The growing demand for ubiquitous broadband network connectivity and continuously falling prices in hardware operating on the unlicensed bands have put Wi-Fi technology in a position to lead the way in rapid innovation towards high performance wireless for the future. The success story of Wi-Fi contributed to the development of widespread variety of options for unlicensed access (e.g., Bluetooth, Zigbee) and has even sparked regulatory bodies in several countries to permit access to unlicensed devices in portions of the spectrum initially licensed to TV services. In this thesis we present novel spectrum management algorithms for networks employing 802.11 and TV white spaces broadly aimed at efficient use of spectrum under consideration, lower contention (interference) and high performance. One of the target scenarios of this thesis is neighbourhood or citywide wireless access. For this, we propose the use of IEEE 802.11-based multi-radio wireless mesh network using omnidirectional antennae. We develop a novel scalable protocol termed LCAP for efficient and adaptive distributed multi-radio channel allocation. In LCAP, nodes autonomously learn their channel allocation based on neighbourhood and channel usage information. This information is obtained via a novel neighbour discovery protocol, which is effective even when nodes do not share a common channel. Extensive simulation-based evaluation of LCAP relative to the state-of-the-art Asynchronous Distributed Colouring (ADC) protocol demonstrates that LCAP is able to achieve its stated objectives. These objectives include efficient channel utilisation across diverse traffic patterns, protocol scalability and adaptivity to factors such as external interference. Motivated by the non-stationary nature of the network scenario and the resulting difficulty of establishing convergence of LCAP, we consider a deterministic alternative. This approach employs a novel distributed priority-based mechanism where nodes decide on their channel allocations based on only local information. Key enabler of this approach is our neighbour discovery mechanism. We show via simulations that this mechanism exhibits similar performance to LCAP. Another application scenario considered in this thesis is broadband access to rural areas. For such scenarios, we consider the use of long-distance 802.11 mesh networks and present a novel mechanism to address the channel allocation problem in a traffic-aware manner. The proposed approach employs a multi-radio architecture using directional antennae. Under this architecture, we exploit the capability of the 802.11 hardware to use different channel widths and assign widths to links based on their relative traffic volume such that side-lobe interference is mitigated. We show that this problem is NP-complete and propose a polynomial time, greedy channel allocation algorithm that guarantees valid channel allocations for each node. Evaluation of the proposed algorithm via simulations of real network topologies shows that it consistently outperforms fixed width allocation due to its ability to adapt to spatio-temporal variations in traffic demands. Finally, we consider the use of TV-white-spaces to increase throughput for in-home wireless networking and relieve the already congested unlicensed bands. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to develop a scalable micro auctioning mechanism for sharing of TV white space spectrum through a geolocation database. The goal of our approach is to minimise contention among secondary users, while not interfering with primary users of TV white space spectrum (TV receivers and microphone users). It enables interference-free and dynamic sharing of TVWS among home networks with heterogeneous spectrum demands, while resulting in revenue generation for database and broadband providers. Using white space availability maps from the UK, we validate our approach in real rural, urban and dense-urban residential scenarios. Our results show that our mechanism is able to achieve its stated objectives of attractiveness to both the database provider and spectrum requesters, scalability and efficiency for dynamic spectrum distribution in an interference-free manner.

Narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT) is a new wireless technology designed to support cellular networks with wide coverage for a massive number of very cheap low power user devices. Studies have been initiated for deployment of NB-IoT in unlicensed frequency bands, some of which demand the use of a frequency-hopping scheme with a short channel dwell time. In order for a device to connect to a cell, it must synchronize well within the dwell time in order to decode the frequency-hopping pattern. Due to the significant path loss, the narrow bandwidth and the device characteristics, decreasing the synchronization time is a challenge. This thesis studies different methods to decrease the synchronization time for NB-IoT without increasing the demands on the user device. The study shows how artificial fast fading can be combined with denser reference signalling in order to achieve improvements to the cell acquisition and synchronization procedure sufficient for enabling unlicensed operation of NB-IoT. / Narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT) är en ny trådlös teknik som är designad för att hantera mobilnät med vidsträckt täckning för ett massivt antal mycket billiga och strömsnåla användarenheter. Studier har inletts för att operera NB-IoT i olicensierade frekvensband, varav några kräver att frekvenshoppande spridningsspektrum, med kort uppehållstid per kanal, används. För att en användarenhet ska kunna ansluta till en basstation måste den slutföra synkronisingsfasen inom uppehållstiden, så att basstationens hoppmönster kan avkodas. På grund utav den stora signalförsvagningen, den smala bandbredden och användarenhetens egenskaper är det en stor utmaning att förkorta synkroniseringstiden. Detta examensarbete studerar olika metoder för att förkorta synkroniseringstiden i NB-IoT utan att öka kraven på användarenheten. Arbetet visar att artificiell snabb-fädning kan kombineras med tätare referenssignalering för att uppnå förbättringar i synkroniseringsprocessen som är tillräckliga för att möjliggöra operation av NB-IoT i olicensierade frekvensband.

Introdução. Medicamentos não licenciados e sem indicação são utilizados com grande frequência em pediatria por razões éticas e econômicas. A utilização destes medicamentos não constitui um preceito ilegal, mas pode oferecer risco aos pacientes, sendo responsabilidade do médico e do farmacêutico qualquer evento adverso ocasionado. Alguns estudos nesta população sugerem aumento do risco de reações adversas relacionadas ao uso de medicamentos fora das indicações licenciadas. Objetivo. Analisar a exposição a medicamentos não licenciados e sem indicação em neonatos admitidos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTINEO) em hospital universitário de média complexidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Método. Estudo descritivo transversal dos medicamentos prescritos nas primeiras 24 horas de internação para 79 pacientes admitidos na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal, do Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo (HU-USP), campus de São Paulo, no período de 12/03/08 a 03/11/08. Os medicamentos foram classificados em não licenciados e sem indicação para utilização por população neonatal de acordo com critérios de registro brasileiros e americanos. Resultados: foram prescritos 346 medicamentos. De acordo com os critérios brasileiros de licenciamento 58% não estavam licenciados, 9,5% não eram indicados, sendo que 66 % dos pacientes foram expostos a ao menos 1 item não licenciado e 18% a pelo menos 1 item sem indicação. A avaliação com base nos critérios americanos demonstrou que 53% dos medicamentos não estavam licenciados, 10,9% não tinham indicação, sendo que 63% dos pacientes foram expostos a ao menos 1 item não licenciado e 20% a pelo menos 1 item sem indicação.Conclusões: Os neonatos brasileiros estão expostos a medicamentos não licenciados e sem indicação nas primeiras 24 horas de internação. Embora esforços tenham sido empregados em diversos países para diminuir tal prática, o problema não foi equacionado. No Brasil, ainda, há informações distintas em bulas de medicamentos licenciados e, em relação, aos medicamentos não licenciados ou sem indicação não há nenhuma política estabelecida. / Introduction. In pediatrics utilization of unlicensed an off-label drugs are a common practice and this account for ethical and economic reasons. The utilization of unlicensed and off label drugs is not illegal, but can expose patients to risk of harm. Physicians and pharmacists have legal responsibility for any adverse event that may result from this use. Some studies in the pediatric field suggest an increased risk to adverse reactions related to unlicensed and off label use. Objective. To assess the exposure to unlicensed and off-label medicines in neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in a Brazilian medium complexity University Hospital. Materials and Methods. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted of prescribed medicines in the first 24 hours of admission for 79 patients admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo (HU-USP), campus of São Paulo in the period of 12/03/08 to 03/11/08. The medicines were classified as unlicensed and off-label for use in neonatal population according to the criteria for licensing of medicines in Brazil and US. Results: There were a total of 346 medicines prescribed and according to the established criteria in Brazil 58% were unlicensed, 9.5% were off-label; 66% of patients were exposed to at least 1 item unlicensed and 18% at least 1 item off-label. In relation to the criteria in USA 53% were not licensed, 10.9% were off-label, and 63% of patients were exposed to at least 1 item unlicensed and 20% at least 1 item off-label. Conclusions: Brazilian neonates are exposed to unlicensed and off-label medicines already in the first 24 hours of hospitalization. Although efforts have been employed in several countries to reduce this practice, the problem was not solved. In Brazil, there is even different information in leaflets for medicines licensed in and, in relation, to unlicensed or off-label medicines there is no established policy.

