The Internet of Things (IoT) comprises many small, embedded devices that operate on severe resource constraints concerning energy, bandwidth, and memory footprints. Software for such devices has traditionally been implemented using relatively low-level languages such as C, which makes it susceptible to introducing bugs or flaws that can compromise the security of the device. This thesis adds interpreted WebAssembly (WASM) bytecode execution to Contiki-NG – an operating system for the next generation IoT devices. This is done using an open-source WASM runtime called WebAssembly Micro Runtime (WAMR). It creates an isolated and secure environment for applications to be executed in that has restricted access to the host operating system. To support the event-driven approach of Contiki-NG, the bytecode execution can be interrupted and resumed as needed, allowing the operating system to handle pending events without significant delays. The result is a way for applications written in a variety of programming languages to be safely executed in Contiki-NG and to interact with its APIs. When tested on Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52840 System-on-Chip (SoC), applications executed as bytecode resulted in an increase in binary size of 2.7-3.1x, and a performance penalty of around 9.2x for C-generated bytecode, and 10.3x for Rust-generated bytecode. For less compute-intensive applications, the performance penalty is not as prominent but still displays a sizable increase in energy consumption compared to native execution.

Undocumented students in the United States continue to face unique barriers to postsecondary success. One way that community colleges and 4-year institutions are providing support for undocumented students is establishing undocumented student resource centers (USRCs). These emerging identity-based centers are dedicated spaces of support and provide customized, comprehensive resources for undocumented college students. A multipronged theoretical framework that included undocu-competence, the institutionalization process, and critical theory, was used as a lens to examine how USRC professionals and affiliates understand the development, role, and function of a USRC on a California community college campus. Qualitative single case study methods, including in-depth semistructured interviews, observations, and document analysis, were utilized to meet the purpose of the study. The findings revealed three primary themes. First, the institutionalization process of the USRC at the center of this study was complex, imperfect, and ongoing. Second, there are strengths and limitations respective to the USRC's capacity to operationalize support and safety. Finally, the compounded impact of the current socio-political moment cannot be evaded with respect to the USRC's function. Subsequently, three primary points of discussion are explored, including critiquing the process of USRC institutionalization, complicating the notion of safe spaces on campuses, and calling for inside-outside strategies of support in order to best serve undocumented students.

[pt] O presente estudo tem o objetivo de compreender o desenvolvimento do conceito de safe third country (terceiro país seguro) e suas consequências para a proteção internacional dos refugiados, a partir do princípio do non-refoulement (princípio da não devolução). Busca-se analisar de que forma esta ideia está sendo aplicada pelos Estados, através dos tratados internacionais com a finalidade de transferência de solicitantes de refúgio a terceiros países supostamente seguros. Além disso, a pesquisa analisa a jurisprudência dos Sistemas Interamericano e Europeu de Direitos Humanos sobre as devoluções de refugiados e migrantes, assim como o diálogo entre as cortes internacionais sobre este tema, especialmente à luz das especificidades regionais do continente americano. Portanto, o trabalho demonstra que as políticas dos países com base na noção de safe third country são mecanismos para transferir suas responsabilidades em relação ao refúgio e representam obstáculos para a garantia dos direitos humanos de refugiados. / [en] The present study aims to understand the development of the concept of safe third country and its consequences for the international protection of refugees, based on the principle of non-refoulement. It seeks to analyze how this idea has been applied by States, through international treaties with the purpose of transferring asylum seekers to supposedly safe third countries. Moreover, the research analyzes the jurisprudence of the Inter-American and European Human Rights Systems on the returns of refugees and migrants, as well as the dialogue between international courts on this topic, especially considering the regional specificities of the American continent. Therefore, this research demonstrates that countries policies based on the notion of safe third country are mechanisms to transfer their responsibilities in relation to refuge and represent obstacles to guaranteeing the human rights of refugees. / [es] El presente estudio tiene como objetivo comprender el desarrollo del concepto de safe third country (tercer país seguro) y sus consecuencias para la protección internacional de los refugiados, a partir del principio de non-refoulement (principio de no devolución). Se busca analizar cómo dicha idea está siendo aplicada por los Estados, a través de tratados internacionales con el propósito de trasladar solicitantes de refugio a terceros países supuestamente seguros. Además, la investigación analiza la jurisprudencia de los Sistemas Interamericano y Europeo de Derechos Humanos sobre las devoluciones de refugiados y migrantes, así como el diálogo entre cortes internacionales sobre este tema, especialmente a la luz de las especificidades regionales del continente americano. Por lo tanto, el trabajo demuestra que las políticas de los países basadas en la noción de safe third country son mecanismos para transferir sus responsabilidades con relación al refugio y representan obstáculos para garantizar los derechos humanos de los refugiados.

