#Challenges of decentralized platforms

[blocksifybuzz]

Decentralized Social Media: Privacy, Freedom, and User Control

In the 21st century, the realm of digital discourse is shaped considerably by social media, and understanding its ceaseless evolution is pivotal to keeping pace with its fast-changing dynamics. The journey of social media from a simple form of communication to being instrumental in driving modern democracy has been a spectacle to behold. However, despite its meteoric rise, centralization, a key…

[jeeva-trials]

Empowering Sponsors with Compliant Data Collection and Integrity for a Variety of Clinical Studies | Jeeva Trials

Traditional clinical guidelines, and stand-alone patient study and care pathways are proven to be increasingly inadequate, especially in a post-pandemic world with low clinical adherence, disrupted workflows, and stay-at-home orders. Disrupted workflows means more time required to complete a study, fatigue of the research team, and wastage of resources.

Researchers and study teams are increasingly adopting eClinical cloud trial tools that are designed to augment researchers, study teams and clinicians to augment their complex decision-making processes with targeted clinical knowledge, patient information and computerized clinical workflows. It directly improves the quality of clinical documentation. AI technologies provide the tool capabilities for drawing insights into data beyond what humans can. CROs (Contract Research Organizations) evaluate clinical study tools largely based on speed, flexibility and cost-efficiency. However, amidst these concerns, data integrity is not to be understated or taken for granted. Data integrity is not only important for a study, it needs to be addressed throughout the product life cycle across Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and other Good Practice (GxP) areas.

Data integrity is critical for studies

Good risk mitigation and management is essential to data integrity as multiple points of risk exist throughout data recording, storage, transfer, reporting and other stages of data lifecycle during a study trial. It is achieved by making data traceable throughout audit trails. Transparency is demonstrated with a chain of custody from data origin to its analysis. Without data integrity, it is not possible to regenerate a previous clinical trial result reliably. Data integrity cannot be validated by point-to-point interfaces of individual systems alone, it requires a more holistic approach towards validation and quality management as these systems need to work together across corporate borders and multi-site systems.

Quality of data can affect the quality of decision support because if data collection is not standardized, the study trial data is effectively corrupted and increases the risk of failure during the submission procedure for approval by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and other regulators. Regulators in the US and across the world continue to stress the criticality of data integrity in clinical trials.

Points to consider while choosing an eClinical study solution:

A good system should not delete or obscure previously-recorded audit trail information and prevent modification by the user.

It should record complete audit trail records including identification of the data element that was changed, who authorized the change and implemented them.

It should provide early visibility to reliable data to quickly make sound decisions and bring life-enhancing treatments to life.

Cyber security is a mission-critical consideration for electronic clinical outcomes assessment (eCOA) risk management for any eClinical solution.

Regulatory-minded study teams will have data integrity plans in place as regulators can raise questions about data collection compliance, warranting rescue action. By utilizing the Jeeva Informatics eClinical cloud, study teams can have regulation-compliant risk mitigation with complete transparency, traceability, and documentation. Jeeva is a flexible bring your own device (BYOD), SaaS (Software as a Service) solution that is designed to maintain data integrity with features and protocols that fit the specific trial protocol, ensuring reliability and authenticity of the study data by adhering to the most current compliance regulations in force.

Shortening the Distance from Study Data to Action

Jeeva’s highly scalable SaaS architecture provides a cost-effective approach to support trials for multiple studies, phases and therapeutic areas. Its intuitive interface eliminates the multi-step process to navigate reports and shortens the distance from study data to action. In clinical research, data integrity and reliability of trial results are paramount. The value of a comprehensive and compliant eClinical tool is absolute. Data integrity continues to be a major theme across inspection results. The collaborative technology used in Jeeva automates high-value clinical trials recruitment and retention tasks and provides insightful retrieval of information. Adherence to the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) GCP is a core tenet for data integrity at Jeeva.

Leading research organizations have consistently been using Jeeva for compliant and adaptive research with access to immediately actionable patient data. It provides researchers personalized clinical study documentation across solutions, platforms and devices, anytime and anywhere, regardless of physical location.

Enabling Clinical Research at Scale

A failed trial not only sinks investment into the early stages of the trial itself but also results in dissatisfied sponsor clients and impacts your long and fruitful business relationship with them. Jeeva is designed to support the conduct of clinical trials utilizing validated functionality and processes. The modular software enables clinical research at scale and saves more than 70% time and logistic burden on the study teams. Utilizing the platform-agnostic software with advanced features like bi-directional communications, scheduling and touch-less electronic informed consent, investigators can rapidly enroll participants in the study, and investigators can safely review the study material remotely and conveniently from their own mobile device.

Complying with the Current Regulations

Jeeva Trials follows a human-centric approach with a deep understanding of the perspectives and requirements of various stakeholders including regulatory compliance specialists, IT security and privacy professionals, auditors and coordinators. The burden of ensuring regulatory compliance of technology solutions, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), human subjects protection guidelines, GCP (Good Clinical Practice) guidelines by ICH (International Council of Harmonization) of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human use, and other regional guidelines lies with the study sponsor. Jeeva adheres to the current federal, state, and international regulations or guidelines for conducting clinical trials using electronic patient data such as the FDA 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 11, SOC 2 (System Organ Classes), Amazon Well (AWS) Architected Framework Review, AWS Foundational Technical Review, GDPR privacy policies, and others. Avoid having to validate multiple a la carte tools as you can now achieve the same goal with a single all-in-one integrated SaaS platform.

Saving on Costs of Failed Trials

It takes on average 10-15 years and USD 1.5-2.0 billion to bring a new drug to the market. Approximately half of this expenditure covers testing, preclinical compound discovery and regulatory processes. The high failure rate of clinical trials due to regulatory issues, patient non-adherence, low retention and high drop-offs during long-term studies is a major stumbling block in drug development. Less than one-third of all Phase II compounds advance to Phase III, with more than one third of all Phase III compounds failing to advance to approval. The most complex Phase III trials carry nearly 60% of the overall trial costs, resulting loss per failed clinical trial to the order of 0.8-1.4 billion USD.

Flexible Platform to Accelerate Patient Recruitment

Study build delays cause timelines to drag on, as such CROs face not only dissatisfied sponsor clients but they could lose a fruitful business relationship. There are major regulatory implications as well, as unverified, disintegrated and dubious data quality can land organizations in court. Jeeva Informatics Solutions is designed to reduce timelines for study startup and participants by up to more than 50%, while complying with data integrity regulations of the federal and state governments. Jeeva makes it easy for longitudinal cohort studies to collect validated data from participants in real-world settings over extended periods of time. The flexible platform accelerates patient recruitment and retention, and enables long-term engagement for 5, 10, or 15-year follow-up studies for long-term trials, such as cell and gene therapy.

Affordable subscription-based pricing of Jeeva makes it easier for the study teams to plan budgets with predictable expenses. The modular SaaS subscription model helps clinical researchers, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and sponsors manage a clinical study’s annual budget on a simple, per participant basis.

[sexymemecoin]

The Rise of DeFi: Revolutionizing the Financial Landscape

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has emerged as one of the most transformative sectors within the cryptocurrency industry. By leveraging blockchain technology, DeFi aims to recreate and improve upon traditional financial systems, offering a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient financial ecosystem. This article explores the fundamental aspects of DeFi, its key components, benefits, challenges, and notable projects, including a brief mention of Sexy Meme Coin.

What is DeFi?

DeFi stands for Decentralized Finance, a movement that utilizes blockchain technology to build an open and permissionless financial system. Unlike traditional financial systems that rely on centralized intermediaries like banks and brokerages, DeFi operates on decentralized networks, allowing users to interact directly with financial services. This decentralization is achieved through smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code.

Key Components of DeFi

Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): DEXs allow users to trade cryptocurrencies directly with one another without the need for a central authority. Platforms like Uniswap, SushiSwap, and PancakeSwap have gained popularity for their ability to provide liquidity and facilitate peer-to-peer trading.

