Test of the German Resilience

From its early post-war catch-up phase, Germany’s formidable export engine has been its consistent driver of growth. But Germany has almost equally consistently run current account surpluses. Exports have powered the dynamic phases and helped emerge from stagnation. Volatile external demand, in turn, has elevated German GDP growth volatility by advanced countries’ standards, keeping domestic consumption growth at surprisingly low levels. As a consequence, despite the size of its economy and important labor market reforms, Germany’s ability to act as global locomotive has been limited. With increasing competition in its traditional areas of manufacturing, a more domestically-driven growth dynamic, especially in the production and delivery of services, will be good for Germany and for the global economy. Absent such an effort, German growth will remain constrained, and Germany will play only a modest role in spurring growth elsewhere

Bubble formation and growth - Study of the boundary conditions at a liquid-vapor interface through irreversible thermodynamics Quarterly progress report, Mar. - May 1966

Nonequilibrium effect on vapor bubble growth determined in study of boundary conditions at liquid-vapor interfac

“What is planning for?“ Die Evaluation von strategischer Stadtentwicklungsplanung am Beispiel Wohnen

Die strategische Stadtentwicklungsplanung gewinnt seit einigen Jahren (wieder) an Bedeutung – in der Praxis ebenso wie in der Wissenschaft. Auch im Bereich Wohnen werden „clevere Lösungen“ gesucht, die Herausforderungen wie lokale Schrumpfungs- oder Wachstumsprozesse, eine zielgruppengerechte Ausdifferenzierung des Wohnungsangebotes und weitere Veränderungen auf dem Wohnungsmarkt meistern sollen. Unter Einbeziehung der lokalen Wohnungsmarktakteure werden vor allem in größeren Städten Konzepte erarbeitet und Strategien entworfen, die verstärkt einen planerischen Charakter aufweisen. Die Frage ist jedoch, welche Bedeutung die strategische Stadtentwicklungsplanung im Handlungsfeld Wohnen für die Steuerung von Stadtentwicklung und Stadtproduktion besitzt. Welchen Einfluss hat sie auf die räumliche Entwicklung einer Stadt, auf die Stadtentwicklungsprozesse oder das Handeln der unterschiedlichen Akteure? Was bewirkt sie wirklich, und insbesondere wie wirkt sie? Das vorliegende Paper beschäftigt sich mit der Suche nach den Effekten strategischer Stadtentwicklungs-planung und ihren Einflussfaktoren – aufgezeigt am Beispiel des Handlungsfeldes Wohnen. In der Literatur gibt es mehrere Hinweise auf die Wirkungen von strategischer Stadtentwicklungsplanung, die empirisch jedoch näher zu erforschen und reflektieren sind. Die Einbeziehung theoretischer Ansätze zur strategischen Planung und zur Evaluation von Planung bieten das Potenzial, die methodische Herangehensweise an eine Evaluation der Komplexität ihres Gegenstandes anzupassen. Dadurch könnten fundierte Kenntnisse über die Wirkungen der strategischen Stadtentwicklungsplanung im Bereich Wohnen gewonnen werden. Das Paper erörtert die Charakteristika und theoretischen Grundlagen der strategischen Stadtentwicklungs-planung im Handlungsfeld Wohnen, ihre vermeintlichen Wirkungen wie auch die Herausforderungen und methodischen Ansätze ihrer Evaluation

Fatty acid bioaccessibility and structural breakdown from in vitro digestion of almond particles.

Previous studies have shown that the size of almond particles influences lipid bioaccessibility during digestion. However, the extent of structural breakdown of almond particles during gastric digestion and its impact on lipid bioaccessibility is unclear. In this study, in vitro digestion of almond particles was conducted using a dynamic model (Human Gastric Simulator) and a static model (shaking water bath). Structural breakdown of particles during the gastric phase occurred only in the Human Gastric Simulator, as evidenced by a reduction in particle size (15.89 ± 0.68 mm2 to 12.19 ± 1.29 mm2, p < 0.05). Fatty acid bioaccessibility at the end of the gastric phase was greater in the Human Gastric Simulator than in the shaking water bath (6.55 ± 0.85% vs. 4.54 ± 0.36%, p < 0.01). Results showed that the in vitro model of digestion which included peristaltic contractions (Human Gastric Simulator) led to breakdown of almond particles during gastric digestion which increased fatty acid bioaccessibility

Regional Unemployment and its Persistence in Transition Countries

We look at the differences in regional unemployment rates in six major transition countries and their persistence over time. We analyse the role various adjustment mechanisms play. While movement out of the labour force seems to be one consequence in many regions with high relative unemployment, there are also signs of emerging wage flexibility. Employment creation, by contrast, has not picked up in regions of high unemployment. Labour mobility also remains very limited in size although it appears to respond to basic economic incentives. Policies addressing housing market imperfections and information asymmetries are necessary to increase worker mobility and to integrate better national labour markets

Bubble formation and growth - Study of the boundary conditions at a liquid-vapor interface through irreversible thermodynamics Quarterly progress report, Jun. - Aug. 1966

Steady state mercury evaporation experiment to measure transport coefficient in liquid-vapor interface boundary condition stud

Naio

Replaces Instant Information/Ornamentals and Flowers Series no. 19.Information sheet on using the Hawaiian native plant naio (Myoporum sandwicense) in landscapes

How do people play a repeated trust game? : Experimental evidence

We run an experiment that implements a finitely repeated version of the trust game in which players can choose in each period with whom to interact. Change in trust and trustworthiness in terms of previous experience is statistically investigated where confounding factors are controlled for. Motives such as reinforcement learning, reciprocity and rationality are useful to explain findings. Overall we find a high persistence of choice and uncover more trust and trustworthiness than in the one shot experiments. Towards the end of the game the degree of trust and trustworthiness decline

Clustering and Signalling of Cell Receptors

As a response to ligand binding, transmembrane cell receptors often enhance their clustering, or oligomerization, during the signalling process. Here we present a statistical mechanical model which combines the aspects of clustering and signalling. In this model, receptors float on the surface, while for two neighboring receptors, there is an interaction energy dependent on their conformational states. On the other hand, ligand binding of a receptor shifts the energy difference between the two conformational states. Due to thermal fluctuation, the effects of clustering and signalling are statistical average quantities. This model reduces to a floating Ising model with a random field. We calculate the signalling in a grand canonical ensemble mean field approach, using Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation and replica method. Monte Carlo simulations are also performed. Essential biological features are obtained in our model.Comment: revtex, 16 pages, including figures, final versio