86 research outputs found
Governing Logistics Information Platforms
No full textThe Extended Single Window (ESW) project aims to support goods flows by Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Specifically, the project takes the concept of Single Windows (often used in the sense that governments offer a single portal or interface to which businesses can submit information, supporting re-ruse by multiple agencies and coordination of government activities) and includes the business side; creating an Extended Single Window. An Extended Single Window includes business information systems and platforms and supports the re-use of business data, both for supporting new business applications and for making it easier to connect to government single windows. The project is not alone in this ambition. For example, in the FP7 project CASSANDRA, funded by the European Commission, the concept of a data pipeline was developed and put to practice in various international trade lanes comprising four continents in total. Within the Netherlands, the national initiative to support innovations in logistics (Topsector Logistics) yielded the development of a Neutral Logistics Information Platform (NLIP, see www.nlip.org). This platform aimed to support information exchange in international supply chains. Similar to ESW, the starting point in the NLIP were the Port Community Systems (PCSs) in main ports in the Netherlands, and build from there. Given the similarities, ESW has been heavily impacted by the development of NLIP and much of the material in this report is in the context of the NLIP concept and programme. However, be it a data pipeline, an Extended single window, or a logistics information platform, one of the pressing issues of these ICTs for information exchange in the international supply chain is the issue of governance. Governance primarily concerns what kind of decision structures are needed, for example on the process of agreeing on data ownership, the selection of standards, and the funding structures. What incentives can be created to have parties adopt it, and who should provide these incentives? Is value added functionality an option? If so, what kind of functionality; only for parties that agree to it and have a role in it, or can it actually be part of the funding structure? That makes the question for data ownership, and cost- and benefit distribution even greater. There are several configuration options for global information sharing ’system-of-systems’. For example, commercial platform providers could each offer commercial solutions, the adoption of which would benefit the supply chains using it because all of the platforms adhere to a similar standard for supporting compliance (Bharosa, Klievink, Janssen, & Tan, n.d.). Apart from the commercial platforms of global IT solution providers, one of the most realistic developments paths is to have national platforms as main hubs, or ‘landing places’, connecting the complex logistical processes and stakeholder setting of port environments to the international trade flows, information-wise that is. In this report, we analyse the route towards a national information platform. To ensure our analysis is rooted in empirical material, as a case study we picked a specific Port Community System (PCS) as one of the building blocks of the national information platform. The case study comprises three parts, of which the key findings are: \u95 As the NLIP/ESW is all about value-added functionalities for the sector as a whole by making smart combinations of data, we study three value-added services of the PCS. These three services (cargo information, inland manifest and discrepancy list) illustrate the role of a community system in bringing together a multitude of parties that are all independent but come together in specific trade lanes where the actions and information of one affect those of others. \u95 We analyse the role of the system in an export process. We find that this is largely community functionality that is needed for (the parties in) a port to efficiently operate in a competitive international environment. Our analysis shows how this kind of core functionality generates a steady stream of key data, both public and private, that is necessary to make the above-mentioned value-added service possible. These are often public-private combinations, with often one of more stakeholders that (more) directly benefit from these functionalities, but do require others to contribute (that benefit less or not). A major area for decision making that follows from this analysis is that for a NLIP/ESW, decisions need to be made on which functionalities are permissible and which data may be used for them (i.e. can data that have been provided for community functionality be re-used for value-added services?). This is also related to the issue of data ownership and any rights or permissions a custodian of data may have. \u95 Third, we analyse the role of the system in an import process. Again, this is core functionality, needed by parties involved in importing goods, whether they are involved in the logistics (handling in the port and hinterland transport), the trade lane (e.g. as a buyer or re-seller of the goods), or as an inspection agency (e.g. Customs, food and product safety). In this situation, the ‘cargo information’ service (described as part of step one) offers functionality for various parties involved. However, our analysis shows that this also yields a debate on the pricing of such a service, as well as the cost distribution. A major area for decision making that follows from this, is that of decisions on the finance structure of the system as a whole (e.g. which services are considered