An investment proposal for Atoss software Ag - focus area: return analysis

This paper aims to analyze ATOSS Software AG commercially and financially as a potential target for a private equity transaction. In the course of the analysis, it becomes apparent that ATOSS Software AG is an attractive target for a leveraged buyout as strategic and financial prospects appear to be promising. This part further focuses on the return analysis of ATOSS Software. The return analysis of the investment opportunity was conducted for both institutional investors and ATOSS management, and the MoMs are 4.4x and 19.1x, respectively

Ambient Room – new elements of interior design and their potential for modern library buildings

Die vorliegende Bachelorarbeit setzt sich mit der Verbindung von innovativer Innenarchitektur und modernem Bibliotheksbau auseinander. Anhand allgemeiner Gestaltungsmaßnahmen und aktuellen Produktentwicklungen, sowie deren Ein-satz in Räumen außerhalb von Bibliotheken, wird die Bedeutung und der Einfluss innovativer Innenarchitektur aufgezeigt. Daran anschließend wird das Potenzial einer innovativen Innenarchitektur auf Bibliotheken, deren Raumprogramm und Funktionen übertragen. Die Betrachtung moderner und herausragender Biblio-theksbauten in Europa und Deutschland veranschaulicht abschließend, wie eine moderne, kreative Innenarchitektur Bibliotheken bereichern kann.This bachelor thesis shows the combination of innovative interior design and modern library buildings. Based on general design policies, current product devel-opments and their use in areas outside of libraries demonstrate the importance and impact of innovative interior design. Related to this, the potential of innovative interior design will be transferred to the library sector and its functions. The con-sideration of modern and outstanding library buildings in Europe and Germany shows conclusively how to enrich libraries with a modern and creative interior design

Zu den Beschäftigungspotentialen einer Entkoppelung von Arbeits- und Betriebszeiten

"Die Untersuchung ist ein Beitrag zur Diskussion um die grundsätzliche Problematik, die sich zwischen der Forderung nach kürzeren Arbeitszeiten einerseits und dem Interesse an einer möglichst langen Nutzungsdauer der immer aufwendigeren Produktionsanlagen andererseits auftut. Als Einstieg in dieses Problembild hat das IAB zusammen mit dem ifo-Institut eine Betriebsbefragung im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe und im Handel durchgeführt. Sie allein erlaubt freilich noch keine umfassende Einschätzung der hier angeschnittenen Fragen; hierzu müßten vor allem auch die diesbezüglichen Arbeitnehmerpräferenzen genutzt werden. Im Zentrum stehen folgende Fragen: Wie groß und wie elastisch ist das gegenwärtige Arbeitplatzpotential, das - im Falle einer wie auch immer gearteten und erklärbaren Nachfragebelebung - ohne zusätzlichen Investitionsaufwand genutzt werden könnte? Lassen sich konsensfähige Arbeitszeit-/Betriebszeit-Modelle finden, die zugleich die arbeitsmarktpolitisch gebotene, weitere Verkürzung der effektiven Jahres-Arbeitszeit erlauben, dabei den Arbeitszeitwünschen und den Interessenlagen der Arbeitnehmer entgegenkommen und auch den betrieblichen Rentabilitätsbelangen entsprechen?" (Autorenreferat)Beschäftigung, Arbeitszeit, Betriebszeit, verarbeitendes Gewerbe, Großhandel, Einzelhandel, Schichtarbeit

Survey of storage systems for high-performance computing

In current supercomputers, storage is typically provided by parallel distributed file systems for hot data and tape archives for cold data. These file systems are often compatible with local file systems due to their use of the POSIX interface and semantics, which eases development and debugging because applications can easily run both on workstations and supercomputers. There is a wide variety of file systems to choose from, each tuned for different use cases and implementing different optimizations. However, the overall application performance is often held back by I/O bottlenecks due to insufficient performance of file systems or I/O libraries for highly parallel workloads. Performance problems are dealt with using novel storage hardware technologies as well as alternative I/O semantics and interfaces. These approaches have to be integrated into the storage stack seamlessly to make them convenient to use. Upcoming storage systems abandon the traditional POSIX interface and semantics in favor of alternative concepts such as object and key-value storage; moreover, they heavily rely on technologies such as NVM and burst buffers to improve performance. Additional tiers of storage hardware will increase the importance of hierarchical storage management. Many of these changes will be disruptive and require application developers to rethink their approaches to data management and I/O. A thorough understanding of today's storage infrastructures, including their strengths and weaknesses, is crucially important for designing and implementing scalable storage systems suitable for demands of exascale computing

