University of Mannheim

About: University of Mannheim is a education organization based out in Mannheim, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Politics. The organization has 4448 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 446557 citations. The organization is also known as: Uni Mannheim & UMA.

Theoretical Perspectives on European Governance

Abstract: The paper reviews some theories of social science which could contribute to the development of a concept of European governance going beyond traditional notions, such as federal states' or ‘international organisation’. The theoretical argument is based on the culturalist version of neo‐institutionalism, which stresses the role of ideas in the functioning and transformation of a political order. It is claimed that both globalisation and functional differentiation transform existing nation‐states and shape the emerging European polity. European governance is characterised as poly‐centric and non‐hierarchical. Finally, different approaches to the legitimation of such a polity are discussed. The paper comes to the conclusion that the emergence of a European political order is part of a process which could require a rethinking of basic social scientific concepts.

Identifying Cross-Channel Dissynergies for Multichannel Service Providers:

Abstract: In this article, the authors propose that in a multichannel environment, evaluative conflicts (dissynergies) between service channels exist. Building on status quo bias theory, they develop a model that relates offline channel satisfaction to perceptions about a new self-service channel. Data were collected from 639 customers currently using offline investment banking. Results show that offline channel satisfaction reduces the perceived usefulness and enhances the perceived risk of the online channel. These inhibiting effects represent a status quo bias. Trust in the bank shows both adoption-enhancing effects and an adoption-inhibiting effect. Finally, the negative relationship between offline channel satisfaction and perceived usefulness is significantly stronger for men, older people, and less experienced Internet users. This study has both theoretical and managerial relevance as it helps to understand consumer behavior in multichannel environments and provides implications for the design of multichannel service strategies.

Optimal Monetary Policy with Imperfect Common Knowledge

Abstract: This paper determines optimal nominal demand policy in a flexible price economy in which firms pay limited attention to aggregate variables. Firms' inattentiveness gives rise to idiosyncratic information errors and imperfect common knowledge about the shocks hitting the economy. This is shown to have strong implications for optimal nominal demand policy. In particular, if firms' prices are strategic complements and economic shocks display little persistence, monetary policy has strong real effects, making it optimal to stabilize the output gap. Weak complementarities and sufficient shock persistence, however, cause price level stabilization to become increasingly optimal. With persistent shocks, optimal monetary policy shifts from output gap stabilization in initial periods following the shock to price level stabilization in later periods, potentially rationalizing the medium-term approach to price stability adopted by some central banks.

De novo mutation in the SCN5A gene associated with early onset of sudden infant death

Abstract: Background— Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac ion channel disease, is an important cause of sudden cardiac death. Prolongation of the QT interval has recently been associated with sudden infant death syndrome, which is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 week and 1 year of age. Available data suggest that early onset of congenital LQTS may contribute to premature sudden cardiac death in otherwise healthy infants. Methods and Results— In an infant who died suddenly at the age of 9 weeks, we performed mutation screening in all known LQTS genes. In the surface ECG soon after birth, a prolonged QTc interval (600 ms1/2) and polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias were documented. Mutational analysis identified a missense mutation (Ala1330Pro) in the cardiac sodium channel gene SCN5A, which was absent in both parents. Subsequent genetic testing confirmed paternity, thus suggesting a de novo origin. Voltage-clamp recordings of recombinant A1330P mutant channel expressed in HEK-293 cel...