community functionality and how to fund that) and of individual services that need to be decided on at the community-level (e.g. how are costs and/or benefits distributed among parties that are involved in the service). From the interviews we learn that stakeholders have multiple perspectives regarding the decisions at the community system level. Though NLIP/ESW is basically a federated system, the abovementioned aspects and areas for decision making transcend the level that individual actors can make decisions on. As NLIP/ESW brings multiple communities (e.g. the community in a specific port or in a specific sector) together, these areas also transcend the level of communities that have existing collaborations at the community level. Dealing with these aspects requires processes or structures for collaboration among stakeholders for agenda setting and decision-making. We argue that this situation can be dealt with by developing a structure (e.g. an institutionalised process, potentially with stakeholder participation) for deciding on these issues in a way that makes the decisions and the process transparent to the stakeholders. Also, the structure needs to accommodate that stakeholders can raise issues, are heard, and committed to the outcomes. This actor-related complexity is the area of governance of NLIP/ESW, the topic of work package 3 in the ESW project, of which this is the final report. When assessing the current governance related to NLIP/ESW, it becomes clear that currently much of the actor-complexity is funnelled on the technical complexity. In other words; the technical arrangement have to accommodate not only the technical complexity but also the positions and interests of the stakeholders that were involved in the development phase. Further adding to the complexity is that the types of operations and information exchanges that the NLIP/ESW should support are highly diverse, if it were to act as a national platform and pipeline ‘landing place’. This complexity cannot only be dealt with by technical solutions, further emphasising the need for solutions in the area of governance. Currently, many governance-related issues are discussed and decided on in a temporary collaboration structure (ESW is a project and NLIP could also be considered a project, or a programme covering multiple projects). Some issues that stakeholders encounter may seem operational or technical problems, but at the core these revolve around deciding what NLIP/ESW may do, aims to do, how it does that, and who pays for what. Our study finds that for the next step in the development of NLIP/ESW, a long-term basis for proper decision-making needs to be developed, also internationally. This basis entails that there be a structure and decision making processes that are able to ensure effective and efficient decision making regarding those aspects that transcend the level of individual actors (Veeneman, Ten Heuvelhof, De Bruijn, & Saanen, 2011). Parts of this structure are already in place in the existing NLIP/ESW programme, but its temporary ‘project’ basis is likely to be too permissive to be able to make decisions without risking a long, dragging process of strategic behaviour and negotiations. Also, the governance structures of the existing NLIP/ESW components (i.e. the PCSs) do work with representation of various stakeholder communities, but our research suggests that parties that are not involved directly (including parties that have representation) do not have a clear understanding of how decisions were made.Multi Actor SystemsTechnology, Policy and Managemen
A policy note on telecommunications reform in Algeria
Full text linkBy the end of the 1990s, most industrial and many developing countries had liberalized their telecommunications markets to improve service accessibility and affordability for both businesses and households. In contrast, Algeria still managed its telecommunications sector as public property. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications set the policy, enforced regulation, and was in charge of service provision. The sector suffered from huge supply shortages, the waiting list lengthened, the quality of service deteriorated and unbalanced the overall fiscal situation. In 1999, a new government appointed in the aftermath of President Bouteflika's election decided to change the situation and launched a comprehensive sector reform. Um reviews progress made in implementing this reform, discusses its preliminary impact, and comments on the main lessons learned. The author shows that by restraining arbitrary administrative action during the reform implementation, the government of Algeria laid the foundation for sustainable growth in the telecommunications sector.Telecommunications Infrastructure,Rural Communications,Knowledge Economy,ICT Policy and Strategies,Enterprise Development&Reform,ICT Policy and Strategies,Telecommunications Infrastructure,National Governance,Rural Communications,Public Sector Economics&Finance
Characterization of cardiac defects associated with vinculin deletion in cardiac neural crest cells
No full textVinculin (Vcl) is an adaptor protein of adherens junctions and focal adhesions. Cardiac
neural crest cells (CNCC) constitute a key population of progenitor cells regulating the cardiac
outflow tract (OFT) septation and valvulogenesis. Neurocristopathy patients carrying a lossof-
function mutation in VCL presented various cardiac defects. A mouse model of NCCspecific
knockout of Vcl (Vcl-cKO) nicely phenocopied the cardiac defects as seen in the
patients and exhibited hyperplastic semilunar valves. Here, we aimed to characterize the
molecular mechanisms underlying the NCC-mediated valvulogenesis using Vcl-cKO.
