The Impact of Institutions on the Decision How to Decide

The human mind is not a general problem solving machine. Instead of deliberately, consciously and serially processing the available information, men can rely on routines, rules, roles or affect for the purpose. They can bring in technology, experts or groups. For all of these reasons, men have a plurality of problem solving modes at their disposition. Often, the meta-choice of problem solving mode matters for behavioural output. Some performance standards are only to be met if a certain problem solving mode is used, like a well-established skill. Other requirements are easier to fulfil with some problem solving modes. This explains why institutions frequently impact on the choice of problem solving mode. To show how institutions are able to do that, a model of problem solving modes is developed. It allows to systematise the access points for institutional intervention.Decision Making, Problem Solving, Institutions

African dynamics in a multipolar world

Fifty years after the foundation of the OAU and the consolidation of most African states and institutions, the international panorama and Africa’s position in it have changed considerably. The world's geopolitical and economic configuration has evolved, with new actors appearing in a new period of globalization. In tone with ECAS 2013, this volume proposes that the experiences appearing in Africa question dominant paradigms in terms of political practice and academic reflection and thus offer a clear challenge to the academic community. The volume offers clues to answer questions such as: What is the impact of the current processes of globalization for African countries and African citizens? How should African Studies be engaged to gauge African dynamics, both at a local and global level? What interdisciplinary means and tools should be brought in to produce an epistemologically relevant view (or narrative) of the issues under analysis?info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of Combined Hard and Fine Machining on the Surface Properties of Cemented Carbides

As a result of recent developments in cold forging cemented carbides are increasingly used as tool materials. Due to their high hardness only electrical discharge machining (EDM) and grinding are suitable for tool machining. The structure of tool surface has significant influence on dominating failure mechanisms wear and fatigue. For improvement of tribological conditions the surface is polished in a finale processing step. The result of hard and fine machining is a specific combination of coarse and fine structure which is determined by processing parameters. The different surface structures lead to a particular tool behavior in forming process. This paper aims to show the influence of combined hard and fine machining on the surface properties of cemented carbides

Friction Conditions in Sheet-Bulk Metal Forming

AbstractThe ongoing trend towards the increasing component functionality and closely-tolerated complex functional components shows the limits of classical sheet and bulk metal forming operations. The combination of sheet and bulk metal forming operations to the new process class of sheet-bulk metal (SBMF) operations gives the possibility to produce the requested parts. Combining sheet and bulk metal operations is leading to different surface pressures and hence to different tribological conditions within the forming process. Thus, the basic investigations of the tribological conditions in SBMF are described within this paper. Also the idea of tailored surfaces for providing process adapted tribological conditions to improve the forming process and a method for realization are presented

High frequency conductivity in the quantum Hall effect

We present high frequency measurements of the diagonal conductivity sigma_xx of a two dimensional electron system in the integer quantum Hall regime. The width of the sigma_xx peaks between QHE minima is analyzed within the framework of scaling theory using both temperature T=100-700 mK and frequency f <= 6 GHz in a two parameter scaling ansatz. For the plateau transition width we find scaling behaviour for both its temperature dependence as well as its frequency dependence. However, the corresponding scaling exponent for temperature kappa=0.42 significantly differs from the one deduced for frequency scaling (c=0.6). Additionally we use the high frequency experiments to suppress the contact resistances that strongly influences DC measurements. We find an intrinsic critical conductivity sigma_c=0.17e^2/h, virtually independent of temperature and filling factor, and deviating significantly from the proposed universal value 0.5e^2/h.Comment: Proceedings of the '14th international conference on high magnetic fields in semiconductor physics' (Semimag-2000) in Matsue, Japa

Biomechanical Computer Models

In the past decade computer models have become very popular in the field of biomechanics due to exponentially increasing computer power. Biomechanical computer models can roughly be subdivided into two groups: multi-body models and numerical models. The theoretical aspects of both modelling strategies will be introduced. However, the focus of this chapter lies on demonstrating the power and versatility of computer models in the field of biomechanics by presenting sophisticated finite element models of human body parts. Special attention is paid to explain the setup of individual models using medical scan data. In order to reach the goal of individualising the model a chain of tools including medical imaging, image acquisition and processing, mesh generation, material modelling and finite element simulation –possibly on parallel computer architectures- becomes necessary. The basic concepts of these tools are described and application results are presented. The chapter ends with a short outlook into the future of computer biomechanics

J Fluorescence

The scope of this paper is to illustrate the need for an improved quality assurance in fluorometry. For this purpose, instrumental sources of error and their influences on the reliability and comparability of fluorescence data are highlighted for frequently used photoluminescence techniques ranging from conventional macro- and microfluorometry over fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry to microarray technology as well as in vivo fluorescence imaging. Particularly, the need for and requirements on fluorescence standards for the characterization and performance validation of fluorescence instruments, to enhance the comparability of fluorescence data, and to enable quantitative fluorescence analysis are discussed. Special emphasis is dedicated to spectral fluorescence standards and fluorescence intensity standards