51 research outputs found
Design of a secure framework for the implementation of telemedicine, eHealth, and wellness services
No full text''Thus, with the advent of Information communication Technologies (ICT), researchers are working on ways of using ICT to deliver health care services at low costs''.In both developing and developed countries, the costs of delivering health care are increasingly taking a large proportion of the national gross domestic product (GDP). GDP, is one of several measures of the size of a regions’ economy. While developed countries have a good doctor to patient ratio, in developing countries the ratios are alarming (e.g., in Uganda it is about 1 doctor to 24.725 patients). Thus, with the advent of Information communication Technologies (ICT), researchers are working on ways of using ICT to deliver health care services at low costs. This has led to the development of proprietary Telemedicine, Ehealth, and Wellness (TEW) systems. Because most developments areproprietary, standards are fluid and this rises questions about interoperability. Besides, the applica- tion of ICT to remotely collect and disseminate information in a sensitive domain like health care,rises a number of security related issues especially for TEW systems that rely on wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for data acquisition and transmission (i.e., questions about data confidentiality,system reliability, user authentication, and data integrity arise). Therefore, in this thesis we investigate a number of TEW systems, analyse their technologies and security implementations. Our investigation led us to conclude that most of the wireless sensor based TEW developments have focused on engineering issues of making the technology work at the expense of security. We learn that even those systems that have implemented good security mechanisms may not have modeled appropriate threats. Hence, we present a threat model of TEW-WSNs and propose a polynomial based key management scheme to secure TEW wireless sensor networks. We give conclusions about the application of TEW systems in developing countries and the future trends
security Vs mobility
No full textThe paper concludes with the emerging research directions, which form the basis of the future work. Note that this is work in progress.This paper presents a high level design of a typical Ambulatory Wireless Sensor Network (AWSN) and it security requirements. It presents a theoretical analysis of the effects of mobility and dynamism of nodes in relation to the delivery of (authentication, reliability, data freshness, and integrity) services by routing protocols. The analysis focuses on Ariadne protocol and uses the Random-Way Point as the mobility model. The delivery of security services is modeled in terms of packet delivery ratios, link re-connections, and end-to-end delays. The logical analysis reveals that, the rate of node mobility and dynamism affects the delivery of security services. The paper concludes with the emerging research directions, which form the basis of the future work. Note that this is work in progress
A Model for Data Management in Peer-to-Peer Systems
No full textWith the current growth in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) computing, data management in P2P systems has become a very important issue, yet from literature little research effort has been dedicated to this field. Data management in P2P systems covers a wide range of issues starting from storage and indexing, replication and search to security and privacy. In this paper we propose a modularized data management model for P2P systems that cleanly separates the functional components, enabling the implementation of various P2P services with specific quality of service requirements using a common infrastructure besides improving the data management in the P2P system. We present the potential applications that could exploit the advantages our model provides
Enhanced master-slave time synchronization architecture for wireless sensor networks
No full textA number of time synchronization protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks rely on a single (master) node as source of reference time by which other (slave) nodes can be synchronized. Although the amount of overhead is greatly reduced, this is not a reliable technique since the master’s availability is not guaranteed. In this paper we address the issue of availability of the master node in a master-slave based time synchronization technique. We explore the use of a second node as a standby node that can takeover the role of the default master in case of its failure. Our proposed architecture provides for automatic master node failure detection and a mechanism that enables the second master to take over the role before the rest of the nodes on the network are affected by the failure
Leveraging artificial intelligence for postharvest aflatoxin management in Ugandan groundnuts- a structural equation modeling approach
No full text61-69 p. ;This study evaluated the influence of artificial intelligence-driven constructs on postharvest aflatoxin management in groundnuts using structural equation modeling (SEM) guided by the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model with a sample of 268 participants. The model looked at how advanced feature extraction, real-time monitoring and decision support, and healthy groundnut detection directly and indirectly affected the control of aflatoxin. The results showed that real-time monitoring and decision support had a strong and positive effect on postharvest management (β = 0.591, p < 0.001), emphasizing how important AI-driven real-time information is for better decision-making. Although healthy groundnut detection and advanced feature extraction showed positive effects, their direct impacts on management were marginally insignificant (p = 0.062 and p = 0.094, respectively). However, both predictors strongly influenced healthy groundnut detection, which emphasizes the value of intelligent sensing and feature-based classification. The SEM showed very good fit results (χ² = 0.00, RMSEA = 0.000, CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.000), and the model accounted for 71.5% of the variation in the variables it measured. These findings point out the transformative value of AI systems in improving aflatoxin postharvest management through advanced monitoring and detection technologies