Single cell transcriptomic analysis of CNCC progenies in E13.5 embryonic hearts
revealed that transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) signaling is severely interrupted in the
mutant cells. More intriguingly, subsequent immunohistochemistry analysis (IHC) further
discovered a novel role of TGF-b signal in mediating the crosstalk between CNCC- and
endothelial- derived valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and their activation during valvulogenesis.
Defective TGF-b signal interrupted the activation of CNCC-derived VICs, leading to retarded
myocardialization and failure in valve remodeling.
While TGF-b signaling disruption was observed at E10.5 interrupting the formation of
endocardial cushion, temporal tracking of TGF-b activation in valvular interstitial cells from
E10.5 to E15.5 further revealed two waves of TGF-b signaling activation in semilunar
valvulogenesis, contributing to separate developmental processes. The disruption of TGF-b
signaling was found with a delayed upregulation from E13.5 to E15.5 in mutant VICs. Together
with cell proliferation and apoptosis assays, it might suggest the hyperplastic SLV observed in
Vcl-cKO mutant was associated with aberrant proliferation of CNCC-VICs through delayed
TGF-b signaling activation.
In summary, it was found that Vcl plays a crucial role in mediating semilunar
valvulogenesis through TGF-b signaling regulation in CNCCs. CNCCs contributed essentially
as a TGF-b signaling hub to EndoMT and VIC activation and differentiation.published_or_final_versionSurgeryMasterMaster of Philosoph
Extracorporeal shock waves protect cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by upregulating survivin via the integrin-ILK-Akt-Sp1/p53 axis
No full textDoxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used anti-cancer drug; however, it has limited application due to cardiotoxicity. Extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) have been suggested to treat inflammatory and ischemic diseases, but the concrete effect of ESW in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy remain obscure. After H9c2 cells were subjected to ESW (0.04 mJ/cm2), they were treated with 1 μM DOX. As a result, ESW protected cardiomyocytes from DOX-induced cell death. H9c2 cells treated with DOX downregulated p-Akt and survivin expression, whereas the ESW treatment recovered both, suggesting its anti-apoptotic effect. ESW activated integrin αvβ3 and αvβ5, cardiomyocyte mechanosensors, followed by upregulation of ILK, p-Akt and survivin levels. Further, Sp1 and p53 were determined as key transcriptional factors mediating survivin expression via Akt phosphorylation by ESW. In in vivo acute DOX-induced cardiomyopathy model, the echocardiographic results showed that group subjected to ESW recovered from acute DOX-induced cardiomyopathy; left ventricular function was improved. The immunohistochemical staining results showed increased survivin and Bcl2 expression in ESW + DOX group compared to those in the DOX-injected group. In conclusion, non-invasive shockwaves protect cardiomyocytes from DOX-induced cardiomyopathy by upregulating survivin via integrin-ILK-Akt-Sp1/p53 pathway. In vivo study proposed ESW as a new kind of specific and safe therapy against acute DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. © 2019, The Author(s)
Selected World Bank poverty studies : a summary of approaches, coverage, and findings
Full text linkSince the establishment in 1987 of the Task Forces on Poverty and Food Security, a good deal of country economic and sector work has analyzed poverty issues. The author identifies the main policy issues it raises; describes how the Bank approaches the study of poverty issues; summarizes the main findings and lessons learned from the country economic and sector work reviewed; assesses the extent to which country economic and sector work has identified strategies, policy reforms, and programs to reduce poverty that could be supported by the Bank's policy or project lending; raises additional issues that could be addressed in future poverty-related country economic and sector work. This report reviews mainly cross-sectoral studies with a primary and direct poverty focus, which were completed between mid-1987 and mid-1989, though some work in progress was included.Poverty Assessment,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance,Safety Nets and Transfers,Rural Poverty Reduction
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Revised cost savings estimate with uncertainty for enhanced sludge washing of underground storage tank waste
