Key Perfromance Indicators (KPI) for the implementation of lean methodologies in a manufacture-to-order small and medium enterprise

This paper presents a key performance indicator (KPI) concept for the implementation of Lean methodologies in a manufacture-to-order (MTO) small and medium enterprise (SME). Within a case study the concept is developed and improved. The purpose of the measurement system is to monitor the early Lean implementation process. The paper explores the current literature about Lean performance measurement and discusses the critical success factors of a Lean implementation. It is suggested to integrate the performance dimension “leadership” into a KPI concept. The KPI concept consists of five dimensions: leadership, quality, costs, time and people respectively organisation. Additionally the Lean metrics “Process Velocity” and “Value Velocity” are presented and adapted to the specific requirements of a MTO environment. The application of the KPI concept in the case study is discussed. The benefit of an early integration of an appropriate KPI system during a Lean implementation could be confirmed

The role of the CC chemokine CCL17 in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), inflammatory processes are critically involved by cells releasing neurotoxic or neurotrophic factors influencing survival of neurons and synapses, and thereby cognitive behavior. Several chemokines and their receptors have been shown to be upregulated in AD and play a crucial role in plaque deposition, microglia and astrocyte activation, and cognitive behavior in AD mouse models. Mice, expressing the human Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin-1 (PS1) and deficient for the endogenous CC chemokine CCL17 (APP/PS1-CCL17E/E mice) showed a WT-like learning and memory performance in Morris water maze together with reduced levels of soluble Abeta oligomers and Abeta42 peptides at 12-14 months of age, when cognitive deficits and plaque deposition are fully developed in normal APP/PS1. Surprisingly, APP/PS1-CCL17E/E mice exhibit equivalent reactive GFAP-positive astrocytes, but enhanced microgliosis. CD11b-positive microglial cells derive from CNS-resident microglia and from peripheral Ly6C(high) CCR2-positive monocytes / macrophages infiltrating the CNS of APP/PS1-CCL17E/E mice. Increased CCL22, but not CCL2 expression was found in the hippocampus of APP/PS1-CCL17E/E mice, suggesting a potential convergent recruitment mechanism of Ly6C(high) CCR2-positive CCR4-positive monocytes. For the first time, it could be demonstrated that microglia isolated from the CNS of APP/PS1 mice express CCL17. The cognate receptor CCR4 is expressed by neonatal microglia upon LPS stimulation, indicating a para- or autocrine signaling. As indicated by increased hippocampal IL-6 and IL-10 expression, APP/PS1-CCL17E/E mice showed an altered inflammatory response in the CNS. Furthermore, CCL17E/E microglia, but not macrophages, showed enhanced expression of IL-10 (in vitro) and MMR expression (in vivo). Phagocytosis assay of fluorescence-labeled Abeta1-42 peptide revealed an increased uptake by neonatal microglia, but not by BM-derived macrophages of CCL17E/E mice. The underlying mechanism possibly involves the recruitment of peripheral macrophages into the CNS, accompanied by a more anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic milieu. Furthermore, enhanced Abeta clearance is indicated by increased uptake and enhanced neprilysin expression level

Finite Element Modelling of Hot Extrusion of TI-6AL-4V Alloy

A finite element (FE) model is developed in this paper for simulating the direct extrusion process of Ti-6Al-4V alloy under isothermal condition. The model takes into account the heat generation due to plastic deformation of the billet as well as the frictional heat in the billet-tool interface. A series of simulations have been conducted to investigate the effect of key process parameters on stress and strain distribution, maximum ram speed and maximum pressure applied to the die. The FE model has been compared with a theoretical model and the results show good correlation in terms of predicting ram load. The developed FE model can be used for investigating direct extrusion and selecting appropriate die design parameters for the process

