In this book, speech transmission quality is modeled on the basis of perceptual dimensions. The author identifies those dimensions that are relevant for today's public-switched and packet-based telecommunication systems, regarding the complete transmission path from the mouth of the speaker to the ear of the listener. Both narrowband (300-3400 Hz) as well as wideband (50-7000 Hz) speech transmission is taken into account. A new analytical assessment method is presented that allows the dimensions to be rated by non-expert listeners in a direct way. Due to the efficiency of the test method, a relatively large number of stimuli can be assessed in auditory tests. The test method is applied in two auditory experiments. The book gives the evidence that this test method provides meaningful and reliable results. The resulting dimension scores together with respective overall quality ratings form the basis for a new parametric model for the quality estimation of transmitted speech based on the perceptual dimensions. In a two-step model approach, instrumental dimension models estimate dimension impairment factors in a first step. The resulting dimension estimates are combined by a Euclidean integration function in a second step in order to provide an estimate of the total impairment.

In this book, speech transmission quality is modeled on the basis of perceptual dimensions. The author identifies those dimensions that are relevant for today's public-switched and packet-based telecommunication systems, regarding the complete transmission path from the mouth of the speaker to the ear of the listener. Both narrowband (300-3400 Hz) as well as wideband (50-7000 Hz) speech transmission is taken into account. A new analytical assessment method is presented that allows the dimensions to be rated by non-expert listeners in a direct way. Due to the efficiency of the test method, a relatively large number of stimuli can be assessed in auditory tests. The test method is applied in two auditory experiments. The book gives the evidence that this test method provides meaningful and reliable results. The resulting dimension scores together with respective overall quality ratings form the basis for a new parametric model for the quality estimation of transmitted speech based on the perceptual dimensions. In a two-step model approach, instrumental dimension models estimate dimension impairment factors in a first step. The resulting dimension estimates are combined by a Euclidean integration function in a second step in order to provide an estimate of the total impairment.

The notion of sovereignty plays an important part in various areas of law, such as constitutional law and international public law. Though the concept of sovereignty as applied in constitutional law differs from that used in international public law, there is no true consensus on the meaning of "sovereignty" within these respective fields, either. Is sovereignty about factual power, or only about legal equality? Do only democracies have sovereignty, because they have legitimacy, or is there no (necessary) connection between democracy, legitimacy and sovereignty? Has the European Union encroached upon the sovereignty of the Member States, or is transferring competences to the European Union an expression and exercise of the very sovereignty some claim is under attack? Is it about states, or is it about peoples having a right to self-determination, and if the latter, does this represent popular sovereignty or something else? In order to answer these and related questions, we need a clear grasp of what "sovereignty" means. This book provides an analytical and conceptual framework for "sovereignty" in the context of law. The book does not seek to describe how the term "sovereignty" is used in the different contexts and discourses in which it is employed, but rather distinguishes between two possible meanings of sovereignty that allow the reader to use the term with specificity and clarity. In this way, this book hopes to offer valuable analytical tools for politicians, constitutional and international lawyers (both practitioners and academics) and legal theorists that help them be clear about what they mean when they speak of "sovereignty."

The notion of sovereignty plays an important part in various areas of law, such as constitutional law and international public law. Though the concept of sovereignty as applied in constitutional law differs from that used in international public law, there is no true consensus on the meaning of "sovereignty" within these respective fields, either. Is sovereignty about factual power, or only about legal equality? Do only democracies have sovereignty, because they have legitimacy, or is there no (necessary) connection between democracy, legitimacy and sovereignty? Has the European Union encroached upon the sovereignty of the Member States, or is transferring competences to the European Union an expression and exercise of the very sovereignty some claim is under attack? Is it about states, or is it about peoples having a right to self-determination, and if the latter, does this represent popular sovereignty or something else? In order to answer these and related questions, we need a clear grasp of what "sovereignty" means. This book provides an analytical and conceptual framework for "sovereignty" in the context of law. The book does not seek to describe how the term "sovereignty" is used in the different contexts and discourses in which it is employed, but rather distinguishes between two possible meanings of sovereignty that allow the reader to use the term with specificity and clarity. In this way, this book hopes to offer valuable analytical tools for politicians, constitutional and international lawyers (both practitioners and academics) and legal theorists that help them be clear about what they mean when they speak of "sovereignty."

