Escape from Winchester Mansion – Toward a Set of Design Principles to Master Complexity in IT Architectures

Although the management of complexity is a central task of CIOs and IT architects, in-depth examinations and the development of design theory in this area is, to the best of our knowledge, underrepresented in existing IS literature. Especially theory-based guidelines and information systems for the management of IT architecture complexity are missing. In a joint team of practitioners and researchers, we applied the action design research (ADR) method in order to tackle this class of problems, i.e., IT architecture complexity management. We derived a set of seven design principles (that guide the design of an information system that supports IT architects to manage IT architecture complexity), which we evaluated and enriched during multiple ‘building, intervention and evaluation’ cycles, according to ADR. In addition, we simultaneously implemented and evaluated a material artifact (i.e., a piece of software) for IT architecture complexity management

Lymphocyte counts in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis

How lymphocyte counts relate to treatment-response in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is controversial, and data on short-term variability of lymphocyte counts are lacking. Retrospective single center evaluation of disease activity and lymphocyte counts in patients with AAV, and of lymphocyte counts in kidney transplant-recipients, were done; both at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. Twenty-three patients with AAV were included. Remission was achieved in all patients. Ten patients experienced a relapse after a median of 66weeks (range 15-189weeks). Median lymphocyte counts at diagnosis were significantly higher than at remission (1.38×109/L vs. 0.99×109/L; P=0.007). By contrast, median lymphocyte counts at remission and relapse did not differ significantly. However, intra-individual variability of lymphocyte counts early after diagnosis was high [median lymphocyte variability-range during the first 3weeks of treatment 1.57 (range 0.27-3.95), n=17]. This variability was not specific to patients with AAV, but was also observed in patients after kidney transplantation [variability of 1.76 (range 0.74-3.95, n=31)]. The significantly higher median lymphocyte counts at diagnosis of AAV make lymphocyte counts a valuable surrogate for the treatment-efficiency in clinical studies. By contrast, on a patient-level, variability of lymphocyte counts impedes meaningful interpretation of individual measurement

Meson-meson correlations in baryon-baryon and antibaryon-baryon interactions

Recent work of the J\"ulich group about the role of meson-meson correlations in baryon-baryon and antibaryon-baryon interactions is reviewed.Comment: Lecture given at the Erice School 1995, TEX, 10 pages, 15 figure

Die Strukturkrise der 1970er Jahre in Südwestdeutschland in der Unterhaltungselektronikbranche und in der Uhrenindustrie

Die in der Stadt Villingen-Schwenningen ansässigen ehemaligen Familienunternehmen SABA und Kienzle, die bis in die 1960er Jahre sehr erfolgreich im Unterhaltungselektronik- bzw. Uhrensektor tätig waren, hatten beide in den 1970er Jahren mit dem Strukturwandel zu kämpfen. Insbesondere die ab den 1960er Jahren zunehmend auf den Weltmarkt eintretende Konkurrenz aus Japan und Hong Kong mit ihren viel günstigeren Produkten sowie eine weltweite Überproduktion lösten in beiden Unternehmen eine Krise aus. Nachdem die Familienunternehmen in international tätige Konzerne eingegliedert wurden, mussten lokale Bedürfnisse häufig hinter globalen Ansprüchen zurückstecken. Trotz teilweise drastischer Maßnahmen und anfänglicher Erfolge kamen die Unternehmen aus den roten Zahlen nicht mehr heraus und verschwanden schließlich ganz vom Markt. Vor Ort verblieben zahlreiche Arbeitslose, die neben dem Verlust ihres Berufes auch häufig eine Identitätskrise überwinden mussten. An zwei Fallbeispielen sollen die Probleme der einzelnen Unternehmen bzw. der ihnen zugehörigen Branchen erörtert und in einem letzten Schritt deren Entwicklung miteinander verglichen werden

Late-onset systemic sclerosis—a systematic survey of the EULAR scleroderma trials and research group database

Objective. The clinical course of SSc depends on subtype, organ involvement and age. Few data are reported on patients suffering from late-onset SSc. Methods. We analysed data from 8554 patients prospectively followed in the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) group database. Late-onset SSc was defined as onset of non-RP disease features at or beyond 75 years of age. Disease characteristics, clinical features, disease course and mortality were evaluated. Results. A total of 123 patients with SSc onset at or beyond 75 years of age were identified. Compared with patients <75 years they had more frequently limited than diffuse SSc and a higher prevalence of anti-centromere autoantibodies. Fewer old patients had digital ulcers. The modified Rodnan's skin score, the prevalence of lung fibrosis and renal crisis did not differ significantly between groups. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) measured by echocardiography was more prevalent in the late-onset group, as well as arterial hypertension and diastolic dysfunction. Late-onset SSc remained a positive predictor for PH in multivariate analyses. No significant difference of the two groups in skin score or diffusion capacity was observed during follow-up. Mortality due to SSc was higher in the late-onset group, but the survival time from diagnosis was longer compared with the younger patients. Conclusion. Late-onset SSc shows a distinct clinical presentation and outcome. Patients with late-onset SSc suffer more frequently from the limited subtype and PH, but fewer patients have digital ulcers. PH may in part be determined by underlying cardiovascular diseas