Making power, doing politics: The film industry and economic development in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Over the last decade creative industries, such as film and fashion, have become increasingly commonplace items on economic development agendas at urban, regional, and national scales. A sizeable academic literature has emerged to document this 'creative turn' in economic policy. The existing literature often locates the widespread adoption of creative industry policies within either a capitalist system that increasingly demands creativity if accumulation is to be secured or a series of powerful travelling policy discourses which impose themselves on local landscapes irrespective of fit. These explanations are, however, rarely substantiated empirically to show how, in very material ways, capitalism or travelling policy discourses make demands of a particular locality. In this thesis, Actor- Network Theory (ANT) is used to argue for a less 'determined' approach to the study of creative industries in economic development: the assumptions about macro phenomena structuring the local are put aside in order to tell the story of one situated case of creative industries-based economic development. The specific case that is examined is the film industry of Aotearoa/New Zealand. In the period from 1999 to 2005, the Aotearoa/New Zealand film industry went from being almost entirely absent from economic development policy to playing a central role. The thesis draws on extensive documentary analysis and 58 interviews to construct a description of the practices, devices, techniques, and knowledges that were deployed to constitute, shape, contest, and stabilise the role of the film industry within economic development. What emerges from this description is that contingency and opportunism, rather than capitalist demands or global travelling policy discourses, are key to explaining the prioritisation of the film industry. This suggests that ANT makes visible political processes that often remain hidden from view but are crucial to understanding the way that power is made and politics is done

Ausstiegsarbeit gegen Extremismus in NRW: eine vergleichende Analyse; Was können staatliche und zivilgesellschaftliche Ausstiegsprogramme gegen Islamismus, Rechtsextremismus und Linksextremismus voneinander lernen?

Ausstiegsprogramme unterscheiden sich je nach Trägerschaft oder Phänomenbereich in den Ansätzen, mit denen sie an ihre Arbeit herangehen. Das vorliegende BICC Working Paper entwickelt einen Analyserahmen zum Vergleich der unterschiedlichen Programme, der sowohl auf einer umfangreichen Literaturauswertung als auch auf Interviews mit Praktikerinnen und Praktikern basiert. Er berücksichtigt dabei die angewandte Methodik, die jeweilige Risikoeinschätzung sowie die Dimensionen, Erfolgskriterien und Ziele der Arbeit. Die Studie wendet den Analyserahmen auf alle sieben Ausstiegsprogramme (drei staatliche und vier zivilgesellschaftliche) in Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) an, über die das bevölkerungsreichste Bundesland verfügt. Drei Programme beschäftigen sich mit dem Islamismus, drei mit dem Rechtsextremismus und eines mit Linksextremismus sowie auslandsbezogenem Extremismus. Das Paper untersucht die wichtigsten Unterschiede in der Herangehensweise einerseits zwischen staatlichen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Programmen sowie andererseits zwischen solchen gegen Islamismus und gegen Rechtsextremismus. Daraus entwickelt es Empfehlungen, an welchen Stellen die Programme von den Erfahrungen der anderen lernen können

Von Deutschland nach Istanbul und doch mit beiden verbunden: Integrationserfahrungen und Migrationsmotive von Deutschländern

This dissertation is concerned with persons who grew up in Germany with Turkish parents, but later migrated to Istanbul. The study, based on interviews analysed using qualitative content analysis, investigates their integration experiences in Germany before the migration and in Turkey afterwards, as well as the motives behind their decision to migrate. For each of these aspects, the structural, social, cultural and identificational dimensions are examined, plus experiences of discrimination. While displaying a high degree of integration into German mainstream society in the other dimensions, the interviewees were often unable to achieve a positive social identity due to the stigmatization of their Turkish parts. In Istanbul, on the other hand, they are able to live out both the German and Turkish aspects of their culture and identity. The intervieweesa tendency towards individualization, biculturality and agency forms the basis of their motivation to move to Turkey. This migration is not an indication of failed integration in Germany, but rather it is the result of a very high degree of integration that led to expectations that Germany was unable to fulfill

