Interface models

This paper proposes a model for specifying interfaces between concurrently executing modules of a computing system. The model does not prescribe a particular type of communication protocol and is aimed at describing interfaces between both software and hardware modules or a combination of the two. The model describes both functional and timing properties of an interface

Characteristics of Floors for Pig Pens: Friction, Shock Absorption, Ammonia Emission and Heat Conduction

In respect to improving animal welfare and to minimize the ammonia emission from animal facili-ties, it is important to have appropriate information on the impact of the flooring system in pig pens. Twelve different floors, six commercially available and six experimental floors for pig pens, were investigated in respect to four different characteristics: friction coefficients, shock absorption, am-monia emission and heat conduction. The friction coefficients were measured as dynamic friction for dry floors and floors wetted with water and rapeseed oil and as static friction for dry floors. The floor elasticity was measured as shock absorption when letting a weight fall on the test floors. The ammonia emission was measured in a wind tunnel with ammonia water wetted test floors. Heat conduction was measured by a heated body placed on the test floors. The results showed that the friction coefficient for slatted floors of plastic and cast iron was lower than for concrete and also lower than recommended in literature in respect to animal welfare. The ability to absorb shocks was better for slatted floors of plastic and cast iron than for concrete slatted floors. The ammonia emission was higher from slatted floors of concrete than from slatted floors of plastic and cast iron. Finally, the heat conduction for concrete slatted floors was higher compared to slatted floors of plastic and cast iron. In conclusion, concrete slats were ideal for the animals in respect to the risk of slipping, but less than ideal in respect to elasticity and ammonia emission, furthermore they were cold for the animals. Plastic and cast iron slats were too slippery, but better for the environ-ment in respect to ammonia emission, moreover they were warmer for the pigs to lie on

Skin disorders in Parkinson's disease:potential biomarkers and risk factors

Astrid-Helene Ravn, Jacob P Thyssen, Alexander Egeberg Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by a symptom triad comprising resting tremor, rigidity, and akinesia. In addition, non-motor symptoms of PD are well recognized and often precede the overt motor manifestations. Cutaneous manifestations as markers of PD have long been discussed, and cumulative evidence shows an increased prevalence of certain dermatological disorders in PD. Seborrheic dermatitis is considered to occur as a premotor feature of PD referable to dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Also, an increased risk of melanoma has been observed in PD. Light hair color is a known risk factor for melanoma, and interestingly the risk of PD is found to be significantly higher in individuals with light hair color and particularly with red hair. Furthermore, several studies have reported a high prevalence of PD in patients with bullous pemphigoid. Moreover, a 2-fold increase in risk of new-onset PD has been observed in patients with rosacea. Besides the association between PD and various dermatological disorders, the skin may be useful in the diagnosis of PD. Early PD pathology is found not only in the brain but also in extra-neuronal tissues. Thus, the protein α-synuclein, which is genetically associated with PD, is present not only in the CNS but also in the skin. Hence, higher values of α-synuclein have been observed in the skin of patients with PD. Furthermore, an increased risk of PD has been found in the Cys/Cys genotype, which is associated with red hair color. In this review, we summarize the current evidence of the association between PD and dermatological disorders, the cutaneous adverse effects of neurological medications, and describe the potential of skin protein expression and biomarkers in identification of risk and diagnosis of PD. Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, melanoma, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, bullous pemphigoi

Contracts for Interacting Two-Party Systems

This article deals with the interrelation of deontic operators in contracts -- an aspect often neglected when considering only one of the involved parties. On top of an automata-based semantics we formalise the onuses that obligations, permissions and prohibitions on one party impose on the other. Such formalisation allows for a clean notion of contract strictness and a derived notion of contract conflict that is enriched with issues arising from party interdependence.Comment: In Proceedings FLACOS 2012, arXiv:1209.169