The Quality of Collaboration Process Design

Despite mixed research results, the practical value of collaboration support such as Group Support Systems (GSS) and Facilitation is well established. One of the key challenges in collaboration support is the design of collaboration processess. Such design should be based on a theory on the quality of collaboration process design. The main challenge in this research is to identify the factors that impact the quality of a collaboration process design. Collaboration Engineering (CE) is an approach to designing and deploying collaboration processes for high value recurring tasks. CE intends to enable an organization to increase the quality of collaboration for a recurring mission critical task in the organization, for which ongoing facilitation support is too expensive. Instead of a professional facilitator, a practitioner supports the group based on a short training in which he learns to execute a collaboration process design made by an expert. This design should support the group in efficiently achieving its goal through a high quality collaboration process, and needs to be transferable to the practitioner. The latter implies that the design should be clear, complete, reusable, predictable and flexible. To create such designs we need to specify the factors that foster high quality collaboration, and we need to offer support for design of a transferable high quality collaboration process design. This research will elicit these factors and offer them in a CE support tool

The Quality of Collaboration Process Design

Despite mixed research results, the practical value of collaboration support such as Group Support Systems (GSS) and Facilitation is well established. One of the key challenges in collaboration support is the design of collaboration processess. Such design should be based on a theory on the quality of collaboration process design. The main challenge in this research is to identify the factors that impact the quality of a collaboration process design. Collaboration Engineering (CE) is an approach to designing and deploying collaboration processes for high value recurring tasks. CE intends to enable an organization to increase the quality of collaboration for a recurring mission critical task in the organization, for which ongoing facilitation support is too expensive. Instead of a professional facilitator, a practitioner supports the group based on a short training in which he learns to execute a collaboration process design made by an expert. This design should support the group in efficiently achieving its goal through a high quality collaboration process, and needs to be transferable to the practitioner. The latter implies that the design should be clear, complete, reusable, predictable and flexible. To create such designs we need to specify the factors that foster high quality collaboration, and we need to offer support for design of a transferable high quality collaboration process design. This research will elicit these factors and offer them in a CE support tool

Drug resistance features and S-phase fraction as possible determinants for drug response in a panel of human ovarian cancer xenografts

Multidrug resistance (MDR) and more specifically the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) have been studied extensively in vitro. Unfortunately, it appears that the predictive value of MDR recognized in vitro is mostly an incorrect measure to determine the responsiveness of a particular tumour in the clinic. This misunderstood or overvalued role of MDR might explain the failure of strategies to reverse Pgp function by the use of modulators in solid tumours. To obtain more insight in in vivo drug resistance we investigated a panel of 15 human ovarian cancer xenografts consisting of the most common histological subtypes known in ovarian cancer patients. The response rate to cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin in the xenografts resembled the results of phase II trials with these agents in ovarian cancer patients. This resemblance justifies drug resistance studies in this experimental in vivo human tumour system. We determined the expression levels of MDR 1, MRP 1, LRP and topoisomerase IIα mRNA by the RNase protection assay and the presence of MRP1 and LRP proteins by immunohistochemistry. The S-phase fraction was investigated as a separate parameter by flow cytometry. In none of the 15 ovarian cancer xenografts was MDR 1 expression detectable. The expression levels of MRP 1 and LRP were low to moderate and resembled the presence of the MRP1 and LRP proteins. There was a weak, inverse relationship between the expression levels of LRP and sensitivity to cisplatin and cyclophosphamide (r = –0.44 and –0.45), but not to doxorubicin. The levels of topoisomerase IIα varied among the xenografts (0.73–2.66) and failed to correlate with doxorubicin resistance (r = 0.14). The S-phase fraction, however, showed a relation with the sensitivity to cisplatin (r = 0.66). Among the determinants studied in ovarian cancer in vivo, LRP mRNA and the S-phase fraction were the best predictive factors for drug response and most specifically for the activity of cisplatin. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Miesenheim I, Die Zeit des Homo erectus

Wetensch. publicatieFaculty of Archeolog

Biostratigraphy of the early Middle Pleistocene of the Southern Fore-Urals

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUAA summary of published and unpublished data on the stratigraphy of the early Middle Pleistocene of the Southern Urals region is presented in this paper. It follows previous reviews about the characteristics of the Pleistocene deposits of the easternmost part of Europe. Deposits of different origin, which constitute the regional stratigraphic units, are characterized. Mammalian data form the base for the (bio)stratigraphical subdivision. Fossil mollusca, ostracoda, mammals and pollen are used for the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental conditions and the stratigraphical position of the main localities is discussed. The beginning of the early Middle Pleistocene (Minzitarovo time) coincides with a stabilization of the hydrographic network. Palaeontological remains from that period are rare. Pinus–Picea forests with small admixture of broad-leaved species were spread at the beginning of this interval. Later, the role of forests decreased and the role of herbs and Chenopodiaceae increased. Palynological data indicate that the climate was cool during that time. The landscapes of the Baza time were dominated by herbaceous-Artemisia associations and small birch forests with an admixture of broadleaved and coniferous trees and the terminal time was characterized by the wide development of taiga. Ostracods and molluscs are known from those deposits. Ecological composition of the small mammalian faunas indicates forest-steppe conditions for the southern part of this natural zone. Small mammals of that time belong to the Tiraspol faunal assemblage. The climate was warm and dry. The initial Tanyp time was characterized by the development of herbaceous–Artemisia–Chenopodiaceae steppes and broadleaved birch forests, which were subsequently replaced by a dominance of taiga associations, which tolerate cold climatic conditions. Molluscs are represented by rare terrestrial and freshwater species. The assemblage of freshwater ostracods includes cold-resistant species. In the Atasevo time, broadleaved birch forests and meadow-steppes characterized the landscape. The presence of stenothermic–thermophilic ostracods species indicates warm climatic conditions. Molluscs are represented by terrestrial and numerous freshwater species. The small mammalian fauna is characterized by the smaller percentage of Mimomys voles; it post-dates the Baza fauna. The Atasevo fauna is unique because of the occurrence of Arvicola mosbachensis Schmidtgen among the typical early Middle Pleistocene species. At the end of this period during the Chusovskoi timespan, the herbaceous–Artemisia–Chenopodiaceae steppes, which covered spacious open areas, were subsequently replaced by coniferous-birch forests with an admixture of broadleaved trees. Fossil remains are rare. Ostracods represent cold-resistant species indicating that the climate was cold

