Approximation numbers of weighted composition operators

We study the approximation numbers of weighted composition operators $f\mapsto w\cdot(f\circ\varphi)$ on the Hardy space $H^2$ on the unit disc. For general classes of such operators, upper and lower bounds on their approximation numbers are derived. For the special class of weighted lens map composition operators with specific weights, we show how much the weight $w$ can improve the decay rate of the approximation numbers, and give sharp upper and lower bounds. These examples are motivated from applications to the analysis of relative commutants of special inclusions of von Neumann algebras appearing in quantum field theory (Borchers triples).Comment: 35 pages, no figures. Some typos removed, minor improvements in presentation, updated reference

The Ideas Competition as Tool of Change Management – Aspects of Triggering Ideas

With our action research approach at BMW Group Financial Services Germany we explore the application of an Ideas Competition as tool of Change Management and look into the effects of the competition on the organizational change. In this paper, we examine the nature of ideas forwarded in the Ideas Competition, the influence the Ideas Competition has on the creation and contribution of ideas and the role of awards from an employees’ perspective in the context of the change situation. Using predominantly the results of an online survey, we find an importance of the function of awards different from our expectations, we discover the trigger-effect of the competition on the development of ideas and we specify this effect in respect to the ideas’ origin being within or without the employees’ actual fields of function. Furthermore we indicate the high probability of ideas getting lost in the corporate environment

A genomic view of food-related and probiotic Enterococcus strains

The study of enterococcal genomes has grown considerably in recent years. While special attentionis paid to comparative genomic analysis among clinical relevant isolates, in this study we performedan exhaustive comparative analysis of enterococcal genomes of food origin and/or with potential tobe used as probiotics. Beyond common genetic features, we especially aimed to identify those thatare specific to enterococcal strains isolated from a certain food-related source as well as features presentin a species-specific manner. Thus, the genome sequences of 25 Enterococcus strains, from 7different species, were examined and compared. Their phylogenetic relationship was reconstructedbased on orthologous proteins and whole genomes. Likewise, markers associated with a successfulcolonization (bacteriocin genes and genomic islands) and genome plasticity (phages and clusteredregularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) were investigated for lifestyle specific genetic features.At the same time, a search for antibiotic resistance genes was carried out, since they are of bigconcern in the food industry. Finally, it was possible to locate 1617 FIGfam families as a core proteomeuniversally present among the genera and to determine that most of the accessory genes codefor hypothetical proteins, providing reasonable hints to support their functional characterization.Fil: Bonacina, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Suárez, Nadia Elina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Hormigo, Daniel Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Fadda, Silvina G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Lechner, Marcus. University Marburg; AlemaniaFil: Saavedra, Maria Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Direct determination of vibrational density of states change on ligand binding to a protein

The change in the vibrational density of states of a protein (dihydrofolate reductase) on binding a ligand (methotrexate) is determined using inelastic neutron scattering. The vibrations of the complex soften significantly relative to the unbound protein. The resulting free-energy change, which is directly determined by the density of states change, is found to contribute significantly to the binding equilibrium

Deviation compensation in LPBF series production via statistical predeformation and structural pattern analysis

This article proposes two approaches for a tailored geometrical deviation compensation for Laser-Powder-Bed-Fusion production. The deviation compensation is performed by a non-rigid deformation of the manufacturing geometry in each iteration to reduce the geometrical deviations from the target geometry. It is important for geometric compensation approaches to separate deterministic deviations from random scatter, since compensating scatter can result in unstable behaviour. In order to compensate only deterministic deviations two novel approaches for a local estimation of the scatter are successfully introduced and tested using a hybrid model of a series production cycle

Active labour market policies for the long-term unemployed: New evidence from causal machine learning

We investigate the effectiveness of three different job-search and training programmes for German long-term unemployed persons. On the basis of an extensive administrative data set, we evaluated the effects of those programmes on various levels of aggregation using Causal Machine Learning. We found participants to benefit from the investigated programmes with placement services to be most effective. Effects are realised quickly and are long-lasting for any programme. While the effects are rather homogenous for men, we found differential effects for women in various characteristics. Women benefit in particular when local labour market conditions improve. Regarding the allocation mechanism of the unemployed to the different programmes, we found the observed allocation to be as effective as a random allocation. Therefore, we propose data-driven rules for the allocation of the unemployed to the respective labour market programmes that would improve the status-quo

