The Use of ITIL for Process Optimisation in the IT Service Centre of Harz University, exemplified in the Release Management Process

This paper details the use of the IT Infrastructure Library Framework (ITIL) for optimising process workflows in the IT Service Centre of Harz University in Wernigerode, Germany, exemplified by the Release Management Process. It is described, how, during the course of a special ITIL project, the As-Is-Status of the various original processes was documented as part of the process life cycle and then transformed in the To-Be-Status, according to the ITIL Best Practice Framework. It is also shown, how the ITIL framework fits into the four-layered-process model, that could be derived from interviews with the universities IT support staff, and how the various modified processes interconnect with each other to form a value chain. The paper highlights the final results of the project and gives an outlook on the future use of ITIL as a business modelling tool in the IT Service Centre of Harz University. It is currently being considered, whether the process model developed during the project could be used as a reference model for other university IT centres.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Perceived coach autonomy support, basic need satisfaction and the well- and ill-being of elite youth soccer players: A longitudinal investigation

Objectives: Drawing from the Basic Needs Theory [BNT; Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2002). An overview of self-determination theory. In E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), Handbook of self-determination research (pp. 3-33). Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press], the major purpose of the present study was to test a hypothesized sequence of temporal relationships between perceptions of coach autonomy support, basic need satisfaction and indices of well- and ill-being. A subsidiary aim was to ascertain the assumed mediational role of basic need satisfaction in explicating the perceived autonomy support and well-/ill-being relationships over time.\ud \ud Method: Participants (N = 54 males) from an elite youth soccer academy in the UK completed a multi-section questionnaire tapping the targeted variables on six occasions across two competitive seasons.\ud \ud Results: Multi-level regression analyses revealed that perceptions of coach autonomy support positively predicted within-person changes and between-person mean differences in basic need satisfaction and well-being over time. \ud \ud Satisfaction scores for the needs for competence and relatedness were found to predict within-person changes in subjective vitality. These same needs partially mediated the coach autonomy support-subjective vitality link over the two seasons.\ud \ud Conclusions: The findings partially support the tenets of BNT, and are discussed in terms of their practical application to participants involved in an elite youth sport setting. \u

Setting the stage: social-environmental and motivational predictors of optimal training engagement

In this paper, we will firstly explore the central tenets of SDT. Research that has examined the social-environmental and motivation-related correlates of optimal training, performance and health-related engagement through the theoretical lens of SDT will be reviewed. Drawing from SDT-driven work undertaken in educational, sport and dance settings, we will draw conclusions and suggest future directions from a research and applied perspective

Touristic signage on German Autobahns: Perception and reception of touristic roadside signage

There is an ever-increasing number of touristic brown signs on German Autobahns. According to the Guidelines for Touristic Signage, these are supposed to both provide information on destinations of touristic interest and to give directions to the locations in question. However, whether or not they are actually noticed by drivers, whether drivers can remember these signs and the Points of Interest (PoI) shown on them, and whether they influence the drivers’ decision-making behaviour have as yet not been scientifically investigated. For the first time, an online survey now provides information on the answers to these questions

Differential responses of plasmacytoid dendritic cells to influenza virus and distinct viral pathogens.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are key components of the innate immune response that are capable of synthesizing and rapidly releasing vast amounts of type I interferons (IFNs), particularly IFN-α. Here we investigated whether pDCs, often regarded as a mere source of IFN, discriminate between various functionally discrete stimuli and to what extent this reflects differences in pDC responses other than IFN-α release. To examine the ability of pDCs to differentially respond to various doses of intact and infectious HIV, hepatitis C virus, and H1N1 influenza virus, whole-genome gene expression analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and flow cytometry were used to investigate pDC responses at the transcriptional, protein, and cellular levels. Our data demonstrate that pDCs respond differentially to various viral stimuli with significant changes in gene expression, including those involved in pDC activation, migration, viral endocytosis, survival, or apoptosis. In some cases, the expression of these genes was induced even at levels comparable to that of IFN-α. Interestingly, we also found that depending on the viral entity and the viral titer used for stimulation, induction of IFN-α gene expression and the actual release of IFN-α are not necessarily temporally coordinated. In addition, our data suggest that high-titer influenza A (H1N1) virus infection can stimulate rapid pDC apoptosis. IMPORTANCE Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are key players in the viral immune response. With the host response to viral infection being dependent on specific virus characteristics, a thorough examination and comparison of pDC responses to various viruses at various titers is beneficial for the field of virology. Our study illustrates that pDC infection with influenza virus, HIV, or hepatitis C virus results in a unique and differential response to each virus. These results have implications for future virology research, vaccine development, and virology as a whole

Prädiktoren der Einstellung von Schülerinnen und Schülern zu Wildnis in Deutschland unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Vorstellungen und Migrationshintergrund : kumulative Dissertation

In der vorliegenden kumulativen Promotion wurden im Rahmen von drei separaten Teilstudien die Einstellung zu Wildnis von Schülerinnen und Schülern sowie die potenziellen Einstellungs-prädiktoren der Wildnisvorstellung und des Migrationshintergrundes untersucht. Hierbei diente die erste quantitative Schülerbefragung (n1 = 280) der Validierung eines Erhe-bungsinstrumentes zur Erfassung der Einstellung zu Wildnis. Im Rahmen der zweiten Erhebung (n2 = 266) erfolgte eine deskriptive Beschreibung von Wildniseinstellungen und -vorstellungen sowie ein Nachweis des prädiktiven Einflusses der Vorstellung von Wildnis auf die Einstellung zu Wildnis. In der dritten Fragebogenerhebung (n3 = 1356) zeigten sich hauptsächlich signifi-kante Einstellungs- und Vorstellungsunterschiede zwischen Personen ohne Migrationshinter-grund sowie Personen mit eigenen Migrationserfahrungen oder zwei Elternteilen mit einem Migrationshintergrund. Im Rahmen einer Mediationsanalyse konnte zudem aufgezeigt werden, dass sich der Migrationshintergrund sowohl indirekt über die Vorstellung von Wildnis als auch direkt negativ auf die Einstellung zu Wildnis auswirkt.In the present cumulative dissertation wilderness attitudes of students as well as the potential attitude predictors of wilderness perception and migratory background were assessed within the scope of three separate sub-studies. The first quantitative student survey (n1 = 280) served for the validation of the survey instru-ment about attitudes towards wilderness. In the scope of the second inquiry (n2 = 266) wilder-ness attitudes and perceptions of students were described and the predictive influence of wil-derness perceptions on wilderness attitudes was verified. The third inquiry (n3 = 1356) showed mainly significant differences in the attitudes and perceptions of persons without migrant back-ground and those who had personal migration experience or two parents with a migrant back-ground. Moreover, a mediation analysis could prove that the migrant background served on the one hand as a negative direct and on the other as a negative indirect attitude predictor via the wilderness perception

Entwicklung eines Modells zur Unterstützung von Investitionsentscheidungen in Wintersportstandorte unter Berücksichtigung klimatischer Aspekte

Wärmere Winter, weniger Naturschnee und sich immer weiter verschlechternde Rahmenbedingungen für künstliche Beschneiung – der anthropogene Klimawandel stellt die Wintersportbranche vor eine existentielle Herausforderung. Die Wirtschaft versucht diesem Problem primär durch technische Anpassungsmaßnahmen zu begegnen, deren bedeutendste die energieintensive und ökologisch umstrittene Produktion von Kunstschnee ist. Im Rahmen einer in diesem Beitrag kurz vorgestellten Masterarbeit an der FernUniversität Hagen wurde – auf Basis eines umfangreichen interdisziplinären Literaturreviews – ein Modell zur Unterstützung von Entscheidungen für oder gegen Standortbeschneiungen entwickelt, als Softwareprototyp realisiert und dessen Einsatz am Beispiel des Wintersportorts Schierke im Harz demonstriert

Kurzreview: Identifikation offener Forschungsfragen zur Integration ethischer Anforderungen in Softwareentwicklungsprozesse

Die gesamtgesellschaftliche Bedeutung von Software nimmt seit etwa zwei Jahrzehnten beständig zu. Auch wenn Anwenderinnen und Anwender dies nicht immer reflektieren, wirkt Software sich an vielen Stellen längst nicht mehr nur auf unternehmerische, sondern auch auf individuelle und teils höchstpersönliche Entscheidungs- und Meinungsbildungsprozesse aus, wobei es neben von den Softwareherstellern beabsichtigten auch zu zahlreichen unbeabsichtigten Effekten kommt. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Frage, inwieweit menschliche Ethik – und menschliche Werte – bei der Entwicklung von Algorithmen etwa zur Bewerberauswahl in Unternehmen oder zur Verbreitung politischer Inhalte in Sozialen Netzen Berücksichtigung finden. Das hier vorgelegte kursorische Kurzreview soll einen ersten Überblick des Themenfeldes liefern sowie die Identifikation derzeit offener Fragestellungen von zentraler Bedeutung sowie wesentlicher laufender Projekte im betrachteten Forschungsfeld unterstützen