On Floating‐Point Normal Vectors

In this paper we analyze normal vector representations. We derive the error of the most widely used representation, namely 3D floating‐point normal vectors. Based on this analysis, we show that, in theory, the discretization error inherent to single precision floating‐point normals can be achieved by 2^50.2 uniformly distributed normals, addressable by 51 bits. We review common sphere parameterizations and show that octahedron normal vectors perform best: they are fast and stable to compute, have a controllable error, and require only 1 bit more than the theoretical optimal discretization with the same error.     

Temporal evolution of contacts and communities in networks of face-to-face human interactions

Temporal dynamics of social interaction networks as well as the analysis of communities are key aspects to gain a better understanding of the involved processes, important influence factors, their effects, and their structural implications. In this article, we analyze temporal dynamics of contacts and the evolution of communities in networks of face-to-face proximity. As our application context, we consider four scientific coil- ferences. On a structural level, we focus on static and dynamic properties of the contact graphs. Also, we analyze the resulting community structure using state-of-the-art automatic community detection algorithms. Specifically, we analyze tile evolution of contacts and communities over time to consider the stability of the respective conmmnities. Furthermore, we assess different factors which have an influence on the quality of com- munity prediction. Overall, we provide first important insights into the evolution of contacts and communities in face-to-face contact networks.     

Permanent-magnet Hall-sensor measuring system for the study of the relative axial and radial displacements between concrete and reinforcing steel

Using the phenomenon of magnetic induction a method for measuring the relative axial and radial displacements between reinforcing steel and concrete has been developed. For this measuring system a Hall sensor is glued to the surface of the reinforcing steel to receive the variable magnetic induction caused by a permanent magnet placed within the concrete.     

Flow phenomena and local heat and mass transfer in corrugated passages

Flow phenomena, local heat and mass transfer and pressure drop of corrugated passages in process equipment are examined. Based on a method for measuring local heat and mass transfer, developed in previous investigations, a procedure has been formulated for the determination of local heat and mass transfer in corrugated passages. Using the analogy between heat and mass transfer, this technique allows the determination of heat transfer distributions in any structures with high local resolution. The corresponding pressure drop is presented together with the local and integral heat and mass transfer of different structures. It is shown that differences in heat and mass transfer as well as in pressure drop are due to different flow phenomena which also characterize mixing behaviour.     

Teaching Bayesian reasoning in less than two hours.

The authors present and test a new method of teaching Bayesian reasoning, something about which previous teaching studies reported little success. Based on G. Gigerenzer and U. Hoffrage's (1995) ecological framework, the authors wrote a computerized tutorial program to train people to construct frequency representations (representation training) rather than to insert probabilities into Bayes's rule (rule training). Bayesian computations are simpler to perform with natural frequencies than with probabilities, and there are evolutionary masons for assuming that cognitive algorithms have been developed to deal with natural frequencies. In 2 studies, the authors compared representation training with rule training; the criteria were an immediate learning effect, transfer to new problems, and long-term temporal stability. Rule training was as good in transfer as representation training, but representation training had a higher immediate learning effect and greater temporal stability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethik-Konsultationsdienst nach dem Konzept von J.C. Fletcher an der University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA

Zusammenfassung.   Es wird die Arbeitsweise der klinischen Ethik-Konsultation am Klinikum der Philipps-Universit?t Marburg anhand eines konkreten Falles dargestellt. Grundlegend für diese Vorgehensweise ist die Theorie und Praxis eines Ethik-Konsildienstes, wie sie am Medical Center der University of Virginia von J.C. Fletcher, F.G. Miller und J.J. Fins entwickelt wurde.      