Sensing dot with high output swing for scalable baseband readout of spin qubits

A key requirement for quantum computing, in particular for a scalable quantum computing architecture, is a fast and high-fidelity qubit readout. For semiconductor based qubits, one limiting factor is the output swing of the charge sensor. We demonstrate GaAs and Si/SiGe asymmetric sensing dots (ASDs), which exceed the response of a conventional charge sensing dot by more than ten times, resulting in a boosted output swing of $3\,\text{mV}$. This substantially improved output signal is due to a device design with a strongly decoupled drain reservoir from the sensor dot, mitigating negative feedback effects of conventional sensors. The large output signal eases the use of very low-power readout amplifiers in close proximity to the qubit and will thus render true scalable qubit architectures with semiconductor based qubits possible in the future.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Tailoring potentials by simulation-aided design of gate layouts for spin qubit applications

Gate-layouts of spin qubit devices are commonly adapted from previous successful devices. As qubit numbers and the device complexity increase, modelling new device layouts and optimizing for yield and performance becomes necessary. Simulation tools from advanced semiconductor industry need to be adapted for smaller structure sizes and electron numbers. Here, we present a general approach for electrostatically modelling new spin qubit device layouts, considering gate voltages, heterostructures, reservoirs and an applied source-drain bias. Exemplified by a specific potential, we study the influence of each parameter. We verify our model by indirectly probing the potential landscape of two design implementations through transport measurements. We use the simulations to identify critical design areas and optimize for robustness with regard to influence and resolution limits of the fabrication process.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Combined sedation with midazolam/propofol for gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although gastrointestinal endoscopy with sedation is increasingly performed in elderly patients, data on combined sedation with midazolam/propofol are very limited for this age group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively analyzed 454 endoscopic procedures in 347 hospitalized patients ≥ 70 years who had received combined sedation with midazolam/propofol. 513 endoscopic procedures in 397 hospitalized patients < 70 years during the observation period served as controls. Characteristics of endoscopic procedures, co-morbidity, complications and mortality were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Elderly patients had a higher level of co-morbidity and needed lower mean propofol doses for sedation. We observed no major complication and no difference in the number of minor complications. The procedure-associated mortality was 0%; the 28-day mortality was significantly higher in the elderly (2.9% vs. 1.0%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study on elderly patients with high level co-morbidity, a favourable safety profile was observed for a combined sedation with midazolam/propofol with a higher sensitivity to propofol in the elderly.</p

Human embryonic stem cell-derived test systems for developmental neurotoxicity: a transcriptomics approach

Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and many forms of reproductive toxicity (RT) often manifest themselves in functional deficits that are not necessarily based on cell death, but rather on minor changes relating to cell differentiation or communication. The fields of DNT/RT would greatly benefit from in vitro tests that allow the identification of toxicant-induced changes of the cellular proteostasis, or of its underlying transcriptome network. Therefore, the 'human embryonic stem cell (hESC)- derived novel alternative test systems (ESNATS)' European commission research project established RT tests based on defined differentiation protocols of hESC and their progeny. Valproic acid (VPA) and methylmercury (MeHg) were used as positive control compounds to address the following fundamental questions: (1) Does transcriptome analysis allow discrimination of the two compounds? (2) How does analysis of enriched transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) and of individual probe sets (PS) distinguish between test systems? (3) Can batch effects be controlled? (4) How many DNA microarrays are needed? (5) Is the highest non-cytotoxic concentration optimal and relevant for the study of transcriptome changes? VPA triggered vast transcriptional changes, whereas MeHg altered fewer transcripts. To attenuate batch effects, analysis has been focused on the 500 PS with highest variability. The test systems differed significantly in their responses (\20 % overlap). Moreover, within one test system, little overlap between the PS changed by the two compounds has been observed. However, using TFBS enrichment, a relatively large 'common response' to VPA and MeHg could be distinguished from 'compound-specific' responses. In conclusion, the ESNATS assay battery allows classification of human DNT/RT toxicants on the basis of their transcriptome profiles.EU/FP7/ESNATSDFGDoerenkamp-Zbinden Foundatio

Ocho grandes conciertos sinfónicos

Concerts celebrats en motiu de les festes del 2n. centenari de l'Associació Musical de Barcelona, dirigida per Lamote de GrignonEs van interpretar les següents peces: Requiem de Fauré; Novena simfonia de Beethoven; Calígula, de Fauré; L'Obertura d'El Príncep Ígor, de A. Borodin; Set Lieders i un Quintet, de Fauré; Concert per a violí i orquestra d'E. D'Albert; Simfonia, d'E. Moór; Joventut, de J. Manén; Poema simfònic, d'E. Morera; Balada, de J. Röntgen; Rapsòdia Rumana, de G. Enesco; Suite d'orquestra Ibèria, d'I. Albéniz; Preludi, de J. Huré; el Preludi de Parsifal, Siegfied-Idyll i Els Mestres Cantaires, de R. Wagner; Concert per a dos violins i orquestra, d'E. Moór; i la Balada per a dos pianos i orquestra de G. FauréOrquestra de l'Associació Musical de Barcelona, directors Franz Beidler, Gabriel Fauré, Pau Casal