A non-interleaving process calculus for multi-party synchronisation

We introduce the wire calculus. Its dynamic features are inspired by Milner's CCS: a unary prefix operation, binary choice and a standard recursion construct. Instead of an interleaving parallel composition operator there are operators for synchronisation along a common boundary and non-communicating parallel composition. The (operational) semantics is a labelled transition system obtained with SOS rules. Bisimilarity is a congruence with respect to the operators of the language. Quotienting terms by bisimilarity results in a compact closed category

DEMIX Method Ranks COPDEM and FABDEM as Top 1'' Global DEMs

We present a practical approach to inter-compare a range of candidate digital elevation models (DEMs) based on pre-defined criteria and statistically sound ranking approach. The presented approach integrates the randomized complete block design (RCBD) into a novel framework which has been named the DEMIX wine contest. Ranking a collection of wines or a set of DEMs from a given set of candidates leads to a mathematically similar problem. The method presented provides a flexible, statistically sound and customizable tool for evaluating the quality of any raster - in this case a DEM - by means of a ranking approach, which takes into account a confidence level, and can use both quantitative and qualitative criteria. The users can design their own criteria for the quality evaluation in relation to their specific needs. The application of the wine contest to six 1'' global DEMs, considering a wide set of study sites, covering different morphological and landcover settings, highlights the potentialities of the approach. We used a suite of criteria relating to the differences in the elevation, slope, and roughness distributions compared to reference DEMs aggregated from 1-5 m lidar-derived DEMs to 1 second DEM. Results confirmed significant superiority of COPDEM and its derivative FABDEM as the overall best 1'' global DEMs. They are slightly better than ALOS, and clearly outperform NASADEM and SRTM, which are in turn much better than ASTER

Governance and trust in sustainability-based agri-food value chains. A comparative analysis of five cases in Germany

Value chains that generate an increased willingness to pay among consumers by offering enhanced levels of sustainability are widely discussed as an important strategy for creating new business opportunities and fostering food system transformation. Previous research has highlighted the importance of governance arrangements to secure the trust necessary for the establishment of sustainability-based value chains. However, how different coordination designs by private and public actors along the value chain affect trust formation is not well understood. To address this question, this paper combines the concepts of hybrid governance and multidimensional trust to guide a comparative analysis of five sustainability-based agri-food value chains in Germany as exemplary case studies. The findings show that different types of governance activities are necessary to build the capacity to address four different sources of trust: dispositional, affinitive, rational and procedural trust. Building trust capacities facilitates coordination of activities along the value chain and reliable delivery of sustainability-related value propositions. In all five cases, governance arrangements and building of trust capacities were geared towards increasing willingness to pay. Sustainability-based agri-food value chains have therefore limited potential to internalize the agri-food sector’s substantial negative externalities

Digital Elevation Models: Terminology and Definitions

Digital elevation models (DEMs) provide fundamental depictions of the three-dimensional shape of the Earth’s surface and are useful to a wide range of disciplines. Ideally, DEMs record the interface between the atmosphere and the lithosphere using a discrete two-dimensional grid, with complexities introduced by the intervening hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. The treatment of DEM surfaces, affected by these intervening spheres, depends on their intended use, and the characteristics of the sensors that were used to create them. DEM is a general term, and more specific terms such as digital surface model (DSM) or digital terrain model (DTM) record the treatment of the intermediate surfaces. Several global DEMs generated with optical (visible and near-infrared) sensors and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), as well as single/multi-beam sonars and products of satellite altimetry, share the common characteristic of a georectified, gridded storage structure. Nevertheless, not all DEMs share the same vertical datum, not all use the same convention for the area on the ground represented by each pixel in the DEM, and some of them have variable data spacings depending on the latitude. This paper highlights the importance of knowing, understanding and reflecting on the sensor and DEM characteristics and consolidates terminology and definitions of key concepts to facilitate a common understanding among the growing community of DEM users, who do not necessarily share the same background

