In the 80s and 90s of the 20th century Günter Grass treated the various chances of a sudden extinction of mankind for instance the decline by overpopulation and nuclear destruction. So the study deals with five main aspects to show Grass' own criticism of civilisation. The thesis at hand shall be a contribution to describe the significance of these various topics concerning Grass' prose, essayistic works and statements during the last 25 years.

This thesis deals with the development and characterisation of a portable direct methanol fuel cell stack. In addition, calculations of the transport of methanol and water in the membrane are compared with experimentally determined values. It also includes investigations of the behaviour of single-cells and some of its components, as the anode gas diffusion layer and the anode flow-field. For the addition of methanol to the anode feed loop, a passive concept based on a permeable tube was developed and verified by both experiments and simulations.

Fuel cells are high efficient energy production systems producing heat and electrical power. Especially PEM fuel cells (Polymeric Electrolyte Membrane) require pure hydrogen for operation. Hydrogen is produced e.g. by reforming of hydrocarbons like natural gas or ethanol. During the production of hydrogen carbon monoxide is formed. CO is a harmful poison for the platinum catalsyst of the fuel cell electrodes. Therefore hydrogen has to be purified. The goal of this work was to develop a pressure swing adsorption for small scale fuel cell systems. The hydrogen to be purified is produced by reforming bio-ethanol. The PSA is designed for a quite low adsorption pressure of 7 bar and a small thermal hydrogen power for fuel cell systems in a range of 1 kW electrical. For the design of the PSA a simplified method of calculating the bed height of the adsorbers was developed. Most scientists working in the field of pressure swing adsorption use mathematical models of breakthrough curves for PSA calculations. But these models can only be solved numerically. The results of these simulations are approved by performing test at lab-scale PSA. Main focus on the tests is set to the breakthrough time and the shape of the breakthrough curves. The calculation method developed in this work is also verified by test. But no breakthrough curves were taken up and no breakthrough time of the unwished gas component (CO) was measured. Only the hydrogen quality and the hydrogen recovery rate even after several adsorption cycles were the dominating criteria for the approval of the calculation model. The PSA tests showed that the required hydrogen quality (less than 10 ppmv CO in hydrogen) for PEM-fuel cells was reached even after a 20 adsorption cycles (one cycle lasted 12 minutes with 3 minutes adsorption). The tests were performed on several days in series without changing the adsorbents or purging them for a longer time.

The doctoral thesis 'Comme un roman policier: Daniel Pennacs Malaussène-Serie als Spielart des Kriminalromans' delivers a thorough analysis of a popular French series consisting of five novels which are rooted in crime literature. The contemporary French author Daniel Pennac makes a playful use of elements characteristic both of the detective novel als well as the thriller. Aspects of the analysis include the structure of the novels, techniques of narration, depiction of society, methods of detection and use of language. Based on René Girard's scapegoat-theory Pennac creates the tragicomic hero of Benjamin Malaussène. Besides the exceptional protagonist, the rest of the Malaussène-universe can be divided into a 'good' in-group and a 'bad' out-group. Pennac draws rough sketches of the characters by using stereotypes and the inversion of stereotypes. By these means Pennac reveals by which absurd and paradoxical mechanisms the contemporary Western society often works. Concerning the detection, the author does not stick to traditional methods, but extents the intruments of knowledge to the supernatural. Theses variations of detective novel and thriller regarding the contents are presented in an elaborated and metaphorical style which furthermore contains innumerable reflections on language and literature. The thesis concludes with a classification of Pennac's Malaussène-Saga within the frame of modern French as well as crime literature.

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) offers an attractive alternative to conventional fusion welding processes because of the excellent properties (particularly ductility), reproducibility, robustness, and surface finished obtained with FSW. However, questions have been raised regarding the productivity of FSW against fusion welding methods. TWBs from the aluminum alloys 5754-H22 and 6181-T4 with different gauges (1 to 2 mm) are produced and tested. Welding speeds up to 10 m/min have been systematically investigated. The welds produced have been subjected to microstructural analysis, mechanical testing and formability analysis.

