Framework of Hardware Trojan Detection Leveraging Structural Checking Tool

Since there is a significant demand for obtaining third-party soft Intellectual Property (IP) by first-party integrated circuit (IC) vendors, it is becoming easier for adversaries to insert malicious logic known as hardware Trojans into designs. Due to this, vendors need to find ways to screen the third-party IPs for possible security threats and then mitigate them. The development of the Structural Checking (SC) tool provides a solution to this issue. This tool analyzes the structure of an unknown soft IP design and creates a network of all the signals within the design and how they are connected to each other. In addition, these signals will be assigned with assets. Assets describe the central role of a signal in the entire design. These assets are then used to create asset patterns, which will be crucial for this thesis research. Previous research on SC tool focuses on Trojan detection by comparing and matching an unknown design to a trusted design in a Golden Reference Library. In this thesis research, another method of Trojan detection has been implemented in the SC tool, which focuses on recognizing specific asset patterns that mainly exist in Trojan-infested designs. These specific asset patterns can then be used to check against unknown designs for Trojans without using a Golden Reference Library. This thesis improves this method by creating a new framework for easily identifying the unique Trojan asset patterns

Internet centers/usage by Burmese ethnic migrants in Mae Sod : traversing the borders of Internet divide and recasting ethnic identities

This paper looks at the symbiotic relationship between the use of the Internet and the re/construction of ethnic identities. It argues that the incomplete and ongoing self-making nature of ethnic identity can shape how the Internet is used, as much as how the Internet shapes identity. Taken from ongoing research on the use of Internet centers by marginalized women in the Thai-Burmese border, the paper reflects upon the various means and meanings of the appropriation of the technology

An Examination of Factors Influencing Equitable Access to Dementia Care and Support Programs among Migrants and Refugees Living with Dementia: A Literature Review

Canada is working on improving the diagnosis and treatment of Canadians with cognitive impairment and promoting living well with dementia. Despite the availability of support network, Canadians living with dementia are identified to commonly experience social isolation and exclusion. This issue is particularly significant among migrants and refugees, for whom access to dementia care and support programs are found to be significantly less than the non-migrated Canadians. The purpose of this critical analysis is to examine the existing literature related to the sociocultural factors that contribute to the access of dementia care and support programs by persons with dementia. Specifically, a literature review was conducted to examine the barriers and facilitating factors that influence equitable access to dementia care and support programs among migrants and refugees. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify the following four major themes: (1) stigma, (2) culturally preferred coping strategies, (3) misconceptions regarding aging and dementia, and (4) language barriers.. This review identifies the need for future research to explore the key barriers faced by migrants and refugees with dementia in accessing timely and appropriate dementia care and support programs, as well as developing equitable programs and culturally sensitive services that adequately address their needs

Enhancing Social Entrepreneurship and Stakeholder Theory

This thesis develops a framework for understanding how social enterprises engage the poor and address poverty, a pressing global problem of the 21st century. Using casebased theory building, it studies a theoretical sample of three pairs of Philippine-based social enterprises, where the poor were suppliers, workers, and customers. In half of the cases, the poor were also owners. The research studies the roles and role changes of the poor in these social enterprises, how and why these roles changed, or did not change, and the impact of the roles and role changes, if any, on the social enterprises and the poor. Data for the research was gathered mainly from key informant interviews, published and unpublished organizational documents as well as previous studies done by external consultants on the case subjects. Based on a cross case analysis of the data from the theoretical sample, the thesis develops three models of stakeholder engagement among social enterprises with the poor as primary stakeholders or SEPPS, namely: control, collaboration and empowerment. This thesis provides insights and develops propositions about the importance of stakeholder engagement and the power and limitations of these three models in bringing about social inclusion and poverty reduction. These propositions are suggested to be applicable in countries in the South other than the Philippines where systemic poverty and inequality are exacerbated by the failure of state and market institutions to address the needs of the poor. This thesis makes a contribution to social entrepreneurship and stakeholder theory. It does so by sharing a perspective from the South and giving a voice to the poor as stakeholders. The researcher notes that overall, the poor and the South are under-represented in these discourses. On the whole, social entrepreneurship theorizing has been characterized as embryonic as a topic of academic inquiry. Stakeholder engagement is considered an under-theorized area in stakeholder theory. In developing a framework for understanding stakeholder engagement models involving the poor, this thesis makes a first step towards applying and extending stakeholder theory in SEPPS. The thesis likewise enriches social entrepreneurship theory by conceiving of SEPPS as a global social enterprise model that catalyzes South-North cooperation to address poverty and inequality

