector autoregressive model. To enhance the impulse response signal, the Sliding Window technique is applied. Study results show the relationship between Bitcoin and the stock market. First, the S&P 500 has a relatively significant effect on Bitcoin, while the influence caused by the S&P 500 is weak. In addition, after involving the Sliding Window technique, the effects caused by the standard deviation of the S&P 500 and the mean of the Dow Jones are remarkably strong on the mean of Bitcoin and the standard deviation of the S&P 500 has a comparatively significant effect on the standard deviation of Bitcoin as well. Generally, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones indexes have an advantageous effect on Bitcoin. Financial investment can be made based on this model and conclusion.

Open access
Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis
Stock Market Forecasting Methods
Market Dynamics and Volatility
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·Quantum 4, 297 (2020)
44 cites
A Quantum Money Solution to the Blockchain Scalability Problem

Andrea Coladangelo, Or Sattath

We put forward the idea that classical blockchains and smart contracts are potentially useful primitives not only for classical cryptography, but for quantum cryptography as well. Abstractly, a smart contract is a functionality that allows parties to deposit funds, and release them upon fulfillment of algorithmically checkable conditions, and can thus be employed as a formal tool to enforce monetary incentives. In this work, we give the first example of the use of smart contracts in a quantum setting. We describe a simple hybrid classical-quantum payment system whose main ingredients are a classical blockchain capable of handling stateful smart contracts, and quantum lightning, a strengthening of public-key quantum money introduced by Zhandry (Eurocrypt'19). Our hybrid payment system employs quantum states as banknotes and a classical blockchain to settle disputes and to keep track of the valid serial numbers. It has several desirable properties: it is decentralized, requiring no trust in any single entity; payments are as quick as quantum communication, regardless of the total number of users; when a quantum banknote is damaged or lost, the rightful owner can recover the lost value.

Open access
2 source records
quant-ph
cs.CR
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·Applied Network Science
20 cites
Security through block vault in a blockchain enabled federated cloud framework

Olumide Malomo, Danda B. Rawat, Moses Garuba

Abstract The survivability of any organization in the event of disaster or attack could greatly depend on its offsite data recovery. But which provider could offer secure and resilient cyber security protection to offsite data is a major problem for individuals, businesses and organizations. In recent times, cyber-attacks are strategic and tactical. Adversaries are advanced with capability to access sensitive business digital assets. Their nefarious actions have exposed devastating flaws in many access controls at different levels, and are now security risk to systems, data storages and resources. In this paper, we present a Blockchain enabled federated cloud computing framework, to secure storage for offsite digital assets. Our framework is designed with a great degree of efficiency, privacy, scalability and restricted access control. It addresses authentication flaws and improve early detection of data breaches, by continuously evaluating subject’s access control and interaction with resources, using operation cost for monitoring and accountability. Evaluation showed proof of concept that our design and approach outperforms the traditional approaches.

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Cloud Data Security Solutions
Cryptography and Data Security
Original source
Feb 27, 2020
0 cites
Descentralização do processo de execução orçamentária da despesa e seu efeito no gasto público municipal

Dinah Vieira dos Santos

Decentralization in the public sector, in general, has been discussed in the perspective of revenue sharing between spheres of government in the federation and the distribution of decision-making autonomy in the application of public resources and government management processes. This research is part of this context, and it investigates the decentralization of the expenditure execution process, a practice carried out within governments, and its impact on municipal spending. The analysis was carried out from the perspective of the Theory of Public Choice, which presupposes the self-interested behavior of managers when they participate in government decision-making processes and, therefore, the autonomy granted to them to decide on expenditure is important. To operationalize the research, five areas of government activity were selected – education, health, social assistance, sports and leisure, and urbanism – to represent different expenditure characteristics and sources of financing to explain the behavior of managers in different expenditure realities. The data were collected through an electronic questionnaire, whose respondents were managers of city halls, complemented by data from public sources of information. The econometric analysis was done through the estimation of the model by quantile regression for each of the areas analyzed, with data from 290 municipal governments in the period between 2013 and 2018. The results show that the decentralization of the process of spending execution (i) for area with insufficient resources decreased the expenditure; (ii) for areas with insufficient resources and characteristics that make it possible for managers to bargain budgets, the expenditure has increased; and (iii) for areas with insufficient resources, but without characteristics that allow bargaining by budget, decentralization was ineffective. It is concluded, therefore, that the decentralization of spending execution affects municipal expenditure and these effects are different depending on the characteristics of the area in which decentralization occurs, since the behavior of managers is affected by these characteristics. This research points out theoretical implications when it highlights the behavior of managers and the expenditure characteristics of the areas as relevant factors to be considered in the analysis of the relationship between decentralization of spending execution and expenditure. Governments can use the results of this research to assess the desirability of decentralization, as well as consider the need to implement controls on expenditure in decentralized environments.

