Regret Aversion and False Reference Points in Residential Real Estate

This study empirically exams the combination of regret aversion and false reference points in a residential real estate context. Survey respondents were put in a hypothetical situation, where they had purchased an investment property several years ago. Hindsight knowledge about a foregone all time high was introduced. As hypothesized, respondents on average expressed higher regret if they had actively failed to sell at the all time high (commission scenario) than if they had simply been unaware of the potential gain (omission scenario). Women were found to be more susceptible to regret aversion and false reference points than men.

Digitales Toolkit BWL-Studierende : Emerging Technologies virtualisiert

Dieser Werkstattbericht zeigt auf, wie eine virtualisierte Lernumgebung ein flexibles, mobiles und betriebssystemunabhängiges Lernen ermöglicht. Diese kann jederzeit gesichert und wiederhergestellt werden, was ein gefahrloses Experimentieren und Ausprobieren ermöglicht. Es wird aufgezeigt, wie Studierenden Emerging Technologies und Web-Grundlagen vermittelt werden können. Mit dem Einsatz einer virtuellen Lernumgebung, dem Content Management System (Wordpress) und Web Frameworks wird es möglich, schnell gute Ergebnisse zu erzielen, was sich motivierend auf die Studierenden auswirkt. Damit stellen sich auch bei abstrakten Themen rasch Lernerfolge ein

Flexibilisierung der Hochschulbildung durch MOOCs : Disruption oder Integration

Mit dem Erscheinen von MOOCs und privatwirtschaftlichen MOOC-Anbietern entstand die Erwartung, dass die traditionelle Hochschulbildung „uberisiert“ wird wie das Taxigewerbe. Die Voraussetzungen für die Teilnahme an Hochschulbildung reduzierten sich auf die Existenz eines Internetanschlusses. Bald aber stellten die MOOC-Anbieter fest, dass Flexibilisierung und tiefe Kosten nicht genügten, um Hochschulbildung zu konkurrenzieren. Daher rich(te)ten sich MOOC-Anbieter neu aus – auf Weiterbildung und damit Personen mit abgeschlossener Hochschulbildung. Auch deshalb sind MOOCs bisher, gemessen am Ziel der Disruption traditioneller Hochschulbildung, als Misserfolg zu werten

Neue Möglichkeiten durch die Namensaktie

Durch das Interesse deutscher Unternehmen an einer weltweit einheitlichen Aktie hat sich in letzter Zeit eine Umstellung auf die Namensaktie durchgesetzt. Diese Entwicklung beruht einerseits auf der Verbesserung des Abwicklungssystems CASCADE RS der Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt am Main (CBF), andererseits auf den verbesserten Zugangsmöglichkeiten zu den globalen Kapitalmärkten. Hinzu kommen die Möglichkeiten zu verbesserten Investor-Relations-Maßnahmen, einer Auflegung von Belegschaftsaktien-Programmen sowie Aktienoptions-Programmen für die Mitarbeiter. --Namensaktie,one global share

The 3of5 web application for complex and comprehensive pattern matching in protein sequences

BACKGROUND: The identification of patterns in biological sequences is a key challenge in genome analysis and in proteomics. Frequently such patterns are complex and highly variable, especially in protein sequences. They are frequently described using terms of regular expressions (RegEx) because of the user-friendly terminology. Limitations arise for queries with the increasing complexity of patterns and are accompanied by requirements for enhanced capabilities. This is especially true for patterns containing ambiguous characters and positions and/or length ambiguities. RESULTS: We have implemented the 3of5 web application in order to enable complex pattern matching in protein sequences. 3of5 is named after a special use of its main feature, the novel n-of-m pattern type. This feature allows for an extensive specification of variable patterns where the individual elements may vary in their position, order, and content within a defined stretch of sequence. The number of distinct elements can be constrained by operators, and individual characters may be excluded. The n-of-m pattern type can be combined with common regular expression terms and thus also allows for a comprehensive description of complex patterns. 3of5 increases the fidelity of pattern matching and finds ALL possible solutions in protein sequences in cases of length-ambiguous patterns instead of simply reporting the longest or shortest hits. Grouping and combined search for patterns provides a hierarchical arrangement of larger patterns sets. The algorithm is implemented as internet application and freely accessible. The application is available at . CONCLUSION: The 3of5 application offers an extended vocabulary for the definition of search patterns and thus allows the user to comprehensively specify and identify peptide patterns with variable elements. The n-of-m pattern type offers an improved accuracy for pattern matching in combination with the ability to find all solutions, without compromising the user friendliness of regular expression terms

Extended Resection for Thyroid Disease has Less Operative Morbidity than Limited Resection

Background: Theodor Kocher, surgeon and Nobel laureate, has influenced thyroid surgery all over the world: his treatment for multinodular goiter—subtotal thyroidectomy—has been the "Gold Standard” for more than a century. However, based on a new understanding of molecular growth mechanisms in goitrogenesis, we set out to evaluate if a more extended resection yields better results. Methods: Four thousand three hundred and ninety-four thyroid gland operations with 5,785 "nerves at risk” were prospectively analyzed between 1972 and 2002. From 1972 to 1990, the limited Kocher resections were performed, and from 1991 to 2002 a more radical resection involving at least a hemithyroidectomy was performed. Results: The incidence of postoperative nerve palsy was 3.6%; in the first study period and 0.9%; in the second (P<0.001, Fisher's exact). Postoperative hypoparathyroidism decreased from 3.2%; in the first period to 0.64%; in the second (P<0.01). The rate of reoperation for recurrent disease was 11.1%; from 1972 to 1990 and 8.5%; from 1991 to 2002 (P<0.01). Conclusions: Extended resection for multinodular goiter not only significantly reduced morbidity, but also decreased the incidence of operations for recurrent disease. Our findings in a large cohort corroborate the suggestions that Kocher's approach should be replaced by a more radical resection, which actually was his original intention more than 130years ag

