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Effects on Risk Taking Resulting from Limiting the Value at Risk or the Lower Partial Moment One
(1997)
On the Compatibility of Value at Risk, Other Risk Concepts, and Expected Utility Maximization
(1996)
Active optics is an enabling technology for future large space telescopes. Image-based wavefront control uses an image-sharpness metric to evaluate the optical performance. A control algorithm iteratively adapts a corrective element to maximize this metric, without reconstructing the wavefront. We numerically study a sharpness metric in the space of Zernike modes, and reveal that for large aberrations the Zernike modes are not orthogonal with respect to this metric. The findings are experimentally verified by using a unimorph deformable mirror as
corrective element. We discuss the implications for the correction process and the design of control algorithms.
With a view to the next generation of large space telescopes, we investigate guide-star-free, image-based aberration correction using a unimorph deformable mirror in a plane conjugate to the primary mirror. We designed and built a high-resolution imaging testbed to evaluate control algorithms. In this paper we use an algorithm based on the heuristic hill climbing technique and compare the correction in three different domains, namely the voltage domain, the domain of the Zernike modes, and the domain of the singular modes of the deformable mirror. Through our systematic experimental study, we found that successive control in two domains effectively counteracts uncompensated hysteresis of the deformable mirror.
Common : why living smaller, closer and together is a path to a better future : Sommersemester 2016
(2016)
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
We present a novel pump concept that should lead to single-frequency operation of thin-disk lasers without the need for etalons or other spectral filters. The single-frequency operation is due to matching the standing wave pattern of partially coherent pump light to the standing wave pattern of the laser light inside the disk. The output power and the optical efficiency of our novel pump concept are compared with conventional pumping. The feasibility of our pump concept was shown in previous experiments.
Multi-part Nanocubes
(2016)
This thesis describes the development of Multi-part Nanocubes. It is a further development of Nanocubes, an in-memory data structure for spatiotemporal data cubes. "Nanocubes provides you with real-time visualization of large datasets. Slice and dice your data with respect to space, time, or some of your data attributes, and view the results in real-time on a web browser over heatmaps, bar charts, and histograms." Partitioning the structure to parallelize the build process as well as merging query results is the principal part of this document. Furthermore, a new memory management (slab allocation with offset pointers) was implemented to enable 32-bit support and faster load times of already built nanocubes. Porting the project to Windows and implementing on-the-fly compression and decompression of nanocube files is also described.
Further space exploration in the far-infrared (FIR) requires larger apertures in order to improve the spatial resolution of captured images. To this purpose, the Thinned Aperture Light Collector (TALC) concept of a deployable annular telescope has been recently developed at CEA, which offers novel perspectives for FIR space missions. The consortium ELICSIR consortium of European institutes and companies has been created to improve the technological readiness level (TRL) of its key systems and components.
Astronomy is driven by the quest for higher sensitivity and improved angular resolution in order to detect fainter or smaller objects. The far-infrared to submillimeter domain is a unique probe of the cold and obscured Universe, harboring for instance the precious signatures of key elements such as water. Space observations are mandatory given the blocking effect of our atmosphere. However the methods we have relied on so far to develop increasingly larger telescopes are now reaching a hard limit, with the JWST illustrating this in more than one way (e.g. it will be launched by one of the most powerful rocket, it requires the largest existing facility on Earth to be qualified). With the Thinned Aperture Light Collector (TALC) project, a concept of a deployable 20 m annular telescope, we propose to break out of this deadlock by developing novel technologies for space telescopes, which are disruptive in three aspects: • An innovative deployable mirror whose topology, based on stacking rather than folding, leads to an optimum ratio of collecting area over volume, and creates a telescope with an eight times larger collecting area and three times higher angular resolution compared to JWST from the same pre-deployed volume; • An ultra-light weight segmented primary mirror, based on electrodeposited Nickel, Composite and Honeycomb stacks, built with a replica process to control costs and mitigate the industrial risks; • An active optics control layer based on piezo-electric layers incorporated into the mirror rear shell allowing control of the shape by internal stress rather than by reaction on a structure. We present in this paper the roadmap we have built to bring these three disruptive technologies to technology readiness level 3. We will achieve this goal through design and realization of representative elements: segments of mirrors for optical quality verification, active optics implemented on representative mirror stacks to characterize the shape correction capabilities, and mechanical models for validation of the deployment concept. Accompanying these developments, a strong system activity will ensure that the ultimate goal of having an integrated system can be met, especially in terms of (a) scalability toward a larger structure, and (b) verification philosophy.
Novel organic-inorganic hybrid materials comprising nanoscaled layered silicates and native aluminium hydroxide phthalocyanine (Al(OH)Pc) allowed for the first time the exploitation of their unique photophysical properties in aqueous ambience. In particular, we were able to observe the efficient emission of Al(OH)Pc-nanoclay hybrids and generation of singlet oxygen in aqueous solution.
We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first intracavity pumped Yb:YAG thin-disk laser. It operates at 1050.7 nm with a quantum defect of just 1.74% due to pumping at 1032.4 nm. Low absorption of the pump light at the pump wavelength of 1032.4 nm is compensated for by placing the disk inside the resonator of another Yb:YAG thin-disk laser which is diode-pumped at 940 nm. The intra-cavity pumped laser has an output power of 10.3 W and a slope efficiency of 8.3%
A numerical analysis of laser resonators with aberrations is presented. {T}he analysis shows that aberrations lead to large diffraction losses of laser resonators which are laid out to produce diffraction-limited beam quality. {S}tatic or dynamic compensation of the aberrations is possible and would yield much higher output power.
DARP is a new protocol proposal with some interesting features like dynamic roles and the use of virtual sub-networks. This article discusses about the wireless sensor network state of art and presents some desirable features in order to adapt these networks to new scenarios. These necessities are quite important to expand the applicability of wireless sensor networks and for this reason, here DARP is proposed.
The spatially varying intensity in a standing wave resonator leads to spatial hole burning in the gain medium of a laser. The spatial hole burning changes the gain of different longitudinal modes and can thus determine the optical spectrum of the laser. We simulate this longitudinal mode competition in standing wave resonators of thin-disk lasers. The resulting optical spectra of the laser are compared to measured optical spectra. We examine two types of resonators: I-resonators and V-resonators with different angles of incidence. In V-resonators, the non-normal incidence of the laser beam on the disk lifts the degeneracy of the polarization. Experiments show that the slight gain advantage for the p-polarization does not lead to polarized emission. For both types of resonators, the measured spectra are in good agreement with the simulated ones. The simulations allow to study the influence of spectral intra-cavity losses on the optical spectrum of a thin-disk laser.
Large space telescopes made of deployable and lightweight structures suffer from aberrations caused by thermal deformations, gravitational release, and alignment errors which occur during the deployment procedure. An active optics system would allow on-site correction of wave-front errors, and ease the requirements on thermal and mechanical stability of the optical train. In the course of a project funded by the European Space Agency we have developed and manufactured a unimorph deformable mirror based on piezoelectric actuation. The mirror is able to work in space environment and is designed to correct for large aberrations of low order with high surface fidelity. This paper discusses design, manufacturing and performance results of the deformable mirror.
Unsustainable consumption patterns of the North (or rather of the global affluent consumers class) have been identified by Agenda 21 as one of the key driving forces behind the unsustainable development. However, neither accounting based on the system of national accounts SNA nor household economics provide the proper instruments to assess the environmental impact of household decision making. Eco-efficiency assessments as familiar in the business sector provide no appropriate tool for households. As an alternative an environmental space based assessment scheme is suggested covering the major pressures on the environment caused by household decisions. The methodology is used twice: once to analyse the environmental relevance of the main activity clusters of household consumption and once to identify the dominant acts of consumption within each cluster. The latter provide the basis for deriving environmental performance indicators. A rough analysis of household influence potentials permits to identify housing, eating and mobility as the three priority fields for action for minimising the environmental impact of households. Extending the influence analysis actor matrixes are derived allocating influence and thus responsibility for environmental pressures to different groups of economic agents.
The objective of this paper is to identify those areas of consumption, in which private households can make significant contributions to environmental sustainability, and to present a transparent and comprehensive set of indicators for them. The analysis of the environmental impacts of households focuses on consumption clusters that permit to depict different life spheres of private households. Two criteria guided the investigation of the relevance of these clusters: · The significance of the consumption cluster, and · The potential influence of households. Resource consumption was chosen as simplified, but reliable representation of environmental pressure dynamics. Growing resource consumption goes together with growing environmental pressures and vice versa, although not necessarily proportionally. The key resources analysed are energy and material consumption, and land use. Based on this analysis, three priority fields for action by households were identified: construction and housing, food/nutrition and transport (in this order). All other consumption clusters can be considered environmentally marginal, providing combined saving potentials of less than 10% of the total resource consumption. Finally, from description of the respective roles of actors based on anecdotal evidence a semi-quantitative "actor matrix" is presented indicating the relative influence of different actors per consumption cluster.
The influence of globalization on the sustainability of consumption is a frequent topic in academic and political debates. Despite this, the scientific understanding of this influence and, even more so, of the consequences for governance strategies in pursuit of sustainable consumption are still weak. In this paper, we therefore inquire into the specific channels of the influence of globalization on the sustainability of consumption. Based on our analysis, we develop guidelines for sustainable consumption governance.
We report interferometric measurements of the temperature coefficient of the refractive index (dn=dT) and the coefficient of thermal expansion (a) of a praseodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Pr:YLF) crystal and of a fused silica reference sample. Our phase-resolved interferometric method yields a large number of data points and thus allows a precise measurement and a good error estimation. Furthermore, both dn=dT and a are obtained simultaneously from a single measurement which reduces errors that can occur in separate measurements. Over the temperature range from 20 °C to 80 °C, the value of dn=dT of Pr:YLF decreases from -5.2 x 10-6 /K to -6.2 x 10-6 /K for the ordinary refractive index and from -7.6 x 10-6 /K to -8.6 x 10-6 /K for the extraordinary refractive index. The coefficient of thermal expansion for the a-axis of Pr:YLF increases from 16.4 x 10-6 /K to 17.8 x 10-6 /K over the same temperature range.
Concepts for future large space telescopes require an active optics system to mitigate aberrations caused by thermal deformation and gravitational release. Such a system would allow on-site correction of wave-front errors and ease the requirements for thermal and gravitational stability of the optical train. In the course of the ESA project "Development of Adaptive Deformable Mirrors for Space Instruments" we have developed a unimorph deformable mirror designed to correct for low-order aberrations and dedicated to be used in space environment. We briefly report on design and manufacturing of the deformable mirror and present results from performance verifications and environmental testing.
Fast Constant Time Memory Allocator for Inter Task Communication in Ultra Low Energy Embedded Systems
Body energy harvesting for WSN. State of art and examples
We report on interferometric measurements of the thermo-optical aberrations of the laser medium of an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser in pumped and cw lasing conditions at several pump-power levels with a mean repeatability of 5 nm. These measurements build the basis for future intracavity compensation of the aberrations with our deformable mirror in order to improve the fundamental-mode efficiency.
In order to avoid optical damage and non-linear effects, high-power, high-energy lasers of the petawatt class like PHELIX (petawatt high-energy laser for heavy-ion experiments) use large-aperture optics. Usually, chromatic aberration associated with these optical elements is neglected. By means of numerical simulations, we show how the chromatic aberration affects the focal intensity pattern. In particular, we make quantitative predictions of how chromatic aberration decreases the focused peak intensity. Furthermore, we prove the feasibility of a new interferometer that measures the temporal pulse front distortions which arise from expansion telescopes. We also propose a scheme that pre-compensates these distortions.
We have developed a new type of unimorph deformable mirror, designed to correct for low-order Zernike modes. The mirror has a clear optical aperture of 50 mm combined with large peak-to-valley Zernike amplitudes of up to 35 μm. Newly developed fabrication processes allow the use of prefabricated super-polished and coated glass substrates. The mirror's unique features suggest the use in several stronomical applications like the precompensation of atmospheric aberrations seen by laser beacons and the use in woofer-tweeter systems. Additionally, the design enables an efficient correction of the inevitable wavefront error imposed by the floppy structure of primary mirrors in future large space-based telescopes. We have modeled the mirror by using analytical as well as finite element models. We will present design, key features and manufacturing steps of the deformable mirror.