Don't Keep It Too Simple: Simplified Items Do Not Improve Measurement Quality

When formulating questionnaire items, generally accepted rules include: Keeping the wording as simple as possible and avoiding double-barreled items. However, the empirical basis for these rules is sparse. The present study aimed to systematically investigate in an experimental design whether simplifying items of a personality scale and avoiding double-barreled items (i.e., items that contain multiple stimuli) markedly increases psychometric quality. Specifically, we compared the original items of the Big Five Inventory-2 - most of which are either double-barreled or can be regarded as complexly formulated - with simplified versions of the items. We tested the two versions using a large, heterogeneous sample (N = 2,234). The simplified versions did not possess better psychometric quality than their original counterparts; rather, they showed weaker factorial validity. Regarding item characteristics, reliability, and criterion validity, no substantial differences were identified between the original and simplified versions. These findings were also replicated for the subsample of lower-educated respondents, who are considered more sensitive to complex item formulations. Our study thus suggests that simplifying item wording and avoiding double-barreled items in a personality inventory does not improve the quality of a questionnaire; rather, using simpler (and consequently more vague) item formulations may even decrease factorial validity

Big Five Personality Traits Predict Successful Transitions From School to Vocational Education and Training: A Large-Scale Study

Educational transitions play a pivotal role in shaping educational careers, and ultimately social inequality. Whereas parental socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive ability have long been identified as key determinants of successful educational transitions, much less is known about the role of socio-emotional skills. To address this gap, the present study investigated whether Big Five personality traits predict success in the transition from secondary school to vocational education and training (VET) above and beyond SES, cognitive ability, and other covariates. Using data from Starting Cohort 4 of the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS; N = 4,137), we defined seven indicators of successful transition: obtaining a VET position, number of acceptances for VET positions, starting a VET position, (the absence of) dropout intentions and actual dropout, final VET grade, and satisfaction with VET. The results revealed that some Big Five traits were incrementally associated with several indicators of transition success. Conscientiousness emerged as the single most relevant trait, predicting all the transition success indicators but 1 (dropout intentions). The other Big Five traits had much weaker and less consistent links with transition success. Extraversion predicted the final VET grade and obtaining a VET position; Agreeableness was linked to a higher risk of dropout. Openness and Emotional Stability had no incremental effects on transition success. There was also some evidence for both compensatory and synergistic interactive effects, with Openness moderating mainly the effects of parental SES (on dropout intentions, actual dropout, and number of acceptances), and Agreeableness moderating the effects of cognitive ability (on obtaining a VET position, number of acceptances, and satisfaction with VET). Although individual effect sizes were small, the Big Five’s joint contribution to transition success was non-negligible, and often larger than that of sociodemographic characteristics and cognitive ability. Our results suggest a hitherto underappreciated contribution of personality to successful transitions to VET

Therapy of endocrine disease: Medical treatment of primary aldosteronism

In patients with primary aldosteronism, specific treatment provides prognostic benefit over optimal antihypertensive therapy and is therefore crucial to reduce mortality and morbidity in this subgroup of patients with hypertension. Prognostic relevance has been shown for adrenalectomy in unilateral disease and for medical treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Collectively, evidence points to the superiority of surgical treatment compared to medical treatment. The causal approach of removing the mineralocorticoid excess, as well as the often-accompanying glucocorticoid excess, might provide one biologically plausible explanation for the observation of slightly better outcomes with surgical therapy. However, in patients living with primary aldosteronism, medical treatment is often insufficient for three major reasons. First and foremost, no marker of sufficient aldosterone blockade has yet been established and therefore adequate treatment of the aldosterone excess is often dismissed as a treatment goal. Second, side effects often limit patient compliance. Third, as recommendations differ from other indications like heart failure, drug dosing is often inadequate. The aim of this review is first to provide an overview over medical treatment options and second to review potential markers for treatment surveillance in patients with primary aldosteronism