Iteratec (Germany)

We investigate the experimental setup proposed in [New J. Phys., 15, 115006 (2013)] for calorimetric measurements of thermodynamic indicators in an open quantum system. As theoretical model we consider a periodically driven qubit coupled with a large yet finite electron reservoir, the calorimeter. The calorimeter is initially at equilibrium with an infinite phonon bath. As time elapses, the temperature of the calorimeter varies in consequence of energy exchanges with the qubit and the phonon bath. We show how under weak coupling assumptions, the evolution of the qubit-calorimeter system can be described by a generalized quantum jump process including as dynamical variable the temperature of the calorimeter. We study the jump process by numeric and analytic methods. Asymptotically with the duration of the drive, the qubit-calorimeter attains a steady state. In this same limit, we use multiscale perturbation theory to derive a Fokker--Planck equation governing the calorimeter temperature distribution. We inquire the properties of the temperature probability distribution close and at the steady state. In particular, we predict the behavior of measurable statistical indicators versus the qubit-calorimeter coupling constant.

In this work, catalyst screening and reaction kinetic modeling are performed for two Ni-based and one Rh-based commercial catalysts for a reverse water gas shift (rWGS) reaction under atmospheric and 30 bara pressure. Ni-based catalysts displayed higher activity compared to Rh-based catalysts despite the severe initial deactivation Ni-based catalysts suffered, which increases catalyst selectivity toward CO formation. Ni/Al2O3 catalyst with lower Ni content (2 w-%) exhibited higher selectivity toward CO formation compared to the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst with higher Ni content (15 wt %). The Ni/Al2O3 (2 wt % of Ni) catalyst was further tested for kinetic modeling. Three kinetic models were developed based on reaction mechanisms and kinetic models obtained from other publications for rWGS/WGS, methanation, and methane steam reforming reactions based on different mechanistic approaches. The model based on mechanistic assumptions originally proposed by Xu and Froment was concluded to be the most suitable to describe the high temperature reaction system of the rWGS and methanation over supported nickel catalyst. On the basis of statistical analysis, the model proposed by Xu and Froment was also concluded to be the best for the catalyst and reaction system studied in this work.

Companies today interact in an increasingly competitive environment and seek to leverage the potentials of IT for generating new business models and for changing existing ones. For these business models, companies have to align the respective business and IT architectures. This task can be supported by using enterprise architecture management. In this paper, we first analyze the potentials for integrating enterprise architecture (management) and business model (management). Second, the components of different approaches for describing business models are compared to each other. Third, we present a concept for integrating business models into enterprise architectures. Fourth, we outline an integration of business model management and enterprise architecture management processes.

Enterprise architecture (EA) management represents an evolving discipline in the curriculum of information systems research. Research in the area of EA management is often conducted in close cooperation with industry partners, who on the one hand provide input in terms of current challenges and on the other hand are more than willing to apply and evaluate the research findings. Therefore, researchers in the area of EA management applying the design science paradigm are confronted with the challenge to make theoretical contributions which additionally can be applied and help to solve current and anticipated problems in practice.In this paper we present the so-called pattern-based design research (PDR) an iterative design research method to overcome this problem by enabling researchers to theorize and learn from the intervention at the industry partner(s) while performing rigorous and relevant design science research. We illustrate the applicability of PDR by discussing our research projects of the last 7 years in the area of EA management. We conclude that PDR provides a suitable research method that can be applied in the area of EA and discuss further challenges from the perspective of practitioners and researchers.

In this paper, I will demonstrate how the Unified Modeling Language (UML) can be used to describe agent interaction protocols. The approach that is presented in this paper does not propose enhancements or completely new diagrams but instead relies on existing UML elements and the UML extension mechanism that is part of the standard. This conformity with the base UML is a major advantage of the idea as it prevents a diversification of the UML into different potentially incompatible dialects. The practical use of the method is demonstrated with an example on how to specify a realistic agent interaction protocol.