Alternative Splicing and Extensive RNA Editing of Human TPH2 Transcripts

Brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission plays a key role in the regulation of mood and has been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of 5-HT. Recently, we discovered a second TPH isoform (TPH2) in vertebrates, including man, which is predominantly expressed in brain, while the previously known TPH isoform (TPH1) is primarly a non-neuronal enzyme. Overwhelming evidence now points to TPH2 as a candidate gene for 5-HT-related psychiatric disorders. To assess the role of TPH2 gene variability in the etiology of psychiatric diseases we performed cDNA sequence analysis of TPH2 transcripts from human post mortem amygdala samples obtained from individuals with psychiatric disorders (drug abuse, schizophrenia, suicide) and controls. Here we show that TPH2 exists in two alternatively spliced variants in the coding region, denoted TPH2a and TPH2b. Moreover, we found evidence that the pre- mRNAs of both splice variants are dynamically RNA-edited in a mutually exclusive manner. Kinetic studies with cell lines expressing recombinant TPH2 variants revealed a higher activity of the novel TPH2B protein compared with the previously known TPH2A, whereas RNA editing was shown to inhibit the enzymatic activity of both TPH2 splice variants. Therefore, our results strongly suggest a complex fine-tuning of central nervous system 5-HT biosynthesis by TPH2 alternative splicing and RNA editing. Finally, we present molecular and large-scale linkage data evidencing that deregulated alternative splicing and RNA editing is involved in the etiology of psychiatric diseases, such as suicidal behaviour

Therapy of experimental type 1 diabetes by isolated Sertoli cell xenografts alone

Type I diabetes mellitus is caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells, and effective treatment of the disease might require rescuing β cell function in a context of reinstalled immune tolerance. Sertoli cells (SCs) are found in the testes, where their main task is to provide local immunological protection and nourishment to developing germ cells. SCs engraft, self-protect, and coprotect allogeneic and xenogeneic grafts from immune destruction in different experimental settings. SCs have also been successfully implanted into the central nervous system to create a regulatory environment to the surrounding tissue which is trophic and counter-inflammatory. We report that isolated neonatal porcine SC, administered alone in highly biocompatible microcapsules, led to diabetes prevention and reversion in the respective 88 and 81% of overtly diabetic (nonobese diabetic [NOD]) mice, with no need for additional β cell or insulin therapy. The effect was associated with restoration of systemic immune tolerance and detection of functional pancreatic islets that consisted of glucose-responsive and insulin-secreting cells. Curative effects by SC were strictly dependent on efficient tryptophan metabolism in the xenografts, leading to TGF-β–dependent emergence of autoantigen-specific regulatory T cells and recovery of β cell function in the diabetic recipients

Genetic Diversity of Sapovirus in Children, Australia

Sapovirus was detected in 7 of 95 stool specimens from children with gastroenteritis of unknown etiology in Sydney, Australia, from August 2001 to August 2002 and from February 2004 to August 2004, by using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis of the N-terminal capsid region showed all human sapovirus genogroups

Prospects for photon science and beam dynamics studies of a THz undulator at FLUTE

n recent years the interest in high intensity, short-pulse coherent THz radiation for non-linear experimental research and applications grew with upcoming high intensity lasers. In contrast to lasers, accelerators provide free electrons for which emission properties can be tailored to the demand at typically much higher repetition rates than high-intensity lasers can provide. Efforts are ongoing to augment short-bunch accelerators such as the European XFEL with THz radiation sources such as undulators. At the far-infrared linac and test experiment (FLUTE) at KIT, we can facil- itate experiments to investigate coherent THz radiation from different sources and provide short electron bunches. As an additional THz source, a superconducting undulator can be inserted and investigated. In this contribution, we evaluate the opportunities of this THz undulator at FLUTE for linear accelerators and FELs in terms of photon science and beam dynamics

Induction of immunosuppressive functions and NF-\u3baB by FLIP in monocytes

Immunosuppression is a hallmark of tumor progression, and treatments that inhibit or deplete monocytic myeloid-derived suppressive cells could promote anti-tumor immunity. c-FLIP is a central regulator of caspase-8-mediated apoptosis and necroptosis. Here we show that low-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy agents cause apoptosis linked to c-FLIP down-regulation selectively in monocytes. Enforced expression of c-FLIP or viral FLIP rescues monocytes from cytotoxicity and concurrently induces potent immunosuppressive activity, in T cell cultures and in vivo models of tumor progression and immunotherapy. FLIP-transduced human blood monocytes can suppress graft versus host disease. Neither expression of FLIP in granulocytes nor expression of other anti-apoptotic genes in monocytes conferred immunosuppression, suggesting that FLIP effects on immunosuppression are specific to monocytic lineage and distinct from death inhibition. Mechanistically, FLIP controls a broad transcriptional program, partially by NF-\u3baB activation. Therefore, modulation of FLIP in monocytes offers a means to elicit or block immunosuppressive myeloid cells