Low-Cost Broadband Connections: A Key Factor for SME Virtual Organizations

In an open global market, SMEs are facing new challenges while trying to compete with large worldwide corporations. The forming of innovative alliances, known as virtual organizations (VO), is one of the most interesting proposals to achieve competitiveness and exploit strategic advantages. However, besides the obvious positive potential of innovative actions like VOs, there are several drawbacks, especially when SMEs are involved in such projects. VOs have very high needs for IT and communications; in fact they rely so much on them that the forming of a VO is only possible with the development of an extensive information and communication infrastructure. A lot of innovating management, re-forming and re-structuring is involved in joining several independent companies into a new virtual schema and several cultural, economical and legislative problems must also be overcome. In this paper we focus on the technological needs, and in particular, the need for an organization-wide data sharing and communication network. The high cost involved with the investments necessary in IT and communications technology make the effort harder for SMEs, even if it was to be assumed that they could manage the other important aspects of forming a VO. Along with the cost of computer equipment and specialized software, networking cost has until recently been a particularly prohibiting factor for SMEs even on the most advanced business sectors. A new term, the “virtual organization technology threshold†is introduced, defined as the minimum of IT and communication technologies necessary to form a “true†virtual organization, in its pure and functional form described and widely adopted by the scientific community. The investments needed for IT and communications to form a VO are analyzed and compared to the related investments of conventional SMEs in EU. The evolution in the cost, focused around the networking tools, is then examined to extract useful information about the feasibility of such specialized investments compared to the overall investment and turnovers of typical SMEs. We then argue that a recent development, the price drop and wide spread of broadband connections can act as a “key factor†that could make the difference in lowering the “threshold†and increasing the possibilities for SMEs to compete successfully by utilizing technological advantages and innovations that have until now considered to be more suitable for larger enterprises.

The Initiative of the Hellenic Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering to Support the Development of Case Studies Suitable for Instruction & a Slope Stability Example

The ultimate goal of this article is to promote the collection of case studies suitable for geotechnical instruction by (a) proposing a way of supporting development of such cases through incentives and (b) providing an example of a suitable case study and the necessary accompanying material. The support structure proposed is the initiative of the Hellenic Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (HSSMGE) to establish a competition for case studies appropriate for geotechnical instruction and award a prize at its Geotechnical Conference. The paper includes the evaluation criteria and case study specifications of the competition, which highlight the characteristics of case study material suitable for use in instruction. As an example of such a case study, the paper presents a fictionalized narrative related to the design and construction of highway earthworks in Greece and discusses alternative ways in which the case material can be used in instruction

Low-Cost Broadband Connections: A Key Factor for SME Virtual Organizations

In an open global market, SMEs are facing new challenges while trying to compete with large worldwide corporations. The forming of innovative alliances, known as virtual organizations (VO), is one of the most interesting proposals to achieve competitiveness and exploit strategic advantages. However, besides the obvious positive potential of innovative actions like VOs, there are several drawbacks, especially when SMEs are involved in such projects. VOs have very high needs for IT and communications; in fact they rely so much on them that the forming of a VO is only possible with the development of an extensive information and communication infrastructure. A lot of innovating management, re-forming and re-structuring is involved in joining several independent companies into a new virtual schema and several cultural, economical and legislative problems must also be overcome. In this paper we focus on the technological needs, and in particular, the need for an organization-wide data sharing and communication network. The high cost involved with the investments necessary in IT and communications technology make the effort harder for SMEs, even if it was to be assumed that they could manage the other important aspects of forming a VO. Along with the cost of computer equipment and specialized software, networking cost has until recently been a particularly prohibiting factor for SMEs even on the most advanced business sectors. A new term, the "virtual organization technology threshold" is introduced, defined as the minimum of IT and communication technologies necessary to form a "true" virtual organization, in its pure and functional form described and widely adopted by the scientific community. The investments needed for IT and communications to form a VO are analyzed and compared to the related investments of conventional SMEs in EU. The evolution in the cost, focused around the networking tools, is then examined to extract useful information about the feasibility of such specialized investments compared to the overall investment and turnovers of typical SMEs. We then argue that a recent development, the price drop and wide spread of broadband connections can act as a "key factor" that could make the difference in lowering the "threshold" and increasing the possibilities for SMEs to compete successfully by utilizing technological advantages and innovations that have until now considered to be more suitable for larger enterprises

Combining biosafety expert’s evaluation and workers’ perception regarding the Biological Risks in Biomedical laboratories of Public Hospitals in Athens, Greece