A deductive, descriptive, quanitative study was undertaken at Nyangabgwe Hospital, Francistown, Botswana, situated in the north east of the country. Its focus was on the use of partogram by midwives. The population consisted of 395 obstetric records for the period of one month. A sample of 303 obstetrics records was drawn. Data were collected through auditing the bed letters of delivered mothers and interviews with and observation of midwives using the partogram in practice. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used to analyse the data. The findings indicate that there are problems regarding, and factors that can have a negative influence on the use of the partogram by midwives. It is suggested that a supportive teaching programme for the midwives should be designed, that will support the system of supervision in the labour ward that already exists, in the use of the partogram throughout the labour process. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

The purpose of the study was to explore factors that influenced safer sex practices in Malawi. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive study was conducted to determine why the prevalence of new HIV infections was still high in Malawi despite. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Sexually active men, women, boys and girls that participated in the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation community awareness activities participated in this study. The study found that demographic, socio-economic and knowledge-related factors influence safer sex practices in Malawi. Various modifying factors played a role in influencing the individuals’ perception of susceptibility, severity, barriers and benefits of practising safer sex. The findings indicated that individuals generally had a broad knowledge of the spread and prevention of HIV. The Health Belief Model was used as theoretical framework for the study / Health Studies

Quorum sensing enables bacteria to communicate with bacteria of the same or different species, and to modulate their behavior in a cell-density dependent manner. Communication occurs by means of small quorum sensing signaling molecules (QSMs) whose concentration is proportional to the population size. When a QSM threshold concentration is reached, certain genes are expressed, thus allowing control of several processes, such as, virulence factor production, antibiotic production, and biofilm formation. Not only many pathogenic bacteria are known to produce QSMs, but also QSMs have been identified in some bacteria-related disorders. Therefore, quantitative detection of QSMs present in clinical samples may be a useful tool in the investigation and monitoring of bacteria-related diseases, thus prompting the use of QSMs as biomarkers of disease. Herein, we have developed and utilized whole-cell biosensing systems and protein based biosensing systems to detect QSMs in clinical samples, such as, saliva, stool, and bowel secretions. Additionally, since bacteria are responsible for food spoilage, we employed the developed biosensing systems to detect QSMs in food samples and demonstrated their applicability for early identification of food contamination. Furthermore, we have utilized these biosensing systems to screen antibacterial compounds employed for food preservation, namely, generally regarded as safe (GRAS) compounds, for their effect on quorum sensing.