Lending and Borrowing Platforms: DeFi lending platforms like Aave, Compound, and MakerDAO enable users to lend their assets to earn interest or borrow assets by providing collateral. These platforms use smart contracts to automate the lending process, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Stablecoins: Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like fiat currencies to reduce volatility. They are crucial for DeFi as they provide a stable medium of exchange and store of value. Popular stablecoins include Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and Dai (DAI).

Yield Farming and Liquidity Mining: Yield farming involves providing liquidity to DeFi protocols in exchange for rewards, often in the form of additional tokens. Liquidity mining is a similar concept where users earn rewards for providing liquidity to specific pools. These practices incentivize participation and enhance liquidity within the DeFi ecosystem.

Insurance Protocols: DeFi insurance protocols like Nexus Mutual and Cover Protocol offer coverage against risks such as smart contract failures and hacks. These platforms aim to provide users with security and peace of mind when engaging with DeFi services.

Benefits of DeFi

Financial Inclusion: DeFi opens up access to financial services for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional banking infrastructure. Anyone with an internet connection can participate in DeFi, democratizing access to financial services.

Transparency and Trust: DeFi operates on public blockchains, providing transparency for all transactions. This transparency reduces the need for trust in intermediaries and allows users to verify and audit transactions independently.

Efficiency and Speed: DeFi eliminates the need for intermediaries, reducing costs and increasing the speed of transactions. Smart contracts automate processes that would typically require manual intervention, enhancing efficiency.

Innovation and Flexibility: The open-source nature of DeFi allows developers to innovate and build new financial products and services. This continuous innovation leads to the creation of diverse and flexible financial instruments.

Challenges Facing DeFi

Security Risks: DeFi platforms are susceptible to hacks, bugs, and vulnerabilities in smart contracts. High-profile incidents, such as the DAO hack and the recent exploits on various DeFi platforms, highlight the need for robust security measures.

Regulatory Uncertainty: The regulatory environment for DeFi is still evolving, with governments and regulators grappling with how to address the unique challenges posed by decentralized financial systems. This uncertainty can impact the growth and adoption of DeFi.

Scalability: DeFi platforms often face scalability issues, particularly on congested blockchain networks like Ethereum. High gas fees and slow transaction times can hinder the user experience and limit the scalability of DeFi applications.

Complexity and Usability: DeFi platforms can be complex and challenging for newcomers to navigate. Improving user interfaces and providing educational resources are crucial for broader adoption.

Notable DeFi Projects

Uniswap (UNI): Uniswap is a leading decentralized exchange that allows users to trade ERC-20 tokens directly from their wallets. Its automated market maker (AMM) model has revolutionized the way liquidity is provided and traded in the DeFi space.

Aave (AAVE): Aave is a decentralized lending and borrowing platform that offers unique features such as flash loans and rate switching. It has become one of the largest and most innovative DeFi protocols.

MakerDAO (MKR): MakerDAO is the protocol behind the Dai stablecoin, a decentralized stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. MakerDAO allows users to create Dai by collateralizing their assets, providing stability and liquidity to the DeFi ecosystem.

Compound (COMP): Compound is another leading DeFi lending platform that enables users to earn interest on their cryptocurrencies or borrow assets against collateral. Its governance token, COMP, allows users to participate in protocol governance.

Sexy Meme Coin (SXYM): While primarily known as a meme coin, Sexy Meme Coin has integrated DeFi features, including a decentralized marketplace for buying, selling, and trading memes as NFTs. This unique blend of humor and finance adds a distinct flavor to the DeFi landscape. Learn more about Sexy Meme Coin at Sexy Meme Coin.

The Future of DeFi

The future of DeFi looks promising, with continuous innovation and growing adoption. As blockchain technology advances and scalability solutions are implemented, DeFi has the potential to disrupt traditional financial systems further. Regulatory clarity and improved security measures will be crucial for the sustainable growth of the DeFi ecosystem.

DeFi is likely to continue attracting attention from both retail and institutional investors, driving further development and integration of decentralized financial services. The flexibility and inclusivity offered by DeFi make it a compelling alternative to traditional finance, paving the way for a more open and accessible financial future.

Conclusion

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) represents a significant shift in the financial landscape, leveraging blockchain technology to create a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient financial system. Despite the challenges, the benefits of DeFi and its continuous innovation make it a transformative force in the world of finance. Notable projects like Uniswap, Aave, and MakerDAO, along with unique contributions from meme coins like Sexy Meme Coin, demonstrate the diverse and dynamic nature of the DeFi ecosystem.

For those interested in exploring the playful and innovative side of DeFi, Sexy Meme Coin offers a unique and entertaining platform. Visit Sexy Meme Coin to learn more and join the community.

[coolreallifes]

How to Choose the Best Broker for Stock, Forex, and Crypto Trading in 2024?

Navigating the world of trading can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to selecting the right broker to meet your trading requirements. Whether you’re interested in stocks, forex, or cryptocurrencies, the choice of broker can significantly impact your trading experience and success. In this post, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when choosing a broker and introduce you to ForexJudge.com, a reliable resource that offers comprehensive reviews and detailed analysis of the world’s best brokers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Broker

Regulation and Security:

Ensure the broker is regulated by a reputable financial authority. Regulation provides a level of security and oversight, protecting you from fraudulent activities.

Look for brokers that offer robust security measures, including encryption and two-factor authentication, to safeguard your funds and personal information.

Trading Platform:

A good trading platform should be user-friendly, reliable, and equipped with essential tools for analysis and trading.

Consider whether the platform offers mobile compatibility if you plan to trade on-the-go.

Fees and Commissions:

Compare the fees and commissions charged by different brokers. Lower fees can significantly enhance your profitability, especially if you trade frequently.

Be aware of hidden fees, such as withdrawal charges, inactivity fees, or charges for additional services.

Range of Assets:

Ensure the broker offers the range of assets you’re interested in trading. If you plan to diversify your portfolio, choose a broker that provides access to stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies.

Some brokers specialize in specific asset classes, so make sure your chosen broker aligns with your trading preferences.

Customer Support:

Reliable customer support is crucial, especially if you encounter issues with your account or trading platform. Look for brokers that offer multiple support channels, including live chat, phone, and email.

Check reviews to gauge the quality and responsiveness of the broker’s customer service.

Education and Resources:

Many brokers offer educational resources such as tutorials, webinars, and market analysis. These resources can be invaluable, especially for beginners.

A broker that provides regular market updates and trading insights can help you stay informed and make better trading decisions.

How ForexJudge.com Can Help

With so many brokers available, making an informed choice can be challenging. This is where ForexJudge.com comes in. ForexJudge is a trusted platform that has compiled detailed reviews and analysis of the world’s best brokers. By providing comprehensive information and user feedback, ForexJudge helps traders make well-informed decisions.

Detailed Broker Reviews

ForexJudge offers in-depth reviews of brokers across various asset classes, including stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. Each review covers critical aspects such as regulation, fees, trading platforms, and customer support. By reading these reviews, you can gain valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different brokers, helping you choose the one that best meets your needs.

User Feedback and Ratings

In addition to expert reviews, ForexJudge features user feedback and ratings. This community-driven aspect allows traders to share their experiences and provide honest assessments of brokers. This real-world feedback can offer a clearer picture of what to expect and help you avoid potential pitfalls.

Regular Updates and Alerts

The trading world is dynamic, with brokers frequently updating their services, fees, and policies. ForexJudge keeps you informed with regular updates and alerts, ensuring you have the latest information at your fingertips. This proactive approach helps you stay ahead of the curve and make timely decisions.

Making the Final Decision

When choosing a broker, it’s essential to consider your trading goals, risk tolerance, and preferred asset classes. By leveraging the resources available on ForexJudge, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your trading strategy.

Steps to Follow:

Identify Your Needs:

Determine what you want to trade (stocks, forex, crypto) and what features are most important to you (low fees, robust platform, educational resources).

