Process Innovation with Blockchain in Banking - A case study of how Blockchain can change the KYC process in banks.

Innovation is the key to prosperity in competitive markets, as almost every significant business venture can trace its roots to an original spark of innovation, and on occasion, ground breaking innovation would foster a new way of thinking. Enter Blockchain, an emerging factor contributing to the industry's forced transition into a digital-first age. This thesis aims to uncover how process innovation with Blockchain technology can reinvent KYC processes in the banking industry today. This is as any other topic regarding Blockchain technology, only being approached by industry professionals. Due to its fairly young age, extensive research on Blockchain technology in KYC is sparse. In this thesis the IPO framework is adapted to business process change, in order to identify phases in the banks' KYC process that can be redesigned with the help of Blockchain technology. This thesis will hopefully provide more insight on steps necessary to take in order to successfully implement Blockchain technology in KYC processes in banks

Sensitive leptospira DNA detection using tapered optical fiber sensor

This paper presents the development of tapered optical fiber sensor to detect a specific Leptospira bacteria DNA. The bacteria causes Leptospirosis, a deadly disease but with common early flu-like symptoms. Optical single mode fiber (SMF) of 125 μm diameter is tapered to produce 12 μm waist diameter and 15 cm length. The novel DNA-based optical fiber sensor is functionalized by incubating the tapered region with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane and glutaraldehyde. Probe DNA is immobilized onto the tapered region and subsequently hybridized by its complementary DNA (cDNA). The transmission spectra of the DNA-based optical fiber sensor are measured in the 1500 to 1600 nm wavelength range. It is discovered that the shift of the wavelength in the SMF sensor is linearly proportional with the increase in the cDNA concentrations from 0.1 to 1.0 nM. The sensitivity of the sensor toward DNA is measured to be 1.2862 nm/nM and able to detect as low as 0.1 fM. The sensor indicates high specificity when only minimal shift is detected for non-cDNA testing. The developed sensor is able to distinguish between actual DNA of Leptospira serovars (Canicola and Copenhageni) against Clostridium difficile (control sample) at very low (femtomolar) target concentrations

Process Innovation with Blockchain in Banking - A case study of how Blockchain can change the KYC process in banks.

Innovation is the key to prosperity in competitive markets, as almost every significant business venture can trace its roots to an original spark of innovation, and on occasion, ground breaking innovation would foster a new way of thinking. Enter Blockchain, an emerging factor contributing to the industry's forced transition into a digital-first age. This thesis aims to uncover how process innovation with Blockchain technology can reinvent KYC processes in the banking industry today. This is as any other topic regarding Blockchain technology, only being approached by industry professionals. Due to its fairly young age, extensive research on Blockchain technology in KYC is sparse. In this thesis the IPO framework is adapted to business process change, in order to identify phases in the banks' KYC process that can be redesigned with the help of Blockchain technology. This thesis will hopefully provide more insight on steps necessary to take in order to successfully implement Blockchain technology in KYC processes in banks

Colorimetric biosensing of targeted gene sequence using dual nanoparticle platforms

Jeevan Thavanathan,1 Nay Ming Huang,1 Kwai Lin Thong2 1Low Dimension Material Research Center, Department of Physics, 2Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Abstract: We have developed a colorimetric biosensor using a dual platform of gold nanoparticles and graphene oxide sheets for the detection of Salmonella enterica. The presence of the invA gene in S. enterica causes a change in color of the biosensor from its original pinkish-red to a light purplish solution. This occurs through the aggregation of the primary gold nanoparticles–conjugated DNA probe onto the surface of the secondary graphene oxide–conjugated DNA probe through DNA hybridization with the targeted DNA sequence. Spectrophotometry analysis showed a shift in wavelength from 525 nm to 600 nm with 1 µM of DNA target. Specificity testing revealed that the biosensor was able to detect various serovars of the S. enterica while no color change was observed with the other bacterial species. Sensitivity testing revealed the limit of detection was at 1 nM of DNA target. This proves the effectiveness of the biosensor in the detection of S. enterica through DNA hybridization. Keywords: biosensor, DNA hybridization, DNA probe, gold nanoparticles, graphene oxide, Salmonella enteric

Romesh Thavanathan cello

Romesh Thavanathan cell

Current Technical Approaches for the Early Detection of Foodborne Pathogens: Challenges and Opportunities

The development of novel and high-tech solutions for rapid, accurate, and non-laborious microbial detection methods is imperative to improve the global food supply. Such solutions have begun to address the need for microbial detection that is faster and more sensitive than existing methodologies (e.g., classic culture enrichment methods). Multiple reviews report the technical functions and structures of conventional microbial detection tools. These tools, used to detect pathogens in food and food homogenates, were designed via qualitative analysis methods. The inherent disadvantage of these analytical methods is the necessity for specimen preparation, which is a time-consuming process. While some literature describes the challenges and opportunities to overcome the technical issues related to food industry legal guidelines, there is a lack of reviews of the current trials to overcome technological limitations related to sample preparation and microbial detection via nano and micro technologies. In this review, we primarily explore current analytical technologies, including metallic and magnetic nanomaterials, optics, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy. These techniques rely on the early detection of pathogens via enhanced analytical sensitivity and specificity. In order to introduce the potential combination and comparative analysis of various advanced methods, we also reference a novel sample preparation protocol that uses microbial concentration and recovery technologies. This technology has the potential to expedite the pre-enrichment step that precedes the detection process