We present a novel unimorph deformable mirror with a diameter of only 10 mm that will be used in adaptive resonators of high power solid state lasers. The relationship between applied voltage and deformation of a unimorph mirror depends on the piezoelectric material properties, layer thicknesses, boundary conditions, and the electrode pattern. An analytical equation for the deflection of the piezoelectric unimorph structure is derived, based on the electro-elastic and thin plate theory. The validity of the proposed analytical model has been proven by numerical finite-element modelling and experimental results. Our mirror design has been optimized to obtain the highest possible stroke and a high resonance frequency.
Over the past 5 years we have developed a new type of unimorph deformable mirror. The main advantages of this mirror technology are · very low surface scattering due to the use of superpolished glass · excellent coatings, even suitable for high power lasers, can be applied · active diameter of the mirrors can be between 10 mm and 100 mm · large strokes can be achieved even for small mirror diameters · integrated monolithic tip/tilt functionality based on a spiral arm design We have modeled these mirrors by analytical models as well as by the finite element method. This allows us to quickly design new mirrors tailored to specific applications. One example is a mirror for laser applications that has a diameter of 10 mm and can achieve a stroke in defocus mode of 5 μm. The stroke for these mirrors scales as the square of the mirror diameter, meaning that we can achieve, for example, a stroke of 125 μm for a mirror of 50 mm diameter. We will present design criteria and tradeoffs for these mirrors. We characterize our mirrors by the maximum stroke they can deliver for various Zernike modes, under the boundary condition that the Zernike mode has to be created with a certain fidelity, usually defined by the Maréchal criterion.
Novel unimorph deformable mirror with monolithic tip-tilt functionality for solid state lasers
(2011)
We present a new type of unimorph deformable mirror with monolithic tip-tilt functionality. The tip-tilt actuation is based on a spiral arm design. The mirror will be used in high-power laser resonators for real-time intracavity phase control. The additional tip-tilt correction with a stroke up to 6 μm simplifies the resonator alignment significantly. The mirror is optimized for a laser beam footprint of about 10 mm. We have modeled and optimized this mirror by finite element calculations and we will present design criteria and tradeoffs for this mirrors. The mirror is manufactured from a super-polished glass substrate with very low surface scattering and excellent dielectric coating.
Efficient quasi-three-level laser operation requires the generation of the highest possible pump rate from a given pump source. We derive the fundamental scaling laws for the pump rate and we extract optimization criteria for pump concepts from these laws. The analysis is then applied to the thin-disk laser. Based on the results, a novel pump concept for thin-disk lasers is proposed, which allows for several tens of pump beam passes and reduces the optical complexity of conventional pump concepts. Furthermore, the beam quality of the pump source is preserved almost completely, facilitating the highest possible pump rate.
Characterization of a miniaturized unimorph deformable mirror for high power cw-solid state lasers
(2012)
We have developed a new type of unimorph deformable mirror for real-time intra-cavity phase control of high power cw-lasers. The approach is innovative in its combination of super-polished and pre-coated highly reflective substrates, the miniaturization of the unimorph principle, and the integration of a monolithic tip/tilt functionality. Despite the small optical aperture of only 9 mm diameter, the mirror is able to produce a stroke of several microns for low order Zernike modes, paired with a residual static root-mean-square aberration of less than 0.04 µm. In this paper, the characteristics of the mirror such as the influence functions, the dynamic behavior, and the power handling capability are reported. The mirror was subjected to a maximum of 490 W of laser-light at a wavelength of 1030 nm. Due to the high reflectivity of over 99.998 percent the mirror is able to withstand intensities up to 1.5 MW/cm2.
We have developed a new type of unimorph deformable mirror for the correction of low-order Zernike modes. The mirror features a clear aperture of 50 mm combined with large peak-to-valley amplitudes of up to 35 μm. Newly developed fabrication processes allow the use of prefabricated, coated, super-polished glass substrates. The mirror's unique features suggest the use in several astronomical applications like the compensation of atmospheric aberrations seen by laser beacons, low light astronomy, and the use in woofer-tweeter systems. Additionally, the design enables an efficient correction of the inevitable wave-front error imposed by the floppy structure of primary mirrors in future large space telescopes. We have modeled the mirror by using analytical as well as finite element models. We will present design, key features and manufacturing steps of the deformable mirror.
