System Description: E 1.8

Abstract. E is a theorem prover for full first-order logic with equality. It reduces first-order problems to clause normal form and employs a saturation algorithm based on the equational superposition calculus. E is built on shared terms with cached rewriting, and employs several innovations for efficient clause indexing. Major strengths of the system are automatic problem analysis and highly flexible search heuristics. The prover can provide verifiable proof objects and answer substitutions with very little overhead. E performs well, solving more than 69 % of TPTP-5.4.0 FOF and CNF problems in automatic mode.

Phase diagram of three-leg ladders at strong coupling along the rungs

A phase diagram of the t-J three-leg ladder as a function of hole dopping is derived in the limit where the coupling parameters along the rungs, $t_{\perp}$ and $J_{\perp}$, are taken to be much larger than those along the legs, $t_{||}$ and $J_{||}$ At large exchange coupling along the rungs, $J_{\perp}/t_{\perp}> 3 / \sqrt{2}$, there is a transition from a low-dopping Luttinger liquid phase into a Luther-Emery liquid at a critical hole concentration $n_{crit}\approx 1/3$. In the opposite case, $J_{\perp}/t_{\perp}< 3 / \sqrt{2}$, there as a sequence of three Luttinger liquid phases (LLI, LLII and LLIII) as a function of hole dopping.Comment: 9 pages, 15 figure

Draft Genome Sequences of Chlamydiales Bacterium STE3 and Neochlamydia sp. Strain AcF84, Endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba spp.

Chlamydiales bacterium STE3 and Neochlamydia sp. strain AcF84 are obligate intracellular symbionts of Acanthamoeba spp. isolated from the biofilm of a littoral cave wall and gills from striped tiger leaf fish, respectively. We report the draft genome sequences of these two environmental chlamydiae affiliated with the family Parachlamydiaceae

Identification and characterization of FAM124B as a novel component of a CHD7 and CHD8 containing complex

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 gene (CHD7) lead to CHARGE syndrome, an autosomal dominant multiple malformation disorder. Proteins involved in chromatin remodeling typically act in multiprotein complexes. We previously demonstrated that a part of human CHD7 interacts with a part of human CHD8, another chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein presumably being involved in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental (NDD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Because identification of novel CHD7 and CHD8 interacting partners will provide further insights into the pathogenesis of CHARGE syndrome and ASD/NDD, we searched for additional associated polypeptides using the method of stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) in combination with mass spectrometry. PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: The hitherto uncharacterized FAM124B (Family with sequence similarity 124B) was identified as a potential interaction partner of both CHD7 and CHD8. We confirmed the result by co-immunoprecipitation studies and showed a direct binding to the CHD8 part by direct yeast two hybrid experiments. Furthermore, we characterized FAM124B as a mainly nuclear localized protein with a widespread expression in embryonic and adult mouse tissues. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that FAM124B is a potential interacting partner of a CHD7 and CHD8 containing complex. From the overlapping expression pattern between Chd7 and Fam124B at murine embryonic day E12.5 and the high expression of Fam124B in the developing mouse brain, we conclude that Fam124B is a novel protein possibly involved in the pathogenesis of CHARGE syndrome and neurodevelopmental disorders

Social video: A collaborative video annotation environment to support E-learning

Our social video system allows users to enrich video by additional information like external websites, hypertext, images, other videos, or communication channels. Users are able to annotate whole videos, scenes, and objects in the video. We do not focus on a single user accessing the system but on multiple users watching the video and accessing the annotations others have created. Our web-based prototype differs from classical hypervideo systems because it allows annotation (authoring) and navigation in videos by focusing on collaboration and communication between the users. The prototype is integrated into the online social network Facebook and was evaluated with more than 300 users. The evaluation analyzes the usage of the system with a learning scenario in mind and indicates a learning success of users

CERTCOST – Ökonomische Analyse von Bio-Kontrollsystemen auf EU Ebene

The EU funded project CERTCOST proposes to combine the experience and knowledge of both researchers and SMEs to analyse the implementation of organic certification systems and to estimate all relevant expenditures or transaction costs for different certification systems along the organic food supply chain. Benefits of certification will also be analysed, using data on consumers’ recognition and willingness to pay for different organic logos and trademarks. Finally, recommendations will be drawn for the EU Commission, national competent authorities and private actors in organic food and farming on how to increase effectiveness and efficiency of organic certification

Three dimensional large scale aerodynamic shape optimization based on shape calculus

Large scale three dimensional aerodynamic shape optimization based on the compressible Euler equations is considered. Shape calculus is used to derive an exact surface formulation of the gradients, enabling the computation of shape gradient information for each surface mesh node without having to calculate further mesh sensitivities. Special attention is paid to the applicability to large scale three dimensional problems like the optimization of an Onera M6 wing or a complete blended wing-body aircraft. The actual optimization is conducted in a one-shot fashion where the tangential Laplace-operator is used as a Hessian approximation, thereby also preserving the regularity of the shape

Do Matrix Metalloproteases and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteases in Tenocytes of the Rotator Cuff Differ with Varying Donor Characteristics?

An imbalance between matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMPs) may have a negative impact on the healing of rotator cuff tears. The aim of the project was to assess a possible relationship between clinical and radiographic characteristics of patients such as the age, sex, as well as the degenerative status of the tendon and the MMPs and TIMPs in their tenocyte-like cells (TLCs). TLCs were isolated from ruptured supraspinatus tendons and quantitative Real-Time PCR and ELISA was performed to analyze the expression and secretion of MMPs and TIMPs. In the present study, MMPs, mostly gelatinases and collagenases such as MMP-2, -9 and -13 showed an increased expression and protein secretion in TLCs of donors with higher age or degenerative status of the tendon. Furthermore, the expression and secretion of TIMP-1, -2 and -3 was enhanced with age, muscle fatty infiltration and tear size. The interaction between MMPs and TIMPs is a complex process, since TIMPs are not only inhibitors, but also activators of MMPs. This study shows that MMPs and TIMPs might play an important role in degenerative tendon pathologies

Zur Ökonomik von Kontrollmaßnahmen im ökologischen Landbau

Organic inspections serve consumers and citizens and aim to protect them. Since the organic certification system involves considerable costs, economic aspects have to be considered when deciding on the optimal frequency of inspection. Using a theoretical model containing the relevant variables and parameters, the optimal level of unannounced inspections is discussed. The model takes into account the potential damage due to severe infringements, the costs of unannounced inspections, the producers’ costs of complying with the standards and the sanctions due to infringements. Four possible inspection strategies are presented. The authors plan to further develop the model by applying data and expert knowledge collected within the CERTCOST project