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Entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises usually have issues on developing new prototypes, new ideas or testing new techniques. In order to help them, in the last years, academic Software Factories, a new concept of collaboration between universities and companies have been developed. Software Factories provide a unique environment for students and companies. Students benefit from the possibility of working in a real work environment learning how to apply the state of the art of the existing techniques and showing their skills to entrepreneurs. Companies benefit from the risk-free environment where they can develop new ideas, in a protected environment. Universities finally benefit from this setup as a perfect environment for empirical studies in industrial-like environment. In this paper, we present the network of academic Software Factories in Europe, showing how companies had already benefit from existing Software Factories and reporting success stories. The results of this paper can increase the network of the factories and help other universities and companies to setup similar environment to boost the local economy.
Viele Unternehmen befassen sich in jüngster Zeit mit der Nutzung von Social Media für die interne Kommunikation und Zusammenarbeit. So genannte Enterprise Social Networks bieten integrierte Plattformen mit Profilen, Blogs, Gruppen- und Kommentarfunktionen für die unternehmensinterne Anwendung. Sehr häufig sind damit umfangreiche Investitionen verbunden. Die Budgets werden im Kern für die IT verwendet, "weiche Faktoren" bleiben häufig außen vor. Ein schwerer Fehler, wie aktuelle Marktstudien zeigen. Etliche der ambitionierten Projekte drohen daher zu scheitern.
This paper presents an integrated synchronous buck converter for input voltages >12V with 10MHz switching frequency. The converter comprises a predictive dead time control with frequency compensated sampling of the switching node which does not require body diode forward conduction. A high dead time resolution of 125 ps is achieved by a differential delay chain with 8-bit resolution. This way, the efficiency of fast switching DCDC converters can be optimized by eliminating the body diode forward conduction losses, minimizing reverse recovery losses and by achieving zero voltage switching at turn off. The converter was implemented in a 180nm high-voltage BiCMOS technology. The power losses were measured to be reduced by 30%by the proposed dead time control, which results in a 6% efficiency increase at VOUT = 5V and 0.2A load. The peak efficiency is 81 %.
A 20 V, 8 MHz resonant DCDC converter with predictive control for 1 ns resolution soft-switching
(2015)
Fast switching power supplies allow to reduce the size and cost of external passive components. However, the capacitive switching losses of the power stage will increase and become the dominant part of the total losses. Therefore, resonant topologies are the known key to reduce the losses of the power stage. A power switch with an additional resonant circuit can be turned on under soft-switching conditions, ideally with zero-voltage-switching (ZVS). As conventional resonant converts are only efficient for a constant load, this paper presents a predictive regulation loop to approach soft-switching conditions under varying load and component tolerances. A sample and hold based detection circuit is utilized to control the turn-on of the power switch by a digital regulation. The proposed design was fabricated in a 180 nm high-voltage BiCMOS technology. The efficiency of the converter was measured to be increased by up to 16 % vs. worst case timing and by 13 % compared to a conventional hard-switching buck converter at 20 V input voltage and at approximately 8 MHz switching frequency.
DC-DC-converters are used in many different applications. Specifying the switching frequency is the most important parameter to calculate component costs and required space. Especially automotive applications of small brushed- or brushless dc-motors and the increasing number of DC-DC-converters have high requirements on the structual space (low box volume). This is of particular importance for automotive converters for the new 48 V board net. Multiplying the frequency by two will reduce the size of the power inductor by half at a given specification for output-voltage ripple. Smaller power inductors result in reduced losses due to smaller series resistance and parasitic capacitance. Furthermore a larger switching frequency decreases the size of the DC link capacitors. The circuit will get more idealized. However, as the switching losses increase with frequency, a DC-DC-converter can only benefit from these advantages if the switching behavior can be improved.
This paper presents an optimization method to increase switching slope and switching frequency of a 3.6 kW 3-phase step-up converter by separating the design and layout process into two parts. The first part is the power stage which carries the load current. It contains the power inductance and the drain-source-channel of the power MOSFETs. The second part is the driver circuit which contains the driver ICs, the gate resistor and the gate input impedance. While the switching slope was measured to be improved by 50 % , the switching time decreased by 20 %. Hence, the switching frequency of the step-up converter could be increased from 100 kHz to 200 kHz without loss increase. By mounting the driver ICs in a piggyback configuration in close proximity to the power stage, the parasitics could be further reduced significantly and 500 kHz switching frequency could be achieved with 97.5 % efficiency.
A behavior marker for measuring non-technical skills of software professionals : an empirical study
(2015)
Managers recognize that software development teams need to be developed. Although technical skills are necessary, non-technical (NT) skills are equally, if not more, necessary for project success. Currently, there are no proven tools to measure the NT skills of software developers or software development teams. Behavioral markers (observable behaviors that have positive or negative impacts on individual or team performance) are successfully used by airline and medical industries to measure NT skill performance. This research developed and validated a behavior marker tool rated video clips of software development teams. The initial results show that the behavior marker tool can be reliably used with minimal training.
Managers recognize that software development project teams need to be developed and guided. Although technical skills are necessary, non-technical (NT) skills are equally, if not more, necessary for project success. Currently, there are no proven tools to measure the NT skills of software developers or software development teams. Behavioral markers (observable behaviors that have positive or negative impacts on individual or team performance) are beginning to be successfully used by airline and medical industries to measure NT skill performance. The purpose of this research is to develop and validate the behavior marker system tool that can be used by different managers or coaches to measure the NT skills of software development individuals and teams. This paper presents an empirical study conducted at the Software Factory where users of the behavior marker tool rated video clips of software development teams. The initial results show that the behavior marker tool can be reliably used with minimal training.
Size and cost of a switched mode power supply can be reduced by increasing the switching frequency. The maximum switching frequency and the maximum conversion ratio are limited by the duty cycle of a PWM signal. In DCDC converters, a sawtooth generator is the fundamental circuit block to generate the PWM signal. The presented PWM generator is based on two parallel, fully interleaved PWM generator stages, each containing an integrator based sawtooth generator and two 3-stage highspeed comparators. A digital multiplexing of the PWM signals of each stage eliminates the dependency of the minimum on-time on the large reset times of the sawtooth ramps. A separation of the references of the PWM comparators in both stage allows to configure the PWM generator for a DCDC converter operating in fixed frequency or in constant on-time mode, which requires an operation in a wide frequency range. The PWM generator was fabricated in an 180 nm HV BiCMOS technology, as part of a DCDC converter. Measurements confirm minimum possible ontime pulses as short as 2 ns and thus allows switching frequencies of DCDC converters of >50 MHz at small duty cycle of <10%. At moderate duty cycles switching frequencies up to 100 MHz are possible.
In modern times markets are very dynamic. This situation requires agile enterprises to have the ability to react fast on market influences. Thereby an enterprise’ IT is especially affected, because new or changed business models have to be realized. However, enterprise architectures (EA) are complex structures consisting of many artifacts and relationships between them. Thus analyzing an EA becomes to a complex task for stakeholders. In addition, many stakeholders are involved in decision-making processes, because Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) targets providing a holistic view of the enterprise. In this article we use concepts of Adaptive Case Management (ACM) to design a decision-making case consisting of a combination of different analysis techniques to support stakeholders in decision-making. We exemplify the case with a scenario of a fictive enterprise.
A generic, knowledge-based method for automatic topology selection of analog circuits in a predefined analog reuse library is presented in this paper on the OTA (Operational Transconductance Amplifier) example. Analog circuits of a given circuit class are classified in a topology tree, where each node represents a specific topology. Child nodes evolve from their parent nodes by an enhancement of the parent node’s topological structure. Topology selection is performed by a depth first-search in the topology tree starting at the root node, thus checking topologies of increasing complexity. The decisions at each node are based on solving equations or – if this is not possible – on simulations. The search ends at the first (and thus the simplest) topology which can meet the specification after an adequate circuit sizing. The advantages of the generic, tree based topology selection method presented in this paper are shown in comparison to a pool selection method and to heuristic approaches. The selection is based on an accomplished chip investigation.
A TLP system with a very low characteristic impedance of 1.5 Ω and a selectable pulse length from 0.5 to 6 μs is presented. It covers the entire operation region of many power semiconductors up to 700 V and 400 A. Ist applicability is demonstrated by determining the Output characteristics for two Cool MOS devices up to destruction.
Purpose: This paper aims to conceptualize and empirically test the determinants of service interaction quality (SIQ) as attitude, behavior and expertise of a service provider (SP). Further, the individual and simultaneous effects of SIQ and its dimensions on important marketing outcomes are tested. Design/methodology/approach – The narrative review of extant research helps formulate a conceptual model of SIQ, which is investigated using the univariate and multivariate meta-analysis.
Findings: There are interdependencies between drivers of SIQ that underlines the need to conceptualize service interaction as a dyadic phenomenon; use contemporary multilevel models, dyadic models, non-linear structural equation modeling and process studies; and study new and diverse services contexts. Meta-analysis illustrates the relative importance of the three drivers of SIQ and, in turn, their impact on consumer satisfaction and loyalty.
Research limitations/implications – The meta-analysis is based on existing research, which, unfortunately, has not examined critical services or exigency situations where SIQ is of paramount importance. Future research will be tasked with diversifying to several important domains where SIQ is a critical aspect of perceived service quality.
Practical implications: This study emphasizes that, although the expertise of an SP is important, firms would be surprised to learn that the attitude and behavior of their employees are equally important antecedents. In fact, there is a delicate balance that needs to be found; otherwise, attitudinal factors can have an overall counterproductive effect on consumer satisfaction.
Originality/value: This paper provides an empirical synthesis of SIQ and opens up interesting areas for further research.
Critical size bone defects and non-union fractions are still challenging to treat. Cell-loaded bone substitutes have shown improved bone ingrowth and bone formation. However, a lack of methods for homogenously colonizing scaffolds limits the maximum volume of bone grafts. Additionally, therapy robustness is impaired by heterogeneous cell populations after graft generation. Our aim was to establish a technology for generating grafts with a size of 10.5 mm in diameter and 25 mm of height, and thus for grafts suited for treatment of critical size bone defects. Therefore, a novel tailor-made bioreactor system was developed, allowing standardized flow conditions in a porous poly(L-lactide co-caprolactone) material. Scaffolds were seeded with primary human mesenchymal stem cells derived from four different donors. In contrast to static experimental conditions, homogenous cell distributions were accomplished under dynamic culture. Additionally, culture in the bioreactor system allowed the induction of osteogenic lineage commitment after one week of culture without addition of soluble factors. This was demonstrated by quantitative analysis of calcification and gene expression markers related to osteogenic lineage. In conclusion, the novel bioreactor technology allows efficient and standardized conditions for generating bone substitutes that are suitable for the treatment of critical size defects in humans.
DMOS transistors in integrated smart power technologies are often subject to cyclic power dissipation with substantial selfheating. This leads to repetitive thermo mechanical stress, causing fatigue of the on-chip metallization and limiting the lifetime. Hence, most designs use large devices for lower peak temperatures and thus reduced stress to avoid premature failures.
However, significantly smaller DMOS transistors are acceptable if the system reverts to a safer operating condition with lower stress when a failure is expected to occur in the near future. Hence, suitable early-warning sensors are required. This paper proposes a floating metal meander embedded between DMOS source and drain to detect an impending metallization failure. Measurement results of several variants will be presented and discussed, investigating their suitability as early warning indicators.
This paper presents a measurement setup and an assembly technique suitable for characterization of power semiconductor devices under very high temperature conditions exceeding 500°C. An important application of this is the experimental investigation of wide bandgap semiconductors. Measurement results are shown for a 1200V SiC MOSFET and a 650V depletion mode GaN HEMT.
This paper examines the determinants of Google search in the banking area. The weekly Google data from 2004 to 2013 used for this study consists of the 30 largest banks, the Federal Reserve, and the European Central Bank. To my knowledge, this is the first study on the determinants of Google data. Firstly the paper shows that Google searches are correlated with several performance variables and market data, such as asset prices and trading volume. Secondly it demonstrates that banks´ internal performance data has a major influence whereas market data is rather insignificant. Moreover it is shown that Google search for central banks is largely determined by the level of interest rates as well as the inflation and output gap. This is evidence that central bank attention is primarily driven by the policy targets. Accordingly Google data can be applied to analyze the timely impact of monetary policy.
Information systems, which support the workflow in the clinical area, are currently limited to organizational processes. This work shows a first approach of an information system supporting all actors in the perioperative area. The first prototype and proof of concept was a task manager, giving all actors information about their task and the task of all other actors during an intervention. Based on this initial task manager, we implemented an information system based on a workflow engine controlling all processes and all information necessary for the intervention. A second part was the development of a perioperative process visualization which was developed based on a user centered approach jointly with clinicians and OR members.
The following paper is dealing with the issue on which actual consumer lifestyle segmentation methods there are for particular European countries and accordingly for Europe as a whole. This is important for corporations to be able to place their products accurately by a consumer orientated marketing concerning the constant change of values and minds. Researching current literature, internet sources and documents, the state of the science is presented by a detailed description of the most popular lifestyle segmentation methods used in European countries. In addition to that, these instruments are discussed individually and then compared to each other. All instruments, the Sinus-Milieus, Euro-Socio-Styles, Roper-Consumer-Styles, RISC and Mosaic, are serving the same purpose even so they differ pretty much from each other. Each market research company has its own method to generate their model just as different segments and definitions for them. Furthermore every segmentation method is illustrated in a different way. This paper demonstrates all these instruments in detail and shows its advantages and disadvantages. Summing up literature research concerning the main research question, there are several models segmenting consumers in different lifestyle groups for e.g. in Germany, France or Great Britain, but still less models referring to the entire European market.
Saving energy and protecting the environment became fundamental for society and politics, why several laws were enacted to increase the energy-efficiency. Furthermore, the growing number of vehicles and drivers leaded to more accidents and fatalities on the roads, why road safety became an important factor as well. Due to the increasing importance of energy-efficiency and safety, car manufacturers started to optimise the vehicle in terms of energy-effciency and safety. However, energy-efficiency and road safety can be also increased by adapting the driving behaviour to the given driving situation. This thesis presents a concept of an adaptive and rule based driving system that tries to educate the driver in energy-efficient and safe driving by showing recommendations on time. Unlike existing driving-systems, the presented driving system considers energy-efficiency and safety relevant driving rules, the individual driving behaviour and the driver condition. This allows to avoid the distraction of the driver and to increase the acceptance of the driving system, while improving the driving behaviour in terms of energy-efficiency and safety. A prototype of the driving system was developed and evaluated. The evaluation was done on a driving simulator using 42 test drivers, who tested the effect of the driving system on the driving behaviour and the effect of the adaptiveness of the driving system on the user acceptance. It has been proven during the evaluation that the energy-efficiency and safety can be increased, when the driving system was used. Furthermore, it has been proven that the user acceptance of the driving system increases when the adaptive feature was turned on. A high user acceptance of the driving system allows a steady usage of the driving system and, thus, a steady improvement of the driving behaviour in terms of energy-efficiency and safety.
Usually financial crises go along with bubbles in asset prices, such as the housing bubble in the US in 2007. This paper attempts to build a mathematical model of financial bubbles from an econophysics, and thus a new perspective. I find that agents identify bubbles only with a time delay. Furthermore, I demonstrate that the detection of bubbles is different on either the individual or collective point of view. Second, I utilize the findings for a new definition of asset bubbles in finance. Finally, I extend the model to the study of asset price dynamics with news. In conclusion, the model provides unique insights into the properties and developments of financial bubbles.
An experimental study of a zero voltage switching SiC boost converter with an active snubber network
(2015)
This paper presents a quasi-resonant, zero voltage switching (ZVS) SiC boost converter for an output power of up to 10 kW. The converter is realized with an easily controllable active snubber network that allows a reduction of switching losses by minimizing the voltage stress applied to the active switch. With this approach, an increase of the switching frequency is possible, allowing a reduction of the system size. Experiments show a maximum converter efficiency up to 99.2% for a switching frequency of 100 kHz. A second version of the converter enables a further size reduction by increasing the switching frequency to 300 kHz while still reaching a high efficiency up to 98.4 %.
An ultra-low power capacitance extrema and ratio detector for electrostatic energy harvesters
(2015)
The power supply is one of the major challenges for applications like internet of things IoTs and smart home. The maintenance issue of batteries and the limited power level of energy harvesting is addressed by the integrated micro power supply presented in this paper. Connected to the 120/230 Vrms mains, which is one of the most reliable energy sources and anywhere indoor available, it provides a 3.3V DC output voltage. The micro power supply consists of a fully integrated ACDC and DCDC converter with one external low voltage SMD buffer capacitor. The micro power supply is fabricated in a low cost 0.35 μm 700 V CMOS technology and covers a die size of 7.7 mm2. The use of only one external low voltage SMD capacitor, results in an extremely compact form factor. The ACDC is a direct coupled, full wave rectifier with a subsequent bipolar shunt regulator, which provides an output voltage around 17 V. The DCDC stage is a fully integrated 4:1 SC DCDC converter with an input voltage as high as 17 V and a peak efficiency of 45 %. The power supply achieves an overall output power of 3 mW, resulting in a power density of 390 μW/mm2. This exceeds prior art by a factor of 11.
The possibility to bring the interference source, close to the potential target is characterized by the property of the source as stationary, portable, mobile, very mobile and highly mobile [3]. Starting from the existing and well-known IEME interference or IEMI (Intentional Electromagnetic Interference) and the already existing classifications an analysis of methods based on a comparative study of the methods used to classify the intentional EM environment is carried out, which takes into account the frequency, the cost, the amplitude of the noise signal, the radiated power and the energy of a pulse of radiation.
A major lesson of the recent financial crisis is that money market freezes have major macroeconomic implications. This paper develops a tractable model in which we analyze the microeconomic and macroeconomic implications of a systemic banking crisis. In particular, we consider how the systemic crisis affects the optimal allocation of funding for businesses. We show that a central bank should reduce the interest rate to manage a systemic shock and hence smooth the macroeconomic consequences. Moreover, the analysis offers insight on the rational of bank behavior and the role of markets in a systemic crisis. We find that the failure to adopt the optimal policy can lead to economic fragility.
Informationstechnische Systeme, die den Arbeitsablauf im klinischen Bereich unterstützen, sind aktuell auf organisatorische Abläufe beschränkt. Diese Arbeit stellt einen ersten Ansatz vor, wie solch ein System in den perioperativen Bereich eingebracht werden kann. Hierzu wurde eine Workflow Engine mit einer perioperativen Prozess-Visualisierung verknüpft. Das System wurde nach Modell-View-Controller-Prinzip implementiert. Als "Controller" kommt die Workflow Engine zum Einsatz; also "Modell" ein Prozessmodell, mit den erforderlichen klinischen Daten. Der "View" wurde durch eine abgekoppelte Anwendung realisiert, welche auf Web-Technologien basiert. Drei Visualisierungen, die Workflow Engine sowie die Anbindung beider über eine Datenbankschnittstelle, wurden erfolgreich umgesetzt. Bei den drei Visualisierungen wurden jeweils eine Ansicht für den OP-Koordinator, den Springer und eine Ansicht für die Übersicht einer OP erstellt.
This paper provides new evidence on the formation and anchoring of inflation expectations. I conduct a game experiment and analyze the adjustment as well as the impact of credible targets on expectations. In addition, I evaluate the idiosyncratic determinants on the formation of expectations. The analysis reveals six results: First, I find evidence that long-term inflation expectations are firmly anchored to a credible target. Second, a temporary deviation due to unexpected monetary policy might trigger a decline in credibility, and third a de-anchoring of expectations due to uncertainty. Fourth, I find that people change their expectations little if a credible target exists. Fifth, expectations exhibit a large degree of time-variance only in environments without a target. Sixth, the dynamic adjustment to an ‘incomplete’ equilibrium, which is theoretically unstable, is nevertheless rapid and persistent in case of credible targets. All in all, I demonstrate a unique game setup with contributions to both experimental and monetary economics.
The character of knowledge-intense processes is that participants decide the next process activities on base of the present information and their expert knowledge. The decisions of these knowledge workers are in general non-deterministic. It is not possible to model these processes in advance and to automate them using a process engine of a BPM system. Hence, in this context a process instance is called a case, because there is no predefined model that could be instantiated. Domain-specific or general case management systems are used to support the knowledge workers. These systems provide all case information and enable users to define the next activities, but they have no or only limited activity recommendation capabilities. In the following paper, we present a general concept for a self-learning system based on process mining that suggests the next best activity on quantitative and qualitative data for a given case. As a proof of concept, it was applied to the area of insurance claims settlement.
This paper analyzes governance mechanisms for different group sizes. The European sovereign debt crisis has demonstrated the need of efficient governance for different group sizes. I find that self-governance only works for sufficiently homogenous and small neighbourhoods. Second, as long as the union expands, the effect of credible self-governance decreases. Third, spill-over effects amplify the size effect. Fourth, I show that sufficiently large monetary unions, are better off with costly but external governance or a free market mechanism. Finally, intermediate-size unions are most difficult to govern efficiently.
This paper develops a linear and tractable model of financial bubbles. I demonstrate the application of the linear model and study the root causes of financial bubbles. Moreover, I derive leading properties of bubbles. This model enables investors and regulators to react to market dynamics in a timely manner. In conclusion, the linear model is helpful for the empirical verification and detection of financial bubbles.
For area reasons, NMOS transistors are preferred over PMOS for the pull-up path in gate drivers. Bootstrapping has to ensure sufficient NMOS gate overdrive. Especially in high-current gate drivers with large transistors, the bootstrap capacitor is too large for integration. This paper proposes three options of fully integrated bootstrap circuits. The key idea is that the main bootstrap capacitor is supported by a second bootstrap capacitor, which is charged to a higher voltage and ensures high charge allocation when the driver turns on. A capacitor sizing guideline and the overall driver implementation including a suitable charge pump for permanent driver activation is provided. A linear regulator is used for bootstrap supply and it also compensates the voltage drop of the bootstrap diode. Measurements from a testchip in 180 nm high-voltage BiCMOS confirm the benefit of high-voltage charge storing. The fully integrated bootstrap circuit with two stacked 75.8 pF and 18.9 pF capacitors results in an expected voltage dip of lower than 1 V. Both bootstrap capacitors require 70% less area compared to a conventional bootstrap circuit. Besides drivers, the proposed bootstrap can also be directly applied to power stages to achieve fully integrated switched mode power supplies or class-D output stages.
Planung ist komplex und aufwendig. Die Schnelligkeit und Effizienz der Planung kann durch die Orientierung an 16 erfolgskritischen Faktoren optimiert werden. Mittels dieser Kriterien wird sichergestellt, dass strategische und operative Aspekte integriert sind, der Aufwand im Rahmen bleibt und die Qualität der Daten zieladäquat ist.
Automated stabilization of loading capacity of coal shearer screw with controlled cutting drive
(2015)
A solution of topical scientific problem of coal shearer output increase providing minimum specific power supply for coal cutting, transportation, and loading in terms of thin seams has been proposed. The solution is based on the use of earlier proposed criterion of screw gumming for optimum cutting velocity-coal shearer feed rate ratio in the context of increased screw rotation owing to phase voltage frequency increase. Simulation results of automated control system for coal shearer operations with frequency-controlled cutting drive within thin seams have confirmed the efficiency of the system using proposed algorithm of smart analysis of coal shearer power signal.
DMOS transistors often suffer from substantial self-heating during high power dissipation, which can lead to thermal destruction if the device temperature reaches excessive values. A successfully demonstrated method to reduce the peak temperature is the redistribution of power dissipation density from the hotter to the cooler device areas by careful layout modification. However, this is very tedious and time-consuming if complex-shaped devices as often found in industrial applications are considered.
This paper presents an approach for fully automatic layout optimization which requires only a few hours processing time. The approach is applied to complex shaped test structures which are investigated by measurements and electro-thermal simulations. Results show a significantly lower peak temperature and an energy capability gain of 84 %, offering potential for a 18 % size reduction of active area.
Physical analog IC design has not been automated to the same degree as digital IC design. This shortfall is primarily rooted in the analog IC design problem itself, which is considerably more complex even for small problem sizes. Significant progress has been made in analog automation in several R&D target areas in recent years. Constraint engineering and generator-based module approaches are among the innovations that have emerged. Our paper will first present a brief review of the state of the art of analog layout automation. We will then introduce active and open research areas and present two visions – a “continuous layout design flow” and a “bottom-up meets top-down design flow” – which could significantly push analog design automation towards its goal of analog synthesis.
Das Provisioning Tool automaIT wurde prototypisch um die Möglichkeit eines Data Discovery erweitert, mit dem Ziel, nicht durch automaIT verwaltete Systeme anbinden und steuern zu können. Daten aus dem Data Discovery werden mittels dem Tool Facter gesammelt und können dynamisch in ausführbare Modelle von automaIT integriert und ausgewertet werden. Dadurch kann der Verlauf weiterer Provisionierungsschritte gesteuert werden, ohne dass es eines manuellen Eingriffs bedarf.
The EU funded project RobLog recently developed a system able to autonomously unload coffee sacks from a standard container. Being the first of its kind, a further development is needed in order for the system to be competitive against manual labor. Financing this development entails a risk, hence a justified skepticism, which can be overcome by the longsighted view of the existing market potential. This paper presents a method to estimate the market potential of autonomous unloading systems for heavy deformable goods. Starting from the analysis of the coffee trade, first the current coffee traffic is investigated in order to calculate the number of autonomous systems needed to handle the imported sacks; Results are validated and the method is extended for the calculation of the potential of other market segments, where the same unloading technology can be applied.
SF-failure, the inability of people to correctly determine the behavior of simple stock and flow structures is subject of a long research stream. Reasons for SF-failure can be attributed to different reasons, one of them being lacking domain specific experience, thus familiarity with the problem context. In this article we present a continuation of an experiment to examine the role of educational background in SF-performance. We base the question set on the Bathtub Dynamics tasks introduced by Booth Sweeney and Sterman (2000) and vary the cover stories. In this paper we describe how we developed and tested a new cover story for the engineering domain and implemented the recommendations from a prior study. We test three sets of questions with engineering students which enables us to compare the results to a previous study in which we tested the questions with business students. Results mainly support our hypothesis that context familiarity increases SF-performance. With our findings we further develop the methodology of the research on SF-failure.
Es ist landläufig bekannt, dass die Stromerzeugung zukünftig auf der Basis erneuerbarer Energien, und damit vornehmlich durch Solar- und Windkraftanlagen, erfolgen soll. Dieses unter dem Stichwort „Energiewende“ formulierte Ziel ist allgemein akzeptiert, und es existieren mittlerweile verschiedene Szenarien, die den Zeitplan dafür vorgeben.
Für Baden-Württemberg hat das Umweltministerium die Strategie „50-80-90“ ausgearbeitet: Danach sollen bis zum Jahr 2050 der Energieverbrauch um 50% reduziert, 80% der benötigten Energie aus erneuerbaren Energien erzeugt und 90% der Treibhausgasemissionen eingespart werden.
Excellence in IT is a key enabler for the digital transformation of enterprises. To realize the vision of digital enterprises it is necessary to cope with changing business requirements and to align business and IT. In order to evaluate the contribution of enterprise architecture management to these goals, our paper explores the impact of various factors to the perceived benefit of EAM in enterprises. Based on literature, we build an empirical research model. It is tested with empirical data of European EAM experts using a structural equation modelling approach. It is shown that changing business requirements, IT business alignment, the complexity of information technology infrastructure as well as enterprise architecture knowledge of information technology employees are crucial impact factors to the perceived benefit of EAM in enterprises.
Zwar war die Dramapädagogik nicht Konferenzschwerpunkt und eine eigene Sektion zum Thema wurde nicht – wie etwa 2009 – angeboten, dennoch gab es auf dem 26. DGFF Kongress meiner Ansicht nach für am Thema interessierte Lehrende und Forschende gute Impulse und Einblicke in einige derzeit im deutschsprachigen Raum laufende dramapädagogische Forschungsprojekte. Als mögliche Themen für weitere Forschung und/oder dramapädagogische 'Lobbyarbeit' schienen sich jedoch zwei Bereiche besonders herauszukristallieren: Wie können dramapädagogischer Elemente sinnvoll in den regulären Unterrichtsablauf eingebettet werden, so, dass diese Elemente von Lehrkräften und Schülern nicht nur als dekoratives 'nice to have' (etwa für die letzten 10 Minuten der Stunde) empfunden werden? Und sind dramapädagogische Elemente tatsächlich nur etwas für Lehrkräfte und Lernende mit besonderem 'Talent' und/oder 'Neigung', wie es offenbar diverse KongressteilnehmerInnen empfanden, oder können sie von allen Lehrkräften für alle Lernenden angewendet werden? In diesem Zusammenhang wäre eine weitere Etablierung der Vermittlung von dramapädagogischen Methoden als regulärem Bestandteil einer Lehramtsausbildung sicherlich wünschenswert.
Since its early beginnings in the form of correspondence schools, e-learning has generally sought to provide flexibility and high quality education. While these are indeed noble intentions, the reality of today's connected world demands that such programs focus on a different purpose. As the main purpose of e-learning shifts, so must be the design approaches.
Rethinking e-learning requires open-mindedness on the part of academies, designers, cyber educators, legislators, IT and administrators, but also the learners themselves. All who are involved in or impacted by e-learning programs must speak up and finally share their perspectives, but who will be listening? The key to rethinking e-learning lies in the ability of the stakeholders to listen to each other and make decisions which are in the best interest of the learner.
This chapter will propose a new purpose for e-learning and explore promising possibilities for learner-centered design. The future of e-learning can be shaped by the decisions made today, but before any decisions can be made, one must acknowledge e-learning's successes as well as its shortcomings. The purpose of this chapter is to encourage those who are impacted by e-learning to think about the future.
Die Belastung mit Polychlorierten Biphenylen (PCB) war Anlass für die grundlegende Sanierung des Gebäudes 3 auf dem Reutlinger Hochschulcampus, in dem bis 2012 das Rechenzentrum im zweiten Stock, ein Teil der Fakultät Technik im ersten Stock und die Bibliothek im Erd- und im Untergeschoss untergebracht waren. Die Sanierung bot die Chance einer grundlegenden Nutzungsanpassung. Das zentral gelegene Gebäude wurde in den Jahren 2012 bis 2014 zu einem Servicegebäude umgebaut, in dem jetzt das Präsidium, die Verwaltung, das Auslandsamt und das Lernzentrum der Hochschule Reutlingen untergebracht sind.
Today fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) are well established in manifold technical applications, because they provide advantages such as low weight, high stiffness, high strength and chemical resistance. The broad range of production methods starts from cost effective mass production up to the manufacturing of ultra-lightweight composite parts.
Biological materials are also usually composite materials: Higher plants or bones of higher animals are hierarchically organized and are composed of only a few materials such as lignin, cellulose, apatite and collagen. The large variety and the mechanical properties of natural tissues results primarily from an optimized fiber lay-up to adapt to the mechanical requirements of the respective “installation circumstances”.
Advanced lightweight technical solutions need strong materials and structurally optimized structures. In many industries, the structural optimization by an appropriate fiber lay-up has become an important method to save more weight. Corresponding software tools help to optimize topology/shape (e.g. Mattheck: CAO/SKO, Co. Altair: Optistruct), mainly using finite element analyzing technology.
The combination of strong lightweight materials, optimized topology and sophisticated fiber lay-up is also present in many bio-mineralized planktonic shells — for instance diatoms and radiolaria—but also in glass sponges.
Following it is shown, how the high weight-related mechanical properties of plankton are biomimetically transferred into ultra-lightweight technical structures.
Eine neue Methode zur Berechnung von Temperaturen in Bonddrähten umgeben von einem endlichen Mold wird vorgestellt. Sie ist schneller als die übliche Finite Elemente-Methode (FEM), während sie vergleichbare Resultate produziert. Für manche Parameter funktioniert unsere Methode, während die FEM-Methode versagt. Der Algorithmus ist im sogenannten Bondrechner implementiert, der eine leicht zu benutzende Oberfläche für Designer von mikroelektronischen Systemen bereitstellt. Seine Anwendung hat das Potential, die Zuverlässigkeit von Bonddrähten zu verbessern. Ein nichtidealer Parameter für den Wärmetransfer vom Bonddraht zum Mold-Package wurde ebenfalls berücksichtigt. Dieser Parameter ändert sich wahrscheinlich unter Alterseinflüssen und ist daher sehr wichtig für Zuverlässigkeits-Schätzungen. In unserer Methode wird die Wechselwirkung von Nachbardrähten ebenfalls berücksichtigt. Diese wird immer wichtiger, weil der Durchmesser und der wechselseitige Abstand der Bonddrähte sich verringert, wegen der fortschreitenden Miniaturisierung der Chip-Verpackungen. Unser Programm kann ebenfalls Temperaturen für transiente Ströme berechnen und den Strom berechnen, der zu einer gegebenen Maximaltemperatur gehört.
Enterprise Architecture (EA) management is an activity that seeks to foster the alignment of business and IT, and pursues various goals further operationalizing this alignment. Key to effective EA management is a framework that defines the roles, activities, and viewpoints used for EA management in accordance to the concerns that the stakeholders aim to address. Consensus holds that such frameworks are organization-specific and hence they are designed in governance activities for EA management. As of today, top-down approaches for governance are used to derive organization-specific frameworks. These usually lack systematic mechanisms for improving the framework based on the feedback of the responsible stakeholders. We outline a bottom-up approach for EA management governance that systematically observes the behavior of the actors to learn user concerns and recommend appropriate viewpoints. With this approach, we complement traditional top-down governance activities.
In 2013, Royal Philips was two years into a daunting transformation. Following declining financial performance, CEO Frans van Houten aimed to turn the Dutch icon into a "high-performing Company" by 2017. This case study examines the challenges of the business-driven IT transformation at Royal Philips, a diversified technology company. The case discusses three crucial issues. First, the case reflects on Philips’ aim at creating value from combining locally relevant products and services while also leveraging its global scale and scope. Rewarded and unrewarded business complexity is analyzed. Second, the case identifies the need to design and align multiple elements of an enterprise (organizational, cultural, technical) to balance local responsiveness with global scale. Third, the case explains the role of IT (as an asset instead of a liability) in Philips’ transformation and discusses the new IT landscape with its digital platforms, and the new practices to create effective business-IT partnerships.