Fine-grained dichotomies for the Tutte plane and Boolean #CSP

Jaeger, Vertigan, and Welsh [15] proved a dichotomy for the complexity of evaluating the Tutte polynomial at fixed points: The evaluation is #P-hard almost everywhere, and the remaining points admit polynomial-time algorithms. Dell, Husfeldt, and Wahl\'en [9] and Husfeldt and Taslaman [12], in combination with Curticapean [7], extended the #P-hardness results to tight lower bounds under the counting exponential time hypothesis #ETH, with the exception of the line $y=1$, which was left open. We complete the dichotomy theorem for the Tutte polynomial under #ETH by proving that the number of all acyclic subgraphs of a given $n$-vertex graph cannot be determined in time $exp(o(n))$ unless #ETH fails. Another dichotomy theorem we strengthen is the one of Creignou and Hermann [6] for counting the number of satisfying assignments to a constraint satisfaction problem instance over the Boolean domain. We prove that all #P-hard cases are also hard under #ETH. The main ingredient is to prove that the number of independent sets in bipartite graphs with $n$ vertices cannot be computed in time $exp(o(n))$ unless #ETH fails. In order to prove our results, we use the block interpolation idea by Curticapean [7] and transfer it to systems of linear equations that might not directly correspond to interpolation.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur

Die Freien Berufe im Sozio-ökonomischen Panel - Systematische Berichtigung der kritischen Wechsel innerhalb der Selbständigengruppe

Das Diskussionspapier greift die problematische Datenerfassung der Freien Berufe im Sozioökonomischen Panel (SOEP) auf. Im Mittelpunkt stehen sogenannte „kritische Wechsel“ zwischen freiberuflichen und selbständigen Tätigkeiten innerhalb der Selbständigen-Gruppe des SOEP. Forschungsziel dieser Arbeit ist es, in einem ersten Schritt diese kritischen Wechsel zu überprüfen und mögliche Muster fehlerbehafteter Informationen herauszuarbeiten. In einem zweiten Schritt werden konkrete operative Lösungsvorschläge zur Berichtigung dieser „kritischen Wechsel“ erarbeitet und schließlich am Beispiel der Freien Berufe innerhalb der Selbständigen-Gruppe im SOEP-Datensatz zwischen 1992-2002 umgesetzt. Über die Berichtigung des Datensatzes hinaus werden Vorschläge für die zukünftige Fragestellung im SOEP-Fragebogen unterbreitet sowie neue strategische Ziele für eine Erweiterung des wissenschaftlichen SOEP-Nutzerkreises im Kontext der Gründungsforschung aufgezeigt. Der Anhang dokumentiert die umfassende retrospektive Berichtigung der kritischen Wechsel auf der Personenebene im SOEP

Towards Highly Scalable Runtime Models with History

Advanced systems such as IoT comprise many heterogeneous, interconnected, and autonomous entities operating in often highly dynamic environments. Due to their large scale and complexity, large volumes of monitoring data are generated and need to be stored, retrieved, and mined in a time- and resource-efficient manner. Architectural self-adaptation automates the control, orchestration, and operation of such systems. This can only be achieved via sophisticated decision-making schemes supported by monitoring data that fully captures the system behavior and its history. Employing model-driven engineering techniques we propose a highly scalable, history-aware approach to store and retrieve monitoring data in form of enriched runtime models. We take advantage of rule-based adaptation where change events in the system trigger adaptation rules. We first present a scheme to incrementally check model queries in the form of temporal logic formulas which represent the conditions of adaptation rules against a runtime model with history. Then we enhance the model to retain only information that is temporally relevant to the queries, therefore reducing the accumulation of information to a required minimum. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility and scalability of our approach via experiments on a simulated smart healthcare system employing a real-world medical guideline.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 15th International Symposium on Software Engineering for Adaptive and Self-Managing Systems (SEAMS2020

Dokumentation der Bonner Stichprobe - Zur Datenbank der Jahresabschlüsse deutscher Aktiengesellschaften, 1960-1997

Die vorliegende Dokumentation gibt einen umfassenden Einblick in die Systematik der .Bonner Stichprobe., einer jahresabschlußbasierten Industriedatenbank, und soll dem interessierten Leser als Leitfaden für die selbständige Arbeit mit der Stichprobe dienen. Der Hauptteil der Dokumentation beschäftigt sich mit der inhaltlichen Ausgestaltung der einzelnen Datenbankelemente. Anschließend werden technische Aspekte des Datenbankprogramms beschrieben. Eine alphabetische Auflistung aller in der Datenbank enthaltenen Unternehmen sowie ihre Klassifizierung nach der Branchenzugeh örigkeit befindet sich im Anhang. Desweiteren beinhaltet der Anhang die englische Übersetzung der Jahresabschlußvariablen und der Transformationsgleichungen. -- This documentation provides on overview on the structure of the .Bonn Sample., an industrial database based on annual financial statements. It should assist the reader in working independently with the data sample. The main part of the paper describes details of the databank contents. Following this description technical aspects of the database software will be specified. In the appendix all firms of the sample are alphabetical listed and classified by the branch they belong to. Furthermore the English translation of the transformation equations and of the variables recorded from annual financial statements is given in the appendix.

