A constraint-based variability modeling framework

Constraint-based variability modeling is a flexible, declarative approach to managing solution-space variability. Product variants are defined in a top-down manner by successively restricting the admissible combinations of product artifacts until a specific product variant is determined. In this paper, we illustrate the range of constraint-based variability modeling by discussing two of its extreme flavors: constraint-guarded variability modeling and constraint-driven variability modeling. The former applies model checking to establish the global consistency of product variants which are built by manual specification of variations points, whereas the latter uses synthesis technology to fully automatically generate product variants that satisfy all given constraints. Each flavor is illustrated by means of a concrete case study.     

Interactive faceted search and exploration of open social media data on a touchscreen mobile phone

A central challenge of semantic ambient media applications is designing smart user interfaces that are able to dynamically deal with an a-priori unknown number of data categories and data instances received live from different Linked Open Data sources while at the same time being intuitive and easy to use. In the mobile world, this challenge is even more difficult as the mobile devices have limited interaction possibilities and smaller display size. In this paper, we tackle this challenge and present the user-centered, iterative design of a mobile application for faceted search and exploration of a large, multi-dimensional data set of open social media on a touchscreen mobile phone. The application is called Mobile Facets and provides live retrieval and interactive search and exploration of resources like places, persons, organizations, and events originating from different, integrated social media sources like DBpedia, Eventful, Upcoming, Flickr, and GeoNames. In contrast to existing work, we do not know in advance the number and type of data categories and data instances that will be received as the data is queried live from the sources. While developing Mobile Facets, we have applied a participatory design with a small group of five users. For the final prototype we have conducted a task-based, formative evaluation with 12 additional subjects to investigate the applicability and usability of our Mobile Facets application.     

‘s Gravesande's Appropriation of Newton's Natural Philosophy,Part II: Methodological Issues

It has been suggested in the literature that, although Willem Jacob ‘s Gravesande occasionally treated Newton's doctrines in a selective manner, he was nevertheless an unremitting follower of Newton's methodology. As part of a reassessment of ‘s Gravesande's Newtonianism, I argue that, although ‘s Gravesande took over key terms of Newton's methodological canon, his methodological ideas are upon close scrutiny quite different from and occasionally even incongruent with Newton's views on the matter.     

Tetrabutyl-tetraphenyl-diindenoperylene derivatives as alternative green donor in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

We present the material 2,3,10,11-tetrabutyl-1,4,9,12-tetraphenyl-diindeno[1,2,3-cd:1′,2′,3′-lm] perylene (Bu4-Ph4-DIP) as alternative green donor for bulk heterojunction small molecule organic solar cells (SMOSC). It is shown that Bu4-Ph4-DIP exhibits suitable absorption characteristics to be a potential material to fill the absorption gap between the commonly used standard absorbers ZnPc and C₆₀.Devices with bulk heterojunctions of Bu4-Ph4-DIP:C₆₀ display very high open circuit voltages of 0.99 V, high fill factors of up to 57%, and experiments yield promising efficiencies of η>2%. Such green-blue absorbing SMOSC are characterized by current voltage and external quantum efficiency measurements, and material properties are studied. It is shown that the devices are responsive to substrate heating, and that different donor-acceptor mixing ratios can increase device performance. Possible influences of mixing ratio and heating on device morphology and electrical properties are discussed.     

The Effect of Gradual Fluorination on the Properties of FnZnPc Thin Films and FnZnPc/C60 Bilayer Photovoltaic Cells

Motivated by the possibility of modifying energy levels of a molecule without substantially changing its band gap, the impact of gradual fluorination on the optical and structural properties of zinc phthalocyanine (F_nZnPc) thin films and the electronic characteristics of F_nZnPc/C₆₀ (n = 0, 4, 8, 16) bilayer cells is investigated. UV–vis measurements reveal similar Q‐ and B‐band absorption of F_nZnPc thin films with n = 0, 4, 8, whereas for F₁₆ZnPc a different absorption pattern is detected. A correlation between structure and electronic transport is deduced. For F₄ZnPc/C₆₀ cells, the enhanced long range order supports fill factors of 55% and an increase of the short circuit current density by 18%, compared to ZnPc/C₆₀. As a parameter being sensitive to the organic/organic interface energetics, the open circuit voltage is analyzed. An enhancement of this quantity by 27% and 50% is detected for F₄ZnPc‐ and F₈ZnPc‐based devices, respectively, and is attributed to an increase of the quasi‐Fermi level splitting at the donor/acceptor interface. In contrast, for F₁₆ZnPc/C₆₀ a decrease of the open circuit voltage is observed. Complementary photoelectron spectroscopy, external quantum efficiency, and photoluminescence measurements reveal a different working principle, which is ascribed to the particular energy level alignment at the interface of the photoactive materials.     

