Taxonomy Development for Complex Emerging Technologies - The Case of Business Intelligence and Analytics on the Cloud

Taxonomies are essential in science. By classifying objects or phenomena, they facilitate understanding and decision making. In this paper, we focus on the development of taxonomies for complex emerging technologies. This development raises specific challenges. More specifically, complex emerging technologies are often at the intersection of several areas, and the conceptual body of knowledge about them is often just emerging, hence the key role of empirical sources of information in taxonomy building. One particular issue is deciding when enough sources have been examined. In this paper, we use Nickerson et al’s methodology for taxonomy development. Based on the identified limitations of this method, we extend it for the development of taxonomies for complex emerging technologies. We identify three types of information sources for taxonomies, and present a set of guidelines for selecting the sources, drawing on systematic literature review. The taxonomy development process iteratively examines sources, performing operations on taxonomies (e.g. addition of a dimension, splitting of a dimension…) as required to take new information into account. We characterize operations on taxonomies. We use this characterization, along with the typology of sources, to help decide when the process of source examination may be stopped. We illustrate our extension of Nickerson et al’s method to the development of a taxonomy for business intelligence and analytics on the cloud

Framing the foreigner : a close reading of readers' comments on Thought leader blogs on xenophobia published between May and June, 2008

This study was conducted to identify and analyse Mail and Guardian Online moderation outputs which contradicted the platform‟s own stated policy on hate speech and other forms of problematic speech. The moderation outputs considered were a battery of readers‟ comments that were posted in response to Thought Leader blogs on xenophobia published between May and June, 2008. This was the same period a series of xenophobic attacks was taking place in some parts of South Africa, leaving an estimated 62 people dead, more than 30,000 displaced, and countless victims injured and robbed of their property. The attacks were a catalytic moment that enabled a whole range of discursive positions to be articulated, defended, contested and given form in the media. They also made visible the potential tensions between free speech on the one hand, and hate and other problematic speech on the other. Using qualitative methods of thematic content analysis, document review, individual interviews, and an eclectic approach of framing analysis and rhetorical argumentation, this study found instances of divergence between the M&G policy and practice on User Generated Content. It found that some moderator-approved content advocated hate, hatred, hostility, incitement to violence and/or harm, and unfair discrimination against foreign residents, contrary to the M&G policy which is informed by the constitutional provisions in both section 16 of the Bill of Rights and section 10 of the Equality Act. Based on examples in the readers‟ comments of how „the foreigner‟ was made to signify unemployment, poverty, disease, unfair competition, and all manner of deprivation, and bearing in mind how such individuals have also become a site for the violent convergence of different unresolved tensions in the country, the study‟s findings argue that the M&G – a progressive paper dealing with a potentially xenophobic readership (at least a portion of it) – should have implemented its policy on acceptable speech more effectively. The study also argues that the unjustifiable reference to foreigners as makwerekwere, illegals, illegal aliens, parasites, invaders and border jumpers, among other terms, assigned them a diminished place – that of unwanted foreigner – thereby reproducing the order of discourse that utilises nationality as a space for the expurgation of the „other‟. The study argues that the use of bogus (inflated) immigration statistics and repeated reference to the foreigners‟ supposedly parasitic relationship to the country‟s resources also unfairly constructed them as the „threatening other‟ and potentially justified action against them

Perceptions of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in selected Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions of Zambia: A qualitative study on the perspectives of young people and healthcare providers