Developing countries and the Uruguay Round : negotiations on services
No full textIn the late 1980s many developing countries experienced something of a pardigm shift: governments began to pursue more market-oriented domestic policies. There was an increasing perception that liberalizing access to service markets was a potentially low-cost, effective method for improving the quality and efficiency of domestic service sectors. These unilateral policy developments increased the incentives for developing countries as a group to participate in a multilateral agreement to liberalize trade in services. The author explores the extent to which the initial negotiating positions of developing countries are reflected in the draft General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) that has emerged from the Uruguay Round negotiations. He investigates whether the unilateral policy changes implemented by many developing countries in the late 1980s had a discernible impact on the draft GATS for developing countries. Many developing countries are pursuing regulatory reform and liberalization. To what extent will signing the GATS help governments trying to make their service sectors more efficient? Is the result of the defensive negotiating strategy that was pursued consistent with the shift toward a policy of liberalizing service markets? This issue is of particular relevance insofar as recent liberalization-plus-privatization programs in developing countries were driven by external forces rather than domestic pressure (industry) groups - which might reduce the credibility of liberalization policies. Membership in a binding multilateral agreement could help bolster reform efforts by increasing the costs of backsliding.Trade and Services,Poverty Assessment,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Governance Indicators,Rules of Origin
Infrastructure finance : issues, institutions, and policies
No full textThe author analyzes the distinctive features of formal and informal financing of infrastructure and the principal issues policymakers must address in dealing with infrastructure finance: its adequacy in competitive financial systems, its budgetary vulnerability, the rationale for foreign finance, the role of user charges and taxes, the pros and cons of earmarking taxes, the institutional framework for infrastructure finance, the role of municipal finance, different approaches to the private financing of infrastructure (such as franchises, leases, management contracts, and consumer cooperatives), the critical role of contractor finance, and informal financing of infrastructure.The author concludes the following points. Not only the amount of funds but the regularity of their flow is central to maintaining infrastructure. But infrastructure must compete on a level playing field with other sectors. Any essential (but not open-ended) subsidies for maintaining universal minimum standards of service are best carried on the government budget, subject to periodic review. Institutional reform is needed to rationalize the division of resources and responsibilities among all layers of government and to provide mechanisms for insulating infrastructure finance from budgetary and other pressures. Such mechanisms include earmarking, privatization, and objective criteria for sharing value-added tax and other national tax revenue. Most developing countries do not have a national infrastructure agency to fund and coordinate technical assistance for infrastructure projects. The author makes a case for an apex financial entity in charge of municipal financial intermediaries for infrastructure, pointing to the instructive experience of intermediaries in Colombia and Jordan. One responsibility of such an agency would be to determine the necessary import content (for equipment, technical, and managerial expertise) of infrastructure finance, to prevent overborrowing. Privatization of infrastructure should be viewed as implicit earmarking, but official regulation of public utility prices should allow private utilities to generate retained earnings (to encourage self-financing) and should allow adjustments for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. Infrastructure policy should allow for cost recovery through user charges as well as for tax revenues, especially through municipal taxes, since even the viability of loan finance depends on an efficient tax effort. While infrastructure finance is important, it is not always the decisive constraint, judging from the operating losses of even adequately funded infrastructure projects.Banks&Banking Reform,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Housing Finance,Urban Economics,Public&Municipal Finance
Analysis of existing landslide early detection and warning systems “a case of Bududa District, Uganda”
No full textAbstract Landslides are a major concern for hilly regions worldwide, claiming lives and livelihoods. Early detection and warning systems are crucial in mitigating the impact. This paper aims to identify and analyse the existing landslides early warning systems (LEWS) by analysing the community awareness and assessing the perception of the respondents toward the effectiveness of existing warning systems in Bududa District, Uganda. LEWS are integrated systems designed to monitor, assess, and provide timely alerts about potential landslides. Through mixed methods with sample size of 199 participants, the study revealed that majority of the respondents’ (48.2%) lacked awareness about existing landslide early warning systems, while 28.2% were none committal, with only 23.7%, indicating awareness of some of these systems. Further identified that weather stations were the most popular (44.9%), and community radios (41%). Additionally, majority of the respondents (51.3%) ranked the systems effectiveness in terms of providing early detection and timely warning at 25%, and only 9.6% of the respondents ranked their effectiveness at 75%. The study recommends that Bududa district officials should increase community awareness of the installed landslide early detection and warning systems through sensitization programs, the Government should develop customized landslide detection and early warning system
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