4,4′,4′′-(Methane­triyl)triphenyl tris­(2,2,5,5-tetra­methyl-1-oxyl-3-pyrroline-3-carboxyl­ate) benzene tris­olvate

In the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C46H52N3O9·3C6H6, two of the benzene solvent mol­ecules are located in general positions and two are disposed about inversion centers. One of the benzene mol­ecules on an inversion center was grossly disordered and was excluded using the SQUEEZE subroutine in PLATON [Spek (2009 ▶). Acta Cryst. D65, 148–155]. In addition, one of the 2,2,5,5-tetra­methyl-1-oxyl-3-pyrrolin-3-ylcarbonyl groups is disordered over two orientations with refined occupancies of 0.506 (2) and 0.494 (2). The 1-oxyl-3-pyrroline-3-carboxyl­ate groups are essentially planar, with mean deviations from the planes of 0.026 (2), 0.012 (2), 0.034 (4) and 0.011 (4) Å. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are connected by five weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O and four weak inter­molecular C—H⋯π(benzene) inter­actions

Biphenyl-4,4′-diyl bis­(2,2,5,5-tetra­methyl-1-oxyl-3-pyrroline-3-carboxyl­ate)

In the title compound, C30H34N2O6, the complete molecule is generated by a crystallographic 2/m symmetry operation. The 1-oxyl-3-pyrroline-3-carboxyl­ate group lies on a mirror plane. The dihedral angle between the ring planes of the biphenyl fragment is constrained by symmetry to be zero, resulting in rather short intramolecular H⋯H contact distances of 2.02 Å. In the crystal, molecules are connected along the a-axis direction by very weak intermolecular methyl–phenyl C—H⋯π interactions. The C—H bond is not directed to the center of the benzene ring, but mainly to one C atom [C—H⋯C(x − 1, y, z): H⋯C = 2.91 Å and C—H⋯C = 143°]

Oxidation and Volatilization from Tantalum Alloy During Air Exposure

Tantalum alloys are one of the refractory metals with renewed consideration for high temperatures in fusion reactor applications. Tantalum alloys perform well in protective environments but are oxidized readily in gases containing higher oxygen levels. In addition, the radioactive isotope Ta-182 would be produced in tantalum and could be a significant contributor to dose if mobilized. Other isotopes of importance are produced from tungsten and hafnium. Mobilization of activated products during an accident with air ingress is therefore a safety issue. In this study, we measured the extent of oxidation and mobilization from tantalum alloy T-222 oxidized in flowing air between 500 and 1200 degrees C. This alloy nominally contains 10 wt% tungsten, 2.5 wt% hafnium and 0.01 wt% carbon. We found that the mobilization of Ta and Hf was closely linked to the occurrence of oxide spalling. These elements showed no migration from the test chamber. Some W was mobilized by volatilization as evidenced by transport from the chamber. Tungsten volatilization could occur primarily during initial stages of oxidation before the formation of an oxide scale impedes the process. The mobilization of Ta and W are presented in terms of the mass flux (g/m2-h) as a function of test temperature. These measurements along with specific designs, activation calculations, and accident scenarios provide information useful for dose calculations of future fusion devices

Oocyte maturation in the toad Rhinella arenarum (Amphibia, Anura): Evidence of cAMP involvement in steroid production and action

In this work, we describe the participation of the adenylate cyclase/3′-5′-cyclic adenonsine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway in the seasonal follicular secretion of progesterone (P 4 ) and testosterone (T), and its relationship with the maturation of Rhinella arenarum oocytes. Under gonadotropin stimulation, P 4 secretion was the dominant steroid produced during the reproductive period, resulting in 100% germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in oocytes in vitro; in contrast, T and estradiol (E 2 ) secretion increased (∼16 nM/20 follicles and ∼80 pM/20 follicles, respectively) during the non-reproductive period, but only yielded 50% GVBD. Treatment of the follicles with dibutyryl-cAMP or forskolin induced a significant increase in T secretion during both periods, but P 4 secretion did not significantly change and GVBD did not occur. These results suggest that high cAMP levels in the oocyte maintain meiotic arrest and prevent the induction effect of follicular steroids. An increase in cAMP levels in denuded oocytes, however, negatively regulated T-induced maturation since treatment with increasing db-cAMP or forskolin inhibited their maturation. Therefore, we hypothesize that an elevation in T during the non-reproductive period favors its aromatization to E 2 , leading to follicle growth. During the reproductive period, P 4 production might promote oocyte maturation when environmental conditions are favorable for reproduction. Together, the results indicate that steroidogenesis is seasonal and depends on gonadotropic activity in R. arenarum.Fil: Arias Torres, Ana Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; ArgentinaFil: Páez, José B.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Zelarayán, Liliana Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentin