Reconciling a component and process view

In many cases we need to represent on the same abstraction level not only system components but also processes within the system, and if for both representation different frameworks are used, the system model becomes hard to read and to understand. We suggest a solution how to cover this gap and to reconcile component and process views on system representation: a formal framework that gives the advantage of solving design problems for large-scale component systems.Comment: Preprint, 7th International Workshop on Modeling in Software Engineering (MiSE) at ICSE 201

Cyber-Virtual Systems: Simulation, Validation & Visualization

We describe our ongoing work and view on simulation, validation and visualization of cyber-physical systems in industrial automation during development, operation and maintenance. System models may represent an existing physical part - for example an existing robot installation - and a software simulated part - for example a possible future extension. We call such systems cyber-virtual systems. In this paper, we present the existing VITELab infrastructure for visualization tasks in industrial automation. The new methodology for simulation and validation motivated in this paper integrates this infrastructure. We are targeting scenarios, where industrial sites which may be in remote locations are modeled and visualized from different sites anywhere in the world. Complementing the visualization work, here, we are also concentrating on software modeling challenges related to cyber-virtual systems and simulation, testing, validation and verification techniques for them. Software models of industrial sites require behavioural models of the components of the industrial sites such as models for tools, robots, workpieces and other machinery as well as communication and sensor facilities. Furthermore, collaboration between sites is an important goal of our work.Comment: Preprint, 9th International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering (ENASE 2014

Why pitch sensitivity matters : event-related potential evidence of metric and syntactic violation detection among spanish late learners of german

Event-related potential (ERP) data in monolingual German speakers have shown that sentential metric expectancy violations elicit a biphasic ERP pattern consisting of an anterior negativity and a posterior positivity (P600). This pattern is comparable to that elicited by syntactic violations. However, proficient French late learners of German do not detect violations of metric expectancy in German. They also show qualitatively and quantitatively different ERP responses to metric and syntactic violations. We followed up the questions whether (1) latter evidence results from a potential pitch cue insensitivity in speech segmentation in French speakers, or (2) if the result is founded in rhythmic language differences. Therefore, we tested Spanish late learners of German, as Spanish, contrary to French, uses pitch as a segmentation cue even though the basic segmentation unit is the same in French and Spanish (i.e., the syllable). We report ERP responses showing that Spanish L2 learners are sensitive to syntactic as well as metric violations in German sentences independent of attention to task in a P600 response. Overall, the behavioral performance resembles that of German native speakers. The current data suggest that Spanish L2 learners are able to extract metric units (trochee) in their L2 (German) even though their basic segmentation unit in Spanish is the syllable. In addition Spanish in contrast to French L2 learners of German are sensitive to syntactic violations indicating a tight link between syntactic and metric competence. This finding emphasizes the relevant role of metric cues not only in L2 prosodic but also in syntactic processing

A symmetrical method to obtain shear moduli from microrheology

Passive microrheology typically deduces shear elastic loss and storage moduli from displacement time series or mean-squared displacement (MSD) of thermally fluctuating probe particles in equilibrium materials. Common data analysis methods use either Kramers-Kronig (KK) transformations or functional fitting to calculate frequency-dependent loss and storage moduli. We propose a new analysis method for passive microrheology that avoids the limitations of both of these approaches. In this method, we determine both real and imaginary components of the complex, frequency-dependent response function $\chi(\omega) = \chi^{\prime}(\omega)+i\chi^{\prime\prime}(\omega)$ as direct integral transforms of the MSD of thermal particle motion. This procedure significantly improves the high-frequency fidelity of $\chi(\omega)$ relative to the use of KK transformation, which has been shown to lead to artifacts in $\chi^{\prime}(\omega)$. We test our method on both model data and experimental data. Experiments were performed on solutions of worm-like micelles and dilute collagen solutions. While the present method agrees well with established KK-based methods at low frequencies, we demonstrate significant improvement at high frequencies using our symmetric analysis method, up to almost the fundamental Nyquist limit.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Friedman, Harsanyi, Rawls, Boulding - or Somebody Else?

This paper investigates distributive justice using a fourfold experimental design : The ignorance and the risk scenarios are combined with the self-concern and the umpire modes. We study behavioral switches between self-concern and umpire mode and investigate the goodness of ten standards of behavior. In the ignorance scenario, subjects became on average less inequality averse as umpires. A within-subjects analysis shows that about one half became less inequality averse, one quarter became more inequality averse and one quarter left its behavior unchanged as umpires. In the risk scenario, subjects become on average more inequality averse in their umpire roles. A within-subjects analysis shows that half of them became more inequality averse, one quarter became less inequality averse, and one quarter left its behavior unchanged as umpires. As to the standards of behavior, several prominent ones (leximin, leximax, Gini, Cobb-Douglas) experienced but poor support, while expected utility, Boulding's hypothesis, the entropy social welfare function, and randomization preference enjoyed impressive acceptance. For the risk scenario, the tax standard of behavior joins the favorite standards of behavior. --Distributive justice,income distributions,veil of ignorance

Macraucheniidae y Proterotheriidae (Mammalia, Litopterna) de Quebrada Fiera (Oligoceno tardío), Mendoza, Argentina

In this contribution we present new specimens of Litopterna recovered during the last decade in Quebrada Fiera (Mendoza Province, Argentina), whose fossiliferous sediments, currently recognized as the base of Agua de la Piedra Formation, are assignable to Late Oligocene (Deseadan South American Land Mammal Age). Two remains mentioned in the first publication on this locality were neither detailed nor described, and they have not been located in the corresponding repository. The new material consists of postcranial fragmentary remains (astragali, calcaneum, and metapodials) of Macraucheniidae (Cramaucheniinae) and an incomplete upper molar (M3) of Proterotheriidae (Proterotheriinae). These few remains of litopterns contrast with the abundance of notoungulates at Quebrada Fiera. A comparative study was carried out with material from Patagonia (Argentina) and taxa recorded in Bolivia and Peru for the same temporal interval. The specimens of Cramaucheniinae are assigned to Coniopternium andinum and the molar of Proterotheriinae to cf. Lambdaconus suinus. This contribution allows us to extend the geographical range of Coniopternium, filling the gap between the Patagonian and lower latitude localities (Bolivia and Peru) in which this genus was found. The record of L. suinus in Quebrada Fiera expands the geographical range of this species outside from Patagonia.En este trabajo se describen nuevos ejemplares de Litopterna recuperados durante la última década en la localidad de Quebrada Fiera (Mendoza, Argentina). Los sedimentos fosilíferos, actualmente reconocidos como la base de la Formación Agua de la Piedra, son asignables al Oligoceno tardío (Edad Mamífero Deseadense). Los dos restos mencionados en la primera publicación sobre esta localidad nunca se detallaron ni describieron, y no han sido localizados en el repositorio correspondiente. El nuevo material consiste en restos poscraneanos fragmentarios (astrágalos, calcáneo y metápodos) de Macraucheniidae (Cramaucheniinae) y un molar superior incompleto (M3) de un Proterotheriidae (Proterotheriinae). Esta escasez de litopternos contrasta con la abundancia de notoungulados en Quebrada Fiera. Se realizó un estudio comparativo con materiales de la Patagonia (Argentina) y de taxones registrados en Bolivia y Perú para el mismo lapso. Los restos de Cramaucheniinae se asignan a Coniopternium andinum y el molar de Proterotheriinae a cf. Lambdaconus suinus. Esta contribución permite ampliar el rango geográfico de Coniopternium a un área intermedia entre las localidades patagónicas y de latitudes más bajas (Bolivia y Perú) en donde se ha registrado este género. Asimismo, se extiende la presencia de L. suinus fuera de Patagonia.Fil: Schmidt, Gabriela Ines. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Cerdeño Serrano, Maria Esperanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Hernández del Pino, Santiago Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentin