How Natural Selection Can Create Both Self- and Other-Regarding Preferences, and Networked Minds

Biological competition is widely believed to result in the evolution of selfish preferences. The related concept of the `homo economicus' is at the core of mainstream economics. However, there is also experimental and empirical evidence for other-regarding preferences. Here we present a theory that explains both, self-regarding and other-regarding preferences. Assuming conditions promoting non-cooperative behaviour, we demonstrate that intergenerational migration determines whether evolutionary competition results in a `homo economicus' (showing self-regarding preferences) or a `homo socialis' (having other-regarding preferences). Our model assumes spatially interacting agents playing prisoner's dilemmas, who inherit a trait determining `friendliness', but mutations tend to undermine it. Reproduction is ruled by fitness-based selection without a cultural modification of reproduction rates. Our model calls for a complementary economic theory for `networked minds' (the `homo socialis') and lays the foundations for an evolutionarily grounded theory of other-regarding agents, explaining individually different utility functions as well as conditional cooperation

BlueCollar: Optimizing Worker Paths on Factory Shop Floors with Visual Analytics

The optimization of a factory\u27s productivity regarding quality and efficiency is an important task in the manufacturing domain. To optimize the productivity, production lines are optimized to have short transportation paths and short processing times at the stations that process intermediate components or the final product. A factory\u27s layout is a key factor in this optimization aspect. This optimization mostly comprises the machine tools\u27 positions with respect to places where supply goods are being delivered and other tools are stationed, often neglecting the paths that workers need to take at the shop floor. This impairs a factory\u27s productivity, as machines may need to wait for workers, who operated another machine and are still on the way due to the long distance between the machines. In this work, we present BlueCollar, a visual analytics approach that supports layout planners to explore and optimize existing factory layouts regarding the paths taken by workers. Planners can visually inspect the paths that workers need to take based on their work schedule and the factory\u27s layout. An estimation of distribution algorithm supports them in choosing which layout elements, e.g., shared tool caches, to relocate. Its intermediate and final results are used to provide visual cues for suitable relocation areas, and to suggest new layouts automatically. We demonstrate our approach through an application scenario based on a realistic prototype layout provided by an external company

Entwicklung von Kunststoff-Mikroventilen im Batch-Verfahren

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, die Integration von Materialien in Mikrosysteme zu ermöglichen, welche sich nicht für monolitische Herstellungs- und Integrationsverfahren eignen. Eine aufwändige und somit meist kostspielige Pick-and-Place Montage wird dabei hinsichtlich der wirtschaftlichen Eignung auch für größerer Stückzahlen durch Übertragungstechniken auf der Waferebene vermieden. Als Demonstratorsystem dient ein Kunststoff-Mikroventil mit einem Aktor aus einer Formgedächtnislegierung

Applikation, Charakterisierung und Einsatz kaltgasgespritzter Kupfer-Nickel-Lotschichten für TiAl6V4-Substrate

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ausgehend vom Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik für Verfahren und Werkstoffe des Titanlötens das Kaltgasspritzen in seiner Eignung als Vorbelotungsprozess beim löttechnischen Fügen von Titanlegierungen untersucht und qualifiziert. Die Parameter des Beschichtungsvorgangs werden dabei mit den resultierenden Schichtgefügen und späteren Lötergebnissen korreliert, wodurch eine Bewertung ermöglicht und ein Beitrag zum Verständnis der Mechanismen einer spritztechnischen Vorbelotung geliefert wird. Es werden dabei sowohl materialografische als auch mechanische Charakterisierungen durchgeführt. Ergänzt werden die Arbeitspunkte durch eine hochauflösende TEM-Untersuchung der Grenzfläche von kaltgasgespritzten Zink-Schichten und Aluminium-Substraten, die der Überprüfung theoretischer Erkenntnisse zum Haftungsmechanismus kaltgasgespritzter metallischer Schichten auf Leichtmetallsubstraten dient. Die Arbeit schließt mit einer Diskussion und Folgerung und gibt Empfehlungen für weiterführende Forschungen auf diesem Gebiet.:1 Einleitung und Problemstellung 2 Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 2.1 Leichtmetalle als Konstruktionswerkstoffe 2.1.1 Aluminium 2.1.2 Magnesium 2.1.3 Titan 2.2 Titan und Titanlegierungen als Konstruktionswerkstoffe 2.3 Stoffschlüssiges Fügen von Titan und Titanlegierungen 2.3.1 Kleben und Schweißen von Titanwerkstoffen 2.3.2 Löten von Titanwerkstoffen 2.3.2.1 Begriffe des Lötens 2.3.2.2 Löten von Titan und Titanlegierungen 2.3.2.3 Hartlote zum Löten von Titan und Titanlegierungen 2.3.2.4 Das Dreistoffsystem Titan-Kupfer-Nickel 2.4 Thermisches Spritzen 2.4.1 Begriffe des Thermischen Spritzens 2.4.2 Verfahren des Thermischen Spritzens 2.4.3 Kaltgasspritzen 2.4.3.1 Prozesstechnische und physikalische Grundlagen des Kaltgasspritzprozesses 2.4.3.2 Haftungsmechanismen kaltgasgespritzter Schichten 2.4.3.3 Eigenschaften kaltgasgespritzter Schichten 3 Folgerungen aus dem Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 4 Zielsetzung 5 Versuchsdurchführung 5.1 Voruntersuchungen mit Aluminiumsubstraten 5.1.1 Metallografische TEM-Untersuchungen 5.2 Untersuchungen mit TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 5.2.1 Versuchsplanung 5.2.2 Kaltgasspritzen von Lotschichten 5.2.3 Vakuumdiffusionslöten 5.2.4 Metallografische Charakterisierung 5.2.5 Mechanische Charakterisierung der Lötverbindungen 6 Ergebnisse 6.1 Voruntersuchungen mit Aluminiumsubstraten 6.1.1 AlSi 12-CGS-Lotschichten 6.1.2 Zn-basierte CGS-Lotschichten 6.1.3 Metallografische TEM-Untersuchungen 6.1.4 Zusammenfassung der Untersuchungsergebnisse mit Aluminiumsubstraten 6.2 Untersuchungen mit TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 6.2.1 Kaltgasspritzen von Lotschichten 6.2.2 Lötverbindungen 6.2.2.1 Metallografische Charakterisierung der Ti-Cu-Ni-Schichtlotfolien 6.2.2.2 Metallografische Charakterisierung der Lötverbindungen 6.2.2.3 Mechanische Charakterisierung der Lötverbindungen 7 Ergebnisdiskussion 7.1 Kaltgasspritzen von Lotschichten auf TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 7.2 Charakterisierung von TiAl 6 V 4-Lötverbindungen 7.3 Bewertung der Ergebnisse mit TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 8 Folgerungen 9 Zusammenfassung 10 QuellennachweisThe present work qualifies the cold gas dynamic spray process (CGS) as a process for the application of braze filler coatings onto titanium alloy substrates. The work program results from needs and problems that were identified in the state-of-the-art of science and technology. The parameters of the coating process are correlated with the resulting coating microstructures and the posterior brazing results. Materialographic and mechanic characterisations of the filler coatings and braze seams are carried out. Thereby, an evaluation of the braze filler application by cold gas spraying is permitted. In addition, high-resolution TEM investigations within the interfaces of a cold sprayed zinc coating and an aluminium base material proof the theory of the bonding mechanisms of CGS coatings on light weight metals. The work discusses the achieved results and gives an outlook to continuative investigations in this field of science.:1 Einleitung und Problemstellung 2 Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 2.1 Leichtmetalle als Konstruktionswerkstoffe 2.1.1 Aluminium 2.1.2 Magnesium 2.1.3 Titan 2.2 Titan und Titanlegierungen als Konstruktionswerkstoffe 2.3 Stoffschlüssiges Fügen von Titan und Titanlegierungen 2.3.1 Kleben und Schweißen von Titanwerkstoffen 2.3.2 Löten von Titanwerkstoffen 2.3.2.1 Begriffe des Lötens 2.3.2.2 Löten von Titan und Titanlegierungen 2.3.2.3 Hartlote zum Löten von Titan und Titanlegierungen 2.3.2.4 Das Dreistoffsystem Titan-Kupfer-Nickel 2.4 Thermisches Spritzen 2.4.1 Begriffe des Thermischen Spritzens 2.4.2 Verfahren des Thermischen Spritzens 2.4.3 Kaltgasspritzen 2.4.3.1 Prozesstechnische und physikalische Grundlagen des Kaltgasspritzprozesses 2.4.3.2 Haftungsmechanismen kaltgasgespritzter Schichten 2.4.3.3 Eigenschaften kaltgasgespritzter Schichten 3 Folgerungen aus dem Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 4 Zielsetzung 5 Versuchsdurchführung 5.1 Voruntersuchungen mit Aluminiumsubstraten 5.1.1 Metallografische TEM-Untersuchungen 5.2 Untersuchungen mit TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 5.2.1 Versuchsplanung 5.2.2 Kaltgasspritzen von Lotschichten 5.2.3 Vakuumdiffusionslöten 5.2.4 Metallografische Charakterisierung 5.2.5 Mechanische Charakterisierung der Lötverbindungen 6 Ergebnisse 6.1 Voruntersuchungen mit Aluminiumsubstraten 6.1.1 AlSi 12-CGS-Lotschichten 6.1.2 Zn-basierte CGS-Lotschichten 6.1.3 Metallografische TEM-Untersuchungen 6.1.4 Zusammenfassung der Untersuchungsergebnisse mit Aluminiumsubstraten 6.2 Untersuchungen mit TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 6.2.1 Kaltgasspritzen von Lotschichten 6.2.2 Lötverbindungen 6.2.2.1 Metallografische Charakterisierung der Ti-Cu-Ni-Schichtlotfolien 6.2.2.2 Metallografische Charakterisierung der Lötverbindungen 6.2.2.3 Mechanische Charakterisierung der Lötverbindungen 7 Ergebnisdiskussion 7.1 Kaltgasspritzen von Lotschichten auf TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 7.2 Charakterisierung von TiAl 6 V 4-Lötverbindungen 7.3 Bewertung der Ergebnisse mit TiAl 6 V 4-Substraten 8 Folgerungen 9 Zusammenfassung 10 Quellennachwei