Objectives: The aim of the present study was by combining an expert’s evaluation and laboratory workers’ perception, to review the biological risks in biomedical laboratories of public hospitals in Athens, Greece. It was also to evaluate how they are managing the biological materials, the level of safety awareness and training of the personnel, and to propose mitigation measures according to the existing risks, based on the local legislation and the international Biosafety guidelines. Materials and Methods: A total of 36 biosafety level-2 (BSL2) biomedical laboratories in 20 public hospitals were assessed for their biosafety containment specifics and compliance with biosafety practices. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study, with a checklist and a detailed health and safety (H&S) questionnaire, focused on biosafety and biorisk management. An expert biosafety officer observed and filled in a checklist for each biomedical laboratory (n=36) of the 20 hospitals. Laboratory staff (medical laboratory doctors, medical laboratory technologists, laboratory assistants, biologists and biochemists; n = 415) filled in a specific to biosafety H&S question­naire in each of these laboratories. Results: Both the results from the checklists and the questionnaires showed that in a significant percentage of laboratories there are the following deficiencies: restricted access and signage at the entrance, autoclaves in the laboratory area, ability to use the washbasins hands-free, biorisk management system, written risk assessments, biosafety manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), assigned biosafety officers, protocols  about the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), insufficient biosafety training programs, accidents reporting, eyewash emergency shower system, first aid kits and emergency telephone numbers. On the positive site laboratory procedures are separated from management, sanitary and rest areas, laboratory surfaces and floors are easy to clean and disinfect, good laboratory Practices followed for all procedures, waste management is in compliance with the current Greek legislation and there are sufficient PPE available. Conclusion: In the laboratories studied there are significant shortcomings in containment and administrative controls, in the application of Greek and EU biosafety legislation, and in the proper management of biological agents and materials in general. This emphasizes the importance of closing key gaps in biosafety and emergency preparedness, in the biomedical laboratories. Using the results of this study, actions should be developed, applied and enforced, in compliance with the local and European legislation and guidelines. This could enhance the safety of these facilities, and the laboratory professionals, the community and the environment could be better protected from possible harmful biological agents and the possibility of Laboratory acquired infections (LAIs). This study also demonstrated the value of the laboratory workers participation in the risk evaluation, despite their propensity to over or under-estimate the risk level of the possible hazards. That fact should be considered in future studies when enhancing hospital staff

Managing Biological Risks in Biomedical laboratories of Public Hospitals in Athens, Greece, based on the Biosafety requirements

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to review the laboratory workers’ perception on the biological risks in Biomedical laboratories of Public Hospitals in Athens, Greece, to evaluate how they are managing the biological materials and to propose mitigation measures according to the existing risk, the local legislations and the international Biosafety guidelines. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional study with a detailed health and safety (H&S) questionnaire focused on biosafety and biorisk management. A total of 36 biomedical laboratories Biosafety Level-2 in 20 public hospitals were assessed for their biosafety containment and compliance with biosafety practices. Laboratory staff (medical laboratory doctors, medical laboratory technologists, laboratory assistants, biologists and biochemists) (n = 415) completed the questionnaire. Results: The results showed, that a significant percentage of laboratories lacked proper management of the biological agents and biological materials in general, thus more specific: restricted access 48.9%, controlled and independent ventilation 36.6%, use of BSCs 31.8%, biorisk management system in place 31.6%, risk assessments 28.4%, biosafety manuals 21.4%, SOPs 35.9%, assigned biosafety officers 10.8%, occupational Doctor 34.9%, accidents reporting 25.5%, emergencies plan 34.2% and biosafety training programs 28.2%. Conclusion: There are marked deficiencies in containment and administrative controls, as well as in the implementation of the Greek and EU biosafety legislation. This emphasize the urgency of addressing critical gaps in biosafety and in emergency preparedness in Greek biomedical laboratories. Therefore a Biorisk Management System, risk assessments, SOPs, assignment of a Biosafety Officer, staff trainings and emergency response plans should be developed, applied and enforced, in compliance with the local and European legislation and guidelines

Managing Biological Risks in Biomedical laboratories of Public Hospitals in Athens, Greece, based on the Biosafety requirements

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to review the laboratory workers’ perception on the biological risks in Biomedical laboratories of Public Hospitals in Athens, Greece, to evaluate how they are managing the biological materials and to propose mitigation measures according to the existing risk, the local legislations and the international Biosafety guidelines. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional study with a detailed health and safety (H&S) questionnaire focused on biosafety and biorisk management. A total of 36 biomedical laboratories Biosafety Level-2 in 20 public hospitals were assessed for their biosafety containment and compliance with biosafety practices. Laboratory staff (medical laboratory doctors, medical laboratory technologists, laboratory assistants, biologists and biochemists) (n = 415) completed the questionnaire. Results: The results showed, that a significant percentage of laboratories lacked proper management of the biological agents and biological materials in general, thus more specific: restricted access 48.9%, controlled and independent ventilation 36.6%, use of BSCs 31.8%, biorisk management system in place 31.6%, risk assessments 28.4%, biosafety manuals 21.4%, SOPs 35.9%, assigned biosafety officers 10.8%, occupational Doctor 34.9%, accidents reporting 25.5%, emergencies plan 34.2% and biosafety training programs 28.2%. Conclusion: There are marked deficiencies in containment and administrative controls, as well as in the implementation of the Greek and EU biosafety legislation. This emphasize the urgency of addressing critical gaps in biosafety and in emergency preparedness in Greek biomedical laboratories. Therefore a Biorisk Management System, risk assessments, SOPs, assignment of a Biosafety Officer, staff trainings and emergency response plans should be developed, applied and enforced, in compliance with the local and European legislation and guidelines

Progressive failure in embankment dams.

Imperial Users onl

Introduction: special issue on intelligent technologies in medicine and bioinformatics

The adoption of powerful and sophisticated Intelligent Technologies (IT), such as neural networks, support vector machines, evolutionary algorithms, clustering methods, and decision trees, has led to advances to several challenging real-world medical and bioinformatics problems during the last few years. Applications of these technologies include tumour classification, gene function analysis and prediction, protein modelling and prediction, pathway analysis, complex clinical data analysis, processing and visualization, medical and biomedical information extraction, knowledge discovery and management, intelligent retrieval and integration of biological and medical information and processing, analysis and interpretation of medical and microarrays images