Why Customers Value Mass-customized Products: The Importance of Process Effort and Enjoyment

We test our hypotheses on 186 participants designing their own scarves with an MC toolkit. After completing the process, they submitted binding bids for "their" products in Vickrey auctions. We therefore observe real buying behavior, not merely stated intentions. We find that the subjective value of a self-designed product (i.e., one's bid in the course of the auction) is indeed not only impacted by the preference fit the customer expects it to deliver, but also by (1) the process enjoyment the customer reports, (2) the interaction of preference fit and process enjoyment, and (3) the interaction of preference fit and perceived process effort. In addition to its main effect, we interpret preference fit as a moderator of the valuegenerating effect of process evaluation: In cases where the outcome of the process is perceived as positive (high preference fit), the customer also interprets process effort as a positive accomplishment, and this positive affect adds (further) value to the product. It appears that the perception of the self-design process as a good or bad experience is partly constructed on the basis of the outcome of the process. In the opposite case (low preference fit), effort creates a negative affect which further reduces the subjective value of the product. Likewise, process enjoyment is amplified by preference fit, although enjoyment also has a significant main effect, which means that regardless of the outcome, customers attribute higher value to a self-designed product if they enjoy the process. The importance of the self-design process found in this study bears clear relevance for companies which offer or plan to offer MC systems. It is not sufficient to design MC toolkits in such a way that they allow customers to design products according to their preferences. The affect caused by this process is also highly important. Toolkits should therefore stimulate positive affective reactions and at the same time keep negative affect to a minimum. (authors' abstract

Für ein Europa der Nationen

Als ein von der Politik initiiertes, mehrere Ebenen umfassendes Gebilde sui generis mit supranationalen Entscheidungsstrukturen und sich teils überlappenden Autoritäten stellt die Europäische Union hinsichtlich ihrer Entwicklung und Struktur etwas gänzlich Neues dar. Angesichts der Vergemeinschaftung der europäischen Staaten auf politischer, wirtschaftlicher und gesellschaftlich-kultureller Ebene befasst sich die vorliegende Arbeit mit der Frage, wie rechtsnationale Parteien auf den kontinuierlichen Rückgang nationalstaatlicher Autonomie reagieren und inwieweit sich auch für diese eine gewisse Form der Europäisierung feststellen lässt. Im Fokus der Untersuchung standen hierbei die Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) und die sich für sie ergebenden Möglichkeiten und Formen zur Kooperation; einhergehend mit der Frage, zu welchen Parteien hierbei Kontakte unterhalten werden. Zudem wurde erhoben, welche Motivlagen und inhaltlichen Schnittmengen solchen grenzübergreifenden Zusammenschlüsse zugrunde liegen. Ebenso wurde aber auch der Frage nachgegangen, welche Hürden sich für ein transnationales Bündnis der europäischen Rechtsparteien auf systemischer, inhaltlicher oder auch soziostruktureller Ebene ergeben können. Zu diesem Zweck wurden, neben einer allgemeinen Literaturrecherche, Interviews mit Vertretern der im Europäischen Parlament vertretenen österreichischen Großparteien sowie Experten aus dem Bereich der Politik-, Europa- und Nationalismusforschung geführt und inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet

Molecular dynamics simulations of liquid crystals and photoresponsive systems

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) expressing the outer membrane protein OpaHSPG can adhere to and invade epithelial cells via binding to heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) receptors. In this study, we have investigated the role of syndecan-1 and syndecan-4, two members of the HSPG family, in the uptake of Ngo by epithelial cells. When overexpressed in HeLa cells, both syndecans co-localize with adherent Ngo on the host cell surface. This overexpression of syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 leads to a three- and sevenfold increase in Ngo invasion respectively. In contrast, transfection with the syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 mutant constructs lacking the intracellular domain results in an abrogation of the invasion process, characteristic of a dominant-negative mode of action. A concomitant loss of the capacity to mediate Ngo uptake was also observed with syndecan-4 mutant constructs carrying lesions in the dimerization motif necessary for the binding of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), and mutants that are deficient in a C-terminal EFYA amino acid motif responsible for binding to syntenin or CASK. We conclude that syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 can both mediate Ngo uptake into epithelial cells, and that their intracellular domains play a crucial role in this process, perhaps by mediating signal transduction or anchorage to the cytoskeleton

GW domains of the Listeria monocytogenes invasion protein InlB are required for potentiation of Met activation

The Listeria monocytogenes protein InlB promotes intracellular invasion by activating the receptor tyrosine kinase Met. Earlier studies have indicated that the LRR fragment of InlB is sufficient for Met activation, but we show that this is not the case unless the LRR fragment is artificially dimerized through a disulphide bond. In contrast, activation of Met proceeds through monomers of intact InlB and, at physiologically relevant concentrations, requires coordinated action in cis of both InlB N-terminal LRR region and C-terminal GW domains. The GW domains are shown to be crucial for potentiating Met activation and inducing intracellular invasion, with these effects depending on association between GW domains and glycosaminoglycans. Glycosaminoglycans do not alter the monomeric state of InlB, and are likely to enhance Met activation through a receptor-mediated mode, as opposed to the ligand-mediated mode observed for the LRR fragment. Surprisingly, we find that gC1q-R, a host protein implicated in InlB-mediated invasion, specifically antagonizes rather than enhances InlB signalling, and that interaction between InlB and gC1q-R is unnecessary for bacterial invasion. Lastly, we demonstrate that HGF, the endogenous ligand of Met, substitutes for InlB in promoting intracellular invasion, suggesting that no special properties are required of InlB in invasion besides its hormone-like mimicry of HGF

Evolution mikro – micro-dosing in the high-pressure range thanks to innovative drive technology

Oscillating positive displacement pumps are used in many industrial sectors. Mechanical stroke generators / drives such as crank drive, spring-cam drive etc have reached a high technological level, but to which are set mechanical limits. Especially in the smallest dosing range <1 l/h at a pressure range from 100 … 400 bar considerable optimisation is still required with regard to precision and continuity / control range of the dosing flow. In order to expand the current application possibilities for the diaphragm metering pump technology, it is necessary to use new drive systems such as linear motor technology. A linear motor is an electric drive unit which transmits the oscillating delivery movement of the dosing pumps directly to the displacer (hydraulic piston, diaphragm, etc.) without any mechanics, so that highly dynamic movements can be carried out with maximum precision, an individual kinematic profile and a control range of 1:200. The examples of gas odorization and filling processes show how the linear motor drive can be used to technologically solve and even optimize the customer's process requirements. The linear motor pump can realize an integrated 3-parameter control and is therefore suitable for almost any kinematically solvable dosing task

The role of heparansulfate-proteoglycans during the invasion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae into epithelial cells

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) adhäriert über das Opa50-Protein an nicht-polarisierte Epithelzellen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht, ob die Adhärenz des Opa50-Proteins an Heparansulfat-Proteoglykane (HSPG) ausreicht, um eine Invasion von Ngo zu bewirken. Durch Kopplung von Latexbeads mit einem Antikörper gegen Heparansulfat-Glukosaminoglykane konnte über Immunfluoreszenzfärbungen nachgewiesen werden, daß die Beads von den Zellen aufgenommen werden. Die Phagozytose erfolgt mit der gleichen Kinetik wie die von Ngo. Für die Phagozytose der Beads ist eine Kreuzvernetzung der HSPGs sowie ein intaktes Zytoskelett. Die phagozytische Aufnahme der Beads wird durch Inhibitoren der Protein Kinase C (PKC) gehemmt und die Invasion der Beads wird durch die Zugabe von Vitronektin bzw. Serum gesteigert wie es für Ngo gezeigt wurde. Diese Daten weisen darauf hin, daß eine Kreuzvernetzung der HSPGs zu einer Phagozytose führen kann und daß das etablierte System ein gutes Modell für die Aufnahme von Ngo darstellt. Des weiteren führt die Überexpression von Syndekan-1 und Syndekan-4 in HeLa Zellen zu einer erhöhten Invasion von Ngo in diesen Zellinien. Deletionen der intrazellulären Domäne bewirken einen annähernd vollständigen Rückgang der Phagozytose von Ngo, was darauf hinweist, daß die intrazelluläre Domäne für die Signaltransduktion von Bedeutung ist. Weitere Mutationen in der intrazellulären Domäne von Syndekan-4, die das Dimerisierungsmotiv beeinflussen, das die Bindungsstelle für die PKC bzw. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphat darstellt, führen ebenfalls zu einem Rückgang der Invasion von Ngo. Das gleiche gilt für die Deletion des C-terminalen EFYA Motifs, das für die Bindung von Syntenin oder CASK verantwortlich ist. Syndekan-1 und Syndekan-4 bewirken also die phagozytische Aufnahme von Ngo in Epithelzellen und die intrazellulären Domänen spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Signaltransduktion oder der Verankerung am Zytoskelett der Zelle.Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) expressing the outer membrane protein Opa50 can adhere to epithelial cells via binding to heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) receptors. This study investigated if adherence of gonococci to HSPGs is sufficient for phagocytosis. Coating of latexbeads with an antibody against heparansulfate-glucosaminoglycans leads to phagocytic uptake into epithelial cells as shown by immunofluorescence staining. The phagocytosis of the beads has the same kinetic as uptake of gonococci inot epithelial cells. The phagocytic uptake of beads requires crosslinking of HSPGs and an intact cytoskeletton as described for Ngo. The uptake process can be inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitors and the invasion is stimulated by the serum or the serum factor vitronectin. This data lead to the conclusion that crosslinking of HSPGs leads to phagycytosis and that the established system is a good model for uptake of gonococci. Overexpression of syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 in HeLa cells leads to an increase in Ngo invasion in this cell lines. In contrast, transfection with syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 mutant constructs lacking the intracellular domain results in an abrogation of the invasion process, characteristic of a dominant negative mode of action. A concomitant loss in the capacity to mediate Ngo uptake was also observed with syndecan-4 mutant constructs carrying lesions in the dimerisation motif necessary for the binding of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and mutants which are deficient in a C-terminal EFYA amino acid motif responsible for binding to syntenin or CASK. Therefore syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 can both mediate Ngo uptake into epithelial cells, and their intracellular domains play a crucial role in this process perhaps by mediating signal transduction or anchorage to the cytoskeleton

Tomographic filtering via the generalized inverse: a way to account for seismic data uncertainty

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