Competencies of firms, external knowledge sourcing and types of innovation in regions of Europe

Many innovation studies have been focusing on a narrow concept of innovation such as the generation of patents or new products. The performance of companies, however, often depends on innovation defined from a broader perspective. This includes process, organisational and market innovations as was pointed out already by Schumpeter. Drawing on the concept of knowledge bases and innovation networks we argue that these different types of innovation require both internal competencies, and technological and market knowledge from various kinds of external sources. These can be located at regional, national and international levels. In the present paper we are going to analyse evidence from eight European countries in this respect. Based on a multivariate model we are able to show that product, process and organisational innovations indeed rely on quite different types and sources of knowledge, and that in addition also the institutional characteristics of regions and countries matter.

Cellular cholesterol and how to find it

Cholesterol is an essential component of eukaryotic cellular membranes. Information about its subcellular localization and transport pathways inside cells are key for the understanding and treatment of cholesterol-related diseases. In this review we give an overview over the most commonly used methods that contributed to our current understanding of subcellular cholesterol localization and transport routes. First, we discuss methods that provide insights into cholesterol metabolism based on readouts of downstream effects such as esterification. Subsequently, we focus on the use of cholesterol-binding molecules as probes that facilitate visualization and quantification of sterols inside of cells. Finally, we explore different analogues of cholesterol which, when taken up by living cells, are integrated and transported in a similar fashion as endogenous sterols. Taken together, we highlight the challenges and advantages of each method such that researchers studying aspects of cholesterol transport may choose the most pertinent approach for their problem

Barrierefreiheit von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien für Menschen mit Behinderungen

Die Gesetzesgrundlage fordert Barrierefreiheit für jeden Menschen, speziell für Personen mit Behinderungen. Die Rechte von Menschen mit Behinderungen werden national im österreichischen Bundesbehindertengleichstellungsgesetz (vgl. österreichisches Bundesbehindertengleichstellungsgesetz, 2012) geregelt sowie international in der UNKonvention (vgl. Übereinkommen über die Rechte von Menschen mit Behinderungen, o. J.) festgehalten. Im universitären Rahmen existiert im österreichischen Universitätsgesetz ein Leitsatz, welcher die nationalen Hochschulen dazu verpflichtet, Studierende mit Behinderungen speziell zu berücksichtigen (vgl. Österreichisches Universitätsgesetz, 2012, Paragraph 2 Ziffer 11). Ausgehend von der internationalen, österreichischen sowie universitären Rechtslage soll das Thema der Barrierefreiheit an der Universität Wien problematisiert und untersucht werden. Bezüglich der Untersuchung der Barrierefreiheit wird in dieser Masterarbeit der Fokus auf Barrierefreiheit von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien gelegt. Dieses Hauptaugenmerk basiert auf der Entwicklung der Gesellschaft von einer Industrie- zu einer Informations-/ Wissensgesellschaft bei der die Komponente Information immer mehr an Relevanz gewinnt. Die Ablösung der Industrie durch das Wissen hat nicht nur Auswirkung auf die Gesellschaft, sondern auch auf die Bildung. Dabei sind die Bedingungen, Methoden, sowie Inhalte von und Anforderungen an Bildung betroffen. (vgl. Pfeffer-Hoffman, 2007) Somit stellt das Aufkommen der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnolo91 gien in Zusammenhang mit dem Gesellschaftswandel einen ausschlaggebenden Faktor für die Bildung dar. Ausgehend vom Gesellschaftswandel und dessen Bedingungen für den Bildungssektor wird die Barrierefreiheit der Website der Universität Wien als Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie für Studenten, zukünftige Studierende, Wissenschaftlern sowie für jeden Menschen, der Informationen über die Universität Wien sucht und durch Behinderungen bei der Nutzung eingeschränkt ist, untersucht. Die Untersuchung überprüft, ob Barrieren bei der Nutzung der von der Universität Wien eingesetzten Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien existieren. Dabei wird die Untersuchung der Barrierefreiheit auf die Website der Universität Wien und auf eine Evaluierung dieser beschränkt. Die Überprüfung der Barrierefreiheit im speziellen die Bewertung der Website geschieht mit der Absicht, die Universität Wien hinsichtlich des gesetzlichen Leitsatzes, dass sie sich dazu verpflichtet Studierende mit Behinderungen besonders zu berücksichtigen, zu beurteilen. Infolge dessen wird bewertet, ob die Universität Wien Nutzer mit Behinderungen an der Teilhabe der Kommunikationsgemeinschaft und der Beschaffung von Informationen hindert oder unterstützt. Die Bewertung also Evaluierung der Barrierefreiheit der Website der Universität Wien wird anhand von Accessibility-Richtlinien durchgeführt. Werden diese Richtlinien bei der Erstellung einer Website berücksichtigt wird dadurch die Barrierefreiheit und Zugänglichkeit gefördert. Diesbezüglich werden im ersten Schritt Kriterien mittels der Accessibility-Richtlinien formuliert. Im zweiten Schritt wird ein Kriterienkatalog erstellt, mit welchem die Evaluierung vorgenommen wird. Das Ergebnis der Evaluation stellt der ausgewertete Kriterienkatalog dar, anhand dessen die Barrierefreiheit des Webauftritts der Universität Wien beurteilt wird

The roles of sphingosine in calcium signaling and Niemann-Pick disease type C

Although several lipids have been shown to participate in intracellular signal transduction events and to influence central cellular processes, the bioactive actions of most lipids remain unexplored. This lack of knowledge is mainly due to a shortage of tools to manipulate lipid levels within living cells in a non-invasive way and to identify new protein interactors of single lipid species. This work presents the development of two methods to overcome these drawbacks applied to sphingosine (Sph). The origin of calcium signaling properties of Sph and its involvement in the pathophysiological development of the lysosomal storage disease Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) are reported. First, ‘caged’ variants of sphingosine were synthesized which enable the precise elevation of Sph levels in single living cells within seconds using light. This acute increase in Sph concentration led to an immediate release of lysosomal calcium through the actions of the two-pore channel 1 (TPC1). In cells derived from NPC patients, an accumulation of Sph in the endolysosomal compartments was visualized for the first time. Additionally, NPC cells exhibited reduced calcium signals upon Sph uncaging, indicating that Sph accumulation is upstream of a calcium defect in this disease. Sph-induced calcium release also initiated the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB, which positively regulates the expression of autophagic and lysosomal biogenesis genes, further underlining the importance of lysosomal calcium release in direct lysosome-to-nucleus signaling pathways. In order to capture Sph-interacting proteins, a trifunctional Sph (TFS) was developed. TFS facilitates the release and immediate crosslinking of Sph to its interacting partners within the living cell. Mass-spectrometric analyses identified known Sph-binding proteins such as the ceramide synthase, as well as novel putative Sph-interactors. The general applicability of this method was proven by using trifunctional diacylglycerol as well as a trifunctional fatty acid. TFS was further employed in investigations of the subcellular localization and transport of Sph through the cell. NPC patient fibroblasts showed a striking accumulation of Sph in late endosomes and lysosomes. Sph transport out of these vesicles was severely hindered in the NPC condition. The kinetics of Sph efflux correlated with the severity of symptoms in different NPC patients, so this assay could potentially be used for monitoring and prognosis of NPC disease severity

Factors for the Emergence and Growth of Environmental Technology Industries in Upper Austria

Environmental technologies are considered a growing industry driven by urging climate, energy and waste problems and related regulations, among others. However, not all locations have the same preconditions for its emergence and growth. Based on regional economic, geographic and cluster theories it can be argued that particular factor and demand conditions, regional industry structures and institutional configurations play a role, but so far this has not been sufficiently explored. This paper focuses on the region of Upper Austria [Oberösterreich] that has a highly developed environmental technology industry. The sector has evolved since the beginning of the 1970s with roots in engineering, machinery, and instruments firms and has experienced fast growth and transformation. The paper explores the development of this sector in Upper Austria and the factors and conditions affecting it. Characteristics and performance of the regional industry are compared to the national level. Empirical findings are based on national survey data covering the period 1993 to 2007, exploratory interviews with local industry experts and stakeholders and recent materials. Findings suggest that the region is one of the dominant locations for environmental technologies in Austria in terms of number of firms and employees and that it has been characterised by high growth and expanding export markets. The sector seems to benefit from pre-existing industries and engineering competences and is supported by two cluster initiatives in the region. (authors' abstract

The impact of the AO foundation on fracture care : an evaluation of 60 years AO foundation

Objectives Sixty years ago, the Association of Osteosynthesis (AO) was founded with the aim to improve fracture treatment and has since grown into one of the largest medical associations worldwide. Aim of this study was to evaluate AO's impact on science, education, patient care and the MedTech business. Design/methods Impact evaluations were conducted as appropriate for the individual domains: Impact on science was measured by analyzing citation frequencies of publications promoted by AO. Impact on education was evaluated by analyzing the evolution of number and location of AO courses. Impact on patient care was evaluated with a health economic model analyzing cost changes and years of life gained through the introduction of osteosynthesis in 17 high-income countries (HICs). Impact on MedTech business was evaluated by analyzing sales data of AO-associated products. Results Thirty-five AO papers and 2 major AO textbooks are cited at remarkable frequencies in high ranking journals with up to 2000 citations/year. The number of AO courses steadily increased with a total of 645'000 participants, 20‘000 teaching days and 2‘500 volunteer faculty members so far. The introduction of osteosynthesis saved at least 925 billion Swiss Francs [CHF] in the 17 HICs analyzed and had an impact on avoiding premature deaths comparable to the use of antihypertensive drugs. AO-associated products generated sales of 55 billion CHF. Conclusion AO's impact on science, education, patient care, and the MedTech business was significant because AO addressed hitherto unmet needs by combining activities that mutually enriched and reinforced each other