186 research outputs found
Transgender as a Humanitarian Category
No full textAbstract In this article, the author foregrounds transgender as a useful category of analysis to shed light on the issue of gender variance and its articulations within the encounter between Syrian queer and gender-variant refugees and the humanitarian-asylum complex. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted with Syrian queer and gender-variant refugees in Istanbul in 2014 and 2015, this article contends that transgender as a term first circulates among the queer and gender-variant circles as a thinkable possibility primarily through its function as a humanitarian category, especially as propagated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). By highlighting this specific encounter, the author attempts to demonstrate, however, that rather than focusing on what the term does to the persons it interpellates, one must map out and document the ways the term is taken up and negotiated by the Syrian queer and gender-variant populations themselves, a method that could help ameliorate the negativity attached to transgender as a Western term and show that other systems of identification and histories of gender variance in the Syrian or Syrian diasporic contexts do not simply disappear or are subsumed by transgender, but are further complicated by it and continue to exist alongside it
The use of a blockchain-based smart import declaration to reduce the need for manual cross-validation by customs authorities
No full textFor determining the correctness of an import declaration lodged by a declarant within international shipping, customs authorities rely on manual cross-validation of the declaration with other trade documents. However, the sheer volume of import declarations lodged annually makes it impossible to manually cross-validate each declaration. Smart contracts have the potential to automatically aggregate relevant information from blockchain-based ledgers for lodging and cross-validation. In this paper we explore how such smart contract could be implemented. We demonstrate that a smart import declaration can be used to automatically aggregate information from different sources (e.g., pro forma invoice data elements stored on the blockchain ledger). However, technical and organizational considerations that are inherent to blockchain technology need to be addressed for the smart import declaration to be acceptable for both customs authorities and declarants. It is therefore suggested that future work focusses on data standards required to enable automatic aggregation of relevant trade information and the generation of the import declaration and governance of the smart import declaration by customs authorities to assure correctness.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Information and Communication Technolog
Unraveling Transparency and Accountability in Blockchain
No full textBlockchain technology is heralded for improving trust and can provide a new approach for creating transparency and promoting accountability of government activities. However, it is still not clear how and in what ways blockchain technologies can improve this. This study examines the mechanisms and capability of blockchain technology to contribute to improved transparency andaccountability in government. We use a set of system transparency and accountability concepts and mechanisms to critically assess the capabilities of blockchain . By means of a land registration case in Indonesia we investigate the effects of blockchain on the transparency and accountability of the system. Creating transparency and accountability might be more difficult than expected, as non technical issues need to be addressed. Based on our assessment we discuss key issues, including digital ID, privacy, interoperability, connectivity and technology aware population, computational efficiency and storage size, acceptability, check and control mechanism, data validity, digital signature, algorithm transparency, law and regulation support, and dispute resolution, that must be considered in developing a transparent and accountable blockchain based e-Government system.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Information and Communication Technolog
Current and expected roles and capabilities of CIOS for the innovation and adoption of new technology
No full textGovernments across the word are under pressure to adopt new technologies and to innovate and transform their processes. Some governments have introduced the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) to facilitate these innovations though adoption of new technologies. The traditional CIO role of improving operational efficiency is now shifting towards exploring new IT-enabled opportunities required in digital transformation. In this context, CIO capabilities are expanding to be more involved in administrative processes and digital transformation, however, their organizational role seem to lag behind. This paper is aimed at evaluating the current role of CIOs and to provide policy recommendations to strengthen their role. Data was collected during a session in which roles and capabilities of CIOs were discussed. In particular, we found that often the CIO was positioned as having an IT role, whereas a more organizational role was needed. CIOs should develop capabilities to support digital transformation and to develop architecture that is adaptive and agile. The expectations of the CIO and the role of the CIO need to be better aligned.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Information and Communication Technolog