Despite increasing scholarly interest in commercialisation and university-industry linkages (UIL), a number of gaps remain in the theoretical development of this area. In particular, researchers have not yet been able to identify whether critical success factors for commercialisation change at various stages of partnership evolution. That means, as UILs increase in commitment and joint activities, how do we best manage and foster these developing partnerships at various stages of the development? The research study draws on relationship marketing theory, which shows a developing stream of research into changes of relationship characteristics and performance throughout relationship development. The qualitative phase of this study consisted of a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews with members of industry and academia in Australia and Germany/Netherlands who are involved in UILs. Some interviews were conducted face-to-face, others by phone. Over the course of an hour, participants were questioned about their involvement and experience with UILs, with a particular focus on relationship evolution. All UILs are different, uniting a range of individuals from different backgrounds and organisations, with varying skills, needs and objectives. While each UIL thus should be considered on its own, the results clearly indicate that (1) relationships evolve over time and that (2) a number of key factors appear as relevant across a cross-section of linkages. The research identified three UIL phases as well as a pre- and post-linkage stage, each characterised by a distinct measure of success. As illustrated in the model on the following page, while each of these phases had different drivers of success, common threads emerged, similarly in Australia and Germany. In particular, communication, trust, personal relationships, understanding and meeting expectations (delivery) emerged as critical throughout a linkage lifecycle, yet in different forms. It should be noted, however, that relationships do not evolve linearly. Rather, dissolution or positive divergence, for example due to a lack of immediate projects or other relevant activities, may arise at any time and may entail a re-evaluation of various aspects of the UIL and its future.
Abstract This study extends previous research evaluating the association between the CHIP intervention, change in body weight, and change in psychological health. A randomized controlled health intervention study lasting 4 wk. was used with 348 participants from metropolitan Rockford, Illinois; ages ranged from 24 to 81 yr. Participants were assessed at baseline, 6 wk., and 6 mo. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and three selected psychosocial measures from the SF-36 Health Survey were used. Significantly greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI) occurred after 6 wk. and 6 mo. follow-up for the intervention group compared with the control group, with greater decreases for participants in the overweight and obese categories. Significantly greater improvements were observed in BDI scores, role-emotional and social functioning, and mental health throughout follow-up for the intervention group. The greater the decrease in BMI through 6 wk., the better the chance of improved BDI score, role-emotional score, social functioning score, and mental health score, with odds ratios of 1.3 to 1.9. Similar results occurred through 6 mo., except the mental health variable became nonsignificant. These results indicate that the CHIP intervention significantly improved psychological health for at least six months afterwards, in part through its influence on lowering BMI.
Abstract In sub-Sahara Africa, micronutrient deficiency, especially of antioxidant micronutrients including vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and polyphenols is very common in HIV-positive patients. Amongst adults, women are the most vulnerable. Antioxidants are known to play a vital role in the immune system, reducing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is induced by excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), due to the HIV infection. Such damage may be prevented or moderated through adequate oral intake of antioxidants, scavenging ROS, as well as protecting cells and tissues against oxidative stress. Antioxidants can be provided to the body through locally available antioxidant rich-diets such as fruit-and-vegetable-based diets and/or dietary supplements. Provision of antioxidants through local diets or dietary supplements exercise beneficial effects on biological markers of the immune system (CD4 and viral load). However, while dietary supplements represent a costly and short-term strategy to limiting antioxidant deficiency, local diets, combined with adequate nutritional education, can provide a low-cost and long-term strategy to reduce oxidative stress, prevent micronutrient deficiency, and slow down HIV disease progression. The former can be applicable in countries around the West, Central, and South coast of Africa, which are rich in natural food resources. In contrast with significant evidence that dietary supplements confer benefits in HIV patients, fewer data are available relating to the benefits of local diets. Thus the need to do more research in this area arises. This review compares available data on effects of antioxidants on CD4 and viral load in HIV-positive women noneligible for antiretroviral therapy. Intake of antioxidants though dietary supplements and local diet, associated with nutritional education, is compared. Studies conducted in sub-Sahara Africa are considered.
