Role of CDOs in the Digital Transformation of SMEs and LSEs - An Empirical Analysis

In recent years, the economy and companies of all sizes operating within it have undergone a progressive transformation that implied increased market complexity and dominance of the buyer market. This development is the result of the third industrial revolution and has been fostered during the last 40 years by major innovations in digital computer technology. This first digital revolution resulted in the development of the first computers and the associated entry of new electronics and information and communication technology (ICT) in companies being able to automate production processes and make them more efficient. Digitalization means not only the change of individual processes rather the fundamental transformation of entire business areas or the entire business model. In order not only to master, but also to cope with, the challenges of digital transformation, companies need a member in the management board that provides specific expertise and encourages these digital changes. In the process, the position of Chief Digital Officer (CDO) has been created precisely to meet these challenges of the digital transformation of a business model. The present work is based on various case studies analyzing what role the CDO plays in the framework of digital transformation in various company sizes (SMEs and LSEs). In particular, the responsibility, specific obligations and rights and the role - namely, functions and tasks - and the change in the role have been examined since taking over the position

Antagonistic Autoantibodies to Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor Associate with Poor Physical Strength

Natural autoantibodies to the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R-aAb) have been described in relation to Graves' ophthalmopathy. Other physiological roles of natural IGF1R-aAb are not known. We hypothesized that IGF1R-aAb may be related to muscle development. Serum samples (n = 408) from young overweight subjects (n = 143) were collected during a lifestyle intervention study. Anthropometric parameters, along with leptin, IGF1 and IGF1R-aAb concentrations, were analyzed, and the subjects were categorized into positive or negative for IGF1R-aAb. Eleven out of 143 subjects (7.7%) were positive for IGF1R-aAb. Identified IGF1R-aAb were molecularly characterized and showed antagonistic activity in vitro impairing IGF1-mediated IGF1R activation. Mean body weight, height or age were similar between IGF1R-aAb-positive and -negative subjects, but IGF1 concentrations differed. Jumping ability, as well as right and left handgrip strengths, were lower in the IGF1R-aAb-positive as compared to the IGF1R-aAb-negative subjects. We conclude that natural IGF1R-aAb are detectable in apparently healthy subjects and are capable of antagonizing IGF1-dependent IGF1R activation. Moreover, the presence of IGF1R-aAb is associated with poor physical strength. Although the causality of this association is unclear, the data imply a potential influence of IGF1R autoimmunity on muscle development

The influence of crystallographic orientation on the wetting of silicon on quartz single crystals

Dynamic hexagonal spreading patterns of small silicon droplets on the basal plane (001) of quartz were observed by video microscopy. A detailed analysis of the hexagonal triple line demonstrates that the patterns show slight chiral distortions that can be attributed to the screw axis of the substrate crystal. This article reveals the detailed influence of crystal symmetry on the anisotropy of reactive wetting. In this context, a first discussion about the interplay of wetting and etching of a crystal is provided

Discrete Charge Dielectric Model of Electrostatic Energy

Studies on nanoscale materials merit careful development of an electrostatics model concerning discrete point charges within dielectrics. The discrete charge dielectric model treats three unique interaction types derived from an external source: Coulomb repulsion among point charges, direct polarization between point charges and their associated surface charge elements, and indirect polarization between point charges and surface charge elements formed by other point charges. The model yields the potential energy, U(N), stored in a general $N$ point charge system differing from conventional integral formulations, $1/2\int{\bm E}\cdot{\bm D}dV$ and $1/2\int\rho\Phi dV$, in a manner significant to the treatment of few electron systems.Comment: 1 figure, 2 parts, ep

Comparison of first-line and second-line terlipressin versus sole norepinephrine in fulminant ovine septic shock

The Surviving Sepsis Guidelines suggest the use of vasopressin in case of catecholamine-refractory septic shock. Terlipressin (TP) as a V-1-selective AVP analogue is a potential alternative, though data regarding the first-line administration in septic shock are scarce. The present study explored and compared the effects of first-line vs. second-line infusion of TP or sole norepinephrine regarding organ function, fluid and norepinephrine requirements and survival in fulminant ovine septic shock. Peritoneal sepsis was induced in 23 ewes after laparotomy and faecal withdrawal from the caecum. After onset of shock, causal and supportive sepsis therapy (antibiotics, peritoneal lavage, fluids and open-label norepinephrine) was performed in all animals. Concurrently, animals were randomized to receive 0.9% sodium chloride (control group) or TP (2 mu g.kg(-1).h(-1), first-line group) after shock onset. In the second-line TP group, TP (2 mu g.kg(-1).h(-1)) was started once norepinephrine requirements exceeded 0.5 mu g.kg(-1).min(-1). No significant differences were found between groups regarding survival, haemodynamics as well as fluid-and catecholamine-requirements. Kidney function and electron microscopic kidney injury were comparable between groups. In the present model of fulminant ovine septic shock, first-line TP infusion had no significant effect on fluid and norepinephrine requirements or organ dysfunction as compared to second-line TP infusion or placebo

Plasticity and movement. Corporeality as constituent of music and musical theory in the early 20th century

