@inproceedings{37109, abstract = {{This study examines the effect of audit on private firms’ cost of debt. We use a sample of 1,949 small private firms operating in the period 2006-2010 with optional financial statement audit. High quality data allows us to construct a more precise interest rate measure than existing studies employ. After controlling for obvious sources of demand for voluntary audits (ownership complexity, subsidiary status, bank relations), we find a robust central result that voluntary audits increase rather than decrease the cost of debt financing, contrary to several existing studies. This finding indicates that voluntary audits are generally treated as “adopting a label” and penalised by creditors, regardless of the perceived auditor quality as a result of the lemon problem in the audit market. Even Big-4 audits increase the cost of debt, likely as a result due to the lemon problem in the audit market, although the increase is smaller than for non-Big-4 audits. The results are sensitive to the estimation method used (OLS, Heckman’s two-step, PSM) and (sub-)sample selection. We show that disregarding the underlying assumptions of these estimation methods may lead to incorrect inferences. Additional analyses show that audited firms’ reported earnings are less informative about future operating performance than earnings of their unaudited counterparts. Our results also indicate that results are sensitive to cost of debt definition and this might have affected the results reported in the existing literature.}}, author = {{Kosi, Urska and Koren, Jerney and Valentincic, Aljosa}}, keywords = {{private firms, voluntary audit, cost of debt, self-selection bias, lemon problem}}, location = {{Paris, France}}, title = {{{Does Financial Statement Audit Reduce the Cost of Debt of Private Firms?}}}, year = {{2013}}, } @inproceedings{22737, author = {{Becker, Matthias and Luckey, Markus and Becker, Steffen}}, booktitle = {{{Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGSOFT Conference on Quality of Software Architectures (QoSA)}}}, isbn = {{978-1-4503-1346-9}}, keywords = {{model-driven performance engineering, self-*, Self-adaptation, software performance}}, pages = {{117--122}}, publisher = {{ACM}}, title = {{{Model-driven Performance Engineering of Self-adaptive Systems: A Survey}}}, doi = {{10.1145/2304696.2304716}}, year = {{2012}}, } @article{5718, abstract = {{The role of information and communication technology for economic growth has been emphasized repeatedly. Technological breakthroughs have generated new forms of services, such as self-services or remote services. Although these encounters are qualitatively different from traditional service provision, prior service management literature thus far had paid little attention to theory development and the systematization of technology-based service encounters. To fill this research gap, the present study outlines how new types of technology-based services fit into existing service typologies and provides an extension of existing frameworks to capture their unique characteristics. These insights in turn offer managerial implications and highlight open research questions.}}, author = {{Schumann, Jan H and Wünderlich, Nancy and Wangenheim, Florian}}, journal = {{Technovation}}, keywords = {{Services, Remote services, Self-services, Technology mediation}}, number = {{2}}, pages = {{133--143}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, title = {{{Technology Mediation in Service Delivery: A New Typology and an Agenda for Managers and Academics.}}}, volume = {{32}}, year = {{2012}}, } @inproceedings{9783, abstract = {{To optimize the ultrasound irradiation for cavitation based ultrasound applications like sonochemistry or ultrasound cleaning, the correlation between cavitation intensity and the resulting effect on the process is of interest. Furthermore, changing conditions like temperature and pressure result in varying acoustic properties of the liquid. That might necessitate an adaption of the ultrasound irradiation. To detect such changes during operation, process monitoring is desired. Labor intensive processes, that might be carried out for several hours, also require process monitoring to increase their reliability by detection of changes or malfunctions during operation. In some applications cavitation detection and monitoring can be achieved by the application of sensors in the sound field. Though the application of sensors is possible, this necessitates modifications on the system and the sensor might disturb the sound field. In other applications harsh, process conditions prohibit the application of sensors in the sound field. Therefore alternative techniques for cavitation detection and monitoring are desired. The applicability of an external microphone and a self-sensing ultrasound transducer for cavitation detection were experimentally investigated. Both methods were found to be suitable and easily applicable.