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Human bestrophin-1 (hBest1) is a transmembrane Ca2+- dependent anion channel, associated with the transport of Cl−, HCO3- ions, γ-aminobutiric acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu), and regulation of retinal homeostasis. Its mutant forms cause retinal degenerative diseases, defined as Bestrophinopathies. Using both physicochemical - surface pressure/mean molecular area (π/A) isotherms, hysteresis, compressibility moduli of hBest1/sphingomyelin (SM) monolayers, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) studies, and biological approaches - detergent membrane fractionation, Laurdan (6-dodecanoyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-naphthylamine) and immunofluorescence staining of stably transfected MDCK-hBest1 and MDCK II cells, we report:
1) Ca2+, Glu and GABA interact with binary hBest1/SM monolayers at 35 °C, resulting in changes in hBest1 surface conformation, structure, self-organization and surface dynamics. The process of mixing in hBest1/SM monolayers is spontaneous and the effect of protein on binary films was defined as “fluidizing”, hindering the phase-transition of monolayer from liquid-expanded to intermediate (LE-M) state;
2) in stably transfected MDCK-hBest1 cells, bestrophin-1 was distributed between detergent resistant (DRM) and detergent-soluble membranes (DSM) - up to 30 % and 70 %, respectively; in alive cells, hBest1 was visualized in both liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) fractions, quantifying protein association up to 35 % and 65 % with Lo and Ld. Our results indicate that the spontaneous miscibility of hBest1 and SM is a prerequisite to diverse protein interactions with membrane domains, different structural conformations and biological functions.
The shift of populations to cities is creating challenges in many respects, thus leading to increasing demand for smart solutions of urbanization problems. Smart city applications range from technical and social to economic and ecological. The main focus of this work is to provide a systematic literature review of smart city research to answer two main questions: (1) How is current research on smart cities structured? and (2) What directions are relevant for future research on smart cities? To answer these research questions, a text-mining approach is applied to a large number of publications. This provides an overview and gives insights into relevant dimensions of smart city research. Although the main dimensions of research are already described in the literature, an evaluation of the relevance of such dimensions is missing. Findings suggest that the dimensions of environment and governance are popular, while the dimension of economy has received only limited attention.
Purpose: Despite growing interest in the intersection of supply chain management (SCM) and management accounting (MA) in the academic debate, there is a lack of understanding regarding both the content and the delimitation of this topic. As of today, no common conceptualization of supply chain management accounting (SCMA) exists. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the research foci of SCMA in the scholarly debate of the past two decades. Additionally, it analyzes whether and to what extent the academic discourse of MA in SCs has already found its way into both SCM and MA higher education, respectively.
Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis is conducted including 114 higher education textbooks written in English or in German language.
Findings: The study finds that SC-specific concepts of MA are seldom covered in current textbooks of both disciplines. The authors conclude that although there is an extensive body of scholarly research about SCMA concepts, there is a significant discrepancy with what is taught in higher education textbooks.
Practical implications: There is a large discrepancy between the extensive knowledge available in scholarly research and what we teach in both disciplines. This implies that graduates of both disciplines lack important knowledge and skills in controlling and accounting for SCs. To bring about the necessary change, MA and SCM in higher education must be more integrative.
Originality/value: To the best of the authors knowledge, this study is first of its kind comprising a large textbook sample in both English and German languages. It is the first substantiated assessment of the current state of integration between SCM and MA in higher education.
Driven by digital transformation, manufacturing systems are heading towards autonomy. The implementation of autonomous elements in manufacturing systems is still a big challenge. Especially small and medium sized enterprises (SME) often lack experience to assess the degree of Autonomous Production. Therefore, a description model for the assessment of stages for Autonomous Production has been identified as a core element to support such a transformation process. In contrast to existing models, the developed SME-tailored model comprises different levels within a manufacturing system, from single manufacturing cells to the factory level. Furthermore, the model has been validated in several case studies.
Process quality has reached a high level on mass production, utilizing well known methods like the DoE. The drawback of the unterlying statistical methods is the need for tests under real production conditions, which cause high costs due to the lost output. Research over the last decade let to methods for correcting a process by using in-situ data to correct the process parameters, but still a lot of pre-production is necessary to get this working. This paper presents a new approach in improving the product quality in process chains by using context data - which in part are gathered by using Industry 4.0 devices - to reduce the necessary pre-production.
In recent years, machine learning algorithms have made a huge development in performance and applicability in industry and especially maintenance. Their application enables predictive maintenance and thus offers efficiency increases. However, a successful implementation of such solutions still requires high effort in data preparation to obtain the right information, interdisciplinarity in teams as well as a good communication to employees. Here, small and medium sized enterprises (SME) often lack in experience, competence and capacity. This paper presents a systematic and practice-oriented method for an implementation of machine learning solutions for predictive maintenance in SME, which has already been validated.
The chemical synthesis of polysiloxanes from monomeric starting materials involves a series of hydrolysis, condensation and modification reactions with complex monomeric and oligomeric reaction mixtures. Real-time monitoring and precise process control of the synthesis process is of great importance to ensure reproducible intermediates and products and can readily be performed by optical spectroscopy. In chemical reactions involving rapid and simultaneous functional group transformations and complex reaction mixtures, however, the spectroscopic signals are often ambiguous due to overlapping bands, shifting peaks and changing baselines. The univariate analysis of individual absorbance signals is hence often only of limited use. In contrast, batch modelling based on the multivariate analysis of the time course of principal components (PCs) derived from the reaction spectra provides a more efficient tool for real time monitoring. In batch modelling, not only single absorbance bands are used but information over a broad range of wavelengths is extracted from the evolving spectral fingerprints and used for analysis. Thereby, process control can be based on numerous chemical and morphological changes taking place during synthesis. “Bad” (or abnormal) batches can quickly be distinguished from “normal” ones by comparing the respective reaction trajectories in real time. In this work, FTIR spectroscopy was combined with multivariate data analysis for the in-line process characterization and batch modelling of polysiloxane formation. The synthesis was conducted under different starting conditions using various reactant concentrations. The complex spectral information was evaluated using chemometrics (principal component analysis, PCA). Specific spectral features at different stages of the reaction were assigned to the corresponding reaction steps. Reaction trajectories were derived based on batch modelling using a wide range of wavelengths. Subsequently, complexity was reduced again to the most relevant absorbance signals in order to derive a concept for a low-cost process spectroscopic set-up which could be used for real-time process monitoring and reaction control.
Der Anspruch an Energieversorger wird wachsen: in Zukunft gewinnen vor allem Aufgaben wie die Entwicklung digitalisierter Produkte/Dienstleistungen sowie ökologische Aktivitäten an Relevanz. Dies zeigt die Hochschule Reutlingen in ihrer aktuellen Untersuchung unter Aufsichtsräten, Geschäftsführern und Führungskräften. Trotz der erwarteten Veränderungen: die Aufsichtsräte sind sich zwar ihrem Druck zu mehr Professionalisierung bewusst, scheinen aktuell aber nur mäßig für die künftigen Herausforderungen des Unternehmens gerüstet. Besonders relevant dabei: die Professionalisierung der Gremienarbeit in kommunalen EVU ermöglicht einen höheren wahrgenommenen Unternehmenserfolg. So die Studie des Reutlinger Energiezentrums and der Hochschule Reutlingen im Auftrag von fünf Unternehmen der Branche.
Despite strong political efforts in Europe, industrial small- and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) seem to neglect adopting practices for energy effciency. By taking a cultural perspective, this study investigated what drives the establishment of energy effciency and corresponding practices in SMEs. Based on 10 ethnographic case studies and a quantitative survey among 500 manufacturing SMEs, the results indicate the importance of everyday employee behavior in achieving energy savings. The studied enterprises value behavior related measures as similarly important as technical measures. Raising awareness for energy issues within the organization, therefore, constitutes an essential leadership task that is oftentimes perceived as challenging and frustrating. It was concluded that the embedding of energy efficiency in corporate strategy, the use of a broad spectrum of different practices, and the empowerment and involvement of employees serve as major drivers in establishing energy effciency within SMEs. Moreover, the findings reveal institutional influences on shaping the meanings of energy effciency for the SMEs by raising attention for energy effciency in the enterprises and making energy effciency decisions more likely. The main contribution of the paper is to offer an alternative perspective on energy effciency in SMEs beyond the mere adoption of energy-effcient technology.
In recent years, the development and application of decellularized extracellular matrices (ECMs) for use as biomaterials have grown rapidly. These cell-derived matrices (CDMs) represent highly bioactive and biocompatible materials consisting of a complex assembly of biomolecules. Even though CDMs mimic the natural microenvironment of cells in vivo very closely, they still lack specifically addressable functional groups, which are often required to tailor a biomaterial functionality by bioconjugation. To overcome this limitation, metabolic glycoengineering has emerged as a powerful tool to equip CDMs with chemical groups such as azides. These small chemical handles are known for their ability to undergo bioorthogonal click reactions, which represent a desirable reaction type for bioconjugation. However, ECM insolubility makes its processing very challenging. In this contribution, we isolated both the unmodified ECM and azide-modified clickECM by osmotic lysis. In a first step, these matrices were concentrated to remove excessive water from the decellularization step. Next, the hydrogel-like ECM and clickECM films were mechanically fragmentized, resulting in easy to pipette suspensions with fragment sizes ranging from 7.62 to 31.29 μm (as indicated by the mean d90 and d10 values). The biomolecular composition was not impaired as proven by immunohistochemistry. The suspensions were used for the reproducible generation of surface coatings, which proved to be homogeneous in terms of ECM fragment sizes and coating thicknesses (the mean coating thickness was found to be 33.2 ± 7.3 μm). Furthermore, they were stable against fluid-mechanical abrasion in a laminar flow cell. When primary human fibroblasts were cultured on the coated substrates, an increased bioactivity was observed. By conjugating the azides within the clickECM coatings with alkyne-coupled biotin molecules, a bioconjugation platform was obtained, where the biotin–streptavidin interaction could be used. Its applicability was demonstrated by equipping the bioactive clickECM coatings with horseradish peroxidase as a model enzyme.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) naturally surrounds cells in humans, and therefore represents the ideal biomaterial for tissue engineering. ECM from different tissues exhibit different composition and physical characteristics. Thus, ECM provides not only physical support but also contains crucial biochemical signals that influence cell adhesion, morphology, proliferation and differentiation. Next to native ECM from mature tissue, ECM can also be obtained from the in vitro culture of cells. In this study, we aimed to highlight the supporting effect of cell-derived- ECM (cdECM) on adipogenic differentiation. ASCs were seeded on top of cdECM from ASCs (scdECM) or pre-adipocytes (acdECM). The impact of ECM on cellular activity was determined by LDH assay, WST I assay and BrdU assay. A supporting effect of cdECM substrates on adipogenic differentiation was determined by oil red O staining and subsequent quantification. Results revealed no effect of cdECM substrates on cellular activity. Regarding adipogenic differentiation a supporting effect of cdECM substrates was obtained compared to control. With these results, we confirm cdECM as a promising biomaterial for adipose tissue engineering.
