FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts

This chapter analyzes the utility of GenAI as a means of adequately gathering information on prevalent concepts in teaching supply chain management in higher education. We first develop and portray a framework for setting up a compendium of definitions using the explanatory power of GenAI as well as the comprehensiveness of classical textbooks, accompanied and critically reviewed by supply chain management experts. We then evaluate the resulting output by reflecting the need for content- and language adaptations and the extent of expert adaptations necessary to achieve correct explanations of supply chain management concepts such that students can use them for building up a profound and correct basic vocabulary in this field. Our results identify the extent to which GenAI outputs are correct, and confirm that this equates to the degree found in studies within other disciplines (e.g., medicine). We also show that GenAI can be used for creating uniform explanations of concepts in supply chain management, but that expert knowledge is required to validate the correctness of the outputs. The framework we developed can help to utilize the different sources of information in supply chain management education appropriately.

In order to achieve long-term and sustainable success as a company, international markets must be taken into consideration. Universities of Applied Sciences are therefore called upon to take international management topics into account in their curricula. The first part of this chapter documents the results of a study that analyzed the extent to which the business faculties of Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences meet this requirement in their bachelor’s degree courses. This part is based on an analysis of publicly accessible module descriptions of the business administration curricula. The results show that three patterns can be recognized: A first group of Universities of Applied Sciences tackle the issue of internationalization by providing degree programs in English with a clear international focus. A second group of universities does not offer a bachelor’s degree entirely in English, but offer a significant number of modules related to internationalization, including “compulsory modules”, “compulsory elective modules (specialization)”, and “other compulsory elective modules. And a third group of universities have no or very few modules with a clear reference to internationalization. In a second part of the paper, the integrated approach of the Internationalization Cube, which was implemented at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and its impact is presented.

Purpose —This paper aims to describe an amiable approach of addressing challenges to transitioning to a circular economy through collaboration and knowledge sharing between different partners. Design/methodology/approach —The design science research methodology is used to identify the problem of the circular economy, suggest solutions, develop a usable artefact based on gathered user feedback interviews (n = 15) with US recyclers and industry experts. Findings —There are two main approaches to navigating the circular economy, soft and hard methods. Hard methods include investing in digitalization and newer technologies to improve one’s processes. However, these methods require an initial capital investment and high operation costs, which can deter many SMEs. Soft methods on the other hand, include methods such as collaboration and sharing of knowledge . These methods require no initial investments, but rather rely on the use of learning from partners to improve their processes and gather data to evaluate internal structures. These soft methods are explained in detail and an artefact has been developed to showcase these approaches. Business and social implications —This article furthers ideas of the circular economy regarding collaboration to identify the right sourcing partner. This is of growing importance to meet regulatory requirements of increasing recycling quotas on specific materials like secondary plastic. Originality/value —The developed artefacts of material sheet and utility analysis tools improve the transparency of reusable material flows. It has been proven for a global producer of reusable plastic packaging solutions operating in the US with state-specific recycling content requirements. It provides a decision-framework to secure sourcing of secondary plastic to acceptable costs, CO 2 reduction/sustainability and partner’s fit.

Business model innovation (BMI) has become increasingly important in recent years, but the question remains as to why only a small number of companies are doing it. In addition, the rate of companies innovating in general is decreasing in Switzerland, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the barriers to business model innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises in Switzerland. A quantitative approach with a written survey sent to 4000 companies was adopted. A sample of 405 company managers from the Swiss canton of Schwyz responded. The data were statistically analysed using SPSS. The results show that medium-sized companies and those in high-tech sectors are more likely to engage in business model innovation. In contrast, smaller companies and those in less technical sectors face more challenges. The analysis identified seven barriers to BMI that are significant. Two barriers turned out to be triggers for BMI rather than actual obstacles. Past barriers were more intrinsic, related to diversity, risk aversion and own expertise. For current BMI plans, the most relevant barriers are more likely to be related to cost, technology and capacity. Additionally, the relevance of BMI may increase as companies focus on data and digital business models. These findings can assist companies in identifying and overcoming barriers in the innovation process. Furthermore, organisations such as economic development agencies or higher education institutions can adapt their services to better support SMEs in overcoming these barriers and fostering innovation.

This chapter introduces the thematic setting of the second volume of this book series “Sustainable Business Development” featuring 11 book chapters providing practical insights. With a rapidly growing concern for sustainability around the world, organizations face significant challenges they need to address. These challenges often relate to the concept of value at the core of organizations’ business models. Moreover, stakeholder groups often are the root cause of these challenges as they can exert significant pressures on organizations to become more sustainable. Furthermore, economic and political uncertainties can be cause for concern. However, these challenges also represent opportunities, if organizations address them, align their business models and respond to expectations from stakeholders appropriately. In this context, sustainable entrepreneurship can be useful with particular emphasis on suitable solutions, target customers, market environment, supply chain processes and financial logic.

This paper describes a 3D electromagnetic tracking (EMT) system, based on quasi-static magnetic fields and a sub-millimeter 3D magnetometer, providing complete localization – both spatial and angular positions – during surgical procedures. By integrating miniaturized sensors into surgical tools, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes, this tracking system offers complementary or alternative solutions for X-ray imaging. Each spatial position in the measurement volume (MV) is uniquely encoded by a vector of four magnetic field amplitudes using the multilateration principle. The orientation is derived from the three orthogonal components associated with this vector. The field generator (FG) was manufactured on printed circuit boards ensuring high reproducibility and accurate magnetic fields. Position localization was evaluated using a custom magnetic field camera placed at various positions in the MV while the orientation was evaluating using a stereotactic system used in DBS surgery. Finally, DBS implantations were simulated to conclude on the validity of the tracking system for DBS surgery. The system achieved spatial and angular errors of 1.72 mm and 0.89° within a MV of 15 x 15 x 15 cm3 located at 18 cm from the FG and an update rate of the position of 0.4 Hz. Better performances – mean spatial and angular errors of 0.87 mm and 0.52° – were achieved when simulating DBS implantations. With its large distance to the FG, this quasi-static EMT system is particularly well-suited for DBS surgery, offering regular feedback to neurosurgeons. The tracking system could also be adapted to other functional neurosurgeries.

This article focuses on the branding of Patriotic Alternative (PA), a British fascist organization and business, in three analytic steps: (i) branding as circulating ideologies as commodities; (ii) branding as creating—and selling—community, and (iii) branding as regimenting meaning. Building on work on the communicability of evil and language, nationalism, and political economy, we explore how PA uses the affordances of platform capitalism in a project that goes beyond ideological normalization: not just rebranding a message as acceptable but selling a product which builds a community aligned with this ideology. Looking at both brand and political websites, YouTube, as well as Telegram channels, we show how PA's branding functions to invest a wide range of mundane practices with racist meaning; they are imagined to forestall the great replacement. Rebranding racism as white community, every cup of tea sold brings back the world of your grandma, each bar of soap protects white skin. (Far-right semiosis, branding, platform capitalism)*

We report quantum-well SESAM and Kerr-lens modelocked alexandrite lasers pumped by red laser diodes emitting at 638 nm. The SESAM modelocked laser emits 95 fs pulses with an average output power of 315 mW at a pulse repetition rate of 84 MHz with a peak power of 35 kW and a pulse energy of 3.8 nJ. The Kerr-lens modelocked laser emits 44 fs pulses with an average output power of 110 mW at 100 MHz pulse repetition rate, corresponding to 22 kW of peak power and a pulse energy of 1.1 nJ. The combination of direct diode pumping with robust SESAM modelocking or sub-50 fs pulses generated by Kerr-lens modelocking enables various ultrafast laser applications.

Currently, there is no validated German tool that captures the basic needs as outlined in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in the organizational context. To be able to collect reliable and valid data for research and use the results of German research on SDT to derive and implement empirically grounded practical implications that foster employee well-being, performance, and companies’ growth, a validated measurement tool is a compulsory requirement. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a German version of the Work-related Basic Need Satisfaction scale. (W-BNS). We replicated the three-factor structure, as well as the reliability of the three subscales and could extensively confirm the construct- and the criterion-related validity of the original W-BNS for the German version (W-BNS-G, N = 648). Additionally, multi-group comparisons were conducted to investigate cultural measurement invariance with the Dutch and the Italian version of the W-BNS. In summary, the present study provides a tool with high reliability and validity assessing the basic needin the organizational context in German language. We address the potential comparability of German, Italian, and Dutch findings using the different versions of the W-BNS and conclude by discussing the limitations of the present study and deriving suggestions for future research.

This commentary is a response to Wolfgang Klein’s paper: Writing or reading, but not both, or: a proposal to reintroduce cuneiform writing using the hammer and chisel.

Enzymes unchained – enzymes immobilised on nanoparticles with a cleavable linker and shielded in an organosilica layer are activated upon reductive breakage of the linker. The organosilica layer prevents enzyme leaching.

Enzyme stability and activity are pivotal factors for their implementation in different industrial applications. Enzyme supramolecular engineering relies on the fabrication of a tailor‐made enzyme nano‐environment to ensure enzyme stability without impairing activity. Cyclodextrins (CDs), cyclic oligomers of glucose, act as protein chaperones and stabilize, upon interaction with hydrophobic amino acid residues exposed at the protein surface, its three‐dimensional structure. When used to build an organosilica layer shielding an enzyme, they enhance the protective effect of this layer. In the present study, we systematically assessed the protective effects of three organosilane derivatives based on ɑ‐, β‐ and γ‐CDs. A model lipase enzyme was immobilized at the surface of silica nanoparticles and shielded in an organosilica layer containing these organosilanes. Besides layer thickness optimization, the effect of different stressors (i. e., temperature, SDS, urea) was tested. Our results showed that organosilica layers produced with CDs improve enzyme thermal stability. They also support enzyme refolding after denaturation under chaotic conditions. Additionally, we demonstrated that the protective effect of the smallest CD derivative tested, namely ɑ‐CD, surpassed the other macrocycles studied for conferring the immobilized enzyme with higher resistance to stress conditions. This protection strategy was also applied to a thermostable β‐galactosidase enzyme.

Background Visual impairment (VI) is common among older adults aged 70 years and older, and its prevalence increases with advancing age. The optometry profession may play an important role in a patient-centred health system that incorporates medical and psychosocial aspects by working closely with low vision counselling services (LVCS). This paper investigates the current level of cooperation between optometry and LVCS by analysing the referral practice of optometrists to LVCS for the older population with VI, based on the PROVIAGE study. Methods A national, telephone-based survey of individuals aged ≥70 years and an online survey of professionals in ophthalmology, optometry and LVCS was conducted in 2022 across Switzerland. Results The responses of 154 individuals with VI and 272 professionals (123 ophthalmologists, 126 optometrists and 23 staff of low vision rehabilitation consulting centres) were analysed. Among the respondents with age-related VI, 33.1% stated that they were aware of LVCS. Of these, however, only 11.7% reported that they had visited such centres during the last five years. Sixty-eight percent of respondents attended the ophthalmologist, but only 1.3% went to the optometrist for vision-related problems. Among ophthalmologists, 95.9% indicated that they had referred patients to LVCS, whereas only 58.8% of optometrists had done so. Conclusions The results of this study highlighted the relationship between the different clinician referrals, patient needs, and potential barriers preventing referrals towards older adults in Switzerland. A stronger cooperation between professions in the care network will enhance vision care for the ageing population without the need for additional infrastructure.

Atolls are at risk of losing their ability to physically adapt due to rising sea levels and coral reefs’ reduced sediment supply, resulting in faster erosion of reef islands. This research examines Aldabra, a raised atoll and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Indian Ocean with diverse coastal ecosystems, to track shoreline changes against a regional sea level rise of 2–3 mm yr⁻¹. Aerial and satellite images in 1960 and 2011 were used to study 85% of the atoll’s shoreline through a Digital Shoreline Analysis System. Over 51 years, 61% of the shoreline remained unchanged, while 24% changed at an average rate of 0.25 ± 0.36 m yr⁻¹, a low rate compared to global atoll changes. Among the areas that did change, rates of accretion and erosion in absolute values were nearly balanced and affected similar percentages (12%) of the shoreline. However, localized changes were pronounced: for example, part of the lagoon shoreline transformed from a sandy beach to a mangrove habitat, accreting by 214 m over the period. Erosion occurred at crucial turtle nesting sites and the research station. The lagoon shoreline underwent more rapid changes than the erosion-resistant ocean shoreline, particularly in areas exposed to wind and waves. Despite its dynamic shoreline, Aldabra maintained its net shoreline and likely total land area over the past 51 years, akin to other Indo-Pacific atolls—underscoring its adaptive capacity. Our research suggests that current knowledge of geomorphological processes of low reef islands is transferable to the raised Aldabra Atoll, reconfirming similar mechanisms of island-building processes at the island crest. These insights highlight an urgent need to minimize local impacts on sediment availability and transfer that might alter the natural dynamics of the shoreline of reef islands and hence limit adaptation potential. Ongoing shoreline monitoring will remain crucial for informing timely adaptation strategies for the conservation of Aldabra’s unique ecosystem.