The Effects of Lifestyle Modification on Glycemic Levels and Medication Intake:The Rockford CHIP
(2012)
Introduction: The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the past 50 years has led to intense research, resulting in many improvements in treatment. At the same time, type 2 diabetes, with its concomitant increase in vascular complications, has become a serious, exploding and costly public health concern . Diabetes now affects 285 million adults worldwide and 344 million with pre-diabetes. Of these, 25.8 million diabetics and 79 million pre-diabetics are found in the United States alone.The current cost of diabetes in the US is likely to exceed the $174 billion estimate, which includes 2/3 for direct medical costs and 1/3 for indirect costs, such as disability, work loss, and premature death, but omits the social cost of intangibles (e.g. pain, suffering, lower quality of life). The diabetes epidemic has been accompanied by a similarly drastic increase in obesity. Although the relationship between the two developments is a matter of debate, both are presumably caused by changes in dietary habits and an increasingly sedentary modern lifestyle . Compelling evidence has shown that lifestyle changes can effectively prevent or delay the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. Because individuals at risk for this disease can usually be identified during the pre-diabetic phase of impaired glucose tolerance, early intervention and lifestyle change offer a logical approach to preventing this disease and its devastating vascular complications. Additionally, community-based lifestyle interventions for high risk groups and for the general population are a cost-effective way of curbing the growing burden of the disease. Solidifying the scientific basis for the prevention, treatment and control of this disease and its implementation on a national level, however, remains a difficult challenge. Moreresearch is needed to provide comprehensive and more effective strategies for weight-loss,especially over time. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify diabetics and those at risk (prediabetics) out of the total cohort of 1,517 who selected themselves into an intensive community-based lifestyle intervention program, and to assess its clinical efficacy ineffecting medication status as determined and managed by their personal physicians.
This report presents the findings related to the factors affecting the extent of university-business cooperation that have been found to exist in Europe. These results derive from a fifteen and a half month study on the cooperation between higher education institutions1 (HEIs) and public and private organisations in Europe. The study was conducted by the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, Germany (S2BMRC) for the DG Education and Culture at the European Commission (EC) during 2010 and 2011. The main components of the project are in-depth qualitative interviews with 11 recognised UBC experts as well as a major quantitative survey. The survey was translated into 22 languages and sent to all registered European HEIs (numbering over 3,000) in 33 countries during March 2011. Through this, a final sample population of 6,280 academics and HEI representatives was achieved making the study the largest study into cooperation between HEIs and business yet completed in Europe. Further, 30 good practice UBC case studies have been created to provide positive examples of European UBC.
This report presents the findings related to the barriers and drivers of university-business cooperation (UBC) that have been found to exist in Europe. These results derive from a fifteen and a half month study on the cooperation between higher education institutions1 (HEIs) and public and private organisations in Europe. The study was conducted by the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, Germany (S2BMRC) for the DG Education and Culture at the European Commission (EC) during 2010 and 2011. The main components of the project are in-depth qualitative interviews with 11 recognised UBC experts as well as a major quantitative survey. The survey was translated into 22 languages and sent to all registered European HEIs (numbering over 3,000) in 33 countries during March 2011. Through this, a final sample population of 6,280 academics and HEI representatives was achieved, making the study the largest study into cooperation between HEIs and business yet completed in Europe. Further, 30 good practice UBC case studies have been created to provide positive examples of European UBC.
This report presents the findings related to the supporting mechanisms of university-business cooperation (UBC) that have been found to exist in Europe. These results derive from a fifteen and a half month study on the cooperation between HEIs1 and public and private organisations in Europe. The study was conducted by the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, Germany (S2BMRC) for the DG Education and Culture at the European Commission (EC) during 2010 and 2011. The main components of the project are in-depth qualitative interviews with 11 recognised UBC experts as well as a major quantitative survey. The survey was translated into 22 languages and sent to all registered European HEIs (numbering over 3,000) in 33 countries during March 2011. Through this, a final sample population of 6,280 academics and HEI representatives was achieved making the study the largest study into cooperation between HEIs and business yet completed in Europe. Further, 30 good practice UBC case studies have been created to provide positive examples of European UBC.
The Tigray and Afar Water Initiative (TAWI) is a collaboration between the Mekelle University (Ethiopia), the Muenster University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and the Westfalian Wilhelms-University Muenster (Germany). This special initiative is concerned with the rural water supply for the particularly water-scarce regional states of Tigray and Afar in the semi-arid north of Ethiopia. This paper describes a pilot project near the village of Koraro, Hawzen county in the Tigray region and deals with river reaches or creeks which carry water for short periods and only after the longer of two rainy seasons. When these waters run dry, water is still often to be found under the dry beds and is used casually by local people for agricultural purposes. An impermeable wall constructed as a subsurface dam to retain water in the ensuing subsurface micro-reservoir under the bed of such rivers could enable this usage to be intensified and hence enhance the water supply of small local user-groups, while at the same time positively influencing the landscape water balance. Here, the word micro refers to the fact that only the pores of the granular soil of an alluvial river bed are used to store water. Furthermore, storing water underground also avoids the danger of increasing the incidence of diseases such as malaria, a consequence of open water ponds.