The challenge of sensor selection, long term-sensor operation and data evaluation in inter- -institutional long term monitoring projects - lessons learned in the MOSES project -

Measuring environmental variables over longer times in coastal marine environments is a challenge in regard to sensor maintenance and data processing of continuously produced comprehensive datasets. In the project “MOSES” (Modular Observation Solutions for Earth Systems), this procedure became even more complicated because seven large Helmholtz centers from the research field Earth and Environment (E&E) within the framework of the German Ministery of Educatiopn and Research (BMBF) work together to design and construct a large scale monitoring network across earth compartments to study the effects of short-term events on long term environmental trends. This requires the development of robust and standardized automated data acquisition and processing routines, to ensure reliable, accure and precise data. Here, the results of two intercomparison workshops on senor accuracy and precicion for selected environmental variables are presented. Environmental sensors which were to be used in MOSES campaigns on hydrological extremes (floods and draughts) in the Elbe catchment and the adjacent coastal areas in the North Sea in 2019 to 2020 were compared for selected parameters (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-A, turbidity and methane) in the same experimentally controlled water body, assuming that all sensors provide comparable data. Results were analyzed with respect to individual sensor accuracy and precision related to an “assumed” real value as well as with respect to a cost versus accuracy/precision index for measuring specific environmental data. The results show, that accuracy and precision of sensors do not necessarily correlate with the price of the sensors and that low cost sensors may provide the same or even higher accuracy and precision values as even the highest price sensor types

Design and Performance of a Conduction-Cooled HTS Magnet in the Radio-Blackout Experiment COMBIT

In the framework of the Helmholtz-Russia Joint Research Group (HRJRG) „COMBIT“ we developed a conduction-cooled HTS magnet to provide a high magnetic field for a radio blackout mitigation experiment in the arc-heated wind tunnel L2K at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne. The radio blackout phenomenon is well-known since the early days of space exploration. During hyper-sonic flights or during reentry in a planet\u27s atmosphere a dense plasma layer can form at the surface of the space vehicle leading to mitigation or reflection of radio waves. As a consequence voice communication with ground stations and GPS data telemetry can be disturbed. The goal of “COMBIT” was to demonstrate that the radio blackout can be mitigated by a local reduction of the plasma density in the vicinity of senders and antennas by magneto-hydrodynamic effects using crossed electric and magnetic fields. In order to generate a high magnetic field in the plasma we developed a conduction-cooled HTS magnet and a cryogenic system that is able to withstand the high temperatures in the plasma. The HTS magnet was made with RE-Ba-Cu-O coated conductors and has an outer diameter of only 70 mm. Despite the small size which is a consequence of the experimental boundary conditions the magnet was able to generate a high and variable magnetic field outside the cryostat in the plasma. In several measurement campaigns, the magnetic field reached up to 2 T in the plasma, corresponding to a maximum magnetic field of 5.16 T at the conductor. Mitigation of the radio blackout could be demonstrated successfully. After an introduction to the radio blackout phenomenon we present the design of the conduction-cooled HTS magnet and the cryogenic system and discuss their performance during the experimental campaigns

Association of Human FOS Promoter Variants with the Occurrence of Knee-Osteoarthritis in a Case Control Association Study

Our aim was to analyse (i) the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the JUN and FOS core promoters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), knee-osteoarthritis (OA), and normal controls (NC); (ii) their functional influence on JUN/FOS transcription levels; and (iii) their associations with the occurrence of RA or knee-OA. JUN and FOS promoter SNPs were identified in an initial screening population using the Non-Isotopic RNase Cleavage Assay (NIRCA); their functional influence was analysed using reporter gene assays. Genotyping was done in RA (n = 298), knee-OA (n = 277), and NC (n = 484) samples. For replication, significant associations were validated in a Finnish cohort (OA: n = 72, NC: n = 548). Initially, two SNPs were detected in the JUN promoter and two additional SNPs in the FOS promoter in perfect linkage disequilibrium (LD). JUN promoter SNP rs4647009 caused significant downregulation of reporter gene expression, whereas reporter gene expression was significantly upregulated in the presence of the FOS promoter SNPs. The homozygous genotype of FOS promoter SNPs showed an association with the susceptibility for knee-OA (odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.7, p = 0.0086). This association was successfully replicated in the Finnish Health 2000 study cohort (allelic OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.2-2.5, p = 0.006). FOS Promoter variants may represent relevant susceptibility markers for knee-OA.Peer reviewe

Association of Human FOS Promoter Variants with the Occurrence of Knee-Osteoarthritis in a Case Control Association Study