Research and Compare:

Use ForexJudge’s detailed reviews and user feedback to compare different brokers. Pay close attention to factors such as regulation, fees, and customer support.

Test the Platform:

Many brokers offer demo accounts. Use these to test the trading platform and ensure it meets your needs before committing real funds.

Start Small:

When you choose a broker, start with a small investment to test the waters. As you gain confidence and experience, you can increase your trading capital.

Conclusion

Choosing the right broker is a crucial step in your trading journey. By considering factors such as regulation, fees, trading platforms, and customer support, you can make an informed choice that enhances your trading experience.

For a reliable resource in your broker selection process, turn to ForexJudge.com. With its comprehensive reviews, user feedback, and regular updates, ForexJudge provides the insights you need to make the best decision for your trading needs.

Happy trading, and may your investments be fruitful!

[cyberpunkonline]

The Untamed Web: How Internet Culture Rebels, Evolves, and Defines Our Digital Age

What is Internet culture? The question drifts through the ether like a rogue signal, elusive and captivating. To untangle this web, we must trace its lineage back to its inception, a digital genesis rooted in the analog rituals of Deadheads in the 70s. Much like those dedicated followers of the Grateful Dead, early Internet denizens sought connection and community, but instead of tapes and stories, they shared bytes and bits in mailing lists and Usenet newsgroups. Here, intellectuals, hackers, and rebels mingled in a digital potluck of ideas, raw and unfiltered.

As the dial-up tones gave way to the persistent hum of a growing network, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) emerged as the heartbeat of this underground culture. Real-time interaction became the new frontier, a global speakeasy where minds met in channels dedicated to everything imaginable. This wasn't just idle chat; it was a crucible for innovation and rebellion. Hacking groups like Cult of the Dead Cow and Legion of Doom pushed the limits of technology and legality, shaping the Internet in their anarchic image.

Then came vaporwave, the eerie soundtrack of a digital dystopia. This genre, with its nostalgic echoes of the 80s and 90s, felt like the Internet itself was creating music. Vaporwave artists like MACINTOSH PLUS crafted tracks that were both haunting and familiar, resonating with those disillusioned by the encroaching corporatization of digital spaces. It was a sonic rebellion, an aural middle finger to the commercialization of the Internet.

Memes, those viral fragments of culture, became the lifeblood of this digital underground. From the early days of "All Your Base Are Belong to Us," a quirky mistranslation from the game Zero Wing, to the complex narratives of modern memes, these digital artifacts spread like wildfire, uniting and dividing communities in equal measure. The tragicomic saga of Harambe, the gorilla shot at the Cincinnati Zoo, turned into a meme that evolved into a cultural phenomenon and even inspired a cryptocurrency in his legacy. Memes are the modern folklore, ever-evolving and reflective of the current digital zeitgeist.

At its core, Internet underground culture embodies the cyberpunk ethos—an unyielding rebellion against corporate overlords, a fight for digital freedom and privacy. Piracy, casual hacking, and the rise of cryptocurrency are not just acts of defiance but declarations of identity. This culture stands in stark opposition to corporatism, advocating for the decentralization of information and power. The emergence of decentralized networks and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are testaments to this ongoing struggle for autonomy.

Influences of Discordianism, with its embrace of chaos and rejection of traditional structures, permeate this culture. The Internet thrives on disruption, finding beauty in the unpredictable and the chaotic. It's a digital frontier where order is constantly challenged, and chaos is celebrated.

Politicians view Internet culture with a mix of fascination and fear. The concept of an "ungovernable" digital populace is both an ideal and a nightmare. Early Internet pioneers dreamed of a decentralized, unregulated space where freedom reigned supreme. However, as the Internet has grown, so too have efforts to control it. Governments impose regulations, corporations seek to monetize it, and the original vision of an ungovernable digital utopia becomes harder to live. Yet, pockets of resistance remain, where the spirit of rebellion and the desire for autonomy continue to thrive.

But like any culture, it has a dual nature. The democratization of information and the global connections fostered by Internet culture are profound positives. Yet, the same platforms that unite can also incubate hate speech and cybercrime. It is a reflection of humanity itself, with its myriad facets of light and dark.

So, what is Internet culture in 2024? It is a digital rebellion, a chaotic blend of nostalgia, anti-corporatism, and radical freedom of expression that continues to shape and redefine the digital landscape. In one sentence: Internet culture is the chaotic digital tapestry woven from the threads of rebellion, nostalgia, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.

We seek resistance. It begins with the maintainance of the culture.

[xannador]

Have you considered going to Pillowfort?

Long answer down below:

I have been to the Sheezys, the Buzzlys, the Mastodons, etc. These platforms all saw a surge of new activity whenever big sites did something unpopular. But they always quickly died because of mismanagement or users going back to their old haunts due to lack of activity or digital Stockholm syndrome.

From what I have personally seen, a website that was purely created as an alternative to another has little chance of taking off. It it's going to work, it needs to be developed naturally and must fill a different niche. I mean look at Zuckerberg's Threads; died as fast as it blew up. Will Pillowford be any different?

The only alternative that I found with potential was the fediverse (mastodon) because of its decentralized nature. So people could make their own rules. If Jack Dorsey's new dating app Bluesky gets integrated into this system, it might have a chance. Although decentralized communities will be faced with unique challenges of their own (egos being one of the biggest, I think).

Trying to build a new platform right now might be a waste of time anyway because AI is going to completely reshape the Internet as we know it. This new technology is going to send shockwaves across the world akin to those caused by the invention of the Internet itself over 40 years ago. I'm sure most people here are aware of the damage it is doing to artists and writers. You have also likely seen the other insidious applications. Social media is being bombarded with a flood of fake war footage/other AI-generated disinformation. If you posted a video of your own voice online, criminals can feed it into an AI to replicate it and contact your bank in an attempt to get your financial info. You can make anyone who has recorded themselves say and do whatever you want. Children are using AI to make revenge porn of their classmates as a new form of bullying. Politicians are saying things they never said in their lives. Google searches are being poisoned by people who use AI to data scrape news sites to generate nonsensical articles and clickbait. Soon video evidence will no longer be used in court because we won't be able to tell real footage from deep fakes.

50% of the Internet's traffic is now bots. In some cases, websites and forums have been reduced to nothing more than different chatbots talking to each other, with no humans in sight.

I don't think we have to count on government intervention to solve this problem. The Western world could ban all AI tomorrow and other countries that are under no obligation to follow our laws or just don't care would continue to use it to poison the Internet. Pandora's box is open, and there's no closing it now.

Yet I cannot stand an Internet where I post a drawing or comic and the only interactions I get are from bots that are so convincing that I won't be able to tell the difference between them and real people anymore. When all that remains of art platforms are waterfalls of AI sludge where my work is drowned out by a virtually infinite amount of pictures that are generated in a fraction of a second. While I had to spend +40 hours for a visually inferior result.

If that is what I can expect to look forward to, I might as well delete what remains of my Internet presence today. I don't know what to do and I don't know where to go. This is a depressing post. I wish, after the countless hours I spent looking into this problem, I would be able to offer a solution.

All I know for sure is that artists should not remain on "Art/Creative" platforms that deliberately steal their work to feed it to their own AI or sell their data to companies that will. I left Artstation and DeviantArt for those reasons and I want to do the same with Tumblr. It's one thing when social media like Xitter, Tik Tok or Instagram do it, because I expect nothing less from the filth that runs those. But creative platforms have the obligation to, if not protect, at least not sell out their users.

But good luck convincing the entire collective of Tumblr, Artstation, and DeviantArt to leave. Especially when there is no good alternative. The Internet has never been more centralized into a handful of platforms, yet also never been more lonely and scattered. I miss the sense of community we artists used to have.

The truth is that there is nowhere left to run. Because everywhere is the same. You can try using Glaze or Nightshade to protect your work. But I don't know if I trust either of them. I don't trust anything that offers solutions that are 'too good to be true'. And even if take those preemptive measures, what is to stop the tech bros from updating their scrapers to work around Glaze and steal your work anyway? I will admit I don't entirely understand how the technology works so I don't know if this is a legitimate concern. But I'm just wondering if this is going to become some kind of digital arms race between tech bros and artists? Because that is a battle where the artists lose.

[rideboomindia]

How RideBoom auto rickshaw plan is differ from rapido and ola

Here are some key ways the RideBoom auto rickshaw plan may differ from the offerings of larger players like Rapido and Ola:

Target Market:

RideBoom may be focusing more on serving the needs of traditional auto rickshaw drivers and commuters, a segment that may not be the primary focus for the larger ride-hailing platforms.

By catering to this market, RideBoom's plan could offer features and benefits tailored to the specific requirements and challenges faced by auto rickshaw drivers and passengers in its local market.

Operational Model:

RideBoom's auto rickshaw plan may have a more decentralized, community-driven approach, potentially involving partnerships with local auto rickshaw associations or cooperatives.

This could allow RideBoom to better integrate with the existing auto rickshaw ecosystem, leveraging local knowledge and relationships.

Technology and Innovation:

As a smaller, more agile player, RideBoom may be able to innovate and implement new technologies more quickly to address the unique needs of the auto rickshaw market.

This could include features like specialized mobile apps, digital payment solutions, or fleet management systems tailored for auto rickshaws.

Regulatory Approach:

RideBoom's auto rickshaw plan may navigate local regulations and licensing requirements more adeptly, given its deeper understanding of the market and closer ties with the auto rickshaw community.

This could allow RideBoom to offer a more streamlined and compliant service compared to the larger platforms, which may face greater bureaucratic challenges in certain markets.

Customer Service and Support:

RideBoom's smaller scale and localized focus may enable it to provide more personalized customer service and support to both auto rickshaw drivers and passengers.

This could include dedicated hotlines, in-person assistance, or community-based problem-solving mechanisms that cater to the specific needs of the auto rickshaw ecosystem.

Sustainability and Social Impact:

RideBoom's auto rickshaw plan may have a stronger emphasis on supporting the livelihoods of traditional auto rickshaw drivers, potentially offering better earnings, training, or social welfare programs.

This could position RideBoom as a more socially responsible player, committed to empowering and integrating the auto rickshaw community into the evolving transportation landscape.

While Rapido and Ola may have greater resources and scale, RideBoom's auto rickshaw plan could leverage its local market knowledge, community-based approach, and innovative solutions to differentiate itself and better serve the unique needs of the auto rickshaw segment. Effective execution and a deep understanding of the local context will be critical for RideBoom to carve out a sustainable niche in this competitive market.

[mariacallous]

Can you imagine what a digital white ethnostate or a cyber caliphate might look like? Having spent most of my career on the inside of online extremist movements, I certainly can. The year 2024 might be the one in which neo-Nazis, jihadists, and conspiracy theorists turn their utopian visions of creating their own self-governed states into reality—not offline, but in the form of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs).

DAOs are digital entities that are collaboratively governed without central leadership and operate based on blockchain. They allow internet users to establish their own organizational structures, which no longer require the involvement of a third party in financial transactions and rulemaking. The World Economic Forum described DAOs as “an experiment to reimagine how we connect, collaborate and create”. However, as with all new technologies, there is also a darker side to them: They are likely to give rise to new threats emerging from decentralized extremist mobilization.

Today, there are already over 10,000 DAOs, which collectively manage billions of dollars and count millions of participants. So far, DAOs have attracted a wild mix of libertarians, activists, pranksters, and hobbyists. Most DAOs I have come across in my research sound innocent and fun. Personally, my favorites include theCaféDAO, which aims “to replace Starbucks” (good luck with that!); the Doge DAO, which wants to “make the Doge meme the most recognizable piece of art in the world”; and the HairDAO, “a decentralized asset manager solving hair loss.” But some DAOs use a more radical tone. For example, the Redacted Club DAO, which is rife with alt-right codes and conspiracy myth references, claims to be a secret network with the aim of “slaying” the “evil Meta Lizard King.”

The year 2024 might be one in which extremists start using DAOs strategically. Policies, legal contracts, and financial transactions that were traditionally the domain of governments, courts, and banks can be replaced with smart contracts, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and cryptocurrencies. The use of anonymous bitcoin wallets and non-transparent cryptocurrencies such as Monero is already widespread among extremists whose bank accounts have been frozen. A shift to entirely decentralized forms of self-governance is only one step away.

Beyond practical reasons that encourage extremists to create their own self-governed structures, there is an ideological incentive too: their fundamental distrust in the establishment. If you believe that the deep state or the “global Jewish elites” control everything from governments and Big Tech to the global banking system, DAOs offer an appealing alternative. Conversations on far-right fringe platforms such as BitChute and Odysee reveal that there is much appetite for decentralized alternative forms of collaboration, communication, and crowdfunding.

So what happens if anti-minority groups establish their own digital worlds in which they impose their own governing mechanisms? What are the stakes if trolling armies start cooperating via DAOs to launch election interference campaigns? The activities of extremist DAOs could challenge the rule of law, pose a threat to minority groups, and disrupt institutions that are currently considered fundamental pillars of democratic systems. Another risk is that DAOs can serve as safe havens for extremist movements by enabling users to circumvent government regulation and security services monitoring activities. They might also allow extremists to find new ways to fundraise, plan, and plot radicalization campaigns or even attacks. While many governments have focused on developing legal frameworks to regulate AI, few have even recognized the existence of DAOs. Their looming exploitation for extremist and criminal purposes is something that has flown under the radar of global policymakers.

Technology expert Carl Miller, who has long warned of potential misuse of DAOs, told me that “even though DAOs behave like companies, they are not registered as legal entities.” There are only a few exceptions: The US states of Wyoming, Vermont, and Tennessee have passed laws to legally recognize DAOs. With no regulations in place to hold DAOs accountable for extremist or criminal activities, the big question for 2024 will be: How can we ensure the metaverse doesn’t give rise to digital white ethnostates or cyber caliphates?

[xoxovalerie-c]

Blog Post Week 11: Due 11/7

How do news media narrate Black individuals as criminals?

It's disturbing to consider how media narratives often shape and control the lives of Black individuals, especially when it comes to portraying them in negative ways. A whole story is often created and broadcasted nationwide, influencing how they are viewed by society. As Professor Lee points out, there are numerous examples of how the media manipulates images and information to create a specific narrative. For instance, in the case of in the case of Trayvon Martin, the news media searched his Facebook account and circulated a photo of Martin glaring into the camera, wearing a baseball cap, and sticking up his middle finger, which blocks the bottom half of his face. However, the Martin family circulated a photo of Martin smiling without a hat or anything else blocking his face. In both cases, the photo circulated by the news was used to characterize both Brown and Martin as trouble-makers needing to be surveilled or “patrolled”, and in many ways justifying the violence and murder of Brown and Martin (Lee, 2017). The media’s selective use of imagery and language serves to criminalize Black individuals, framing them as "other" and justifying harmful actions like police violence. By consistently highlighting certain negative aspects of their identities, the news media play a crucial role in maintaining the societal narrative that Black people are more likely to be involved in criminal activity, even when there is little to no evidence to support such claims.

What is genealogy and how does it correspond to Black Twitter? 

Genealogy is used to highlight moments that might seem unrelated to larger social or political events but in contrast, they are deeply connected. For example, the study of the viral hashtags within Black Twitter can be considered a genealogical work because it investigates how these online expressions are connected to deeper histories and social contexts. In this way, genealogy offers insights into specific moments that need public awareness. Therefore, the analysis of black Twitter includes 24-h snapshots of the most retweeted hashtags, along with heavily circulated memes, photo statements, and videos (Lee, 2017 ).

In what ways does hacktivism challenge traditional protest methods?

Hacktivism challenges traditional protest methods by utilizing digital platforms to mobilize and organize without the need for physical gatherings. It allows activists to bypass traditional media and government control, creating decentralized and anonymous forms of resistance. Additionally, hacktivism can disrupt systems of power through cyberattacks, like website defacements or data leaks, which are harder to suppress or control than street protests.