Open access
Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth
Local Government Finance and Decentralization
Taxation and Compliance Studies
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·SSRN Electronic Journal
1 cites
‘At the Very Beginning, There’s This Dream.’ The Role of Utopia in the Workings of Local and Cryptocurrencies

Diane‐Laure Arjaliès

Since the 2008 financial crisis, the number of alternative currencies aiming at transforming global financial institutions, such as local and complementary currencies (LCC) and cryptocurrencies, has exploded. Yet the motivations and workings of such monies are relatively unknown. This chapter aims to fill this gap by providing a framework that uncovers the ideals pursued by alternative currencies, and the effects of those ideals on the production of money. To do so, I present a comparative analysis of the valuation infrastructure – the processes through which value(s) is produced – of one LCC, Sol Violette, and three cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Ğ1 “June” and impak Coin. Throughout, I elaborate on the social meaning of money and the role played by alternative currencies in contemporary capitalism. I show that 1) despite targeting the same financial institutions, the utopia pursued by alternative currencies varies significantly and 2) this utopia is at least as important as the technology (e.g. blockchain) in shaping the workings of these monies. Based on these findings, I outline implications for the social studies of financial technologies and their effects on our societies.

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·Universiti Utara Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Utara Malaysia)
30 cites
Factors Affecting Implementation of Blockchain in Retail Market in Malaysia

Mahadi Hasan Miraz, Mohamad Ghozali Hassan, Kamal Imran Mohd Sharif

Certain types of blockchains were made and developed for various purposes. Despite the development of cohort systems, the blockchain needs more development from the perspective of Malaysia. In addition, blockchain is the only cryptographic block currency that improves retail marketing. This study has critically analyzed the variables of the current research Framework of the blockchain implementation in retail market. Thus, this study aims to implement blockchain in retail market for increaseing customer benefits in order to improve the retail industrial supply chain activities. In order to achieve the main aim, this study comprises of two main phases, which are theorietical study, developemnt of proposed blockchain factors and its implementation. The blockchain experience of variables, blockchain management, blockchain transaction policy, blockchain adaption and implications were discussed gradually. Finally, we demonstrate the underlying theory, the theoretical framework and the hypotheses were discussed in detail.

Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
Blockchain Technology in Education and Learning
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·arXiv (Cornell University)
14 cites
Blockchain in Space Industry: Challenges and Solutions

Mohamed Torky, Tarek Gaber, Aboul Ella Hassanien

Blockchain technology can play a vital role in the space industry and exploration. This magic technology can provide decentralized and secure techniques for processing and manipulating space resources as space digital tokens. Tokenizing space resources such as orbits, satellites, spacecraft, orbital debris, asteroids, and other space objects in the form of blockchain-based digital tokens will reflect plenty of various applications in the space mining industry. Moreover, Blockchain algorithms based on smart contracts can be utilized for tracking all space transactions and communications in a transparent, verifiable, and secure manner. This paper is one of the first attempts towards conceptually investigating adopting blockchain theory in the space industry based on space digital token concept. A new conceptual blockchain in space industry framework is proposed, and new models are created for introducing proposed solutions for some major challenges in the space industry and exploration. Finally, the paper is ended with discussing SpaceChain, the first open-source blockchain-based satellite network in the world as a case study of applying blockchain theory in designing and implementing satellite systems.

Open access
2 source records
eess.SP
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Economic and Technological Innovation
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·arXiv (Cornell University)
2 cites
Empirical Analysis of Indirect Internal Conversions in Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Paz Grimberg, Tobias Lauinger, Damon McCoy

Algorithmic trading is well studied in traditional financial markets. However, it has received less attention in centralized cryptocurrency exchanges. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) attributed the $2010$ flash crash, one of the most turbulent periods in the history of financial markets that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average lose $9\%$ of its value within minutes, to automated order "spoofing" algorithms. In this paper, we build a set of methodologies to characterize and empirically measure different algorithmic trading strategies in Binance, a large centralized cryptocurrency exchange, using a complete data set of historical trades. We find that a sub-strategy of triangular arbitrage is widespread, where bots convert between two coins through an intermediary coin, and obtain a favorable exchange rate compared to the direct one. We measure the profitability of this strategy, characterize its risks, and outline two strategies that algorithmic trading bots use to mitigate their losses. We find that this strategy yields an exchange ratio that is $0.144\%$, or $14.4$ basis points (bps) better than the direct exchange ratio. $2.71\%$ of all trades on Binance are attributable to this strategy.

