Current Usage and Potential of Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Swiss Banks: An Empirical Study

The results presented in this paper are part of an empirical study into the current usage of groupware and the potential of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) for strategic management in large-scale Swiss business enterprises. The results were obtained from a survey conducted among 168 organizations. The study is part of the STRATUM research project, the overall goal of which is to investigate and evaluate methods, techniques and tools to support cooperative activities in strategic management groups. Due to the importance of the banking sector in Switzerland and the high response rate from the bank sample, we present here results related to this sector of industry

On the superlinear convergence in computational elasto-plasticity

We develop a general convergence analysis for a class of inexact Newton-type regularizations for stably solving nonlinear ill-posed problems. Each of the methods under consideration consists of two components: the outer Newton iteration and an inner regularization scheme which, applied to the linearized system, provides the update. In this paper we give a novel and unified convergence analysis which is not confined to a specific inner regularization scheme but applies to a multitude of schemes including Landweber and steepest decent iterations, iterated Tikhonov method, and method of conjugate gradients

Performance individuelle au sein d'une équipe d'étudiants entrepreneurs : en quoi l'équipe influence-t-elle la capacité d'agir de ses membres ?

International audienceThis research studies a postgraduate programme whose pedagogy is based on experiential learning approach, work and team learning. Based on self-determination theory of Deci & Ryan (1985), the study highlights and describes how the team impacts motivation for action of its members.Cette recherche étudie un dispositif universitaire dont la pédagogie est fondée sur l'apprentissage par action, travail et apprentissage en équipe. En s'appuyant sur la théorie de l'auto-détermination de Deci et Ryan (1985) l'étude met en évidence et décrit la manière dont l'équipe impacte la motivation à agir de ses membres

Alley coppice—a new system with ancient roots

International audience& Context Current production from natural forests will not satisfy future world demand for timber and fuel wood, and new land management options are required. & Aims We explore an innovative production system that combines the production of short rotation coppice in wide alleys with the production of high-value trees on narrow strips of land; it is an alternative form of alley cropping which we propose to call 'alley coppice'. The aim is to describe this alley coppice system and to illustrate its potential for produc-ing two diverse products, namely high-value timber and ener-gy wood on the same land unit. & Methods Based on a comprehensive literature review, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of the alley cop-pice system and contrast the features with well-known existing or past systems of biomass and wood production. & Results We describe and discuss the basic aspects of alley coppice, its design and dynamics, the processes of competi-tion and facilitation, issues of ecology, and areas that are open for future research. & Conclusion Based on existing knowledge, a solid founda-tion for the implementation of alley coppice on suitable land is presented, and the high potential of this system could be shown

Automated seamless DNA co-transformation cloning with direct expression vectors applying positive or negative insert selection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Molecular DNA cloning is crucial to many experiments and with the trend to higher throughput of modern approaches automated techniques are urgently required. We have established an automated, fast and flexible low-cost expression cloning approach requiring only vector and insert amplification by PCR and co-transformation of the products.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our vectors apply positive selection for the insert or negative selection against empty vector molecules and drive strong expression of target proteins in <it>E.coli </it>cells. Variable tags are available both in N-terminal or C-terminal position. A newly developed β-lactamase (ΔW290) selection cassette contains a segment inside the β-lactamase open reading frame encoding a stretch of hydrophilic amino acids that result in a T7 promoter when back-translated. This position of the promoter permits positive selection and attenuated expression of fusion proteins with C-terminal tags. We have tested eight vectors by inserting six target sequences of variable length, provenience and function. The target proteins were cloned, expressed and detected using an automated Tecan Freedom Evo II liquid handling work station. Only two colonies had to be picked to score with 85% correct inserts while 80% of those were positive in expression tests.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results establish co-transformation and positive/negative selection cloning in conjunction with the provided vectors and selection cassettes as an automatable alternative to commercialized high-throughput cloning systems like Gateway^®or ligase-independent cloning (LIC) <b/>.</p