Fundamentalentscheidungen bei unvollkommener Information: UMTS-Lizenzen ersteigern oder verweigern, �bernehmen oder �bernommen werden, Rentenwende oder -ende, Glaube oder Unglaube?

Unter Fundamentalentscheidungen verstehen wir Entscheidungen bzw. Entscheidungssituationen von existenzieller Wichtigkeit. Dabei stehen wenige grundlegende Handlungsalternativen zur Wahl, die sich jedoch erheblich in ihren Wirkungen unterscheiden. Es handelt sich im Unternehmensbereich um strategische Fragestellungen z.B. im Zusammenhang mit Mergers & Acquisitions, innerhalb eines Staates z.B. um die Frage nach der Gestaltung der Sozialversicherungssysteme oder die Entscheidung ber den Beitritt zur Eurozone und im pers�nlichen Bereich z.B. um die Berufs- und Partnerwahl oder um Glaubensentscheidungen. Bei derartigen Entscheidungen besteht in der Regel ein besonders krasses Missverh�ltnis zwischen der Bedeutung der Entscheidung und dem verfgbaren Informationsstand. W�hrend eine solche Entscheidung gro�e Auswirkungen auf den Unternehmenserfolg, die Stabilit�t einer Gesellschaft oder das Lebensgl�ck besitzt, sind die zur Beurteilung der m�glichen Handlungsalternativen vorliegenden Informationen zumeist in hohem Ma� unsicher, unvollst�ndig und ungenau, d.h. hochgradig unvollkommen. Wir untersuchen und diskutieren grunds�tzliche Entscheidungsans�tze zur Bewertung von Alternativen unter den genannten Bedingungen. Dabei betrachten wir sowohl die in der entscheidungstheoretischen Literatur vorgeschlagenen Konzepte f�r die idealisierten Informationsst�nde "Ungewissheit" und "Risiko" als auch Ans�tze f�r den allgemeineren und realistischeren Fall der unvollkommenen Information. Anschlie�end geben wir mit der Pascalschen Wette ein Beispiel f�r eine klassische Fundamentalentscheidung bei unvollkommener Information. Es handelt sich hierbei um die existenzielle Frage, ob ein Mensch an Gott glauben soll oder nicht, wenn er Unsicherheit sowohl ber die Existenz Gottes als auch die Konsequenzen des Glaubens bzw. Nichtglaubens besitzt. F�r dieses Entscheidungsproblem stellte der ber�hmte Mathematiker und Philosoph Blaise Pascal erste entscheidungstheoretische �berlegungen an, anhand derer man die Problematik von Fundamentalentscheidungen gut erkennen kann. Schlie�lich zeigen wir anhand der Versteigerung von UMTS-Lizenzen, anhand von Megafusionen und der Rentenreform, dass die Pascalsche Wette als ein Grundmodell typischer Fundamentalentscheidungen angesehen werden kann.Entscheidungstheorie, Unsicherheit, Unvollkommene Information, Strategische Entscheidung, Fundamentalentscheidung, Alternativenbewertung, Pascalsche Wette

Der Patentlebenszyklus: Methodische L�sungsans�tze der externen Technologieanalyse

Die Technologielebenszyklusanalyse stellt ein geeignetes Instrument f�r die Absch�tzung der Chancen und Risiken innerhalb eines Technologiefeldes und die Ermittlung der Technologieattraktivit�t dar. Durch die Operationalisierung des Technologielebenszyklus als Anzahl der Patentanmeldungen oder Patenterteilungen ber der Zeit kann das Instrumentarium patentstatistischer Analysen eine verl�ssliche Grundlage f�r die externe Technologieanalyse bilden. Die zentrale Problemstellung in der Analysepraxis ist die Abgrenzung des Technologiefeldes, die die Anwendbarkeit der Patentlebenszyklusanalyse bisher einschr�nkt. Der vorliegende Beitrag verdeutlicht am Beispiel des Herzschrittmachers, wie die Abgrenzungsprobleme des Technologiefeldes und der Lebenszyklusphasen gel�st werden k�nnen. Summary: The technology life cycle analysis is an ideal method for estimating the opportunities and threats within a technology field and for determining the attractiveness of a technology. By defining the technology life cycle as the number of patent applications or patents granted over time, the patent analysis tool provides a reliable basis for the external technology forecasting. The main issue in practical analyses is the isolation of the technology field, which limits the way in which patent life cycle analysis can be applied. By discussing the example of the cardiac pacemaker, this paper explains the manner in which a technology field can be isolated and in which the life cycle phases can be identified.Technologielebenszyklus, Patentlebenszyklus, Technologielebenszyklusanalyse, Patentlebenszyklusanalyse, Technologiefeldabgrenzung, Patentanmeldungen, Patenterteilungen

