The Impact of Digitization on the Management of Administrative Procedures : The Case of Building Permits

Information and Communication Technologies provide public administrations new ways to meet their users' needs. At the same time, e-Government practices support the public sector in improving the quality of service provision and of its internal operations. In this paper we discuss the impacts of digitization on the management of administrative procedures. The theoretical framework and the research model that we will use in this study help us tackle the question of how digitization transforms administrative procedures as, for example, in terms of time and roles. The multiplicity of institutions involved in issuing building permits led us to consider this administrative procedure as a very interesting case study. An online survey was first addressed to Swiss civil servants to explore the field, and here we present some of its results. We are currently undertaking an in-depth case study of the building permit procedures in three Swiss Cantons, which we will also present in this paper. We will conclude with a discussion and the future steps of this project.

Multiple edges of a quantum Hall system in a strong electric

In this paper we show that if the electrons in a quantum Hall sample are subjected to a constant electric field in the plane of the material, comparable in magnitude to the background magnetic field on the system of electrons, a multiplicity of edge states localized at different regions of space is produced in the sample. The actions governing the dynamics of these edge states are obtained starting from the well-known Schrödinger field theory for a system of nonrelativistic electrons, where on top of the constant background electric and magnetic fields, the electrons are further subject to slowly varying weak electromagnetic fields. In the regions between the edges, dubbed as the "bulk," the fermions can be integrated out entirely and the dynamics expressed in terms of a local effective action involving the slowly varying electromagnetic potentials. It is further shown how the bulk action is gauge noninvariant in a particular way, and how the edge states conspire to restore the U(1) electromagnetic gauge invariance of the system. In the edge action we obtain a heretofore unnoticed gauge-invariant term that depends on the particular edge. We argue that this term may be detected experimentally as different edges respond differently to a monochromatic probe due to this term

Comparing connectomes across subjects and populations at different scales.

Brain connectivity can be represented by a network that enables the comparison of the different patterns of structural and functional connectivity among individuals. In the literature, two levels of statistical analysis have been considered in comparing brain connectivity across groups and subjects: 1) the global comparison where a single measure that summarizes the information of each brain is used in a statistical test; 2) the local analysis where a single test is performed either for each node/connection which implies a multiplicity correction, or for each group of nodes/connections where each subset is summarized by one single test in order to reduce the number of tests to avoid a penalizing multiplicity correction. We comment on the different levels of analysis and present some methods that have been proposed at each scale. We highlight as well the possible factors that could influence the statistical results and the questions that have to be addressed in such an analysis.

Stochastic multiresonance

We present a class of systems for which the signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the noise level may display a multiplicity of maxima. This phenomenon, referred to as stochastic multiresonance, indicates the possibility that periodic signals may be enhanced at multiple values of the noise level, instead of at a single value which has occurred in systems considered up to now in the framework of stochastic resonance.

Clustering in complex networks. I. General formalism

We develop a full theoretical approach to clustering in complex networks. A key concept is introduced, the edge multiplicity, that measures the number of triangles passing through an edge. This quantity extends the clustering coefficient in that it involves the properties of two¿and not just one¿vertices. The formalism is completed with the definition of a three-vertex correlation function, which is the fundamental quantity describing the properties of clustered networks. The formalism suggests different metrics that are able to thoroughly characterize transitive relations. A rigorous analysis of several real networks, which makes use of this formalism and the metrics, is also provided. It is also found that clustered networks can be classified into two main groups: the weak and the strong transitivity classes. In the first class, edge multiplicity is small, with triangles being disjoint. In the second class, edge multiplicity is high and so triangles share many edges. As we shall see in the following paper, the class a network belongs to has strong implications in its percolation properties.

Clinical assessment of fluorescence cytoscopy during transurethral bladder resection in superficial bladder cancer.

The prognosis of superficial bladder cancer in terms of recurrence and disease progression is related to bladder tumor multiplicity and the presence of concomitant "plane" tumors such as high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. This study in 33 patients aimed to demonstrate the role of fluorescence cystoscopy in transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer. The method is based on the detection of protoporphyrin-IX-induced fluorescence in urothelial cancer cells by topical administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid. The sensitivity and the specificity of this procedure on apparently normal mucosa in superficial bladder cancer are estimated to be 82.9% and 81.3%, respectively. Thus, fluorescence cytoscopy is a simple and reliable method for mapping the bladder mucosa, especially in the case of multifocal bladder disease, and it facilitates the screening of occult dysplasia.