Controlling micro‐ and nanofibrillar morphology of polymer blends in low‐speed melt spinning process. Part II: Influences of extrusion rate on morphological changes of a PLA/PVA blend through a capillary die

The effects of the extrusion rate on the morphological changes of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend through a capillary die were investigated. In this study, the extrusion rate or mass flow rate is altered from 0.5 g min^?1 to 2 g min^?1 with an increment of 0.5 g min^?1. The PLA/PVA blend with a composition of 30/70 (wt %) exhibits a particle matrix morphology with dispersed PLA droplets within the PVA matrix. It is found that, the spherical or ellipsoidal dispersed PLA droplets are elongated and coalesced into rod‐like or longer ellipsoidal droplets when they pass through the capillary die. When the extrusion rate increases, the coalescence between the large PLA droplets occurs more intense. However, the changes of the extrusion rate have no strong effect on the coalescence of small droplets having diameter less than about 150 nm. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44257.     

Melt spun matrix fibers of toughened polypropylene copolymers modified by high energy electrons

Binary blends of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene‐octene copolymer (EOC) are prepared by continuous electron‐induced reactive processing at various mass ratios of the blend components and various doses without adding of any grafting agents. The influence of mass ratio and dose is investigated in order to get the optimum processing behavior of toughened PP as well as optimum properties of resulting fibers. It is found that toughened PP with a PP/EOC blend ratio of 97.5–2.5  mass % can be used advantageously as a matrix component for the process of online spinning of glass fiber/toughened PP hybrid yarns. Such hybrid yarns belong to one of the most advanced production methods for the manufacturing of fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with an increased mechanical performance. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44011.     

4‐Biphenylalanine‐ and 3‐Phenyltyrosine‐Derived Hydroxamic Acids as Inhibitors of the JumonjiC‐Domain‐Containing Histone Demethylase KDM4A

Overexpression of the histone lysine demethylase KDM4A, which regulates H3K9 and H3K36 methylation states, has been related to the pathology of several human cancers. We found that a previously reported hydroxamate‐based histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (SW55) was also able to weakly inhibit this demethylase with an IC₅₀ value of 25.4 μm . Herein we report the synthesis and biochemical evaluations, with two orthogonal in vitro assays, of a series of derivatives of this lead structure. With extensive chemical modifications on the lead structure, also by exploiting the versatility of the radical arylation with aryldiazonium salts, we were able to increase the potency of the derivatives against KDM4A to the low‐micromolar range and, more importantly, to obtain demethylase selectivity with respect to HDACs. Cell‐permeable derivatives clearly showed a demethylase‐inhibition‐dependent antiproliferative effect against HL‐60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.     

Filler Wetting in Miscible ESBR/SSBR Blends and Its Effect on Mechanical Properties

The selective wetting behavior of silica in emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (ESBR)/solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) blends is characterized by the wetting concept, which is further developed for filled blends based on miscible rubbers. It is found that not only the chemical rubber–filler affinity but also the topology of the filler surface significantly influences the selective filler wetting in rubber blends. The nanopore structure of the silica surface has been recognized as the main reason for the difference in the wetting behavior of the branched ESBR molecules and linear SSBR molecules. However, the effect of nanopore structure becomes more significant in the presence of silane. It is discussed that the adsorption of silane on silica surface constricts the nanopore to some extent that hinders effectively the space filling of the nanopores by the branched ESBR molecules but not by the linear SSBR molecules. As a result, in silanized ESBR/SSBR blends the dominant wetting of silica surface by the tightly bonded layer of SSBR molecules causes a low‐energy dissipation in the rubber–filler interphase. That imparts the low rolling resistance to the blends similar to that of a silica‐filled SSBR compound, while the ESBR‐rich matrix warrants the good tensile behavior, i.e., good abrasion and wear resistance of the blends.