ADEPT2 - Next Generation Process Management Technology

If current process management systems shall be applied to a broad spectrum of applications, they will have to be significantly improved with respect to their technological capabilities. In particular, in dynamic environments it must be possible to quickly implement and deploy new processes, to enable ad-hoc modifications of single process instances at runtime (e.g., to add, delete or shift process steps), and to support process schema evolution with instance migration, i.e., to propagate process schema changes to already running instances. These requirements must be met without affecting process consistency and by preserving the robustness of the process management system. In this paper we describe how these challenges have been addressed and solved in the ADEPT2 Process Management System. Our overall vision is to provide a next generation process management technology which can be used in a variety of application domains

Elevated photic response is followed by a rapid decay and depressed state in ictogenic networks

Objective: The switch between nonseizure and seizure states involves profound alterations in network excitability and synchrony. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare features of neural excitability and dynamics across multiple zebrafish seizure and epilepsy models. Methods: Inspired by video-electroencephalographic recordings in patients, we developed a framework to study spontaneous and photically evoked neural and locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae, by combining high-throughput behavioral tracking and whole-brain in vivo two-photon calcium imaging. Results: Our setup allowed us to dissect behavioral and physiological features that are divergent or convergent across multiple models. We observed that spontaneous locomotor and neural activity exhibit great diversity across models. Nonetheless, during photic stimulation, hyperexcitability and rapid response dynamics were well conserved across multiple models, highlighting the reliability of photically evoked activity for high-throughput assays. Intriguingly, in several models, we observed that the initial elevated photic response is often followed by rapid decay of neural activity and a prominent depressed state. Elevated photic response and following depressed state in seizure-prone networks are significantly reduced by the antiseizure medication valproic acid. Finally, rapid decay and depression of neural activity following photic stimulation temporally overlap with slow recruitment of astroglial calcium signals that are enhanced in seizure-prone networks. Significance: We argue that fast decay of neural activity and depressed states following photic response are likely due to homeostatic mechanisms triggered by excessive neural activity. An improved understanding of the interplay between elevated and depressed excitability states might suggest tailored epilepsy therapies. Keywords: astroglia; calcium imaging; depressed state; elevated state; epilepsy; high-throughput behavior; hyperexcitability; photic stimulation; seizure; zebrafis

Evaluierung der Perspektiven der Ölmühlenverfahrenstechnik mit den Schwerpunkten Energiebedarf und Emissionsvermeidung

The perspectives of oil milling technology have been evaluated with respect to the minimization of energy demand and emission rates (CO2-, hexane). Based on the computer modelling of the current oil milling process, steps like dehulling and extrusion are introduced in the process line. Characteristical data like energy consumption divided in electric and thermal energy, CO2-equivalent-emission, hexane-emission of various process lines have been computed. An optimization of heat flow has been performed with reference to the pinch technology. The energy demand of an oil mill, which process dehulled rape seeds could be generated by the thermal utilization of the hulls. In comparison to existing plants a reduction in process energy demand of 20 % can be predicted for the optimized oil milling process. Because of the energy generation using the hulls the CO2-emission is changed drastically. Existing plants emit 237 kg CO2-equivalent-emission per ton oil because of the consumption fossil ene rgy resources. Whereas the optimized plant could produce more electric and thermal energy as it needs. Therefore assuming new energy generation process negative value of 262 kg CO2-equivalent could be computed