Just Digital or Multi-Channel? The Preferences of E-Government Service Adoption by Citizens and Business Users

The digital world has entered governments and public sector institutions. In that context, public e-services have been gaining increasing importance in recent years. However, will everything end up being digital in the future? This article investigates the preferences of citizens and business users to adopt different public services electronically and via further offline channels. Data of 500 citizens and 500 companies were collected together with the German Federal Employment Agency. Our findings indicate that citizens as well as business users ask for a multi-channel offering. They prefer to deliberately choose subjective suitable channels for different services. We furthermore observed a difference between companies from different industries as well as between small and medium-to-large companies, such as the latter ones having a stronger preference for online channels than small companies

Can Social Media Help to Alleviate Skilled Worker Shortage? First Insights from the German Federal Employment Agency

Due to a growing skilled worker shortage ever more companies are looking for new and innovative ways of recruiting talent. While first companies have started using social media for recruiting, there is still a lack of research on this topic, in particular on the use of social media for active sourcing. Therefore, this paper investigates, based on a case study at the German Federal Employment Agency, how active sourcing via social media can help to alleviate skilled worker shortage. Our findings indicate that social media are a suitable means to staff open job positions for which the traditional recruiting process failed, in particular for job positions requiring a high-quality matching and applicants with an academic background. The creation of a modern brand and the strengthening of networking activities of employees are a positive by-product

Customer Lifetime Network Value

Today, people are increasingly connected and extensively interact with each other using technology-enabled media. Hence, customers are more frequently exposed to social influence of other customers when making purchase decisions. However, established approaches for customer valuation most widely neglect network effects based on social influence leading to a misallocation of resources. Therefore, following a design-oriented approach, this paper develops a model for customer valuation referred to as the customer lifetime network value (CLNV) incorporating an integrated network perspective. By considering the net network contribution of customers, the CLNV reallocates values between customers based on social influence without changing the overall network value, that is, a firm’s customer equity. Using a real-world dataset of a European online social network, we demonstrate and evaluate the applicability of the CLNV. We show that the CLNV enables a sound determination of both individual customers’ value and firm’s customer equity and supports thorough customer segmentation

Catalytic Hydrogenations with Cationic Heteroleptic Copper(I)/N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

A new heteroleptic cationic copper(I) complex bearing two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands has been prepared. In situ, a Cu-O bond can be generated which enables the complex to catalytically activate H (2) . The resulting complex shows activity in catalytic chemo- and stereoselective alkyne semihydrogenations as well as conjugate reductions of enones

Customer lifetime network value: customer valuation in the context of network effects

Nowadays customers are increasingly connected and extensively interact with each other using technology-enabled media like online social networks. Hence, customers are frequently exposed to social influence when making purchase decisions. However, established approaches for customer valuation mostly neglect network effects based on social influence. This leads to a misallocation of resources. Following a design-oriented approach, this paper develops a model for customer valuation referred to as the customer lifetime network value (CLNV) incorporating an integrated network perspective. By considering the customers' net contribution to the network, the CLNV reallocates values between customers based on social influence. Inspired by common prestige- and eigenvector-related centrality measures it incorporates social influence among all degrees of separation acknowledging its viral spread. Using a real-world dataset, we demonstrate the practicable applicability of the CLNV to determine individual customers' value

Abatacept modulates CD80 and CD86 expression and memory formation in human B-cells

Background: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) limits T-cell activation and is expressed on T-regulatory cells. Human CTLA-4 deficiency results in severe immune dysregulation. Abatacept (CTLA-4 Ig) is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its mechanism of action is attributed to effects on T-cells. It is known that CTLA-4 modulates the expression of its ligands CD80 and CD86 on antigen presenting cells (APC) by transendocytosis. As B-cells express CD80/CD86 and function as APC, we hypothesize that B-cells are a direct target of abatacept. Objectives: To investigate direct effects of abatacept on human B-lymphocytes in vitro and in RA patients. Methods: The effect of abatacept on healthy donor B-cells’ phenotype, activation and CD80/CD86 expression was studied in vitro. Nine abatacept-treated RA patients were studied. Seven of these were followed up to 24 months, and two up to 12 months only and treatment response, immunoglobulins, ACPA, RF concentrations, B-cell phenotype and ACPA-specific switched memory B-cell frequency were assessed. Results: B-cell development was unaffected by abatacept. Abatacept treatment resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of CD80/CD86 expression on B-cells in vitro, which was due to dynamin-dependent internalization. RA patients treated with abatacept showed a progressive decrease in plasmablasts and serum IgG. While ACPA-titers only moderately declined, the frequency of ACPA-specific switched memory B-cells significantly decreased. Conclusions: Abatacept directly targets B-cells by reducing CD80/CD86 expression. Impairment of antigen presentation and T-cell activation may result in altered B-cell selection, providing a new therapeutic mechanism and a base for abatacept use in B-cell mediated autoimmunity.Fil: Lorenzetti, Raquel. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Janowska, Iga. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Smulski, Cristian Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; ArgentinaFil: Frede, Natalie. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Henneberger, Nadine. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Walter, Lea. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Schleyer, Marei-Theresa. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Hüppe, Janika M.. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Staniek, Julian. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Salzer, Ulrich. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Venhoff, Ana. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Troilo, Arianna. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Voll, Reinhard Edmund. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Venhoff, Nils. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Thiel, Jens. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Rizzi, Marta. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; Alemani

