A Systematic Approach to the Test of Combined HW/SW Systems

Abstract-Today we can identify a big gap between requirement specification and the generation of test environments. This article extends the Classification Tree Method for Embedded Systems (CTM/ES) to fill this gap by new concepts for the precise specification of stimuli for operational ranges of continuous control systems. It introduces novel means for continuous acceptance criteria definition and for functional coverage definition

Absolute configuration of small molecules by co‐crystallization

The most reliable method to determine the absolute configuration of chiral molecules is X‐ray crystallography, but small molecules can be difficult to crystallize. We report rapid co‐crystallization of tetraaryladamantanes with small molecules as different as n‐decane to nicotine to produce crystals for X‐ray analysis and the assignment of absolute configuration when the molecules are chiral. A screen of 52 diverse compounds gave inclusion in co‐crystals for 88 % of all cases and a high‐resolution structure in 77 % of cases. Furthermore, starting from three milligrams of analyte, a combination of NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography produced a full structure in less than three days using an adamantane crystallization chaperone that encapsulates the analyte at room temperature.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaf

Die Rolle alternativer Wohlstandsindikatoren bei der Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung. Reprint eines Gutachtens für den Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung vom September 1972

Der Deutsche Bundestag hat Ende 2010 eine Enquete-Kommission zum Thema „Wachstum, Wohlstand und Lebensqualität“ eingerichtet, die ihre Arbeit Anfang 2011 aufgenommen hat und die bis zum Ende der Legislaturperiode einen Bericht und Empfehlungen abgeben soll. Eine wesentliche Aufgabe dieser Kommission, der 17 Abgeordnete und 17 sachverständige Mitglieder angehören, ist die Diskussion und Erarbeitung „alternativer Wohlstands-Indikatoren“, die das Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP, im Englischen: GDP) als politische Zielgröße ergänzen oder ersetzen können. Damit ist die Thematik dieser Enquete-Kommission eng mit der Weiterentwicklung der amtlichen Statistik und der gesamten Forschungs-Infrastruktur in den Sozial-, Verhaltens- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften verbunden. Die Arbeitspapier-Reihe des RatSWD, die insbesondere der Diskussion der konzeptionellen und organisatorischen Weiterentwicklung von Statistik und Forschungsinfrastruktur dient, wurde deswegen ausdrücklich für Beiträge geöffnet, die sich mit methodischorganisatorischen Fragen alternativer Wohlstandsindikatoren beschäftigen. Das erste Arbeitspapier zur Indikatoren-Thematik wurde von Sonja C. Kassenböhmer und Christoph M. Schmidt (RatSWD Working Paper Nr. 167: Beyond GDP and Back: What is the Value-Added by Additional Components of Welfare Measurement?) geschrieben. Christoph Schmidt ist Präsident des RWI Essen, Mitglied im Sachverständigenrat zur Beurteilung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung und auch sachverständiges Mitglied in der Enquete-Kommission. Das hier vorliegende Arbeitspapier ist ein Nachdruck eines Gutachtens für den Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung aus dem Jahr 1972. Das ursprüngliche Manuskript ist also nahezu 40 Jahre alt. Aber der Nachdruck dieses Gutachtens lohnt sich, da es sich mit methodischen und organisatorischen Fragen „alternativer Wohlstandsindikatoren“ beschäftigt, die heute noch bzw. wieder aktuell sind. Verwiesen sei in diesem Zusammenhang auch auf ein Gutachten, das Wolfgang Zapf 1975 für die „Kommission für wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Wandel“ schrieb (W. Zapf, Sozialberichterstattung: Möglichkeiten und Probleme, Göttingen 1976: Verlag Otto Schwartz & Co). Der hier abgedruckte Text wurde nie in der Original-Form des Gutachtens veröffentlicht. Er wurde von zwei Pionieren der Sozialindikatoren-Bewegung in Deutschland geschrieben: Hans-Jürgen Krupp und Wolfgang Zapf, die 1972 als Professoren für Volkswirtschaftslehre (an der Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität in Frankfurt am Main) und Soziologie (an der Universität Mannheim) tätig waren. Beide waren Leiter des SPES-Projektes; einem hoffnungsvollen DFGProjekt über ein „SozialPolitisches Entscheidungs- und Indikatoren-System“. Aus dem SPES-Projekt ist der DFG-Sonderforschungsbereich „Mikroanalytische Grundlagen der Gesellschaftspolitik“ (1979 bis 1990) hervorgegangen, der wiederum u. a. die Grundlagen für den RatSWD legte. Und Hans-Jürgen Krupp und Wolfgang Zapf haben auf verschiedene Art und Weise zu den Gründern des „Rats für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsdaten“ gehört.

