Abstract verification and debugging of constraint logic programs

The technique of Abstract Interpretation [13] has allowed the development of sophisticated program analyses which are provably correct and practical. The semantic approximations produced by such analyses have been traditionally applied to optimization during program compilation. However, recently, novel and promising applications of semantic approximations have been proposed in the more general context of program verification and debugging [3],[10],[7]

Stable and highly sensitive gas sensors based on semiconducting oxide nanobelts

©2002 American Institute of Physics. The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: : http://link.aip.org/link/?APPLAB/81/1869/1DOI:10.1063/1.1504867Gas sensors have been fabricated using the single-crystalline SnO₂ nanobelts. Electrical characterization showed that the contacts were ohmic and the nanobelts were sensitive to environmental polluting species like CO and NO₂ , as well as to ethanol for breath analyzers and food control applications. The sensor response, defined as the relative variation in conductance due to the introduction of the gas, is 4160% for 250 ppm of ethanol and 21550% for 0.5 ppm NO₂ at 400 °C. The results demonstrate the potential of fabricating nanosized sensors using the integrity of a single nanobelt with a sensitivity at the level of a few ppb

Mother's or teacher's education? Educational stratification and grade progression in Brazil.

grade progression; education; hierarchical linear model; educational achievement; Brazil

Recent Advancements in TiO2 Nanostructures: Sustainable Synthesis and Gas Sensing

The search for sustainable technology-driven advancements in material synthesis is a new norm, which ensures a low impact on the environment, production cost, and workers' health. In this context, non-toxic, non-hazardous, and low-cost materials and their synthesis methods are integrated to compete with existing physical and chemical methods. From this perspective, titanium oxide (TiO2) is one of the fascinating materials because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and potential of growing by sustainable methods. Accordingly, TiO2 is extensively used in gas-sensing devices. Yet, many TiO2 nanostructures are still synthesized with a lack of mindfulness of environmental impact and sustainable methods, which results in a serious burden on practical commercialization. This review provides a general outline of the advantages and disadvantages of conventional and sustainable methods of TiO2 preparation. Additionally, a detailed discussion on sustainable growth methods for green synthesis is included. Furthermore, gas-sensing applications and approaches to improve the key functionality of sensors, including response time, recovery time, repeatability, and stability, are discussed in detail in the latter parts of the review. At the end, a concluding discussion is included to provide guidelines for the selection of sustainable synthesis methods and techniques to improve the gas-sensing properties of TiO2

Response dynamics of metal oxide gas sensors working with temperature profile protocols

Abstract In this work we present the analysis of gas sensors working in modulated temperature mode with temperature varying according to exponential law. We integrate conductometric gas sensor based on semiconducting metal oxide layers and an ad-hoc developed electronics to present a sensing system based on a single sensor featuring a degree of selectivity arising from the exploitation of response dynamics features. In particular, a set of parameters is used to summarize the deviation of the response shape from the single exponential law

Copper oxide nanowires prepared by thermal oxidation for chemical sensing

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Graphene-zinc oxide based nanomaterials for gas sensing devices

Herein, we report the preparation of a hybrid material by combination of modified graphene and ZnO. The morphological and compositional analyses of the obtained material have been performed by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The functional properties of the prepared structures have been investigated for their application in gas sensor devices. The gas sensing performance of the hybrid material show that the structure can be used for fabrication of chemical sensors, as well as in electronic nose technology. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Zinc Oxide Nanowires Deposited on Polymeric Hotplates for Low-power Gas Sensors

Zinc oxides (ZnO) nanowires were successfully deposited on plastic low-power micro-hotplates using the thermal oxidation technique. Metallic zinc layer was deposited on the sensing transducer by RF magnetron sputtering and then oxidized in a controlled atmosphere in order to obtain ZnO nanostructures. Morphological investigations confirmed the nanometric dimensions of the fabricated nanostructures. The n-type behavior of the nanostructured material was evaluated towards different chemical species to highlight the electrical properties of the materials. Calibration curves for the detection of several chemical species were defined. © 2012 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Using global analysis, partial specifications, and an extensible assertion language for program validation and debugging

We discuss a framework for the application of abstract interpretation as an aid during program development, rather than in the more traditional application of program optimization. Program validation and detection of errors is first performed statically by comparing (partial) specifications written in terms of assertions against information obtained from (global) static analysis of the program. The results of this process are expressed in the user assertion language. Assertions (or parts of assertions) which cannot be checked statically are translated into run-time tests. The framework allows the use of assertions to be optional. It also allows using very general properties in assertions, beyond the predefined set understandable by the static analyzer and including properties defined by user programs. We also report briefly on an implementation of the framework. The resulting tool generates and checks assertions for Prolog, CLP(R), and CHIP/CLP(fd) programs, and integrates compile-time and run-time checking in a uniform way. The tool allows using properties such as types, modes, non-failure, determinacy, and computational cost, and can treat modules separately, performing incremental analysis

Synthesis and gas-sensing properties of pd-doped SnO2 nanocrystals. A case study of a general methodology for doping metal oxide nanocrystals

Pd-modified SnO2 nanocrystals, with a Pd/Sn nominal atomic ratio of 0.025, were prepared by injecting SnO2 sols and a Pd precursor solution into tetradecene and dodecylamine at 160 degrees C. Two different doping procedures were investigated: in co-injection, a Pd acetylacetonate solution in chloroform was mixed with the SnO2 sol before the injection; in sequential injection, the Pd solution was injected separately after the SnO2 sol. The obtained suspensions were heated at the resulting 80 degrees C temperature, then the product was collected by centrifugation and dried at 80 degrees C. When using co-injection, in the dried products PdO and Pd nanoparticles were observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Only SnO2 nanocrystals were observed in dried products prepared by sequential injection. After heat-treatment at 500 degrees C, no Pd species were observed for both doping procedures. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that, in both the doping procedures, after heat-treatment Pd is distributed only into the SnO2 nanocrystal structure. This conclusion was reinforced by the measurement of the electrical properties of Pd-doped nanocrystals, showing a remarkable increase of the electrical resistance if compared with pure SnO2 nanocrystals. This result was interpreted as Pd insertion as a dopant inside the cassiterite lattice of tin dioxide. The addition of Pd resulted in a remarkable improvement of the gas-sensing properties, allowing the detection of carbon monoxide concentrations below 50 ppm and of very low concentrations (below 25 ppm) of other reducing gases such as ethanol and acetone