Open Source Verification under a Cloud

An experiment in providing volunteer cloud computing support for automated audits of open source code is described here, along with the supporting theory. Certification and the distributed and piecewise nature of the underlying verification computation are among the areas formalised in the theory part. The eventual aim of this research is to provide a means for open source developers who seek formally backed certification for their project to run fully automated analyses on their own source code. In order to ensure that the results are not tampered with, the computation is anonymized and shared with an ad-hoc network of volunteer CPUs for incremental completion. Each individual computation is repeated many times at different sites, and sufficient accounting data is generated to allow each computation to be refuted

Blockchain and gender digital inequalities in Africa: A critical afrofemtric analysis

Advances in the technological sphere are synergistic with society’s progression. Technological innovations result in social realities, and these correspondingly remodel technologies to reconcile their functions and values with society’s needs. The birth of blockchain ushered in euphoric pronouncements about its disruptive potentialities for low-resourced societies. While dominant discourses frame it as a tool for enabling grassroots participation in socioeconomic activities, they ignore the societal embeddedness of innovations. A central premise of this study is that the modalities of blockchain’s adoption reflect, and to an extent cement, the inequitable gender power dynamics of its context. Drawing on principles of gender justice from my original critical theory afrofemtrism, technofeminism, and the social construction of technology, I examined the adoption of blockchain technologies in Ghana and its engagement with gender digital inequalities. My empirical data is from 33 qualitative interviews with participants in the blockchain economy. I found that investing and trading in cryptocurrency are the principal blockchain activities in Ghana. This evinces the perception of low entry barriers without needing specialized education. Additionally, participants are overwhelmingly male, and the women in the space navigate a complex existence of relegation and comity. Their presence in this male-dominated space opens them to ridicule, and yet they benefit from better transactional opportunities as people perceive them to be more trustworthy than the average man. Blockchain could engender financial emancipation for women and other marginalized social groups. However, conditions like the compound effect of inhibiting familial, societal, and cultural socialization on gendered interests and progression undercut these affordances. Blockchain in itself is, therefore, not a panacea. Interventions for social change must include gender justice-conscious policymaking, as well as nationwide conscientization of the underpinnings of gender digital disparities. This study’s findings are integral to advancing studies in gender disparities in a sociotechnical arena. It also contributes to knowledge emanating from the Global South, particularly regarding emerging technology

Reactor pressure vessel. Status report

This report describes the issues raised as a result of the staffs review of Generic Letter (GL) 92-01, Revision 1, responses and plant-specific reactor pressure vessel (RPV) assessments and the actions taken or work in progress to address these issues. In addition, the report describes actions taken by the staff and the nuclear industry to develop a thermal annealing process for use at U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. This process is intended to be used as a means of mitigating the effects of neutron radiation on the fracture toughness of RPV materials. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued GL 92-01, Revision 1, Supplement 1, to obtain information needed to assess compliance with regulatory requirements and licensee commitments regarding RPV integrity. GL 92-01, Revision 1, Supplement 1, was issued as a result of generic issues that were raised in the NRC staff`s reviews of licensee responses to GL 92-01, Revision 1, and plant-specific RPV evaluations. In particular, an integrated review of all data submitted in response to GL 92-01, Revision 1, indicated that licensees may not have considered all relevant data in their RPV assessments. This report is representative of submittals to and evaluations by the staff as of September 30, 1996. An update of this report will be issued at a later date

The characteristics of motion and time study in Taiwan\u27s electronics industry and their relationship to business size

This research was conducted to investigate the characteristics of motion and time study implementation in Taiwan\u27s electronics industry, as perceived by industrial engineers, and the relationships of these perceptions to business sizes of the firms. The questionnaires were mailed to 252 industrial engineers in the general firms group. A total of 206 (81.75%) instruments were returned. The questionnaires were then mailed to another 15 industrial engineers in the highly productive firms group. All the instruments (100%) were returned from the highly productive firm group. Telephone interviews were later conducted with six selected highly productive electronics firms to investigate their successful implementation of motion and time study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program was used to perform the statistical analysis. Statistical analysis involved frequencies, crosstabs, chi-square analysis, and Spearman\u27s rank correlation coefficients. The major findings drawn from the analysis of data was that motion and time study practices were different by business size in Taiwan\u27s electronics industry regarding usage of time standards, application of time standards on indirect personnel and problems with conducting motion and time study. In addition, motion and time study training practices in Taiwan\u27s electronics industry were also different by business size regarding current practices and perceived ideal practices. Business size was found to have positive correlations related to: (a) the use of work measurement techniques such as MTM-1, MTM-2, and computerized work measurement systems; (b) the application of time standards on department functions such as cost estimation and cost accounting; as well as (c) person-hours involved conducting motion and time study. Negative correlation, however, was found between business size and the application of time standards on production planning/scheduling. Concerning the differences in motion and time study practices and related training practices in highly productive electronics firms compared with other electronics firms, highly productive firms tended to use time standards more often than general electronics firms in the manufacturing process area. Chi-square values revealed no significant differences regarding all the other implementation characteristics used in this study. Major recommendations of this study were: (a) motion and time study related training programs of various types, content and length of time should be provided to meet the demands of motion and time study personnel in Taiwan\u27s electronics industry, and (b) the concept of applying time standards to various company departments and functions should be disseminated in order to promote the implementation of motion and time study

Academic Catalog Volume 15: 1996-1997 to 1998-99

https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/acadcat/1015/thumbnail.jp

An interventionist study of computer application by CDT teachers in Oxfordshire

This research attempted to clarify and intervene in the situation with regard to the use of microcomputers in Oxfordshire schools' craft Design and Technology departments. It initially investigated and established the December 1986 position of computer use by CDT teachers within Oxfordshire LEA. [Continues.