Flexibility of Labor Law. The European Discussion and the Example of Germany

Dans la plupart des pays européens, on a, ces dernières années, assoupli la protection législative de l'emploi, de manière à faciliter à l'employeur le recrutement du personnel par divers procédés. Cette nouvelle législation n'offre qu'une protection de second ordre à ceux dont l'engagement n'est que pour une durée déterminée, aux employés à temps partiel, de même qu'aux personnes dont les services sont proposés par des entreprises de personnel temporaire. Le recours à de telles catégories de personnel offre, certes, de multiples avantages à l'employeur. Par exemple, il diminue ses indemnités de licenciement ; il n'a pas, non plus, à payer un personnel trop considérable dans des périodes de sous-emploi. Par contre, la libéralisation de l'emploi précaire suscite différents problèmes. Elle tend à créer deux classes d'employés. D'une part, il y a ceux qui jouissent de la sécurité d'emploi : leur travail est stable, bien rémunéré et donne lieu à des avantages sociaux significatifs ; d'autre part, il y a le travail de « seconde zone », mal payé, précaire et pratiquement dénué d'avantages sociaux. Tels sont les effets de la loi dite, non sans euphémisme, Loi en vue de promouvoir l'emploi, adoptée en 1985 en R.F.A. Les syndicats s'opposent à l'implantation de telles normes d'emploi inéquitables. Ils tendent, par voie de négociation collective, à assurer un traitement égal pour l'ensemble des travailleurs, en particulier, par la réduction du temps de travail. Mais cette politique syndicale pourrait bien se révéler impuissante à contrer le fractionnement du travail. Une politique gouvernementale favorisant activement l'emploi, y compris le retour à une protection véritable de l'emploi, doit la compléter

Aufbau einer Wissenskomponente für das aspektorientierte Prozessmanagement

Influenced by continuous technical enhancements and progressive extension of networking in all ranks a change towards a new economical structure can be recognized in the industrial nations over the past few years. Three main characteristics delineate this new strategy: Digitalization, globalization and service orientation. Key element of this new strategy is the provision of highly specialized and sophisticated services. Two challenges arise from this scenario. Because of the high degree of specialization the provision of services is cost intensive. Inefficient management of the necessary processes therefore results in additional costs which pose competitive disadvantages. To face this challenge process control and management technologies like Workflow Management have been developed. Furthermore, employees have to meet an increased demand for knowledge to retain their capability to offer elaborate and advanced services. Inefficient management of knowledge not only leads to obstruction of innovation, but as a result of employee turnover the risk of knowledge drain arises. This in turn can lead to incapacity of offering the service. Methods for Knowledge Management have been developed to antagonize this issue. To bear up against global competition companies have to exercise Workflow Management as well as Knowledge Management. Up to now the two tasks have been approached separately. This thesis examines how they can be combined and what consequences result from such a holistic approach. To do so, the aspect oriented process modeling paradigm is extended by a knowledge related aspect which factors in the requirements of knowledge work. Consequently, the development of a Knowledge Infrastructure is demanded and its requirements and characteristics are developed. Moreover, existing approaches for Knowledge Management are investigated in how applicative they are for organizing the internals of the Knowledge Infrastructure. As a result of this investigation metamodels are developed. They allow for a formal, structured and comprehensible arrangement of knowledge using concepts of the Semantic Web. The contrived theoretical concept is hard to put in practice, therefore a simplified model for Knowledge Management in the context of usage with Process Management is developed. Finally, the prototype SKM is presented. It resembles an experimental implementation of the concepts developed in this thesis.Vor dem Hintergrund stetiger technischer Weiterentwicklung und fortschreitender Vernetzung auf allen Ebenen lässt sich in den Industrienationen während der vergangenen Jahre ein Wandel hin zu einer neuen Wirtschaftsstruktur beobachten. Sie lässt sich anhand dreier Charakteristika beschreiben: Dienstleistungsorientierung, Digitalisierung und Globalisierung. Im Vordergrund stehen spezialisierte und hoch entwickelte Dienstleistungen. Daraus erwachsen zwei Herausforderungen. Auf Grund des hohen Grads an Spezialisierung sind die Dienstleistungen kostenintensiv. Eine ineffiziente Verwaltung der notwendigen Vorgänge führt zu Mehrkosten und dadurch zu Wettbewerbsnachteilen. Um diesem Problem zu begegnen, wurden Techniken zur Kontrolle und Verwaltung von Prozessen entwickelt, etwa das Workflow-Management. Des Weiteren müssen die Mitarbeiter eines Unternehmens einem gehobenen Wissensanspruch genügen, um ausgefeilte und fortgeschrittene Dienstleistungen anbieten zu können. Wird Wissen ineffizient verwaltet, besteht nicht nur das Risiko einer Behinderung von Innovation, sondern es kann in Folge von Personalfluktuationen zu einem Wissensverlust kommen, welcher dazu führt, dass die Dienstleistung nicht mehr angeboten werden kann. Um dem entgegenzuwirken, wurden Methoden zum Wissensmanagement entwickelt. Um sich im globalen Wettbewerb zu behaupten, muss ein Unternehmen sowohl Workflow-Management als auch Wissensmanagement betreiben. Die beiden Konzepte wurden in bisherigen Ansätzen oft separat verstanden. Diese Arbeit untersucht, wie sich die beiden Konzepte kombinieren lassen und welche Konsequenzen sich daraus ergeben. Dazu wird die aspektorientierte Prozessmodellierung des Workflow-Managements um einen wissensbezogenen Aspekt erweitert, welcher die Anforderungen der Wissensarbeit berücksichtigt. In der Konsequenz wird eine Wissensinfrastruktur gefordert, deren Anforderungen und Charakteristika entwickelt werden. Weiterhin wird untersucht, welche Techniken des Wissensmanagements sich für die Organisation innerhalb der Wissensinfrastruktur eignen. Als Konsequenz werden Metamodelle entwickelt, welche unter der Verwendung von Konzepten des Semantic Web eine formale, strukturierte und nachvollziehbare Organisation des Wissens erlauben. Da sich dieses theoretische Modell nur schwer umsetzen lässt, wird ein vereinfachtes Modell für das Wissensmanagement im Hinblick auf die Verwendung bei der Prozessverwaltung entworfen. Schließlich wird mit SKM ein Prototyp vorgestellt, welcher das Konzept einer Wissensinfrastruktur für das prozessorientierte Wissensmanagement umsetzt

Binding of galectin-1 to breast cancer cells MCF7 induces apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in vitro in a 2D-and 3D-cell culture model

Background: Galectin-1 (gal-1) belongs to the family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins which primarily recognizes the Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc sequences of oligosaccharides associated with several cell surface glycoconjugates. The lectin recognizes correspondent glycoepitopes on human breast cancer cells. Galectin-1 is expressed both in normal and malignant tissues. Lymphatic organs naturally possessing high rates of apoptotic cells, express high levels of Galectin-1. Furthermore galectin-1 can initiate T cell apoptosis. Binding of galectin-1 to trophoblast tumor cells presenting the oncofetal Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) carbohydrate antigen inhibits tumor cell proliferation. In this study we examined the impact galectin-1 has in vitro on cell proliferation, apoptotic potential and metabolic activity of MCF-7 and T-47D breast cancer cells in dependence to their expression of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) tumor antigen. Methods: For proliferation and apoptosis assays cells were grown in presence of 10, 30 and 60 mu g gal-1/mlmedium. Cell proliferation was determined by a BrdU uptake ELISA. Detection of apoptotic cells was done by M30 cyto death staining, in situ nick translation and by a nucleosome ELISA method. Furthermore we studied the impact galectin-1 has on the metabolic activity of MCF-7 and T-47D cells in a homotypic three-dimensional spheroid cell culture model mimicking a micro tumour environment. Results: Gal-1 inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells (strong expression of the TF epitope) but did not significantly change proliferation of T-47D cells (weak expression of the TF epitope). The incubation of MCF-7 cells with gal-1 raised number of apoptotic cells significantly. Treating the spheroids with 30 mu g/ml galectin-1 in addition to standard chemotherapeutic regimes (FEC, TAC) resulted in further suppression of the metabolic activity in MCF-7 cells whereas T-47D cells were not affected. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that galectin-1 can inhibit proliferation und metabolic cell activity and induce apoptosis in breast tumor cell lines with high expression levels of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen in monolayer and spheroid cell culture models

Binding of galectin-1 to breast cancer cells MCF7 induces apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in vitro in a 2D-and 3D-cell culture model

