Measuring for Knowledge: A Data-Driven Research Approach for eGovernment

As ICT provide a lot of possibilities, high expectancies exist towards the electronic public service provision. All governments are increasingly establishing their e-strategies. However, eGovernment still faces many challenges as it continues to develop. The current status of electronic services delivery opens up a lot of questions, both for practitioners and researchers. Therefore, further progress of eGovernment needs a profound knowledge base. eGovernment policy has focused several years on bringing online public services and on benchmarking their availability and sophistication. Simultaneously, eGovernment measurement and monitoring activities are often based on the so-called supply-side benchmarking. Although this is important knowledge, it is under criticism because it lacks a user-centric viewpoint of eGovernment development. This article presents and discusses a bottom-up and data-driven approach about how research can help to manage (user-centric) eGovernment strategies. Based on statistical testing (techniques of structural equation modeling, SEM) of large-scale sample data from the Belgian government, the authors have investigated which relations do exist between contextual variables and the availability and/or satisfaction of electronic public services. By doing this, this manuscript presents an illustration of a data-driven approach in eGovernment monitoring and it explains how this can support and enrich the management and evaluation of eGovernment policy

Verkenning van mogelijkheden voor mosselteelt op open zee & een mosselkansenkaart voor de Noordzee

Dit rapport geeft een overzicht van de huidige stand van zaken in de wereld omtrent mosselkweek op open zee. Daarnaast wordt, op basis van het voorkomen van mosselen, aangegeven welke locaties in het Nederlandse deel van de Noordzee potentieel geschikt kunnen zijn voor mosselkweek en/of mosselzaad invang. De ontwikkeling van mosselkweek op open zee vraagt een innovatieve stap. Hiervoor is andere expertise nodig dan die aanwezig is bij de huidige kweekpraktijk in Nederland. De ruwe omstandigheden op de Noordzee vereisen offshore technologie. Naast de technologische drempels die moeten worden overwonnen is het ook belangrijk dat wordt nagedacht hoe conflicten tussen verschillende gebruikers van de Noordzee (scheepvaart, zandwinning, visserij) voorkomen kunnen worden

Mogelijkheden voor zeecultuur in nieuwe getijdennatuur langs de Westerschelde

In dit rapport zijn de mogelijkheden in kaart gebracht voor de combinatie van nieuwe getijdennatuur met een of meer productiefuncties op de volgende locaties langs de Westerschelde: Braakmanpolder, Hellegatspolder, Serarendspolder, Molenpolder, Zimmermanpolder en de Hedwige-Prosperpolder. Overwegingen van zoutgehalte en waterkwaliteit leiden tot de conclusie dat met name de Braakmanpolder, maar ook de Hellegatspolder en de Serarendspolder geschikt gemaakt kunnen worden voor bovengenoemde combinatie. Kijkend naar de mogelijkheden van deze drie polders, dan heeft de Braakmanpolder als voormalig slenkgebied de meeste mogelijkheden

With a little help from my friends: An analysis of the role of social support in digital inequalities

This article reports an empirical study on the composition and socio-economic background of social support networks and their moderating role in explaining digital inequalities. It conceptually draws upon and empirically reaffirms Van Dijk’s multiple access model, acknowledging motivational, material, skill and usage divides, while focussing on the under-researched issue of social support as indispensible source of social learning. Besides a small group of self-reliants, the results indicate a pattern of relatively socially disadvantaged domestic support receivers, characterized by lower digital resources. A second social support pattern points to a relatively socially advantaged non-domestic support receivers (i.e. friends/colleagues), high in digital resources. Drawing upon the concept of homophily in social networks, the results indicate a link between offline and online exclusion, perpetuating digital inequalities

AI for Everyone? Critical Perspectives

We are entering a new era of technological determinism and solutionism in which governments and business actors are seeking data-driven change, assuming that Artificial Intelligence is now inevitable and ubiquitous. But we have not even started asking the right questions, let alone developed an understanding of the consequences. Urgently needed is debate that asks and answers fundamental questions about power. This book brings together critical interrogations of what constitutes AI, its impact and its inequalities in order to offer an analysis of what it means for AI to deliver benefits for everyone. The book is structured in three parts: Part 1, AI: Humans vs. Machines, presents critical perspectives on human-machine dualism. Part 2, Discourses and Myths About AI, excavates metaphors and policies to ask normative questions about what is ‘desirable’ AI and what conditions make this possible. Part 3, AI Power and Inequalities, discusses how the implementation of AI creates important challenges that urgently need to be addressed. Bringing together scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and regional contexts, this book offers a vital intervention on one of the most hyped concepts of our times

New insights regarding HCV-NS5A structure/function and indication of genotypic differences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HCV is prevalent throughout the world. It is a major cause of chronic liver disease. There is no effective vaccine and the most common therapy, based on Peginterferon, has a success rate of ~50%. The mechanisms underlying viral resistance have not been elucidated but it has been suggested that both host and virus contribute to therapy outcome. Non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein, a critical virus component, is involved in cellular and viral processes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study analyzed structural and functional features of 345 sequences of HCV-NS5A genotypes 1 or 3, using <it>in silico </it>tools.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was residue type composition and secondary structure differences between the genotypes. In addition, second structural variance were statistical different for each response group in genotype 3. A motif search indicated conserved glycosylation, phosphorylation and myristoylation sites that could be important in structural stabilization and function. Furthermore, a highly conserved integrin ligation site was identified, and could be linked to nuclear forms of NS5A. ProtFun indicated NS5A to have diverse enzymatic and nonenzymatic activities, participating in a great range of cell functions, with statistical difference between genotypes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study presents new insights into the HCV-NS5A. It is the first study that using bioinformatics tools, suggests differences between genotypes and response to therapy that can be related to NS5A protein features. Therefore, it emphasizes the importance of using bioinformatics tools in viral studies. Data acquired herein will aid in clarifying the structure/function of this protein and in the development of antiviral agents.</p

Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference

PET Cell Tracking Using 18F-FLT is Not Limited by Local Reuptake of Free Radiotracer

Assessing the retention of cell therapies following implantation is vital and often achieved by labelling cells with 2'-[(18)F]-fluoro-2'-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG). However, this approach is limited by local retention of cell-effluxed radiotracer. Here, in a preclinical model of critical limb ischemia, we assessed a novel method of cell tracking using 3'-deoxy-3'-L-[(18)F]-fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT); a clinically available radiotracer which we hypothesise will result in minimal local radiotracer reuptake and allow a more accurate estimation of cell retention. Human endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with (18)F-FDG or (18)F-FLT and cell characteristics were evaluated. Dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) images were acquired post-injection of free (18)F-FDG/(18)F-FLT or (18)F-FDG/(18)F-FLT-labelled HUVECs, following the surgical induction of mouse hind-limb ischemia. In vitro, radiotracer incorporation and efflux was similar with no effect on cell viability, function or proliferation under optimised conditions (5 MBq/mL, 60 min). Injection of free radiotracer demonstrated a faster clearance of (18)F-FLT from the injection site vs. (18)F-FDG (p ≤ 0.001), indicating local cellular uptake. Using (18)F-FLT-labelling, estimation of HUVEC retention within the engraftment site 4 hr post-administration was 24.5 ± 3.2%. PET cell tracking using (18)F-FLT labelling is an improved approach vs. (18)F-FDG as it is not susceptible to local host cell reuptake, resulting in a more accurate estimation of cell retention