Bone tissue is highly vascularized. The crosstalk of vascular and osteogenic cells is not only responsible for the formation of the strongly divergent tissue types but also for their physiological maintenance and repair. Extrusion-based bioprinting presents a promising fabrication method for bone replacement. It allows for the production of large-volume constructs, which can be tailored to individual tissue defect geometries. In this study, we used the all-gelatin-based toolbox of methacryl-modified gelatin (GM), non-modified gelatin (G) and acetylated GM (GMA) to tailor both the properties of the bioink towards improved printability, and the properties of the crosslinked hydrogel towards enhanced support of vascular network formation by simple blending. The vasculogenic behavior of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) and human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) was evaluated in the different hydrogel formulations for 14 days. Co-culture constructs including a vascular component and an osteogenic component (i.e. a bone bioink based on GM, hydroxyapatite and ASCs) were fabricated via extrusion-based bioprinting. Bioprinted co-culture constructs exhibited functional tissue-specific cells whose interplay positively affected the formation and maintenance of vascular-like structures. The setup further enabled the deposition of bone matrix associated proteins like collagen type I, fibronectin and alkaline phosphatase within the 30-day culture.
Improvement of a three-layered in vitro skin model for topical application of irritating substances
(2020)
In the field of skin tissue engineering, the development of physiologically relevant in vitro skin models comprising all skin layers, namely epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, is a great challenge. Increasing regulatory requirements and the ban on animal experiments for substance testing demand the development of reliable and in vivo-like test systems, which enable high-throughput screening of substances. However, the reproducibility and applicability of in vitro testing has so far been insufficient due to fibroblast-mediated contraction. To overcome this pitfall, an advanced 3-layered skin model was developed. While the epidermis of standard skin models showed an 80% contraction, the initial epidermal area of our advanced skin models was maintained. The improved barrier function of the advanced models was quantified by an indirect barrier function test and a permeability assay. Histochemical and immunofluorescence staining of the advanced model showed well-defined epidermal layers, a dermal part with distributed human dermal fibroblasts and a subcutis with round-shaped adipocytes. The successful response of these advanced 3-layered models for skin irritation testing demonstrated the suitability as an in vitro model for these clinical tests: only the advanced model classified irritative and non-irritative substances correctly. These results indicate that the advanced set up of the 3-layered in vitro skin model maintains skin barrier function and therefore makes them more suitable for irritation testing.
Different types of raw cotton were investigated by a commercial ultraviolet-visible/near infrared (UV-Vis/NIR) spectrometer (210–2200 nm) as well as on a home-built setup for NIR hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) in the range 1100–2200 nm. UV-Vis/NIR reflection spectroscopy reveals the dominant role proteins, hydrocarbons and hydroxyl groups play in the structure of cotton. NIR-HSI shows a similar result. Experimentally obtained data in combination with principal component analysis (PCA) provides a general differentiation of different cotton types. For UV-Vis/NIR spectroscopy, the first two principal components (PC) represent 82 % and 78 % of the total data variance for the UV-Vis and NIR regions, respectively. Whereas, for NIR-HSI, due to the large amount of data acquired, two methodologies for data processing were applied in low and high lateral resolution. In the first method, the average of the spectra from one sample was calculated and in the second method the spectra of each pixel were used. Both methods are able to explain ≥90 % of total variance by the first two PCs. The results show that it is possible to distinguish between different cotton types based on a few selected wavelength ranges. The combination of HSI and multivariate data analysis has a strong potential in industrial applications due to its short acquisition time and low-cost development. This study opens a novel possibility for a further development of this technique towards real large-scale processes.
Für den Unternehmer wichtig ist, binnen welcher Fristen er als Käufer seine Rechte bei Sachmängeln geltend machen muss. Ist der Unternehmer Verkäufer, kann er sich erst nach Verjährungsvollendung endgültig zurücklehnen und sicher sein, dass keine Gewährleistungsansprüche gegen ihn mehr geltend gemacht werden können. Im nationalen Rechtsverkehr hat man sich auf Verkäufer- und Käuferseite mittlerweile an die zweijährige Regelfrist im BGB gewöhnt. Welche Fristen im Auslandsgeschäft gelten, ist dagegen oft unklar, weil sich die nationalen Verjährungsfristen oft unterscheiden: Allein in Europa gibt es bei der kaufrechtlichen Gewährleistung Verjährungsfristen zwischen sechs Monaten und sechs Jahren.