New Strategy for Optimizing Water Application under Trickle Irrigation

The determination of water application parameters for creating an optimal soil moisture profile represents a complex nonlinear optimization problem which renders traditional optimization into a cumbersome procedure. For this reason, an alternative methodology is proposed which combines a numerical subsurface flow model and artificial neural networks (ANN) for solving the problem in two, fully separate steps. The first step employs the flow model for calculating a large number of wetting profiles (output), obtained from a systematic variation of both water application and initial soil moisture (input). The resulting matrix of corresponding input/output values is used for training the ANN. The second step, the application of the fully trained ANN, then provides the irrigation parameters which range from a specified initial soil moisture to a desired crop-specific soil moisture profile. In order to avoid substantial disadvantages associated with the common feedforward backpropagation approach, a self-organizing topological feature map is implemented to perform this task. After a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, the new methodology is applied to the outcome of an irrigation experiment. The convincing results recommend the new methodology as a positive contribution towards an improved irrigation efficiency.     

Zur sinnvollen Anwendung ganzheitlicher Gebäudemodelle in der Tragwerksplanung von Hochbauten

Ausgehend von den kritischen Randbedingungen der Berechnung mit ganzheitlichen Gebäudemodellen werden typische und häufig anzutreffende Konstruktionsfälle diskutiert, bei denen Gesamtmodelle Vorteile für den Entwurf aufzeigen. Hier sind räumliche Tragwirkungen zu nennen, die Erfassung von Zwangsbeanspruchungen bei komplexen Grundrissen mit vielfältigen Festhaltungen sowie die Beanspruchung schlanker Gebäudestrukturen aus Windlasten und seismischen Einwirkungen. Für die genannten sinnvollen Anwendungsfälle werden die notwendigen Randbedingungen diskutiert. Die jeweiligen Anwendungsfälle werden anhand konkreter Gebäudebeispiele vorgestellt. On the reasonable use of total building models in the design of building structures Coming from the critical boundary conditions of the calculation with total building models, typical and prevalent constructions, where total models show advantages for the design, will be discussed. Here, spatial load‐bearing impact, the registration of unforced interactions of complex ground plans with various supports as well as the stressing of slender building structures resulting from wind loads and seismic impacts have to be mentioned. For the stated reasonable use cases the necessary boundary conditions will be discussed. The respective use cases will be presented by means of concrete building examples.     

Ellipsometrische Charakterisierung von C‐Schutzschichten für die Speichertechnologie

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry is a fast, non‐destructive and reliable method for characterizing thin films, based on interaction between incident light and a multilayer system. For our investigations, light in the visible spectral range has been used to characterize protective carbon coatings with thicknesses of 2‐7nm on magnetic hard disks. The specific disk layer stack has been described with an adequate one‐layer model. With regard to an accurate analysis of the covering carbon coating a reproducible procedure for determining the underlying metallic material has been developed. The measured ellipsometric parameters (ψ, Δ) display a linear dependence on carbon film thickness which shows an appropriate application of the used model down to a thickness of 2 nm. By means of simulation calculations, criteria for the selection of optimized wavelengths with respect to film characterization has been established. Furthermore, an increasing extinction coefficient κ with rising nitrogen content in the carbon coating could be stated. Apparent time instabilities in the determination of layer thickness d and extinction coefficient κ of the carbon film could be explained as due to adsorption processes on the surface.     

Technical developments at the KIT gyrotron test facility

Parasitic beam tunnel oscillations have been discovered on some of the series production gyrotrons for W7-X and also on the coaxial pre-prototype gyrotron for ITER. Solutions to remedy these problems have resulted in a modified beam tunnel design, technologically close to the existing beam tunnel. The new design has successfully been tested on both the coaxial and also the f-step-tunable gyrotrons and has subsequently been implemented on one of the W7-X series-production-tubes presently undergoing factory acceptance tests in Karlsruhe.The ECRH test loads at KIT are operated under normal atmospheric conditions. Several loads have eventually failed in 1 MW long pulse experiments and KIT has therefore started to design its own loads. The first KIT-load is based on a fixed conical mirror and an aluminum cylinder coated with a lossy material for increased absorption. The new load has so far successfully been used during the acceptance tests of two 1-MW CW gyrotrons. Nevertheless a new load based on pure (uncoated) stainless steel absorbers is being developed as a backup solution for the ongoing high priority gyrotron testing.A superconducting magnet capable of rapid field changes between 4.15 and 5.67 T for frequency step-tunable gyrotrons has been procured, has demonstrated a (static) field of 7.2 T and its capability of rapid field-changes.