Monitoring of malaria parasite resistance to chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in the Solomon Islands by DNA microarray technology.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on resistance to anti-malarial drugs in the Solomon Islands (SI). The analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in drug resistance associated parasite genes is a potential alternative to classical time- and resource-consuming in vivo studies to monitor drug resistance. Mutations in pfmdr1 and pfcrt were shown to indicate chloroquine (CQ) resistance, mutations in pfdhfr and pfdhps indicate sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance, and mutations in pfATPase6 indicate resistance to artemisinin derivatives. METHODS: The relationship between the rate of treatment failure among 25 symptomatic Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients presenting at the clinic and the pattern of resistance-associated SNPs in P. falciparum infecting 76 asymptomatic individuals from the surrounding population was investigated. The study was conducted in the SI in 2004. Patients presenting at a local clinic with microscopically confirmed P. falciparum malaria were recruited and treated with CQ+SP. Rates of treatment failure were estimated during a 28-day follow-up period. In parallel, a DNA microarray technology was used to analyse mutations associated with CQ, SP, and artemisinin derivative resistance among samples from the asymptomatic community. Mutation and haplotype frequencies were determined, as well as the multiplicity of infection. RESULTS: The in vivo study showed an efficacy of 88% for CQ+SP to treat P. falciparum infections. DNA microarray analyses indicated a low diversity in the parasite population with one major haplotype present in 98.7% of the cases. It was composed of fixed mutations at position 86 in pfmdr1, positions 72, 75, 76, 220, 326 and 356 in pfcrt, and positions 59 and 108 in pfdhfr. No mutation was observed in pfdhps or in pfATPase6. The mean multiplicity of infection was 1.39. CONCLUSION: This work provides the first insight into drug resistance markers of P. falciparum in the SI. The obtained results indicated the presence of a very homogenous P. falciparum population circulating in the community. Although CQ+SP could still clear most infections, seven fixed mutations associated with CQ resistance and two fixed mutations related to SP resistance were observed. Whether the absence of mutations in pfATPase6 indicates the efficacy of artemisinin derivatives remains to be proven.

Beyond the 'dyad': a qualitative re-evaluation of the changing clinical consultation.

OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics of consultations that do not conform to the traditionally understood communication 'dyad', in order to highlight implications for medical education and develop a reflective 'toolkit' for use by medical practitioners and educators in the analysis of consultations. DESIGN: A series of interdisciplinary research workshops spanning 12 months explored the social impact of globalisation and computerisation on the clinical consultation, focusing specifically on contemporary challenges to the clinician-patient dyad. Researchers presented detailed case studies of consultations, taken from their recent research projects. Drawing on concepts from applied sociolinguistics, further analysis of selected case studies prompted the identification of key emergent themes. SETTING: University departments in the UK and Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Six researchers with backgrounds in medicine, applied linguistics, sociolinguistics and medical education. One workshop was also attended by PhD students conducting research on healthcare interactions. RESULTS: The contemporary consultation is characterised by a multiplicity of voices. Incorporation of additional voices in the consultation creates new forms of order (and disorder) in the interaction. The roles 'clinician' and 'patient' are blurred as they become increasingly distributed between different participants. These new consultation arrangements make new demands on clinicians, which lie beyond the scope of most educational programmes for clinical communication. CONCLUSIONS: The consultation is changing. Traditional consultation models that assume a 'dyadic' consultation do not adequately incorporate the realities of many contemporary consultations. A paradox emerges between the need to manage consultations in a 'super-diverse' multilingual society, while also attending to increasing requirements for standardised protocol-driven approaches to care prompted by computer use. The tension between standardisation and flexibility requires addressing in educational contexts. Drawing on concepts from applied sociolinguistics and the findings of these research observations, the authors offer a reflective 'toolkit' of questions to ask of the consultation in the context of enquiry-based learning.

Sustained transgene expression using MAR elements.

Matrix attachment regions (MARs) are DNA sequences that may be involved in anchoring DNA/chromatin to the nuclear matrix and they have been described in both mammalian and plant species. MARs possess a number of features that facilitate the opening and maintenance of euchromatin. When incorporated into viral or non-viral vectors MARs can increase transgene expression and limit position-effects. They have been used extensively to improve transgene expression and recombinant protein production and promising studies on the potential use of MAR elements for mammalian gene therapy have appeared. These illustrate how MARs may be used to mediate sustained or higher levels of expression of therapeutic genes and/or to reduce the viral vector multiplicity of infection required to achieve consistent expression. More recently, the discovery of potent MAR elements and the development of improved vectors for transgene delivery, notably non-viral episomal vectors, has strengthened interest in their use to mediate expression of therapeutic transgenes. This article will describe the progress made in this field, and it will discuss future directions and issues to be addressed.