Borrelia valaisiana resist complement-mediated killing independently of the recruitment of immune regulators and inactivation of complement components

Spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato complex differ in their resistance to complement-mediated killing, particularly in regard to human serum. In the present study, we elucidate the serum and complement susceptibility of B. valaisiana, a genospecies with the potential to cause Lyme disease in Europe as well as in Asia. Among the investigated isolates, growth of ZWU3 Ny3 was not affected while growth of VS116 and Bv9 was strongly inhibited in the presence of 50% human serum. Analyzing complement activation, complement components C3, C4 and C6 were deposited on the surface of isolates VS116 and Bv9, and similarly the membrane attack complex was formed on their surface. In contrast, no surface-deposited components and no aberrations in cell morphology were detected for serum-resistant ZWU3 Ny3. While further investigating the protective role of bound complement regulators in mediating complement resistance, we discovered that none of the B. valaisiana isolates analyzed bound complement regulators Factor H, Factor H-like protein 1, C4b binding protein or C1 esterase inhibitor. In addition, B. valaisiana also lacked intrinsic proteolytic activity to degrade complement components C3, C3b, C4, C4b, and C5. Taken together, these findings suggest that certain B. valaisiana isolates differ in their capability to resist complement-mediating killing by human serum. The molecular mechanism utilized by B. valaisiana to inhibit bacteriolysis appears not to involve binding of the key host complement regulators of the alternative, classical, and lectin pathways as already known for serum-resistant Lyme disease or relapsing fever borreliae

Complement Factor H-Related Proteins CFHR2 and CFHR5 Represent Novel Ligands for the Infection-Associated CRASP Proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi

Background: One virulence property of Borrelia burgdorferi is its resistance to innate immunity, in particular to complement-mediated killing. Serum-resistant B. burgdorferi express up to five distinct complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins (CRASP) which interact with complement regulator factor H (CFH) and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL1) or factor H-related protein 1 (CFHR1). In the present study we elucidate the role of the infection-associated CRASP-3 and CRASP-5 protein to serve as ligands for additional complement regulatory proteins as well as for complement resistance of B. burgdorferi. Methodology/Principal Findings: To elucidate whether CRASP-5 and CRASP-3 interact with various human proteins, both borrelial proteins were immobilized on magnetic beads. Following incubation with human serum, bound proteins were eluted and separated by Glycine-SDS-PAGE. In addition to CFH and CFHR1, complement regulators CFHR2 and CFHR5 were identified as novel ligands for both borrelial proteins by employing MALDI-TOF. To further assess the contributions of CRASP-3 and CRASP-5 to complement resistance, a serum-sensitive B. garinii strain G1 which lacks all CFH-binding proteins was used as a valuable model for functional analyses. Both CRASPs expressed on the B. garinii outer surface bound CFH as well as CFHR1 and CFHR2 in ELISA. In contrast, live B. garinii bound CFHR1, CFHR2, and CFHR5 and only miniscute amounts of CFH as demonstrated by serum adsorption assays and FACS analyses. Further functional analysis revealed that upon NHS incubation, CRASP-3 or CRASP-5 expressing borreliae were killed by complement. Conclusions/Significance: In the absence of CFH and the presence of CFHR1, CFHR2 and CFHR5, assembly and integration of the membrane attack complex was not efficiently inhibited indicating that CFH in co-operation with CFHR1, CFHR2 and CFHR5 supports complement evasion of B. burgdorferi

Conserved genes and pathways in primary human fibroblast strains undergoing replicative and radiation induced senescence

Additional file 3: Figure S3. Regulation of genes of Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy pathway during senescence induction in HFF strains Genes of the “Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy” pathway which are significantly up- (green) and down- (red) regulated (log2 fold change >1) during irradiation induced senescence (120 h after 20 Gy irradiation) in HFF strains. Orange color signifies genes which are commonly up-regulated during both, irradiation induced and replicative senescence

Colorectal cancer incidences in Lynch syndrome: a comparison of results from the prospective lynch syndrome database and the international mismatch repair consortium

Objective To compare colorectal cancer (CRC) incidences in carriers of pathogenic variants of the MMR genes in the PLSD and IMRC cohorts, of which only the former included mandatory colonoscopy surveillance for all participants. Methods CRC incidences were calculated in an intervention group comprising a cohort of confirmed carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in mismatch repair genes (path_MMR) followed prospectively by the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database (PLSD). All had colonoscopy surveillance, with polypectomy when polyps were identified. Comparison was made with a retrospective cohort reported by the International Mismatch Repair Consortium (IMRC). This comprised confirmed and inferred path_MMR carriers who were first- or second-degree relatives of Lynch syndrome probands. Results In the PLSD, 8,153 subjects had follow-up colonoscopy surveillance for a total of 67,604 years and 578 carriers had CRC diagnosed. Average cumulative incidences of CRC in path_MLH1 carriers at 70 years of age were 52% in males and 41% in females; for path_MSH2 50% and 39%; for path_MSH6 13% and 17% and for path_PMS2 11% and 8%. In contrast, in the IMRC cohort, corresponding cumulative incidences were 40% and 27%; 34% and 23%; 16% and 8% and 7% and 6%. Comparing just the European carriers in the two series gave similar findings. Numbers in the PLSD series did not allow comparisons of carriers from other continents separately. Cumulative incidences at 25 years were < 1% in all retrospective groups. Conclusions Prospectively observed CRC incidences (PLSD) in path_MLH1 and path_MSH2 carriers undergoing colonoscopy surveillance and polypectomy were higher than in the retrospective (IMRC) series, and were not reduced in path_MSH6 carriers. These findings were the opposite to those expected. CRC point incidence before 50 years of age was reduced in path_PMS2 carriers subjected to colonoscopy, but not significantly so

Mobility in a Globalised World 2016

The term mobility has different meanings in the following science disciplines. In economics, mobility is the ability of an individual or a group to improve their economic status in relation to income and wealth within their lifetime or between generations. In information systems and computer science, mobility is used for the concept of mobile computing, in which a computer is transported by a person during normal use. Logistics creates by the design of logistics networks the infrastructure for the mobility of people and goods. Electric mobility is one of today’s solutions from engineering perspective to reduce the need of energy resources and environmental impact. Moreover, for urban planning, mobility is the crunch question about how to optimise the different needs for mobility and how to link different transportation systems. In this publication we collected the ideas of practitioners, researchers, and government officials regarding the different modes of mobility in a globalised world, focusing on both domestic and international issues

Impactos da adoção de atividades de responsabilidade social corporativa na estrutura organizacional: estudo das multinacionais alemãs no Brasil

This study is based on the following questions: what are the impacts of adopting CSR activities in a companyorganizational structure, as well as the decision making process in an international context, especially in Braziliancompanies with German capital? This survey was conducted on 76 German companies, operating in the transformationindustry in Brazil. Therefore the research was a descriptive theoretical-empirical study with a qualitative andquantitative approach to characterize the impacts of the adoption of CSR practices in the organizational structure ofcompanies. However, it presents quantitative data collection and analysis tools in order to map the largest possiblenumber of companies for the study, ensuring the standardization of responses and facilitating the understanding of CSRinsertion process in Brazil. It was also observed that in the coordination of CSR activities, the companies participatingin this study were in an embryonic stage of inserting CSR in their structures. Concerning the system of decision making,the Brazilian subsidiaries of German multinationals are considered as ‘active agents’ of CSR management in their localcontext. It is important to mention that CSR is relevant to these companies according to the profile of the CSR activitiesmanager and his or her position in the organizational structure. Therefore, this present study contributes to thediscussion of CSR as part of company strategy and not as specific and isolated actions that could be simply used aspromotional actions.Este estudo parte das seguintes questões: quais são os impactos da adoção de atividades de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa – RSC na estrutura organizacional das empresas, bem como o processo de tomada de decisão no contexto internacional, em especial as empresas brasileiras com capital alemão? Esse levantamento foi realizado com 76 empresas alemãs, da indústria de transformação, que atuam no Brasil, portanto, o presente estudo consiste numa pesquisa descritiva de natureza teórica-empírica, com abordagem quali-quantitativo de cunho descritivo, pois a motivação do estudo foi a de caracterizar os impactos da adoção das práticas de RSC na estrutura organizacional das empresas. No entanto, utiliza-se ferramentas de coleta e análise de dados quantitativas de modo a mapear o maior número possível de empresas para o estudo, garantindo a padronização das respostas e facilitando a compreensão do processo de inserção da RSC no Brasil. Observou-se que na coordenação das atividades de RSC, as empresas pesquisadas encontram-se em um estágio embrionário de inserção da RSC em suas estruturas. Concernente ao sistema de tomada de decisão considera-se as filiais brasileiras de multinacionais alemãs como ‘agentes ativas’ da gestão de RSC nos seus contextos locais. Destaca-se ainda, o fato da RSC ser relevante nas empresas pesquisadas face ao perfil dos responsáveis pelas atividades/programas de RSC e suas respectivas posições na estrutura organizacional. Dessa forma, a presente pesquisa contribui para a discussão da RSC como parte da estratégia da empresa e não mais como ações pontuais e isoladas utilizadas para ancorar ações de cunho propagandista