Runtime verification and monitoring of embedded systems

Ensuring the correctness of software applications is a difficult task. The area of runtime verification, which combines the approaches of formal verification and testing, offers a practical but limited solution that can help in finding many errors in software. Runtime verification relies upon tools for monitoring software execution. There are particular difficulties with regard to monitoring embedded systems. The concerns for arranging non-intrusive monitoring of embedded systems in a way that is suitable for use in runtime verification methods are considered here. A number of existing runtime verification tools are referenced, highlighting their requirement for monitoring solutions. Established and emerging approaches for the monitoring of software execution using execution monitors are reviewed, with an emphasis on the approaches that are best suited for use with embedded systems. A suggested solution for non-intrusive monitoring of embedded systems is presented. The conclusions summarise the possibilities for arranging non-intrusive monitoring of embedded systems, and the potential for runtime verification to utilise such monitoring approaches.     

Consideration of conformational transitions and racemization during process development of recombinant glucagon-like peptide-1

This article summarizes the results of a combined analysis from two identical multicenter clinical trials that investigated the efficacy and safety of sertraline versus placebo for treating panic disorder. Patients with panic disorder who were treated with sertraline had a statistically significant reduction in the mean number of panic attacks per week (the primary efficacy measure) as compared with placebo (4.8 vs. 2.5, p < .001). Sertraline-treated patients also showed greater improvement that was statistically significant on several ratings of panic disorder symptomatology and functioning. The design characteristics, clinical rating measures, and outcome measures in these trials included most of the features deemed essential by Shear and Maser (1994) in their summary of the NIMH Consensus Conference for the development of standardized assessments for panic disorder. This suggests that the NIMH Consensus Conference played a key role in developing successful multicenter pharmacological treatment studies, such as this one that ultimately demonstrated that sertraline was an effective treatment for panic disorder.     

Virtually reducing product development time

The speed at which semiconductor products are introduced to the market-place is key to the competitive success of individual companies. The authors look at the test engineering aspect of the IC and describe how a `virtual test' can be effectively applied to reduce the overall product development time     

Development of FRP Short-Span Deployable Bridge—Experimental Results

For military and civilian applications, there exists a need for lightweight, inexpensive, short-span bridges that can be easily transported and erected with minimal equipment. Owing to its favorable properties, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has been shown to be feasible for the construction of such bridges. Investigations into the behavior of a short-span bridge structural concept, adapted to the material properties of commercially available glass FRP (GFRP) pultruded products, are presented. A 4.8-m span prototype was built from GFRP sections, bonded throughout to form a tapered box beam, with a width of 1.2?m and a height at midspan of approximately 0.5?m. The box beam represents a single trackway of a double-trackway bridge, whose trackways could be connected by light structural elements. The quasi-static and dynamic behavior of the prototype box beam was investigated in ambient laboratory and field conditions to assess the design and construction techniques used, with a view to designing a full-scale 10-m GFRP bridge. Laboratory testing of the prototype box beam used single and pairs of patch loads to simulate wheel loading. These tests confirmed that the box beam had sufficient stiffness and strength to function effectively as a single trackway of a small span bridge. Field testing of the structure was undertaken using a Bison vehicle (13,000?kg), driven at varying speeds over the structure to establish its response to realistic vehicle loads and the effects of their movement across the span.     

What drug information does the general practitioner need?

There is a great need for imporved drug information services within the Australian medical community. The need has been only partly assessed and should be more objectively surveyed as part of any development of drug information services. Whatever service is established, it should be easily accessible, pay particular attention to the language used in communication, and have a significant ongoing educational component.     

Alternate energy forms and the aged

The U.S. aging population is increasing rapidly. Those “over 65” numbered 3.1 million in 1900, and by 1977 the total climbed to 23.5 million. It can be stated with reasonable certainty that this figure will rise to 31 million in the year 2000 and 43 million in the year 2020. These figures, corresponding to more than 10% of our population, are by no means insignificant. This growing constituency is expected to produce substantial social, economic and political influence over the period contemplated for development of alternative energy systems.

As our fossil-fuel reserves are being depleted and the cost of energy mounts, it becomes apparent that the elderly will become increasingly vulnerable to the energy crisis, primarily because of physical tendency to infirmity, their economic and social situation, and their susceptibility to psychological depression.

Energy is used so universally in our daily lives—for lighting, residential comfort, water heating, operating appliances, transportation, etc.—that we seldom think of it for itself, but only for what it can do. It might appear, at first, that age does not play a role in how people demand energy. However, upon further examination, it becomes evident that there are reasons for differing energy demands between age groups. For example, because the aged generally live on fixed and limited incomes, it follows that their problems have a serious economic aspect. There are also special medical concerns, particularly those related to temperature and lighting, since the aged are particularly vulnerable to situations in which either of these is less than adequate.

This paper discusses those aspects of aging and the nation's energy problem which are not usually related in our everyday consideration of these as separable problems.     

Virtual test reduces semiconductor product development time

In the semiconductor industry's evolutionary life cycle, the speed at which products are introduced to the market-place is key to the competitive success of individual companies. The semiconductor industry is classed as a fast-changing industry in which product technology, manufacturing process technology and industry organisation need to be continuously updated in relatively short cycle times. This paper looks at the test engineering aspect of the IC (integrated circuit) product development process and describes how an emerging `virtual test' methodology can be effectively applied to reduce the overall product development time for semiconductor devices