Biostratigraphy of the early Middle Pleistocene of the Southern Fore-Urals

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. A summary of published and unpublished data on the stratigraphy of the early Middle Pleistocene of the Southern Urals region is presented in this paper. It follows previous reviews about the characteristics of the Pleistocene deposits of the easternmost part of Europe. Deposits of different origin, which constitute the regional stratigraphic units, are characterized. Mammalian data form the base for the (bio)stratigraphical subdivision. Fossil mollusca, ostracoda, mammals and pollen are used for the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental conditions and the stratigraphical position of the main localities is discussed.The beginning of the early Middle Pleistocene (Minzitarovo time) coincides with a stabilization of the hydrographic network. Palaeontological remains from that period are rare. Pinus-Picea forests with small admixture of broad-leaved species were spread at the beginning of this interval. Later, the role of forests decreased and the role of herbs and Chenopodiaceae increased. Palynological data indicate that the climate was cool during that time. The landscapes of the Baza time were dominated by herbaceous-Artemisia associations and small birch forests with an admixture of broadleaved and coniferous trees and the terminal time was characterized by the wide development of taiga. Ostracods and molluscs are known from those deposits. Ecological composition of the small mammalian faunas indicates forest-steppe conditions for the southern part of this natural zone. Small mammals of that time belong to the Tiraspol faunal assemblage. The climate was warm and dry. The initial Tanyp time was characterized by the development of herbaceous-Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae steppes and broadleaved birch forests, which were subsequently replaced by a dominance of taiga associations, which tolerate cold climatic conditions. Molluscs are represented by rare terrestrial and freshwater species. The assemblage of freshwater ostracods includes cold-resistant species. In the Atasevo time, broadleaved birch forests and meadow-steppes characterized the landscape. The presence of stenothermic-thermophilic ostracods species indicates warm climatic conditions. Molluscs are represented by terrestrial and numerous freshwater species. The small mammalian fauna is characterized by the smaller percentage of Mimomys voles; it post-dates the Baza fauna. The Atasevo fauna is unique because of the occurrence of Arvicola mosbachensis Schmidtgen among the typical early Middle Pleistocene species.At the end of this period during the Chusovskoi timespan, the herbaceous-Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae steppes, which covered spacious open areas, were subsequently replaced by coniferous-birch forests with an admixture of broadleaved trees. Fossil remains are rare. Ostracods represent cold-resistant species indicating that the climate was cold

Taphonomic phenomenon of ancient hair from Glacial Beringia:perspectives for palaeoecological reconstructions

An accumulation of mammoth hair, discovered in the Bol'shaya Chukochya River valley (northeast Yakutia, Russia), was found to contain remains of terrestrial and aquatic organisms, including plants, insects, crustaceans, birds and mammals. Radiocarbon dating indicated that this post-mortem taphocoenosis represented multiple time periods. The mammoth hair was dated to older than 45 ka BP, the plants were dated to 12 750 +/- 50 a BP (which corresponds to a shift in the environmental conditions and landscapes during the formation of thermokarst in northeastern Russia) and the bird feathers were dated to 4115 +/- 40 a BP. A scenario of the formation of this fossil assemblage is proposed, covering the MIS 3-1 time range. The hair also yielded various Arctic branchiopod crustaceans, which inhabit shallow temporary water bodies and therefore are important for reconstruction of palaeoenvironments. The cladoceran subgenus Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia), currently absent from the Asian part of Beringia, is reported from this region for the first time. The study demonstrates that the discovered permafrostpreserved hair is a unique repository of Ice Age organisms.</p

Quaternary deposits and biostratigraphy in caves and grottoes located in the Southern Urals (Russia)

Bioarchaeolog

Norovirus outbreak in a natural playground: A One Health approach

Norovirus constitutes the most frequently identified infectious cause of disease outbreaks associated with untreated recreational water. When investigating outbreaks related to surface water, a One Health approach is insightful. Historically, there has been a focus on potential contamination of recreational water by bird droppings and a recent publication demonstrating human noroviruses in bird faeces suggested this should be investigated in future water-related norovirus outbreaks. Here, we describe a One Health approach investigating a norovirus outbreak in a natural playground. On social media, a large amount of waterfowl were reported to defecate near these playground premises leading to speculations about their potential involvement. Surface water, as well as human and bird faecal specimens, was tested for human noroviruses. Norovirus was found to be the most likely cause of the outbreak but there was no evidence for transmission via waterfowl. Cases had become known on social media prior to notification to the public health service underscoring the potential of online media as an early warning system. In view of known risk factors, advice was given for future outbreak investigations and natural playgroun