Toward the inclusion of end-to-end security in the OM2M platform

The Journal of Supercomputing - The exponential growth in the number of Internet of things (IoT) devices and their potential in many applications in a vast number of domains fuelled the development...     

Custom Development as an Alternative for ERP Adoption by SMEs: An Interpretive Case Study

There have been few studies of the adoption of custom-developed enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. An interpretive case study of a SME in the agri-food industry was thus conducted to analyze this phenomenon. The study shows that custom ERP seems to represent a credible alternative for ERP adoption by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and that to minimize risk at the adoption stage, a SME can proceed in a rather intuitive and unstructured manner, based however upon certain principles, policies, and practices.     

Transient stages during the chemical vapour deposition of silicon carbide from CH3SiCl3/H2: impact on the physicochemical and interfacial properties of the coatings

Transient chemical vapour deposition experiments were produced from MTS/H₂ mixtures by varying the deposition temperature or the gas flow rates (Q_MTS or Q_H2) versus time. The gas phase, deposition rates and properties of the transient coating (φ_Tr) were investigated and adhesion assessments of SiC/φ_Tr/SiC bilayers were performed by scratch testing. Transient stages resulting from a decrease of Q_MTS or temperature lead to silicon co-deposition, but do not affect interfacial properties. Transient stages resulting from a decrease of Q_H2 eventually lead to carbon co-deposition. Thick and continuous carbon interlayers lead to a poor adhesion whereas thin and discontinuous layers do not.     

Symmetric Key-Based Secure Storage and Retrieval of IoT Data on a Semi-trusted Cloud Server

Wireless Personal Communications - The storage of data in the cloud is critical for business and private users to protect their assets from any physically accessible and easily breakable hard disk....     

Transient stages in the chemical vapor deposition of silicon carbide

Transient CVD experiments were simulated by varying continuously the deposition temperature or the initial gas flow rates (Q(MTS) or Q(H2)). Their consequences on the physicochemical properties of the coatings have been first examined. The adhesion of SiC/SiC bilayers containing these "transient interphases" (phi(Tr)) was investigated by scratch testing. For transient stages resulting from a decrease of Q(MTS) or T, free silicon can be co-deposited in proportions depending on alpha = Q(H2)/Q(MTS), T and P. This phenomenon is related to the high reactivity of the Si bearing species and is activated by high T and P and low a values. In this case, the continuous covalent bonding through the Si-rich interphases preserves the adhesion between the two SiC layers. Transient stages resulting from a decrease of Q(H2) lead first to larger and columnar SiC grains and finally to the deposition of anisotropic carbon, due to the formation of unsaturated hydrocarbons in the gas phase. The interphases with the highest carbon concentrations and thicknesses lead to delamination and local chipping of the outer SiC layer. The poor shear strength of these continuous and anisotropic layers is detrimental to the adherence of the bilayers.     

Motivations underlying the adoption of ERP systems in healthcare organizations: Insights from online stories

To face their changing environment, a growing number of healthcare institutions are investing in ERP systems as their basic technological infrastructure, highlighting a phenomenon that recalls the earlier popularity of the ERP movement in the manufacturing and financial sectors. Based on the analysis of 180 stories published on ERP vendors’ websites, the primary aim of this study is to identify, characterize and contextualize the motivations that lead to the adoption of these systems in healthcare organizations. Our findings first indicate that these motivations can be classified into six broad categories, namely technological, managerial-operational, managerial-strategic, clinical-operational, clinical-strategic, and financial. Moreover, three clusters of healthcare organizations were identified with regard to these motivations, and labelled as taking a “business”, “clinical” or “institutional” view of ERP adoption decisions. Given the specificities of IT adoption in the healthcare sector, the importance of these results from a theoretical standpoint lies in filling a knowledge gap in both the ERP and health IT research domains. From a practical standpoint, these results are of interest for policy makers and healthcare managers that must deal with continuous increases in healthcare costs and major demographic changes, and thus need to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare services provided to patients through IT-based innovations.     

Epidemic of pediatric deaths from acute renal failure caused by diethylene glycol poisoning. Acute Renal Failure Investigation Team

CONTEXT: Contaminated pharmaceutical products can result in substantial morbidity and mortality and should be included in the differential diagnosis of deaths of unknown origin. OBJECTIVE: To investigate an outbreak of deaths among children from acute renal failure in Haiti to determine the etiology and institute control measures. DESIGN: Case-control study, cohort study, and laboratory toxicologic evaluation. SETTING: Pediatric population of Haiti. PARTICIPANTS: Cases were defined as Haitian residents younger than 18 years with idiopathic anuria or severe oliguria for 24 hours or longer. Febrile hospitalized children without renal failure were enrolled as control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The odds of exposure to suspected etiologic agents among cases and controls. RESULTS: We identified 109 cases of acute renal failure among children. The clinical syndrome included renal failure, hepatitis, pancreatitis, central nervous system impairment, coma, and death. Of 87 patients with follow-up information who remained in Haiti for treatment, 85 (98%) died; 3 (27%) of 11 patients transported to the United States for intensive care unit management died before hospital discharge. A locally manufactured acetaminophen syrup was highly associated with disease (odds ratio, 52.7; 95% confidence interval, 15.2-197.2). Diethylene glycol (DEG) was found in patients' bottles in a median concentration of 14.4%. The median estimated toxic dose of DEG was 1.34 mL/kg (range, 0.22-4.42 mL/kg). Glycerin, a raw material imported to Haiti and used in the acetaminophen formulation, was contaminated with 24% DEG. CONCLUSIONS: An epidemic of severe systemic toxicity and deaths from DEG-contaminated acetaminophen syrup occurred in Haiti. Good manufacturing practice regulations should be used by all pharmaceutical manufacturers to prevent such tragedies.