Discovering Business Models of Data Marketplaces

The modern economy relies heavily on data as a resource for advancement and growth. Data marketplaces have gained an increasing amount of attention since they provide possibilities to exchange, trade and access data across organizations. Due to the rapid development of the field, the research on business models of data marketplaces is fragmented. We aimed to address this issue in this article by identifying the dimensions and characteristics of data marketplaces from a business model perspective. Following a rigorous process for taxonomy building, we propose a business model taxonomy for data marketplaces. Using evidence collected from a final sample of twenty data marketplaces, we analyze the frequency of specific characteristics of data marketplaces. In addition, we identify four data marketplace business model archetypes. The findings reveal the impact of the structure of data marketplaces as well as the relevance of anonymity and encryption for identified data marketplace archetypes

Exploring Sustainability in Business Models of Early Phase Start-ups

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is two-fold: First, we provide an analysis of sustainability topics that occurred in business models deployed in early-phase start-up projects. Second, we investigated potential drivers that led to the inclusion of sustainability aspects in different business model elements. Design/Methodology/Approach: We investigated our sample of six early-phase start-up projects using a multiple case study approach, whereby the business model of each start-up project represents one case. The nascent entrepreneurs took part in a four-month academic start-up accelerator, called the Gruendungsgarage, and we collected qualitative data at three sequential points in time. These data were then analysed using a qualitative content approach and interpreted from a business model and imprinting theory perspective. Findings: The business models deployed in these six early-phase start-up projects are centred around sustainable value propositions. However, the type and degree of sustainability differs. In fact, an intention to comply with sustainability principles was initially expressed in only two of the six start-up projects. Most of the investigated start-up projects did not holistically integrate sustainability-related values. Instead, sustainability was considered as an ancillary benefit to providing products or services. Practical and social implications: The findings offer practical knowledge that entrepreneurs can use to develop business models centred around a sustainable value proposition and benefit from the interactions among the three sustainability dimensions to address the unmet demand of a larger stakeholder group (i.e. solving social and ecological problems). Originality/Value: These study findings expand our knowledge about sustainable business model development in early-phase start-up projects. We use multiple data from six start-up projects to provide examples of different sustainability aspects that are being imprinted in business models. In addition, we provide empirical evidence of drivers that are considered to be supportive in the context of sustainable business model development, such as entrepreneurial motivation, careful resource use and waste reduction. Viewed through an imprinting theory lens, several of the identified drivers can be associated with the individual entrepreneur (imprinter), highlighting the importance of the entrepreneurs’ characteristics for the further development of sustainable business models. In addition, just as many drivers could be assigned to strategic considerations (imprinting processes) to imprint sustainability in the business model. These considerations can be used to develop specific strategies to improve the competitive advantage of start-up projects that place a focus on sustainability

The 2021 German Federal Election on Social Media: Analysing Electoral Risks Created by Twitter and Facebook

Safeguarding democratic elections is hard. Social media plays a vital role in the discourse around elections and during electoral campaigns. The following article provides an analysis of the ‘systemic electoral risks’ created by Twitter and Facebook and the mitigation strategies employed by the platforms. It is based on the 2020 proposal by the European Commission for the new Digital Services Act (DSA) in the context of the 2021 German federal elections. This article focuses on Twitter and Facebook and their roles during the German federal elections that took place on 26 September 2021. We analysed three systemic electoral risk categories: 1) the dissemination of illegal content, 2) negative effects on electoral rights, and 3) the influence of disinformation and developed systematic categories for this purpose. In conclusion, we discuss how to respond to these challenges as well as avenues for future research

Integrated-boost IMRT or 3-D-CRT using FET-PET based auto-contoured target volume delineation for glioblastoma multiforme - a dosimetric comparison

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Biological brain tumor imaging using O-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET)-PET combined with inverse treatment planning for locally restricted dose escalation in patients with glioblastoma multiforme seems to be a promising approach.</p> <p>The aim of this study was to compare inverse with forward treatment planning for an integrated boost dose application in patients suffering from a glioblastoma multiforme, while biological target volumes are based on FET-PET and MRI data sets.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 16 glioblastoma patients an intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique comprising an integrated boost (IB-IMRT) and a 3-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (3D-CRT) technique were generated for dosimetric comparison. FET-PET, MRI and treatment planning CT (P-CT) were co-registrated. The integrated boost volume (PTV1) was auto-contoured using a cut-off tumor-to-brain ratio (TBR) of ≥ 1.6 from FET-PET. PTV2 delineation was MRI-based. The total dose was prescribed to 72 and 60 Gy for PTV1 and PTV2, using daily fractions of 2.4 and 2 Gy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After auto-contouring of PTV1 a marked target shape complexity had an impact on the dosimetric outcome. Patients with 3-4 PTV1 subvolumes vs. a single volume revealed a significant decrease in mean dose (67.7 vs. 70.6 Gy). From convex to complex shaped PTV1 mean doses decreased from 71.3 Gy to 67.7 Gy. The homogeneity and conformity for PTV1 and PTV2 was significantly improved with IB-IMRT. With the use of IB-IMRT the minimum dose within PTV1 (61.1 vs. 57.4 Gy) and PTV2 (51.4 vs. 40.9 Gy) increased significantly, and the mean EUD for PTV2 was improved (59.9 vs. 55.3 Gy, p < 0.01). The EUD for PTV1 was only slightly improved (68.3 vs. 67.3 Gy). The EUD for the brain was equal with both planning techniques.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the presented planning study the integrated boost concept based on inversely planned IB-IMRT is feasible. The FET-PET-based automatically contoured PTV1 can lead to very complex geometric configurations, limiting the achievable mean dose in the boost volume. With IB-IMRT a better homogeneity and conformity, compared to 3D-CRT, could be achieved.</p

Strain design in B. licheniformis

Bacillus licheniformis ist ein Organismus von großem wissenschaftlichem und industriellem Interesse. Aufgrund seiner niedrigen natürlichen Kompetenzraten weist B. licheniformis DSM13 eine schlechte genetische Zugänglichkeit auf. Deswegen müssen bei diesem Organismus andere Transformationstechniken angewendet werden. Insbesondere Konjugation stellte hierfür eine gute Alternative dar. Das pKVM-System konnte ausgehend von E. coli auf verschiedene Bacillus-Spezies übertragen werden. Mit Hilfe dieses Vektorsystems konnten Mutationen in B. licheniformis erzeugt werden. B. licheniformis H1, ein naher Verwandter von B. licheniformis DSM13, besitzt effektive Restriktions-Modifikations-Systeme. Hierfür wurde ein in-vivo-Methylierungssystem etabliert, um das stammspezifische Methylierungsmuster zu erzeugen. Dieses System wurde genutzt, um einen Deletionsvektor für die Erzeugung einer markerfreien Deletion in B. licheniformis H1 zu übertragen. Der PBSX-orthologe Phage, ein induzierbarer Phage in B. licheniformis MW3, wurde durch homologe Rekombination deletiert. Die Mutante zeigte eine erniedrigte Sensitivität gegenüber Mitomycin C, das für die Induktion von lysogenen Phagen eingesetzt wird. Darüber hinaus konnten auch keine Phagenpartikel mehr identifiziert werden. Für ein Wachstum auf Harnstoff wurde der Urease-Gen-Cluster aus B. licheniformis 9945A auf den Urease-negativen Stamm B. licheniformis MW3 übertragen. Neben einer Instabilität der Insertion lieferte diese auch keinen Phänotyp. Das Genom von B. licheniformis 9945A, einem natürlich kompetenten Stamm, wurde sequenziert und analysiert. Im Vergleich zu B. licheniformis DSM13 besitzt dieser Stamm einen reduzierten Satz an potentiellen Prophagen. Drei NRPS-Gencluster mit Ähnlichkeiten zu Genen aus der Fengycin, Bacitracin und Lichenysin-Biosynthese konnten identifiziert werden

Facilitation of Direct Conditional Knockout of Essential Genes in Bacillus licheniformis DSM13 by Comparative Genetic Analysis and Manipulation of Genetic Competence▿ †

The genetic manageability of the biotechnologically important Bacillus licheniformis is hampered due to its poor transformability, whereas Bacillus subtilis efficiently takes up DNA during genetic competence, a quorum-sensing-dependent process. Since the sensor histidine kinase ComP, encoded by a gene of the quorum-sensing module comQXPA of B. licheniformis DSM13, was found to be inactive due to an insertion element within comP, the coding region was exchanged with a functional copy. Quorum sensing was restored, but the already-poor genetic competence dropped further. The inducible expression of the key regulator for the transcription of competence genes, ComK, in trans resulted in highly competent strains and facilitated the direct disruption of genes, as well as the conditional knockout of an essential operon. As ComK is inhibited at low cell densities by a proteolytic complex in which MecA binds ComK and such inhibition is antagonized by the interaction of MecA with ComS (the expression of the latter is controlled by cell density in B. subtilis), we performed an in silico analysis of MecA and the hitherto unidentified ComS, which revealed differences for competent and noncompetent strains, indicating that the reduced competence possibly is due to a nonfunctional coupling of the comQXPA-encoded quorum module and ComK. The obtained increased genetic tractability of this industrial workhorse should improve a wide array of scientific investigations

Complete Genome Sequences of the Chemolithoautotrophic Oligotropha carboxidovorans Strains OM4 and OM5

We report on genome sequencing of Oligotropha carboxidovorans strain OM4 and resequencing of strain OM5. The genomes of both are composed of one chromosome and two plasmids. The presence of two plasmids in the OM5 genome is inconsistent with the previously published sequence, for which only one plasmid was described (D. Paul, S. Bridges, S. Burgess, Y. Dandass, and M. Lawrence, BMC Genomics 11:511, 2010)

A New Mechatronic Assistance System for the Neurosurgical Operating Theatre: Implementation, Assessment of Accuracy and Application Concepts

Objective: To introduce a new robotic system to the field of neurosurgery and report on a preliminary assessment of accuracy as well as on envisioned application concepts. Based on experience with another system (Evolution 1 _ , URS Inc., Schwerin, Germany), technical advancements are discussed. Material/Methods: The basic module is an industrial 6 degrees of freedom robotic arm with a modified control element. The system combines frameless stereotaxy, robotics, and endoscopy. The robotic reproducibility error and the overall error were evaluated. For accuracy testing CT markers were placed on a cadaveric head and pinpointed with the robot’s tool tip, both fully automated and telemanipulatory. Applicability in a clinical setting, user friendliness, safety and flexibility were assessed. Results: The new system is suitable for use in the neurosurgical operating theatre. Hard- and software are user-friendly and flexible. The mean reproducibility error was 0.052–0.062 mm, the mean overall error was 0.816 mm. The system is less cumbersome and much easier to use than the Evolution 1. Conclusions: With its userfriendly interface and reliable safety features, its high application accuracy and flexibility, the new system is a versatile robotic platform for various neurosurgical applications. Adaptations for different applications are currently being realized