Ambivalentní reprezentace genetických variant ve formátu VCF

The variant call format (VCF) is a file format used to represent and store information about DNA variation. Genetic variants in VCF can be represented in multiple ways because the VCF specification allows for ambiguity, which can arise because of different variant calling pipelines or differences in sequence alignment. Ambiguities interfere with the comparison of VCF files and the variants therein, leading to complications in further analysis of variants. This thesis explores the differences in the representation of genetic variants that can occur, as well as their causes and impacts on further analysis. Furthermore, the normalization of VCF files is addressed and an algorithm for the atomization and deatomization of VCF files is shown. Keywords: VCF, variant call format, ambiguous variant representation, variant comparison, variant atomization, variant deatomizationVariant call format (VCF) je formát souborů používaný k reprezentaci a ukládání informací o variantách. Genetické varianty ve VCF mohou být reprezentovány více způsobů, protože specifikace VCF umožňuje nejednoznačnost, která může nastat kvůli různým variant call pipelinům nebo rozdílům v alignmentech sekvencí. Nejednoznačnosti narušují srovnávání souborů ve VCF a jejich variant, což vede ke komplikacím při další analýze variant. Tato práce zkoumá rozdíly v reprezentaci genetických variant, které se mohou vyskytnout, a také jejich pravděpodobné příčiny a dopady na další analýzu. Dále je zkoumána normalizace souborů VCF a je uveden algoritmus pro atomizaci a deatomizaci souborů VCF. Klíčová slova: VCF, variant call format, ambivalentní reprezentace variant, srovnání variantů, atomizace variantů, deatomizace variantůDepartment of Cell BiologyKatedra buněčné biologiePřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc

Start-Up Financing in the Digital Age – A Systematic Review and Comparison of New Forms of Financing

Start-ups are seen as the leading force in dynamically growing economies. Limited financing opportunities often prevent entrepreneurs from realizing their innovative business ideas or taking growth opportunities. However, in the context of the technological revolution, a fundamental change in the entrepreneurial finance landscape is observed. Innovative, digital financial instruments such as Business Angel Networks, Crowdfunding, or Initial Coin Offerings provide young companies with attractive financing opportunities. Although a large number of studies focus on start-up financing in the digital age, the literature is still fragmented. By providing a systemic literature review of 85 high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles published between 1990 and 2019, we address the following purposes: First, we outline a holistic picture on the financing spectrum of start-ups in the digital age. Therefore, we classify the articles into two categories as traditional or novel financing instruments. Subsequently, we associate the different financing instruments into the various growth stages of start-ups and define them as equity or debt. Second, we evaluate the suitability of novel financing instruments based on the trade-off and pecking order theory. Third, we investigate whether new forms of financing are substitutes or complements to traditional financing forms. Furthermore, ideas for further research are suggested

Understanding mid-career music teacher andragogy: a case study of content-focused professional development experiences

All teachers, regardless of where they are in their career, should be valued and deserve relevant, applicable, and inspiring professional development both for the sake of their classrooms and their continued adult learning. To avoid the attitude of “I feel like I got this,” one may suggest that schools providing music content-focused and scaffolded professional development may sustain a feeling of meaningful work for mid-career music teachers. Music teachers at this career stage may be at risk of becoming stagnant in their careers, or perhaps may be overly confident due to the lack of comparison and isolation from other music colleagues. This study is motivated by two purposes: (a) to investigate how andragogy shapes a group of mid-career music teachers’ professional growth by way of content-focused PD, and (b) to examine reflection practices of a group of mid-career music teachers in terms of identifying the possible benefits and barriers of content-focused PD experiences. To address this purpose, I engaged in interviews with five mid-career music teachers. The findings concluded that mid-career teachers’ content-focused professional development was limited to one or two annual state conferences. Participants deemed these professional development sessions as repetitive and over-generalized. Administration rarely, if ever, provided content-focused professional development in their schools, particularly for music teachers. Teachers felt if they were consulted more about specific needs, their time spent with professional development would be much more effective. Furthermore, teachers expressed a desire to network with other music colleagues, but encountered barriers with the time and cost associated with content-focused professional development. Finally, these teachers felt that much of what they do with music outside of the classroom could be considered a form of content-focused professional development and believe credit is deserved. Further research is needed in this area to tend to the needs of experienced teachers for their andragogical growth. Administrators who have control over professional development standards might consider these ideas for the sake of retaining excellent teachers

Comparison of different solutions for blocking diode applications in a photovoltaic panel under varying ambient conditions

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