Formal validation of domain-specific languages with derived features and well-formedness constraints

Despite the wide range of existing tool support, constructing a design environment for a complex domain-specific language (DSL) is still a tedious task as the large number of derived features and well-formedness constraints complementing the domain metamodel necessitate special handling. Such derived features and constraints are frequently defined by declarative techniques (such graph patterns or OCL invariants). However, for complex domains, derived features and constraints can easily be formalized incorrectly resulting in inconsistent, incomplete or ambiguous DSL specifications. To detect such issues, we propose an automated mapping of EMF metamodels enriched with derived features and well-formedness constraints captured as graph queries in EMF-IncQuery or (a subset of) OCL invariants into an effectively propositional fragment of first-order logic which can be efficiently analyzed by back-end reasoners. On the conceptual level, the main added value of our encoding is (1) to transform graph patterns of the EMF-IncQuery framework into FOL and (2) to introduce approximations for complex language features (e.g., transitive closure or multiplicities) which are not expressible in FOL. On the practical level, we identify and address relevant challenges and scenarios for systematically validating DSL specifications. Our approach is supported by a tool, and it will be illustrated on analyzing a DSL in the avionics domain. We also present initial performance experiments for the validation using Z3 and Alloy as back-end reasoners.     

Diversity of graph models and graph generators in mutation testing

When custom modeling tools are used for designing complex safety-critical systems (e.g., critical cyber-physical systems), the tools themselves need to be validated by systematic testing to prevent tool-specific bugs reaching the system. Testing of such modeling tools relies upon an automatically generated set of models as a test suite. While many software testing practices recommend that this test suite should be diverse, model diversity has not been studied systematically for graph models. In the paper, we propose different diversity metrics for models by generalizing and exploiting neighborhood and predicate shapes as abstraction. We evaluate such shape-based diversity metrics using various distance functions in the context of mutation testing of graph constraints and access policies for two separate industrial DSLs. Furthermore, we evaluate the quality (i.e., bug detection capability) of different (random and consistent) model generation techniques for mutation testing purposes.

     

Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide on Rh, Au and Au–Rh Bimetallic Clusters Supported on Titanate Nanotubes, Nanowires and TiO2

Supported gold, rhodium and bimetallic rhodium-core?Cgold-shell catalysts were prepared. The supports were TiO₂ as well as titanate nanotube and nanowire formed in the hydrothermal conversion of titania. The catalytic properties were tested in the CO₂ hydrogenation at 493?K. The amount and the reactivity of the surface carbonaceous deposit were determined by temperature-programmed reduction. The surfaces of the materials were characterized by X-ray photoelectron and low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS). The surface forms during the catalytic reaction were identified by DRIFT spectroscopy. On the XP spectra of bimetallic catalysts the existence of highly dispersed gold particles could be observed besides the metallic form on all supports. Small Rh particles could also be identified on the titanate supports. LEIS spectra demonstrated that Rh-core?CAu-shell particles formed, since no scattering from Rh was detected. The main product of CO₂ hydrogenation was CH₄ on all catalysts. IR spectra revealed the existence of CO and formate species on the surface. In addition, a new band was observed around 1,770?cm^?1 which was assigned as tilted CO. It is bonded to Rh and interacts with a nearby the oxygen vacancy of the support. Agglomeration of highly dispersed Rh was observed on bimetallic samples induced by reaction or reactant.     

Formation and reactions of CH3 species over Mo2C/Mo(111) surface

The reaction pathways of adsorbed CH₃ on the Mo₂C/Mo(111) surface were investigated by means of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). CH₃ fragments were produced by the dissociation of the corresponding iodo-compound. CH₃I adsorbs molecularly on Mo₂C at 90 K and dissociates at and above 140 K. The main products of the reaction of adsorbed CH₃ are hydrogen, methane and ethylene. The coupling into ethane was not observed. The results are discussed in relevance to the conversion of methane into benzene on Mo₂C deposited on ZSM-5. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Attachment and proliferation of human osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) on laser-ablated titanium implant material

Demand is increasing for shortening the long (3–6 months) osseointegration period to rehabilitate patients' damaged chewing apparatus in as short a time as possible. For dental implants, as for biomaterials in general, the bio- and osseointegration processes can be controlled at molecular and cellular levels by modification of the implant surface. One of the most promising of such surface modifications is laser ablation, as demonstrated by our previous results [46]. Commercially pure (CP4) sand-blasted, acid-etched titanium disks (Denti® System Ltd., Hungary) were irradiated with a KrF excimer laser (248 nm, fluence 0.4 J/cm², FWHM 18 ns, 2000 pulses), or with a Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 1.3 J/cm², 10 ns, 200 pulses) then examined by SEM, AFM, and XPS. In vitro attachment (24 h) and proliferation (72 h) of MG-63 osteoblast cells were investigated via dimethylthiazol-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), alamarBlue (AB) assays alkaline phosphatase quantification (ALP) and SEM. SEM and AFM revealed significant changes in morphology and roughness. XPS confirmed the presence of TiO₂ on each sample; after Nd:YAG treatment a reduced state of Ti (Ti^3 +) was also observed. MTT, AB and ALP measurements detected an increase in the number of cells between the 24- and 72 hour observations; however, laser treatment did not affect cell attachment and proliferation significantly.     

Low-temperature sintering behavior of nanocrystalline indium tin oxide prepared from polymer-containing sols

Indium tin hydroxide (ITH) xerogel powders and thin films with different polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) contents (0–22%, w/w) were prepared by a classical sol–gel method. To obtain nanocrystalline indium tin oxide (ITO), the ITH xerogels were calcined at 550 °C. The effect of the initial polymer content on the structure of the ITO powders was studied by means of N₂-sorption measurements, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The N₂-sorption measurements revealed that the ITO powders obtained contained micropores and both their porosity and specific surface area decreased with increasing PVP content of the ITH xerogels. The SAXS measurements confirmed the enhanced sintering of the particles in the presence of PVP. The calculated mass fractal dimensions of the ITO powders increased significantly, indicating a significant compaction in structure. The pre-sintered structure could be achieved at relatively low temperature, which induced a significant decreasing (three orders of magnitude) in the electrical resistance of the ITO films.     

Effect of H2S on the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide over supported Rh catalysts

The hydrogenation of CO₂ was studied on supported noble metal catalysts in the presence of H₂S. In the reaction gas mixture containing 22 ppm H₂S the reaction rate increased on TiO₂ and on CeO₂ supported metals (Ru, Rh, Pd), but on all other supported catalysts or when the H₂S content was higher (116 ppm) the reaction was poisoned. FTIR measurements revealed that in the surface interaction of H₂ + CO₂ on Rh/TiO₂ Rh carbonyl hydride, surface formate, carbonates and surface formyl were formed. On the H₂S pretreated catalyst surface formyl species were missing. TPD measurements showed that adsorbed H₂S desorbed as SO₂, both from TiO₂-supported metals and from the support. IR, XP spectroscopy and TPD measurements demonstrated that the metal became apparently more positive when the catalysts were treated with H₂S and when the sulfur was built into the support. The promotion effect of H₂S was explained by the formation of new centers at the metal/support interface.