Enactment of Technology Structures in ICT4D Projects : A Study of Computerization of Land Records in India

In this paper, we argue that technology use depends on the action of human agents and is influenced by the context in which this use takes place. We draw upon the literature on social shaping of technology, particularly that which looks at its usage, to base our claims. We have used a practice-oriented approach to studying technology, derived largely from Giddens’ structuration theory, to understand the use patterns of a widely acclaimed ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) project in India. We find that the technology structures enacted by users reflects differences in their existing social contexts and, therefore, technology, and particularly ICT designs need to be sensitive to these variations if they intend to serve any significant development purpose

Adapting a Process Model of Initial Representation Formation to a Knowledge Management Application

In this paper, we posit that the process model of initial representation formation can also be used in a learning context, specifically, to determine when new decision making situations exist and how those new situations relate to prior instances when similar decisions were made. This type of learning is important in the context of knowledge management because it allows the use of information about decisions that were made in the past while working on a current decision. The literature describes how data in information systems can be used to support organizational learning (Stein and Zwass, 1995). This paper describes a model that be used to learn from the decision making process

Uncovering the multifractality of Lagrangian pair dispersion in shock-dominated turbulence

Lagrangian pair dispersion provides insights into mixing in turbulent flows. By direct numerical simulations (DNS) we show that the statistics of pair dispersion in the randomly forced two-dimensional Burgers equation, which is a typical model of shock-dominated turbulence, is very different from its incompressible counterpart because Lagrangian particles get trapped in shocks. We develop a heuristic theoretical framework that accounts for this -- a generalization of the multifractal model -- whose prediction of the scaling of Lagrangian exit times agrees well with our DNS

Never events in UK general practice: a survey of the views of general practitioners on their frequency and acceptability as a safety improvement approach

Background: Never events (NEs) are serious preventable patient safety incidents and are a component of formal quality and safety improvement (Q&SI) policies in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. A preliminary list of NEs for UK general practice has been developed, but the frequency of these events, or their acceptability to general practitioner (GPs) as a Q&SI approach, is currently unknown. The study aims to estimate (1) the frequency of 10 NEs occurring within GPs' own practices and (2) the extent to which the NE approach is perceived as acceptable for use. Methods: General practitioners were surveyed, and mixed-effects logistic regression models examined the relationship between GP opinions of NE, estimates of NE frequency, and the characteristics of the GPs and their practices. Results: Responses from 556 GPs in 412 practices were analyzed. Most participants (70%-88%, depending on the NE) agreed that the described incident should be designated as a NE. Three NEs were estimated to have occurred in less than 4% of practices in the last year; however, two NEs were estimated to have occurred in 45% to 61% of the practices. General practitioners reporting that a NE had occurred in their practice in the last year were significantly less likely to agree with the designation as a NE compared with GPs not reporting a NE (odds ratio, 0.42; 95% CI = 0.36-0.49). Conclusions: The NE approach may have Q&SI potential for general practice, but further work to adapt the concept and content is required

On the dependence of galaxy morphologies on galaxy mergers

The distribution of galaxy morphological types is a key test for models of galaxy formation and evolution, providing strong constraints on the relative contribution of different physical processes responsible for the growth of the spheroidal components. In this paper, we make use of a suite of semi-analytic models to study the efficiency of galaxy mergers in disrupting galaxy discs and building galaxy bulges. In particular, we compare standard prescriptions usually adopted in semi-analytic models, with new prescriptions proposed by Kannan et al., based on results from high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations, and we show that these new implementations reduce the efficiency of bulge formation through mergers. In addition, we compare our model results with a variety of observational measurements of the fraction of spheroid-dominated galaxies as a function of stellar and halo mass, showing that the present uncertainties in the data represent an important limitation to our understanding of spheroid formation. Our results indicate that the main tension between theoretical models and observations does not stem from the survival of purely disc structures (i.e. bulgeless galaxies), rather from the distribution of galaxies of different morphological types, as a function of their stellar mass.Comment: MNRAS in press, 11 pages, 5 figure

Endoreplication as a potential driver of cell wall modifications

Endoreplication represents a variant of the mitotic cell cycle during which cells replicate their DNA without mitosis and/or cytokinesis, resulting in an increase in the cells’ ploidy level. This process is especially prominent in higher plants, where it has been correlated with cell differentiation, metabolic output and rapid cell growth. However, different reports argue against a ploidy-dependent contribution to cell growth. Here, we review accumulating data suggesting that endocycle onset might exert an effect on cell growth through transcriptional control of cell wall-modifying genes to drive cell wall changes required to accommodate turgor-driven rapid cell expansion, consistent with the idea that vacuolar expansion rather than a ploidy-driven increase in cellular volume represents the major force driving cell growth