Bøger udgivet af Cuvillier

Conservation of biodiversity including plant genetic resources are fundamental for the future life on Earth. To safe-guard crop wild relatives, locally adapted landraces and varieties, ex situ genebanks were established at the beginning of the 20th century; primarily to store seeds. However, as any other material on Earth, seeds age and lose viability when stored for prolonged periods. The main factors determining deterioration processes are the genotype, the environmental conditions during seed development and the storage conditions including relative humidity, temperature, gas composition and pressure. To understand physiological, biochemical and genetic changes during seed deterioration in genetic resources of wheat, barley and oilseed rape, fundamental processes of germination, dormancy and seed viability loss are discussed in this book based on 13 scientific publications. Here, the loss of seed viability was investigated depending on seed moisture contents (MCs) between 5 % and >25 , storage temperatures between 0°C and 45°C and a modified atmosphere with increased O2 concentration (75) or increased atmospheric pressure (18 MPa). Although, the response to the different conditions varied among species, overall, elevating seed MCs and storage temperatures led to a gradual change of biochemical mechanisms during seed deterioration. Under dry seed storage conditions, glutathione (GSH) and tocochromanols functioned as low-molecular-weight antioxidants and were degraded. Lipids were oxidised or hydrolysed, the pH decreased, whereas organic radicals accumulated over time and correlated negatively with seed viability. At high seed MCs (>13 %) and storage temperatures (>40 °C), membrane damages, changes of pH or organic radicals were absent. Furthermore, GSH and GSSG depleted whereas tocochromanols remained stable or increased. Therefore, seeds stored under high MCs and temperatures were exposed to a different environment than seeds exposed to lower MCs and temperatures where water activity and deterioration rate were reduced and the cytoplasm was assumed to be glassy. As a consequence, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) varied between ageing treatments; thus to understand genetic mechanisms of seeds deterioration in seedbanks, studies must be carried out on dry-stored seeds. Overall, our plant genetic resources are safely preserved in genebanks. However, to avoid genetic drift and to prolong the life of the seed, the conditions for pre-storage and storage should be further optimised and improved for each individual species.

About 3700 people die in traffic accidents every day. Human error is the number one cause of accidents. Autonomous driving can greatly reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents. To release self-driving cars for road traffic, the system including software must be validated and tested efficiently. However, due to their criticality, the amount of data corresponding to safety-critical driving scenarios are limited. These driving scenes can be expressed as a time series. They represent the corresponding movement of the vehicle, including time vector, position coordinates, speed and acceleration. Such data can be provided on different ways. For example, in the form of a kinematic model. Alternatively, artificial intelligence or machine learning methods can be used. They have been widely used in the development of autonomous vehicles. For example, generative algorithms can be used to generate such safety-critical driving data. However, the validation of generative algorithms is a challenge in general. In most cases, their quality is assessed by means of expert knowledge (qualitative). In order to achieve a higher degree of automation, a quantitative validation approach is necessary. Generative algorithms are based on probability distributions or probability density functions. Accordingly, similarity measures can be used to evaluate generative algorithms. In this publication, such similarity measures are described and compared on the basis of defined evaluation criteria. With respect to the use case mentioned, a recommended similarity measure is implemented and validated for an example of a typical safety-critical driving scenario.

Hydrogen generated by water electrolysis with electricity from renewable energy sources has the potential to be the sustainable energy carrier for the 21st century. However, the successful large-scale integration of electrolyzer systems into electrical grids with volatile energy generation requires performance improvements in energy efficiency as well as in partial load operation. This thesis presents research on the electrochemical characterization of a self-designed alkaline electrolyzer and investigates the influence of modified direct current profiles on overpotentials. The variable current forms are provided by a newly developed process current source structure that functions as a dynamic output voltage rectifier. Additionally, this work highlights the possibility of further processing the generated hydrogen to methane via low-pressure glow discharge plasmolysis. This process employs a ceramic ion conductor in order to extract oxygen ions directly from the plasma and thus, reduces the recombination rate of carbon monoxide and oxygen. The combined energy conversion systems result in a CO2-neutral approach of synthetic gas generation.

The mass transfer across interfaces plays a crucial role in many process engineering applications. This experimental study deals with the scientific question how vortex structures influence boundary layer dynamics in gas-liquid systems. By means of a methodical series of experiments, the impact of momentum transporting vortices on hydrodynamics and mass transfer is systematically analyzed.

Hydraulic fracturing is essential technology for the development of unconventional resources such as tight gas. So far, there are no numerical tools which can optimize the whole process from geological modeling, hydraulic fracturing until production simulation with the same 3D model with consideration of the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling. In this dissertation, a workflow and a numerical tool chain were developed for design and optimization of multistage hydraulic fracturing in horizontal well regarding a maximum productivity of the tight gas wellbore. After the verification a full 3D reservoir model is generated based on a real tight gas field in the North German Basin. Through analysis of simulation results, a new calculation formula of FCD was proposed, which takes the proppant position and concentration into account and can predict the gas production rate more accurately. However, not only FCD but also proppant distribution and hydraulic connection of stimulated fractures to the well, geological structure and the interaction between fractures are determinant for the gas production volume. Through analysis the numerical results of sensitivity analysis and optimization variations, there is no unique criterion to determine the optimal number and spacing of the fractures, it should be analyzed firstly in detail to the actual situation and decided then from case to case.

High-power distributed feedback broad area (DFB-BA) lasers are key components for pumping narrow absorption bands in solid-state lasers and for brightness scaling in direct diode laser systems via dense spectral beam combining. Today, the market for these lasers is dominated by DFB-BA lasers with low-order Bragg gratings that are integrated via buried overgrowth techniques.A promising alternative are DFB-BA lasers with high order grat-ings that are directly etched into the p-side of the epitaxial layer structure, so that no interruption of the epitaxial growth process is required. Prior to this work, studies of such DFB-BA lasers were restricted to experimental proof-of-principal realizations. Further, adequate simulation tools were not available, as surface-etched gratings introduce a high refractive index contrast and can therefore not be calculated directly within the coupled mode theory (CMT).Hence, this work treats the development of efficient high-bright-ness DFB-BA lasers and laser arrays with surface-etched gratings at 975 nm. The development of these lasers encompasses three steps: First, a design study of high-brightness Fabry-Pérot laser diodes that are suitable for the integration of surface-etched gratings. Second, the implementation of an adequate numerical model for the simulation of high-order surface-etched DFB grat-ings. Therefore, a simulation based on CMT is extended by bi-directional eigenmode expansion and propagation modelling. And third, a comprehensive experimental study of spectrally stabilized high-brightness DFB-BA lasers. Optimized DFB-BA lasers (L = 6 mm, W = 30 µm) operate with 56% peak conversion efficiency and achieve 5.8 W output power with a slow-axis beam parameter product ¿ 1.8 mm×mrad, and a linewidth ¿ 1.0 nm.

