Competencies of Production in SMEs in Assembly Industries in a Digital, Volatile Business Environment

SMEs are currently confronted with major challenges such as increasing uncertainty and volatility. In order to face these challenges, agility and digitalization can be implemented. Both concepts bring about numerous opportunities and new competency requirements. Currently, there are few scientifically based, practical training courses that focus on digitization and/or agility. The aim of this paper is to provide a roadmap for the development of the training concept. In this training, participants will be able to acquire theoretical content on a learning platform in a flexible way and they will be able to apply this knowledge in a learning factory. Based on a literature overview, requirements for such a training and the necessary skills in a digital, volatile business environment will be given

WORKING COLLEGE STUDENTS: HOW WORK DEMANDS, PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS, AND HEALTH IMPACT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

As costs of higher education increase and the demand for postsecondary skills in the labor market rise, more students will seek employment. Previous research suggests the risks of work demands affecting academic performance and health can often outweigh the potential benefits of working while in school. The purpose of this study was to examine if work demands predict academic performance measures and health outcomes in employed college students. Also, this study investigated if psychosocial factors affected the relationships between work demands and academic performance and health outcomes. In addition, this study examined if themes could be derived in working students\u27 responses to statements about how employment factors interfere with their academics and how dual roles of an employee and student impact their health. The research examined if themes of employment factors interfering with academics could determine differences in academic performance in working students. Finally, it was observed if themes were present describing how dual roles impact students\u27 health related to academic performance. This study did not find support for work demands predicting academic performance but did find support for work demands predicting health outcomes. Perceived injustice had a significant mediating role in the relationship between job satisfaction and sleep quality. In addition, significant differences in academic performance among participants mentioning and not mentioning of work environment, impaired self-regulation, and vitality factors themes existed, and significant relationships of specific health impact themes and academic performance measures were found

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MEASURES RELATED TO POSTURAL CONTROL IN OLDER ADULTS

This study examined the biopsychosocial measure related to postural control in the growing population of older adults (i.e., 60 years and older). The sample of the study consisted of 129 older adults (M = 74.45, SD = 6.95), with 34 males and 95 females, and 36 classified with chronic low-back pain (CLBP) and 93 without chronic low-back pain (NCLBP). Physical and psychosocial constructs were analyzed as predictors for postural control measures. Also gender and classification of low-back pain were examined as moderators for all physical and psychosocial measures. Results supported that physical and psychosocial measures were able to significantly predict composite, visual, and vestibular balance measures, but not somatosensory or preference balance measures. The chair stand test, modified sit-and-reach test, sleep disturbance, and balance efficacy were all identified as individual significant predictors. Gender and CLBP did not moderate the utility of any predictor variables. Results of the current study support of utilizing the biopsychosocial approach for future research examining postural control in older adults

Cationic indium complexes halve H₂ partial pressure in CO₂ reductive coupling reactions with amines

Indium-catalysed homogeneous hydrogenations are limited to imine hydrogenation due to the low thermal and hydrolytic stability of In(C6F5)3, the only indium Lewis acid used thus far for hydrogenation chemistry. In this study, we present [In(terpy)Cl2]+ cations as Lewis acid catalysts. With an optimal vacant site for H2 activation and a hydride ion affinity of up to 579 kJ mol−1, [In(terpy)Cl2]+ effectively catalysed CO2 reductive coupling with amines under H2 (50 bar) and CO2 (4 bar) pressure, as structurally confirmed by XRD and NMR spectroscopy. By catalysing CO2 reductive coupling with amines at half the partial pressure of all other main-group catalytic systems with H2, cationic indium complexes set a new benchmark for such reactions. Therefore, this study not only expands the scope of indium-based catalysis beyond imine hydrogenation but also highlights the potential of ligand-supported indium Lewis acids as catalytic systems for small-molecule activatio

Mechanistic Study of the N-Formylation of Amines with Carbon Dioxide and Hydrosilanes

N-formylation of amines with CO2 and hydrosilane reducing agents proceeds via fast and complex chemical equilibria, which hinder easy analysis of the reaction pathways. In situ reaction monitoring and kinetic studies reveal that three proposed pathways, via direct- and amine assisted formoxysilane formation (pathways 1 and 2, respectively) and via a silylcarbamate intermediate (pathway 3), are possible depending on the reaction conditions and the substrates. While pathway 1 is favored for non-nucleophilic amines in the absence of a catalyst, a base catalyst results in noninnocent behavior of the amine in the CO2 reduction step toward the formoxysilane intermediate. The reaction pathway is altered by strongly nucleophilic amines, which form stable adducts with CO2. Silylcarbamate intermediates form, which can be directly reduced to the N-formylated products by excess hydrosilane. Nevertheless, without excess hydrosilane, the silylcarbamate is an additional intermediate en route to formoxysilanes along pathway 2. Exchange NMR spectroscopy (EXSY) revealed extensive substituent exchange around the hydrosilane silicon center, which confirms its activation during the reaction and supports the proposed reaction mechanisms. Numerous side reactions were also identified, which help to establish the reaction equilibria in the N-formylation reactions

Hexacoordinated tin complexes catalyse imine hydrogenation with H2

Impact Factor (IF) 2023 (2024 update): 4.3Fil: Žáková, Andrea. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Saha, Pritha. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Paparakis, Alexandros. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Zábranský, Martin. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Gastelu, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina.Fil: Gastelu, Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-Química Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Kukla, Jaroslav. University Prague. Faculty of Science Charles. Institute of Environmental Studies; Czech Republic.Fil: Uranga, Jorge G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: Uranga, Jorge G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-Química Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Hulla, Martin. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) hydrogenation catalysts predominantly use alkyl- and aryl-substituted Lewis acids (LA) that offer a limited number of combinations of substituents, limiting our ability to tune their properties and, ultimately, their reactivity. Nevertheless, main-group complexes have numerous ligands available for such purposes, which could enable us to broaden the range of FLP catalysis. Supporting this hypothesis, we demonstrate here that hexacoordinated tin complexes with Schiff base ligands catalyse imine hydrogenation via activation of H2(g). As shown by hydrogen–deuterium scrambling, [Sn(tBu2Salen)(OTf)2] activated H2(g) at 25 °C and 10 bar of H2. After tuning the ligands, we found that [Sn(Salen)Cl2] was the most efficient imine hydrogenation catalyst despite having the lowest activity in H2(g) activation. Moreover, various imines were hydrogenated in yields up to 98% thereby opening up opportunities for developing novel FLP hydrogenation catalysts based on hexacoordinated LA of main-group elements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionFil: Žáková, Andrea. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Saha, Pritha. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Paparakis, Alexandros. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Zábranský, Martin. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic.Fil: Gastelu, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina.Fil: Gastelu, Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-Química Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Kukla, Jaroslav. University Prague. Faculty of Science Charles. Institute of Environmental Studies; Czech Republic.Fil: Uranga, Jorge G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina.Fil: Uranga, Jorge G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-Química Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Hulla, Martin. University Prague. Faculty of Science. Charles Department of Inorganic Chemistry; Czech Republic

Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2 catalyzed by carbenes

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2 is a well-established reaction, whereas the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2 is considerably more challenging, and few efficient catalysts are available. Here, we describe heterocyclic carbene catalysts, including one derived from a cheap and efficient thiazolium salt, for this latter reaction. The reaction proceeds at atmospheric pressure in the presence of an alkyl halide and Cs2CO3. Reaction mechanisms for the transformations involved are also proposed