Giant intradiploic epidermoid cyst with large osteolytic lesions of the skull: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We report a case of tumor growth over a period of four decades, presenting with large multicentric lytic lesions of the skull and a profound mass effect, without neurological deficits. Clinical and radiological features of a patient with a giant intradiploic epidermoid and its impact on the choice of treatments are discussed.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>An 81-year-old Caucasian man, who had first noticed a painless subcutaneous swelling over the left frontal scalp about 40 years ago, presented after a short episode of dizziness, which he experienced after treatment of focal retinal detachment. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations revealed an exceptionally large tumor involving major parts of the skull with extensive destruction of the bone and distinct deformation of the brain. Considering his age and the absence of neurological deficits or pain, the patient refused the option of tumor removal and cranioplasty, yet agreed to a biopsy, which confirmed the suspected diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The course of the disease demonstrates that even patients with large tumors, inducing distinct pathomorphological changes, do not necessarily experience significant impairment of their quality of life without surgery. This is an impressive example of the chance to lead a long and satisfying life without specific medical treatment, avoiding the inherent risks of these procedures. Yet, there is a clear indication for surgery of intradiploic epidermoids in most cases described in the literature.</p

Non-porous organic crystals and their interaction with guest molecules from the gas phase

Some organic molecules encapsulate solvents upon crystallization. One class of compounds that shows a high propensity to form such crystalline solvates are tetraaryladamantanes (TAAs). Recently, tetrakis(dialkoxyphenyl)-adamantanes have been shown to encapsulate a wide range of guest molecules in their crystals, and to stabilize the guest molecules against undesired reactions. The term ‘encapsulating organic crystals’ (EnOCs) has been coined for these species. In this work, we studied the behavior of three TAAs upon exposition to different guest molecules by means of sorption technique. We firstly measured the vapor adsorption/desorption isotherms with water, tetrahydrofuran and toluene, and secondly, we studied the uptake of methane on dry and wet TAAs. Uptake of methane beyond one molar equivalent was detected for wet crystals, even though the materials showed a lack of porosity. Thus far, such behavior, which we ascribe to methane hydrate formation, had been described for porous non-crystalline materials or crystals with detectable porosity, not for non-porous organic crystals. Our results show that TAA crystals have interesting properties beyond the formation of conventional solvates. Gas-containing organic crystals may find application as reservoirs for gases that are difficult to encapsulate or are slow to form crystalline hydrates in the absence of a host compound. Wet tetraaryladamantane crystals take up methane in form of methane hydrate structure I, even though they appear non-porous to argon.Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftUniversity of StuttgartProjekt DEA

Sulfur isotope measurement of sulfate and sulfide by high-resolution MC-ICP-MS

Author Posting. © Elsevier B.V. , 2008. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B.V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Chemical Geology 253 (2008): 102-113, doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2008.04.017.We have developed a technique for the accurate and precise determination of 34S/32S isotope ratios (δ34S) in sulfur-bearing minerals using solution and laser ablation multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). We have examined and determined rigorous corrections for analytical difficulties such as instrumental mass bias, unresolved isobaric interferences, blanks, and laser ablation- and matrix-induced isotopic fractionation. Use of high resolution sector-field mass spectrometry removes major isobaric interferences from O2+. Standard–sample bracketing is used to correct for the instrumental mass bias of unknown samples. Blanks on sulfur masses arising from memory effects and residual oxygen-tailing are typically minor (< 0.2‰, within analytical error), and are mathematically removed by on-peak zero subtraction and by bracketing of samples with standards determined at the same signal intensity (within 20%). Matrix effects are significant (up to 0.7‰) for matrix compositions relevant to many natural sulfur-bearing minerals. For solution analysis, sulfur isotope compositions are best determined using purified (matrix-clean) sulfur standards and sample solutions using the chemical purification protocol we present. For in situ analysis, where the complex matrix cannot be removed prior to analysis, appropriately matrix-matching standards and samples removes matrix artifacts and yields sulfur isotope ratios consistent with conventional techniques using matrix-clean analytes. Our method enables solid samples to be calibrated against aqueous standards; a consideration that is important when certified, isotopically-homogeneous and appropriately matrix-matched solid standards do not exist. Further, bulk and in situ analyses can be performed interchangeably in a single analytical session because the instrumental setup is identical for both. We validated the robustness of our analytical method through multiple isotope analyses of a range of reference materials and have compared these with isotope ratios determined using independent techniques. Long-term reproducibility of S isotope compositions is typically 0.20‰ and 0.45‰ (2σ) for solution and laser analysis, respectively. Our method affords the opportunity to make accurate and relatively precise S isotope measurement for a wide range of sulfur-bearing materials, and is particularly appropriate for geologic samples with complex matrix and for which high-resolution in situ analysis is critical.Support was provided by National Science Foundations grants OCE-0327448 to P.R.C. and W.B. and OCE-0622982 to O.J.R. Support for L.A.B. was provided by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Plasma Facility Development Grant (NSF-EAR/IF-0318137)