An iterative approach to synthesize business process templates from compliance rules

Companies have to adhere to compliance requirements. The compliance analysis of business operations is typically a joint effort of business experts and compliance experts. Those experts need to create a common understanding of business processes to effectively conduct compliance management. In this paper, we present a technique that aims at supporting this process. We argue that process templates generated out of compliance requirements provide a basis for negotiation among business and compliance experts. We introduce a semi-automated and iterative approach to the synthesis of such process templates from compliance requirements expressed in Linear Temporal Logic (LTL). We show how generic constraints related to business process execution are incorporated and present criteria that point at underspecification. Further, we outline how such underspecification may be resolved to iteratively build up a complete specification. For the synthesis, we leverage existing work on process mining and process restructuring. However, our approach is not limited to the control-flow perspective, but also considers direct and indirect data-flow dependencies. Finally, we elaborate on the application of the derived process templates and present an implementation of our approach.     

Tunable TiO2 (anatase and rutile) materials manufactured by mechanical means

Anatase and rutile are two naturally found titanium dioxide phases with attractive dielectric, catalytic, and photo-catalytic characteristics. Anatase and rutile are photo-catalytically active in the UV region, since their band gaps are 3.2 eV and 3.75 eV, respectively. In this work is proposed a cost-effective, easy to launch methodology for modification of the TiO₂ bandgap. Such modifications will make the oxides photo-catalytically active in a wider optical range from the visible wavelengths to an extended UV spectrum. The proposed methodology is based on mechanical means such as mixing and milling. Various ratios of anatase:rutile were investigated and milled from 0 (mixing only) to 50 h using high energy mills. The results on mixing and milling show that it is possible to modify the bandgap of the TiO₂ from 2.53 eV to 4.04 eV. The characterization was conducted by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopy.     

Predicting Transient Storage Model Parameters of Rivers by Genetic Algorithm

The presence of transient storage zone modifies the riverine pollutant transport. In the present work, new empirical expressions for three key parameters of transient storage model (TSM), an important method for predicting concentration variation of pollutants in rivers, have been derived employing genetic algorithm on published hydraulic data on river reaches and TSM parameters. The proposed expressions use few hydraulic and geometric characteristics of rivers that are usually available. Based on various performance indices, it can be concluded that the proposed expressions predict TSM parameters more reliably in comparison to the other empirical expressions for predicting TSM parameters.     

Morphological changes associated with long-term potentiation

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-lasting form of synaptic plasticity induced by brief repetitive afferent stimulation that is thought to be associated with learning and memory. It is most commonly studied in the hippocampus where it may last for several weeks, and involves the synthesis of new proteins that might play a structural role. In this review we summarize the evidence in favor of modifications of neuronal architecture during LTP. We focus our attention on changes occurring at the level of single synapses, including components of postsynaptic dendrites (dendritic spines, the postsynaptic density, and synaptic curvature), of presynaptic terminals, and the formation of new synapses. We conclude that although many morphological changes at various sites have been observed during LTP, there is no definitive proof in favor of structural changes associated with LTP. However, morphological modifications remain a valid candidate for mechanisms of learning and memory.     

In vitro biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of wet chemically prepared Ca10−xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) hydroxyapatites

Herein, we report the effect of silver ions on the physical, antimicrobial and cytocompatibility properties of wet chemically synthesized silver doped Ca_10?xAg_x(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) hydroxyapatites (HAp). Silver ions containing HAp exhibit the comparable density, hardness and enhanced antimicrobial properties, in comparison to parent HAp. The optical absorption measurements confirm the presence of silver ions in the doped compositions, which are responsible for as increased antimicrobial property of doped HAp materials for x > 0.3. The cytotoxicity behavior of the doped HAp was evaluated using mouse fibroblast (L929) cell line. The important result has been that doped HAp (x > 0.3) exhibit statistically (significant) lower cell viability in comparison to undoped HAp. However, no difference in cellular functionality on doped HAp surfaces, in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation could be qualitatively observed in reference to undoped HAp. In order to explain the observed antimicrobial and cell viability properties, the in vitro release of Ag⁺ ions has been quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and solubility was measured by weight loss in acetate buffer solution.     

Enhanced DNA Sequencing Performance Through Edge‐Hydrogenation of Graphene Electrodes

The use of graphene electrodes with hydrogenated edges for solid‐state nanopore‐based DNA sequencing is proposed, and molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction with electronic transport calculations are performed to explore the potential merits of this idea. The results of the investigation show that, compared to the unhydrogenated system, edge‐hydrogenated graphene electrodes facilitate the temporary formation of H‐bonds with suitable atomic sites in the translocating DNA molecule. As a consequence, the average conductivity is drastically raised by about 3 orders of magnitude while exhibiting significantly reduced statistical variance. Furthermore, the effect of the distance between opposing electrodes is investigated and two regimes identified: for narrow electrode separation, the mere hindrance due to the presence of protruding hydrogen atoms in the nanopore is deemed more important, while for wider electrode separation, the formation of H‐bonds becomes the dominant effect. Based on these findings, it is concluded that hydrogenation of graphene electrode edges represents a promising approach to reduce the translocation speed of DNA through the nanopore and substantially improve the accuracy of the measurement process for whole‐genome sequencing.     

Analysis of transients in a canal network

The online version of the original article can be found at     

Growth of a liquid film accompanied by a zero-order reaction

The growth of a thin liquid film surrounded by gas pocket(s), undergoing absorption with a zero-order chemical reaction, has been simulated by an apt mathematical model in order to study the influence of various parameters involved. The solution has been obtained semi analytically using Goodman's integral method and solving the resulting differential equation by a fourth-order Runge-Kutta numerical integration algorithm. The computations reveal the strong dependence of film growth on reaction rate, diffusivity, and molar volume whereas the effect of gas-pocket volume and initial film thickness are moderate.