Specifying Multimedia Binding Objects in Z

The current standardisation activity of Open Distributed Processing (ODP) has attempted to incorporate multimedia flows of information into its architecture through the idea of stream interfaces. At present the reference model of ODP (ODP-RM) abstracts from the precise nature of the flows of information. As a consequence of this, the ODPRM only deals with syntactic aspects of stream interfaces and does not require them to satisfy any behavioural considerations. It is shown in this paper how the formal notation Z can be used to reason about these flows of information in a manner that enables behavioural as well as temporal aspects to be considered. The example given to highlight the approach is the ODP concept of a binding object

Specifying Hardware Timing with ET-LOTOS (extended version)

It is explained how DILL (Digital Logic in LOTOS) can be used to specify and analyse hardware timing characteristics using ET-LOTOS (Enhanced Timed LOTOS), a timed extension of the ISO standard formal language LOTOS (Language of Temporal Ordering Specification). Hardware component functionality and timing characteristics are rigorously specified and then validated. As will be seen, subtle timing problems can be found by using this approach

Towards an analysis of shear suspension flows using radial basis functions

In this paper, radial basis functions are utilised for numerical prediction of the bulk properties of particulate suspensions under simple shear conditions. The suspending fluid is Newtonian and the suspended particles are rigid. Results obtained are compared well with those based on finite elements in the literature

Parliamentary elections in Jordan, January 2013

Jordan held its first elections since the beginning of the "Arab Spring" on January 23, 2013. Against the backdrop of region-wide mobilization in the Middle East, which led to the ousting of authoritarian President Mubarak in Egypt in 2011 and the civil war in Syria, the elections to the 17th lower house of parliament in Jordan were widely considered a political litmus test for King Abdullah II. Jordan experienced its own opposition mobilization throughout 2011 and 2012, with unprecedented criticism of the monarch. At the same time, the general political mood in Jordan has still overwhelmingly been one of gradual reform, not revolution. Therefore, the parliamentary elections of January 2013 must be seen in the context of an increasingly politicized and frustrated Jordanian public on the one hand, and a rather successful royal political survival strategy on the other

Report on the Standardization Project ``Formal Methods in Conformance Testing''

This paper presents the latest developments in the “Formal Methods in Conformance Testing” (FMCT) project of ISO and ITU–T. The project has been initiated to study the role of formal description techniques in the conformance testing process. The goal is to develop a standard that defines the meaning of conformance in the context of formal description techniques. We give an account of the current status of FMCT in the standardization process as well as an overview of the technical status of the proposed standard. Moreover, we indicate some of its strong and weak points, and we give some directions for future work on FMCT

Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres, Part 0: General introduction

ERAF: 48409This Recommendation has been prepared by IEC Technical Committee No. 31, Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Atmospheres; It forms one of a series of publications dealing with electrical apparatus for use in explosive gas atmospheres. This particular part is a general introduction to IEC Publication 79