In der Musik und im Musikdenken des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts erlangt der Körper zunehmende Bedeutung. Vor dem Hintergrund einer Konjunktur des sexuellen, pathologischen, soldatischen, hygienischen, artistischen und sportlichen Körpers in den öffentlichen wie wissenschaftlichen Diskursen jener Zeit, widmet sich die Untersuchung der historischen, kulturgeschichtlichen und systematischen Aufarbeitung diesbezüglicher Quellen, die den Körper in der Musik in neuer Weise bestimmen. Dabei gelangen vor allem ästhetisch-philosophische Fragestellungen, die eine veränderte Beziehung zwischen Musik, Musiker und Gesellschaft fokussieren - so z.B. bei Ernst Bloch, Paul Bekker, Adolf Weißmann und den 'Musikblättern des Anbruch' - ins Zentrum des Interesses. Neben dem exemplarischen Vergleich spezifischer Argumentationen Arthur Schopenhauers mit denjenigen Georg Simmels, welcher den grundlegenden Wandel einer Relevanz des Körpers innerhalb ästhetischer Konzeptionen aufzeigt, wendet sich insbesondere die Analyse von Alban Bergs 'Lyrischer Suite für Streichquartett' und Béla Bartóks Pantomime 'Der wunderbare Mandarin' der Frage nach einer innermusikalisch wirksamen Körperlichkeit zu, um diese als Modell eines veränderten Verstehens von Musik für die musikwissenschaftliche und kulturwissenschaftliche Forschung fruchtbar zu machen.In the early 20th century, music and musical theory have increasingly being influenced by concepts of body and corporeality. This study concentrates on collecting and systematically examining the cultural and historical aspects of relevant sources which have predominately determined the body in music in a new way, considering the simultaneous public and scientific discourses of that time on the sexual, pathological, military, hygienic, artistic, and athletic body. Particularly aesthetic-philosophical questions stating a changed relationship between music, musicians and society (for example in writings of Ernst Bloch, Paul Bekker, and Adolf Weißmann or in the periodical 'Musikblätter des Anbruch') are of special and central interest. The exemplary comparison of specific argumentations by Arthur Schopenhauer and Georg Simmel reveals the fundamental change in the relevance of the body in aesthetic conceptions. The analysis of Alban Berg's 'Lyric Suite for String Quartet' and Béla Bartók's pantomime 'The miraculous mandarin' looks into the immanence of the body in music, in order to develop the concept of corporeality as a new model for research in music as well as in cultural studies

Environmental sustainability and reshoring in the automotive industry: a multiple cases study

Reshoring – the reversal of offshoring strategies – referring to a firm’s decision to bring previously offshored manufacturing activities back or close to the home country has become a key theme in the industrial location literature. This thesis investigates the interdependence between reshoring, environmental sustainability and supply chain reconfiguration through a multiple case study in the automotive suppliers sector. The purpose is to explore the perception of environmental sustainability, to investigate reshoring decision-making and to analyse the need for supply chain reconfiguration in the context of environmental sustainability. Research is far from reaching an in-depth understanding of how reshoring decision-making takes place concerning environmental sustainability particularly in the automotive supplier sector. The thesis gathers qualitative data from 17 interviews with experienced managers from nine internationally-active, mainly Tier-1 automotive suppliers. The level of influence of environmental sustainability on reshoring decisions is not near to the top but on the rise. Issues such as cost and quality, efficiency of operations and qualified employees are more important than environmental sustainability to strengthen competitive advantage. The conventional idea of reshoring does not apply very well to Tier-1 automotive suppliers, since a key concern is bringing manufacturing sites closer to the OEM or to other suppliers in the supply chain regardless of the supplier’s home country. The findings from the study are used to develop models and frameworks of both reshoring and the relationship between reshoring and environmental sustainability. This contribution to knowledge is used to develop propositions for further research. The findings are linked to management theories such as Transaction Cost Economics and the Resource-Based View to deepen the contribution to theory. Some of the models and frameworks, such as the drivers and barriers for reshoring and environmental sustainability, together with the decision-making process and decision criteria for supply chain reconfiguration, have been developed so they can be used by practitioners to assist them with reshoring and supply chain management activities

FLECSim-SoC: A Flexible End-to-End Co-Design Simulation Framework for System on Chips

Hardware accelerators for deep neural networks (DNNs) have established themselves over the past decade. Most developments have worked towards higher efficiency with an individual application in mind. This highlights the strong relationship between co-designing the accelerator together with the requirements of the application. Currently for a structured design flow, however, it lacks a tool to evaluate a DNN accelerator embedded in a System on Chip (SoC) platform.To address this gap in the state of the art, we introduce FLECSim, a tool framework that enables an end-to-end simulation of an SoC with dedicated accelerators, CPUs and memories. FLECSim offers flexible configuration of the system and straightforward integration of new accelerator models in both SystemC and RTL, which allows for early design verification. During the simulation, FLECSim provides metrics of the SoC, which can be used to explore the design space. Finally, we present the capabilities of FLECSim, perform an exemplary evaluation with a systolic array-based accelerator and explore the design parameters in terms of accelerator size, power and performance

Data Movement Reduction for DNN Accelerators: Enabling Dynamic Quantization Through an eFPGA

Computational requirements for deep neural networks (DNNs) have been on a rising trend for years. Moreover, network dataflows and topologies are becoming more sophisticated to address more challenging applications. DNN accelerators cannot adopt quickly to the constantly changing DNNs. In this paper, we describe our approach to make a static accelerator more versatile by adding an embedded FPGA (eFPGA). The eFPGA is tightly coupled to the on-chip network, which allows us to pass data through the eFPGA before and after it is processed by the DNN accelerator. Hence, the proposed solution is able to quickly address changing requirements. To show the benefits of this approach, we propose an eFPGA application that enables dynamic quantization of data. We can fit four number converters on an $1.5mm^2$ eFPGA, which can process 400M data elements per second. We will practically validate our work in the near future, with a SoC tapeout in the ongoing EPI project