Why is Animal Crossing being considered controversial? 

Animal Crossing is being considered controversial because, despite its seemingly innocent, relaxing gameplay, it introduces players to a world where they take on debt without clear consequences. The game's mechanics, such as paying off loans and engaging in a supply-and-demand economy, mirror capitalist systems, subtly teaching players about consumerism and the pressure of financial obligations.

Lee, L. (2017). Black twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, Sandor. Cyberactivism: Online Activism in Theory and Practice

Bogost, I. (2020, April 15). The quiet revolution of Animal Crossing. The Atlantic.

[fxproptech]

Which is Better: Forex, Crypto, or Stock? A Deep Dive into Prop Firm Tech

INTRODUCTION

The financial landscape is constantly changing, and with new changes comes the production of more choices than ever for traders. The most common include Forex, cryptocurrency, and stock trading. Each market has special characteristics and advantages but carries difficulties, so the emergence of prop firm tech allowed trading to become more accessible and efficient. In this blog, we will be talking about the pros and cons of

Forex, crypto, and stock trading and how prop firm tech can enhance your trading experience.

Underlying the Markets

Forex Market

Forex represents the world’s largest financial market, referring to that market where currency trades occur.

High Liquidations: Forex offers a level of liquidation that is high. Its trading volumes exceed $6 trillion, allowing the traders to comfortably enter and leave positions. Forex is traded 24 hours a day on weekdays, thus offering ample convenience for the traders.

Leverage: Most Forex brokers are highly leveraged. This means that a trader controls much larger positions with lesser capital.

Challenges despite the advantages:

The leverage might create a highly volatile currency price and the highest risk it causes is that it is an effect of its highly volatile nature.

There is an overwhelming complexity in managing economic indicators, and there are geopolitical factors too, which are not easy to handle for new traders.

Crypto Market

The crypto market is trading in digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more than 5,000 altcoins.

Benefits:

Volatility: The crypto market is volatile. Within a very short duration, one can gain tremendous returns.

Decentralized: With cryptocurrencies, there is a decentralized peer-to-peer network so that no banks are used to monitor transactions.

It is open: All it needs is an internet connection to create opportunities with this kind of market, and it reaches across the globe.

Regulatory Risks: The regulation of the crypto market is not well-established, so it is an uncertain area.

Security Risks: Crypto space is highly prevalent with hackers as well as scams. Hence, the traders must beware of the same.

Stock Market

Definition: the stock market represents an entity where shares of publicly traded companies are traded

Benefits

Governance and Transparency: Since the stock market is very well governed, it offers some kind of security for investors.

Dividends: Most stocks pay dividends thereby ensuring that the investor earns some income from the shares.

Research and Analysis: There is much information to make stock analysis hence helping the traders come to a conclusion.

Drawbacks

Market Hours: the stock market only operates within fixed hours thereby limiting trading.

Lesser Volatility Stock prices often exhibit much slower movements in comparison to Forex and crypto price swings, potentially leading to reduced profit margins.

Prop Firm Tech: Revolutionizing Trading

There has always been a high level of diversity in markets, and for this reason, prop firm tech has emerged as the real deal. Proprietary firms provide capital to traders while engaging them with the latest technology to enhance their trading strategy.

This is how prop firm tech is revolutionizing the game of trading:

Access to Capital

Prop firms also enable traders to gain access to significant capital, thus they can take bigger positions and can hence gain larger profits. Such is truly rewarding for Forex and crypto traders who may not have that much money required to trade even in the best possible way.

Sophisticated Trading Platforms

Proprietary trading firms invest in advanced trading technology that gives traders cutting-edge platforms offering a high level of data provision, sophisticated charting tools, and automated trading features. This tech can significantly enhance the trading experience across Forex, crypto, and stocks.

Risk Management Tools

Prop firm tech also features powerful risk management tools, which can help in minimizing the trader’s loss and ensure the safety of capital. Such tools are quite essential in volatile markets like Forex or even cryptocurrencies, whose prices tend to change rapidly.

Education and Training

Alarge number of prop firms offer educational resources, mentorship, or training for the development of a required skill base by the traders. Support is highly important to any new traders entering Forex, crypto, or even the stock market.

Community and Networking

Trading with a prop firm usually involves trading with other people. This facilitates several things: you will have to have a community of fellow traders, exchanging insights and ideas, strategies you’re implementing, and support you give someone else.

Feature | Forex | Cryptocurrency | Stock Market

Liquidity | High | Varies by asset | High (for major stocks)

Volatility | Moderate to High | High | Moderate

Trading Hours | 24/5 | 24/7 | Limited (specific hours)

Leverage | High | Varies | Low to Moderate

Regulation | High | Low (still evolving) | High

Education | Available (varied by broker) | Limited (varies widely) | Extensive (research available)

Technology | Advanced prop firm tech available | Emerging tools | Established trading platforms

Conclusion

Is Forex, cryptocurrency, or stock trading the best?

The above question doesn’t have a definitive answer, since each market has specific positives and negatives suited to different types of trading. However, with the help of rising prop firm tech, the tools and resources available to every trader can improve trading experiences across all markets.

If you are looking for high liquidity and flexibility, Forex may be the choice. For people who seek high returns and have no fear of volatility, then cryptocurrency may be the way to go. Meanwhile, for those wanting a more regulated environment with an abundance of readily available research, stock trading may be the way to go.

Based on which one is best depends on the trading style of the individual, his risk tolerance, and preferences, you could consider your options while maximizing your trading potential with the benefits of prop firm tech, irrespective of the market.

[surfboardfinance1]

Introducing Surfboard Finance: Revolutionizing Blockchain Asset Management

Surfboard Finance: Revolutionizing the Future of Blockchain Asset Management

In the rapidly evolving landscape of blockchain technology, managing digital assets across multiple networks can be a complex and fragmented experience. Surfboard Finance has emerged as a game-changer, offering users a seamless and comprehensive platform to manage a diverse portfolio, from cryptocurrencies to NFTs, all within a unified interface.

Bridging the Gap in Blockchain Asset Management Blockchain enthusiasts and investors often face a significant hurdle: managing their assets spread across various networks. Each blockchain ecosystem, whether it’s Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, or others, operates independently with its own protocols and systems. This decentralization, while innovative, creates silos that complicate asset management. Users are left juggling multiple platforms, wallets, and interfaces to track and analyze their assets, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors.

Surfboard Finance addresses these challenges head-on by aggregating data from various blockchains into one user-friendly platform. Its unique ability to provide a holistic view of assets in real-time empowers users to make well-informed decisions quickly. No more switching between wallets or interfaces – with Surfboard Finance, everything you need is at your fingertips.

The Power of AI in Blockchain

One of the standout features of Surfboard Finance is its use of AI-powered insights. In the volatile world of blockchain, timing and data-driven decisions are crucial. Surfboard's AI analyzes user portfolios and market trends, offering predictive analytics that help investors strategize effectively. This feature enhances user experience by delivering actionable insights, recommending when to buy, sell, or hold assets.

As blockchain ecosystems grow more complex, AI integration will be key in managing risk, identifying opportunities, and optimizing asset allocation. Surfboard Finance’s forward-thinking approach in this area solidifies its position as a leader in the blockchain space.

Empowering Users Through Decentralization

The ethos of decentralization remains a core principle for Surfboard Finance. Through its DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) governance model, users have a direct say in the platform’s evolution. From proposing new features to voting on key decisions, Surfboard's community-driven approach empowers users to shape the future of the platform. This level of transparency and involvement fosters trust and enhances user engagement, setting Surfboard Finance apart from other platforms in the market.

Surfboard Finance’s Vision for the Future

Surfboard Finance’s roadmap is packed with exciting developments. As part of its vision for the future, the platform aims to introduce advanced analytics for deeper market insights, enhanced AI capabilities, and a mobile app for on-the-go portfolio management. Furthermore, multi-language support will expand its global reach, making blockchain asset management more accessible to users worldwide.

