Nonerasing, Counting, and Majority over the Linear Time Hierarchy

In this paper, we investigate several extensions of the linear time hierarchy (denoted by LTH). We first prove that it is not necessary to erase the oracle tape between two successive oracle calls, thereby lifting a common restriction on LTH machines. We also define a natural counting extension of LTH and show that it corresponds to a robust notion of counting bounded arithmetic predicates. Finally, we show that the computational power of the majority operator is equivalent to that of the exact counting operator in both contexts.     

A methodology for verifying SysML requirements using activity diagrams

Designing complex and critical systems needs a methodology to ensure the correctness of their specifications. Within an overall approach which considers the validation of SysML designs, this paper proposes a methodology for verifying SysML requirements on activity diagrams. The objective is to define a complete process to formalize and verify SysML functional requirements related to activity diagrams. Our contributions lie, first, in the definition of AcTRL (Activity Temporal Requirement Language), a new language for the formalization of functional requirements at SysML level. Second, in the proposed verification methodology which is guided by the Open image in new window verify Open image in new window relationships between SysML requirements and activity diagrams. The verification is enabled by formalizing SysML activities with hierarchical coloured Petri nets (HCPNs) and by automatically translating SysML requirements expressed on AcTRL into temporal logic. Our methodology takes into account the hierarchical structure of SysML activities and their relations with SysML requirements to provide a modular and incremental verification. A case study for a ticket vending machine is presented to illustrate the different steps and the benefits of the proposed methodology.     

Ethical observations on the choice of parenteral solvents. Choice of parenteral solvent...

The parenteral administration of insoluble drugs leads to the use of biologically active solvents inducing effects associated with ethical cause of concern including pain and pharmacological interactions. Selected vehicles currently used were ethically and scientifically reviewed. Our investigations allowed reinforcing the formulation decision tree with an ethical point of view. The last generation of cyclodextrin appears to be the safest solvent. Second choice could be lipidic emulsions, third choice being co-solvents, and finally non-ionic surfactants because of their hypersensitivity reactions. Screening tests including pH, osmolality measurements, cytotoxicity, and hemotoxicity, should allow to check the formulation tolerance before the animals' administration.     

Percutaneous absorption of metopimazine and effect of cyclodextrins

Metopimazine (MPZ) is used to prevent emesis during chemotherapies. A transdermal delivery system of MPZ may present a great advantage in patients to improve compliance. Hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) and partially methylated beta cyclodextrin (PMbetaCD) were tested to enhance the percutaneous absorption of MPZ through pig skin using Franz's cells. The MPZ hydrochloride flux was low with 0.176 +/- 0.054 microg/h/cm(2) and no flux was detected with a suspension of MPZ (base). The used characterization analyses demonstrated the formation of an inclusion complex with cyclodextrin and this complex improved percutaneous absorption of MPZ. Flux was increased to 0.240 +/- 0.032 microg/h/cm(2) and 0.566 +/- 0.057 mug/h/cm(2) for HPbetaCD and PMbetaCD, respectively, with a concentration of 20%. This study has shown that HPbetaCD and PMbetaCD improved the percutaneous penetration of MPZ. Cyclodextrin complexes increased MPZ bioavailability at the skin surface and PMbetaCD was also able to extract cutaneous fatty acids.     

Parallel and distributed clustering framework for big spatial data mining

ABSTRACT

Clustering techniques are very attractive for identifying and extracting patterns of interests from datasets. However, their application to very large spatial datasets presents numerous challenges such as high-dimensionality, heterogeneity, and high complexity of some algorithms. Distributed clustering techniques constitute a very good alternative to the Big Data challenges (e.g., Volume, Variety, Veracity, and Velocity). In this paper, we developed and implemented a Dynamic Parallel and Distributed clustering (DPDC) approach that can analyse Big Data within a reasonable response time and produce accurate results, by using existing and current computing and storage infrastructure, such as cloud computing. The DPDC approach consists of two phases. The first phase is fully parallel and it generates local clusters and the second phase aggregates the local results to obtain global clusters. The aggregation phase is designed in such a way that the final clusters are compact and accurate while the overall process is efficient in time and memory allocation. DPDC was thoroughly tested and compared to well-known clustering algorithms BIRCH and CURE. The results show that the approach not only produces high-quality results but also scales up very well by taking advantage of the Hadoop MapReduce paradigm or any distributed system.     

Evaluation and Improvement of a Transition Business Process: A Case Study Guided by a Semantic Quality-Based Approach

A transition in an outsourced IT project is devoted to the transfer of the project from an outgoing project team to an incoming one. It is a complex, risky, and challenging building block of importance, identified as being a critical factor in the success of an outsourced project. Ensuring the good quality of a transition is then fundamental. We present here our experience on quality evaluation and improvement of a real transition in a public institution.     

Robust crypto-watermarking approach based on spherical harmonics and AES algorithm for 3D mesh safe transmission

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The wide range of applications of 3D meshes and the birth of very high-speed networks for storing 3D models in remote multimedia databases have made the...     

Quantitative Analysis of Crack Shielding Degradation During Cyclic Fatigue of Alumina

Grain bridging degradation behind a crack tip is the main cyclic fatigue mechanism in nontransforming ceramics. In this work, a compliance function is used to quantify the shielding capacity of grain bridges during cyclic loading of alumina ceramics with different grain sizes. This allows to identify the different stages occurring during cyclic loading. Significant degradation is observed in the coarse grain material and a marked sensitivity to the loading level is outlined. At moderate loads, bridging degradation occurs prior to fatigue crack growth during an incubation period which can reach several million cycles. At low cyclic loads, the shielding capacity can be entirely degraded, leading to a cyclic fatigue threshold equivalent to that of the fine grain material.     

Improving the performance of inverted organic solar cells by embedding silica‐coated silver nanoparticles deposited by electron‐beam evaporation

Embedding metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in organic solar cells (OSCs) is proposed as one of the promising strategies to enhance their photovoltaic performance owing to localized surface plasmon resonance, light scattering effects or a synergy of both effects derived from the MNPs. However, it has been demonstrated that MNPs wrapped by a thin dielectric silica shell can lead to better photovoltaic yield than bare MNPs due to the presence of the dielectric shell which avoids direct contact between the active layer and the MNPs, reducing the charge recombination and the exciton quenching loss at the metal surface. In this study, we report an alternative solution using an ultrathin dielectric layer coating silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for improving the performance of plasmonic inverted OSCs instead of the use of metal–dielectric core–shell NPs. A silica (SiO₂) layer 5 nm thick coating evaporated Ag NPs with an average size of 60 nm is deposited on top of the zinc oxide (ZnO) layer used as the electron transport layer, leading to a significant improvement in the short‐circuit current density (J_sc) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the inverted OSCs. The electron‐beam evaporation method is employed for controlled deposition of Ag NPs and SiO₂ on the ZnO layer. The plasmonic devices resulted in an 18% and 14.1% enhancement of the J_sc and PCE, respectively, compared to reference devices. This increase of the photoelectric parameters in plasmonic devices is attributed not only to the plasmonic effects originating from the Ag NPs but also to the ultrathin silica layer which can contribute to facilitating charge extraction. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry