The CC Model as Organizational Design Striving to Combine Relevance and Rigor

This paper addresses the design problem of ensuring engaged research's rigorous relevance and, especially, its implications regarding the engaged researcher's role. As a theoretical background, this paper firstly uses the "role concept” from the Business Engineering discipline where "role” is a fundamental element of generic method description. Secondly, it uses the "Design Science” paradigm's generic guidelines for the assessment of research activities and results to ensure that they meet both the rigor and relevance criteria. Based on these theories, the paper finally describes and discusses a collaborative research mode of practitioners and academics called the "Competence Center Model” (CC model). This model is a useful case to study what researchers actually do when they strive to combine rigor and relevance. With the benefit of hindsight, it is possible to discuss this research practice's effectiveness and its implied benefits for and strains on the researcher's rol

The Ethical Dilemma of Information Asymmetry in Innovation: Reputation, Investors and Noise in the Innovation Channel.

A sufficient and steady stream of innovations is widely seen as a basis for healthy modern economies. Governments divert substantial resources from other purposes in society to increase innovation. Yet the failure rate among innovative SMEs is high, suggesting that resources are wasted. Avoiding such waste is a challenge for both governments and investors, but also raises a question for the innovative company, namely how to build and fund the\ud enterprise on an ethical basis. The dilemma of giving in to temptations to ‘cut corners’ clearly exists, for example to exploit the inevitable asymmetry of information arising in innovation and potentially deploy this in support of misleading claims about specific capabilities and/or the unjustified creation and exploitation of reputation. This is consistent with Olaf Fisscher’s finding that entrepreneurs starting new ventures tend to exhibit an inherent bias towards compromising their own values in order to succeed at any cost. When the innoSME’s aspirations are unrealistic or the proposed innovations are of marginal value, the ethical issues are broader and extend also to those who are potential financiers. Noting this as a gap in the ethics literature, we argue that the current situation fails to match economic and ethical ideals and that work is needed to develop tools which allow those who provide finance and support for innovation to target it more effectively at those who have a prospect of successfully launching genuine innovations and thus reduce the ‘noise’ in the innovation field

Community evolution in patent networks: technological change and network dynamics

When studying patent data as a way to understand innovation and technological change, the conventional indicators might fall short, and categorizing technologies based on the existing classification systems used by patent authorities could cause inaccuracy and misclassification, as shown in literature. Gao et al. (International Workshop on Complex Networks and their Applications, 2017) have established a method to analyze patent classes of similar technologies as network communities. In this paper, we adopt the stabilized Louvain method for network community detection to improve consistency and stability. Incorporating the overlapping community mapping algorithm, we also develop a new method to identify the central nodes based on the temporal evolution of the network structure and track the changes of communities over time. A case study of Germany’s patent data is used to demonstrate and verify the application of the method and the results. Compared to the non-network metrics and conventional network measures, we offer a heuristic approach with a dynamic view and more stable results

Community evolution in patent networks: technological change and network dynamics

When studying patent data as a way to understand innovation and technological change, the conventional indicators might fall short, and categorizing technologies based on the existing classification systems used by patent authorities could cause inaccuracy and misclassification, as shown in literature. Gao et al. (International Workshop on Complex Networks and their Applications, 2017) have established a method to analyze patent classes of similar technologies as network communities. In this paper, we adopt the stabilized Louvain method for network community detection to improve consistency and stability. Incorporating the overlapping community mapping algorithm, we also develop a new method to identify the central nodes based on the temporal evolution of the network structure and track the changes of communities over time. A case study of Germany’s patent data is used to demonstrate and verify the application of the method and the results. Compared to the non-network metrics and conventional network measures, we offer a heuristic approach with a dynamic view and more stable results

Blutungsgefahr unter Argatroban zur Antikoagulation in der frühen postoperativen Phase nach kardiochirurgischen Eingriffen im Vergleich zu Heparin

Die Verwendung von Argatroban nach Herz-Thorax-chirurgischen Eingriffen als alternatives postoperatives Antikoagulans zu Heparin ist bisher wenig untersucht. Argatroban ist ein di-rekter Thrombininhibitor, der hepatisch metabolisiert wird. Die Steuerung der Antikoagulation mit Argatroban ist schwierig bei Leberfunktionsstörung und bei kritisch Kranken, zudem exis-tiert kein Antidot. Zahlen zu Blutungskomplikationen bei Patienten nach Herz-Thorax-chirurgischen Eingriffen im Vergleich zur Standardantikoagulation mit Heparin sind nicht be-schrieben. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, einen quantitativen Vergleich der Blutungsraten unter Argatroban und Heparin in der frühen postoperativen Phase nach Herz-Thorax-chirurgischen Eingriffen anzustellen sowie mögliche Ursachen dafür aufzuzeigen. Ausgewertet wurden die Daten von 215 Patienten, die zwischen 02/2010 und 03/2011 am Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes eine Herz-Thorax-chirurgische Operation erhielten, nachfolgend mindestens 48 Stunden auf der Intensivstation verbrachten und dort mit Heparin (n=143) oder Argatroban (n=43) antikoaguliert oder im Verlauf von Heparin auf Argatroban umgestellt wurden (n=29). Als Blutungskomplikation wurden in der Akte dokumentierte Blutungen, ein Hb-Abfall ≥ 2g/dl innerhalb von 72 Stunden ohne Verdünnung (MW d. Volumenbilanz + 1 SD) oder ein erhöh-ter EK-Verbrauch/Tag (MW + 2 SD) gewertet. Die prä- sowie postoperative Leberfunktion wurde über MELD- und Child-Pugh-Scores sowie Bilirubin-, GOT-, GPT- und gGT-Werte erfasst. Zum Gerinnungsmonitoring wurden die aPTT sowie Thrombozytenzahlen dokumen-tiert. Basisdaten der OP sowie das postoperative Outcome der drei Gruppen wurden mitei-nander verglichen. In einem zweiten Schritt wurden potentiell bedeutende Parameter wie die Krankheitsschwere, das Alter etc. mit dem Auftreten einer Blutungskomplikation korreliert und zuletzt eine multivariate logistische Regressionsanalyse durchgeführt, um den Einfluss aller Parameter auf das tatsächliche Blutungsrisiko zu messen. Insgesamt traten 57 Blutungsereignisse auf. 2,5-mal häufiger und somit signifikant waren Argatroban- und Wechsler-Patienten als die Heparin-Gruppe betroffen (46,5% und 41,2% vs. 17,5%; p<0,001 und p=0,011). Das Blutungsrisiko zeigte sich in der Argatroban-Gruppe zu-nächst deutlich erhöht (OR: 4,1 p<0,001). Der Vergleich der Krankheitsschwere (SAPS II-Score), postoperativer Leberfunktion, Thrombozytenzahlen, Komorbiditäten und OP-Dauer fiel jedoch deutlich zu Ungunsten der Argatroban-Patienten aus. Diese Parameter sowie das Patientenalter zeigten zudem in Korrelationsanalysen einen Einfluss auf das Risiko einer Blutungskomplikation. In einem an diese Confounder adjustierten Modell relativierte sich das erhöhte Blutungsrisiko unter Argatroban (OR: 2,2 p=n.s. (0,06)) und blieb auch nach Hinzu-nahme weiterer Faktoren in der Sensitivitätsanalyse nicht signifikant erhöht. Im Zuge der näheren Untersuchung des Zeitpunkts einer Blutungskomplikation zeigte sich, dass rund die Hälfte der Blutungskomplikationen vor dem Start der Antikoagulation aufgetre-ten war. Da die Gruppenzugehörigkeit aber auf Basis des im Verlauf verwendeten Antikoa-gulans definiert wurde, kam es zu der scheinbar erhöhten Blutungsrate unter Argatroban. Gerade bei Patienten, die mit Argatroban antikoaguliert wurden, lag der Anteil des Auftretens einer Blutungskomplikation vor Beginn der Antikoagulation bei rund 70%. Ein daher nochmals vorgenommener Vergleich zwischen Patienten mit Blutungskomplikation nach Starten der Antikoagulation mit denjenigen, welche zu keinem Zeitpunkt auf der Inten-sivstation eine Blutungskomplikation aufwiesen, bestätigte die Annahme, dass weniger das postoperativ applizierte Antikoagulans, sondern vielmehr begleitende Faktoren wie Komorbi-ditäten, Krankheitsschwere und Gerinnungsparameter maßgeblichen Einfluss auf das Blu-tungsrisiko haben. Anhand der Daten kann daher festgestellt werden, dass es postoperativ nach Herz-Thorax-chirurgischen Eingriffen zu Blutungskomplikationen kam, noch ehe eine Antikoagulation ge-startet wurde. Blutungskomplikationen zeigten sich zudem deutlich abhängig von Faktoren der Gerinnung, des Alters oder der Krankheitsschwere. Unter Berücksichtigung der vorge-nannten Aspekte war die Zahl der eingeschlossenen Patienten zu gering, um statistisch vali-de Angaben zum tatsächlichen Blutungsrisiko unter Argatroban im Vergleich zu Heparin ma-chen zu können. Allerdings zeigte sich unter Argatroban kein erkennbar erhöhtes Risiko für Blutungskomplikationen. Aufgrund eines bislang fehlenden Antidots sollte die Indikation zur Gabe von Argatroban zur postoperativen Antikoagulation nach Herz-Thorax-chirurgischen Eingriffen jedoch weiterhin individuell evaluiert und kritisch geprüft werden.The use of argatroban after cardiac surgery as an alternative postoperative anticoagulant to heparin has been poorly studied. Argatroban is a direct thrombin inhibitor that is hepatically metabolized. Controlling the anticoagulation with argatroban is difficult in liver dysfunction and critically ill patients, in addition, there is no antidote. There are no studies reporting num-bers of bleeding complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery compared to standard heparin anticoagulation. The aim of this study was to provide a quantitative comparison of bleeding events among argatroban and heparin in the early postoperative setting after cardi-othoracic surgery, as well as the identification of possible causes. Data were evaluated from 215 patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery at Saarland University Hospital between 02/2010 and 03/2011, subsequently spent at least 48 hours in the intensive care unit and were treated with heparin (n = 143) or argatroban ( n = 43) or switched from heparin to argatroban during their ICU stay (n = 29). Bleeding complication was defined as documented bleeding complications, decrease of he-moglobine by more than 2 g/dl without dilution (mean value of volume balance plus one standard deviation) or increased need of red blood cell transfusion/day (average transfusion rate + 2 standard deviations). Pre- and postoperative liver function was assessed by MELD and Child-Pugh scores as well as bilirubin, GOT, GPT and gGT values. Coagulation was monitored by aPTT and platelet counts. Basic surgical data and the postoperative outcome of the three groups were compared. Secondary potentially significant parameters, such as disease severity, age etc. were corre-lated with the incidence of bleeding complications and finally a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to measure the influence of all parameters on actual bleeding risk. A total of 57 bleeding events occurred. Argatroban and switched patients were 2,5 times more often and significantly more affected than the heparin group (46,5% and 41,2% vs. 17,5%, p <0,001 and p = 0,011). The risk of bleeding initially was significantly increased in the argatroban group (OR: 4,1 p <0,001). However, comparison of disease severity (SAPS II score), postoperative liver function, platelet counts, comorbidities and duration of surgery was significantly less favourable among argatroban patients. These parameters as well as the age of the patient showed an influence on the risk of bleeding complications in correlation analyzes. Including these confounders the increased bleeding risk with argatroban was re-duced (OR: 2,2 p = n.s. (0,06)), and was not longer significantly higher, even after additional factors were included in the sensitivity analysis. Closer examination of the time point of a bleeding complication revealed that approximately half of the bleeding complications occurred prior to initiation of anticoagulation. However, since group affiliation was defined on the anticoagulant used in the course, argatroban ap-peared to have an increased bleeding rate. Especially in patients who were anticoagulated with argatroban, around 70% of bleeding complications occurred before initiation of antico-agulation. Therefore, a further comparison between patients with bleeding complications after starting the anticoagulation with those who had no bleeding complication at any time at intensive care unit, confirmed the assumption that less postoperatively applied anticoagulant, but ra-ther concomitant factors such as comorbidities, disease severity and coagulation parameters have a significant influence on the risk of bleeding. Based on this study, it can therefore be established that postoperative bleeding complica-tions after cardiothoracic surgery occur even before anticoagulation is started. Bleeding complications were also significantly dependent on factors of coagulation, age or disease severity. Taking into account the above-mentioned aspects, the number of patients included was too small to provide statistically valid information on the actual risk of bleeding under argatroban compared to heparin. However, argatroban was not associated with a significant-ly increased risk of bleeding complications. However, due to the lack of an antidote, the indi-cation for the administration of argatroban for postoperative anticoagulation after cardiotho-racic surgery should actually be individually and critically evaluated

Geophysical Investigations of a Rural Water Point Installation Program in Nampula Province, Mozambique

There are many projects in Mozambique for poverty reduction. One of these projects is funded by Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and is aimed to install a total of 600 rural water points in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado. Each water point consists of a drilled well, a water pump and a communal washing basin. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was used for assessing the uitability of the drill sites but despite this many boreholes have come out with an insufficient yield and the failure rates in certain areas are as high as 50 %. Continuous Vertical Electrical Sounding (CVES), also known as Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), was carried out in an attempt to explain the high failure rate. In total 11 sites were investigated, including seven boreholes with sufficient yield and five boreholes with insufficient yield. A perpendicular cross with two 400m survey lines were made over 7 boreholes and single 400m survey lines were made over 5 boreholes. Due to lateral variation the geology in study area is best described in 3D therefore ERT appears to be a suitable method for groundwater exploration and could probably lower the failure rate

An incubation perspective on social innovation : the London Hub - a social incubator

In the context of incubators, particularly those that are driven to achieving social objectives, this paper investigates core processes that support the development of social innovation. Social innovation as this paper argues is underpinned by a new form of social collaboration and engagement built upon strong forms of sharing knowledge and learning. Coupled with this is the element of social capital reinforced by entrepreneurship and leadership that promotes sustainability in the community. These factors drive innovative thinking and ways of engaging among stakeholders in order to create new forms of socio-economic impact. Such value-creating activity occurs in firms that operate within incubators involving a wide range of stakeholders who work through networks to co-create and meet social challenges. Through a case study of a social incubator and an incubatee, we demonstrate the core processes that irradiate the argument on social innovation. The contribution of this paper is threefold: firstly, social innovation is an emerging area of research, of which there is a dearth in terms of examining the processes empirically. We address the gap in this field by demonstrating the value of social collaboration and engagement using different innovation models. Secondly, we establish links between social innovation and incubation using the concept of social capital. This allows us to achieve our third contribution: exemplification of a dyadic value-based partnership and collaboration processes between an incubator and an incubatee, through activities driven by social innovation which aim to have social impact. The paper concludes with practice implications and suggests directions for future research