Strategic partnerships with key players in the blockchain and financial sectors are also on the horizon. These collaborations will enhance the platform’s capabilities and open up new opportunities for investors.

Conclusion

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, Surfboard Finance is leading the charge in simplifying and transforming asset management. By providing a unified platform with AI-driven insights, decentralized governance, and a clear vision for the future, Surfboard Finance is poised to revolutionize how users manage their digital assets.

Whether you're a seasoned blockchain investor or new to the space, Surfboard Finance offers a comprehensive solution for efficient and informed asset management.

Call to Action: Ready to take control of your blockchain assets with Surfboard Finance? Visit our website to learn more, stay updated on new features, and be part of the community shaping the future of blockchain asset management.

Website: www.surfboard.finance Twitter: @SurfboardFinance Telegram: Surfboard Finance Group

[tokenlauncher]

Which Blockchain Should You Choose: Solana or Ethereum for Your Token?

When it comes to launching your own cryptocurrency token, the choice of blockchain is crucial. The two most popular options for token creation are Solana and Ethereum, each with their unique strengths and capabilities. While Ethereum has long been the go-to blockchain for developers and projects, Solana has emerged as a strong competitor with its focus on speed, scalability, and low transaction fees. In this blog, we’ll compare Solana and Ethereum, focusing on why Solana might be the better choice for your token, especially when using tools like the Solana token creator, instant token creator, and revoke mint authority tool.

Why Blockchain Choice Matters for Token Creation

Choosing the right blockchain is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make when launching a token. It impacts the speed, cost, scalability, and even the potential success of your token. Both Solana and Ethereum are popular choices, but the differences between them can significantly affect your project.

Ethereum is the older, more established blockchain, known for its smart contract functionality. However, Ethereum has been facing challenges with network congestion and high gas fees, which can be prohibitive for smaller projects or high-frequency transactions.

Solana, on the other hand, offers a faster and more cost-effective solution, making it an ideal option for creators looking to scale quickly and minimize fees. Let’s take a closer look at the key features of both blockchains and why Solana might be the better choice.

Ethereum: The Long-Standing King

Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and has been a popular choice for decentralized applications (dApps) and token creation. It supports the widely-used ERC-20 and ERC-721 token standards, which have become industry benchmarks for fungible and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Strengths of Ethereum:

Established Ecosystem: Ethereum has a vast ecosystem of developers, tools, and decentralized applications, making it a reliable choice for many projects.

Smart Contracts: Ethereum pioneered smart contracts, allowing developers to build complex applications that run on its blockchain.

Security: As one of the most secure blockchains, Ethereum is backed by thousands of nodes worldwide, ensuring decentralization and robustness.

However, Ethereum is not without its drawbacks.

Weaknesses of Ethereum:

High Gas Fees: Ethereum’s transaction fees, known as gas fees, can be extremely high during peak times, making it costly for token transfers and smart contract executions.

Scalability Issues: Ethereum can only handle around 15 transactions per second, which often leads to network congestion and slow transaction times.

Transition to Ethereum 2.0: While Ethereum is working on transitioning to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system with Ethereum 2.0, the current Proof-of-Work (PoW) model is slower and less efficient than Solana’s model.

Solana: The Fast and Scalable Contender

Solana is quickly gaining traction as a go-to blockchain for token creation and decentralized applications. Known for its high throughput and low fees, Solana offers significant advantages over Ethereum, especially for projects requiring fast transaction speeds and scalability.

Strengths of Solana:

High-Speed Transactions: Solana can handle up to 65,000 transactions per second (TPS), compared to Ethereum’s 15 TPS. This makes it an ideal choice for projects that require high throughput, such as decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms or gaming tokens.

Low Fees: Transaction costs on Solana are typically less than a fraction of a cent, making it much more affordable than Ethereum, especially for projects with frequent transactions.

Solana Token Creator: The Solana token creator is a user-friendly tool that allows anyone to create their own token without the need for extensive coding knowledge. This feature simplifies the token creation process, enabling projects to launch tokens quickly and efficiently.

Instant Token Creator: With the instant token creator, users can mint tokens in minutes, further reducing the time and cost involved in token generation.

Revoke Mint Authority Tool: Solana offers a unique revoke mint authority tool, which allows creators to remove the minting privileges after creating the token. This ensures that no more tokens can be minted in the future, preventing inflation and protecting the token’s value.

Scalability: Solana’s architecture is designed for scalability, making it an ideal platform for growing projects that anticipate high transaction volumes.

Weaknesses of Solana:

Less Established Ecosystem: While Solana’s ecosystem is growing rapidly, it is still smaller than Ethereum’s.

Fewer Developers: Ethereum has a larger developer community, which means there are more tools and resources available for Ethereum projects. However, Solana is catching up quickly.

Why Solana Is Better for Token Creation

While Ethereum has its merits, Solana stands out as a better choice for token creation, particularly for projects focused on speed, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Here’s why:

Lower Transaction Costs: Solana’s low transaction fees make it an affordable choice, particularly for smaller projects or those requiring frequent token transfers. Ethereum’s high gas fees can be a barrier to entry, especially for new developers and small-scale projects.

Faster Transactions: Solana’s ability to process up to 65,000 transactions per second means your token will operate smoothly, even during high-demand periods. Ethereum’s slower transaction speeds can lead to delays and bottlenecks, especially during times of network congestion.

Instant Token Creation: The instant token creator on Solana allows you to create and launch your token in a matter of minutes, streamlining the entire process. With Ethereum, token creation can be more complex and time-consuming due to high fees and slower speeds.

Revoke Mint Authority: With Solana’s revoke mint authority tool, you can ensure that no more tokens are minted after the initial creation, offering additional security and peace of mind. This feature is particularly useful for projects that want to establish a fixed supply and maintain token scarcity.

Scalability for Growing Projects: As your project grows, you’ll need a blockchain that can handle an increasing number of transactions. Solana’s scalable architecture ensures that your project can grow without experiencing delays or high costs, unlike Ethereum, which struggles with scalability.

Conclusion: Choose Solana for Your Token

When it comes to choosing between Solana and Ethereum for your token, Solana offers several key advantages. With its Solana token creator, instant token creator, and revoke mint authority tool, Solana makes token creation easy, fast, and secure. The combination of low fees, high transaction speeds, and scalability makes Solana an excellent choice for both small and large projects alike. While Ethereum remains a strong platform, Solana’s cutting-edge technology is quickly making it the preferred blockchain for token creation in 2023 and beyond.

If you’re ready to create your own token, Solana provides the tools and infrastructure you need to succeed. Start exploring the Solana token creator today and take advantage of the fastest-growing blockchain in the crypto world.

[jeeva-trials]

Why Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Trials should be a Research Priority? | Jeeva Trials

Disparities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are common and well-known in clinical trials. It is well-documented that racial minorities, underprivileged, and non-white ethnic groups are much less represented in clinical trials. Historically, the numbers of clinical trial participants from diverse populations have not reflected real-world populations. Minorities often underrepresented in clinical trials include women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, indigenous populations, older adults, Native Americans, pediatric patients, and people living in hard-to-reach geographies.

In the United States, socio-economic and geographic divides persistently limit patient diversity in clinical trials. As a result, we have only partial understanding of how safe and effective therapies are when they launch. Without diverse communities, researchers run the risk of making assumptions about drug safety and effectiveness that may not be accurate. There is a need to increase participation and retention among diverse patients who may otherwise not be invited to participate in clinical trials for new drug development. Not only would these measures provide pivotal data for a variety of backgrounds, but it would also provide these study participants with first access to new precision therapies at no cost, a privilege of the few.

Why are inclusive clinical trials important?

Addressing the challenges of diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical trials is important because there are many occurrences when drugs behaved differently from one population to another. Failing to understand these differences at the clinical trial stage, in which patients are monitored most closely, could result in suboptimal drug efficacy and potentially avoidable safety issues due to overexposure and underexposure to the drugs in many future patients. Having representative patient populations in clinical trials helps ensure the safety and effectiveness of therapies for everyone.