Gegenstand dieser Dissertation war das Ermitteln der Verbesserung der peroralen Bioverfügbarkeit Fenofibrat (FFB) durch lipid-basierte Formulierung (LBF). Eine weitere Aufgabe bestand darin, verschiedene analytische Methoden zur Bewertung der Verbesserung der oralen Bioverfügbarkeit von Fenofibrat einzusetzen. Diese schlossen in vitro biorelevante Löslichkeits-, Dispersions-, Auflösungs- und Präzipitationstests ein. Auf Basis der analytischen Ergebnisse wurden dann PBPK-Modelle verwendet, um menschliche Plasmaprofile nach der Verabreichung der FFB-Formulierungen zu simulieren. Die daraus resultierenden in silico-Vorhersagen stimmten mit den in vivo-Beobachtungen überein. Durch Anwendung der Parametersensitivitätsanalyse war es weiterhin möglich, ein mechanistisches Verständnis der beteiligten geschwindigkeitsbegrenzenden Schritte zu erreichen.Formulierungen auf Lipidbasis können nach dem Pouton-Klassifizierungssytem eingeteilt werden. Typ I Formulierungen bestehen ausschließlich aus Ölen, während am anderen Ende der Skala die Typ IV Formulierung weitestgehend aus Tensiden ist. In dieser Arbeit wurden in erster Linie Lipidformulierungen Typ IIIA und Typ IIIB untersucht.Es wurde gezeigt, dass Dispersionstests an FFB-Lipidformulierungen am besten unter Verwendung der USP 3-Apparatur durchgeführt werden, da in diesem Apparat die GI-Motilität in vivo am besten reflektiert wird. Um die Hydrodynamik in verschiedenen Auflösungsapparaten zu vergleichen, wurde der Auflösungsversuch von LBF Nr. 1 ¿ Nr. 4 von FFB auch unter Verwendung von USP 2 durchgeführt. Ungeachtet von kompendialen oder biorelevanten Medien führten die meisten dieser Lipidformulierungen zur Auflösung eines Großteils des beladenen Medikaments, im Gegensatz zum unformulierten Fenofibrat, das sich in nüchternem Zustand kaum auflöst. Weiter zeigten die Transfermodellexperimente an den Lipidformulierungen von FFB, dass eine intestinale Präzipitation nach einer Magenauflösung unwahrscheinlich ist.Durch mathematische Transformation der Noyes-Whitney-Gleichung kann ein Excel-Toolkit zur Berechnung des z-Werts aus in-vitro-Auflösungsprofilen verwendet werden. Die z-Werte werden dann in physiologisch-basierte pharmakokinetische in silico Modelle, STELLA® und Simcyp®, eingesetzt. Anhand der erforderlichen post-absorptiven Parameter kann mithilfe dieser Modelle die Plasma-Arzneistoff-Konzentration nach oraler Verabreichung von verschiedenen Formulierungen vorhergesagt werden. Darüber hinaus ermöglicht der Simcyp®-Simulator eine Reihe von virtuellen Versuchen, die PK-Variabilität vom Wirkstoff in verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen zu bestimmen. Um diese Möglichkeiten für LBF von Fenofibrat zu testen, wurde LBF Nr. 4 modelliert. Das Simulationsergebnis von Simcyp® entsprach dem aus der STELLA®-Software. Weiterhin wurden die Plasmafenofibrinsäure-Konzentrationsprofile von den Modellen genau vorhergesagt. Die Punktschätzwerte für Cmax und AUC, berechnet aus den In-silico und in vivo Plasmaprofilen, lagen sogar im Bereich von 0,8-1,25 für die SMEDDS Lösung und Kapselformulierungen. Diese Übereinstimmung von in vitro-in silico mit in vivo wurde weiterhin durch Berechnung der jeweiligen f2 Faktoren unterstützt.Basierend auf diesen Ergebnissen scheint es, dass der In-vitro-In-Silico-In-vivo-Ansatz ein nützliches Werkzeug zum Identifizieren und Vergleichen von Beschränkungen der oralen Absorption für Formulierungen auf Lipidbasis und zum Optimieren der Lipidformulierungsentwicklung von schlecht löslichen Arzneimitteln darstellt.

This thesis is dedicated to the investigation and development of numerical methods for hyperbolic partial differential equations arising in continuum physics and contains several new theoretical and practical insights which have resulted in novel numerical algorithms that are provably stable and robust, presented here for the first time as a whole. After extending the theory of conservative discretisations using summation-by-parts operators and symmetric numerical fluxes, the application of these methods to nonlinear balance laws such as the shallow water equations and the Euler equations is studied. While it is not clear whether entropy stable schemes can be formulated in this way for the Euler equations and general summation-by-parts operators, it is possible to construct such schemes using classical summation-by-parts operators. Following again the idea to mimic properties of the continuous level discretely, several numerical methods are investigated and new ones are developed. Moreover, stability of fully discrete schemes using explicit Runge-Kutta methods is investigate. Finally, an underlying concept of the previous investigations is studied in detail. Since the entropy plays a crucial role in the theory of hyperbolic balance laws, it has been used as a design principle of numerical methods as described before. Extending these studies, variational principles for the entropy are investigated with respect to their applicability in numerical schemes.