Introdução. Medicamentos não licenciados e sem indicação são utilizados com grande frequência em pediatria por razões éticas e econômicas. A utilização destes medicamentos não constitui um preceito ilegal, mas pode oferecer risco aos pacientes, sendo responsabilidade do médico e do farmacêutico qualquer evento adverso ocasionado. Alguns estudos nesta população sugerem aumento do risco de reações adversas relacionadas ao uso de medicamentos fora das indicações licenciadas. Objetivo. Analisar a exposição a medicamentos não licenciados e sem indicação em neonatos admitidos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTINEO) em hospital universitário de média complexidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Método. Estudo descritivo transversal dos medicamentos prescritos nas primeiras 24 horas de internação para 79 pacientes admitidos na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal, do Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo (HU-USP), campus de São Paulo, no período de 12/03/08 a 03/11/08. Os medicamentos foram classificados em não licenciados e sem indicação para utilização por população neonatal de acordo com critérios de registro brasileiros e americanos. Resultados: foram prescritos 346 medicamentos. De acordo com os critérios brasileiros de licenciamento 58% não estavam licenciados, 9,5% não eram indicados, sendo que 66 % dos pacientes foram expostos a ao menos 1 item não licenciado e 18% a pelo menos 1 item sem indicação. A avaliação com base nos critérios americanos demonstrou que 53% dos medicamentos não estavam licenciados, 10,9% não tinham indicação, sendo que 63% dos pacientes foram expostos a ao menos 1 item não licenciado e 20% a pelo menos 1 item sem indicação.Conclusões: Os neonatos brasileiros estão expostos a medicamentos não licenciados e sem indicação nas primeiras 24 horas de internação. Embora esforços tenham sido empregados em diversos países para diminuir tal prática, o problema não foi equacionado. No Brasil, ainda, há informações distintas em bulas de medicamentos licenciados e, em relação, aos medicamentos não licenciados ou sem indicação não há nenhuma política estabelecida. / Introduction. In pediatrics utilization of unlicensed an off-label drugs are a common practice and this account for ethical and economic reasons. The utilization of unlicensed and off label drugs is not illegal, but can expose patients to risk of harm. Physicians and pharmacists have legal responsibility for any adverse event that may result from this use. Some studies in the pediatric field suggest an increased risk to adverse reactions related to unlicensed and off label use. Objective. To assess the exposure to unlicensed and off-label medicines in neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in a Brazilian medium complexity University Hospital. Materials and Methods. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted of prescribed medicines in the first 24 hours of admission for 79 patients admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo (HU-USP), campus of São Paulo in the period of 12/03/08 to 03/11/08. The medicines were classified as unlicensed and off-label for use in neonatal population according to the criteria for licensing of medicines in Brazil and US. Results: There were a total of 346 medicines prescribed and according to the established criteria in Brazil 58% were unlicensed, 9.5% were off-label; 66% of patients were exposed to at least 1 item unlicensed and 18% at least 1 item off-label. In relation to the criteria in USA 53% were not licensed, 10.9% were off-label, and 63% of patients were exposed to at least 1 item unlicensed and 20% at least 1 item off-label. Conclusions: Brazilian neonates are exposed to unlicensed and off-label medicines already in the first 24 hours of hospitalization. Although efforts have been employed in several countries to reduce this practice, the problem was not solved. In Brazil, there is even different information in leaflets for medicines licensed in and, in relation, to unlicensed or off-label medicines there is no established policy.

This PhD thesis analyzes the current, by experts in minimum benchmark solved condition of valuation of damaged, unlicensed and unauthorized buildings, it defines the problematic status of the individual administrative areas where the expert report is the decisive evidence and it recommends suitable method of valuation of these buildings, so as to minimize the risk of bringing faulty expert opinion. The paper not only explains the basic concepts identified in the relevant legislation, but also systematically analyzes the possible ways of determining the usual price of mentioned buildings. Derived ways of valuation methods are validated on examples and evaluated. On the basis of this verification there is a recommended procedure to determine the usual price of these types of buildings, ie. the expert standard.

No description available.