How to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical trials

Do not select a site merely because of familiarity or convenience, especially if these sites have no demonstrable reach in that community beyond their location. Clinical Trial sites should include locations with a higher concentration of racial and ethnic minority patients. Factor in relevant disease prevalence data in those areas when designing protocols or planning recruitment initiatives.

Do not treat Black and Brown communities as monolithic groups that have the same life experiences. Do not set people of color into shallow narratives and stereotypes, such as Black people can only be reached through the church. Similarly, defaulting to do business with majority-owned (read: White) firms simply because they are familiar, and you feel comfortable to communicate and connect with them is not the right practice.

It is important to carefully examine exclusion and inclusion criteria to ensure they are necessary to achieve study objectives and that they do not pose an unnecessary barrier for would-be enrollees. When possible, reducing the frequency of study visits, collaborative strategies, expanded access, flexibility in visit windows, and electronic communication tools should be employed to make trials more inclusive. Clinical trial participation should be made less burdensome for the volunteers and caregivers.

Legal frameworks and recent initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion in clinical trials

Improvements in DEI initiatives have of late come from recognition by drug developers, lawmakers, sponsors, patient advocates and regulatory authorities of the importance of DEI in clinical trials, and how sociocultural variables reverberate in clinical research. In reality, the void in diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical trials and research is an old problem as it only represents a disproportional disease burden. What is unprecedented is the widespread attention that diversity, equity and inclusion has gotten in clinical trials recently. The fierce urgency to develop effective coronavirus solutions means that these inequities in clinical trials are finally getting the attention long needed.

Indeed, there is a need to address the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials if innovators are to fulfill their promise of precision medicines for each individual. Information flow, data sharing, and reducing the logistical burden to participate are high-priority areas to improve access for underrepresented populations. This is also true in research laboratories where the greater the diversity of the participating patient population, the higher the chances that certain breakthroughs from clinical trials may be achieved.

Overcoming barriers and achieving DEI in clinical trials with technology

Systematic change in how we approach the issue of diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical trials is needed for the real clinical trial diversity to transpire. The Jeeva eClinical Cloud (Jeeva) is a modular Software as a Service (SaaS) subscription model that is designed to help a clinical study’s annual budget on a simple per participant basis, while ensuring that the study participants are truly represented to include diversity, equity, and inclusion. The platform has many features such as eConsent, pre-screening, automated enrollment workflow, adverse event reporting and more to maximize diversity, equity, and inclusion for the participants, such as women and minorities that are less likely to participate in clinical trials due to logistical burdens and special needs such as childcare, transportation and loss of pay.

Walking the talk of patient-centricity

Jeeva considers patients as critical partners, not merely subjects of study, and walks the talk of patient-centricity. The cloud platform incorporates patient voices early during clinical trial protocol development and logistical planning. Jeeva believes that humanizing the workflows leaves room for humanizing the patient experience, and creates an atmosphere of trust, especially among the communities of color and ethnic minorities that have traditionally been underrepresented in studies. Jeeva is developed by researchers with empathy who listen to help clinical researchers, hospitals, academia, CROs and biopharmaceutical sponsors to address the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical trials, and accelerate patient recruitment by three times faster.

Minimizing regulatory risk and maximizing compliance

Jeeva’s bring your own device (BYOD) platform makes it easy for study investigators to onboard, retain and engage participants with an appropriate focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jeeva’s experienced coordinators are trained to manage trial operations to minimize burden, reduce dropouts, and improve compliance meeting regulatory requirements at various levels, such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guideline by the international code of harmonization (ICH), human subjects’ protection guidelines, data protection guidelines such as GDPR, and institutional review boards (IRBs) that help in accelerating the development of therapies.

The platform is designed to enhance geographic and demographic diversity and reduces 70% burden on study teams and participants to collect data that are representative of the population. Jeeva supports multi-site studies with centralized monitoring dashboard, and centralized study management & monitoring.

As researchers seek to accelerate regulatory approvals, Jeeva eClinical SaaS can help achieve this goal while also increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials by enabling wider access to participants irrespective of their zipcode.

[sexymemecoin]

The Expansive World of Cryptocurrencies: Innovations, Challenges, and Notable Projects

Cryptocurrencies have revolutionized the financial landscape since the introduction of Bitcoin in 2009. These digital assets leverage blockchain technology to offer decentralized, secure, and transparent financial transactions. Over the past decade, the cryptocurrency ecosystem has expanded dramatically, encompassing a wide variety of projects with diverse purposes and features. This article explores the broad world of cryptocurrencies, highlighting key innovations, challenges, and notable projects, including a mention of Sexy Meme Coin.

The Birth of Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, was the first cryptocurrency, designed to provide a decentralized alternative to traditional financial systems. Bitcoin's success paved the way for thousands of other cryptocurrencies, each seeking to improve upon its limitations or to introduce new functionalities.

Key Innovations in Cryptocurrencies

Blockchain Technology: At the heart of cryptocurrencies is blockchain technology, a decentralized ledger that records all transactions across a network of computers. This technology ensures transparency, security, and immutability, making it ideal for various applications beyond finance.

Smart Contracts: Introduced by Ethereum, smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. These contracts automatically enforce and execute agreements when predefined conditions are met, enabling complex decentralized applications (DApps) and services.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi): DeFi refers to a range of financial services built on blockchain technology that operate without traditional intermediaries like banks. DeFi platforms offer lending, borrowing, trading, and earning interest on digital assets, democratizing access to financial services.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): NFTs are unique digital assets representing ownership of specific items, such as art, music, or virtual real estate. Unlike cryptocurrencies, which are fungible and can be exchanged on a one-to-one basis, NFTs are indivisible and unique, making them valuable for digital ownership and provenance.

Types of Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and Altcoins: Bitcoin remains the most well-known and valuable cryptocurrency, often referred to as "digital gold." However, the term "altcoins" encompasses all other cryptocurrencies, which serve a wide range of purposes from enhancing transaction speeds to enabling smart contracts.

Utility Tokens: Utility tokens are designed to provide access to a specific service or product within a blockchain ecosystem. Examples include Ethereum's Ether (ETH), used for transactions and computational services on the Ethereum network, and Binance Coin (BNB), used for transaction fees on the Binance exchange.

Stablecoins: Stablecoins are pegged to stable assets like fiat currencies or precious metals to reduce volatility. Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) are popular stablecoins pegged to the US dollar, providing a stable store of value and medium of exchange in the crypto market.

Security Tokens: Security tokens represent ownership in real-world assets, such as stocks or real estate, and are subject to regulatory oversight. These tokens offer traditional financial rights, such as dividends or interest payments, on the blockchain.

Meme Coins: Meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes and cultural phenomena. They often start as jokes but can gain substantial value and community support. Dogecoin is the most well-known meme coin, but others, like Shiba Inu and Sexy Meme Coin, have also captured public attention. Learn more about Sexy Meme Coin at Sexy Meme Coin.

Privacy Coins: Privacy coins prioritize user privacy by obscuring transaction details. Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) are notable examples, offering enhanced anonymity compared to other cryptocurrencies.

Challenges Facing Cryptocurrencies

Regulatory Uncertainty: Cryptocurrencies operate in a regulatory grey area in many jurisdictions, with governments around the world grappling with how to regulate these assets. This uncertainty can impact market stability and investor confidence.

Security Concerns: Despite the security of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies are not immune to hacks and fraud. High-profile exchange hacks and scams have highlighted the need for better security measures and regulatory oversight.

Volatility: Cryptocurrency markets are known for their extreme volatility, with prices capable of experiencing significant swings in short periods. This volatility can pose risks for investors and hinder mainstream adoption.

Scalability: Many cryptocurrencies face challenges with scalability, struggling to handle a large number of transactions quickly and efficiently. Solutions like the Lightning Network for Bitcoin and Ethereum 2.0 aim to address these issues.

