Analysis and Verification of Service Interaction Protocols - A Brief Survey

Modeling and analysis of interactions among services is a crucial issue in Service-Oriented Computing. Composing Web services is a complicated task which requires techniques and tools to verify that the new system will behave correctly. In this paper, we first overview some formal models proposed in the literature to describe services. Second, we give a brief survey of verification techniques that can be used to analyse services and their interaction. Last, we focus on the realizability and conformance of choreographies.Comment: In Proceedings TAV-WEB 2010, arXiv:1009.330

Ab initio investigation of lattice dynamics of fluoride scheelite LiYF4

We report on the phonon dynamics of LiYF4 obtained by direct method using first principle calculations. The agreement between experimental and calculated modes is satisfactory. An inversion between two Raman active modes is noticed compared to inelastic neutron scattering and Raman measurements. The atomic displacements corresponding to these modes are discussed. Multiple inversions between Raman and infrared active groups are present above 360 cm-1. The total and partial phonon density of state is also calculated and analyzed

On Negotiation as Concurrency Primitive

We introduce negotiations, a model of concurrency close to Petri nets, with multiparty negotiation as primitive. We study the problems of soundness of negotiations and of, given a negotiation with possibly many steps, computing a summary, i.e., an equivalent one-step negotiation. We provide a complete set of reduction rules for sound, acyclic, weakly deterministic negotiations and show that, for deterministic negotiations, the rules compute the summary in polynomial time

Plant extract enhances the viability of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus acidophilus in probiotic nonfat yogurt

Citation: Michael, M., Phebus, R. K., & Schmidt, K. A. (2015). Plant extract enhances the viability of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus acidophilus in probiotic nonfat yogurt. Food Science & Nutrition, 3(1), 48-55. doi:10.1002/fsn3.189A commercial plant extract (prepared from olive, garlic, onion and citrus extracts with sodium acetate (SA) as a carrier) was evaluated to extend the viability of yogurt starter and probiotic bacteria as a means to enhance the shelf life of live and active culture, probiotic nonfat yogurt. Yogurts prepared from three different formulas (0.5% plant extract, 0.25% SA, or no supplement) and cultures (yogurt starter plus Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, or both probiotics) were assessed weekly during 29 days of storage at 5 degrees C. Supplemented yogurt mixes had greater buffering capacities than non-supplemented yogurt mixes. At the end of storage, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and L. acidophilus counts in supplemented yogurts were greater compared with non-supplemented yogurts. Supplementation did not affect Streptococcus thermophilus and B. animalis counts. Hence the greater buffering capacity of yogurt containing plant extract could enhance the longevity of the probiotics, L. bulgaricus and L. acidophilus, during storage

Multilevel Contracts for Trusted Components

This article contributes to the design and the verification of trusted components and services. The contracts are declined at several levels to cover then different facets, such as component consistency, compatibility or correctness. The article introduces multilevel contracts and a design+verification process for handling and analysing these contracts in component models. The approach is implemented with the COSTO platform that supports the Kmelia component model. A case study illustrates the overall approach.Comment: In Proceedings WCSI 2010, arXiv:1010.233

Implementation of the Eclipse Process Framework Composer Tool for the Documentation of Quality Management Systems: A Case Applied in Healthcare Services

This document presents the implementation of the Eclipse Process Framework Composer EPFC tool, in a company in the health sector, which where it were using physical documentation to register the processes QMS Quality Management Systems, in this one it is explained the process of adapting the tool, to migrate the documentary structure of the company, through the application of a model that correlates the attributes of the tool with the documentary structure. The proposed model allows the construction of document structures for the QMS that guide the user in their processes and procedures within the organization. Therefore, it is proposed that by promoting knowledge management and reducing the execution time of the processes, it will be possible for companies to be more productive, improve customer service, failure rates in the development of activities be minimized and, and reduces the lead time in the processes. Finally, it was obtained a documentary platform developed under a process approach that implements interactive diagrams that aim to facilitate the understanding of each of the elements that make up the QMS

