CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF GLOBAL ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING PROGRAMMES: AN EMPIRICAL MODEL BASED ON EXPERT INTERVIEWS

The number of companies operating globally is constantly increasing. In order for these companies to operate globally, they require a global view of processes and their implementation in global enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. These ERP systems allow to integrate an organization’s information sources and to harmonize its processes across multiple sites and countries. But, not all global ERP programmes are successfully implemented. Some implementation projects fail in terms of classical project tracking, e.g. slippage of roll-out dates, budget overruns or missed qualitative objectives, while others fail more severely in their business impact, e.g. intended business benefits are not achieved including process standardization, process automation and asset carrying cost reduction. To reduce the number of failed ERP programs, their critical success factors have been investigated but reports of these are not sufficiently comprehensive for global programmes as multi-national operations generate aspects that need to be addressed for success. This study explores the critical success factors of global ERP programmes and derives a predictive model of success. Use of this model may aid companies in developing effective global ERP programmes

Towards a reference model for online research maps

The success of current global enterprise resource planning (ERP) programmes depends on a wider range of factors than encountered in previous ERP efforts. Therefore, a better understanding of how these factors contribute to the effectiveness of ERP will aid programme development. To this end, the validity of twelve success factors with two to seven associated management actions derived by prior research was verified by a survey evaluated with structural equation modelling (SEM) based on the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm. This study was able to verify all twelve success factors and more than 80% of the associated management actions. The results form a predictive model of success probability of global ERP programmes

An a priori thermodynamic data analysis based chemical lumping method for the reduction of large and multi-component chemical kinetic mechanisms

A chemical species lumping approach for reduction of large hydrocarbons and oxygenated fuels is presented. The methodology is based on an a priori analysis of the Gibbs free energy of the isomer species which is then used as main criteria for the evaluation of lumped group. Isomers with similar Gibbs free energy are lumped assuming they present equal concentrations when applied to standard reactor conditions. Unlike several lumping approaches found in literature, no calculation results from the primary mechanism have been employed prior to the application of our chemical lumping strategy. An 807 species and 7807 individual reactions detailed mechanism comprising n-decane, alpha-methylnaphthalene and methyl decanoate has been used. The thermodynamic data have been analyzed and 74 isomer groups have been identified within the oxidation of n-decane and methyl decanoate. The mechanism reduction has led to a mechanism size of 463 species and 7600 reactions. Thereafter the lumped mechanism has been checked under several reactor conditions and over a broad range of temperature, pressure, and equivalence ratio in order to quantify the accuracy of the proposed approach. In all cases, very good agreement between the predictions obtained using the lumped and the detailed mechanism has been observed with an overall absolute error below 12%. Effects of the lumping procedure on sensitivities and on isomer concentrations were considered to further demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach

Die Wirkung von Landnutzung und landnutzenden Akteuren auf die Enstehung unterschiedlicher physischer Erscheinungsformen in Agrarlandschaften