Open access
2 source records
q-fin.TR
Financial Markets and Investment Strategies
Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis
Original source
Feb 27, 2020·Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences
21 cites
The Creative Economy Through the Lens of Urban Resilience. An Analysis of Romanian Cities

", Sorin Mazilu, Cristian Încalțărău, Karima Kourtit

The creative economy has attracted increasing attention from academia and policymakers for more than two decades. However, despite the flourishing literature on this topic, its complex connection with development and its role in strengthening resilience are yet to be properly examined. The paper addresses this issue by investigating how different cities in Romania, with a different intensity of creative industries, have managed to resist and to recover from the aftermath of the Great Recession. Our findings reveal that, as a whole, creative industries strengthen urban resistance against a recession, but do not necessarily fasten urban recovery. As our results suggest, this might be due to the asymmetrical impact across different groups of creative industries. Besides a creative economy proliferation, other factors are also identified as significant resilience drivers. Whilst a better access to healthcare services, higher local investments and a higher decentralization of local budgets appear to enhance the cities’ resistance, higher shares of agriculture and finance, as well as a higher income per capita appear to correlate with a faster urban recovery.

Open access
Regional resilience and development
Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis
Cultural Industries and Urban Development
Original source
Feb 26, 2020·Journal of Medical Internet Research
18 cites
Using Blockchain Technology to Mitigate Challenges in Service Access for the Homeless and Data Exchange Between Providers: Qualitative Study

Anjum Khurshid, Vivian Rajeswaren, Steven Andrews

BACKGROUND: In the homeless population, barriers to housing and supportive services include a lack of control or access to data. Disparate data formats and storage across multiple organizations hinder up-to-date intersystem access to records and a unified view of an individual's health and documentation history. The utility of blockchain to solve interoperability in health care is supported in recent literature, but the technology has yet to be tested in real-life conditions encompassing the complex regulatory standards in the health sector. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the feasibility and performance of a blockchain system in a homeless community to securely store and share data across a system of providers in the health care ecosystem. METHODS: We performed a series of platform demonstrations and open-ended qualitative feedback interviews to determine the key needs and barriers to user and stakeholder adoption. Account creation and data transactions promoting organizational efficiency and improved health outcomes in this population were tested with homeless users and service providers. RESULTS: Persons experiencing homelessness and care organizations could successfully create accounts, grant and revoke data sharing permissions, and transmit documents across a distributed network of providers. However, there were issues regarding the security of shared data, user experience and adoption, and organizational preparedness for service providers as end users. We tested a set of assumptions related to these problems within the project time frame and contractual obligations with an existing blockchain-based platform. CONCLUSIONS: Blockchain technology provides decentralized data sharing, validation, immutability, traceability, and integration. These core features enable a secure system for the management and distribution of sensitive information. This study presents a concrete evaluation of the effectiveness of blockchain through an existing platform while revealing limitations from the perspectives of user adoption, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and regulatory frameworks.

Open access
Homelessness and Social Issues
Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
Digital Mental Health Interventions
Original source
Feb 26, 2020·Neurocomputing
2 cites
Estimating stochastic linear combination of non-linear regressions efficiently and scalably

Di Wang, Xiangyu Guo, Chaowen Guan, Shi Li · 5 authors

Recently, many machine learning and statistical models such as non-linear regressions, the Single Index, Multi-index, Varying Coefficient Index Models and Two-layer Neural Networks can be reduced to or be seen as a special case of a new model which is called the \textit{Stochastic Linear Combination of Non-linear Regressions} model. However, due to the high non-convexity of the problem, there is no previous work study how to estimate the model. In this paper, we provide the first study on how to estimate the model efficiently and scalably. Specifically, we first show that with some mild assumptions, if the variate vector $x$ is multivariate Gaussian, then there is an algorithm whose output vectors have $\ell_2$-norm estimation errors of $O(\sqrt{\frac{p}{n}})$ with high probability, where $p$ is the dimension of $x$ and $n$ is the number of samples. The key idea of the proof is based on an observation motived by the Stein's lemma. Then we extend our result to the case where $x$ is bounded and sub-Gaussian using the zero-bias transformation, which could be seen as a generalization of the classic Stein's lemma. We also show that with some additional assumptions there is an algorithm whose output vectors have $\ell_\infty$-norm estimation errors of $O(\frac{1}{\sqrt{p}}+\sqrt{\frac{p}{n}})$ with high probability. We also provide a concrete example to show that there exists some link function which satisfies the previous assumptions. Finally, for both Gaussian and sub-Gaussian cases we propose a faster sub-sampling based algorithm and show that when the sub-sample sizes are large enough then the estimation errors will not be sacrificed by too much. Experiments for both cases support our theoretical results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that studies and provides theoretical guarantees for the stochastic linear combination of non-linear regressions model.

Open access
2 source records
Statistical Methods and Inference
Markov Chains and Monte Carlo Methods
Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
Original source