Here, we report the mechanical and water sorption properties of a green composite based on Typha latifolia fibres. The composite was prepared either completely binder-less or bonded with 10% (w/w) of a bio-based resin which was a mixture of an epoxidized linseed oil and a tall-oil based polyamide. The flexural modulus of elasticity, the flexural strength and the water absorption of hot pressed Typha panels were measured and the influence of pressing time and panel density on these properties was investigated. The cure kinetics of the biobased resin was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in combination with the iso-conversional kinetic analysis method of Vyazovkin to derive the curing conditions required for achieving completely cured resin. For the binderless Typha panels the best technological properties were achieved for panels with high density. By adding 10% of the binder resin the flexural strength and especially the water absorption were improved significantly.
Here, we report the continuous peroxide-initiated grafting of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) onto a standard polyolefin by means of reactive extrusion to produce a functionalized liquid ethylene propylene copolymer (EPM). The effects of the process parameters governing the grafting reaction and their synergistic interactions are identified, quantified and used in a mathematical model of the extrusion process. As process variables the VTMS and peroxide concentrations and the extruder temperature setting were systematically studied for their influence on the grafting and the relative grafting degree using a face-centered central composite design (FCD). The grafting degree was quantified by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to calculate the most efficient grafting process in terms of chemical usage and graft yield. With the defined processing window, it was possible to make precise predictions about the grafting degree with at the same time highest possible relative degree of grafting.
nKV in action: accelerating KVstores on native computational storage with NearData processing
(2020)
Massive data transfers in modern data intensive systems resulting from low data-locality and data-to-code system design hurt their performance and scalability. Near-data processing (NDP) designs represent a feasible solution, which although not new, has yet to see widespread use.
In this paper we demonstrate various NDP alternatives in nKV, which is a key/value store utilizing native computational storage and near-data processing. We showcase the execution of classical operations (GET, SCAN) and complex graph-processing algorithms (Betweenness Centrality) in-situ, with 1.4x-2.7x better performance due to NDP. nKV runs on real hardware - the COSMOS+ platform.
Customer orientation should be the core engine of every organisation while IT can be considered as the enabler to generate competitive advantages along customer processes in marketing, sales and service. Research shows that customer relationship management (CRM) enables organisations to perform better and experience indicates that organisations that focus on customer orientation are more successful. With marketplace organisations such as Amazon, Alibaba or Conrad shaping the future of customer centricity and information technology, German B2B organisations need to shift their value contribution from product-centric to customer-centric. While these organisations are currently attempting to implement CRM software and putting their customers more into focus, the question remains how organisations are approaching the implementation of CRM and whether these attempts are paying off in terms of business performance.
Here, we study resin cure and network formation of solid melamine formaldehyde pre-polymer over a large temperature range viadynamic temperature curing profiles. Real-time infrared spectroscopy is used to analyze the chemical changes during network formation and network hardening. By applying chemometrics (multivariate curve resolution,MCR), the essential chemical functionalities that constitute the network at a given stage of curing are mathematically extracted and tracked over time. The three spectral components identified by MCR were methylol-rich, ether linkages-rich and methylene linkages-rich resin entities. Based on dynamic changes of their characteristic spectral patterns in dependence of temperature, curing is divided into five phases: (I) stationary phase with free methylols as main chemical feature, (II) formation of flexible network cross-linked by ether linkages, (III) formation of rigid, ether-cross-linked network, (IV) further hardening via transformation of methylols and ethers into methylene-cross-linkages, and (V) network consolidation via transformation of ether into methylene bridges. The presented spectroscopic/chemometric approach can be used as methodological basis for the functionality design of MF-based surface films at the stage of laminate pressing, i.e., for tailoring the technological property profile of cured MF films using a causal understanding of the underlying chemistry based on molecular markers and spectroscopic fingerprints.
Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die verschiedenen Möglichkeiten der Bilanzierung einens Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) beim Emittenten auf der Passivseite nach den Regelungen der IFRS. Ziel ist es, die bilanzielle Einordnung anhand verschiedenenr Arten von Token zu erörtern und den Emittenten bei der Ausgestaltung der Token sowie der anschließenden Bilanzierung zu unterstützen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Standards für die bilanzielle Einordnung von ICO-Token zwar ausreichen, allerdings eine große Bandbreite der Bilanzierung zu berücksichtigen ist und eine detaillierte Regelung durch einen eigenen IFRS daher schwierig erscheint.
Das Value-Engineering in der Kundenkommunikation ist eine strukturierte Methode, Kommunikationsprozesse zwischen Unternehmen zu verbessern. Das Konzept greift bewährte Elemente der technischen Wertanalyse und der Gemeinkosten-Wertanalyse auf und überträgt sie auf die Kundenkommunikation. Der Ansatz bietet eine systematische Vorgehensweise, Kommunikationsprozesse zwischen Anbieter und Kunde zu durchleuchten und neu zu gestalten. Value-Engineering in der Kundenkommunikation schafft somit Wettbewerbsvorteile durch eine Optimierung der Kommunikation.
Gibt es einen Kauf-Knopf im Gehirn des Konsumenten? Und wenn ja, wie betätigt man diesen? Die Antworten auf diese Fragen könnte das Neuromarketing liefern. Das Neuromarketing ist Bestandteil der Neuroökonomie und eine relativ junge Disziplin an der Schnittstelle von Kognitionswissenschaften, Neurowissenschaften und der Marktforschung. Durch den technologischen Fortschritt können die Neurowissenschaften wichtige Erkenntnisse für das Marketing liefern, insbesondere Einblicke zur Erklärung des Konsumentenverhaltens. Durch den Blick in das Kundengehirn können beispielsweise Handelsunternehmen ihre Kunden gezielter ansprechen und sich so einen Vorteil gegenüber Konkurrenten verschaffen.