Notable Cryptocurrency Projects

Bitcoin (BTC): As the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin remains the benchmark for digital currencies. Its decentralized nature and limited supply have earned it the moniker "digital gold."

Ethereum (ETH): Ethereum introduced the concept of smart contracts, enabling decentralized applications and services. It has become the backbone of the DeFi and NFT ecosystems, driving significant innovation in the crypto space.

Cardano (ADA): Cardano focuses on sustainability, scalability, and transparency, using a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. It aims to provide a secure and scalable platform for the development of decentralized applications.

Polkadot (DOT): Polkadot facilitates interoperability between different blockchains, allowing them to share information and resources. Its unique architecture supports the creation of "parachains," which can operate independently while benefiting from the security and connectivity of the Polkadot network.

Chainlink (LINK): Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts with real-world data. This functionality is crucial for the operation of many DeFi applications, making Chainlink a vital component of the blockchain ecosystem.

Sexy Meme Coin (SXYM): Sexy Meme Coin stands out among meme coins for its combination of humor and innovative tokenomics. It offers a decentralized marketplace where users can buy, sell, and trade memes as NFTs, rewarding creators for their originality. Discover more about Sexy Meme Coin at Sexy Meme Coin.

The Future of Cryptocurrencies

The future of cryptocurrencies is filled with potential and challenges. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, cryptocurrencies are likely to become more integrated into mainstream financial systems and everyday life. Regulatory clarity, improved security, and solutions to scalability issues will be crucial for the continued growth and adoption of digital assets.

Conclusion

Cryptocurrencies represent a revolutionary shift in how we think about money, finance, and digital ownership. From Bitcoin's inception to the diverse array of altcoins available today, the cryptocurrency ecosystem is rich with innovation and potential. While challenges remain, the ongoing development and adoption of cryptocurrencies suggest a promising future for this digital revolution.

For those interested in the playful and innovative side of the cryptocurrency market, Sexy Meme Coin offers a unique and entertaining platform. Visit Sexy Meme Coin to explore this exciting project and join the community.

[unpluggedfinancial]

Understanding Blockchain Technology: Beyond Bitcoin

Introduction

Blockchain technology, often synonymous with Bitcoin, is a revolutionary system that has far-reaching implications beyond its initial use in cryptocurrency. While Bitcoin introduced the world to the concept of a decentralized ledger, blockchain's potential extends well beyond digital currencies. This article explores the fundamentals of blockchain technology and delves into its various applications across different industries.

What is Blockchain Technology?

At its core, blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger that records transactions across many computers in such a way that the registered transactions cannot be altered retroactively. This ensures transparency and security. Each block in the chain contains a list of transactions, and once a block is completed, it is added to the chain in a linear, chronological order.

Key features of blockchain include:

Transparency: All participants in the network can see the transactions recorded on the blockchain.

Immutability: Once data is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted.

Security: Transactions are encrypted, and the decentralized nature of blockchain makes it highly secure against hacks and fraud.

Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin

While Bitcoin brought blockchain into the spotlight, other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Ripple have expanded its use cases. Ethereum, for example, introduced the concept of smart contracts—self-executing contracts where the terms are directly written into code. These smart contracts enable decentralized applications (DApps) that operate without the need for a central authority.

Applications of Blockchain Technology

Finance:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi): DeFi platforms leverage blockchain to create financial products and services that are open, permissionless, and transparent. These include lending, borrowing, and trading without intermediaries.

Cross-border Payments: Blockchain simplifies and speeds up cross-border transactions while reducing costs and increasing security.

Fraud Reduction: The transparency and immutability of blockchain make it harder for fraud to occur, as all transactions are visible and verifiable.

Supply Chain Management:

Tracking and Transparency: Blockchain provides end-to-end visibility of the supply chain, ensuring that all parties can track the movement and origin of goods.

Reducing Fraud: By recording every transaction, blockchain helps prevent fraud and counterfeiting, ensuring the authenticity of products.

Healthcare:

Secure Data Sharing: Blockchain allows for secure sharing of patient data between healthcare providers while maintaining privacy and consent.

Drug Traceability: Blockchain helps track pharmaceuticals through the supply chain, reducing the risk of counterfeit drugs.

Voting Systems:

Secure Elections: Blockchain can provide a transparent and tamper-proof system for voting, ensuring that each vote is recorded and counted accurately.

Increasing Voter Participation: The security and convenience of blockchain-based voting could lead to higher voter turnout and greater confidence in electoral systems.

Real Estate:

Property Transactions: Blockchain can streamline property transactions by reducing paperwork, ensuring transparency, and preventing fraud.

Record-Keeping: Immutable records of property ownership and transactions enhance security and trust in the real estate market.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its potential, blockchain technology faces several challenges:

Scalability: The ability of blockchain networks to handle a large number of transactions per second is limited, impacting its adoption in high-volume industries.

Energy Consumption: Blockchain, particularly proof-of-work systems like Bitcoin, requires significant energy, raising concerns about its environmental impact.

Regulatory Challenges: The decentralized and borderless nature of blockchain poses regulatory and legal challenges, as governments and institutions seek to manage and control its use.

The Future of Blockchain Technology

The future of blockchain looks promising, with continuous advancements and innovations. Potential developments include improved scalability solutions like sharding and proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms, which aim to reduce energy consumption and increase transaction speeds. As blockchain technology matures, its adoption across various industries is expected to grow, potentially transforming the way we conduct business, manage data, and interact with digital systems.

Conclusion

Blockchain technology, initially popularized by Bitcoin, holds immense potential beyond cryptocurrencies. Its applications in finance, supply chain management, healthcare, voting, and real estate demonstrate its versatility and transformative power. While challenges remain, ongoing innovations and growing interest in blockchain suggest a future where this technology plays a crucial role in various aspects of our lives.

[anubhav-punk]

January Blog!

Reflecting on a Fulfilling January: Exams, Meetups, and Growth

End of First Semester: The conclusion of my first semester feels like reaching a significant milestone in my academic journey. The exams, which were a culmination of months of hard work and dedication, finally came to an end. The sense of relief that washed over me as I submitted my last paper was unparalleled. Though the wait for results is nerve-wracking, the satisfaction of knowing that I gave it my all is immensely gratifying.

Success in Exams: Reflecting on the exams, I can't help but feel a sense of contentment. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, I managed to perform well. Each question answered was a testament to my perseverance and determination. While there were moments of doubt and anxiety, overcoming them has only strengthened my belief in myself. As I eagerly await the results, I'm reminded that success is not merely about the outcome but also about the journey and the lessons learned along the way.

GDG New Delhi Dev Fusion Meetup: Amidst the academic hustle, I had the opportunity to attend the GDG New Delhi Dev Fusion Meetup. The event was a melting pot of ideas, innovations, and like-minded individuals passionate about technology. From insightful talks to engaging workshops, the meetup provided a platform to learn, network, and grow. Interacting with fellow developers and industry experts was not only inspiring but also eye-opening. It reaffirmed my passion for technology and fueled my desire to explore new avenues in the field.

Web3 Meetup by CypherBlockchain: In addition to the GDG meetup, I also had the privilege of attending the Web3 Meetup hosted by CypherBlockchain. The event centered around the revolutionary concept of Web3 and its implications for the future of the internet. Discussions ranged from decentralized finance to non-fungible tokens, sparking thought-provoking conversations about the potential of blockchain technology. As someone intrigued by the intersection of technology and decentralization, the meetup provided valuable insights and perspectives that broadened my understanding of the digital landscape.

Conclusion: As January draws to a close, I find myself filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. The end of my first semester marks the beginning of a new chapter, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities for growth. From academic achievements to enriching meetups, this month has been nothing short of transformative. As I look ahead, I carry with me the lessons learned and experiences gained, ready to embrace whatever the future holds. Here's to a January filled with exams conquered, meetups attended, and dreams pursued.