Safety verification of asynchronous pushdown systems with shaped stacks

In this paper, we study the program-point reachability problem of concurrent pushdown systems that communicate via unbounded and unordered message buffers. Our goal is to relax the common restriction that messages can only be retrieved by a pushdown process when its stack is empty. We use the notion of partially commutative context-free grammars to describe a new class of asynchronously communicating pushdown systems with a mild shape constraint on the stacks for which the program-point coverability problem remains decidable. Stacks that fit the shape constraint may reach arbitrary heights; further a process may execute any communication action (be it process creation, message send or retrieval) whether or not its stack is empty. This class extends previous computational models studied in the context of asynchronous programs, and enables the safety verification of a large class of message passing programs

A Comparison of Petri Net Semantics under the Collective Token Philosophy

In recent years, several semantics for place/transition Petri nets have been proposed that adopt the collective token philosophy. We investigate distinctions and similarities between three such models, namely configuration structures, concurrent transition systems, and (strictly) symmetric (strict) monoidal categories. We use the notion of adjunction to express each connection. We also present a purely logical description of the collective token interpretation of net behaviours in terms of theories and theory morphisms in partial membership equational logic

Asymptotic counting of BPS operators in superconformal field theories

We consider some aspects of counting BPS operators which are annihilated by two supercharges, in superconformal field theories. For non-zero coupling, the corresponding multi-variable partition functions can be written in terms of generating functions for vector partitions or their weighted generalisations. We derive asymptotics for the density of states for a wide class of such multi-variable partition functions. We also point out a particular factorisation property of the finite N partition functions. Finally, we discuss the concept of a limit curve arising from the large N partition functions, which is related to the notion of a typical state and discuss some implications for the holographic duals.Comment: 39 pages latex. v2: minor improvements, reference adde

Tool speed and polarity effects in micro-EDM drilling of 316L stainless steel

This paper focuses on the issues of Resistor-Capacitor-based Electrical Discharge Micro-Machining process and investigates the effects of tool speed and polarity on the performance measures such as Tool Wear Rate, Material Removal Rate, Overcut and Taper Angle by drilling on 316L Stainless Steel. Taguchi’s L54 mixed orthogonal array design is employed to conduct experiments by varying tool polarity at two levels and voltage, capacitance, spindle speed at three levels. The cause and effect relationship between the experimental factors and responses are analysed and discussed using Factorial Analysis of Variance technique. Optimum combinations of machining parameters are also evaluated using Taguchi-based Grey Relational Analysis, by considering grey relational grade matrix and influence of process parameters on the responses. Further, microscopic analysis is done to identify the micro-voids, globular formation, and cracks present on the surface of the hole produced under various machining conditions

Bioanalytical Method Development and Validation: A Review

For various types of drug approval processes like INDs, NDAs, ANDAs, veterinary drug approval, the data related to bioanalytical method development and validation is needed to sponsors. Various agencies namely US FDA, American association of pharmaceutical scientists (AAPS), Health protection Branch (HPB), Association of analytical chemists (AOAC), Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), European Medicine Agency (EMA), China Food and Drug administration(CFDA), European Bioanalytical Forum (EBF), Global CRO council (GCC), ANVISA (Brazil), Japan Bioanalytical Forum (JBF) had done collective efforts at different timings to regulate and harmonize bioanalytical method development and validation

An Unusual Foreign Body in the Maxillary Antrum: A Case Report and Pertinent Review of Literature

Maxillary sinus is the largest of the paranasal sinuses and occupies the body of Maxilla. It is pyramidal in shape with base toward lateral wall of nose and apex directed laterally into thezygomatic process. It is roof is formed by the floor of the orbit and grooved by infraorbital nerve. Foreign bodies may present in the paranasal sinuses through a variety of traumatic andiatrogenic events. We describe a case where a sharp foreign body penetrated into the maxillary sinus. We used the open surgical approach, for the removal of sinus foreign body

Aptamers: a novel targeted theranostic platform for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely challenging disease with a high mortality rate and a short overall survival time. The poor prognosis can be explained by aggressive tumor growth, late diagnosis, and therapy resistance. Consistent efforts have been made focusing on early tumor detection and novel drug development. Various strategies aim at increasing target specificity or local enrichment of chemotherapeutics as well as imaging agents in tumor tissue. Aptamers have the potential to provide early detection and permit anti-cancer therapy with significantly reduced side effects. These molecules are in-vitro selected single-stranded oligonucleotides that form stable three-dimensional structures. They are capable of binding to a variety of molecular targets with high affinity and specificity. Several properties such as high binding affinity, the in vitro chemical process of selection, a variety of chemical modifications of molecular platforms for diverse function, non-immunoreactivity, modification of bioavailability, and manipulation of pharmacokinetics make aptamers attractive targets compared to conventional cell-specific ligands. To explore the potential of aptamers for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of PDAC - as single agents and in combination with radiotherapy - we summarize the generation process of aptamers and their application as biosensors, biomarker detection tools, targeted imaging tracers, and drug-delivery carriers. We are furthermore discussing the current implementation aptamers in clinical trials, their limitations and possible future utilization

Causality and the AdS Dirichlet problem

The (planar) AdS Dirichlet problem has previously been shown to exhibit superluminal hydrodynamic sound modes. This problem is defined by bulk gravitational dynamics with Dirichlet boundary conditions imposed on a rigid timelike cut-off surface. We undertake a careful examination of this set-up and argue that, in most cases, the propagation of information between points on the Dirichlet hypersurface is nevertheless causal with respect to the induced light cones. In particular, the high-frequency dynamics is causal in this sense. There are however two exceptions and both involve boundary gravitons whose propagation is not constrained by the Einstein equations. These occur in i) AdS$_3$, where the boundary gravitons generally do not respect the induced light cones on the boundary, and ii) Rindler space, where they are related to the infinite speed of sound in incompressible fluids. We discuss implications for the fluid/gravity correspondence with rigid Dirichlet boundaries and for the black hole membrane paradigm.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures. v2: added refs. v3: minor clarification

Self-similar shear-thickening behavior in CTAB/NaSal surfactant solutions

The effect of salt concentration Cs on the critical shear rate required for the onset of shear thickening and apparent relaxation time of the shear-thickened phase, has been investigated systematically for dilute CTAB/NaSal solutions. Experimental data suggest a self-similar behavior of the critical shear rate and relaxation time as functions of Cs. Specifically, the former ~ Cs^(-6) whereas the latter ~ Cs^(6) such that an effective Weissenberg number for the onset of the shear thickened phase is only weakly dependent on Cs. A procedure has been developed to collapse the apparent shear viscosity versus shear rate data obtained for various values of Cs into a single master curve. The effect of Cs on the elastic modulus and mesh size of the shear-induced gel phase for different surfactant concentrations is discussed. Experiments performed using different flow cells (Couette and cone-and-plate) show that the critical shear rate, relaxation time and the maximum viscosity attained are geometry-independent. The elastic modulus of the gel phase inferred indirectly by employing simplified hydrodynamic instability analysis of a sheared gel-fluid interface is in qualitative agreement with that predicted for an entangled phase of living polymers. A qualitative mechanism that combines the effect of Cs on average micelle length and Debye parameter with shear-induced configurational changes of rod-like micelles is proposed to rationalize the self-similarity of SIS formation.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figure