Zielgenau aus dem Hinterhalt
(2020)
Ambush-Marketing löst meistens heftige Reaktionen aus - bei Befürwortern und Gegnern. Die Idee des Ambush-Marketings ist es, von den Erfolgen des Sponsorings zu profitieren, ohne die Pflichten eines offiziellen Sponsors einzugehen. Ambusher besitzen keine Vermarktungsrechte an einer Veranstaltung, bauen aber dennoch durch ihre Marketingmassnahmen eine Verbindung zu einem Event auf. Der Grat zwischen der Verletzung von Sponsoren-Rechten und kreativ-innovativer Kommunikationspolitik ist dabei oft sehr schmal.
In Germany, mobility is currently in a state of flux. Since June 2019, electric kick scooters (e-scooters) have been permitted on the roads, and this market is booming. This study employs a user survey to generate new data, supplemented by expert interviews to determine whether such e-scooters are a climate-friendly means of transport. The environmental impacts are quantified using a life cycle assessment. This results in a very accurate picture of e-scooters in Germany. The global warming potential of an e-scooter calculated in this study is 165 g CO2-eq./km, mostly due to material and production (that together account for 73% of the impact). By switching to e-scooters where the battery is swapped, the global warming potential can be reduced by 12%. The lowest value of 46 g CO2-eq./km is reached if all possibilities are exploited and the life span of e-scooters is increased to 15 months. Comparing these emissions with those of the replaced modal split, e-scooters are at best 8% above the modal split value of 39 g CO2-eq./km.
Our paper investigates the response of acquiring firms’ stock returns around the announcement date in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) between listed Chinese acquirers and German targets. We apply an event study methodology to examine the shareholder value effect based on a sample of M&A deals over the most recent period of 2012-2018. We apply a market model event study based on the argumentation of Brown and Warner (1985) and use short-term observation periods according to Andrade, Mitchell, and Stafford (2001) as well as Hackbarth and Morellec (2008). The results indicate that the announcement of M&A involving German targets results in a positive cumulative abnormal return of on average 2.18% for Chinese acquirers’ shareholders in a five-day symmetric event window. Furthermore, we found slight indications of possible information leakage prior to the formal announcement. Although it shows that the size of acquiring firms is not necessarily correlated with the positive abnormal returns in the short run, this study suggests that Chinese acquirers’ shareholders gain higher abnormal returns when the German targets are non-listed companies.
Businesses need to cope with myriad challenges including increasingly competitive markets and rapid developments in digital technology. The overall aim of the research described in this paper is to generate fresh insights into the impacts of digitalisation on the design and management of global supply chains. It focuses on understanding the current adoption rate of new technologies in global supply chains, identifying perceived opportunities and challenges and clarifying the critical factors driving (and inhibiting) their deployment. The authors administered an online survey with a global sample of respondents from various supply chain functions, resulting in a sample of 142 responses. Significant differences emerged in adoption patterns between companies of different sizes. Moreover, the study pointed to a widening gap (or a ‘digital divide’) between leaders and laggards in terms of technology adoption. Perceived benefits and challenges also differ notably between companies of varying sizes. Adoption patterns are very diverse across specific technologies. The results further suggest that there is a significant correlation between adoption of digital technologies and different dimensions of company performance.
This paper studies the impact of financial liquidity on the macro-economy. We extend a classic macroeconomic modeland compute numerical simulations. The model confirms that persistently low inflation can occur despite a high degreeof financial liquidity due to a reallocation of cash, normal and risk-free bonds. In that regard, our model uncovers anexplanation of a flat Phillips curve. Overall, our approach contributes to a rather disregarded matter in macroeconomictheory.
This article studies the current debate on Coronabonds and the idea of European public debt in the aftermath of the Corona pandemic. According to the EU-Treaty economic and fiscal policy remains in the sovereignty of Member States. Therefore, joint European debt instruments are risky and trigger moral hazard and free-riding in the Eurozone. We exhibit that a mixture of the principle of liability and control impairs the present fiscal architecture and destabilizes the Eurozone. We recommend that Member States ought to utilize either the existing fiscal architecture available or establish a political union with full sovereignty in Europe. This policy conclusion is supported by the PSPP-judgement of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany on 5 May 2020. This ruling initiated a lively debate about the future of the Eurozone and Europe in general.
Since Adam Smith, the “homo oeconomicus” is the behavioural model in economics. Commonly this model characterizes a selfish individual, a kind of ruthless type, whose greed for profit seems to take precedence over moral values. Already 100 years ago, Max Weber provided a modernization of the model concerning the methodological individualism. Recent research in cognitive sciences reveals a further modernization of this standard model in economics. Neuro-economics, a highly interdisciplinary research field, is building a new behavioural consensus. This article examines the new properties of the “neuro-homo oeconomicus”. We show that the new behavioural model is rather similar to the long-standing economic prototype. To that extent, the neuro-model is more hype than hope. In principle, this article considers an ancient philosophical question about the nature of humans in general.