A Tree Story: Narratives of Paraserianthes Falcataria L. Nielsen (Falcata) Farmers

The study narrates the plantation to industrialization processes of Falcata trees through the lens of the Falcata farmers. It recounts the: a) pre-planting story, b) planting story, c) harvest story, d) market story, and e) industry story. This is a narrative research, using post-structuralist approach, and putting forth three philosophical stances: logical positivism, narrative fidelity, and aesthetic finality. Pre-planting story progresses from the motivation of the farmers to plant and his challenges prior to planting season, soil and land preparation, and seedling choice. Planting Story is about the soil, financial matters, trees and the government support to the farming activities. Harvesting Story depends on the land area to be harvested, harvesting mode, harvesting activities and the owner’s return of his investment. Market Story encompasses the search and selection of buyers; and the projected income if the trees are sold. Industrialization Story from the hind sight of the farmers. They only presume that these trees are made into particular products; but the method of making them is unknown to the farmers. The stories of assuring and distressful outlooks of tree farmers reveal much about the Falcata tree industry. Maintaining the stand point of narration, it is revealed that marketing comes before harvesting; and thus alters the order of narrative structure and content.Keywords: Falcata trees, Farmer’s Perspectives, Narrative Research, Tree Farming, Timber Species, Philippines, Asi

Ownership Structure and Bank Efficiency in the asia pacific region

This paper focuses on efficiency measures of banks from six countries in Southeast and East Asia. We use a two-stage approach to study the post-crisis period 1999-2004. We first estimate technical efficiencies using Data Envelopment Analysis and test for cross-country differences. Efficiency scores are relatively high for South Korea and relatively low for the Philippines. We then investigate the link between ownership structure and efficiency controlling for various factors such as size, risk and the economic environment. We find that efficiency scores are higher for banks which are held by minority private shareholders and banks that are foreign-owned

Gender inequality among Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries

The study describes the social issue on gender inequality among Association of Southeast Asian Nation Countries.  The study uses descriptive method through data mining from online sources. This data set was subjected to a Cluster Analysis. The study finds out the following interesting points: Gender Inequality is not about women’s religious practices but by not exercising political and economic careers, and by not having been protected and educated. For women to be considered equal to men, they must not be underrepresented in the political seats, workforce and learning institutions. Women’s confinement in the house exposes themselves to subjugation and deprivation of rights

Diet, Water, and Exercise: Impacts on Non-Communicable Disease in Madolenihmw and Uh Municipalities on Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia

A 2013 article referred to non-communicable diseases (NCD) as “a health emergency” in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and identified five critical NCD risk factors in FSM: daily smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and a low level of physical activity. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of diet, water, and exercise on NCD in Madolenihmw and Uh municipalities, Pohnpei, FSM. We hypothesize that poor diet, poor quality of drinking water, and inadequate exercise contribute significantly to the incidence of NCD in Madolenihmw and Uh municipalities. Data were collected from 52 individuals through interviews and personal observations in Madolenihwm and U. All interviewees say that they eat white rice in all meals, seven days a week. In contrast, production and consumption of green leafy and fruit vegetables is severely deficient. Majority (52%) of the interviewees identified “diarrhea” as their main source of complaint during January-May, 2015. A majority (71%) also indicated that they use untreated water from nearby rivers or streams for drinking. Only a minority (39%) appear to have an adequate level of physical activity. The hypothesis is accepted. The water quality factor needs special consideration as it was not identified in the above-mentioned 2013 article and its importance needs to be highlighted

Ownership Structure and Bank Efficiency in Six Asian Countries

International audienceThis paper focuses on efficiency measures of banks from six countries in Southeast and East Asia. We use a two-stage approach to study the post-crisis period 1999-2004. We first estimate technical efficiencies using Data Envelopment Analysis and test for cross-country differences. Efficiency scores are relatively high for South Korea and relatively low for the Philippines. We then investigate the link between ownership structure and efficiency controlling for various factors such as size, risk and the economic environment. We find that efficiency scores are higher for banks which are held by minority private shareholders and banks that are foreign-owned