Scheduling of inventory releasing jobs to satisfy time-varying demand: an analysis of complexity

This paper studies a new class of single-machine scheduling problems, which are faced by Just-in-Time-suppliers satisfying a given demand. In these models the processing of jobs leads to a release of a predefined number of product units into inventory. Consumption is triggered by predetermined time-varying, and product-specific demand requests. While all demands have to be fulfilled, the objective is to minimize the resulting product inventory. We investigate different subproblems of this general setting with regard to their computational complexity. For more restricted problem versions strongly polynomial time algorithms are presented. In contrast to this, NP-hardness in the strong sense is proven for more general problem versions. Moreover, for the most general version, even finding a feasible solution is shown to be strongly NP-hard.     

Cost optimization of a hybrid composite flywheel rotor with a split-type hub using combined analytical/numerical models

A procedure to find the optimal design of a flywheel with a split-type hub is presented. Since cost plays a decisive role in stationary flywheel energy storage applications, a trade-off between energy and cost is required. Applying a scaling technique, the multi-objective design problem is reduced to the maximization of the energy-per-cost ratio as the single objective. Both an analytical and a finite element model were studied. The latter was found to be more than three orders of magnitude more computationally expensive than the analytical model, while the analytical model can only be regarded as a coarse approximation. Multifidelity approaches were examined to reduce the computational expense while retaining the high accuracy and large modeling depth of the finite element model. Using a surrogate-based optimization strategy, the computational cost was reduced to only one third in comparison to using only the finite element model. A nonlinear interior-point method was employed to find the optimal rim thicknesses and rotational speed. The benefits of the split-type hub architecture were demonstrated.     

An open implementation for context-oriented layer composition in ContextJS

Context-oriented programming (COP) provides dedicated support for defining and composing variations to a basic program behavior. A variation, which is defined within a layer, can be de-/activated for the dynamic extent of a code block. While this mechanism allows for control flow-specific scoping, expressing behavior adaptations can demand alternative scopes. For instance, adaptations can depend on dynamic object structure rather than control flow. We present scenarios for behavior adaptation and identify the need for new scoping mechanisms. The increasing number of scoping mechanisms calls for new language abstractions representing them. We suggest to open the implementation of scoping mechanisms so that developers can extend the COP language core according to their specific needs. Our open implementation moves layer composition into objects to be affected and with that closer to the method dispatch to be changed. We discuss the implementation of established COP scoping mechanisms using our approach and present new scoping mechanisms developed for our enhancements to Lively Kernel.     

TimeLapseAnalyzer: multi-target analysis for live-cell imaging and time-lapse microscopy

The direct observation of cells over time using time-lapse microscopy can provide deep insights into many important biological processes. Reliable analyses of motility, proliferation, invasive potential or mortality of cells are essential to many studies involving live cell imaging and can aid in biomarker discovery and diagnostic decisions. Given the vast amount of image- and time-series data produced by modern microscopes, automated analysis is a key feature to capitalize the potential of time-lapse imaging devices. To provide fast and reproducible analyses of multiple aspects of cell behaviour, we developed TimeLapseAnalyzer. Apart from general purpose image enhancements and segmentation procedures, this extensible, self-contained, modular cross-platform package provides dedicated modalities for fast and reliable analysis of multi-target cell tracking, scratch wound healing analysis, cell counting and tube formation analysis in high throughput screening of live-cell experiments. TimeLapseAnalyzer is freely available (MATLAB, Open Source) at http://www.informatik.uni-ulm.de/ni/mitarbeiter/HKestler/tla.     

Kryptographiegesetzgebung im Wandel

Zusammenfassung  Im Oktober 2007 trat in Gro?britannien ein Gesetz in Kraft, das es den Polizeibeh?rden erlaubt, die Herausgabe kryptographischer Schlüssel von ihren Nutzern zu verlangen. Dies ist nur eine von zahlreichen Ma?nahmen, die einen globalen Kurswechsel hin zu verst?rkter überwachung und Regulierung von Verschlüsselungsmechanismen belegen. In diesem Beitrag werden die Entwicklungen der Kryptographiegesetzgebung der letzten Jahre und ihr heutiger Stand dokumentiert. Dipl.-Inform. Malte Diehl Doktorand an der Uni Oldenburg, Department für Informatik, Stipendiat der DFG     

Glass-fibre-reinforced composites with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties - Benefits and limitations of a nanoparticle modified matrix

Nanoparticles and especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs) provide a high potential for the modification of polymers. They are very effective fillers regarding mechanical properties, especially toughness. Furthermore, they allow the implication of functional properties, which are connected to their electrical conductivity, into polymeric matrices. In the present paper, different nanoparticles, as fumed silica and carbon black, were used to optimise the epoxy matrix system of a glass-fibre-reinforced composite. Their nanometre-size enables their application as particle-reinforcement in FRPs produced by the resin-transfer-moulding method (RTM), without being filtered by the glass-fibre bundles. Additionally, an electrical field was applied during curing, in order to enhance orientation of the nanofillers in z-direction. The interlaminar shear strengths of the nanoparticle modified composites were significantly improved (+16%) by adding only 0.3 wt.% of CNTs. The interlaminar toughness G_Ic and G_IIc was not affected in a comparable manner. The laminates containing carbon nanotubes exhibited a relatively high electrical conductivity at very low filler contents, which allows the implication of functional properties, such as stress-strain monitoring and damage detection.     

Patterned anvils for high pressure measurements at low temperature

Multiprobe high pressure measurements require electrical leads in the sample chamber. Compared to conventional wire-based techniques, metallic tracks patterned onto the anvil surface improve reliability and ease of use, and enable novel and more demanding measurements under high pressure. We have developed new anvil designs based on sputter-deposited tracks on alumina and moissanite anvils. These anvils allow convenient and reliable measurements of electrical transport properties or of the magnetic susceptibility under hydrostatic conditions, as demonstrated by test measurements on Pb and Ca(3)Ru(2)O(7).     

Enhancing the efficiency of alternating current driven organic light-emitting devices by optimizing the operation frequency

We report efficient and bright organic light-emitting devices operated by capacitive energy coupling. In this approach, the organic layers are enclosed between sputter-deposited hafnium dioxide layers to prevent charge carrier injection. When a sinusoidal voltage signal is applied to the electrodes, the devices emit bright green light whereas no detectable emission is generated upon application of a constant voltage. The efficiency of the process depends heavily on the frequency of the applied voltage signal. By optimizing the driving scheme, a record luminous efficacy for AC driven OLEDs of 2.7 lm/W at 500 cd/m² is achieved.     

Fostering Creativity in New Product Development through Entrepreneurial Decision Making

Research has emphasized the importance of employees' individual entrepreneurial decision making for innovation. In this context, practised creativity as the ability to perceive and exploit creative opportunities, can be regarded as a crucial requirement for employees in new product development. We discuss the application of decision making logic as an important antecedent of practised creativity in new product development. We survey 219 employees from new product development departments of German product and service firms. Results indicate that the use of entrepreneurial decision making logic positively impacts practised creativity; comparably we find indicators that the use of causal decision making logic negatively influences creativity. The effects significantly depend on the moderating role of uncertainty. The results contribute to the literature of creativity, entrepreneurship and new product development by theoretically and empirically revealing effectuation as antecedent to practised creativity. The results open promising avenues for future research and allow the derivation of valuable guidelines for practitioners. Aligning the new product development process to support employees' entrepreneurial decision making may help generating practised creativity.