Reactive systems, (semi-)saturated semantics and coalgebras on presheaves

The semantics of process calculi has traditionally been specified by labelled transition systems (ltss), but, with the development of name calculi, it turned out that reaction rules (i.e., unlabelled transition rules) are often more natural. This leads to the question of how behavioral equivalences (bisimilarity, trace equivalence, etc.) defined for lts can be transferred to unlabelled transition systems. Recently, in order to answer this question, several proposals have been made with the aim of automatically deriving an lts from reaction rules in such a way that the resulting equivalences are congruences. Furthermore, these equivalences should agree with the standard semantics, whenever one exists.In this paper, we propose saturated semantics, based on a weaker notion of observation and orthogonal to all the previous proposals, and we demonstrate the appropriateness of our semantics by means of two examples: logic programming and open Petri nets. We also show that saturated semantics can be efficiently characterized through the so called semi-saturated games. Finally, we provide coalgebraic models relying on presheaves.     

A nonlinear,recurrence-based approach to traffic classification

The ability to accurately classify and identify the network traffic associated with different applications is a central issue for many network operation and research topics including Quality of Service enforcement, traffic engineering, security, monitoring and intrusion-detection. However, traditional classification approaches for traffic to higher-level application mapping, such as those based on port or payload analysis, are highly inaccurate for many emerging applications and hence useless in actual networks. This paper presents a recurrence plot-based traffic classification approach based on the analysis of non-stationary “hidden” transition patterns of IP traffic flows. Such nonlinear properties cannot be affected by payload encryption or dynamic port change and hence cannot be easily masqueraded. In performing a quantitative assessment of the above transition patterns, we used recurrence quantification analysis, a nonlinear technique widely used in many fields of science to discover the time correlations and the hidden dynamics of statistical time series. Our model proved to be effective for providing a deterministic interpretation of recurrence patterns derived by complex protocol dynamics in end-to-end traffic flows, and hence for developing qualitative and quantitative observations that can be reliably used in traffic classification.     

Optimal strategies against a liar

We consider the following scenario: There are two individuals, say Q (Questioner) and R (Responder), involved in a search game. Player R chooses a number, say x, from the set S={1,…,M}. Player Q has to find out x by asking questions of type: “which one of the sets A₁,A₂,…,A_q, does x belong to?”, where the sets A₁,…,A_q constitute a partition of S. Player R answers “i” to indicate that the number x belongs to A_i. We are interested in the least number of questions player Q has to ask in order to be always able to correctly guess the number x, provided that R can lie at most e times. The case e=0 obviously reduces to the classical q-ary search, and the necessary number of questions is [log_qM]. The case q=2 and e1 has been widely studied, and it is generally referred to as Ulam's game. In this paper we consider the general case of arbitrary q2. Under the assumption that player R is allowed to lie at most twice throughout the game, we determine the minimum number of questions Q needs to ask in order to successfully search for x in a set of cardinality M=qⁱ, for any i1. As a corollary, we obtain a counterexample to a recently proposed conjecture of Aigner, for the case of an arbitrary number of lies. We also exactly solve the problem when player R is allowed to lie a fixed but otherwise arbitrary number of times e, and M=qⁱ, with i not too large with respect to q. For the general case of arbitrary M, we give fairly tight upper and lower bounds on the number of the necessary questions.     

Role of Fiber Reinforced Plastic Sheets in Shear Response of Reinforced Concrete Beams: Experimental and Analytical Results

The paper is principally aimed at analyzing the role of externally applied fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) sheets in the shear ultimate behavior of reinforced concrete elements. A theoretical model for predicting the shear resisting contribution of FRP sheets is illustrated. The proposal is based on a complete equilibrium/compatibility approach for reinforced concrete beams failing in shear and considers the possible interactions between the composite contribution and the resisting mechanisms of an ordinary reinforced concrete beam. The proposal is discussed and tested by means of an experimental investigation carried out on beams reinforced by glass FRP composite sheets with a shear span to depth ratio equal to 3. Further comparisons are then performed that consider the predictions of other existing approaches reported in the literature.     

Optimization techniques for propositional intuitionistic logic and their implementation

This paper presents some techniques which bound the proof search space in propositional intuitionistic logic. These techniques are justified by Kripke semantics and are the backbone of a tableau based theorem prover (PITP) implemented in C++. PITP and some known theorem provers are compared using the formulas of ILTP benchmark library. It turns out that PITP is, at the moment, the propositional prover that solves most formulas of the library.     

Human segmentation in surveillance video with deep learning

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Advanced intelligent surveillance systems are able to automatically analyze video of surveillance data without human intervention. These systems allow high...     

Fast three-dimensional nanoscale metrology in dual-beam FIB–SEM instrumentation

A quantitative surface reconstruction technique has been developed for the geometric characterization of three-dimensional structures by using a combined focused ion beam—scanning electron microscopy (FIB–SEM) instrument. A regular pattern of lines is milled at normal incidence on the sample to be characterized and an image is acquired at a large tilt angle. By analyzing the pattern under the tilted view, a quantitative estimation of surface heights is obtained. The technique has been applied to a test sample and nanoscale resolution has been achieved. The reported results are validated by a comparison with atomic force microscopy measurements.     

The Contribution of Organometallic Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis to the Understanding of Surface Reactions

One of the major problems in the investigation of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions involves an understanding of the nature of molecular species and processes which are formed or take place, respectively, on the active sites of a catalytic surface.

The nature of chemisorbed species has been indirectly investigated for a long time by the investigation of bulk properties [l], although some spectroscopic methods [2] (such as IR and electronic spectroscopy, and more recently low energy electron diffraction, ESCA and AUGER spectroscopy, field emission and field ion microscopy, and mass spectrometry of the field desorbed products) have been used to investigate the chemisorbed species or even some intermediates involved in catalytic reactions.     

Polymerization of acrylamide compounds onto Fe plates: An alternative route for applying polymer coatings

Acrylamide and some of its derivatives were polymerized onto the surface of Fe plates by causing a slight corrosion of Fe to Fe²⁺ in the presence of perdioxy compounds. In water within a suitable pH range, the acrylamide monomers are likely to store at the metal–solution interface and to absorb on the iron surface. Thus, the polymerization takes place in situ, leading to the formation of uniform film coatings; the presence in the solution of a radical inhibitor imparts considerable stability to the bulk of the system. The dependence of the polymerization kinetics on several variables such as pH, monomer concentration, and peroxide concentration has been determined, and some characteristics of the resulting coatings were investigated.