Long-Term Follow-Up After Complete Resection of Well-Differentiated Cancer Confined to the Thyroid Gland

Background: Papillary or follicular thyroid carcinomas exhibit a relatively benign course. Hence, long-term follow-up studies with well-defined disease stages and treatment details are needed to evaluate treatment strategies. Methods: Patients who underwent complete resection of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) confined to the thyroid gland between 1972 and 1990 identified from a prospective database were assessed. Follow-up was performed by interview, review of patient charts, and analysis of the Death Registry. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Review of histology was performed and extent of thyroid resection, postoperative therapy, and recognized prognostic factors but not lymphadenectomy were evaluated. Results: Of 2,867 patients, 213 had complete resection of WDTC confined to the thyroid gland. Follow-up was completed in 166 patients with median age 54.2 (range, 20-85) years, and median follow-up of 27.2 (range, 15.6-34.5) years. The 10- and 20-year OS was 71 and 55%, respectively. DSS at 10 and 20years was 81 and 69%, respectively, and correlated with age, histology, tumor size, radio-iodide ablation (RIA), and external beam irradiation (EBR) treatment. No patient died of WDTC more than 18years after resection. Total or near-total thyroidectomy without lymphadenectomy was not superior to partial thyroidectomy. In multivariate analysis for DSS, age was the dominant factor, which correlated with histology. Conclusion: After a median follow-up of 27years, about one-third of patients died of WDTC. Age, histology and postoperative therapy but not extent of thyroid resection determined DS

Impact of surgical technique on operative morbidity and its socioeconomic benefit in thyroid surgery

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the rate of complications in relation to the extent of surgery and some of its consequences. Methods: Between 1972 and 2010, a total of 5,277 consecutive thyroid gland surgeries with 7,383 nerves at risk were performed at our teaching institution. Data of all patients undergoing thyroidectomy were collected prospectively. A total of 2,867 subtotal resections (first study period from 1972 to 1990) were compared with 2,410 extended thyroid resections involving at least a hemithyroidectomy (second period from 1991 to 2010). Results: The incidence of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in primary operations was significantly higher in the first period compared to the second period (3.6 vs. 0.9%; p < 0.001). Permanent hypoparathyroidism decreased from 3.2% in the first period to 0.8% in the second period (p < 0.001). The incidence of recurrent goiter surgery decreased from 11.1% in the first period to 8.1% in the second period (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in recurrent disease between the two periods. The socioeconomic benefits of an extended thyroid resection in our patient population are 360 preventable operations, 90 preventable permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies, and 58 preventable cancers. Furthermore, 37 preventable radioiodine ablations and 15 preventable deaths were associated with more radical thyroid resection. Conclusion: Improvements in surgical technique and change in surgical strategy significantly decreased the prevalence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, hypoparathyroidism, and recurrent disease as well as reduced public health costs associated with recurrent goite

Rapid Neutrophil Response Controls Fast-Replicating Intracellular Bacteria but Not Slow-Replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Being one of the first cells to invade the site of infection, neutrophils play an important role in the control of various bacterial and viral infections. In the present work, the contribution of neutrophils to the control of infection with different intracellular bacteria was investigated. Mice were treated with the neutrophil-depleting monoclonal antibody RB6-8C5, and the time course of infection in treated and untreated mice was compared by using intracellular bacterial species and strains varying in virulence and replication rate. The results indicate that neutrophils are crucial for the control of fast-replicating intracellular bacteria, whereas early neutrophil effector mechanisms are dispensable for the control of the slow-replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosi

Spectroscopy of 19^{19}Ne for the thermonuclear 15^{15}O(α,γ\alpha,\gamma)19^{19}Ne and 18^{18}F(p,αp,\alpha)15^{15}O reaction rates

Uncertainties in the thermonuclear rates of the $^{15}$O($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{19}$Ne and $^{18}$F($p,\alpha$)$^{15}$O reactions affect model predictions of light curves from type I X-ray bursts and the amount of the observable radioisotope $^{18}$F produced in classical novae, respectively. To address these uncertainties, we have studied the nuclear structure of $^{19}$Ne over $E_{x} = 4.0 - 5.1$ MeV and $6.1 - 7.3$ MeV using the $^{19}$F($^{3}$He,t)$^{19}$Ne reaction. We find the $J^{\pi}$ values of the 4.14 and 4.20 MeV levels to be consistent with $9/2^{-}$ and $7/2^{-}$ respectively, in contrast to previous assumptions. We confirm the recently observed triplet of states around 6.4 MeV, and find evidence that the state at 6.29 MeV, just below the proton threshold, is either broad or a doublet. Our data also suggest that predicted but yet unobserved levels may exist near the 6.86 MeV state. Higher resolution experiments are urgently needed to further clarify the structure of $^{19}$Ne around the proton threshold before a reliable $^{18}$F($p,\alpha$)$^{15}$O rate for nova models can be determined.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Phys. Rev. C (in press