Heutige Agrarlandschaften stehen in der Kritik sich in ausgeräumte und unspezifische Räume zu wandeln, in denen wenige Fruchtarten auf immer größeren Schlägen angebaut werden und ein fortwährender Rückgang von Offenlandarten und artenreichen Biotopen stattfindet. In der bisherigen Forschung wurden vor allem die Ursachen für eine Homogenisierung landwirtschaftlicher Fluren betrachtet. Die vorliegende Dissertation untersucht hingegen durch welche Mechanismen ein höheres Maß an Heterogenität in Agrarlandschaften entsteht, entsprechend der Forschungsfrage: Unter welchen Voraussetzungen und durch welche Prozesse bilden sich unterschiedliche physische Erscheinungsformen in der heutigen Agrarlandschaft in einer bestimmten Anordnung heraus, um eine Vielfalt an Nischen für typische Arten und Wiedererkennungspunkte für den menschlichen Betrachter zu bieten? Im theoretischen Teil der Dissertation wurden Wirkungszusammenhänge für strukturbildende Prozesse in Agrarlandschaften aus den Forschungsfeldern der Landschaftsökologie sowie den Planungs- und Sozialwissenschaften ermittelt. Anschließend verknüpfte die Autorin diese Grundlagen zu einem Untersuchungsdesign, um die Forschungsfrage systematisch untersuchen zu können. Im angewandten Teil der Arbeit wurden drei landwirtschaftliche Fluren (Arnsgrün und Colmnitz in Sachsen, Lugau in Brandenburg) hinsichtlich der Mannigfaltigkeit und Dynamik der vorgefundenen physischen Erscheinungsformen in mehrmaligen Begehungen analysiert. Weiterhin führte sie leitfadenbasierte Interviews mit den landnutzenden Akteuren der untersuchten Fluren. Diese dienten u.a. zur Entwicklung einer Typologie, nach welcher die landnutzenden Akteure vertiefend betrachtet werden konnten. Im Ergebnis der Dissertation konnten Ursachen offen gelegt werden, welche zu einem höheren Maß an Nutzungsheterogenität beitragen. Hierzu zählten unterschiedliche, räumlich benachbarte Nutzungsziele und Alterszustände der Vegetation. Heterogene Nutzungsintensitäten und vielfältig angebaute landwirtschaftliche Kulturen zeigten im räumlichen Nebeneinander ebenfalls strukturbildende Wirkung. Die in der Dissertation festgestellten Zusammenhänge legten jedoch offen, dass einer Diversifizierung der Nutzung allein nicht ausreicht, um Agrarlandschaften positiv zu verändern. Vielmehr muss die Bedeutung der landnutzenden Akteure in die Planung einbezogen werden. So ließen sich bestimmte Merkmale der Landnutzer bzw. Akteurstypen feststellen, die mit einer hervorgehobenen Bedeutung für die Entstehung von Lebensräumen wildlebender Arten sowie für die menschliche Orientierung einhergingen. Gleichwohl verdeutlichten die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung, dass in erster Linie das Zusammentreffen verschiedener Akteure die Unterschiedlichkeit von physischen Erscheinungsformen in Agrarlandschaften befördert. Auf Grundlage des erhobenen Datenmaterials leitete die Autorin darüber hinaus acht strukturbildende Prinzipien für die drei untersuchten Fluren ab

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

A new complimentary web-based tool for manual analysis of microcirculation videos: validation of the capillary mapper against the current gold standard AVA 3.2

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to compare a newly developed web-based freely accessible software program for manual analysis of the microcirculation, the Capillary Mapper (CM), with AVA 3.2 software (AVA; MicroVision Medical B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands), which is the current gold standard for analysis of microcirculation videos. METHODS: A web-based software program was developed, which enables manual analysis of videos of the microcirculation to be carried out according to recommendations of the 2018 consensus conference. A set of 50 high quality microcirculation videos was analyzed with AVA and CM with respect to total vessel density, perfused vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, and the microvascular flow index. RESULTS: Comparison of the mean values derived from manual analysis with CM and AVA revealed no significant differences in microcirculatory variables. Analysis according to Bland and Altman revealed an acceptable bias between manual analysis with the CM and AVA for all variables tested with sufficient limits of agreement. The analysis of intraclass correlation showed "excellent" agreement for all microcirculatory variables analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed CM was successfully validated for manual analyses of microcirculation videos against the current gold standard, the software AVA 3.2

Towards a wave-extraction method for numerical relativity: IV. Testing the quasi-Kinnersley method in the Bondi-Sachs framework

We present a numerical study of the evolution of a non-linearly disturbed black hole described by the Bondi--Sachs metric, for which the outgoing gravitational waves can readily be found using the news function. We compare the gravitational wave output obtained with the use of the news function in the Bondi--Sachs framework, with that obtained from the Weyl scalars, where the latter are evaluated in a quasi-Kinnersley tetrad. The latter method has the advantage of being applicable to any formulation of Einstein's equations---including the ADM formulation and its various descendants---in addition to being robust. Using the non-linearly disturbed Bondi--Sachs black hole as a test-bed, we show that the two approaches give wave-extraction results which are in very good agreement. When wave extraction through the Weyl scalars is done in a non quasi-Kinnersley tetrad, the results are markedly different from those obtained using the news function.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure

Transplantationsstrategien in der Therapie der Non-Hodgkin-Lymphome

Insgesamt 104 Patienten mit Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen wurden von 01/2000 bis 12/2010 in der Universitätsmedizin Rostock mit einer hämatopoetischen Stammzelltransplantation behandelt. Sie erhielten entweder eine autologe, allogene oder autolog-allogene Transplantation. Das Überleben dieser drei Patientengruppen wurde retrospektiv analysiert und auf Einflussgrößen hin untersucht. Alle drei Transplantationsstrategien erwiesen sich als durchführbar und führten nach einer medianen Nachbeobachtungszeit von insgesamt 7,2 Jahren zum Langzeitüberleben

Articulação entre Álgebra e Matemática Financeira: intervenção educacional em ingressantes na carreira de Contador Público.