}}, author = {{Bornmann, Peter and Hemsel, Tobias and Sextro, Walter and Maeda, Takafumi and Morita, Takeshi}}, booktitle = {{Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS), 2012 IEEE International}}, issn = {{1948-5719}}, keywords = {{cavitation, chemical reactors, microphones, process monitoring, reliability, ultrasonic applications, ultrasonic waves, acoustic properties, cavitation based ultrasound applications, cavitation intensity, change detection reliability, external microphone, malfunction detection reliability, nonperturbing cavitation detection, nonperturbing cavitation monitoring, process monitoring, self-sensing ultrasound transducer, sonochemical reactors, sonochemistry, ultrasound cleaning, ultrasound irradiation, Acoustics, Liquids, Monitoring, Sensors, Sonar equipment, Transducers, Ultrasonic imaging}}, pages = {{1141--1144}}, title = {{{Non-perturbing cavitation detection / monitoring in sonochemical reactors}}}, doi = {{10.1109/ULTSYM.2012.0284}}, year = {{2012}}, } @article{9786, abstract = {{Self-optimizing mechatronic systems are a new class of technical systems. On the one hand, new challenges regarding dependability arise from their additional complexity and adaptivity. On the other hand, their abilities enable new concepts and methods to improve the dependability of mechatronic systems. This paper introduces a multi-level dependability concept for selfoptimizing mechatronic systems and shows how probabilistic planning can be used to improve the availability and reliability of systems in the operating phase. The general idea to improve the availability of autonomous systems by applying probabilistic planning methods to avoid energy shortages is exemplified on the example of an innovative railway vehicle.}}, author = {{Klöpper, Benjamin and Sondermann-Wölke, Christoph and Romaus, Christoph}}, journal = {{Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics}}, keywords = {{self-optimizing systems, dependability, probabilistic planning, energy management}}, number = {{1}}, pages = {{5--15}}, title = {{{Probabilistic Planning for Predictive Condition Monitoring and Adaptation Within the Self-Optimizing Energy Management of an Autonomous Railway Vehicle}}}, volume = {{24}}, year = {{2012}}, } @inproceedings{11833, abstract = {{In this paper we propose an approach to retrieve the geometry of an acoustic sensor network consisting of spatially distributed microphone arrays from unconstrained speech input. The calibration relies on Direction of Arrival (DoA) measurements which do not require a clock synchronization among the sensor nodes. The calibration problem is formulated as a cost function optimization task, which minimizes the squared differences between measured and predicted observations and additionally avoids the existence of minima that correspond to mirrored versions of the actual sensor orientations. Further, outlier measurements caused by reverberation are mitigated by a Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) approach. The experimental results show a mean positioning error of at most 25 cm even in highly reverberant environments.}}, author = {{Jacob, Florian and Schmalenstroeer, Joerg and Haeb-Umbach, Reinhold}}, booktitle = {{International Workshop on Acoustic Signal Enhancement (IWAENC 2012)}}, keywords = {{Unsupervised, geometry calibration, microphone arrays, position self-calibration}}, title = {{{Microphone Array Position Self-Calibration from Reverberant Speech Input}}}, year = {{2012}}, } @article{6091, abstract = {{In the present article, the role of endogenous feature-specific orienting for conscious and unconscious vision is reviewed. We start with an overview of orienting. We proceed with a review of masking research, and the definition of the criteria of experimental protocols that demonstrate endogenous and exogenous orienting, respectively. Against this background of criteria, we assess studies of unconscious orienting and come to the conclusion that so far studies of unconscious orienting demonstrated endogenous feature-specific orienting. The review closes with a discussion of the role of unconscious orienting in action control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)}}, author = {{Ansorge, Ulrich and Horstmann, Gernot and Scharlau, Ingrid}}, issn = {{1895-1171}}, journal = {{Advances in Cognitive Psychology}}, keywords = {{visual input, awareness, conscious, orientation, visual perception, Awareness, Consciousness States, Perceptual Orientation, Visual Perception, Blindsight}}, number = {{2}}, pages = {{108 -- 119}}, title = {{{Top-down contingent feature-specific orienting with and without awareness of the visual input.