智慧財產權利人有多種方式利用其智慧財產權。最直接的方式是將智慧財產權出售予他人，以獲得價金之報酬。權利人透過一次獲得相當金額，而滿足其創新的對價；但也有可能由於創新尚未獲得市場肯定，而無法獲得他人提供足以滿足其目的之對價。另種方式是自行設廠製造，不過，一方面權利人未必有足夠的財力投資於生產，而另一方面權利人未必了解經營或未必有意願承擔經營之風險。折衷的方式就是將智慧財產權授權他人使用，而不移轉所有權，以獲得持續的報酬給付，並不喪失其最終的權利。 然而，智慧財產權具有排他效力，只有特定權利人可以使用，他人除非經過權利人同意，否則無法使用，限制或排除他人進入該智慧財產權所涉及之商品市場與權利人自由競爭，而形成限制競爭之效果。此種結果是賦予具有排他效力之智慧財產權所必然產生者，如果因而被認定違反競爭法，恐將導致智慧財產權之規範目的無法達成。因此，對於「智慧財產權法對於智慧財產權利人之保護」與「公平交易法對於公平交易秩序之維護」兩者界限該如何權衡，當為十分重要的課題。 本文經由探討美國、歐盟及日本等國家現行競爭法對於技術授權行為之規範：美國”Antitrust Guidelines for the Licensing of Intellectual Property（1995）”、” Antitrust Enforcement and Intellectual Property Rights: Promoting Innovation and Competition（2007）”，歐盟” Commission Regulation (EC) No 772/2004 of 27 April 2004 on the application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty to categories of technology transfer agreements”及其Guidelines，日本2007年新修訂「知的財産の利用に関する独占禁止法上の指針」，以及參考我國公平會（Fair Trade Commission）執法實務之案例經驗，俾掌握技術授權行為如何在鼓勵創新與促進技術流通兩者間加以權衡題，進而試就我國技術授權協議案件處理原則（Fair Trade Commission Guidelines on Technology Licensing Arrangements），提供具體修正建議： 一、適用範圍：歐盟及日本於新修訂的技術授權處理規範中，均將適用客體進一步擴大適用至新式樣專利與軟體著作權（software copyright）。然而，我國公平會目前相關案件量甚少，故是否要隨外國立法例擴大適用範圍，應視我國國情及執法實務加以考量，仍有斟酌餘地。 二、建立「安全區」：適度將對於市場競爭程度影響輕微之案件排除，不但增加執法透明度與明確性，同時避免行政資源錯置，應屬可行。衡諸國情及促進產業發展之考量，本文建議立法初期，針對公平交易法第19條限制競爭或妨礙公平競爭行為，於授權人市場占有率10%以下者，認定較無限制競爭或妨礙公平競爭疑慮，而不須加以審查。 三、不須區分黑（違法）、灰（可能違法）條款：現行技術授權處理原則第6點及第7點規定若從法律效果來看，應無區分必要，亦即無區分黑、灰條款之必要。若競爭法主管機關有意區別兩類行為之非難程度，則可在立法說明或處理原則中對於個別行為之競爭評價，詳為敘明，俾讓業者遵循。倘公平會對於特定行為欲採取較為嚴格的執法立場，採取當然違法之判斷者，條文用語應修改為「授權協議當事人○○行為時，即得認定該行為對特定市場供需功能產生影響…」，亦即不須判斷該行為對於市場競爭實質影響程度，只要當事人行為合致構成要件，即屬違法，如此始有區分規範之必要。 四、修正個別條款內容：針對現行第5點至第7點規定，「不構成違法」共11款，及修正後「可能構成違反公平交易法第19條第6款規定」共12款行為類型，就其條文內容或立法說明提供具體修正意見。 五、標準化與專利聯盟(standardization and patent pool)：從廣受各界關注的「飛利浦案」，公平會對於科技產業的標準化與專利聯盟情形，如何建構妥適的聯合行為管制模式，首要之務是要確立執法立場。對於專利聯盟可能存有惡性卡特爾之風險，一方面仍保有競爭法主管機關的介入空間，亦不能動輒讓產業承擔過高法律風險，導致阻礙創新或影響商機。美國、歐盟、日本立法例多肯定透過專利聯盟集中授權模式，有助減少交易成本等效益，亦建立不少規範與案例，可供公平會借鏡參考。然而，不能忽視的是我國廠商多處於被授權人地位，在高度仰賴技術輸入之現況，如何確保我國廠商得以在公平競爭環境，得以提升產業發展，競爭法主管機關於制定相關法規時，亦須一併加以重視。

通關便捷化與反恐皆是目前全球的重要趨勢。通關便捷化可降低企業經營成本，提高國際市場競爭力，並吸引各國企業投資；而反恐則可預先篩選過濾高風險危害，保護國土安全，避免貿易癱瘓。大勢所趨，我國無法自外於潮流，必須儘所能尋求反恐成效與整體通關效率兩者兼顧的有效措施，提升關務行政效能及增進國際貿易競爭力，以保障我國未來經濟之穩定與成長。 通關反恐與通關便捷其實很難兩全其美，一味講求通關便捷固然會疏於反恐，因而影響貿易安全，然過於嚴格的反恐措施亦必影響通關便捷化。因此，如何兼顧通關便捷與安全，是全球海關未來的重要課題，本研究乃基於剖析通關便捷化與911後之通關反恐，進一步推導出兼顧通關便捷及貿易安全之策略，並選定目前蔚為世界趨勢的WCO SAFE標準架構作為所需兼顧策略的探討內容，從WCO SAFE標準架構之國際發展趨勢、各國導入WCO SAFE標準架構之情形、其他國際性供應鏈安全計畫等諸項，分析出兼顧通關便捷及貿易安全趨勢我國應有的策略和具體做法。 本研究對於如何真正做到通關無紙化、如何落實廉政海關、ECFA所遭遇的問題及如何透過ECFA與世界接軌、如何以京都公約的做法加強通關便捷化、我國執行反恐的重點、如何協助國內廠商通過國際安全標準認證、如何參酌國際規範適時修正我國關稅法規並調整關稅措施、如何提升我國海關通關效能等關鍵問題，均提出具體可行建議和可行細節規劃。 / Customs clearance Facilitation and anti-terrorism are important trends at present in the world. Clearance Facilitation can reduce enterprise's operation costs, raise the competitiveness of international markets, and attract enterprise investments from other countries. Through the anti-terrorism mechanism most high- risk factors could be sifted out prior to the importation of goods or the arrival of people, so we may protect the security of the territory, prevent trade from being paralyzed. Taiwan, a member of the global village, can never exclude itself from the global trends, and must seek the effective measures to attain both anti-terrorism effect and clearance efficiency, improve customs administrative efficiency and promote international trade competitiveness, in order to ensure Taiwan’s economic stabilization and growth in the future. It seems very difficult to strike a balance between Customs clearance facilitation and anti-terrorism; i.e. getting both of the two tasks done well is really a challenge to a country. While simply stressing clearance facilitation will undoubtedly be negligent of anti-terrorism, and even sacrifice trade security, but overly strict anti-terrorism measures will affect clearance facilitation. So, how to attain both clearance facilitation and security is an important task for world Customs as a whole. This study is to analyze clearance facilitation and anti-terrorism after the 911, then derives further the strategies to attain both clearance facilitation and security, and it selects WCO SAFE standards, which are a leading guide for world trade procedures, to be the discussion content necessary for the eclectic strategies. This study tries to derive the strategies and concrete procedures that Taiwan may adopt to attain clearance facilitation and trade security based on the trends of international development of WCO SAFE standards, the situation various countries adopt WCO SAFE standard structure, other international supply chain safety plans, etc. This study proposes feasible suggestions and detailed plans in regard to how to accomplish paperless customs clearance, how to put customs integrity into practice, the problems the ECFA encounters and how to integrate with the world through ECFA, how to strengthen clearance facilitation with the implementation of the Kyoto Convention, the focal point of Taiwan executing the anti-terrorism policy, how to help the domestic manufacturers to pass international safety standard authentication, how to revise Taiwan’s Customs regulations and adjust tariff measures in consultation with international norms at the right time, how to improve customs clearance efficiency, etc.