Ghayat al-amani and the life and times of al-Hadi Yahya b. al-Husayn: an introduction, newly edited text and translation with detailed annotation
No full textThe thesis is anchored upon a text extracted from an important 11th / 17th century Yemeni historical work. This text deals primarily with al-Hādī ilā 'I-Haqq, the founder of the Zaydī Imamate in the Yemen that lasted well over a thousand years. AI-Hādīs imamate, of considerable significance in itself, also coincides with one of the most turbulent periods of early Yemeni mediaeval history. The- edited Arabic text, with its accompanying apparatus criticus. Is to be found at the opposite end of this volume. The Introduction considers various aspects of Imam al-Hadī’s life, religious ideas and aspirations and matters directly connected with the edited text and the work of which it forms a part. Among the most important subjects discussed are the MSS used in the production of the edited text, the problem concerning the authorship of Ghāyat al-amānī and the relationship of the latter work to Anbā' al-zaman. A short biography of al-Hādī is provided, together with a treatment of the historical background to ai-Hādīs imamate. The introduction also describes the editorial method followed with regard to the text, and certain key personal names and toponyms are dealt with there. The method employed by the author of the Ghāyat is to record the events of any one year by Itself. I have translated one year at a time and then followed it by the annotations appertaining to it. It is hoped that by means of these annotations. (some of which through necessity are quite detailed ), the text will be better understood. The numerous personages, tribal names and toponyms are considered, as well as problems concerning points of chronology and various matters of historical and religious significance. Specific comment is made upon certain interesting terms or any unusual or striking vocabulary. The thesis concludes with maps, genealogical tables and a comprehensive bibliography
Endometrial Stromal Neoplasm in the Placenta: report of a case and review of the literature
No full textPeer reviewe
Towards a Smart Sustainable City Roadmap Identifying Competency Gaps
No full textThis workshop of the CAP4CITY (Erasmus+ Strengthening Governance Capacity for Smart Sustainable Cities) project is to promote and stimulate the discussion and networking in the area of Digital Government. Smart Sustainable Cities and related concepts of Digital, Intelligent and Smart Cities represent a progression of how cities around the world apply digital technology to serve their populations, pursue sustainable socioeconomic development, and transform themselves in the process, and require strong capacity for public governance in the digital world. In order to identify the gaps concerning missing knowledge and training needs in this area we propose to validate a Smart Sustainable Cities roadmap through a scenario-building approach.Information and Communication Technolog
Placenta increta presenting as retained placenta: a report of 3 cases
No full textObjectives: Morbid adherence is a risk factor for retained placenta(RP). We encountered 3 cases of placenta increta presenting clinically as delayed postpartum hemorrhage.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of 3 cases of placenta increta presenting as RP.
Results: One “routine” term placenta had heavy bleeding 2 weeks later; one missed abortion at 16 weeks with fetal and placental tissue submitted, had heavy bleeding 6 weeks later; and one elective abortion (no tissue submitted), had delayed postpartum bleeding leading to a curettage with blood only, then 6 weeks later a hysterectomy for menorrhagia. All 3 pathology specimens showed necrotic villi. However, all three also showed myometrium with keratin-positive interstitial trophoblasts in a zone of damaged myometrium, consistent with increta. All 3 cases had basal plate myofibers (BPMF) in the placenta, with BPMF recurrence in the 2 cases with another pregnancy.
Conclusion: RP may be a presenting clinical manifestation of placenta increta.Peer reviewe
Workshop on Blockchain based applications
No full textThe use of blockchain technology has the potential to change many core processes in society, industry, education, healthcare, business and government by introducing new ways of transacting that are expected to change the traditional ways in which organizations exchange data and money. Proponents of developing blockchain applications suggest that many benefits can be created by using blockchain, including (enhanced) trust, privacy, transparency and control. As a consequence the traditional role of the middleman in transactions processes might be substituted by blockchain based applications. Although blockchain technology was pioneered in the financial sectors by initiating cryptocurrencies, currently its use is not limited to this sector. Blockchain can be considered as a general purpose technology and as such offers a myriad of options to create blockchain applications. To date, many pilots are conducted and prototypes are developed to better understand its potential, its limitations and its transformative effect on a wide range of application domains.Information and Communication Technolog
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