}}}, volume = {{7}}, year = {{2011}}, } @article{4551, abstract = {{An intentional positioning of optically active quantum dots using site-selective growth by a combination of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and focused ion beam (FIB) implantation in an all-ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) setup has been successfully demonstrated. A square array of periodic holes on GaAs substrate was fabricated with FIB of 30 keV ions followed by an in situ annealing step. Subsequently, the patterned holes were overgrown with an optimized amount of InAs in order to achieve site-selective growth of the QDs on the patterned holes. Under well-optimized conditions, a selectivity of single quantum dot growth in the patterned holes of 52% was achieved. Thereafter, carrier injection and subsequent radiative recombination from the positioned InAs/GaAs self-assembled QDs was investigated by embedding the QDs in the intrinsic part of a GaAs-based p–i–n junction device. Electroluminescence spectra taken at 77 K show interband transitions up to the fifth excited state from the QDs.}}, author = {{Mehta, Minisha and Reuter, Dirk and Melnikov, Alexander and Wieck, Andreas D. and Michaelis de Vasconcellos, Steffen and Baumgarten, Tim and Zrenner, Artur and Meier, Cedrik}}, issn = {{1386-9477}}, journal = {{Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures}}, keywords = {{Molecular beam epitaxy, Focused ion beam, Self-assembled quantum dot, Electroluminescence}}, number = {{10}}, pages = {{2749--2752}}, publisher = {{Elsevier BV}}, title = {{{Intentionally positioned self-assembled InAs quantum dots in an electroluminescent p–i–n junction diode}}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.physe.2009.12.053}}, volume = {{42}}, year = {{2010}}, } @inproceedings{9760, abstract = {{Self-optimizing systems are able to adapt their behavior autonomously according to their current self-determined objectives. Unforeseen influences could lead to dependability-critical behavior of the system. Methods are required which secure self-optimizing systems during operation. These methods to increase the dependability of the system should already be taken into consideration in the design process. This paper presents a guideline for the dependability-oriented design of self-optimizing systems, which integrates established classical methods like failure mode and effects analysis as well as methods based on self-optimization. On the one hand self-optimization is used to increase the dependability of the system by integrating objectives like safety, availability, and reliability to the objectives of the system. On the other hand methods are required to ensure the self-optimization itself. As basis for this guideline serves the principle solution of the system. The six phases of the guideline extend the design process and lead to an enhanced principle solution. Additionally, the guideline illustrates phases to implement and validate the self-optimizing system. The proposed guideline is applied to an innovative rail-bound vehicle, called RailCab, which is equipped with self-optimizing function modules.}}, author = {{Sondermann-Wölke, Christoph and Hemsel, Tobias and Sextro, Walter and Gausemeier, Jürgen and Pook, Sebastian}}, booktitle = {{Industrial Informatics (INDIN), 2010 8th IEEE International Conference on}}, keywords = {{RailCab, dependability-critical behavior, dependability-oriented design, failure mode, rail-bound vehicle, secure self-optimizing systems, self-optimizing function modules, optimisation, railways, self-adjusting systems}}, pages = {{739 --744}}, title = {{{Guideline for the dependability-oriented design of self-optimizing systems}}}, doi = {{10.1109/INDIN.2010.5549490}}, year = {{2010}}, } @inproceedings{9763, abstract = {{Recent advances in information processing enable new kinds of technical systems, called self-optimizing systems. These systems are able to adapt their objectives and their behavior according to the current situation and influences autonomously. This behavior adaptation is non-deterministic and hence self-optimization is a risk to the system, e.g. if the result of the self-optimization process does not match the suddenly changed situation. In contrary, self-optimization could be used to increase the dependability by pursuing objectives like reliability and availability. In our preceding publications we introduced the so called multi-level dependability concept to cope with this new kind of systems (cf. [6]). This concept comprises the monitoring of the system behavior, the classification of the current situation, and the selection of the appropriate measure, if reliability limits are exceeded. In this paper we present for the first time experimental results. The dependability concept is implemented in the self-optimizing active guidance system of a railway vehicle. The test drives illustrate clearly that the proposed concept is able to cope with, e.g., sensor failures, and is able to increase the reliability and availability of the active guidance module.}}, author = {{Sondermann-Wölke, Christoph and Geisler, Jens and Sextro, Walter}}, booktitle = {{Reliability and Maintainability Symposium (RAMS), 2010 Proceedings - Annual}}, issn = {{0149-144X}}, keywords = {{availability, dependability concept, multilevel dependability concept, railway vehicle, reliability, self optimizing active guidance system, self optimizing railway guidance system, situation classification, system behavior monitoring, optimal control, railways, reliability theory, self-adjusting systems}}, pages = {{1 --6}}, title = {{{Increasing the reliability of a self-optimizing railway guidance system}}}, doi = {{10.1109/RAMS.2010.5448080}}, year = {{2010}}, } @article{6067, abstract = {{Implicit change detection demonstrates how the visual system can benefit from stored information that is not immediately available to conscious awareness. We investigated the role of motor action in this context. In the first two experiments, using a one-shot implicit change detection paradigm, participants responded to unperceived changes either with an action (jabbing the screen at the guessed location of a change) or with words (verbal report), and sat either 60 cm or 300 cm (with a laser pointer) away from the display. Our observers guessed the locations of changes at a reachable distance better with an action than with a verbal judgment. At 300 cm, beyond reach, the motor advantage disappeared. In experiment 3, this advantage was also unavailable when participants sat at a reachable distance but responded with hand-held laser pointers near their bodies. We conclude that a motor system specialized for real-time visually guided behavior has access to additional visual information. }}, author = {{Tseng, Philip and Tuennermann, Jan and Roker-Knight, Nancy and Winter, Dorina and Scharlau, Ingrid and Bridgeman, Bruce}}, issn = {{0301-0066}}, journal = {{Perception}}, keywords = {{implicit change detection, action perception, visual system, perceptual judgment, verbal fluency, Analysis of Variance, Awareness, Female, Humans, Male, Psychomotor Performance, Random Allocation, Reaction Time, Visual Perception, Visual Memory, Visual Stimulation, Implicit Memory, Judgment, Perceptual Discrimination}}, number = {{10}}, pages = {{1311 -- 1321}}, title = {{{Enhancing implicit change detection through action.}}}, volume = {{39}}, year = {{2010}}, } @inproceedings{9736, abstract = {{Self-optimizing mechatronic systems are a new class of technical systems. On the one hand, new challenges regarding dependability arise from their additional complexity and adaptivity. On the other hand, their abilities enable new concepts and methods to improve the dependability of mechatronic systems. This paper introduces a multi-level dependability concept for self-optimizing mechatronic systems and shows how planning can be used to improve the availability and reliability of systems in the operating stages.}}, author = {{Klöpper, Benjamin and Sondermann-Wölke, Christoph and Romaus, Christoph and Vöcking, Henner}}, booktitle = {{Computational Intelligence in Control and Automation, 2009. CICA 2009. IEEE Symposium on}}, keywords = {{multilevel dependability concept, probabilistic planning, self-optimizing mechatronic systems, systems reliability, mechatronics, planning (artificial intelligence), self-adjusting systems}}, pages = {{104 --111}}, title = {{{Probabilistic planning integrated in a multi-level dependability concept for mechatronic systems}}}, doi = {{10.1109/CICA.2009.4982790}}, year = {{2009}}, } @inproceedings{9742, abstract = {{New mechatronic systems, called self-optimizing systems, are able to adapt their behavior according to environmental, user and system specific influences. Self-optimizing systems are complex and due to their non-deterministic behavior comprise hidden risks, which cannot be foreseen in the design phase of the system. Therefore, this paper presents modifications of the current condition monitoring policy, to be able to cope with this new kind of systems. Beside avoiding critical situations evoked by self-optimization, the proposed concept uses self-optimization to increase the dependability of the system. In this case, the concept is applied to the active guidance module of an innovative rail-bound vehicle.