Radiosurgery for brain metastases: specific indications for Gamma Knife in lieu of Linac in a single center using both methods

INTRODUCTION: Radiosurgery (RS) is gaining increasing acceptance in the upfront management of brain metastases (BM). It was initially used in so-called radioresistant metastases (melanoma, renal cell, sarcoma) because it allowed delivering higher dose to the tumor. Now, RS is also used for BM of other cancers. The risk of high incidence of new BM questions the need for associated whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Recent evidence suggests that RS alone allows avoiding cognitive impairment related to WBRT, and the latter should be upheld for salvage therapy. Thus the increase use of RS for single and multiple BM raises new technical challenges for treatment delivery and dosimetry. We present our single institution experience focusing on the criteria that led to patients' selection for RS treatment with Gamma Knife (GK) in lieu of Linac. METHODS: Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion (Elekta, Sweden) was installed in July 2010. Currently, the Swiss federal health care supports the costs of RS for BM with Linac but not with GK. Therefore, in our center, we always consider first the possibility to use Linac for this indication, and only select patients for GK in specific situations. All cases of BM treated with GK were retrospectively reviewed for criteria yielding to GK indication, clinical information, and treatment data. Further work in progress includes a posteriori dosimetry comparison with our Linac planning system (Brainscan V.5.3, Brainlab, Germany). RESULTS: From July 2010 to March 2012, 20 patients had RS for BM with GK (7 patients with single BM, and 13 with multiple BM). During the same period, 31 had Linac-based RS. Primary tumor was melanoma in 9, lung in 7, renal in 2, and gastrointestinal tract in 2 patients. In single BM, the reason for choosing of GK was the anatomical location close to, or in highly functional areas (1 motor cortex, 1 thalamic, 1 ventricular, 1 mesio-temporal, 3 deep cerebellar close to the brainstem), especially since most of these tumors were intended to be treated with high-dose RS (24 Gy at margin) because of their histology (3 melanomas, 1 renal cell). In multiple BM, the reason for choosing GK in relation with the anatomical location of the lesions was either technical (limitations of Linac movements, especially in lower posterior fossa locations) or closeness of multiple lesions to highly functional areas (typically, multiple posterior fossa BM close to the brainstem), precluding optimal dosimetry with Linac. Again, this was made more critical for multiple BM needing high-dose RS (6 melanoma, 2 hypernephroma). CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery for BM may represent some technical challenge in relation with the anatomical location and multiplicity of the lesions. These considerations may be accentuated for so-called radioresistant BM, when higher dose RS in needed. In our experience, Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion proves to be useful in addressing these challenges for the treatment of BM.

Controlling anomalous stresses in soft field-responsive systems

We report a phenomenon occurring in field-responsive suspensions: shear-induced anomalous stresses. Competition between a rotating field and a shear flow originates a multiplicity of anomalous stress behaviors in suspensions of bound dimers constituted by induced dipoles. The great variety of stress regimes includes nonmonotonic behaviors, multiresonances, negative viscosity effect, and blockades. The reversibility of the transitions between the different regimes and the self-similarity of the stresses make this phenomenon controllable and therefore applicable to modify macroscopic properties of soft condensed matter phases.

Novel insulated gamma and lentis retroviral vectors towards safer genetic modification of stem cells

In otherwise successful gene therapy trials insertional mutagenesis has resulted in leukemia. The identification of new short synthetic genetic insulator elements (GIE) which would both prevent such activation effects and shield the transgene from silencing, is a main challenge. Previous attempts with e.g. b-globin HS4, have met with poor efficacy and genetic instability. We have investigated potential improvement with two new candidate synthetic GIEs in SIN-gamma and lentiviral vectors. With each constructs two internal promoters have been tested: either the strong Fr- MuLV-U3 or the housekeeping hPGK.We could identify a specific combination of insulator 2 repeats which translates into best functional activity, high titers and boundary effect in both gammaretro and lentivectors. In target cells a dramatic shift of expression is observed with an homogenous profile the level of which strictly depends on the promoter strength. These data remain stable in both HeLa cells over three months and cord blood HSCs for two months, irrespective of the multiplicity of infection (MOI). In comparison, control native and SIN vectors expression levels show heterogeneous, depend on the MOI and prove unstable. We have undertaken genotoxicity assessment in comparing integration patterns ingenuity in human target cells sampled over three months using high-throughput pyro-sequencing. Data will be presented. Further genotoxicity assessment will include in vivo studies. We have established insulated vectors which harbour both boundary and enhancer-blocking effect and show stable in prolonged in vitro culture conditions. Work performed with support of EC-DG research FP6-NoE, CLINIGENE: LSHB-CT-2006-018933

