Manufacturing Execution Systems and Business Intelligence for Production Environments

In the domain of production, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are becoming increasingly popular. State of the art MES not only bring interfaces to a large variety of shop floor systems, they also come with functionality for data integration, data analysis, and dashboard generation – features commonly associated with Business Intelligence (BI) systems. At the same time, Data Warehouse (DHW) based BI infrastructures are increasingly extended to the support of operational managerial levels (Operational BI). This contribution sheds light on whether or not BI systems and MES are at odds and in how far they are complementary. To achieve this, two subsequent studies have been conducted: a case study based exploration and a quantitative online survey. The study results motivate an integration framework for MES and BI systems

Antidiabetic Bis-Maltolato-OxoVanadium(IV): Conversion of inactive trans- to bioactive cis-BMOV for possible binding to target PTP-1B

The postulated transition of Bis-Maltolato-OxoVanadium(IV) (BMOV) from its inactive trans- into its cis-aquo-BMOV isomeric form in solution was simulated by means of computational molecular modeling. The rotational barrier was calculated with DFT – B3LYP under a stepwise optimization protocol with STO-3G, 3-21G, 3-21G*, and 6-31G ab initio basis sets. Our computed results are consistent with reports on the putative molecular mechanism of BMOV triggering the insulin-like cellular response (insulin mimetic) as a potent inhibitor of the protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B). Initially, trans-BMOV is present in its solid dosage form but in aqueous solution, and during oral administration, it is readily converted into a mixture of “open-type” and “closed-type” complexes of cis-aquo-BMOV under equilibrium conditions. However, in the same measure as the “closed-type” complex binds to the cytosolic PTP-1B, it disappears from solution, and the equilibrium shifts towards the “closed-type” species. In full accordance, the computed binding mode of cis-BMOV is energetically favored over sterically hindered trans-BMOV. In view of our earlier report on prodrug hypothesis of vanadium organic compounds the present results suggest that cis-BMOV is the bioactive species

Novel 3D light microscopic analysis of IUGR placentas points to a morphological correlate of compensated ischemic placental disease in humans

The villous tree of the human placenta is a complex three-dimensional (3D) structure with branches and nodes at the feto-maternal border in the key area of gas and nutrient exchange. Recently we introduced a novel, computer-assisted 3D light microscopic method that enables 3D topological analysis of branching patterns of the human placental villous tree. In the present study we applied this novel method to the 3D architecture of peripheral villous trees of placentas from patients with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR placentas), a severe obstetric syndrome. We found that the mean branching angle of branches in terminal positions of the villous trees was significantly different statistically between IUGR placentas and clinically normal placentas. Furthermore, the mean tortuosity of branches of villous trees in directly preterminal positions was significantly different statistically between IUGR placentas and clinically normal placentas. We show that these differences can be interpreted as consequences of morphological adaptation of villous trees between IUGR placentas and clinically normal placentas, and may have important consequences for the understanding of the morphological correlates of the efficiency of the placental villous tree and their influence on fetal development

Ligand crowding at a nascent signal sequence

We have systematically analyzed the molecular environment of the signal sequence of a growing secretory protein from Escherichia coli using a stage- and site-specific cross-linking approach. Immediately after emerging from the ribosome, the signal sequence of pOmpA is accessible to Ffh, the protein component of the bacterial signal recognition particle, and to SecA, but it remains attached to the surface of the ribosome via protein L23. These contacts are lost upon further growth of the nascent chain, which brings the signal sequence into sole proximity to the chaperone Trigger factor (TF). In its absence, nascent pOmpA shows extended contacts with L23, and even long chains interact in these conditions proficiently with Ffh. Our results suggest that upon emergence from the ribosome, the signal sequence of an E. coli secretory protein gradually becomes sequestered by TF. Although TF thereby might control the accessibility of pOmpA's signal sequence to Ffh and SecA, it does not influence interaction of pOmpA with SecB

Informationsmanagement in der Produktion

Informationsbedarf bzw. Informationsbedarfsanalyse ist eines der grundlegendsten und vielschichtigsten Themen der Wirtschaftsin-formatik. Die Definition relevanter Informationen und deren Be-schaffenheit, d.h. die Definition der Informationsversorgung, bildet die Voraussetzung der Informationssystem (IS)-Entwicklung bzw. der Auswahl von Anwendungssystemen. Die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit hat das Ziel, die notwendige Infor-mationsversorgung im Produktionsbereich industrieller Unter-nehmen explorativ zu erheben, zu strukturieren und ein Konzept für die Informationsversorgung abzuleiten. Motiviert ist diese Arbeit dadurch, dass bislang keine befriedigenden empirischen Untersuchungen darüber vorliegen, welche Informationen in wel-cher Beschaffenheit von den Aufgabenträgern in der Produktion zur Erfüllung ihrer Aufgaben benötigt werden. Basierend auf dem Forschungsmodell der frühen Phase der gestaltungsorientierten Wirtschaftsinformatik wurden die Aufgaben, die Aufgabenträger sowie deren Informationsbedarf in der Produktion analysiert. In einer großzahligen (N = 329) empirischen Untersuchung wurden industrielle Unternehmen aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum zur Informationsversorgung und -nachfrage befragt. Auf dieser Basis wurde ein informationelles Schichtenmodell als Voraussetzung für die Entwicklung eines Informationsversorgungskonzepts für den Produktionsbereich abgeleitet

