A Federated Learning Framework with Blockchain-Based Auditable Participant Selection

Federated learning is an important distributed model training technique in Internet of Things(IoT),in which participant selection is a key component that plays a role in improving training efficiency and model accuracy.This module enables a central server to select a subset of participants to performmodel training based on data and device information.By doing so,selected participants are rewarded and actively perform model training,while participants that are detrimental to training efficiency and model accuracy are excluded.However,in practice,participants may suspect that the central server may have miscalculated and thus not made the selection honestly.This lack of trustworthiness problem,which can demotivate participants,has received little attention.Another problem that has received little attention is the leakage of participants’private information during the selection process.We will therefore propose a federated learning framework with auditable participant selection.It supports smart contracts in selecting a set of suitable participants based on their training loss without compromising the privacy.Considering the possibility of malicious campaigning and impersonation of participants,the framework employs commitment schemes and zero-knowledge proofs to counteract these malicious behaviors.Finally,we analyze the security of the framework and conduct a series of experiments to demonstrate that the framework can effectively improve the efficiency of federated learning.

A Novel Transparent and Auditable Fog-Assisted Cloud Storage with Compensation Mechanism

This paper introduces a new fog-assisted cloud storage which can achieve much higher throughput compared to the traditional cloud-only storage architecture by reducing the traffics toward the cloud storage. The fog-storage service providers are transparency to end-users and therefore, no modification on the end-user devices is necessary. This new system is featured with(1) a stronger audit scheme which is naturally coupled with the proposed architecture and does not suffer from the replay attack and(2) a transparent and efficient compensation mechanism for the fog-storage service providers. We provide rigorous theoretical analysis on the correctness and soundness of the proposed system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to discuss about a storage data audit scheme for fog-assisted cloud storage as well as the compensation mechanism for the service providers of the fog-storage service providers.

Sec-Auditor:A Blockchain-Based Data Auditing Solution for Ensuring Integrity and Semantic Correctness

Currently,there is a growing trend among users to store their data in the cloud.However,the cloud is vulnerable to persistent data corruption risks arising from equipment failures and hacker attacks.Additionally,when users perform file operations,the semantic integrity of the data can be compromised.Ensuring both data integrity and semantic correctness has become a critical issue that requires attention.We introduce a pioneering solution called Sec-Auditor,the first of its kind with the ability to verify data integrity and semantic correctness simultaneously,while maintaining a constant communication cost independent of the audited data volume.Sec-Auditor also supports public auditing,enabling anyone with access to public information to conduct data audits.This feature makes Sec-Auditor highly adaptable to open data environments,such as the cloud.In Sec-Auditor,users are assigned specific rules that are utilized to verify the accuracy of data semantic.Furthermore,users are given the flexibility to update their own rules as needed.We conduct in-depth analyses of the correctness and security of Sec-Auditor.We also compare several important security attributes with existing schemes,demonstrating the superior properties of Sec-Auditor.Evaluation results demonstrate that even for time-consuming file upload operations,our solution is more efficient than the comparison one.

SHT-based public auditing protocol with error tolerance in FDL-empowered IoVs

With the intelligentization of the Internet of Vehicles(lovs),Artificial Intelligence(Al)technology is becoming more and more essential,especially deep learning.Federated Deep Learning(FDL)is a novel distributed machine learning technology and is able to address the challenges like data security,privacy risks,and huge communication overheads from big raw data sets.However,FDL can only guarantee data security and privacy among multiple clients during data training.If the data sets stored locally in clients are corrupted,including being tampered with and lost,the training results of the FDL in intelligent IoVs must be negatively affected.In this paper,we are the first to design a secure data auditing protocol to guarantee the integrity and availability of data sets in FDL-empowered IoVs.Specifically,the cuckoo filter and Reed-Solomon codes are utilized to guarantee error tolerance,including efficient corrupted data locating and recovery.In addition,a novel data structure,Skip Hash Table(SHT)is designed to optimize data dynamics.Finally,we illustrate the security of the scheme with the Computational Diffie-Hellman(CDH)assumption on bilinear groups.Sufficient theoretical analyses and performance evaluations demonstrate the security and efficiency of our scheme for data sets in FDL-empowered IoVs.

Impact of an official accountability audit on industrial structure adjustment:a case study of environmental regulation in China

As a unique environmental regulation in China,the official accountability audit was piloted in 2014.With a focus on prioritizing the ecological environment,officials in pilot districts have implemented economic construction,adjusted industrial structures,and promoted coordinated development between the economy and environment.The effects of implementation have garnered widespread attention from society.However,there is limited research on the impact of an accountability audit on industrial structure adjustments.Using the“Accountability Audit of Officials for Natural Resource Assets(Trial)”released in 2015 as a quasi-natural experiment,this study collected panel data from 279 cities between 2013 and 2017.It then empirically analyzed the impact mechanism and effects of the accountability audit on industrial structure adjustment using the Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Differences model.The research findings indicate that the accountability audit directly impacted industrial structure adjustment,promoting the upgrading of the primary industry to the secondary industry and restricting the development of the tertiary industry.In addition,the audit is beneficial for enterprise entry,but not conducive to technological innovation,and has no significant impact on foreign direct investment.This conclusion fills a gap in the existing research and provides valuable insights for policymakers.

Assessment of Appropriateness of Diagnostic Lymph Node Tissue Collection from the Operating Theater and by Interventional Radiologist. A Clinical Audit

Background: Appropriate sample requesting, collecting and timely dispatch to the appropriate laboratory is essential in establishing diagnosis of pathologies with lesions. Much time and effort may be wasted if this is not done according to certain standards. We conducted this study to assess the route of lymph node samples from requests to reaching the laboratories. Methods: We conducted an audit over a period from 4th June until 10th Aug 2023. Data for all the procedures performed over this period on lymph node samples (was entered into and analysed using Excel. Results: A total of eighteen samples for sixteen patients were obtained during this period. Median age of the patients was 34 years (19 - 73) with a M:F ratio of 5:11. Among the IR samples, nine samples were from the neck, three from inguinal area and one from axilla. Seven samples (53.8%) were tru-cut biopsies, six samples (46.15%) were FNA. All samples were sent to the pathology laboratory fixed in formalin. Samples for TB were sent only for five cases (31.25%) and for only two cases (12.5%) were samples sent for bacterial culture. For the OR samples, none were sent for either bacterial culture or TB. Overall, eight patients (50%) were not investigated for any infectious etiologies like brucella, toxoplasmosis, CMV, EBV plus other possible causes. Repeat sampling was required for 25% of patients (within and out of the audit period). Conclusions: to avoid delays in making diagnoses, it is paramount to consider infectious etiologies as possible diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and request appropriate investigations. This requires liaising with infectious diseases/clinical microbiology experts to guide regarding types of samples, types of media and timely dispatch to the correct laboratory.

Constructing a Triangular Linkage Model of Government Audit,Social Audit,and Internal Audit to Promote High-Quality Development of Audit Services

It is a complex and important topic to study the linkage mechanism of government audit,social audit,and internal audit in the context of China’s high-quality economic development.The implementation of measures,such as establishing a sound and perfect organizational safeguard mechanism,strengthening project collaborative audit mechanism,enhancing the mechanism for utilizing audit results,and establishing an audit and rectification joint mechanism can promote the efficient operation of the audit supervision system and the high-quality development of audit services.

Evaluation of the Current Care Pathway for Diabetic Eye Screening in Malta

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable vision impairment and a common complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy screening can identify early changes in the retina so treatment can be given before vision impairment or blindness occurs. The aim of this audit is to evaluate the diabetic eye screening pathway in Malta to reduce the risk of vision impairment among diabetic patients through the identification and effective management of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy by evaluating adherence to diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines and identifying areas for improvement within the screening pathway at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH). The practical implications of the audit’s findings highlight the importance of more awareness of current guidelines on the recommended time of first eye examination and routine minimum follow up interval at the Endocrinology Department at MDH. 26.7% of the doctors participating in this audit perform fundoscopy on initial assessment only, while 13.3% perform fundoscopy every visit. On the other hand, 60% of the participants never perform fundoscopy.

The Effects of Competence and Auditor Training on Fraud Detection Within Multinational Companies in Sub-Saharan Africa

The aim of this study is to examine the qualities that auditors engaged in detecting potential fraud within multinational corporations in Sub-Saharan Africa should possess.To achieve this goal,a quantitative approach was used to develop and test a research model based on three theories:agency theory,attribution theory,and cognitive dissonance theory.Responses from a panel of two hundred and nine(209)auditors who conducted a legal audit mission in a Sub-Saharan multinational were analyzed using SmartPLS 3.3.3 software.The results emphasize the crucial importance of auditors’competence and continuous training in fraud detection.However,professional skepticism and time pressure were found to be non-significant in this context.This conclusion provides essential insights for auditors,highlighting the key qualities needed to effectively address fraud detection within multinational corporations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Whole-Process People’s Democracy from a Global Comparative Perspective

A recent global survey by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies reveals that the value and practice of whole-process people’s democracy have won widespread plaudits throughout the international community.DEVELOPING whole-process people’s democracy is one of the intrinsic requirements of China’s modernization.It is a creation of the Communist Party of China in the process of advancing democratic theories and practices through drawing on the historical lessons of China and the world in governance.Whole-process people’s democracy fits Chinese conditions,as manifested in China’s nationwide vibrant vitality.It also contributes Chinese wisdom to the global promotion of democratic practice.

A“Going Concern”and the Need to Fully Integrate Economics in the Business School Curriculum

In response to the recommendation by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business(AACSB,2002),which urged business schools to embark on interdisciplinary programs to facilitate boundary-spanning teaching and learning,many colleges have conducted one form of curriculum integration or the other.Many of these team-taught course integrations,however,concentrate on core business courses without reaching out to related courses in other disciplines.Moreover,due to some factors,the informational contents of management disclosures in annual reports and audit unqualified opinions may not align with the future viability of an enterprise.Using a“going concern concept”,this paper demonstrates how the addition of economics in business school curriculum integration could produce well-rounded business graduates.Economics concepts could unambiguously support the tests that cast doubts on firms’ability to continue operations.

Stability Study of Low Voltage Electrical Distribution Network: Audit and Improvement of DJEGBE Mini Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in the Commune of OUESSE (Benin)

The supply of quality energy is a major concern for distribution network managers. This is the case for the company ASEMI, whose subscribers on the DJEGBE mini-power station network are faced with problems of current instability, voltage drops, and repetitive outages. This work is part of the search for the stability of the electrical distribution network by focusing on the audit of the DJEGBE mini photovoltaic solar power plant electrical network in the commune of OUESSE (Benin). This aims to highlight malfunctions on the low-voltage network to propose solutions for improving current stability among subscribers. Irregularities were noted, notably the overloading of certain lines of the PV network, implying poor distribution of loads by phase, which is the main cause of voltage drops;repetitive outages linked to overvoltage caused by lightning and overcurrent due to overload;faulty meters, absence of earth connection at subscribers. Peaks in consumption were obtained at night, which shows that consumption is greater in the evening. We examined the existing situation and processed the data collected, then simulated the energy consumption profiles with the network analyzer “LANGLOIS 6830” and “Excel”. The power factor value recorded is an average of 1, and the minimum value is 0.85. The daily output is 131.08 kWh, for a daily demand of 120 kWh and the average daily consumption is 109.92 kWh, or 83.86% of the energy produced per day. These results showed that the dysfunctions are linked to the distribution and the use of produced energy. Finally, we proposed possible solutions for improving the electrical distribution network. Thus, measures without investment and those requiring investment have been proposed.

Evaluation of Laboratory Request Forms Completion in a Tertiary Medical Laboratory of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: The inadequacy in the completeness of the Laboratory Request Form (LRF) has been reported as one of the major sources of errors during the pre-analytical step of laboratory analysis. To prevent the occurrence of such errors, this study aimed at assessing the level of completeness of LRFs. Methods: A retrospective analysis of laboratory request forms was conducted at the Clinical Biology Laboratory of the Kinshasa University Clinic, DR Congo, between November 2021 to May 2022. The LRFs were evaluated according to the completeness of all sections including administrative data of the patient, data of physician who ordered the test, relevant patient’s clinical data and data of the biological sample. Results: From a total of 2842 LRFs evaluated, none was fully completed with all required information. Particularly, patient’s clinical data including the medical history, provisional diagnosis and current treatment, were the most absent in 99% LRFs. However, two sections related to patient’s ID and prescribed test were informed in 100% LRFs. Conclusion: The results of this preanalytical audit can serve as an improvement opportunity focused on strengthening awareness about complete filling of LRF.

Does the Internal Audit Function Play a Role in Mitigating Earnings Management?

This paper aims to investigate the effect of the characteristics of the internal audit function(IAF)on earnings management(EM)for a sample of 27 Tunisian listed companies.The authors employed the Correlated Panels Corrected Standard Errors model to estimate the regression equation.The results showed that EM is negatively associated with internal audit effectiveness,frequency of audit committee meetings with Chief Audit Executives(CAEs),the partial outsourcing of internal audit,and the firm’s size.Moreover,the authors found a positive relationship between EM and the use of IAF as a training ground for management and the private sector.This study is important to academics,regulators,and policymakers in introducing new governance reforms to strengthen the IAF as an important internal governance mechanism to reduce earnings management practices in emerging countries.The results also provide useful information for investors to examine the effect of internal audit characteristics on earnings management.