Our aim was to analyse (i) the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the JUN and FOS core promoters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), knee-osteoarthritis (OA), and normal controls (NC); (ii) their functional influence on JUN/FOS transcription levels; and (iii) their associations with the occurrence of RA or knee-OA. JUN and FOS promoter SNPs were identified in an initial screening population using the Non-Isotopic RNase Cleavage Assay (NIRCA); their functional influence was analysed using reporter gene assays. Genotyping was done in RA (n = 298), knee-OA (n = 277), and NC (n = 484) samples. For replication, significant associations were validated in a Finnish cohort (OA: n = 72, NC: n = 548). Initially, two SNPs were detected in the JUN promoter and two additional SNPs in the FOS promoter in perfect linkage disequilibrium (LD). JUN promoter SNP rs4647009 caused significant downregulation of reporter gene expression, whereas reporter gene expression was significantly upregulated in the presence of the FOS promoter SNPs. The homozygous genotype of FOS promoter SNPs showed an association with the susceptibility for knee-OA (odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–3.7, p = 0.0086). This association was successfully replicated in the Finnish Health 2000 study cohort (allelic OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.2–2.5, p = 0.006). FOS Promoter variants may represent relevant susceptibility markers for knee-OA

Β-(I→3)-D-Glucan Modulates Dna Binding of Nuclear Factors κB, at and IL-6 Leading to an Anti-Inflammatory Shift of the IL-I β/IL-I Receptor Antagonist Ratio

Background: β-1→3-D-glucans represent a pathogen-associated molecular pattern and are able to modify biological responses. Employing a comprehensive methodological approach, the aim of our in vitro study was to elucidate novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of human peripheral blood immune cells mediated by a fungal β-1→3-D-glucan, i.e. glucan phosphate, in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Results: Despite an activation of nuclear factor (NF)κB, NFinterleukin(IL)-6 and NFAT similar to LPS or TSST-1, we observed no significant production of IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α or interferon γ induced by glucan phosphate. Glucan phosphate-treated leukocytes induced a substantial amount of IL-8 (peak at 18 h: 5000 pg/ ml), likely due to binding of NFκB to a consensus site in the IL-8 promoter. An increase in IL-1 receptor antagonist(RA) production (peak at 24 h: 12000 pg/ml) by glucan phosphate-treated cells positively correlated with IL-8 levels. Glucan phosphate induced significant binding to a known NFIL-6 site and a new NFAT site within the IL-1RA promoter, which was confirmed by inhibition experiments. When applied in combination with either LPS or TSST-1 at the same time points, we detected that glucan phosphate elevated the LPS- and the TSST-1-induced DNA binding of NFκB, NFIL-6 and NFAT, leading to a synergistic increase of IL-1RA. Further, glucan phosphate modulated the TSST-1-induced inflammatory response via reduction of IL-Iβ and IL-6. As a consequence, glucan phosphate shifted the TSST-1-induced IL-1β/IL-1RA ratio towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Subsequently, glucan phosphate decreased the TSST-1-induced, IL-1-dependent production of IL-2. Conclusion: Thus, β-1→3-D-glucans may induce beneficial effects in the presence of pro-inflammatory responses, downstream of receptor binding and signaling by switching a pro- to an anti-inflammatory IL-1RA-mediated reaction. Our results also offer new insights into the complex regulation of the IL-1RA gene, which can be modulated by a β-1→3-D-glucan

β-(1→3)-D-glucan modulates DNA binding of nuclear factors κB, AT and IL-6 leading to an anti-inflammatory shift of the IL-1β/IL-1 receptor antagonist ratio

BACKGROUND: β-1→3-D-glucans represent a pathogen-associated molecular pattern and are able to modify biological responses. Employing a comprehensive methodological approach, the aim of our in vitro study was to elucidate novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of human peripheral blood immune cells mediated by a fungal β-1→3-D-glucan, i.e. glucan phosphate, in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). RESULTS: Despite an activation of nuclear factor (NF)κB, NFinterleukin(IL)-6 and NFAT similar to LPS or TSST-1, we observed no significant production of IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α or interferon γ induced by glucan phosphate. Glucan phosphate-treated leukocytes induced a substantial amount of IL-8 (peak at 18 h: 5000 pg/ml), likely due to binding of NFκB to a consensus site in the IL-8 promoter. An increase in IL-1receptor antagonist(RA) production (peak at 24 h: 12000 pg/ml) by glucan phosphate-treated cells positively correlated with IL-8 levels. Glucan phosphate induced significant binding to a known NFIL-6 site and a new NFAT site within the IL-1RA promoter, which was confirmed by inhibition experiments. When applied in combination with either LPS or TSST-1 at the same time points, we detected that glucan phosphate elevated the LPS- and the TSST-1-induced DNA binding of NFκB, NFIL-6 and NFAT, leading to a synergistic increase of IL-1RA. Further, glucan phosphate modulated the TSST-1-induced inflammatory response via reduction of IL-1β and IL-6. As a consequence, glucan phosphate shifted the TSST-1-induced IL-1β/IL-1RA ratio towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Subsequently, glucan phosphate decreased the TSST-1-induced, IL-1-dependent production of IL-2. CONCLUSION: Thus, β-1→3-D-glucans may induce beneficial effects in the presence of pro-inflammatory responses, downstream of receptor binding and signaling by switching a pro- to an anti-inflammatory IL-1RA-mediated reaction. Our results also offer new insights into the complex regulation of the IL-1RA gene, which can be modulated by a β-1→3-D-glucan