Extending the power of datalog recursion

Supporting aggregates in recursive logic rules represents a very important problem for Datalog. To solve this problem, we propose a simple extension, called Datalog $^{FS}\,$ (Datalog extended with frequency support goals), that supports queries and reasoning about the number of distinct variable assignments satisfying given goals, or conjunctions of goals, in rules. This monotonic extension greatly enhances the power of Datalog, while preserving (i) its declarative semantics and  (ii) its amenability to efficient implementation via differential fixpoint and other optimization techniques presented in the paper. Thus, Datalog $^{FS}\,$ enables the efficient formulation of queries that could not be expressed efficiently or could not be expressed at all in Datalog with stratified negation and aggregates. In fact, using a generalized notion of multiplicity called frequency, we show that diffusion models and page rank computations can be easily expressed and efficiently implemented using Datalog $^{FS}\,$ .     

Stabilizability of switched linear systems does not imply the existence of convex Lyapunov functions

Counterexamples are given which show that a linear switched system (with controlled switching) that can be stabilized by means of a suitable switching law does not necessarily admit a convex Lyapunov function. Both continuous- and discrete-time cases are considered. This fact contributes in focusing the difficulties encountered so far in the theory of stabilization of switched system. In particular the result is in contrast with the case of uncontrolled switching in which it is known that if a system is stable under arbitrary switching then admits a polyhedral norm as a Lyapunov function.     

Test Technology Newsletter

Journal of Electronic Testing -     

Construction of Asymmetrical Hexameric Biomimetic Motors with Continuous Single‐Directional Motion by Sequential Coordination

The significance of bionanomotors in nanotechnology is analogous to mechanical motors in daily life. Here the principle and approach for designing and constructing biomimetic nanomotors with continuous single‐directional motion are reported. This bionanomotor is composed of a dodecameric protein channel, a six‐pRNA ring, and an ATPase hexamer. Based on recent elucidations of the one‐way revolving mechanisms of the phi29 double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) motor, various RNA and protein elements are designed and tested by single‐molecule imaging and biochemical assays, with which the motor with active components has been constructed. The motor motion direction is controlled by three operation elements: (1) Asymmetrical ATPase with ATP‐interacting domains for alternative DNA binding/pushing regulated by an arginine finger in a sequential action manner. The arginine finger bridges two adjacent ATPase subunits into a non‐covalent dimer, resulting in an asymmetrical hexameric complex containing one dimer and four monomers. (2) The dsDNA translocation channel as a one‐way valve. (3) The hexameric pRNA ring geared with left‐/right‐handed loops. Assessments of these constructs reveal that one inactive subunit of pRNA/ATPase is sufficient to completely block motor function (defined as K = 1), implying that these components work sequentially based on the principle of binomial distribution and Yang Hui's triangle.     

Recommendation of RILEM Technical Committee 250-CSM: Test method for Textile Reinforced Mortar to substrate bond characterization

Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM), also known as Fabric Reinforced Mortar or Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix, composites are an emerging technology for the external repair and strengthening of existing structures. For most applications, the effectiveness of the TRM reinforcement relies on its bond performance. This recommendation identifies the best practice to characterize the bond behaviour of TRM. A shear bond test method is proposed to determine the peak axial stress (associated with the maximum load that can be transferred from the structural member to the externally bonded TRM reinforcement), the stress–slip relationship and the failure mode that controls the TRM-to-substrate load transfer capacity. Guidelines on specimen manufacturing, experimental setup, test execution, and determination of test results are provided.     

Finite-time control of discrete-time linear systems: Analysis and design conditions

In this paper we deal with some finite-time control problems for discrete-time, time-varying linear systems. First we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for finite-time stability; these conditions require either the computation of the state transition matrix of the system or the solution of a certain difference Lyapunov inequality. Then we address the design problem. The proposed conditions allow us to find output feedback controllers which stabilize the closed loop system in the finite-time sense; all these conditions can be expressed in terms of LMIs and therefore are numerically tractable, as shown in the example included in the paper.     

Proteomic profile of differentially expressed plasma proteins from dystrophic mice and following suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid treatment

Purpose: Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (DI) ameliorates dystrophic muscle regeneration restoring muscular strength in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The further development of these compounds as drugs for DMD treatment is currently hampered by the lack of knowledge about DIs effect in large dystrophic animal models and that of suitable biomarkers to monitor their efficacy. Experimental design: In this study we applied proteomic analysis to identify differentially expressed proteins present in plasma samples from mdx mice treated with the Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and relative normal controls (WT). Results: Several differentially expressed proteins were identified between untreated wild type and mdx mice. Among these, fibrinogen, epidermal growth factor 2 receptor, major urinary protein and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) were constitutively up‐regulated in mdx, while complement C3, complement C6, gelsolin, leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFr), and alpha 2 macroglobulin were down‐regulated compared to WT mice. SAHA determined the normalization of LIFr and GPX3 protein level while apoliprotein E was de novo up‐regulated in comparison to vehicle‐treated mdx mice. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Collectively, these data unravel potential serological disease biomarkers of mdx that could be useful to monitor muscular dystrophy response to DI treatment.     

A study of co-occurrence based local features for camera model identification

Camera model identification has great relevance for many forensic applications, and is receiving growing attention in the literature. Virtually all techniques rely on the traces left in the image by the long sequence of in-camera processes which are specific of each model. They differ in the prior assumptions, if any, and in how such evidence is gathered in expressive features. In this work we study a class of blind features, based on the analysis of the image residuals of all color bands. They are extracted locally, based on co-occurrence matrices of selected neighbors, and then used to train a classifier. A number of experiments are carried out on the well-known Dresden Image Database. Besides the full-knowledge case, where all models of interest are known in advance, other scenarios with more limited knowledge and partially corrupted images are also investigated. Experimental results show these features to provide a state-of-the-art performance.