Blockchain for the IoT: Privacy-Preserving Protection of Sensor Data

An ever growing variety of smart, connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices poses completely new challenges for businesses regarding security and privacy. In fact, the adoption of smart products may depend on the ability of organizations to offer systems that ensure adequate sensor data integrity while guaranteeing sufficient user privacy. In light of these challenges, previous research indicates that blockchain technology could be a promising means to mitigate issues of data security arising in the IoT. Building upon the existing body of knowledge, we propose a design theory, including requirements, design principles, and features, for a blockchain-based sensor data protection system (SDPS) that leverages data certification. To support this, we designed and developed an instantiation of an SDPS (CertifiCar) in three iterative cycles intented to prevent the fraudulent manipulation of car mileage data. Following the explication of our SDPS, we provide an ex post evaluation of our design theory considering CertifiCar and two additional use cases in the areas of pharmaceutical supply chains and energy microgrids. Our results suggest that the proposed design ensures the tamper-resistant gathering, processing, and exchange of IoT sensor data in a privacy-preserving, scalable, and efficient manner

La filiacion y la fecundacion "in vitro"

Las tecnicas de reproduccion asistida no solo representan una solucion para ayudar a superar problemas de esterilidad, sino que su practica conlleva problemas eticos y juridicos. Esta Tesis analiza los problemas que plantea la fecundacion "in vitro", desde el punto de vista de la filiacion, para determinar la paternidad y maternidad cuando se utilizan los gametos de la pareja o de un tercero. Desde este punto de vista, se estudian la situacion juridica del tercero -llamado donante- y de las madres subrogadas, asi como las acciones de filiacion Tambien se examina la problematica que plantea la congelacion de semen y embriones, al poder un hombre engendrar un hijo despues de muerto. Entre las fuentes que se analizan estan los principales informes extranjeros que han estudiado la problematica de estas tecnicas, asi como el Informe especial de..

THE ROLE OF USER-GENERATED CONTENT IN BLOCKCHAIN-BASED DECENTRALIZED FINANCE

The formation of IT companies and even of entire new technological ecosystems depends heavily on external financing. Consequently, the IS community has intensely studied various financing sources such as venture capital, initial public offerings or debt. Blockchain technology has led to the emergence of a system of decentralized finance (DeFi) which includes decentralized versions of equity and debt financing. In particular, equity-like fundraisings referred to as initial coin offerings (ICO) have received serious traction. In this paper, we investigate the role of user-generated content (UGC) for ICO success. Specifically, we leverage signaling theory to analyze how the activity on blogs and discussion forums is related to the amount of capital raised and the valuation in ICOs. We analyze data of 216 ICOs and provide first results indicating the importance of discussion forum activity for ICO success. Furthermore, we find that blogs seem less relevant than in traditional finance

A Decentralised Sharing App running a Smart Contract on the Ethereum Blockchain

The sharing economy, the business of collectively using privately owned objects and services, has fuelled some of the fastest growing businesses of the past years. However, popular sharing platforms like Airbnb or Uber exhibit several drawbacks: a cumbersome sign up procedure, lack of participant privacy, overbearing terms and conditions, and significant fees for users. We demonstrate a Decentralised App (DAPP) for the sharing of everyday objects based on a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain. This contract enables users to register and rent devices without involvement of a Trusted Third Party (TTP), disclosure of any personal information or prior sign up to the service. With increasing distribution of cryptocurrencies the use of smart contracts such as proposed in this paper has the potential to revolutionise the sharing economy

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs): An Introduction to the Novel Funding Mechanism Based on Blockchain Technology

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) are a novel form of funding mechanism that is based on blockchain technology. While ICOs are already the dominating financing paradigm in the blockchain industry, they might also disrupt well-established industries that rely on extant funding systems. ICOs are a recent phenomenon. Hence, research on the topic is scarce and the phenomenon not yet well-understood. To address this research gap, we try to build a basic understanding of ICOs in this paper. More specifically, we identify constituent ICO building blocks by drawing on financialization literature. In addition, we analyze 96 ICOs with respect to these constituent building blocks. Our analysis provides first evidence that ICOs differ considerably regarding the identified building blocks. Based on these insights, we specify future research plans that encourage the development of a well-founded taxonomy and highlight limitations of our study

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs): The role of Social Media for Organizational Legitimacy and Underpricing

Recently, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) have developed substantial influence as a funding mechanism while being largely neglected by research. In parallel, microblogs were identified as a source of organizational legitimacy and underpricing in Initial Pu

Étudier la médecine humaine à l’Université de Genève: Un programme d’études intégré et innovant

Studying Human Medicine at the University of Geneva: An Up-to-Date, Integrated Curriculum Abstract. The curriculum of human medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva has been thoroughly renovated in 1995. It offers an integrated program allowing for a constant adaptation of the content to the explosion of biomedical knowledge and the changes in society. It uses active, student-centred learning methods. In line with the Bologna process since 2006, it has been accredited several times, most recently in 2019. It evolved to strengthen the importance of primary care and to introduce interprofessional training, in particular through its simulation centre. Through early and continuous clinical immersion, students acquire their practical skills in an integrated manner. These conditions are conducive to the introduction of new concepts, such as the Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) conveyed by the recent national competence framework PROFILES

Expérience clinique d’une orthèse de décharge pour prévenir et guérir les ulcères digitaux du pied diabétique

Toutes les 30 secondes, une personne dans le monde subit une amputation du membre inférieur due au diabète, précédée dans 85 % des cas d’un ulcère au pied. L’allègement d’une pression mécanique néfaste est un élément clé dans la prise en charge du pied diabétique. Les orteils, souvent négligés dans l’examen clinique, sont particulièrement vulnérables en raison de la minceur des tissus mous entre les os et la peau et à cause des chaussures potentiellement nuisibles car inadaptées à la forme et au volume de l’avant-pied. L’orthèse de décharge décrite dans cet article assure une protection efficace des zones saillantes et lésées tout en étant confortable à porter et compatible avec une vie active. Conçue et portée correctement, elle a le potentiel de prévenir et guérir les ulcères digitaux du pied diabétique