Das Urteil des Bundesverfassungsgerichts (BVerfG) vom 5. Mai 2020 ist Schlusspunkt und zugleich Neuanfang nach einer jahrelangen verfassungsrechtlichen und ökonomischen Auseinandersetzung. Im Prinzip geht es um die konstituierenden Prinzipien der Eurozone sowie das Mandat der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB). Der EU-Vertrag charakterisiert die Leitplanken der Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion (WWU) im Spannungsfeld der Art. 119, 123 und 125 des Vertrags über die Arbeitsweise der Europäischen Union (AEUV). Mithin liegt die wirtschaftspolitische Souveränität – nach dem Prinzip Haftung und Kontrolle – allein bei den Mitgliedstaaten. Die Organe der Europäischen Union (EU) sowie der Gerichtshof der Europäischen Union (EuGH) legen diese Leitplanken gemäß dem Leitgedanken in Art. 1 des Vertrags über die Europäische Union (EUV) einer „ever closer union“ regelmäßig mit weitem Ermessen aus.
Globalisation, shorter product life cycles, and increasing product varieties have led to complex supply chains. At the same time, there is a growing interest of customers and governments in having a greater transparency of brands, manufacturers, and producers throughout the supply chain. Due to the complex structure of collaborative manufacturing networks, the increase of supply chain transparency is a challenge for manufacturing companies. The blockchain technology offers an innovative solution to increase the transparency, security, authenticity, and auditability of products. However, there are still uncertainties when applying the blockchain technology to manufacturing scenarios and thus enable all stakeholders to trace back each component of an assembled product. This paper proposes a framework design to increase the transparency and auditability of products in collaborative manufacturing networks by adopting the blockchain technology. In this context, each component of a product is marked with a unique identification number generated by blockchain-based smart contracts. In this way, a transparent auditability of assembled products and their components can be achieved for all stakeholders, including the custome.
The key aim of Open Strategy is to open up the process of strategy development to larger groups within and even outside an organization. Furthermore, Open Strategy aims to include broad groups of stakeholders in the various steps of the strategy process. The question at hand is how can Open Strategy be achieved? What approaches can be used? Scenario planning and business wargaming are approaches perceived as relevant tools in the field of strategy and strategic foresight and in the context of Open Strategy because of their participative nature. The aim of this article is to assess to what degree scenario planning and business wargaming can be used in the context of Open Strategy. While these approaches are suitable, their current application limits the number of potential participants. Further research and experimentation in practice with larger groups and/or online approaches, or a combination of both, are needed to explore the potential of scenario planning and business wargaming as tools for Open Strategy.
This study investigates how integrated reporting (IR) creates value for investors. It examines how providers of financial capital benefit from an improved firm information environment provided by IR. Specifically, this study investigates the effect of voluntary IR disclosure on analyst earnings forecast accuracy as well as on firm value. To do so, we use an international sample of 167 listed companies that voluntarily publish an integrated report. Our analysis shows no significant effect of a voluntary IR publication on analyst earnings forecast accuracy and no significant effect on firm value. We thus do not find evidence for the fulfillment of IR's promises regarding improved information environment and value creation of voluntary adopters. We conclude that such companies might already have a relatively high level of transparency leading to an absent additional effect of IR disclosure. Positive effects of IR appear to be more relevant in environments where IR is mandatory.
Customer foresight is a relatively new research field. We introduce the customer foresight territory by discussing it localization between customer research and foresight research. For this purposse, we look at a variety of methods that help to understand customers and future realities. On this basis we provide an overwiew of customer foresight methods and outline an ideal-typical research journey.
Some widely used optical measurement systems require a scan in wavelength or in one spatial dimension to measure the topography in all three dimensions. Novel hyperspectral sensors based on an extended Bayer pattern have a high potential to solve this issue as they can measure three dimensions in a single shot. This paper presents a detailed examination of a hyperspectral sensor including a description of the measurement setup. The evaluated sensor (Ximea MQ022HG-IM-SM5X5-NIR) offers 25 channels based on Fabry–Pérot filters. The setup illuminates the sensor with discrete wavelengths under a specified angle of incidence. This allows characterization of the spatial and angular response of every channel of each macropixel of the tested sensor on the illumination. The results of the characterization form the basis for a spectral reconstruction of the signal, which is essential to obtain an accurate spectral image. It turned out that irregularities of the signal response for the individual filters are present across the whole sensor.
A methodology for designing planar spiral antennas with a feeding network embedded within a dielectric is presented. To avoid a purely academic work which may not be manufactured with available standard technologies, the approach takes into account manufacturing process requirements by choice of used materials in the simulation. General design rules are provided. They encompass amongst others, selection criteria for dielectric material, aspects to consider when sketching the radiating element design, as well as those for the implementation of the feeding network. A rule of thumb, which maybe helpful in the determination of the antenna supporting substrate’s height, has been found. The appeal of the method resides in the fact that it eases up the design process and helps to minimize errors, saving time and money. The approach also enables the design of a compact and small-size spiral antenna as antenna-in-package (AiP), and provides the opportunity to assemble the antenna with other RF components/systems on the same layer stack or on the same integration platform.