Darbo tikslas. Įvertinti vyresnio amžiaus pacientų vaistų vartojimo valdymą. Uždaviniai: išanalizuoti vaistų vartojimo ypatumus vyresniame amžiuje; nustatyti gaunamos informacijos, susijusios su saugiu vaistų vartojimu, įtaką pagyvenusiems pacientams; įvertinti pagalbinių technologijų reikšmę vyresnių pacientų vaistų vartojimo valdymui. Tyrimo metodika. Tiriamųjų apklausa, dokumentacijos analizė, statistinė analizė. Anketavimo bei struktūrizuoto interviu metu buvo naudojamas klausimynai, skirti pacientams bei slaugytojoms, sudaryti pačios tyrėjos, remiantis literatūra. Tiriamųjų grupę sudarė 178 respondentai, besigydantys VšĮ II Kauno klinikinės ligoninės vidaus ligų skyriuje nuo 2009 metų rugsėjo mėn. iki 2010 vasario mėn. bei 14 bendrosios praktikos slaugytojų, dirbančių tame pačiame skyriuje. Statistinė duomenų analizė atlikta naudojant statistinės analizės programą "SPSS for Windows 15.0". Rezultatai statistiškai reikšmingi, jei paklaidos tikimybės reikšmė p<0,05. Kokybinių požymių pasiskirstymas buvo skaičiuojamas absoliučiu skaičiumi bei procentais, kiekybiniams požymiams skaičiuotas vidurkis ir standartinis nuokrypis, standartinė vidurkio paklaida. Ryšiai tarp požymių buvo vertinami chi kvadrato (χ²) kriterijumi bei laisvės laipsnių skaičiumi (lls). Rezultatai. Lietuvoje kaip ir visame pasaulyje vis didėja vyresnio amžiaus žmonių skaičius. Tai sąlygoja didesnį sergamumą ir su juo susijusį saugų vaistų vartojimą. Dažniausios problemos yra: širdies ir kraujagyslių ligos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of the study. To evaluate the managament of older patients medicines consumption. Objectives. To assess the pecularities of drug use by older patients; to identify the influence of available information of safe medicines consumption on senior patients behaviour; to evaluate the importance of supporting technologies to the management of senior patients medicines consumption. Research methods. Questionnaires for patients and nurses were created by researcher using literature. The study groups consisted of 178 respondents, which were hospitalized in 2nd Kaunas Clinical Hospital Internal Medicine Department since September, 2009, till February , 2010, and 14 general practice nurses, which are working in this department. Statistical data analyse was performed by using statistical analyse programme “SPSS for Windows 15.0“. The distribution of qualitative indicators was calculated in absolute number and percentage. For quantitative indicators an average and standard deviation were calculated. Relations between features were valued by chi square criterion ((χ²). Results. The most frequent conditions of older patients were cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. Patients for a variety of problems could not use medicines on their own. Side effects of medications were frequent. From side effects more common were: dizziness (33,7 %), palpitations (30,3 %), general weakness (29,2 %), constipation (26,4 %). Aged patients used frequently over-the-counter medications, they... [to full text]

Despite the country's rural electrification programme, kerosene is the predominant source for lighting, and unsustainable and polluting woody biomass is virtually the only option available for cooking. The rural population also struggles with unsafe drinking water in terms of widespread arsenic contamination of well water. The present work has taken an integrated approach in an attempt to mitigate problems through small-scale polygeneration, a concept linking renewable energy sources to these energy needs via novel energy conversion systems. Anaerobic digesters (AD) for biogas production are promising in the rural setting, and field surveys have identified problems in the construction, maintenance and operation of existing AD, particularly in overall performance of household digesters. Based on these results, a number of operational and technological improvements are suggested for employing digesters in polygeneration units. This study also examines one approach for small-scale, low cost arsenic removal in groundwater through air gap membrane distillation, a thermally-driven water purification technology. Integration of biogas production with power generation and water purification is an innovative concept that lies at the core of feasibility analyses conducted in this work. One of the case studies presents a new concept for integrated biogas based polygeneration and analyzes the techno-economic performance of the scheme for meeting the demand of electricity, cooking energy and safe drinking water of 30 