A new approach for IT audit? : Testing the theory of technology debt in an IT audit setting

Background and problem: The amounts companies spend in IT investments have increased greatly the last couple of decades. To control IT the companies perform IT audits. This is a complicated and expensive procedure which lack common standards. To contribute to the research stream within IT audit this thesis’ purpose is to test the recently proposed theory of Technology Debt in the process of performing a simple IT audit. Purpose: The objective is to test the theory of Technology Debt in an IT audit setting to evaluate the usefulness of the theory. Method: To test the theory the authors did three studies: A literature study to gain a wider understanding of the subject and to create a simple IT audit process. A secondary analysis of qualitative data to test the theory and finally an interview study to further test the theory potential. Results: The literature study complemented the theory of Technology Debt and provided the authors with an easy IT audit process. In the secondary analysis the theory was useful as a tool for identification and categorization. Finally in the interview study the theory provided a valuation criterion to evaluate the IT environment. The thesis contributes to the knowledge base of IT auditing by supplying a new angle of approach and try a new area of application for Technology Debt

Synthesis and Characterization of some Photo-CORM and Photosensitizers

It is well known that Carbon monoxide is a toxic and hazardous gas, but during recent years it has been proven that using a controlled concentration, carbon monoxide can in fact be used as a therapeutic agent, and can contribute to decrease malaria, treat cardiovascular and lung diseases and potentially even treat cancer, among other things. The main problem in using carbon monoxide directly is the fact that it is not trivial to control the volume of gas inhaled, compromising its use as a therapeutic agent. Much effort has been made to synthesize molecules that can release carbon monoxide, so-called CORMs. The release of the carbon monoxide present in these molecules can occur in different ways: a) exchanging the carbon monoxide with solvent (e.g. water). Although this is an easy and controlled method to release a known quantity of carbon monoxide, it is not possible to guarantee the time and tissue the CO is released. b) triggering the release of carbon monoxide, for example by light exposure (Photo-CORMs). This can be an efficient method, since metal carbonyls are well known as photosensitive systems. Two Photo-CORMs complexes, Re(aaz)(CO)3]Cl (aaz = 6-amino-6-methylperhydro-1,4-diazepine) and [Re(tacn)(CO)3]Cl (tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane), were synthesized, fully characterized and tested for their ability to release carbon monoxide when exposed to light radiation. By determining the change in oxidation potential through square wave electrochemistry, as well as UV- and IR-spectra, there was enough proof to conclude that the complexes release at least 2 equivalents of carbon monoxide per Photo-CORM when radiated by UV light. Four new complexes, containing photosensitizers were also synthesized and characterized [Ru(Me2bpy)2Cl2] (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine) , [Ru(phen)2Cl2] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), [Cu(Me2-bpy)2]BF4 (4,4’-dimethyl-2,2’-bipyridine) and [Fe(η5-C5H4CHO)(η6-C6H6)]PF6 ((η5-C5H4CHO)(η6-C6H6) = η6-benzene,η5-cyclopentadienyl). All the four complexes absorb IR radiation and excite the Photo-CORM through triplet energy transfer. The IR spectroscopy showed that all photosensitizers were formed, since there were displacements of the bands and formation of new bands.Det är väl känt att kolmonoxid (CO) är en giftig och hälsofarlig gas som är luktlös, färglös och smaklös vilket gör den svår att detektera utan analytisk utrustning. Men under senaste åren så har forskning bevisat att i små doser så kan kolmonoxid användas som en terapeutisk substans för att lindra malaria, cancer, lung-, hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar men även reducera mängden inflammatoriska substanser i kroppen. Hur får man då in kolmonoxiden i kroppen? Det mest självklara valet är att andas in gasen i små mängder men där uppstår ett problem, då man inte kan kontrollera vart i kroppen kolmonoxiden kommer att distribueras. Istället så kan man då använda så kallade CORMs (Carbon monoxide releasing molecules) för att kunna kontrollera mängden, och distributionen av kolmonoxid i patientens kropp. Dessa CORMs består av ett metall-center (i detta fall rhenium) med kolmonoxid bundet direkt till metallen med diverse ligander bundna till metallen för att ändra hur CORM:en beter sig. I detta arbete så syntetiserades ett par photo-CORMs, alltså en molekyl som släpper ifrån sig kolmonoxid genom ljusstrålning, för att testa dess effektivitet i att släppa kolmonoxid i lösning. Det gjordes med UV-strålning då CORM:en endast reagerar med UV-strålning. Experimenten var lyckade och kolmonoxid släpptes i lösning och kunde detekteras med hjälp av IR, UV-vis spektroskopi och elektrokemi. Det är inte alltid gynnsamt att använda UV-strålning då det är farligt för celler, och har en dålig penetrationsförmåga. Det är mycket mer gynnande att använda IR-strålning, men det går inte att ändra beteendet på en CORM så drastiskt så då syntetiserades några PS (Photosensitizers) för att lösa det problemet. En photosensitizer är en molekyl som tar emot elektromagnetisk strålning som exciterar sina elektroner, och överför sedan den exciterade energin till en annan molekyl genom kollision, bland annat. Syntetiseringen av ett par rutenium, järn och koppar komplex var lyckade, men hann aldrig testas i lösning med CORMs, så effektiviteten är ännu okänd

Tv-serien Färjan : Ett marknadsföringsverktyg för Viking Line?