Effects of rearing system on performance, animal welfare and meat quality in two pig genotypes

Abstract The effects of an alternative rearing system (O) for growing-finishing pigs (sawdust-shave bedding with free outdoor access, 2.4 m²/pig) compared to a conventional (C) one (slatted floor, 0.65 m²/pig) were evaluated for performance, animal welfare and meat quality in two (Duroc or synthetic line crossbreds) genotypes. Trials were conducted in spring and winter, each involving one pen of 10 pigs / genotype / system (a total of 40 pigs / season). No significant interactions between rearing system and genotype were observed on any of the traits evaluated. On the whole, the O pigs spent 40% more time on exploratory activities, in particular towards the bedding, suggesting an improved animal welfare with the O system. Urine levels of cortisol and catecholamines in the O were similar with those in C pigs at 70kg. The O pigs exhibited a 6% increase in growth rate and were 5kg heavier at slaughter at the same age. Back fat depth and lean meat content, as well as plasma ACTH and cortisol, and urine cortisol and catecholamines levels at slaughter were not significantly affected by the rearing system. The O pigs exhibited similar pH 1 and pHu values, higher drip losses, but also higher intramuscular fat contents. The O system improved loin juiciness, but did not influence other eating quality traits

Contract Aware Components, 10 years after

The notion of contract aware components has been published roughly ten years ago and is now becoming mainstream in several fields where the usage of software components is seen as critical. The goal of this paper is to survey domains such as Embedded Systems or Service Oriented Architecture where the notion of contract aware components has been influential. For each of these domains we briefly describe what has been done with this idea and we discuss the remaining challenges.Comment: In Proceedings WCSI 2010, arXiv:1010.233

Sanitary housing conditions modify the performance and behavioural response of weaned pigs to feed- and housing-related stressors

Pigs are confronted with changes in farming practices that may affect performance and animal well-being. The sanitary conditions of the farm can have an impact on the ability of pigs to adapt to these changes. This study aimed to analyse how weaned pigs respond to common farming practices of changes in diet and housing in terms of performance, health and behaviour, and how these responses are affected by the sanitary housing conditions, qualified here as good or poor. At weaning at 4 weeks of age, 20 piglets were assigned to 10 blocks of two littermates and each pig within a litter was randomly assigned to one of two sanitary conditions. Pigs were housed individually and received a starter diet. A diet change occurred on day 12 post weaning (starter to weaner diets) and pigs were transferred to the grower unit on day 33 post weaning and continued to receive the weaner diet. From 43 days post weaning, pigs were offered a grower diet and were vaccinated against swine influenza on day 47 and 61 post weaning. On the basis of this design, three post-weaning phases were identified: phase I from day 1 to 11 (post weaning), phase II from day 12 to 32 (after the diet change) and phase III from day 33 to 42 (after the housing change). Individual BW was measured every 3 days, and feed refusals and faecal scores were recorded on a daily basis. Behavioural observations were performed during 28 days by using the instantaneous scan sampling method. Individual blood samples were collected at the end of each phase to analyse the plasma concentration of haptoglobin and on day 68 post weaning to analyse the anti-influenza immunoglobulins G (IgG). Poor sanitary conditions resulted in a decrease in daily gain, feed intake and gain to feed ratio of, respectively, 11%, 5% and 7% (P < 0.05). Pigs in poor sanitary conditions had higher faecal scores (P < 0.05), tended to have higher plasma haptoglobin concentration in phase II (P = 0.06) and had a higher anti-influenza IgG titre (P = 0.11). The diet change affected performance and behavioural responses of pigs in poor but not in good sanitary conditions. Housing change resulted in a 30% decrease in growth and an increase in behaviour oriented towards exploration and excitement. The results of this study show an effect of sanitary conditions on the responses of pigs to a diet change, whereas those to a housing change were little affected by the sanitary conditions