Market Area Selection of aSawmill Machinery Manufacturer

Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena on kartoittaa suomalaisen sahakonevalmistaja Veisto Oy:n kannalta lähitulevaisuuden merkittävimmät markkina-alueet, joiden sahateollisuuteen tehdään lähivuosina eniten korkean teknologian investointeja. Markkina-alueiden valinnassa sovelletaan sekä numeerisiin tilastoihin että asiantuntijahaastatteluihin pohjautuvia ranking-menetelmiä. Työn ensimmäinen osa käsittelee kansainvälisten teollisten markkinoiden ominaispiirteitä ja niiden analysointia. Pääpaino on kuitenkin screening-menetelmillä, markkina-alueiden vertailumenetelmilläja päätöksenteon työkaluilla. Työn toisessa osassa keskitytään markkina-alueiden screeningiin, analysointiin ja maiden eri ominaisuuksien vertailuun. Päätöksentekomatriiseja hyödyntäen valitaan Veisto Oy:lle kolme tällä hetkellä houkuttelevinta markkina-aluetta, joita ovat Venäjä, USA:n kaakkoisosan Southern Yellow Pine -alue sekä Etelä-Amerikan suurimmat sahaajamaat (Brasilia, Argentiina ja Chile) yhtenä alueena. Valituilla alueilla on Veiston kannalta omat haasteensa: USA:ssa vahvat kotimaiset kilpailijat ja uusien referenssien saaminen, Venäjällä investointien epävarmuus ja markkina-alueen laajuuden tuoma monimuotoisuus sekä Etelä-Amerikassa vahvat ruotsalaiset kilpailijat sekä etenkin Brasilian osalta tuntuvat suojatullit.

Toxicity screenings of nanomaterials: challenges due to interference with assay processes and components of classic in vitro tests.

Given the multiplicity of nanoparticles (NPs), there is a requirement to develop screening strategies to evaluate their toxicity. Within the EU-funded FP7 NanoTEST project, a panel of medically relevant NPs has been used to develop alternative testing strategies of NPs used in medical diagnostics. As conventional toxicity tests cannot necessarily be directly applied to NPs in the same manner as for soluble chemicals and drugs, we determined the extent of interference of NPs with each assay process and components. In this study, we fully characterized the panel of NP suspensions used in this project (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene oxide [PLGA-PEO], TiO2, SiO2, and uncoated and oleic-acid coated Fe3O4) and showed that many NP characteristics (composition, size, coatings, and agglomeration) interfere with a range of in vitro cytotoxicity assays (WST-1, MTT, lactate dehydrogenase, neutral red, propidium iodide, (3)H-thymidine incorporation, and cell counting), pro-inflammatory response evaluation (ELISA for GM-CSF, IL-6, and IL-8), and oxidative stress detection (monoBromoBimane, dichlorofluorescein, and NO assays). Interferences were assay specific as well as NP specific. We propose how to integrate and avoid interference with testing systems as a first step of a screening strategy for biomedical NPs.

Harmonisation of Inbound Logistics with Local Suppliers

Nokian Matkapuhelimien tuotantoprosessit on suunniteltu tukemaan massaräätälöintiä perustuen assembly-to-order tekniikkaan (ATO). Tämän työn tehtävänä oli kehittää toimitusmallit ATO-materiaaleille paikallisilta alihankkijoilta matkapuhelintehtaalle. Aluksi analysoitiin nykyiset toimintamallit perustun Nokia Komarom Kft:n työntekijöiden ja toimittajien haastatteluihin. Ongelmiksi havaittiin toimintatapojen monimuotoisuus, dokumentoinnin puute, puutteelliset laskut ja riittämätön toimitusseuranta.Malleille asetettavien joustavuusvaatimusten selvittämiseksi suoritettiin laajamittainen näkyvyysvälineiden ja tuotantokapasiteetin tutkimus. Vaatimukset tilauksesta toimitukseen läpimenoajoille ja kuljetustoiminnoille johdettiin joustavuusvaatimuksista. Työn lopussa muodostetaan toimitusmallit perustuen nykytilan analyysiin, havaittuihin ongelmiin ja malleille asetettuihin vaatimuksiin. Materiaalit jaetaan eri malleilla ohjattaviksi niiden ominaisuuksiin perustuen. Ensimmäinen malleista implementoidaan kahden pilottitoimittajan kanssa ja esitetään tulokset. Toista mallia hyödynnetään lähitulevaisuudessa Nokia Komarom Kft:n aloittaessa yhteistyön uusien paikallistoimittajien kanssa.