Background: Galectin-1 (gal-1) belongs to the family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins which primarily recognizes the Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc sequences of oligosaccharides associated with several cell surface glycoconjugates. The lectin recognizes correspondent glycoepitopes on human breast cancer cells. Galectin-1 is expressed both in normal and malignant tissues. Lymphatic organs naturally possessing high rates of apoptotic cells, express high levels of Galectin-1. Furthermore galectin-1 can initiate T cell apoptosis. Binding of galectin-1 to trophoblast tumor cells presenting the oncofetal Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) carbohydrate antigen inhibits tumor cell proliferation. In this study we examined the impact galectin-1 has in vitro on cell proliferation, apoptotic potential and metabolic activity of MCF-7 and T-47D breast cancer cells in dependence to their expression of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) tumor antigen. Methods: For proliferation and apoptosis assays cells were grown in presence of 10, 30 and 60 mu g gal-1/mlmedium. Cell proliferation was determined by a BrdU uptake ELISA. Detection of apoptotic cells was done by M30 cyto death staining, in situ nick translation and by a nucleosome ELISA method. Furthermore we studied the impact galectin-1 has on the metabolic activity of MCF-7 and T-47D cells in a homotypic three-dimensional spheroid cell culture model mimicking a micro tumour environment. Results: Gal-1 inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells (strong expression of the TF epitope) but did not significantly change proliferation of T-47D cells (weak expression of the TF epitope). The incubation of MCF-7 cells with gal-1 raised number of apoptotic cells significantly. Treating the spheroids with 30 mu g/ml galectin-1 in addition to standard chemotherapeutic regimes (FEC, TAC) resulted in further suppression of the metabolic activity in MCF-7 cells whereas T-47D cells were not affected. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that galectin-1 can inhibit proliferation und metabolic cell activity and induce apoptosis in breast tumor cell lines with high expression levels of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen in monolayer and spheroid cell culture models

Expression and delivery of an endolysin to combat Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens is a cause for increasing concern due to its responsibility for severe infections both in humans and animals, especially poultry. To find new control strategies to treat C. perfringens infection, we investigated the activity and delivery of a bacteriophage endolysin. We identified a new endolysin, designated CP25L, which shows similarity to an N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase domain and is distinct from other C. perfringens endolysins whose activity has been demonstrated in vitro. The cp25l gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene product demonstrated lytic activity against all 25 C. perfringens strains tested. The probiotic strain Lactobacillus johnsonii FI9785 was engineered to deliver the endolysin to the gastrointestinal tract. The integration of the nisRK two-component regulatory system from the Lactococcus lactis nisin A biosynthesis operon into the chromosome of L. johnsonii allowed constitutive expression of the endolysin under the control of the nisA promoter (P(nisA)), while the use of a signal peptide (SLPmod) led to successful secretion of the active endolysin to the surrounding media. The high specificity and activity of the endolysin suggest that it may be developed as an effective tool to enhance the control of C. perfringens by L. johnsonii in the gastrointestinal tract

Complete Genome Sequence of Ochrobactrum haematophilum FI11154, Isolated from Kunu-Zaki, a Nigerian Millet-Based Fermented Food

Ochrobactrum haematophilum FI11154 was isolated from kunu-zaki, a Nigerian traditional fermented millet-based food. Here, we present the first complete genome sequence of this species. The genome consists of five replicons and contains genes related to iron uptake and phosphatase activities

Discovery of a novel lantibiotic nisin O from Blautia obeum A2-162, isolated from the human 2 gastrointestinal tract

The Institute of Food Research is funded by the BBSRC (strategic core grants IFR/08/1 BB/J004529/1); SHD and HJF acknowledge support from the Scottish Government Food Land and People programme. DH and CGF received BBSRC PhD studentship grants. Acknowledgements We are grateful to Kathryn Cross for the EM analysis and Neil Rigby for helpful advice.Peer reviewedPostprin

Risk of postpartum depressive symptoms is influenced by psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic and dependent of individual stress coping

PURPOSE: There are different studies worldwide, which have shown a higher risk of mental disorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One aim of this study was to identify influencing factors of the psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the development of postpartum depression. Further, the role of individual stress and coping strategies was analyzed in this context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March and October 2020, 131 women in obstetric care at the LMU Clinic Munich completed a questionnaire at consecutive stages during their perinatal period. The times set for the questionnaire were before birth, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months after birth. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate the psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this a modified version of the Stress and coping inventory (SCI) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used. RESULTS: We could show that the psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the EPDS score 1, 2 and 6 months after birth. In addition, the prenatal stress and individual coping strategies affected the EPDS and the burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic before and after birth significantly. CONCLUSION: An association of the psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic with the risk of developing postpartum depressive symptoms could be shown in this study. In this context, the separation of the partner and the family was recognized as an important factor. Furthermore, the SCI was identified as an effective screening instrument for identifying mothers with an increased risk of postpartum depression. Hereby allowing primary prevention by early intervention or secondary prevention by early diagnosis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00404-022-06854-0