On the effectiveness of run-time checks

Run-time checks are often assumed to be a cost-effective way of improving the dependability of software components, by checking required properties of their outputs and flagging an output as incorrect if it fails the check. However, evaluating how effective they are going to be in a future application is difficult, since the effectiveness of a check depends on the unknown faults of the program to which it is applied. A programming contest, providing thousands of programs written to the same specifications, gives us the opportunity to systematically test run-time checks to observe statistics of their effects on actual programs. In these examples, run-time checks turn out to be most effective for unreliable programs. For more reliable programs, the benefit is relatively low as compared to the gain that can be achieved by other (more expensive) measures, most notably multiple-version diversity

IBD risk loci are enriched in multigenic regulatory modules encompassing putative causative genes.

GWAS have identified >200 risk loci for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The majority of disease associations are known to be driven by regulatory variants. To identify the putative causative genes that are perturbed by these variants, we generate a large transcriptome data set (nine disease-relevant cell types) and identify 23,650 cis-eQTL. We show that these are determined by ∼9720 regulatory modules, of which ∼3000 operate in multiple tissues and ∼970 on multiple genes. We identify regulatory modules that drive the disease association for 63 of the 200 risk loci, and show that these are enriched in multigenic modules. Based on these analyses, we resequence 45 of the corresponding 100 candidate genes in 6600 Crohn disease (CD) cases and 5500 controls, and show with burden tests that they include likely causative genes. Our analyses indicate that ≥10-fold larger sample sizes will be required to demonstrate the causality of individual genes using this approach

Rehabilitation of the urban environment

In developing countries options for maintenance and rehabilitation are often not accounted for. For reasons of environment, limited financial means, building materials and construction capacity for (new) housing, it is very important to carry out research in this field. This paper describes some options and develops ideas as cooperative research between related institutes

The heritage of earthen architecture

In this manuscript suggestions are made for management strategies for the preservation of the architectural heritage of Djenne. The following topics are discussed: - the transformation of Djenne caused by changing of social life, town planning and architecture; - the decline and disappearance of the traditionally built heritage of earthen architecture as a result of cultural changes; - the restoration of the architectural heritage of Djenne, documentation, evaluation and conservation strategies; - a concept of a restoration project based against the background of the continuity of the traditional earthen architecture in Djenne with the collaboration of the local guild of masons; - town rehabilitation and conservation of the indigenous architecture in relation to socioeconomic and cultural conditions applying local stabilizing techniques and methods for construction and maintenance of earthen buildings

Urban oasis

This paper gives ideas and directions for a more human(e)-ecological quality of urban environments in developing countries in the future. In accordance with the suggested topics for paper sessions - this contribution deals within the Built Environment with Architectural Design (A) and in relation to the Physical Environment (B), it has to do with (Solid) Waste, Collection and Recycling. Decision Environment (C) is included by the methodical aspects, which will be discussed. Informatics Environment (D) as well as Gender Environment (E) will not be centered, but the Socio-Economic Environment (F), mainly concerning small-scale industrie and informal sector will be emphasized

Experimental investigation of macro-slip in a pushbelt CVT variator

One way to further reduce the fuel consumption of passenger cars that are equipped with a pushbelt continuously variable transmission (CVT) is to improve the CVT efficiency by lowering the clamping forces in the variator. This approach requires the application of active control of the slip between the belt and the conical sheaves, which demands for a reliable and accurate dynamic variator model that describes the variator characteristics in the applicable slip range. In this paper, the dynamic variator model is investigated in detail, with emphasis on the torque transmission. As a first step, the torque transmission in stationary situations is investigated, in which it is generally assumed that macro-slip occurs on the pair of conical sheaves with the smallest wrapped angle. In this paper, it is experimentally shown that macro-slip only occurs on the pair of conical sheaves with the smallest wrapped angle for the extreme ratios Low and OverDrive in stationary situations