Beta decay and the origin of biological chirality: New experimental results

The proposed connection between the parity-violating handedness of beta particles in radioactive decay and the sign (L) of biological chirality (the Vester-Ulbricht [V-U] hypothesis) is being investigated by measuring the theoretically predicted asymmetry in the formation of triplet positronium in amino acid enantiomers by low energy positrons under reversal of the helicity of the positrons. We find the asymmetry in leucine to be (0.8±1.0)×10 −4 , i.e. consistent with the theoretical, prediction of 10 −6 to 10 −7 . The apparatus is now sensitive enough to test the predicted asymmetry in optically active molecules which have heavy atoms at their chiral centers. The connection between these results and asymmetry in radiolysis by beta-decay electrons is made, and the implications of our limits for the V-U hypothesis discussed. Although the above limits are 10 6 times lower than direct measurements of radiolysis, they are still not small enough to allow us to rule out the V-U hypothesis.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43347/1/11084_2004_Article_BF00933685.pd

Data Gained from Smart Services in SMEs–Pilot Study

Nowadays, manufacturing companies increasingly invest in servitization by adopting ‘smart services’ enabled by connected product-service systems enabling data exchange between the customer and the service provider. Managing the transition toward smart services is not easy, especially among SMEs as many businesses struggle with lack of money, insufficient digital technologies, unskilled employees or gathering and using the proper data. The research presented in this paper is divided into two parts. The quantitative part focuses on researching possible correlations between business performance and the use of company IT systems among sixty Czech electrotechnical SMEs. The other part consists of a qualitative multi-case study and was conducted among seven Czech electrotechnical SMEs which have already started with smart service development. The findings indicate that companies gather and use the data in very different ways. They provide information to their customers, but also use information for themselves. The study is unique in highlighting the problems of smart services in small and medium manufacturers. Moreover, it investigates the gathering and the data usage gained from smart services in SMEs.Nowadays, manufacturing companies increasingly invest in servitization by adopting ‘smart services’ enabled by connected product-service systems enabling data exchange between the customer and the service provider. Managing the transition toward smart services is not easy, especially among SMEs as many businesses struggle with lack of money, insufficient digital technologies, unskilled employees or gathering and using the proper data. The research presented in this paper is divided into two parts. The quantitative part focuses on researching possible correlations between business performance and the use of company IT systems among sixty Czech electrotechnical SMEs. The other part consists of a qualitative multi-case study and was conducted among seven Czech electrotechnical SMEs which have already started with smart service development. The findings indicate that companies gather and use the data in very different ways. They provide information to their customers, but also use information for themselves. The study is unique in highlighting the problems of smart services in small and medium manufacturers. Moreover, it investigates the gathering and the data usage gained from smart services in SMEs