The recognition of the need for Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) is growing. It is important to ensure the provision of high-quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services that cater to the unique needs of adolescents and young people (AYP). Adolescents and young people spend a significant amount of time in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs) where adolescent friendly services are needed. However, there is limited evidence on the availability of sexual and reproductive health services for young people in HTEIs in Zambia. Using the Human Rights Based Approach to healthcare availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of care (AAAQ) framework, this study explores young people’s perceptions of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in selected HTEIs in Zambia. Between March and June 2021, a qualitative case study was conducted in 12 selected HTEIs located in Lusaka, Central, and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia. The study employed In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with AYPs, as well as Key-informant Interviews (KIIs) with healthcare providers. The healthcare providers at health facility, district and provincial levels were interviewed to provide insights about the services provided in the HTEIs. A total of 112 interviews were conducted. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis in NVivo version 11. In the study, young people reported the availability of primary health services like malaria, HIV, and pregnancy testing, as well as screening for STIs. However, their awareness of SRH services was limited. Contraception, STI testing and treatment, and HIV and pregnancy screening and testing were the most accessed services. Equipment and commodity shortages were common, hindering care provision. Young people found healthcare services in educational institutions inaccessible, with limited comprehensive care and understanding from providers. Services lacked tailoring for key populations and privacy/confidentiality. Health care providers also reported inadequate youth-friendly spaces, equipment, medication and trained workers which compromised the quality of care. Peer educators and provider training were seen as essential for improving accessibility and acceptability of services. The findings indicate significant barriers to the accessibility, availability, and acceptability of SRH services for AYP in HTEIs in Zambia. There is a pressing need to enhance AYSRH programming by increasing awareness of services and ensuring their availability and accessibility for young people. Sufficient funding for AYFHS can address challenges related to service quality, including inconsistent availability of medical equipment and supplies. Building the capacity of service providers can potentially enhance the uptake of services by AYP. It is crucial to target services to address the specific vulnerabilities of students with disabilities and key populations, aligning with the goal of achieving universal health coverage and leaving no one behind

The Surfactant Dipalmitoylphophatidylcholine (DPPC) Modifies Acute Responses in Alveolar Carcinoma Cells in Response to Low Dose Silver Nanoparticle Exposure

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in particular utilized in a wide variety of consumer products. This has presented a number of concerns relating to exposure and the associated toxicity to humans and the environment. As inhalation is the most common exposure route, this study investigates the potential toxicity of AgNP to A549 alveolar epithelial carcinoma cells and the influence of a major component of lung surfactant dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) on toxicity. It was illustrated that exposure to AgNP generated low levels of oxidative stress and a reduction in cell viability. While DPPC produced no significant effect on viability studies its presence resulted in increased reactive oxygen species formation. DPPC also significantly modified the inflammatory response generated by AgNP exposure. These findings suggest a possible interaction between AgNP and DPPC causing particles to become more reactive, thus increasing oxidative insult and inflammatory response within A549 cell

Edible bio-based nanostructures: delivery, absorption and potential toxicity

The development of bio-based nanostructures as nanocarriers of bioactive compounds to specific body sites has been presented as a hot topic in food, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology fields. Food and pharmaceutical industries seek to explore the huge potential of these nanostructures, once they can be entirely composed of biocompatible and non-toxic materials. At the same time, they allow the incorporation of lipophilic and hydrophilic bioactive compounds protecting them against degradation, maintaining its active and functional performance. Nevertheless, the physicochemical properties of such structures (e.g., size and charge) could change significantly their behavior in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The main challenges in the development of these nanostructures are the proper characterization and understanding of the processes occurring at their surface, when in contact with living systems. This is crucial to understand their delivery and absorption behavior as well as to recognize potential toxicological effects. This review will provide an insight into the recent innovations and challenges in the field of delivery via GI tract using bio-based nanostructures. Also, an overview of the approaches followed to ensure an effective deliver (e.g., avoiding physiological barriers) and to enhance stability and absorptive intestinal uptake of bioactive compounds will be provided. Information about nanostructures potential toxicity and a concise description of the in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies will also be given.Joana T. Martins, Oscar L. Ramos, Ana C. Pinheiro, Ana I. Bourbon, Helder D. Silva and Miguel A. Cerqueira (SFRH/BPD/89992/2012, SFRH/BPD/80766/2011, SFRH/BPD/101181/2014, SFRH/BD/73178/2010, SFRH/BD/81288/2011, and SFRH/BPD/72753/2010, respectively) are the recipients of a fellowship from the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE, Portugal). The authors thank the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and the project "BioInd-Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes," REF.NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. We also thank to the European Commission: BIOCAPS (316265, FP7/REGPOT-2012-2013.1) and Xunta de Galicia: Agrupamento INBIOMED (2012/273) and Grupo con potencial de crecimiento. The support of EU Cost Action FA1001 is gratefully acknowledged

From internal business intelligence to business intelligence on the cloud : models and methodological contributions