The teaching-learning process is defined as a dynamic construction that can be subjected to permanent feedback and modification of strategies, to capture rearticulations, giving place to educational research-action. The challenge of meaningful learning for all the actors in the aforementioned process promotes the emergence of a research query: is it feasible that curricular spaces can be vertically articulated in a university-level context, in the Public Accountant Career at the University of Cuenca del Plata, at its Posadasheadquarters?From the spaces of Algebra and Financial Mathematics, the teachers try to deliberately generate a spiral path of approximate successive approaches, to address the lack in establishing relationships between the concepts and methodology of Algebra, when solving situations in context.This article describes qualitative research accompanied by non-modeled, nonexperimental and longitudinal quantifications, which involve stages of exchange, reflection, register and evaluation of the joint. The university chair strategy is employed , and the administration of surveys to the students of the 2018 and 2019 cohorts of Algebra, in order to have feedback to the intervention, which promotes readjustments for future proactive actions in the previously defined curricular space.The choice of the guest-to-chair device gives place to an approach to the training of the future accountant sustained in a living, dynamic curriculum that respondsto the constructivist pedagogical model.The critical look at the results of the surveys gave place to three main axes of discussion for teachers: the analysis of the pedagogical proposal itself, the relationship of algebra with the pedagogical proposal, and finally the suggestions of the subjects surveyed.As a corollary, it can be confirmed, from the analysis of the results, that the answers of the questions raised had been achieved, since it was possible to establish a vertical articulation characterized by increased motivation for reflective actions before, during and after the interventions, which were generally perceived by the respondents as positive and conducive to projecting themselves as a student of the professionalization cycle.El proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje se define como una construcción dinámica, que se puede someter a una permanente retroalimentación y modificación de estrategias, para plasmar rearticulaciones, dando lugar a la investigación-acción educativa. El desafío del aprendizaje significativo para todos los actores del proceso mencionado, promueve el surgimiento de un interrogante de investigación: ¿es factible que se puedan articular verticalmente espacios curriculares en un contexto de nivel universitario, en la Carrera de Contador Público de la Universidad de la Cuenca del Plata, en su Sede Posadas?. A partir de los espacios de Álgebra y de Matemática Financiera, las docentes se proponen generar deliberadamente, un trayecto espiralado de aproximaciones sucesivas, para abordar las carencias en el establecimiento de relaciones entre los conceptos y la metodología del Álgebra, al momento de resolver situaciones en contexto.En este artículo se describe la investigación cualitativa acompañada de cuantificaciones no modelizadas, no experimental y longitudinal, que involucra etapas de intercambio, reflexión, registro y evaluación de la articulación. Se emplea la estrategia de invitado a cátedra, y la administración de encuestas a los estudiantes de las cohortes 2018 y 2019 de Álgebra, con el fin de contar con retroalimentaciones a la intervención, que promuevan readecuaciones para futuras acciones proactivas en el espacio curricular antes definido.La elección del dispositivo de invitado a cátedra da lugar a un abordaje de la formación del futuro contador sostenido en un currículo vivo, dinámico, que responda al modelo pedagógico constructivista.La mirada crítica hacia los resultados de las encuestas dio lugar a tres grandes ejes de discusión para las docentes: el análisis de la propuesta pedagógica propiamentedicha, la relación del Álgebra con la propuesta pedagógica, y finalmente, las sugerencias de los sujetos encuestados.Como corolario se puede afirmar, a partir del análisis de los resultados, que se ha logrado dar respuesta a los interrogantes planteados, ya que se pudo estableceruna articulación vertical caracterizada por el aumento de la motivación para acciones de reflexión antes, durante y después de las intervenciones, que fue percibida, en general, por los encuestados como positiva y propicia para proyectarse como estudiante del ciclo de profesionalización.  O processo de ensino-aprendizagem é definido como uma construção dinâmica, que pode ser objeto de permanente retroalimentação e modificação de estratégias, para moldar rearticulações, levando à pesquisa-ação educacional. O desafio da aprendizagem significativa para todos os atores do referido processo, promove o surgimento de uma questão de pesquisa: é viável que os espaços curriculares possam ser articulados verticalmente em um contexto de nível universitário, na Carreira de Contador Público da Universidade da Cuenca del Plata, em sua Sede Posadas?A partir dos espaços de Álgebra e Matemática Financeira, as docentes pretendem gerar deliberadamente um caminho em espiral de aproximações sucessivas, paraabordar as carências no estabelecimento de relações entre os conceitos e a metodologia da Álgebra, no momento de resolver situações em contexto.Este artigo descreve a pesquisa qualitativa acompanhada de quantificações não modeladas, não experimental e longitudinal, que envolve etapas de intercâmbio, reflexão, registro e avaliação da articulação. Utiliza-se a estratégia de convidado à cátedra, e a administração de pesquisas para os alunos das coortes 2018 e 2019 de Álgebra, com a finalidade de obter retroalimentacões à intervenção, que promova reajustes para futuras ações proativas no espaço curricular previamente definido.A escolha do dispositivo de convidado à cátedra dá origem a uma abordagem da formação do futuro contador sustentado em um currículo vivo e dinâmico, que responde ao modelo pedagógico construtivista.O olhar crítico sobre os resultados das pesquisas deu origem a três grandes eixos de discussão para as docentes: a análise da proposta pedagógica propriamentedita, a relação da Álgebra com a proposta pedagógica e, finalmente, as sugestões dos sujeitos pesquisados.Como corolário, pode-se afirmar, a partir da análise dos resultados, que se tem conseguido responder às questões colocadas, pois foi possível estabelecer uma articulação vertical caracterizada pelo aumento da motivação para ações de reflexão antes, durante e depois das intervenções, e que essa foi percebida, de forma geral, pelos entrevistados como positiva e propícia para se projetar como estudante do ciclo de profissionalização