This thesis deals with hierarchical optimization and target cascading in chassis development with particular focus on the first hierarchical level of optimization. To verify the entire process in the scope of a research project, a rolling resistance-optimized tire is considered and applied for a new chassis development. Only characteristics related to kinematics, compliance, and anti-roll bar stiffness are considered for the optimization. Optimization mainly aims to maintain the original lateral dynamics of a reference vehicle with an optimized chassis coupled with rolling resistance-optimized tires. Lateral dynamics, specifically, at lateral acceleration of less than 4 m/s², are considered for the optimization. Four characteristic values (yaw gain of 80 and 150 km/h, and overshoot and peak time of sideslip angle by step steer input at 150 km/h) are considered as the lateral dynamics relevant optimization criteria. The reasons for the selection of these four characteristic values will be explained in detail. This study first aims to fulfill the targeted lateral dynamics by minimizing the worsening of other characteristic values. Finally, an actual chassis optimization result obtained by using the presented methodology and that considers rolling resistance tires is introduced and analyzed.

In this thesis the major differences between underground hydrogen storage and the conventional storage of natural gas are lined out to be bio-reactive and gas mixing phenomena. A new mathematical model was developed to describe the coupling between two-phase flow and microbial populations which consume hydrogen for their metabolism. Different analytical and numerical techniques were applied to investigate the storage of hydrogen in the geological subsurface. An analytical solution was derived for gravity-driven multi-component two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media. Oscillating scenarios, similar to Turing instability, were detected. Storage scenarios were simulated including a field scale demonstration in a realistic geological model.

Subtilasen gehören zur S8 Familie der Subtilisin-ähnlichen Serinproteasen (Subtilasen, SBTs). Diese Proteinfamilie ist in Pflanzen stark expandiert und besitzt 56, 63 und 80 Angehörige in Arabidopsis, Reis und Kartoffel. Pflanzliche Subtilasen sind, wie ihr tierisches Pendant, die Proproteinkonvertasen, durch limitierte Proteolyse an der Aktivierung von Proteinvorläufern beteiligt. Auf Grund von funktioneller Redundanz zeigen jedoch die meisten T-DNA-Insertionslinien einzelner Subtilasegene keinen Phänotyp. Diese funktionelle Redundanz wurde in einem biochemischen Ansatz mit SBT-spezifischen Inhibitoren überwunden, indem die Funktion von SBTs auf Enzym- und nicht wie sonst üblich auf Expressionsebene reguliert wurde.The S8 family of subtilisin-like serine proteases (subtilases, SBTs), has largely expanded in plants, as seen for Arabidopsis, rice and potato, with 56, 63, and 80 members, respectively. Like mammalian proprotein convertases, plant subtilases are involved in the activation of proproteins by limited proteolysis. Due to functional redundancy, most single-gene loss-of-function mutants lack obvious phenotypes. Functional redundancy was addressed here in a biochemical approach using SBT-specific inhibitors to impair SBT function at the level of enzyme activity rather than gene expression.

The keynote of this book is the understanding of the fact that America is able to change the world for the better. That is why the book is addressed to those who wish for this and can contribute to it. The author suggests that America needs to comprehend itself in a new way. He suggests looking at its foreign and internal policy and the structure of its society and the world community from the viewpoint of the absolutely new understanding of the social world that is described in the book¿

Plants cope with drought stress conditions by adjusting transpiration and simultaneously optimizing their carbon assimilation rates. Continuous stress however, increases compounds known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) being toxic to the plants. One of the key nutrients, which aids the plants under environmental stress, is Potassium (K). It is known that optimization of K supply will mitigate the impacts of osmotic stress via increased stomatal conductance and improved assimilate translocation leading to less ROS production.In this study, we have investigated the impacts of K supply on plant water relations (e.g. water use efficiency WUE, stomatal conductance gs and assimilation AN) under osmotic stress conditions. Moreover, the dynamics of most important ROS (hydrogen peroxide H2O2, and Super oxide O2-) and antioxidants enzymes (catalase CAT, glutathione reductase GR, ascorbate peroxidase APX and super oxide dismutase SOD) were studied. Finally, Massive Analysis of CDNA Ends (MACE) was performed to observe the whole genome transcriptional responses to potassium supply under osmotic stress conditions.K supply had a positive effect on biomass-WUE, AN and gs leading to increased biomass under osmotic stress conditions. Contrarily, when low K supplied plants were treated with osmotic stress, reduced biomass was observed caused by severe ROS damage. Under the latter conditions, high activity of GR and APX was observed; nevertheless, these high activities were not sufficient to detoxify high H2O2 and O2- levels.The whole genome transcriptional response showed that low K supply plants exposed to osmotic stress were subjected to massive whole genome expression in order to resist the stress condition, costing them considerable energy consumption and eventuating in limited yield achievement.It is concluded that potassium supply under osmotic stress mitigated the photo-oxidative damage mainly via improved photosynthesis and avoiding ROS generation rather than high antioxidant activity. Optimization of K nutrient under osmotic stress recovers most of the changes in the metabolism pathways back to control conditions.

In der Induktion von Abwehrreaktionen in der Pflanze sind hauptsächlich die Pflanzenhormone Salizylsäure (SA), Jasmonsäure (JA) und Ethylen (ET) beteiligt.

In this dissertation, the design of ¿information systems¿ (IS) for the future of mobility in form of smart, environmentally sustainable, flexible and dynamic mobility services are investigated. Specifically, the challenge of balancing vehicle supply and demand in shared vehicle services is addressed in a series of studies. One study includes the development of a taxonomy of vehicle relocation problems as a tool to describe them comprehensively and by this, facilitating a more precise solution development. The second study investigates the potential of IS in increasing the electric vehicle utilization in e-carsharing fleets that employs both electric and conventional vehicles. The third study includes the design and implementation of an IS that enables carsharing providers to construct pricing areas, which are designed to influence customer rental behavior. The fourth study addresses the vehicle supply and demand problem in services which provide autonomous driving vehicles for its customers, e.g. self-driving taxis, by adapting concepts from carsharing literature. Lastly, the gathered insights from applying design-oriented research in various research projects and contexts are formulized in study five. It provides a research framework, method and publication schema for practical and iterative design-oriented research. Thus, the presented research addresses topics of smart and sustainable mobility as well as foundations of design-oriented research.

This thesis is improving the understanding of the gating process of the voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC). VDAC is the most abundant protein in the outer mitochondrial membrane of eukaryotes and has a plethora of different functions there. It is the main pathway for metabolites that are going in and out the mitochondria. Ever since its discovery in the 1970s and especially since the publication of three high resolution structures of VDAC in 2008 the mechanism of the voltage gating of the protein is a scientific question.In this thesis, the assignment of hVDAC1 in liquid state NMR is further improved and C¿ assignments are determined. Based on a vastly improved NOE network and previously recorded R1/R2 relaxation data, a 3D solution state structure of E73V hVDAC1 was determined.Furthermore, an hVDAC1 mutant that is stabilizing a closed state of the protein was developed and is described. This ¿Quintuple hVDAC1¿ is exhibiting properties previously determined for N-terminal deletion constructs in solid state NMR and BLM measurements, but can ¿ contrary to the deletion constructs ¿ still be investigated by liquid state NMR measurements. Several lines of evidence point to and suggest a partial movement of the protein¿s N-terminal ¿-helix in this mutant. Based on the results, two possible models for a closed state of hVDAC1 are developed and discussed.

Diese Arbeit handelt von der erzwungenen Strömung durch teilweise offene Kapillarkanäle unter Schwerelosigkeit. Die untersuchten Kanäle bestehen aus zwei parallelen Glasplatten, welche durch eine oder zwei Flüssigkeitsoberflächen entlang der offenen Seiten begrenzt sind. Die Form des Kanals ähnelt den Kapillarkanälen, wie sie auch in Treibstoffhandhabungs-Systemen von Oberflächenspannungstanks von Satelliten Anwendung finden. Die Strömung im Kanal wird instabil, wenn die freie Oberflache kollabiert und ein Gaseinbruch in die Flüssigkeitsströmung auftritt ¿ ein Prozess, der auch als ¿Choking¿-Phänomen bezeichnet wird. Kapillartechniken mit freien Oberflächen sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil für raumfahrtbezogene und terrestrische Anwendungen. Da sie aus keinen beweglichen Teilen bestehen, sind sie eine sehr verlässliche Methode der Flüssigkeitskontrolle. In dieser Arbeit wird die erzwungene, isotherme und inkompressible Kapillarströmung theoretisch, experimentell und numerisch untersucht. Die zuvor veröffentlichte Stabilitätstheorie wurde einer tiefgreifenden Überprüfung unterzogen. Ein Langzeitexperiment (CCF ¿ Capillary Channel Flow) wurde auf der Internationalen Raumstation ISS durchgeführt, um die Theorie zu validieren und deren Geltungsbereich in einem multidimensionalen Parameterraum zu bestimmen.

Iron sulfur clusters are essential cofactors involved in electron transfer, sensing, and catalysis in all three kingdoms of life. While most iron sulfur clusters are ligated by cysteine thiolates, a number of clusters featuring so called alternative ligands such as histidine have been recognized in recent years. This work uses synthetic [2Fe-2S] analogues to explore the role alternative ligands play in determining the reactivity of iron sulfur clusters. Isomerization in a homoleptically coordinated cluster utilizing a mixed nitrogen- and sulfur-donating ligand is investigated as a model for ligand rearrangement processes during iron sulfur cluster biogenesis. Furthermore, a high fidelity model system for the asymmetrically ligated [2Fe-2S] cluster of mitoNEET proteins is developed and characterized in detail. This cluster and its homoleptic analogue are studied as reagents in proton coupled electron transfer processes, highlighting the role asymmetry and reorganization energy play in tuning this reactivity. The effects of the ligation pattern on entropic contributions during reduction are probed by temperature dependent electrochemical measurements. Finally, synthetic [2Fe-2S] clusters are investigated with respect to their reactivity with organic radicals, mimicking the unique reactivity of biotin synthase.

Plasma treatment is a novel and promising technolgy in the field of wood surface modification. Deposition of micro-particles on wood surfaces by means of plasma is an interesting approach to enhance wood properties and thus, to extend the service life of wood products. On the other hand, several silicone fomulations have been already shown to cause excellent water repellence and interaction with cell wall components, beside to impart high chenical and weathering stability as well as biological resistance in treated wood. Based on that, this study focussed on both treatments seperately in an initial stage of the research; followed by the combination, in a two-step treatment, of vacuum-pressure impregnation of solid wook with siloxanes and additional copper deposition on wood surface using atmostpheric pressure plasma.

The ability to remember old events poses one of the most remarkable talents of the human brain. The hippocampus, a part of the limbic system, is suspected to play a key role in the transformation of new experiences into long term memory. Its neurons possess two specialized extensions to process information in a directed manner. Their widely ramified dendrites receive input from other cells, whereas a single axon transmits output to subsequent cells of the network. Dendrites and axon arise usually directly from the somatic compartment. However, we could show that in a large fraction of hippocampal neurons, the axon derives from one of the dendrites. This study focusses on the characterization of this particular anatomy and its influence on neuronal signal processing.Using complementary techniques such as immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology and computer simulations we demonstrated that these axon-carrying dendrites constitute a privileged channel for excitatory synaptic input. This mechanism enables new ways to process information within the hippocampal structure and extends our knowledge about the biophysical foundations underlying memory formation.Eine der bedeutsamsten Leistungen unseres Gehirns besteht in der Fähigkeit, sich an vielfältige Ereignisse zu erinnern, Informationen zu verknüpfen und aus Vergangenem zu lernen. Das Areal des Hippocampus gilt dabei als Schlüsselregion für den Transfer von neuen Erinnerungen ins Langzeitgedächtnis. Dortige Nervenzellen besitzen zwei spezialisierte Typen von Fortsätzen, welche eine gerichtete Informationsverarbeitung gewährleisten. Baumartig verzweigte Dendriten empfangen Eingangssignale, während ein einzelnes Axon das Ausgangssignal erzeugt und an nachgeschaltete Zellen weiterleitet. Beide Strukturen entspringen in der Regel direkt am Zellkörper. Wir konnten jedoch bei einer großen Anzahl von hippocampalen Zellen den Axon-Ursprung am Dendritenbaum nachweisen. Diese Studie widmet sich der Charakterisierung dieses anatomischen Phänomens und untersucht dessen Einfluss auf die zelluläre Signalverarbeitung.Mittels verschiedener neurowissenschaftlicher Techniken konnten wir nachweisen, dass axon-tragende Dendriten einen neuen und elektrisch begünstigten Typus von Signaleingängen darstellen, der sich in Stärke und Netzwerkverhalten von klassischen Dendriten hervorhebt. Dieser Mechanismus ermöglicht neue Wege der Informationsverarbeitung im Hippocampus und erweitert damit unser Verständnis über die biophysikalischen Vorgänge, denen Lernen und Gedächtnisbildung zugrunde liegen.

The first part of this cumulative dissertation is divided into two chapters. The first chapterdescribes the motivation for studying the topic of this thesis, outlines the research gaps andresearch questions, illustrates the structure, presents the research design, and describes theanticipated contributions. The second chapter provides the relevant theoretical background.

Der Hauptbeitrag der vorliegenden Arbeit zur Wicklungs theoric der elek­ trischen Maschinen liegt darin, dass eine einheitliche und deterministische Methode für die Analyse und das Design der Wicklungstopologien eingeführt wird. Um diese neue Idee verständlicher zu erklären werden vier unterschiedlichen "Sprachen¿ benutzt. Dazu zählt die mathematische Formulierung der Methode durch Anwendung der Matrizennotation, die graphische Darstellung der Methode durch neu eingeführte graphische Objekte, die Implementierung der Methode durch die höhere Programmiersprache Python und die Ausformulierung der Methode in englischer Sprache.

Intensively managed agricultural soils are a major source of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O), mainly due to the use of mineral nitrogen fertilizers which stimulate microbial processes in soils that form N2O. While oxidized N fertilizer forms can be subject to denitrification, reduced N forms must first be oxidized by nitrification to become available for denitrification. Because the contribution of these processes to N2O emissions depends on the prevailing soil conditions, the choice of the N fertilizer form has the potential to mitigate N2O emissions from fertilized soils.The present study focused on comparing amid-, ammonium- and nitrate-based mineral fertilizers with regard to nitrogen transformation dynamics and N2O production under controlled as well as field conditions. For this two distinct methodological approaches to measure N2O emissions were evaluated and deployed. Furthermore, the effects of soil pH and the alkalizing hydrolysis of urea were investigated. It was shown that especially under aerobic conditions the N fertilizer form can significantly affect N2O production in soils, and that nitrite dynamics are important especially for nitrification-derived N2O emissions. Thus, the careful consideration of the N fertilizer form can be a measure to mitigate emissions from farmland.

Manufacturing Systems represent an important field in Engineering Science and University Education. This volume develops key knowledge in Manufacturing Systems¿ Design and Factory Operations right from the basics in Graph Theory, Systems Analysis, Petri nets, Simulation, Linear Programming, Queuing und Topology. These fundamentals enable to directly demonstrate current implementations of Processes and Factory Designs with a strong focus on work Organization and Information Flows. Moreover, advanced concept as Lean Manufacturing, Fractal Company or Cloud Manufacturing seamlessly fit into the presented structural set up. Methods for Greenfield planning, Master Plans, Layouts, and global manufacturing Site Decisions are discussed as well as all fundamentals around Enterprise Resource Planning, Manufacturing Execution, Scheduling and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. All subjects coalesce in novel ICT applications for Manufacturing, including Cyber Physical Production, Smart Units, Big Data, RFID and the Cloud.The book presents carefully pre-cogitated selections of key chapters from the wide fields of manufacturing systems and systems engineering. Master Students as well as Postgraduates find all important subjects and every key concept with easy access to all crucial recent developments in one volume. A number of authentic case examples from world class companies with novel aspects for Practitioners illustrate the matters. The book embraces more than two decades of practical experience from international projects as well as University lecturing on the addressed fields.

Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) is one of the water scarcest regions on earth. There, lack of water resources is common, and water scarcity has become an increasing constraint to their economic development, particularly of the agriculture, which is the biggest water consumer. Many countries in this region have been exploiting their non-renewable fossil water resources in order to relieve the acute pressure of water stress, depleting their resource base, and undermining their long-term economic development and food security, with additional consequences for human health and the environment. Disputes over water lead to tension within communities, and unreliable water services are prompting people to migrate in search for better living conditions. Water investments absorb large amounts of public funds, which could often be used more efficiently elsewhere. These challenges appear likely to escalate.Besides the availability of water, the efficiency of usage, e.g. in the agriculture, the suitability of plants cultivated, the yield values, etc. plays also an important role in decision making processes. As the region¿s population continues to grow, water availability per capita is set to fall by 50% by 2050, and most of the countries in the region are going to face with ¿absolute water scarcity¿.The expert workshop aimed at evaluating the options for coping with water scarcity through assessing the water demand and supply up to the year 2050, thereby considering issues like climate change, population growth, and economic development.