La BI et le cloud computing sont deux grands sujets de recherche en informatique et en système d’information en particulier. Une recherche combinant ces deux concepts est d'un intérêt double : D’une part, dans les entreprises, la BI devient de plus en plus une partie importante du système d'information qui nécessite des investissements en termes de performances de calcul et des volumes de données. D’autre part, le cloud computing offre de nouvelles opportunités pour gérer les données à des fins d’analyse.Etant donné les possibilités de cloud, la question de la migration de l'ensemble du système d’information y compris la BI est d'un grand intérêt. En particulier, les chercheurs doivent fournir aux professionnels des modèles et des méthodes qui puissent les aider à migrer vers le cloud.Que faire pour que la BI puisse fournir aux managers un service de mise à disposition de données d’analyse au travers du cloud ? La question de recherche est : Comment aider les organisations à migrer leur BI vers le cloud ?Dans cette thèse, nous répondons à cette question en utilisant l'approche science de conception (design science). Nous mettons en place une aide à la décision de la migration de la BI vers le cloud qui s'appuie sur les taxonomies. Nous proposons un modèle de guidage opérationnel qui est instancié par une taxonomie de la BI dans le cloud et dont découlent les règles pour la migration de la BI vers le cloud.BI and cloud computing are two major areas of computer science research and in particular in information system. A research combining these two concepts has a double interest : On the one hand, in business, the BI becomes increasingly an important part of the information system which requires investment in terms of computing performance and data volumes. On the other hand, cloud computing offers new opportunities to manage data for analysis.Given the possibilities of cloud, migration question of the information system including BI is of great interest. In particular, researchers must provide models and methods to help professional in BI migration to the cloud.The research question is : how to migrate BI to the cloud?In this thesis, we address this issue using design science research approach. We implement a decision-making help for BI migration to the cloud based on taxonomies. We provide an operational guidance model that is instantiated by a BI taxonomy in the cloud and from that rules for BI migration to the cloud are arised

Race vs. Racism: The Eligibility of African American Race as a Risk Factor.

Higher disease susceptibility in populations is too often seen as a nonmodifiable characteristic

De la business intelligence interne vers la business intelligence dans le cloud : modèles et apports méthodologiques

BI and cloud computing are two major areas of computer science research and in particular in information system. A research combining these two concepts has a double interest : On the one hand, in business, the BI becomes increasingly an important part of the information system which requires investment in terms of computing performance and data volumes. On the other hand, cloud computing offers new opportunities to manage data for analysis.Given the possibilities of cloud, migration question of the information system including BI is of great interest. In particular, researchers must provide models and methods to help professional in BI migration to the cloud.The research question is : how to migrate BI to the cloud?In this thesis, we address this issue using design science research approach. We implement a decision-making help for BI migration to the cloud based on taxonomies. We provide an operational guidance model that is instantiated by a BI taxonomy in the cloud and from that rules for BI migration to the cloud are arised.La BI et le cloud computing sont deux grands sujets de recherche en informatique et en système d’information en particulier. Une recherche combinant ces deux concepts est d'un intérêt double : D’une part, dans les entreprises, la BI devient de plus en plus une partie importante du système d'information qui nécessite des investissements en termes de performances de calcul et des volumes de données. D’autre part, le cloud computing offre de nouvelles opportunités pour gérer les données à des fins d’analyse.Etant donné les possibilités de cloud, la question de la migration de l'ensemble du système d’information y compris la BI est d'un grand intérêt. En particulier, les chercheurs doivent fournir aux professionnels des modèles et des méthodes qui puissent les aider à migrer vers le cloud.Que faire pour que la BI puisse fournir aux managers un service de mise à disposition de données d’analyse au travers du cloud ? La question de recherche est : Comment aider les organisations à migrer leur BI vers le cloud ?Dans cette thèse, nous répondons à cette question en utilisant l'approche science de conception (design science). Nous mettons en place une aide à la décision de la migration de la BI vers le cloud qui s'appuie sur les taxonomies. Nous proposons un modèle de guidage opérationnel qui est instancié par une taxonomie de la BI dans le cloud et dont découlent les règles pour la migration de la BI vers le cloud