Bis zur Schuldrechtsreform wurde ohne Aussicht auf Klarung eine Fulle von Streitfragen bezuglich Mangel- und Mangelfolgeschaden diskutiert. Die Arbeit bietet Loesungen fur die weiterhin bestehenden Probleme der Mangelhaftung auf dem Fundament langjahriger sowie unter kritischer Wurdigung aktueller Diskussionen an. Vor dem Hintergrund veranderter Strukturen im allgemeinen Schuldrecht werden Rechtsfolge, Tatbestand und Verjahrung im Kauf- und Werkvertragsrecht untersucht. Die Arbeit entscharft Abgrenzungsschwierigkeiten auf Rechtsfolgenseite, indem Schadenspositionen nach Art und Inhalt typisiert werden. Tatbestandlich steht der Haftungsgrund im Mittelpunkt, wobei Mangel, aliud und Minderleistung beleuchtet werden. Schliesslich widmet sich die Arbeit eingehend der Verjahrung.

Die Nachhaltigkeit des Arbeits- und Sozialrechts in der alternden Gesellschaft in Japan und Deutschland war Thema eines im Februar 2017 an der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn veranstalteten Symposions, dessen Vortrage in diesem Buch versammelt sind. Die Vortrage der japanischen Referentinnen und Referenten geben nicht nur Auskunft uber die Grundlagen und Entwicklungstendenzen in Japan, es zeigen sich auch Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede in den rechtlichen und gesellschaftspolitischen Bedingungen. Die angesprochenen Rechtsfragen betreffen die Leiharbeit, die befristete Beschaftigung (in Deutschland auch in Gestalt der Mini-Jobs), die Beschaftigung im Niedriglohnsektor allgemein und die Solo-Selbstandigkeit.

Das Verhaltnis von Arbeitsrecht und Zivilrecht in Japan und Deutschland war Thema des siebten gemeinsamen Symposiums der Japanisch-Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Arbeitsrecht und ihrer deutschen Schwestergesellschaft, der Deutsch-Japanischen Gesellschaft fur Arbeitsrecht am 3. und 4. September 2012 an der Universitat Meiji, Tokyo. Den Ausgangspunkt des Austauschs bildeten die in diesem Band versammelten Referate. Die Vortrage der japanischen Referenten geben nicht nur Auskunft uber neue Entwicklungen in Japan, sie informieren zudem uber Grundzuge des japanischen Zivil- und Arbeitsrechts. Der Rechtsvergleich zwischen Japan und Deutschland gibt wertvolle Erkenntnisse fur die Fortentwicklung des Arbeitsrechts. Die gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen, vor denen Japan und Deutschland stehen, sind in vielem ahnlich.

The motivation for this volume came from the idea that the Precambrian is the key, both to the present, and to the understanding of the Earth as a whole. The Precambrian constitutes about 85% of Earth's history, and of that, about 3.75 billion years of Precambrian time, represented by rocks, are accessible to geoscientists. Ancient atmospheric and environmental conditions can be traced back to the time when the Earth was only about 250 million years old. Precambrian rocks supply almost 75% of important mineral resources such as Fe, Mn, Au, Pt and Cr. Many of these elements are associated with sedimentary rocks and some important hydrocarbon, coal and graphite deposits are also hosted by Precambrian rocks.

This volume is aimed at geoscientists interested in Precambrian sedimentary rocks and at students of Earth history. It contains review articles discussing Precambrian conditions and case studies from Precambrian shields and successions of North and South America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and India. The introductory papers, written by experts on Precambrian environments, treat comprehensively the application of actualism to the Precambrian, the evolution and influence of life on the sedimentary rock record, the genesis of Banded Iron Formations, the Precambrian sulphur cycle and the significance of Precambrian chemical carbonate precipitates. The case studies include depositional settings and processes in Archean terranes, in Paleoproterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on the lack of vegetation and weathering, and in late Proterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on glacial deposits. The contributions demonstrate that Precambrian sedimentary deposits are commonly similar to their Phanerozoic counterparts in terms of composition, sedimentary processes, and depositional setting, but may differ significantly as a result of lack of vegetation, climatic and biological constraints, composition and circulation of seawater, and the secular involvement of continental crust.
Contains review articles discussing Precambrian conditions and case studies from Precambrian shields and successions of North and South America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and India.
The introductory papers, written by experts on Precambrian environments, treat comprehensively the application of actualism to the Precambrian, the evolution and influence of life on the sedimentary rock record, the genesis of Banded Iron Formations, the Precambrian sulphur cycle and the significance of Precambrian chemical carbonate precipitates.
Detailed case studies include depositional settings and processes in Archean terranes, in Paleoproterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on the lack of vegetation and weathering, and in late Proterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on glacial deposits.
Written for geoscientists interested in Precambrian sedimentary rocks and students of Earth history.

