Enriched Simplicial Presheaves and the Motivic Homotopy Category

We construct models for the motivic homotopy category based on simplicial functors from smooth schemes over a field to simplicial sets. These spaces are homotopy invariant and therefore one does not have to invert the affine line in order to get a model for the motivic homotopy category

Genetic variability of Chilean and Peruvian surfclams (Donax marincovichi and Donax obesulus)

Exposed intertidal sandy beaches are commonly dominated by surf clams of the genus Donax. In Peru and Chile these bivalves play an important role for artisanal fisheries. Beside that, little is known about the taxonomy, biology, and the clams susceptibility to climatically induced changes. The taxonomic status of the two Donax species Donax marincovichi and Donax obesulus, distributed along the Peruvian coastline, is controversially discussed. As morphometric comparisons reveal no significant differences we possibly deal with a single rather than with two species. Furthermore, our knowledge on larval dispersal allowing gene flow among populations is scarce. Therefore, both putative Donax species were sampled at ten beaches along the coastline from northern Chile to northern Peru. Partial cytochrome oxidase I sequences were analysed in order to estimate the genetic distances between both putative species and to estimate the intraspecific gene flow along the coastline. Region specific patterns and the dependence on recruitment of local stocks are discussed

Development and Performance Verification of the GANDALF High-Resolution Transient Recorder System

With present-day detectors in high energy physics one often faces fast analog pulses of a few nanoseconds length which cover large dynamic ranges. In many experiments both amplitude and timing information have to be measured with high accuracy. Additionally, the data rate per readout channel can reach several MHz, which leads to high demands on the separation of pile-up pulses. For an upgrade of the COMPASS experiment at CERN we have designed the GANDALF transient recorder with a resolution of 12bit@1GS/s and an analog bandwidth of 500\:MHz. Signals are digitized with high precision and processed by fast algorithms to extract pulse arrival times and amplitudes in real-time and to generate trigger signals for the experiment. With up to 16 analog channels, deep memories and a high data rate interface, this 6U-VME64x/VXS module is not only a dead-time free digitization unit but also has huge numerical capabilities provided by the implementation of a Virtex5-SXT FPGA. Fast algorithms implemented in the FPGA may be used to disentangle possible pile-up pulses and determine timing information from sampled pulse shapes with a time resolution better than 50 ps.Comment: 5 pages, 9 figure

Using Reference Models for Data Warehouse Metadata Management

Based on experience from applying the Common Warehouse Metamodel to metadata management at a large Swiss bank, the applicability of metadata reference models in complex application domains is analyzed. In order to explain the context of the case, the state-of-the-art of the Common Warehouse Metamodel and its application for data warehouse management are summarized. Based on the project experience documented in this paper, benefits of the reference model approach are described and recommendations for future developments of the Common Warehouse Metamodel are proposed

Best Practices and Recommendations for Cybersecurity Service Providers

This chapter outlines some concrete best practices and recommendations for cybersecurity service providers, with a focus on data sharing, data protection and penetration testing. Based on a brief outline of dilemmas that cybersecurity service providers may experience in their daily operations, it discusses data handling policies and practices of cybersecurity vendors along the following five topics: customer data handling; information about breaches; threat intelligence; vulnerability-related information; and data involved when collaborating with peers, CERTs, cybersecurity research groups, etc. There is, furthermore, a discussion of specific issues of penetration testing such as customer recruitment and execution as well as the supervision and governance of penetration testing. The chapter closes with some general recommendations regarding improving the ethical decision-making procedures of private cybersecurity service providers

Sustained Aftereffect of alpha-tACS Lasts Up to 70 min after Stimulation

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has been repeatedly demonstrated to increase power of endogenous brain oscillations in the range of the stimulated frequency after stimulation. In the alpha band this aftereffect has been shown to persist for at least 30 min. However, in most experiments the aftereffect exceeded the duration of the measurement. Thus, it remains unclear how the effect develops beyond these 30 min and when it decays. The current study aimed to extend existing findings by monitoring the physiological aftereffect of tACS in the alpha range for an extended period of 90 min post-stimulation. To this end participants received either 20 min of tACS or sham stimulation with intensities below their individual sensation threshold at the individual alpha frequency (IAF). Electroencephalogram (EEG) was acquired during 3 min before and 90 min after stimulation. Subjects performed a visual vigilance task during the whole measurement. While the enhanced power in the individual alpha band did not return back to pre-stimulation baseline in the stimulation group, the difference between stimulation and sham diminishes after 70 min due to a natural alpha increase of the sham group

Mechanical Adaptive Silicone Composites for UV-triggered Facilitated Cochlear-Implant Removal

The removal of the cochlear implant (CI), which in some cases is without alternative, is still an act of simple pulling, not only causing harm for the patient by damaging tissue but also making reimplantation more difficult. For that reason, it is necessary to develop mechanisms to make an explantation easier. To overcome this problem adaption of the mechanical properties by light-degradable periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) can be one solution. By introducing PMO nanoparticles into the CI's silicone matrix, the particles act as a stiffening agent, which can be degraded by irradiation with UV light. Using this mechanism, the silicone becomes softer, thus making explantation easier and safer for patients. Here first results, concerning the creation of a silicone composite material with light-sensitive adaptive mechanical properties are reported

Towards a Neuronally Consistent Ontology for Robotic Agents

The Collaborative Research Center for Everyday Activity Science & Engineering (CRC EASE) aims to enable robots to perform environmental interaction tasks with close to human capacity. It therefore employs a shared ontology to model the activity of both kinds of agents, empowering robots to learn from human experiences. To properly describe these human experiences, the ontology will strongly benefit from incorporating characteristics of neuronal information processing which are not accessible from a behavioral perspective alone. We, therefore, propose the analysis of human neuroimaging data for evaluation and validation of concepts and events defined in the ontology model underlying most of the CRC projects. In an exploratory analysis, we employed an Independent Component Analysis (ICA) on functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data from participants who were presented with the same complex video stimuli of activities as robotic and human agents in different environments and contexts. We then correlated the activity patterns of brain networks represented by derived components with timings of annotated event categories as defined by the ontology model. The present results demonstrate a subset of common networks with stable correlations and specificity towards particular event classes and groups, associated with environmental and contextual factors. These neuronal characteristics will open up avenues for adapting the ontology model to be more consistent with human information processing.Comment: Preprint of paper accepted for the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI) 2023 (minor typo corrections

Importance of Vehicle Body Elements and Rear Axle Elements for Describing Road Booming Noise

For investigating influences of vehicle components on the acoustic comfort at low frequencies, e.g., the booming noise behavior of a vehicle, building a whole car simulation model is useful. To reduce the model’s complexity and to save resources in the validation process, we first identify relevant components before building the model. Based on previous studies, we focus on the vehicle’s body and the rear axle. In this paper, we analyze which axle and body elements are crucial for describing road booming noise. For this purpose, we use impact measurements to examine noise transfer functions of the body and a vibro-acoustical modal analysis to identify coupled modes between the body’s structure and the interior cavity. For investigating relevant force paths from the rear axle to the body, we used a chassis test bench. We identify the main transmission paths of road booming noise and highlight which axle and body components have an influence on them. Mainly the rear axle in its upright direction in combination with a rigid body movement of the rear tailgate coupled with the first longitudinal mode of the airborne cavity causes road booming noise. Furthermore, the rear axle steering, the active roll stabilization and the trim elements of the vehicle’s body are essential to describe road booming noise. The results can be used to set priorities in the validation of individual axle and body components for future simulation models. We found that the ventilation openings, the front seats, the headliner, and the cockpit of a vehicle have little influence on its noise transfer functions from the rear axle connection points to the driver’s ear between 20 and 60 Hz