Full text linkEnhanced Sludge Washing (ESW) has been selected to reduce the amount of sludge-based underground storage tank (UST) high-level waste at the Hanford site. During the past several years, studies have been conducted to determine the cost savings derived from the implementation of ESW. The tank waste inventory and ESW performance continues to be revised as characterization and development efforts advance. This study provides a new cost savings estimate based upon the most recent inventory and ESW performance revisions, and includes an estimate of the associated cost uncertainty. Whereas the author`s previous cost savings estimates for ESW were compared against no sludge washing, this study assumes the baseline to be simple water washing which more accurately reflects the retrieval activity along. The revised ESW cost savings estimate for all UST waste at Hanford is 1.3 B within 95% confidence. This is based upon capital and operating cost savings, but does not include development costs. The development costs are assumed negligible since they should be at least an order of magnitude less than the savings. The overall cost savings uncertainty was derived from process performance uncertainties and baseline remediation cost uncertainties, as determined by the author`s engineering judgment
Osteogenesis induced by extracorporeal shockwave in treatment of delayed osteotendinous junction healing
No full textHealing at the osteotendinous junction (OTJ) is challenging in orthopedic surgery. The present study aimed to test extracorporeal shockwave (ESW) in treatment of a delayed OTJ healing. Twenty-eight rabbits were used for establishing a delayed healing (DH) model at patella-patellar-tendon (PPT) complex after partial patellectomy for 4 weeks and then were divided into DH and ESW groups. In the ESW group, a single ESW treatment was given at postoperative week 6 to the PPT healing complex. The samples were harvested at week 8 and 12 for radiographic and histological evaluations with seven samples for each group at each time point. Micro-CT results showed that new bone volume was 1.18 +/- 0.61 mm(3) in the ESW group with no measurable new bone in the DH group at postoperative week 8. Scar tissue formed at the OTJ healing interface of the DH group, whereas ESW triggered high expression of VEGF in hypertrophic chondrocytes at week 8 and regeneration of the fibrocartilage zone at week 12 postoperatively. The accelerated osteogenesis could be explained by acceleration of endochondral ossification. In conclusion, ESW was able to induce osteogenesis at OTJ with delayed healing with enhanced endochondral ossification process and regeneration of fibrocartilage zone. These findings formed a scientific basis to potential clinical application of ESW for treatment of delayed OTJ healing. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex
Binary ionic liquid electrolyte design for ultrahigh-energy density graphene-based supercapacitors
No full textAlthough room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as potential next-generation electrolytes for their wide electrochemical stability window (ESW), the trade-off between this window and viscosity has hindered their widespread use in energy storage devices. Here, we present for the first time that such a trade-off can be balanced by mixing two ILs with the common anion ([NTf2]−) but different cations ([EMIM]+ and [N1114]+) together. The [EMIM] cation-based IL possesses low viscosity while the [N1114] cation-based IL exhibits wide ESW. Since the concentrations of each IL in the mixtures can result in different electrolyte properties, we demonstrate a systematic approach by exploring the properties of various concentration combinations. In addition, the corresponding cell voltage of their resulting graphene supercapacitors (SCs) accompanied based on the interaction between the binary ionic liquid and the electrodes, and the associated electrochemical performance were studied to determine the optimum electrolyte system for the highest SC energy density. The well-balanced viscosity/ESW trade-off is achieved in binary IL consisting 50 vol% [EMIM][NTf2] and 50 vol% [N1114][NTf2] as evident from the extraordinary electrode specific capacitance of 293.1 F g−1 and the ultrahigh SC energy density of 177 Wh kg−1, which approaches that of a lithium-ion battery
Mathematics learning convictions valued by ethnic Chinese and ethnic minority students in Hong Kong: A preliminary study
No full textAttributes of mathematics learning valued by ethnic minority students in Hong Kong mainstream schools
No full textOne hundred and eighty ethnic minority students studying in Hong Kong mainstream schools were found to value knowledge, activities, practice, product, inquiry, process, feedback, and technology in their mathematics learning. To identify these values, a mixed methods approach was adopted, using a values questionnaire as a lens to identify what students find important in mathematics learning, and followed by semi-structured focus group interviews for details and verification. The data also revealed that ethnic minority students valued activities and practice more than their ethnic Chinese peers. Implications for research and instructional practice are offered
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