If you are a member of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS), for purchasing details, please see: http: //www.iasnet.org/publications/details.asp?code=SP33

This book is exceptional in the sense that it provides an introduction to law in general rather than the law of one specific jurisdiction, and it presents a unique way of looking at legal education. It is crucial for lawyers to be aware of the different ways in which societal problems can be solved and to be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different legal solutions. In this respect, being a lawyer involves being able to reason like a lawyer, even more than having detailed knowledge of particular sets of rules. Introduction to Law reflects this view by focusing on the functions of rules and on ways of arguing the relative qualities of alternative legal solutions. Where 'positive' law is discussed, the emphasis is on the legal questions that must be addressed by a field of law and on the different solutions which have been adopted by, for instance, the common law and civil law tradition. The law of specific jurisdictions is discussed to illustrate possible answers to questions such as when the existence of a valid contract is assumed.

Die Wertorientierte Unternehmensf hrung bzw. der Shareholder Value-Ansatz zeichnet sich seit einigen Jahren durch eine zunehmende Beliebtheit und Verbreitung aus. Jedoch ist diese Entwicklung haupts chlich bei Gro unternehmen festzustellen. Im Mittelstand kann sich der Shareholder Value-Gedanke bisher kaum durchsetzen. Dennoch bietet die Wertorientierte Unternehmensf hrung auch f r kleine und mittelst ndische Unternehmen zahlreiche Vorteile. In diesem Buch wird das Thema der Wertorientierten Unternehmensf hrung im Mittelstand ber die Verwendung von Werttreibern behandelt. Ausgehend von einer Charakterisierung des Mittelstandes bzw. des Mittelstandscontrollings werden unterschiedliche Ans tze zur Steigerung des Unternehmenswertes diskutiert. Aus einer Gegen berstellung des Shareholder Value-Ansatzes mit dem Stakeholder Value-Ansatz wird eine f r den Mittelstand sinnvolle Zielsetzung abgeleitet. Anschlie end erfolgt eine Abgrenzung unterschiedlicher Werttreiber sowie die Darstellung einer Werttreibertypologie zu der einige f r den Mittelstand typische Werttreiber vorgeschlagen werden. Darauf aufbauend werden einige Instrumente zur Beeinflussung von Werttreibern im Mittelstandscontrolling vorgestellt. Jedes dieser Instrumente wird anhand der wertorientierten Kennzahl Economic Value Added (EVA) konkretisiert. In diesem Buch werden zun chst wertorientierte Kennzahlen angesprochen, die sich zu Kennzahlensystemen herunterbrechen lassen. Diese Systeme werden im Anschluss mit der Balanced Scorecard kombiniert und um ein wertorientiertes Anreizsystem erg nzt.

Mit dem Pensionsfonds wollte der Gesetzgeber in Deutschland in Anlehnung an auslandische Vorbilder eine Einrichtung der betrieblichen Altersversorgung mit vergleichsweise liberaler regulierter Vermoegensanlage einfuhren. Zudem sollte ein flexibles Instrument der arbeitnehmerfinanzierten Altersversorgung geschaffen werden. Ob und inwieweit diese Ziele erreicht wurden, ist Gegenstand dieser Arbeit. Rechtsvergleichend und regulierungstheoretisch werden die Institution Pensionsfonds und deren Rechtsbeziehungen zu Arbeitgeber und begunstigtem Arbeitnehmer untersucht. Insbesondere bei der Rechtsbeziehung zwischen finanzierendem Arbeitnehmer und Pensionsfonds sowie der Sicherung der Rechte des Arbeitnehmers werden Probleme in der bestehenden Regulierung aufgezeigt und Vorschlage zu ihrer Loesung unterbreitet.