TÉCNICA DA MATRIZ PALATINA DE SILICONA PARA RESTAURAÇÕES ESTÉTICAS EM DENTES ANTERIORES E ESTRATIFICAÇÃO COM RESINAS COMPOSTAS: RELATO DE CASO

A evolução dos materiais restauradores associados ao uso dos sistemas adesivos possibilitou a realização de restaurações estéticas com pouco desgaste dental, resultando em procedimentos mais conservadores. Assim, o cirurgião dentista devolve ao paciente um sorriso saudável com características e aparência naturais, pois as resinas compostas disponíveis no mercado oferecem diferentes graus de opacidade e translucidez. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se relatar um caso clínico envolvendo restaurações de dentes anteriores utilizando-se a técnica da guia de silicone. Clinicamente, o paciente apresentava restaurações classe IV na região distal do elemento 11 e mesial do elemento 12, com microfraturas nas faces proximais e infiltração marginal, tornando essas restaurações insatisfatórias do ponto de vista funcional e estético, justificando o tratamento restaurador; por se tratarem de dentes anterossuperiores, optou-se pela utilização da técnica da matriz palatina direta de silicona. Nessa técnica, a massa-base e a massa catalisadora de silicona são manipuladas até apresentarem uma consistência homogênea, posteriormente, são inseridas sobre os elementos dentais, envolvendo os contornos incisais, proximais, vestibular e face palatina dos elementos a serem restaurados e uma pequena área do palato duro entre os caninos, o que dará suporte à guia, deixando-a mais estável em boca. Após a presa, efetua-se o corte da guia com lâmina de bisturi, deixando expostos os contornos incisais e a face palatina. Depois disso, as restaurações de resina composta são removidas, sob isolamento absoluto modificado e proteção dos dentes adjacentes, posteriormente, os dentes a serem restaurados são submetidos a condicionamento ácido tradicional e à aplicação de adesivo. Após isso, a guia palatina é adaptada, e os incrementos de resina composta são colocados e fotopolimerizados. Posteriormente, realiza-se o ajuste das restaurações em posição protrusiva, lateralidade e em máxima intercuspidação habitual. A utilização dessa técnica facilita a realização da restauração, definindo uma ótima anatomia dos elementos dentais e reduzindo o tempo clínico.Palavras-chave: Estética dentária. Resinas compostas. Materiais dentários

Functional Analysis of Ficolin-3 Mediated Complement Activation

The recognition molecules of the lectin complement pathway are mannose-binding lectin and Ficolin -1, -2 and -3. Recently deficiency of Ficolin-3 was found to be associated with life threatening infections. Thus, we aimed to develop a functional method based on the ELISA platform for evaluating Ficolin-3 mediated complement activation that could be applicable for research and clinical use. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was acetylated (acBSA) and chosen as a solid phase ligand for Ficolins in microtiter wells. Binding of Ficolins on acBSA was evaluated, as was functional complement activation assessed by C4, C3 and terminal complement complex (TCC) deposition. Serum Ficolin-3 bound to acBSA in a calcium dependent manner, while only minimal binding of Ficolin-2 and no binding of Ficolin-1 were observed. No binding to normal BSA was seen for any of the Ficolins. Serum C4, C3 and TCC deposition on acBSA were dependent only on Ficolin-3 in appropriate serum dilutions. Deposition of down stream complement components correlated highly significantly with the serum concentration of Ficolin-3 but not with Ficolin-2 in healthy donors. To make the assay robust for clinical use a chemical compound was applied to the samples that inhibited interference from the classical pathway due to the presence of anti-BSA antibodies in some sera. We describe a novel functional method for measuring complement activation mediated by Ficolin-3 in human serum up to the formation of TCC. The assay provides the possibility to diagnose functional and genetic defects of Ficolin-3 and down stream components in the lectin complement pathway

A citizen science approach: A detailed ecological assessment of subtropical reefs at point lookout, Australia

Subtropical reefs provide an important habitat for flora and fauna, and proper monitoring is required for conservation. Monitoring these exposed and submerged reefs is challenging and available resources are limited. Citizen science is increasing in momentum, as an applied research tool and in the variety of monitoring approaches adopted. This paper aims to demonstrate an ecological assessment and mapping approach that incorporates both top-down (volunteer marine scientists) and bottom-up (divers/community) engagement aspects of citizen science, applied at a subtropical reef at Point Lookout, Southeast Queensland, Australia. Marine scientists trained fifty citizen scientists in survey techniques that included mapping of habitat features, recording of substrate, fish and invertebrate composition, and quantifying impacts (e.g., occurrence of substrate damage, presence of litter). In 2014 these volunteers conducted four seasonal surveys along semi-permanent transects, at five sites, across three reefs. The project presented is a model on how citizen science can be conducted in a marine environment through collaboration of volunteer researchers, non-researchers and local marine authorities. Significant differences in coral and algal cover were observed among the three sites, while fluctuations in algal cover were also observed seasonally. Differences in fish assemblages were apparent among sites and seasons, with subtropical fish groups observed more commonly in colder seasons. The least physical damage occurred in the most exposed sites (Flat Rock) within the highly protected marine park zones. The broad range of data collected through this top-down/bottomup approach to citizen science exemplifies the projects' value and application for identifying ecosystem trends or patterns. The results of the project support natural resource and marine park management, providing a valuable contribution to existing scientific knowledge and the conservation of local reefs