Sustainable Water Management is essential for the social, economic, and environmental growth of developing countries. Many of those had very high population growth rates in the last century, resulted in fast urbanization and strengthened by heavy migration from rural areas to the cities either of big or small size. Water supply of good quality and adequate quantity, especially in countries with semi-arid regions, and appropriate sewerage systems and treatment of wastewaters impaired severe constraints for the population. Nevertheless, many alternatives for wastewater treatment were developed with the participation of universities and research institutions as well as by practitioners. Substantial efforts have been directed towards the search of good alternatives for domestic sewage treatment in metropolitan regions and small cities in developing countries in order to comply with their particular economic and environmental conditions. The use of conventional treatment technologies as well as advanced alternatives for treatment and post-treatment of wastewater, issues of plant scales in centralized and decentralized systems, and possible reuse of the effluents were aimed to present on this workshop and to discuss theoretical and practical aspects.The main objectives of the workshop were (i) to share experiences, knowledge, and research between different partners; (ii) to discuss major problems and challenges in the field of wastewater treatment and reuse in Metropolitan Regions and Small Cities in Developing Countries; (iii) to present suitable treatment technologies for domestic wastewater for the removal of recalcitrant substances and micro-pollutants from domestic sewage and industrial effluents; and (iv) likeliness of reuse of treated wastewater in urban areas, in the industry, and in agriculture. Individual topics dealt with were (v) alternatives for domestic sewage treatment in metropolitan regions and small cities; (vi) anaerobic processes for the treatment of domestic sewage and industrial wastewaters; (vii) stabilization ponds; (viii) aerobic granular sludge; (ix) post-treatment processes; (x) centralized and decentralized systems; and (xi) water reuse.

Durch massive technologische Veränderungen beanspruchen viele Dienstleistungen wie Fernsehen, Post und Telefonie mittlerweile weltweite Telekommunikationsnetzwerke, vor allem das Internet, wodurch die Anzahl der Kommunikationspartner und Bandbreitenanforderungen stark gewachsen sind. Diese Veränderungen resultieren in gestiegener Komplexität von Fragen wie der nach der Planung solcher Netzwerke. In ¿Design and Scheduling Problems in Planning Optical Networks¿ werden Fragestellungen in diesem Kontext untersucht; hierbei wird ein besonderes Augenmerk auf die spezielle Problematik der Glasfasernetzwerke gelegt. Die hauptsächlich benutzten Methoden umfassen ganzzahlige Programmierung, Dekompositionstechniken und kombinatorische Optimierung. Zu den untersuchten Planungsaspekten gehören sowohl die Planung der Netzwerke an sich, die Ausbauplanung, also die Frage, wie die geplanten Netzwerke über einen längeren Zeitraum realisiert werden sowie die Frequenzzuweisung der Lichtwege, wenn das Netzwerk in Betrieb ist. Es werden sowohl theoretischere Aspekte wie die Frage nach facettendefinierenden Ungleichungen der zugrundeliegenden Polytope wie auch praxisnähere Aspekte anhand von konkreten Implementierungen und Rechenexperimenten beleuchtet.

With the increasing availability of MMICs at high frequencies beyond 100 GHz low-loss interconnects for module fabrication become essential. This work presents the results of the flip-chip interconnects approach exhibiting bandwidths from 220 GHz up to 500 GHz.Flip-chip transitions in this study were fabricated based on simulated 3D models in three different topologies: coplanar-to-coplanar, stripline-to-coplanar, and stripline-to-stripline. The interconnects were realized with 10 µm-diameter AuSn microbumps. After the flip-chip mounting, scattering parameter measurements were performed to characterize the interconnect quality. The results suggest that the flip-chip technology is currently the most suitable technology for the high frequency range.