Novel 3D Microscopic Analysis of Human Placental Villous Trees Reveals Unexpected Significance of Branching Angles

The villous trees of human placentas delineate the fetomaternal border and are complex three-dimensional (3D) structures. Thus far, they have primarily been analyzed as thin, two-dimensional (2D) histological sections. However, 2D sections cannot provide access to key aspects such as branching nodes and branch order. Using samples taken from 50 normal human placentas at birth, in the present study we show that analysis procedures for 3D reconstruction of neuronal dendritic trees can also be used for analyzing trees of human placentas. Nodes and their branches (e.g., branching hierarchy, branching angles, diameters, and lengths of branches) can be efficiently measured in whole-mount preparations of isolated villous trees using high-end light microscopy. Such data differ qualitatively from the data obtainable from histological sections and go substantially beyond the morphological horizon of such histological data. Unexpectedly, branching angles of terminal branches of villous trees varied inversely with the fetoplacental weight ratio, a widely used clinical parameter. Since branching angles have never before been determined in the human placenta, this result requires further detailed studies in order to fully understand its impact

Predominant membrane localization is an essential feature of the bacterial signal recognition particle receptor

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The signal recognition particle (SRP) receptor plays a vital role in co-translational protein targeting, because it connects the soluble SRP-ribosome-nascent chain complex (SRP-RNCs) to the membrane bound Sec translocon. The eukaryotic SRP receptor (SR) is a heterodimeric protein complex, consisting of two unrelated GTPases. The SR<it>β </it>subunit is an integral membrane protein, which tethers the SRP-interacting SR<it>α </it>subunit permanently to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. The prokaryotic SR lacks the SR<it>β </it>subunit and consists of only the SR<it>α </it>homologue FtsY. Strikingly, although FtsY requires membrane contact for functionality, cell fractionation studies have localized FtsY predominantly to the cytosolic fraction of <it>Escherichia coli</it>. So far, the exact function of the soluble SR in <it>E. coli </it>is unknown, but it has been suggested that, in contrast to eukaryotes, the prokaryotic SR might bind SRP-RNCs already in the cytosol and only then initiates membrane targeting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the current study we have determined the contribution of soluble FtsY to co-translational targeting <it>in vitro </it>and have re-analysed the localization of FtsY <it>in vivo </it>by fluorescence microscopy. Our data show that FtsY can bind to SRP-ribosome nascent chains (RNCs) in the absence of membranes. However, these soluble FtsY-SRP-RNC complexes are not efficiently targeted to the membrane. In contrast, we observed effective targeting of SRP-RNCs to membrane-bond FtsY. These data show that soluble FtsY does not contribute significantly to cotranslational targeting in <it>E. coli</it>. In agreement with this observation, our <it>in vivo </it>analyses of FtsY localization in bacterial cells by fluorescence microscopy revealed that the vast majority of FtsY was localized to the inner membrane and that soluble FtsY constituted only a negligible species <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The exact function of the SRP receptor (SR) in bacteria has so far been enigmatic. Our data show that the bacterial SR is almost exclusively membrane-bound <it>in vivo</it>, indicating that the presence of a soluble SR is probably an artefact of cell fractionation. Thus, co-translational targeting in bacteria does not involve the formation of a soluble SR-signal recognition particle (SRP)-ribosome nascent chain (RNC) intermediate but requires membrane contact of FtsY for efficient SRP-RNC recruitment.</p

Visualizing fusion of pseudotyped HIV-1 particles in real time by live cell microscopy

RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are.Abstract Background Most retroviruses enter their host cells by fusing the viral envelope with the plasma membrane. Although the protein machinery promoting fusion has been characterized extensively, the dynamics of the process are largely unknown. Results We generated human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) particles pseudotyped with the envelope (Env) protein of ecotropic murine leukemia virus eMLV to study retrovirus entry at the plasma membrane using live-cell microscopy. This Env protein mediates highly efficient pH independent fusion at the cell surface and can be functionally tagged with a fluorescent protein. To detect fusion events, double labeled particles carrying one fluorophor in Env and the other in the matrix (MA) domain of Gag were generated and characterized. Fusion events were defined as loss of Env signal after virus-cell contact. Single particle tracking of >20,000 individual traces in two color channels recorded 28 events of color separation, where particles lost the Env protein, with the MA layer remaining stable at least for a short period. Fourty-five events were detected where both colors were lost simultaneously. Importantly, the first type of event was never observed when particles were pseudotyped with a non-fusogenic Env. Conclusion These results reveal rapid retroviral fusion at the plasma membrane and permit studies of the immediate post-fusion events.Published versio