Internet banking is frequently classified as an extension of conventional distribution channels for financial services in the retail market. The present study empirically investigates the internet banking strategies of German saving banks. The study develops marketing strategy recommendations for the saving banks which take into account the results of the empirical analysis.

Die Arbeit hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, Phänomene der 'Bodenlosigkeit' und 'Entwurzelung' auf der Ebene der Gesellschaft, der Subjektivität und des Denkens aufzuzeigen sowie eine strukturelle Parallelität zwischen diesen Ebenen nachzuweisen. In einem zweiten Schritt geht es um den Versuch, die strukturelle Parallelität der 'Entwurzelung' zwischen diesen Ebenen mit dem 'Instrumentarium' des systemtheoretischen Denkens Niklas Luhmanns zu erklären.

The protein Myoglobin was used as matix-molecule to produce monomeric porphyrins in solution. The protein complexes of differen zinc pheophorbides and zinc protoporphyrin have been studied by UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy. The protein stability versus unfolding and NMR results Based on quantum mechanical calculations analysis of EPR- and ENDOR-spectra of the light excited triplet state yielded identification of α-protons and methyl β-protons have been identified for the first time. The data acquired agrees well with previously published data on native reaction centers. The terminal electron acceptors, [4Fe4S] centers FA and FB in Photosystem I (PSI), have been modelled by peptides with 16 amino acid length synthezied by SPPS Fmoc strategy. Both peptides incorporated a [4Fe4S] cluster in oxidation state 2 /1 as prooven by UV/Vis, EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The redoxpotential for the one electron reduction was found to be -470 mV for both modell peptides.

In most cases chemometric methods (PCA, PCR, PLS) are used for data modelling when NIR-spectrometry is applied for analytical purposes. This work is about the application of the wavelet-transform as a tool in chemometrics for analysing NIR-spectra. Beside aspects of data pretreatment, like smoothing of NIR-spectra, and data compression the focus was set on NIR-analysis using wavelet-transformed NIR-spectra. A new method for building multivariate calibration models based on wavelet-coefficients selected by a genetic algorithm is introduced. In addition the results obtained by calibrating wavelet-coefficients using PCR and PLS are descriped. Furthermore the identification of post consumer plastic waste by wavelet-transformed NIR-spectra and an artificial neural network is demonstrated. Two new special types of wavelets which allow analysing finitely extended signals (like spectra) without introducing artifacts near the boundaries were applied

Temperature dependent swelling of different polymer networks was performed in the liquid and gaseous solvent water. To determine the swelling ratio in the water vapour gravimetrically, depending on the change of temperature, a new measure device was developed. Object of this thesis was, to qualify the shape of the swelling curves in the region of the boiling point. Swelling curves were analysed with the results of the statistic theory of swelling additionally. Together with the results of measurements of the same polymer networks in crystalline water, a mathematical description of the swelling curves was performed in solid, liquid and gaseous phase for the first time.

Two new optical analysis methods in the field of nanotechnology are introduced. Both methods are based on optical microscopy coupled with a digital image analysis system. The first method can be used as a low cost quality control process for nanoimprint lithography. Here, fluorescence microscopy is used in combination with a standard printable polymer labeled with a fluorescent dye. The optical detection allows for the observation of imprinted structures down to 100 nm of lateral size. The second method uses either dark field or fluorescence microscopy for analysis of the particle size distribution of dispersed nanoparticles with diameters between 100 and 1000 nm. Both methods are characterized by a high reliability and reproducibility as well as user-friendliness and quickness.

Ultrasonic imaging uses higher ultrasound frequencies and power levels to achieve better spacial resolution and image quality. Potential hazard for patients have to be evaluated on the basis of relevant acoustic parameters. Measurements of the acoustic pressure with piezoelectric hydrophones is only reliable up to 40 MHz because of minimum sensor size. This work improves a pizooptical measurement method for acoustic pressure. Acoustic pressure changes the refractive index of water. This is determined by measuring laser power, reflected at a fiber/water interface. To improve calibration uncertainty for that kind of measurement to the level of piezoelectric hydrophones (11% - 14%) was the primary goal. Therefore a piezooptic fiber hydrophone with single mode fiber and single mode light source (laser diode) is developed. The active area of the used single mode fiber type has a diameter of 5 µm. Since the fiber influences sound field propagation due to reflection and diffraction, sensitivity of the device is frequency dependent. These effects are compensated by mathmatic modelling. By calculaing the exact curve progression of the factor of reflection depending on the refractive index gradient at the fiber/water interface, calibration uncertainty is improved from 18% to below 11%. Results are validated by intercomparison with several calibarted piezoelectric hydrophones. Measurements are carried out on different ultrasound imagaing systems.

In August 2001, students of East Asian Studies travelled for field research to Sichuan province in Southwest China. The excursion was organized and supervised by Prof. Dr. Thomas Heberer and Anja-Désirée Senz. In the rural districts of South Sichuan the group conducted qualitative and quantitative empirical research on village elections. These elections were introduced in China nationwide in 1998 and are international highly recognized, because of there potentially impact on political reforms in China. The objective of the research was to analyse the influence of village elections on the political consciousness of the rural population. Some of the results are being presented in the following article.

Seit dem Ende des zweiten Weltkrieges hat die deutsche Automobilindustrie, durch kurzfristige Konjunktureinbrüche und exogene Schocks temporär unterbrochen, einen kontinuierlichen Aufschwung erlebt. Der gravierende Einbruch der Automobilkonjunktur ab 1993 offenbart jedoch in einer sehr drastischen Art die sich schon in der zweiten Hälfte der achtziger Jahre abzeichnende internationale Wettbewerbsschwäche der deutschen Automobilhersteller. Die deutschen Produzenten werden jetzt um so drastischer mit Herausforderungen konfrontiert, deren Bewältigung zu tiefgreifenden Anpassungsprozessen innerhalb der automobilen Wertschöpfungskette zwingt. Die deutschen Hersteller sind gezwungen, durch entsprechende Strategien die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und damit die Existenz ihrer Unternehmen zu sichern. Aufgabe staatlicher Wettbewerbsbehörden ist es, die Strategien der Automobilproduzenten, welche diese zur Sicherung oder Verbesserung ihrer Wettbewerbsposition wählen, daraufhin zu überprüfen, ob sie wettbewerbskonform sind, d.h . Wettbewerbsprozesse auf dem deutschen Pkw-Markt nicht erschweren oder gar blockieren.

In the last years China has recognized the environment as an economically valuable good, thus promoting sustainable economic development. Among the young people, this principle is spread by creating awareness through Environmental Education (EE) in schools. Although high on the agenda, the implementation of EE is restricted by a lack of finance and know-how so that Chinese schools benefit from foreign assistance. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the situation of EE in Chinese schools and to test the adaptability of a German EE strategy in China. For this purpose, the need patterns of different categories of schools concerning the contents and the implementation of EE are analyzed. These need patterns are then contrasted with the contents and concept of the German EE strategy. The estrictions in adaptability as well as the necessary adaptations of the German strategy are concluded and laid down accordingly. Together with an outline of possible project partners, these findings are put together to form four different project proposals for EE projects in Chinese schools.