households in a rural village of Bangladesh. The specific technologies chosen for the key energy conversion steps are as follows: plug-flow digester; internal combustion engine; and membrane distillation. One major concern is local feedstock availability for the digester, since a single feedstock is impractical to serve both cooking, lighting and water purification systems. In this circumstance solar PV could be a potential option for integrated hybrid systems. / Bangladesh har varit föremål för en svår energikris (bristande el- och gasnät) de senaste tre decennierna. Landsbygden, som innefattar 75 % av befolkningen, har varit särskilt drabbad. Trots landets elektrifieringsprogram av landsbygden är fotogenlampor den företrädande ljuskällan, medan förorenande och ohållbar träbaserad biomassa är praktiskt taget det enda alternativet för matlagning. Landsbygden kämpar samtidigt mot osäkert dricksvatten, på grund av utbredd arsenikförgiftning av brunnsvatten, med negativa hälsoeffekter som följd. Tillgång till ren energi och säkert dricksvatten är verkliga behov bland de fattiga på landsbygden, för ökad välfärd. Detta arbete antar ett integrerat tillvägagångssätt för att försöka lösa dessa problem genom småskalig polygenerering. Detta koncept länkar samman förnyelsebara energikällor av biomassa och sol med energibehoven, genom nya energiomvandlingssystem. Anaerobiska rötkammare för biogasproduktion är lovande för landsbygdsmiljö, även om det för närvarande råder en betydande klyfta mellan den tekniska och kostandseffektiva potentialen och faktisk implementering på grund av bristande tekniskt kunnande och tillgång på råmaterial, höga installations- och driftkostnader, och begränsade användartillämpningar. Intervjuundersökningar visar på problem i konstruktion, underhåll och drift av befintliga anaerobiska rötkammare. Särskilt den generella prestandan hos hushållsrötkammare identifieras som bristfällig. Utifrån dessa resultat föreslås en rad drift- och teknikförbättringar för att utnyttja rötkammare i polygenereringssystem.   Denna studie undersöker även en metod för småskalig och kostnadseffektiv arsenikrening av grundvatten genom membrandestillation med luftspalt (Air Gap Membrane Distillation, AGMD), vilket är en termiskt driven vattenreningsteknik. Resultat från en experimentell undersökning visar att den undersökta AGMD-prototypen är kapabel att uppnå utmärkt separationseffektivitet med hänsyn till arsenikrening. Parametriska studier med fokus på varierande kylvattentemperatur illustrerar möjligheten att integrera AGMD-teknik i diverse termiska system. Integrering av biogasproduktion med kraftproduktion och vattenrening är ett innovativt koncept som utgör kärnan av förstudierna utförda i detta arbete. En av studierna visar ett nytt koncept för biogasbaserad polygenerering och analyserar den techno-ekonomiska prestandan av metoden för att möta efterfrågan av elektricitet, matlagningsvärme och säkert dricksvatten för 30 hushåll i en Bangladeshisk by på landsbygden. De specifika tekniker som valts för energiomvandlingsstegen är följande: plugg-flödesrötkammare, förbränningsmotor och en AGMD-enhet. Termodynamisk utvärdering inklusive mass- och energibalans av systemet undersöktes tillsammans med produktionskostnaden för elektricitet, matlagningsgas, och säkert dricksvatten. Även återbetalningsperiod och internräntan undersöktes. För att bemöta energi- och arsenikproblemen i Bangladesh, indikerar resultaten att detta polygenereringssystem är mycket mer konkurrenskraftigt och lovande (med avseende på produktionskostnaderna) jämfört med andra tillgängliga tekniker. Ett viktigt problem för rötkammaren är tillgången till lokalt råmaterial, eftersom en ensam källa till råmaterial är opraktiskt för att tillgodose efterfrågan från både matlagning, belysning och vattenrening. I detta fall kan solceller vara ett potentiellt alternativ för integrerade hybridsystem. Teknisk värdering och optimering har genomförts för elektricitet med verktyget HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources), för ett polygenereringssystem beläget i byn Panipara i Faridpur. Resultaten visar att systement kan tillgodoses det dagliga elektricitetsbehovet och samtidigt producera 0.4 m3 matlagningsbränsle och 2-3 L/person rent dricksvatten. Kostnadsuppskattningar visar att denna metod är högst gynnsam jämfört med andra förnyelsebara alternativ (t ex vind-, vatten-, biobränslebaserad- eller geotermisk energi). / <p>QC 20170419</p> / SIDA – the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC- project no. SWE-2011-135 / STEM-Fjärrsyn project 2014