Based on a survey among customers of seven German municipal utilities, we estimate two regression models to identify the most prospective customer segments and their preferences and motivations for participating in peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading and develop implications for decision-makers in the energy sector and policy-makers for this currently relatively unknown product. Our results show a large general openness of private households towards P2P electricity trading, which is also the main predictor of respondents' intention to participate. It is mainly influenced by individuals’ environmental attitude, technical interest, and independence aspiration. Respondents with the highest willingness to participate in P2P electricity trading are mainly motivated by the ability to share electricity, and to a lesser extent by economic reasons. They also have stronger preferences for innovative pricing schemes (service bundles, time-of-use tariffs). Differences between individuals can be observed depending on their current ownership (prosumers) or installation probability of a microgeneration unit (consumers, planners). Rather than current prosumers, especially planners willing to install microgeneration in the foreseeable future are considered to be the most promising target group for P2P electricity trading. Finally, our results indicate that P2P electricity trading could be a promising niche option in the German energy transition.
The data presented in this article characterize the thermomechanical and microhardness properties of a novel melamine-formaldehyde resin (MF) intended for the use as a self-healing surface coating. The investigated MF resin is able to undergo reversible crosslinking via Diels Alder reactive groups. The microhardness data were obtained from nanoindentation measurements performed on solid resin film samples at different stages of the self-healing cycle. Thermomechanical analysis was performed under dynamic load conditions. The data provide supplemental material to the manuscript published by Urdl et al. 2020 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.109601) on the self-healing performance of this resin, where a more thorough discussion on the preparation, the properties of this coating material and its application in impregnated paper-based decorative laminates can be found.
Thermoplastic polymers like ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) may be grafted with silanes via reactive extrusion to enable subsequent crosslinking for advanced biomaterials manufacture. However, this reactive extrusion process is difficult to control and it is still challenging to reproducibly arrive at well-defined products. Moreover, high grafting degrees require a considerable excess of grafting reagent. A large proportion of the silane passes through the process without reacting and needs to be removed at great expense by subsequent purification. This results in unnecessarily high consumption of chemicals and a rather resource-inefficient process. It is thus desired to be able to define desired grafting degrees with optimum grafting efficiency by means of suitable process control. In this study, the continuous grafting of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) on ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) via reactive extrusion was investigated. Successful grafting was verified and quantified by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The effects of five process parameters and their synergistic interactions on grafting degree and grafting efficiency were determined using a face-centered experimental design (FCD). Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to derive a causal process model and define process windows yielding arbitrary grafting degrees between <2 and >5% at a minimum waste of grafting agent. It was found that the reactive extrusion process was strongly influenced by several second-order interaction effects making this process difficult to control. Grafting efficiencies between 75 and 80% can be realized as long as grafting degrees <2% are admitted.
A holistic approach to digitization enables decision-makers to achieve new efficiency in corporate performance management. The digitalization improves the quality, validity and speed of information retrieval and processing. At present, most corporations are confronted with the problem of not being able to organize, categorize and visualize decision-relevant information. To meet the challenges of information management, the Management Cockpit provides an information center for managers. In accordance with the specific working environment of the executives, the Management Cockpit offers a quick and comprehensive overview of the company's situation. Today, the current situation of a company is no longer only influenced by internal factors, but also by its public image. Social media monitoring and analysis is therefore a crucial component for the external factors of successful management. Real-time monitoring of the emotions and behaviors of consumers and customers thus contributes to effective controlling of allbusiness areas. The intelligent factories promise to collect data for internal factors, but the current reality in manufacturing looks different. Production often consists of a large number of different machines, with varying degrees of digitization and limited sensor data availability. In order to close this gap, we developed a compact sensor board with network components, which allows a flexible design with different sensors for a wide variety of applications. The sensor data enable decision makers to adapt the supply chain based on their internal and external observations in the Management Cockpit. Due to the realtime and long-term monitoring and analytic possibilities the Management Cockpit provides a multi-dimensional view of the company and supports an holistic Corporate Performance Management.
Azide-bearing cell-derived extracellular matrices (“clickECMs”) have emerged as a highly exciting new class of biomaterials. They conserve substantial characteristics of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and offer simultaneously small abiotic functional groups that enable bioorthogonal bioconjugation reactions. Despite their attractiveness, investigation of their biomolecular composition is very challenging due to the insoluble and highly complex nature of cell-derived matrices (CDMs). Yet, thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the overall material composition, organisation, localisation, and distribution of typical ECM-specific biomolecules is essential for consistent advancement of CDMs and the understanding of the prospective functions of the developed biomaterial. In this study, we evaluated frequently used methods for the analysis of complex CDMs. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and (immune)histochemical staining methods in combination with several microscopic techniques were found to be highly eligible. Commercially available colorimetric protein assays turned out to deliver inaccurate information on CDMs. In contrast, we determined the nitrogen content of CDMs by elementary analysis and converted it into total protein content using conversion factors which were calculated from matching amino acid compositions. The amount of insoluble collagens was assessed based on the hydroxyproline content. The Sircol™ assay was identified as a suitable method to quantify soluble collagens while the Blyscan™ assay was found to be well-suited for the quantification of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs). Eventually, we propose a series of suitable methods to reliably characterise the biomolecular composition of fibroblast-derived clickECM.
