Konzeption und Realisierung einer Supply-Chain-Management-orientierten Anwendungsintegration im mittelständischen Automotive-Umfeld

Sich verändernde Märkte führen in der Automobilindustrie gemeinsam mit geopolitischen Entwicklungen seit einigen Jahren zu einer Situation, in der sich die Unternehmen mit den Folgen von Globalisierung, Konsolidierung und verschärftem Wettbewerb auseinandersetzen müssen. Insbesondere an die überwiegend mittelständisch geprägte Automobilzulieferindustrie werden dadurch Herausforderungen gestellt, denen mit neuen Prozessmodellen begegnet werden muss. Als zielführend herausgestellt haben sich dabei die Prozesse innerhalb der Lieferketten (Supply Chains), die im Rahmen des Supply Chain Managements (SCM) die Prozesselemente entlang der Wertschöpfungskette betrachten. Das Ziel ist dabei die Optimierung des zugrundeliegenden logistischen Gesamtprozesses, wobei die Sichtweise von der unternehmensinternen auf die unternehmensexterne Perspektive wechselt. Da heute nahezu alle Unternehmensprozesse über IT-Systeme abgebildet oder gesteuert werden, müssen auch auf IT-Infrastrukturebene Voraussetzungen geschaffen werden, damit das Ziel der optimierten Supply Chain erreicht werden kann. Insbesondere sind die oftmals heterogenen Systemstrukturen, die bisher eine durchgängige Prozesskommunikation verhindern, durch geeignete Integrationslösungen zu erweitern, damit die System- und Prozesskommunikation zwischen den beteiligten Systemen in Echtzeit erfolgen kann. Erst dadurch wird ein effizientes Supply Chain Management ermöglicht. Diese Integrationsfunktion nehmen Enterprise Application Integration (EAI-)Systeme wahr, die Unternehmensanwendungen zusammenführen und die erforderlichen Prozessdaten integrieren. Die heute am Markt erhältlichen EAI-Systeme zeichnen sich durch ein umfangreiches Leistungsspektrum aus, was sie allerdings gleichermaßen teuer wie administrationsintensiv macht und damit ungeeignet für den Mittelstand erscheinen lässt. Daher ist es das Ziel der Arbeit, eine mittelstandstaugliche EAI-Lösung zu beschreiben, um damit im mittelständischen Automotive-Bereich typische SCM-Szenarien umzusetzen. Als EAI-Basis wird dabei die aus dem Bereich der Webservices bekannte LAMP-Umgebung herangezogen, die ein Anwendungssystem aus den vier open source Softwarekomponenten Linux, Apache, MySQL und PHP darstellt. Mit Hilfe der LAMP-Umgebung werden die Verbindungen zwischen einzelnen Unternehmensanwendungen und prozessen hergestellt und eine webbasierte Anwendungsintegration konzeptionell beschrieben sowie exemplarisch anhand von branchentypischen SCM-Szenarien (VMI, ATP, Portal, Prozessdatenaustausch) umgesetzt

Deep Learning for Cancer Prognosis Prediction Using Portrait Photos by StyleGAN Embedding

Survival prediction for cancer patients is critical for optimal treatment selection and patient management. Current patient survival prediction methods typically extract survival information from patients' clinical record data or biological and imaging data. In practice, experienced clinicians can have a preliminary assessment of patients' health status based on patients' observable physical appearances, which are mainly facial features. However, such assessment is highly subjective. In this work, the efficacy of objectively capturing and using prognostic information contained in conventional portrait photographs using deep learning for survival predication purposes is investigated for the first time. A pre-trained StyleGAN2 model is fine-tuned on a custom dataset of our cancer patients' photos to empower its generator with generative ability suitable for patients' photos. The StyleGAN2 is then used to embed the photographs to its highly expressive latent space. Utilizing the state-of-the-art survival analysis models and based on StyleGAN's latent space photo embeddings, this approach achieved a C-index of 0.677, which is notably higher than chance and evidencing the prognostic value embedded in simple 2D facial images. In addition, thanks to StyleGAN's interpretable latent space, our survival prediction model can be validated for relying on essential facial features, eliminating any biases from extraneous information like clothing or background. Moreover, a health attribute is obtained from regression coefficients, which has important potential value for patient care

Antibodies to MOG and AQP4 in children with neuromyelitis optica and limited forms of the disease