In the present work the applicability and the improvement of the detection sensitivity of a particle mass spectrometer (PMS) were studied. The PMS was originally used by Hospital and Roth for the investigation of the growth of soot-particles produced in combustion processes. It consists of a molecular beam sampling system and a high vacuum chamber which contains the necessary measurement instrumentation for the in-situ particle sizing.<p><p>Three reactors were employed to investigate the applicability: a low-pressure flame reactor, a microwave reactor and a spark reactor. The reactors are different in respect of the energy transfer into the reactive gases and the bulk material respectively. The flame reactor was used to produce well-known soot particles as reference particles for the experiments related to the improvement of the detection sensitivity of the PMS. Soot-, Silver-, Carbon-, Siliconoxide-, Tinoxide and Nickel- Nanoparticles were produced. The results have shown that the applicability of the PMS could be extended and be applied to particles generated in the microwave reactor as well as in the spark reactor.<p><p>Neutral charged Soot- and Tinoxid-Nanoparticles which were produced in the flame reactor were charged by electron impact ionisation in the high vacuum chamber of the PMS. The charging effect increases with decreasing amount of charged particles in the aerosol. Thus, in the case of neutral or weakly charged aerosols the particles could be characterised with the PMS leading to a further extension of the application range.<p><p>A new detector was developed to improve the detection sensitivity of the PMS. The detector consists of a secondary electron multiplier (SEM) and an external conversion dynode. The dynode was set to a high electrical potential. Thus, the particles were accelerated to a velocity which is sufficient to release secondary electrons or ions from the dynode after the impaction of the particles with the surface of the dynode. Afterwards these secondary electrons and ions respectively were amplified by the SEM. In comparison with the conventional detector, a Faraday-Cup, an increase of the signals of about 10⁵ was achieved with this new detector.

An improved utilization of potentials, tapping into new markets, maintaining competitiveness: These are the goals if the responsible echelons in a company decide on measures to reorganize operations. The key factor in this process of restructuring remains the human element. As a rule, SMEs are ideally suited for a sucessfull restructuring. Main advantages in contrast to large corporations: Their operations are not overly complicated, the staff is small enough to build up informal ties, the information network is closely-knit, and decisions are made faster than in large companies. The key question in Change Mangement processes is: Under which conditions are further training offers prepared to ensure the sustainable employabilty of the employess?

Lifelong Learning as a strategy for individuals to ensure employability and to strengthen their knowledge and skills raises questions regarding the state of the system of adult education and the governments responsibility as necessary conditions for a broad participation. The German discussion has frequently shown demands for a constitutional and codified integration of adult education into the general public educational system. Under the perspective of the increasing importance of Lifelong Learning the history of adult education especially has shown that a non-functional educational infrastructure results from low public responsiveness and a lack in legal regulations. Rather than promoting equal opportunities for every citizen the system of adult education in Germany leads to more inequality, Lifelong Learning as a concept detached from public strategies increases social selections instead of compensating them. Consequently, the author analyses public options and public duties referring to a law that rules an incomplete market. The results of the analysis confirm that even if there is no constitutionally guaranteed civil right for a public support of adult education public policy should take care for this section of our educational system and should integrate adult education as a fundamental right shown by a specific legislation.

Throughout nineteen chapters the problems of teaching grammar are discussed. Only recently the argument whether grammar is useful or not has been newly engaged. Just like an encyclopaedia the major factors in this argument are presented here. This Work includes an extensive collection of source material and bibliographic notes. The different position of the discussion are critically analysed and the demands and requirements for teaching grammar are clearified.

In order to meet the cost targets of PEM fuel cells for commercialization significant cost reductions of cell stack components like membrane/electrode assemblies and bipolar plates have become key aspects of research and development. Central topics of his work are the bipolar plates and humidification for portable applications. Best results concerning conductivity of an extensive screening of a variety of carbon polymer compounds with polypropylene as matrix could be achieved with the carbon black/graphite/polypropylene-base system. Successful tests of this material in a fuel cell stack could be performed as well as the proof of suitability concerning material- and manufacturing costs. Dependent on application a decrease of material cost to 2 ¤/kg to 1,8 ¤/kW seems to be possible. Finally bipolar plates consisting of a selected carbon polymer compound were successfully integrated and tested in a 20-cell stack which was implemented in a portable PEFC-demonstrator unit with a power output between 50 and 150 W.