Innovationskraft ist einer der wesentlichen Erfolgsfaktoren der Zukunft, welcher den Unterschied zwischen erfolgreichen und scheiternden Unternehmen in hohem Maße beeinflussen wird (PWC, 2015). Besonders junge Unternehmen und Start-ups sind für ihre hohe Innovationsfähigkeit bekannt. Etablierte Unternehmen hingegen punkten weniger mit neuen Ideen, aber dafür mit innovationskritischen Ressourcen, Routinen und Skaleneffekten. Ein stetig an Popularität gewinnender Ansatz, die Fähigkeiten und Ressourcen von etablierten Unternehmen mit der Innovationskraft von Start-ups zu verknüpfen, stellt das "Intrapreneurship" dar.
Tissue constructs of physiologically relevant scale require a vascular system to maintain cell viability. However, in vitro vascularization of engineered tissues is still a major challenge. Successful approaches are based on a feeder layer (FL) to support vascularization. Here, we investigated whether the supporting effect on the self‐assembled formation of prevascular‐like structures by microvascular endothelial cells (mvECs) originates from the FL itself or from its extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, we compared the influence of ECM, either derived from adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) or adipogenically differentiated ASCs, with the classical cell‐based FL. All cell‐derived ECM (cdECM) substrates enabled mvEC growth with high viability. Prevascular‐like structures were visualized by immunofluorescence staining of endothelial surface protein CD31 and could be observed on all cdECM and FL substrates but not on control substrate collagen I. On adipogenically differentiated ECM, longer and higher branched structures could be found compared with stem cell cdECM. An increased concentration of proangiogenic factors was found in cdECM substrates and FL approaches compared with controls. Finally, the expression of proteins associated with tube formation (E‐selectin and thrombomodulin) was confirmed. These results highlight cdECM as promising biomaterial for adipose tissue engineering by inducing the spontaneous formation of prevascular‐like structures by mvECs.
Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) have become an important cell source for the use in tissue engineering and other medical applications. Not every biomaterial is suitable for human cell culture and requires surface modifications to enable cell adhesion and proliferation. Our hypothesis is that chemical surface modifications introduced by low-discharge plasma enhance the adhesion and proliferation of hASCs. Polystyrene (PS) surfaces were modified either by ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2) or acrylic acid (AAc) plasma. The results show that the initial cell adhesion is significantly higher on all modified surfaces than on unmodified material as evaluated by bright field microscopy, live/dead staining, total DNA amount and scanning electron microscopy. The formation of focal adhesions was well pronounced on the Tissue Culture PS, NH3-, and CO2 plasma modified samples. The number of matured fibrillar adhesions was significantly higher on NH3 plasmamodified surfaces than on all other surfaces. Our study validates the suitability of chemical plasma activation and represents a method to enhance hASCs adhesion and improved cell expansion. All chemical modification promoted hASCs adhesion and can therefore be used for the modification of different scaffold materials whereby NH3-plasma modified surfaces resulted in the best outcome concerning hASCs adhesion and proliferation.
In an increasingly competitive environment, suppliers are now seen as an important source of innovation. Long term partnerships enable companies to access the knowledge of suppliers to optimize their business. "Procurement 4.0" is one of the concepts that come to the fore when talking about digitalization of business processes. The major aim of this research is to discuss a conceptual model of "Procurement 4.0" and its potential to rethink the management of supplier relationships, which will be one of the main future tasks of procurement. The paper is based on a factual-analytical research approach that serves to continuously specify and supplement the elements of the frame of reference: Two challenging concepts, "Procurement 4.0" and Supplier Relationship Management, are merged to contribute to the fact that purchasing is indispensable as an "interface" within a global supply chain to reap the benefits of digitization. The factors that prove to be obstacles to digital supplier relationship management along the digital supplier journey - e.g. lack of guidelines, approaches or tools and a lack of understanding of the importance of long-term relationships - are reflected within the identified technologies of digital transformation. A comprehensive analysis of the given situation within digital supplier relationship management in Germany is provided. The most important digital supplier touchpoints are discussed in order to develop a traditional supplier relationship towards a digital relationship management. Thus, this paper succeeds in illustrating how the innovative concept of a supplier journey can be implemented in practice to counteract the future, entrepreneurial challenges.
Monday is unique for its reputation as a “bad” day—one that is characterized by pessimism and reluctance as noted by Rystrom and Benson (Financ Anal J 45(5):75–78, 1989). But the extent to which this applies to stock markets is still in dispute. While early evidence points to a Monday effect leading to negative returns, recent studies tend to suggest its disappearance or reversal.As a replication study, this paper searches for new evidence of this effect in the German stock market.We use data on the German blue-chip index DAX between 2000 and 2017 to test for the presence of a Monday effect by applying regression and controlling with GARCH analysis. The observation period provides a detailed insight into different market phases in one of the most liquid and information efficient international stock markets. Our results contribute no evidence to the persistent existence of a Monday effect on the German stock market. Our analysis is robust against the background of different market sentiments before, during and after the financial crisis.
The variety and interdependencies of enterprise systems that digitize large organizations’ processes have grown significantly, resulting in complex enterprise systems landscapes. Avoiding such complexity requires addressing the IT-business engagement gap between (inadvertent) producers of complexity in the business and those in IT who have to manage it. We identify mechanisms for tackling three components of this gap: 1) bridging the awareness gap through information sharing, 2) narrowing the incentive gap through shared goals, and 3) closing the authority gap by evening out power differentials through empowerment.