Objective To determine the frequency and clinical-radiological associations of antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in children presenting with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and limited forms. Methods Children with a first event of NMO, recurrent (RON), bilateral ON (BON), longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) or brainstem syndrome (BS) with a clinical follow-up of more than 12 months were enrolled. Serum samples were tested for MOG-and AQP4-antibodies using live cell-based assays. Results 45 children with NMO (n=12), LETM (n=14), BON (n=6), RON (n=12) and BS (n=1) were included. 25/45 (56%) children had MOG-antibodies at initial presentation (7 NMO, 4 BON, 8 ON, 6 LETM). 5/45 (11%) children showed AQP4-antibodies (3 NMO, 1 LETM, 1 BS) and 15/45 (33%) were seronegative for both antibodies (2 NMO, 2 BON, 4 RON, 7 LETM). No differences were found in the age at presentation, sex ratio, frequency of oligoclonal bands or median EDSS at last follow-up between the three groups. Children with MOG-antibodies more frequently (1) had a monophasic course (p=0.018) after one year, (2) presented with simultaneous ON and LETM (p=0.004) and (3) were less likely to receive immunosuppressive therapies (p=0.0002). MRI in MOG-antibody positive patients (4) less frequently demonstrated periependymal lesions (p=0.001), (5) more often were unspecific (p=0.004) and (6) resolved more frequently (p=0.016). Conclusions 67% of all children presenting with NMO or limited forms tested positive for MOG-or AQP4-antibodies. MOG-antibody positivity was associated with distinct features. We therefore recommend to measure both antibodies in children with demyelinating syndromes

Nogo-Receptors NgR1 and NgR2 Do Not Mediate Regulation of CD4 T Helper Responses and CNS Repair in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Myelin-associated inhibition of axonal regrowth after injury is considered one important factor that contributes to regeneration failure in the adult central nervous system (CNS). Blocking strategies targeting this pathway have been successfully applied in several nerve injury models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), suggesting myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs) and functionally related molecules as targets to enhance regeneration in multiple sclerosis. NgR1 and NgR2 were identified as interaction partners for the myelin proteins Nogo-A, MAG and OMgp and are probably mediating their growth-inhibitory effects on axons, although the in vivo relevance of this pathway is currently under debate. Recently, alternative functions of MAIs and NgRs in the regulation of immune cell migration and T cell differentiation have been described. Whether and to what extent NgR1 and NgR2 are contributing to Nogo and MAG-related inhibition of neuroregeneration or immunomodulation during EAE is currently unknown. Here we show that genetic deletion of both receptors does not promote functional recovery during EAE and that NgR1 and NgR2-mediated signals play a minor role in the development of CNS inflammation. Induction of EAE in Ngr1/2-double mutant mice resulted in indifferent disease course and tissue damage when compared to WT controls. Further, the development of encephalitogenic CD4+ Th1 and Th17 responses was unchanged. However, we observed a slightly increased leukocyte infiltration into the CNS in the absence of NgR1 and NgR2, indicating that NgRs might be involved in the regulation of immune cell migration in the CNS. Our study demonstrates the urgent need for a more detailed knowledge on the multifunctional roles of ligands and receptors involved in CNS regeneration failure

The complex myeloid network of the liver with diverse functional capacity at steady state and in inflammation

In recent years, it has been an explosion of information regarding the role of various myeloid cells in liver pathology. Macrophages and dendritic cell (DC) play crucial roles in multiple chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disorders (NAFLD). The complexity of myeloid cell populations and the missing exclusive marker combination make the interpretation of the data often extremely difficult. The current review aims to summarize the multiple roles of macrophages and DCs in chronic liver diseases, especially pointing out how these cells influence liver immune and parenchymal cells thereby altering liver function and pathology. Moreover, the review outlines the currently known marker combinations for the identification of these cell populations for the study of their role in liver immunology

From climate finance towards sustainable development finance

Decarbonizing the global energy system requires large-scale investment flows, with a central role for international climate finance to mobilize private funds. The willingness to provide international finance in accordance with common but differentiated responsibilities was acknowledged by the broad endorsement of the Paris Agreement, and the Green Climate Funds in particular. The international community aims to mobilize at least USD 100 billion per year for mitigation and adaption in developing countries. In this article, we argue that too little attention has been paid on the spending side of climate finance, both in the political as well as the academic debate. To this end, we review the challenges encountered in project-based approaches of allocating climate finance in the past. In contrast to project-based finance, we find many advantages to spending climate finance in support of price-based national policies. First, the support for international climate cooperation is improved when efforts of successively rising domestic carbon pricing levels are compensated. Second, carbon pricing sets incentives for least-cost mitigation. Third, investing domestic revenues from emission pricing schemes could advance a country's individual development goals and ensure the recipient's ‘ownership’ of climate policies. We conclude that by reconciling the global goal of cost-efficient mitigation with national policy priorities, climate finance for carbon pricing could become a central pillar of sustainable development and promote international cooperation to achieve the climate targets laid down in the Paris Agreement