Experience with Applying Formal Methods to Protocol Specification and System Architecture

In the last three years or so we at Enterprise Platforms Group at Intel Corporation have been applying formal methods to various problems that arose during the process of defining platform architectures for Intel's processor families. In this paper we give an overview of some of the problems we have worked on, the results we have obtained, and the lessons we have learned. The last topic is addressed mainly from the perspective of platform architects.     

Pd/Cu-Free Cobalt-Catalyzed Suzuki and Heck Using Green Bio-Magnetic Hybrid and DFT-Based Theoretical Study

Catalysis Letters - Several highly efficient and magnetically recyclable cobalt catalytic systems were prepared using magnetic chitosan and some safe and available organic compounds...     

Applying gravitational search algorithm in the QoS-based Web service selection problem

With the growing use of service-oriented architecture for designing next generation software systems,the service composition problem and its execution complexity have become even more important in resp...     

Conceptual aspects of geometric quantum computation

Geometric quantum computation is the idea that geometric phases can be used to implement quantum gates, i.e., the basic elements of the Boolean network that forms a quantum computer. Although originally thought to be limited to adiabatic evolution, controlled by slowly changing parameters, this form of quantum computation can as well be realized at high speed by using nonadiabatic schemes. Recent advances in quantum gate technology have allowed for experimental demonstrations of different types of geometric gates in adiabatic and nonadiabatic evolution. Here, we address some conceptual issues that arise in the realizations of geometric gates. We examine the appearance of dynamical phases in quantum evolution and point out that not all dynamical phases need to be compensated for in geometric quantum computation. We delineate the relation between Abelian and non-Abelian geometric gates and find an explicit physical example where the two types of gates coincide. We identify differences and similarities between adiabatic and nonadiabatic realizations of quantum computation based on non-Abelian geometric phases.     

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system multi-objective optimization using the genetic algorithm/singular value decomposition method for modelling the discharge coefficient in rectangular sharp-crested side weirs

In the present article, the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is employed to model the discharge coefficient in rectangular sharp-crested side weirs. The genetic algorithm (GA) is used for the optimum selection of membership functions, while the singular value decomposition (SVD) method helps in computing the linear parameters of the ANFIS results section (GA/SVD-ANFIS). The effect of each dimensionless parameter on discharge coefficient prediction is examined in five different models to conduct sensitivity analysis by applying the above-mentioned dimensionless parameters. Two different sets of experimental data are utilized to examine the models and obtain the best model. The study results indicate that the model designed through GA/SVD-ANFIS predicts the discharge coefficient with a good level of accuracy (mean absolute percentage error?=?3.362 and root mean square error?=?0.027). Moreover, comparing this method with existing equations and the multi-layer perceptron–artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) indicates that the GA/SVD-ANFIS method has superior performance in simulating the discharge coefficient of side weirs.     

A magnetic bead-based DNA extraction and purification microfluidic device

This article introduces a novel magnetic bead-based DNA extraction and purification device using active magnetic mixing approach. Mixing and separation steps are performed using functionalised superparamagnetic beads suspended in cell lysis buffer in a circular chamber that is sandwiched between two external magnetic coils. Non-uniform nature of magnetic field causes temporal and spatial distribution of beads within the chamber. This process efficiently mixes the lysis buffer and whole blood in order to extract DNA from target cells. Functionalized surface of the magnetic beads then attract the exposed DNA molecules. Finally, DNA-attached magnetic beads are attracted to the bottom of the chamber by activating the bottom magnetic coil. DNA molecules are extracted from magnetic beads by washing and re-suspension processes. In this study, a circular PMMA microchamber, 25 μL in volume, 500 μm in depth and 8 mm in diameter was fabricated to purify DNA from spiked bacterial cell cultures into the whole blood sample using Promega Magazorb DNA extraction kit. The lysis efficiency was evaluated using a panel of Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial cells cultures into the blood sample to achieve approximately 100,000 copy levels inside the chip. Manufacturer’s standard extraction protocol was modified to a more simplified process suitable for chip-based extraction. The lysis step was performed using 5 min incubation at 56 °C followed by 5 min incubation at room temperature for binding process. Temperature rise was generated and maintained by the same external magnetic coils used for active mixing. The yield/purity and recovery levels of the extracted DNA were evaluated using quantitative UV spectrophotometer and real-time PCR assay, respectively. Real-time PCR results indicated efficient chip-based bacterial DNA extraction using modified extraction protocol comparable to the standard bench-top extraction process.     

One-pot synthesis of hematite-alumina hollow sphere composite by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique with high adsorption capacity toward PAHs

A hybrid nanocomposite of alumina and hematite was synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The study of microscopic images, mapping analysis, and XRD patterns revealed that the Al₂O₃ – Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite was composed of separated spherical particles with a thin layer ball-shaped structure that metal oxides are uniformly distributed in the wall of hollow sphere particles, led to a coherent and monotonous construction. A series of coefficients of equilibrium sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as hazardous materials were measured on the prepared composite material in a batch technique. The free or pure Al₂O₃ or Fe₂O₃ showed negligible removal efficiency for the mentioned analytes. The various significant variables, such as initial analyte concentration, solution pH, adsorbent dose, and contact time to remove analyte, were studied in the aqueous solutions. Adsorption data were modeled to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms, and a good correlation found in the case of Langmuir isotherm and adsorption capacity for anthracene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene were 370, 333, and 322 mg g^?1, respectively. Investigation of the kinetic models proved a pseudo-second-order, and the prepared adsorbent can be reused more than 7 times without a significant decrease of adsorption performance.     

Hypoglycemic effects of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) autolysates

Fat, alkaloid and polyphenol contents of two clones of cocoa (UIT1 and PBC 140) were removed and the remaining powder was autolyzed at pH 3.5 and 5.2. Based on the results, autolysates of UIT produced at pH 3.5 exhibited the highest ability to inhibit α-amylase activity. However, no α-glucosidase inhibition activity was observed under the conditions specified. Autolysates produced under pH 3.5 caused the highest amount of insulin secretion. In streptozotocin-diabetic rats, all cocoa autolysates significantly decreased blood glucose at 4 h. To assure that the results from the assays were not due to the polyphenols of cocoa autolysates qualitative and quantitative tests were applied. According to their results cocoa autolysates were found to be free from polyphenols. Analysis of amino acid composition revealed that cocoa autolysates were abundant in hydrophobic amino acids. It can be suggested that besides other compounds of cocoa, its peptides and amino acids could contribute to its health benefits.