Kombinationswirkungen umweltrelevanter Metallverbindungen in Lungenzellen

This project aims to investigate the genotoxicity of environmentally relevant particulate nickel and cadmium compounds in human lung cells as primary targets of metal-induced carcinogenicity. Special focus will be given to the question whether direct DNA damage or inhibition of DNA repair processes causing enhancing effects with other DNA damaging agents are predominant. In a first step, a sensitive procedure to quantify DNA adducts of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) was established. This method is based on HPLC with fluorescence detection and allows the specific and reproducible quantification of 1 DNA-adduct of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) per 108 base pairs in cultured cells. By this approach, we demonstrated the dose-dependent generation of DNA lesions and their repair in HeLa and A549 lung cells. The removal of DNA adducts of BPDE was inhibited by both NiCl2 and NiO in the non-cytotoxic concentration range. The results obtained so far indicate that the repair inhibition by Ni(II) observed previously also applies for lung cells and for both soluble and insoluble nickel compounds. Zusammenfassung Gesamtziel des Vorhabens ist die Abklärung der Genotoxizität von partikulären, umweltrelevanten Nickel- und Cadmiumverbindungen in menschlichen Lungenzellen als Zielzellen der metallinduzierten Kanzerogenese. Insbesondere soll abgeklärt werden, ob primäre gentoxische Effekte oder DNA-Reparaturinhibitionen im Vordergrund stehen, die in der Folge zu Wirkungsverstärkungen in Kombination mit anderen DNA-schädigenden Agentien führen. Hierfür wurde zunächst ein auf HPLC mit Fluoreszenzdetektion basierendes Testsystem zum empfindlichen Nachweis von DNA-Schäden des Benzo[a]pyrens (B[a]P) etabliert, welches nunmehr den spezifischen und reproduzierbaren Nachweis von 1 DNA-Addukt des Benzo[a]pyren 7,8-diol 9,10-epoxids (BPDE) pro 108 Basenpaare in Kulturzellen ermöglicht. Mit Hilfe dieses Testsystems wurde die dosisabhängige Induktion der DNA-Schäden und ihre Reparatur in HeLa- und A549-Zellen gezeigt. Die Entfernung der DNA-Läsionen wurde sowohl durch NiCl2 als auch durch NiO in nicht-cytotoxischen Konzentrationen gehemmt. Die bislang erhaltenen Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß die in Vorarbeiten gezeigten Reparaturinhibitionen durch NiCl2 auch in Lungenzellen zu beobachten sind und daß sowohl wasserlösliche als auch weitgehend wasserunlösliche Nickelverbindungen inhibitorisch auf die Nucleotid-Exzisionsreparatur wirken