Sustainability is a central issue in food business and food retailing since approximately 3 years (See Teitscheid 2011). Various influential factors are significant for this development. On the one hand consumers choices are changing (See GFK et al. 2009). They are looking for natural, good and healthy food; they have a longing for home and an intact world (See iSuN 2010). The image of a highly efficient, but often ruthless industrial food production in regards to mankind and nature is not appropriate here. On the other hand, raw materials are scarce and, thus, very valuable. Bad harvests, mostly interpreted as a result of climate change, worldwide increasing consumption and the production of food in favor of energy production instead of nutritional aims, lead to a re-evaluation of agricultural resources and their producers. Within this context, food industry is searching for new forms of cooperation and partnership along the value chain in order to secure their resource basis. In the light of their significant environmental impact, an increasing number of companies also start to work on the environmental assessment and optimization of their products and value chains. Therefore they need employees with valid knowledge and competencies in sustainability and resources management. Based on this demand, the master's program "Sustainable Services and Nutrition Management" started in 2009 in the University of Applied Sciences in Münster (Germany)1. This text reports about how the topic of resource efficiency in food/nutrition industry has been integrated within the study program, which projects have been worked on and what experience could be gained from them.
A record of morbidity and medical request profiles in international humanitarian aid, taking the earthquake in BAM in Iran in 2003 as an example Objective: With the humanitarian work of the International Red Cross after the earthquake in BAM, Iran, it should be noted that international and national cooperation is possible according to recognised standards and concepts, and therefore morbidity records can be included uniformly in the context of day to day work even in post disaster situations. The data ascertained show changes in the disease spectrum. Basic health provision according to the primary health care concept has priority in the post disaster response (> 6 days) of the earthquake compared to more surgically oriented medical acute aid from abroad. Material and methodology: In the international consensus conference at the beginning of January 2004, uniform morbidity recording was fixed to simple standardised case definitions. The recording of traumatic, infectious and non-infectious diseases was carried out during the routine work in the out-patient facilities of the emergency response units of January 3 to 31, 2004 . Examination was according to the following indicators: Proportional morbidities, sum of the proportional morbidities. Results and discussion: 16677 new cases were included in the complete examination time period. The health facility rate only gradually increased. Temporal fluctuations in the numbers treated may be caused by secondary care of the injured, by a possible lack of accessibility (transport problems) or an increased acceptance of facilities. A written specification of the case definitions was not carried out in BAM, and so a comparison is not possible for recorded morbidities at the same time, and consistency cannot be reached for some of the data. Nine diagnoses/categories cover 98.68% of the consultations in the complete time period. Non-traumatic health problems predominate for the whole of the month. The category "others" is too high with 57.94%. Therefore, it may be assumed that certain diagnoses were overestimated, underestimated or not recognised. Vulnerable groups (children, women, the old), were not completely included. Conclusion: Standards and guidelines for health care in humanitarian aid exist, and are of help during planning, decision finding, execution and communication. Data acquisition instruments (registering books and patient files) should be developed and standardised by national and international humanitarian groups. The recording of morbidity is a simple instrument in the context of out-patient facilities with valuable information for further work during catastrophes.
The German Code ATV-M 127-2 published in 2000 for the design of linings to rehabilitate sewers has proved itself a helpful guideline to find the optimum wall thickness of any liner material, e.g. CIPP or stainless steel sleeves. Many rehabilitation projects in different European countries have been performed successfully using this code. The code differentiates between three host pipe states: State I for untight sewers without cracks, state II for sewers with longitudinal cracks but a stable soil pipe system and state III for cracked pipes with larger deformations and considerable risk to collapse in the near future. State II sewers but installed close to the traffic surface must be calculated as a state III situation too. According to the code stress, deformation and stability tests are necessary. For many practical cases charts with stress factors and imperfection reductions allow to design without a computer. Numerous theoretical and experimental papers are available which mainly deal with circular linings. An evaluation of design codes carried out by experts of different countries shows a fairly good coincidence of the required wall thicknesses, but the assessment of pipeline damages by engineers is sometimes resulting in quite different assumptions necessary for the design input parameters. The paper reports about the progress in liner design since the 1st edition of the code. Additional clauses have to be introduced into the 2nd edition for non circular geometries (e.g. for hood and rectangular profile), imperfections describing practical and theoretical situations and new applications (e.g. railway crossings). International discussion can be useful to find safe and resources saving constructions.
This paper deals with the time-to-market in the internet economy. Past and current research on the topic, by and large, aims at market entry as the crucial starting point of a new product's implementation and commercial utilization. Time-to-market, however, goes beyond such an isolated discussion and employs a holistic approach. Also the starting point of innovation and the duration of the innovation process are important parts of the time-to-market concept presented here. Moreover, systematic research on timing has so far focused on traditional businesses. The aim of this paper is to look at the internet economy with the focus on timing strategies. After an introduction to the conceptual framework of time-to-market, this paper will discuss strategic implications of internet-based timing. Here it will focus chiefly on the beginning and the end of the innovation process. Chapter four, then, will exhibit the first results of an empirical study about European B2B-marketplaces with special respect to timing strategies. The paper concludes with an outlook on subject timing and some proposals for future research.
Multi-National and Multi-Entity capable Securities Order Management System for Electronic Brokerages
(2004)
The current bear market has forced electronic brokerages to compensate the transaction-driven fixed cost degression effect of bull markets by cost containment programs, while maintaining their position in the expanded markets. Orderflow consolidation will be the key principle to obtain the critical mass for this business. Options for the consolidation of the order flow can be the consolidation across internal entities / countries of the group and the acquisition of external order volumes e.g. via brokerage franchises. The current system landscape is not designed to support multi-national and multi-entity order flow consolidation. Fragmented, redundant, legacy-based and proprietary securities order management systems have been utilized to ensure market readiness in the former bull market. This article outlines the requirements and architecture for securities order management systems which enable the efficient orderflow consolidation across entities and countries in the brokerage industry.
This article analyses the impacts on the brokerage business of existing market trends. It is here argued that the current situation shows the potential for insourcing offerings in the order routing.
The former bull market has led to developments in the online brokerage industry such as over-capacity, profit-margin pressure, high fixed costs and unprofitable country expansion in the current bear market environment. In order to manage this situation, tactical measures like cost containment programs and closing of international brokerages have been applied. More strategic approaches like order flow consolidation by brokerage franchises, integrated online & branch brokerages and multinational electronic brokerages are valid alternative responses to these developments. This article outlines the Multi-National Electronic Brokerage approach from a strategic, functional, operational and technical perspective.
With the assessment of sewers and drains generally recognised criteria such as tightness, stability, hydraulic capability and efficiency are valid. For the assessment of the stability, however, there are often uncertainties. In this connection the ATV-DVWK Advisory Leaflet ATV M 127-2 represents a practical development of the system of rules and standards for the stability of earth-bedded pipelines that is called upon in the case of dimensioning for rehabilitation procedures. Nevertheless, further assumptions about the pipe-soil system are necessary which often are based on individual appraisals and experiences of the designer. To that end, in the years 1999 to the beginning of 2002, extensive experiments and theoretical investigations were carried out at the Universities of Bremen and Muenster as well as at the Bremen hanseWasser GmbH in order to assess more reliably the load-carrying capacity in particular of damaged host pipes in the ground. The research was supported by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMB+F) under the short title ASSUR. The paper gives a view of the essential contents of the research; further information can be taken from the final report to ASSUR.
Struktural design of linings
(2001)
The German Worksheet ATV-M 127-2 published in January 2000 after a seven years period of preparation and discussion is now well accepted in design practice for lining systems made of different materials and installed in various methods. The concept based on stress, deformation and stability analyses supports simple formula and diagram usage in standard cases like circular pipes up to ND 600 and more elaborate analyses for non-circular cross sections. Beside a short description of the design code the theoretical background is presented. Experimental test configurations are discussed regarding restrictions such as test specimen length, friction and load distribution. There is need of further research projects in co-operation with other universities to solve the problems left in theory and in practical use.