A declarative language to support dynamic evolution of web service business protocols

We investigate the problem of web service instances migration in the context of business protocol evolution, i.e., how to convert active instances of web services from an old version of a business protocol into a new one? We propose a framework based on a declarative approach to support service providers in defining fine-grained migration strategies of active instances. While the existing approaches for instances migration force the migrated instances to reflect the original ones as accurately as possible, in our approach we give to service providers the ability to declaratively define the constraints that drive the instances migration process. A migration strategy is expressed as a set of instances migration rules which are specified using an instance mapping language made of a set of generic migration patterns. The proposed approach has been implemented in a software tool that provides useful functionalities for protocol managers.     

Open shop scheduling problem with a multi-skills resource constraint: a genetic algorithm and an ant colony optimisation approach

The continuous evolution of manufacturing environments leads to a more efficient production process that controls an increasing number of parameters. Production resources usually represent an important constraint in a manufacturing activity, specially talking about the management of human resources and their skills. In order to study the impact of this subject, this paper considers an open shop scheduling problem based on a mechanical production workshop to minimise the total flow time including a multi-skill resource constraint. Then, we count with a number of workers that have a versatility to carry out different tasks, and according to their assignment a schedule is generated. In that way, we have formulated the problem as a linear as and a non-linear mathematical model which applies the classic scheduling constraints, adding some different resources constraints related to personnel staff competences and their availability to execute one task. In addition, we introduce a genetic algorithm and an ant colony optimisation (ACO) method to solve large size problems. Finally, the best method (ACO) has been used to solve a real industrial case that is presented at the end.     

An experimental study of mixed convection around a rotating isothermal cylinder

The mixed convective flows generated by a heated rotating horizontal cylinder have been investigated experimentally. The presence of rotation represents an important complication and extension of previous studies on convective flow and heat transfer around heated stationary horizontal cylinders in an otherwise quiescent medium. Significant qualitative, as well as quantitative, differences in the heat transfer characteristics and flow patterns generated by the rotating cylinders are observed as compared to those for stationary cylinders. When the Reynolds number reaches a value corresponding to the rotational parameter σ ≡ Gr/Re² being just below unity, the thermal plume becomes unstable and eventually breaks down. This event corresponds to the onset of a secondary mean flow which appears to be periodic in the axial direction. Mean Nusselt number measurements are presented, which show a dramatic increase in heat transfer at the onset of the secondary flow. Also, the structure of the secondary flow and the behavior of the plume are elucidated through Schlieren photography.     

An efficient heuristic approach for parallel machine scheduling with job splitting and sequence-dependent setup times

In this paper, we consider a simplified real-life identical parallel machine scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setup times and job splitting to minimize makespan. We propose a heuristic to solve this problem. Our method is composed of two parts. The problem is first reduced into a single machine scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setup times. This reduced problem can be transformed into a Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), which can be efficiently solved using Little's method. In the second part, a feasible initial solution to the original problem is obtained by exploiting the results of the first part. This initial solution is then improved in a step by step manner, taking into account the setup times and job splitting. We develop a lower bound and evaluate the performances of our heuristic on a large number of randomly generated instances. The solution given by our heuristic is less than 4.88% from the lower bound.     

Planktonic foraminiferal and paleoenvironments of the Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian succession in Wadi Qena,Egypt

Quantitative analysis of the Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian foraminiferal assemblages in Hawashiya and Umm Omeiyied exposed sections at Wadi Qena, Eastern Deseret, Egypt is reconstructed to study the paleoenvironments and relative sea level changes. This study recognizes eight planktonic biozones from CF8 to CF2. The preservation of the studied samples ranging from moderate to good and is dominated by small-sized of Heterohelix spp. and Globigerinelloides spp. reflecting nutrient-rich/eutrophic marine environments. Eleven benthonic foraminiferal biofacies are recorded and reflected inner to outer neritic environments. Three sea level drops are noted at the Upper Campanian/Early Maastrichtian; Early/Middle Maastrichtian and Maastrichtian/Paleocene boundaries. These sea level drops match well with the eustatic sea level drops which are tectonically effect especially at the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary due to the absence of CF1 to P4a subzones.     

Infrared study of the effect of heat treatment and irradiation on barium borate glass containing iron

A barium borate glass system was prepared containing different amounts of iron. The prepared glasses were heat treated at 550° C for 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h. Also the glasses were irradiated usingψ-ray at a dose of 4.805 × 10₄rad h⁻¹ for 12, 18 and 24 h. The infrared spectra were recorded for the untreated and heat treated samples. It was found that, when the Fe₂O₃ was introduced in the glass the triangle BO₃ groups were transferred to BO₄ groups. The formation of non-bridging oxygen with high concentration was also observed as a result of introducing Fe₂O₃ in the glass. The absorption bands of the IR spectra of the irradiated samples indicated no significant variations, and only a transfer of some BO₄ groups to BO₃ groups could be observed.     

Auto-organization approach with adaptive frame periods for IEEE 802.15.4/zigbee forest fire detection system

Wireless Networks - Using efficiently the wireless sensor networks based on IEEE 802.15.4/zigbee remains a real challenge for the forest fire detection and monitoring applications. The most...     

Heat transfer in a rectangular chamber with differentially heated horizontal walls: Effects of a vibrating sidewall

Heat transfer in a gas-filled closed enclosure with differentially heated horizontal walls is investigated numerically. One of the sidewalls vibrates with specified frequency and amplitude to induce forced convective flows in the enclosure. The vibrating and the stationary sidewalls are considered to be thermally insulated while the two horizontal walls are differentially heated. To simulate the flow field, the full compressible form of the Navier–Stokes equations is considered and solved by a highly accurate flux-corrected transport algorithm. In the numerical model, temperature dependant heat conductivity and viscosity are taken into account. The presence of acoustic streaming is found to have significant effect on the heat transfer. Also the presence of temperature gradients in the enclosure is found to affect the formation of acoustically induced streaming flows.     

Preliminary studies to determine the chaperoning properties of bovine casein and crystallin proteins at reducing beef muscle protein aggregation during heating

The ability of small heat shock proteins (sHSP) at preventing the aggregation and precipitation of unfolded and misfolded proteins because of changes in pH and temperature is widely recognised. The performance of sHSP from bovine lens extract at protecting sarcoplasmic proteins from heat induced denaturation and aggregation was compared with other chaperones including bovine serum albumin, α_s‐casein, β‐casein and a synthetic peptide based upon αA‐crystallin (AAC). Beef sarcoplasmic proteins were heated in the presence or absence of exogenous chaperone and the solubility, surface hydrophobicity and enzymatic activities of the sarcoplasmic proteins was determined. Lens extract prevented the aggregation of sarcoplasmic proteins, maintaining solubility and clarity up to 65 °C relative to 60 °C for β‐casein. By contrast, α_s‐ and β‐casein proteins protected the activity of endogenous enzymes at temperatures between 37 °C and 52 °C, unlike lens sHSP. Our findings support the addition of casein proteins as potential thermal stabilisers of meat proteins in food systems.