EVSLabels 1.0: ein Tool zur automatischen Erstellung von SPSS-Setups für Scientific Use Files der EVS 2003

"Das hier dokumentierte Tool EVSLabels 1.0 wurde am German Microdata Lab bei ZUMA entwickelt und ermöglicht die automatische Erstellung eines SPSS-Setups für die Einkommens- und Verbrauchsstichprobe 2003 (EVS) aus den Datensatzbeschreibungen des Statistischen Bundesamtes. Bisher mussten sämtliche Variablen-Label und Value-Label manuell übertragen werden. Mit EVSLabels 1.0 wird die entsprechende SPSS-Syntax nun automatisch erzeugt". (Autorenreferat)"The documented tool EVSLabels 1.0 at hand was elaborated at the German Microdata Lab, ZUMA. Up to now all variable labels and value labels for the 'Einkommens- und Vebrauchsstichprobe' (EVS) had to be entered manually in a SPSS-Syntax File. EVSLabels 1.0 produces such a SPSS-Syntax File automatically by scanning the data description delivered by the Statisches Bundesamt". (author's abstract

Pharmacological and Chemogenetic Characterization and Modulation of the Brain Neuropeptide S and Oxytocin

Anxiety is a natural response to a real or perceived threat that has been conserved throughout evolution. From this perspective, sensation of anxiety is viewed as an adaptive behavioral state, which occurs in response to signals of danger. However, excessive or inappropriate anxiety can become pathological. Anxiety disorders represent one major burden of our modern society, and the available treatment options are limited by adverse side effects. During the last decades, research centered on anxiety disorders has focused on neuropeptides. Neuropeptide S (NPS) and oxytocin (OXT) represent potential neuropeptide candidates for the treatment of various psychopathologies, including anxiety disorders due to their potent anxiolytic profile. Both signal through G protein-coupled receptors and thereby regulate complex neuronal signaling pathways. How these pathways contribute to behavioral and physiological effects of NPS and OXT remains to be elucidated. Therefore, in the present thesis I aimed to reveal, (i) whether NPS acts on the brain OXT system to exert its anxiolytic properties, (ii) whether the anxiolytic profile of NPS is mediated in a Gq pathway-dependent manner, and (iii) to characterize the spatiotemporal characteristics of chemogenetically induced OXT neurons activation. NPS receptors (NPSR) are found within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), where OXT is synthesized besides the supraoptic and accessory nuclei. Besides anxiolysis, NPS and OXT share other effects, such as the reversal of social fear, the attenuation of aggressive-like behavior as well as the inhibition of food-intake and anti-nociceptive properties as demonstrated in rodents. These behavioral similarities, together with the neuroanatomical overlapping of the NPSR and OXT expression within the PVN, led me to hypothesize that NPS effects are mediated by acting on the OXT system within the PVN. Herein, I present a chain of evidence that the effects of NPS within the PVN are mediated via actions on local OXT neurons in male Wistar rats. Retrograde tracing revealed that NPS-immunoreactive neurons originating within the Locus coeruleus innervate the PVN. Moreover, fluorescence-activated cell sorting identified NPSR expression in PVN-OXT neurons. NPS reliably induced transient Ca2+-influx in a subpopulation of OXT neurons - an effect mediated via the NPSR. Moreover, intracerebroventricular (icv) NPS evoked a significant release of OXT within the PVN as assessed by microdialysis in combination with a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay. Both, chemogenetic silencing of the endogenous OXT system using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) as well as pharmacological blockade of brain OXT receptors (OXTR) abolished the anxiolytic effect of NPS infused icv. These findings provide the first evidence for an intra-hypothalamic mechanism involving NPSR-expressing OXT neurons in the potent anxiolytic profile of NPS, and fill an important gap in our neurophysiological understanding of brain neuropeptide interactions in the context of regulation of emotional behaviour within the hypothalamus. Next, I performed studies in order to extend our knowledge on the intraneuronal mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic profile of NPS by studying signaling pathways downstream of NPSR activation. Here, bilateral microinfusion of NPS into the medial amygdala (MeA) of male adult Wistar rats reduced anxiety-related behavior on the elevated plus maze and the open field. Moreover, icv infusion of NPS evoked expression as well as increased phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II in the amygdala, and subsequent phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK1/2. Importantly, NPS-induced anxiolysis in the MeA was prevented by local inhibition of phospholipase C using the specific inhibitor U73122. In contrast, local pharmacological blockade of adenylyl cyclase signaling using the specific inhibitor 2’,5’-dideoxyadenosine failed to inhibit the anxiolytic effect of NPS infused into the MeA. Hence, NPS promotes acute anxiolysis within the MeA dependent on NPSR-mediated phospholipase C signaling. Finally, in order to validate an innovative and highly specific tool for activating OXT neurons within the PVN in a behavioral context, I performed a series of experiment using the DREADD technique. Acute chemogenetic activation of PVN-OXT neurons resulted in enhanced release of OXT within the PVN within one hour as assessed using intracerebral microdialysis. Further, DREADD activation reduced anxiety-related behavior in the light/dark box, and increased self-grooming behavior in the home cage. In addition, chemogenetic activation of PVN-OXT neurons marginally improved ethanol-induced locomotor deficits. In summary, my experimental data advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which NPS promotes anxiolysis and the temporal release patterns of OXT following chemogenetic activation and its behavioral relevance

Calculation of ankle and knee joint moments during ACL-injury situations in soccer

AbstractThe basis of ACL-injury prevention is the understanding of the injury mechanism. Therefore a new approach was developed and validated that enables the calculation of knee and ankle joint moments during the injury. Detailed analysis of ACL-injury situations was performed to detect the kinematics as input data for a simplified 3D-human body model. An inverse-dynamics approach was used to realize the movement. The model was driven by Net-Muscle-Torque-Motors that calculate 3-D ankle and knee joint moments. Although there are some limitations that have to be considered this approach has the potential to generate a better understanding of injury mechanisms

The Addressee Types of the Internet Open Letters

The author considers open letters on Internet sites as a variation of an epistolary genre. A novel type of an open letter, a letter to the future is described. Computer mediated communication as a form of public discourse increases the number of recipients of the letters, introducing changes to the conventional model of a letter addressee. It is concluded that messages on the open letters sites, high in personalization (i.e. private) and low in exclusivity (i.e. public), allow bridging the gap between mass and personal communication, thus remediating an epistolary genre