}}, author = {{Sondermann-Wölke, Christoph and Sextro, Walter}}, booktitle = {{Future Computing, Service Computation, Cognitive, Adaptive, Content, Patterns, 2009. COMPUTATIONWORLD '09. Computation World:}}, keywords = {{condition monitoring, mechatronic systems, rail bound vehicle, rail guidance module, self-optimization, self-optimizing function modules, condition monitoring, mechatronics, railway rolling stock, self-adjusting systems}}, pages = {{15 --20}}, title = {{{Towards the Integration of Condition Monitoring in Self-Optimizing Function Modules}}}, doi = {{10.1109/ComputationWorld.2009.47}}, year = {{2009}}, } @inproceedings{9576, abstract = {{In neurosurgery, delineation of tumor boundaries during resection of brain tumors is of substantial relevance. During operation distinction between tumor and healthy tissue rely on the abilities of the surgeon based on visual and tactile differentiation. In this paper a high sensitivity actuator-sensor system using a piezoelectric bimorph is presented. Frequency shift and transfer function of the bimorphpsilas voltages are detected and evaluated. Sensorpsilas sensitivity is evaluated using two frequency controls strategies: A phase-locked loop (PLL) and a self-oscillating circuit. Results of measurements conducted on gel-phantoms are presented and discussed.}}, author = {{Uribe, David Oliva and Stroop, Ralf and Hemsel, Tobias and Wallaschek, Jörg}}, booktitle = {{Frequency Control Symposium, 2008 IEEE International}}, issn = {{1075-6787}}, keywords = {{biomedical measurement, brain, cancer, neurophysiology, phantoms, phase locked loops, piezoelectric actuators, surgery, tactile sensors, transfer functions, tumours, PLL, biomedical tissue differentiation system, brain tumor resection, frequency control, frequency shift, gel-phantom, high sensitivity actuator-sensor system, neurosurgery, phase-locked loop, piezoelectric actuators, piezoelectric bimorph, self-oscillating circuit, sensor sensitivity, tactile differentiation, tactile sensor system, transfer function, tumor boundary, visual differentiation, Biomedical measurements, Circuits, Frequency control, Neoplasms, Neurosurgery, Phase locked loops, Piezoelectric actuators, Surges, Transfer functions, Voltage}}, pages = {{91--94}}, title = {{{Development of a biomedical tissue differentiation system using piezoelectric actuators}}}, doi = {{10.1109/FREQ.2008.4622963}}, year = {{2008}}, } @inproceedings{39078, author = {{Gausemeier, Jürgen and Müller, Wolfgang and Paelke, Volker and Bauch, Jürgen and Shen, Q. and Radkowski, R. }}, booktitle = {{Proceedings of the Design 2004}}, keywords = {{mechatronic systems, self-optimization, virtual prototyping}}, location = {{Dubrovnik}}, title = {{{Virtual Prototyping Of Self-Optimizing Mechatronic Systems}}}, year = {{2004}}, } @article{6072, abstract = {{According to the concept of direct parameter specification, nonconsciously registered information can be processed to the extent that it matches currently active intentions of a person. This prediction was tested and confirmed in the current study. Masked visual information provided by peripheral cues led to reaction time (RT) effects only if the information specified one of the required responses (Experiments 1 and 3). Information delivered by the same masked cues that did not match the intentions was not used. However, the same information influenced RT if it was provided by visible cues (Experiments 2 and 3). The results suggest that the processing of nonconsciously registered information is flexible because it is susceptible to the changing intentions of a person. Yet, these processes are apparently restricted as nonconsciously registered information cannot be used as easily for purposes not corresponding to the currently active intentions as better visible information. (PsycINFO }}, author = {{Ansorge, Ulrich and Heumann, Manfred and Scharlau, Ingrid}}, issn = {{1053-8100}}, journal = {{Consciousness and Cognition: An International Journal}}, keywords = {{active intentions, cues, direct parameter specification, nonconscious processing ability, Adult, Consciousness, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Processes, Perceptual Masking, Photic Stimulation, Visual Perception, Awareness, Cognitive Processes, Cues, Intention, Consciousness States, Probability}}, number = {{4}}, pages = {{528 -- 545}}, title = {{{Influences of visibility, intentions, and probability in a peripheral cuing task.}}}, volume = {{11}}, year = {{2002}}, }