Innovation of Audit Business Management Models under the Conditions of Information Technology

This paper focuses on the innovation of audit business management in the information technology era.In the wave of digitalization,audit companies need to adjust their management mode to take advantage of the advantages of informatization.The key is to use digital tools to strengthen data analysis and reshape the audit process.This not only improves efficiency and accuracy but also improves the overall audit quality.The article also highlights the importance of developing a culture of continued auditor learning and skills development to ensure competitiveness in the digital age.At the end of the paper,the success of audit companies depends on innovation ability and the importance of combining management mode with technological innovation.

Research on Audit Risks in the Recognition of Data Assets on Financial Statements

This paper explores the audit risks associated with the recognition of data assets on financial statements,focusing on the complexities arising from their replicability,unique valuation patterns,and contextual dependencies.It identifies major misstatement risks at both the financial statement and assertion levels,including the potential for management to exaggerate data asset values,uncertainties in valuation methods,and deficiencies in data governance and internal controls.Additionally,auditors’lack of professional knowledge and inappropriate audit methods can lead to inspection risks.The paper emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced accounting standards for data assets,effective guidelines for their recognition and measurement,and robust internal controls.Furthermore,it advocates for the exploration of effective valuation methods and the incorporation of advanced technologies,such as big data and AI,into auditing practices.By improving auditor training and methodologies,organizations can better manage the inherent risks associated with data asset auditing.

Exploration of Interdisciplinary Integration in Teaching Reform of Legal Studies and Auditing

This paper attempts to explore interdisciplinary integration from four aspects:the necessity of interdisciplinary integration between legal studies and auditing,the difficulties and challenges encountered in this integration,the ideas for teaching reform in the context of interdisciplinary integration,and the expected outcomes.The aim is to achieve an organic integration of legal studies and auditing through systematic teaching reforms,thereby providing students with comprehensive and integrated knowledge and skills training,ensuring the quality of talent cultivation,and adapting to the needs of social development.

Study on Independent Supervision Function of Design Assurance System

The effective operation of a design assurance system cannot be achieved without the effective performance of the independent supervision function.As one of the core functions of the design assurance system,the purpose of the independent supervision function is to ensure that the system operates within the scope of procedures and manuals.At present,the function of independent supervision is a difficult and confusing issue for various original equipment manufacturers as well as suppliers,and there is an urgent requirement to put forward relevant requirements and form relevant methods.Based on the above mentioned objective,the basic requirements of the independent supervision function of design assurance system were studied,the problems and deficiencies in the organization,staffing,and methods existing in the current independent supervision function were analyzed,the improvement suggestions and measures for the performance of the independent supervision function from the aspects of the organization,staffing,procedures,and suppliers were put forward.The present work and conclusions provide guidance and direction for the effective operation of the design assurance system.

Analysis of the Impact of Big Data Technology on Environmental Pollution Control Audit

As China strives towards the second centenary goal,increasing attention is being paid to environmental pollution and other related issues.Concurrently,with the rapid development of big data technology,many big data solutions have been applied to environmental pollution control audits,exerting a significant impact.This paper presents the current situation of environmental pollution audits,summarizing the application of big data from the perspectives of both domestic and international research.In terms of data collection and data analysis for environmental pollution audits,cloud platform technology,and visualization technology are selected based on multiple data sources.The impact in the field of environmental pollution control audits is further analyzed.It is found that the environmental pollution audit cloud platform is not yet perfect,the technical skills of audit personnel are insufficient,and some technologies are not mature.Relevant suggestions are put forward to provide a reference for the future development of big data technology and its integration with environmental pollution control audits.

《酒精使用障碍筛查量表》(AUDIT)的测试

目的 :对酒精使用障碍筛查量表 (AUDIT)进行测试 ,以寻找中国人“危险及有害饮酒”的界线分值 ,以便及早在人群中用简便的方法筛查出“危险及有害饮酒者” ,并对他们进行早期干预。方法 :引入国外近年发展起来的酒精使用障碍筛查量表 (AUDIT) ,通过在社区测试 ,对其在中国适用性作用评价。结果 :AUDIT量表在中国长春地区部分人群中测试具有良好的信度 ;并测得男性危险及有害饮酒的界线分值为 7分 ,此时量表区分危险及有害饮酒的灵敏度和特异度均较高 ,分别为 99 7%和 90 %。AUDIT量表的重测信度也较满意。结果 :AUDIT值得在中国进行全国性测试后推广应用。