This paper deals with how a company in the experience industry is using a new way to communicate with their customers and how that communication can affect the image of the company's brand. Furthermore, the paper addresses how storytelling and community is created and can be used to improve the communication with customers and with the new communication medium. The selected firm for the paper is ferry company Viking Line. Year 2008 was the collaboration with Channel 5 that they could make a TV series depicting life on board the Viking Line's cruise ship M / S Cinderella. TV series which was named the Ferry has been aired on Channel 5 since autumn 2008 and has been seen by about half million viewers per episode. In the chapter "Background" provides a general description of how communication within the marketing has changed and what risks there might exist with the Ferry as a means of communication. In the chapter "Method" provides a description of the essay writer’s procedures and the research method used. A qualitative research method was chosen for the purpose of the paper. In the Theory section the reader may take note of the selected theories. These theories deal with communications with the traditional means of communication, storytelling and community, image and brand theory. Theory section followed since the empirical material writers has collected. The empirical material consists of secondary sources collected on the TV series Ferry and primary sources consist of interviews with Viking Line, Channel 5, Metronome, and a PR expert. In the analysis section theoretical and empirical material are analyzed and discussed. The writers assumed their chosen theories and compared these with the empirical evidence he has collected, a comparison between traditional communications and the ferry as a means of communication have been made. The results of the survey show that the ferry as a means of communication differs from traditional marketing communications

Breaking the 2ⁿ-barrier for irredundance: two lines of attack

The lower and the upper irredundance numbers of a graph G, denoted ir(G) and IR(G), respectively, are conceptually linked to the domination and independence numbers and have numerous relations to other graph parameters. It has been an open question whether determining these numbers for a graph G on n vertices admits exact algorithms running in time faster than the trivial Θ(2ⁿ·poly(n)) enumeration, also called the 2ⁿ-barrier. The main contributions of this article are exact exponential-time algorithms breaking the 2ⁿ-barrier for irredundance. We establish algorithms with running times of O*(1.99914ⁿ) for computing ir(G) and O* (1.9369ⁿ) for computing IR(G). Both algorithms use polynomial space. The first algorithm uses a parameterized approach to obtain (faster) exact algorithms. The second one is based, in addition, on a reduction to the Maximum Induced Matching problem providing a branch-and-reduce algorithm to solve it

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in children : an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, there is a lack of data available about SSI in children worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SSI in children and associations between SSI and morbidity across human development settings. Methods A multicentre, international, prospective, validated cohort study of children aged under 16 years undergoing clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty gastrointestinal surgery. Any hospital in the world providing paediatric surgery was eligible to contribute data between January and July 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI by 30 days. Relationships between explanatory variables and SSI were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Countries were stratified into high development, middle development and low development groups using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Results Of 1159 children across 181 hospitals in 51 countries, 523 (45 center dot 1%) children were from high HDI, 397 (34 center dot 2%) from middle HDI and 239 (20 center dot 6%) from low HDI countries. The 30-day SSI rate was 6.3% (33/523) in high HDI, 12 center dot 8% (51/397) in middle HDI and 24 center dot 7% (59/239) in low HDI countries. SSI was associated with higher incidence of 30-day mortality, intervention, organ-space infection and other HAIs, with the highest rates seen in low HDI countries. Median length of stay in patients who had an SSI was longer (7.0 days), compared with 3.0 days in patients who did not have an SSI. Use of laparoscopy was associated with significantly lower SSI rates, even after accounting for HDI. Conclusion The odds of SSI in children is nearly four times greater in low HDI compared with high HDI countries. Policies to reduce SSI should be prioritised as part of the wider global agenda.Peer reviewe

Exploring the cost-effectiveness of high versus low perioperative fraction of inspired oxygen in the prevention of surgical site infections among abdominal surgery patients in three low- and middle-income countries

Background: This study assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of high (80–100%) vs low (21–35%) fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) at preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) after abdominal surgery in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Methods: Decision-analytic models were constructed using best available evidence sourced from unbundled data of an ongoing pilot trial assessing the effectiveness of high FiO2, published literature, and a cost survey in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Effectiveness was measured as percentage of SSIs at 30 days after surgery, a healthcare perspective was adopted, and costs were reported in US dollars ($). Results: High FiO2 may be cost-effective (cheaper and effective). In Nigeria, the average cost for high FiO2 was$216 compared with $222 for low FiO2 leading to a −$6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −$13 to −$1) difference in costs. In India, the average cost for high FiO2 was $184 compared with$195 for low FiO2 leading to a −$11 (95$15 to −$6) difference in costs. In South Africa, the average cost for high FiO2 was$1164 compared with $1257 for low FiO2 leading to a −$93 (95% CI: −$132 to −$65) difference in costs. The high FiO2 arm had few SSIs, 7.33% compared with 8.38% for low FiO2, leading to a −1.05 (95% CI: −1.14 to −0.90) percentage point reduction in SSIs. Conclusion: High FiO2 could be cost-effective at preventing SSIs in the three countries but further data from large clinical trials are required to confirm this