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]

Reflexiones periféricas sobre las disyuntivas identitarias de una Europa en crisis: oscilaciones de un sueño paneuropeo cargado de una compleja vanidad

La Europa moderna, se ha erigido como centro irradiador de cultura y valores universales, en representación de la civilización occidental. Los enfoques eurocéntricos han generado el diseño hegemónico de construcciones sociales que han permitido construir una idea de pertenencia a pesar de la falta de unidad al interior de un continente profundamente diverso, en donde múltiples identidades -locales, nacionales y regionales - entran sistemáticamente en fricción. Así, mientras, por un lado, el viejo continente se halla atravesando un proceso transitivo producto de una nueva crisis multidimensional, por otro, aún puede apreciarse una cuota de vanidad en ciertos sectores -cuya versión extrema aquí se ha denominado Euronarcisimo- respecto del rol civilizatorio que aquel debe desempeñar en el actual sistema global. En ese marco, el presente artículo surgido de las experticias vividas en el viejo continente por estos autores, analiza la actual coyuntura europea, rescatando algunas de las principales contradicciones identitarias que emergen y se profundizan mientras Europa piensa su nuevo rol en un mundo en cambioModern Europe has emerged as a radiating center of culture and universal values, representing Western civilization. Eurocentric approaches have generated the design of hegemonic social constructs that have allowed it to build a sense of belonging despite the lack of unity within a deeply diverse continent, where multiple local, regional and national identities, are in friction systematically. So, on the one hand, the old continent is undergoing a transitive process product of a new multidimensional crisis, on the other, can still be seen a vanity in certain sectors - extreme version of which has been termed here Euronarcisimo - about civilization role that it be should play in the current global system. In this context, this paper that emerged from the expertise gained in the old continent by these authors, analyzes the current European situation, some of major identity contradictions that emerge and deepened as Europe rethinks his new role on a changing world.Comini, Nicolás M. Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales (Universidad del Salvador); Becario doctoral del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) y docente titular de cátedra de Política Internacional Contemporánea y Teoría de las Relaciones Internacionales II y III (Universidad del Salvador)Bontempo, Tomas. Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales (Universidad del Salvador); Docente adjunto e investigador de la cátedra de Teoría de las Relaciones Internacionales II y III (IDICSO/USAL) y Maestrando en Integración Latinoamericana (Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero - UNTREF

Reflexiones periféricas sobre las disyuntivas identitarias de una Europa en crisis: oscilaciones de un sueño paneuropeo cargado de una compleja vanidad

La Europa moderna, se ha erigido como centro irradiador de cultura y valores universales, en representación de la civilización occidental. Los enfoques eurocéntricos han generado el diseño hegemónico de construcciones sociales que han permitido construir una idea de pertenencia a pesar de la falta de unidad al interior de un continente profundamente diverso, en donde múltiples identidades -locales, nacionales y regionales - entran sistemáticamente en fricción. Así, mientras, por un lado, el viejo continente se halla atravesando un proceso transitivo producto de una nueva crisis multidimensional, por otro, aún puede apreciarse una cuota de vanidad en ciertos sectores -cuya versión extrema aquí se ha denominado Euronarcisimo- respecto del rol civilizatorio que aquel debe desempeñar en el actual sistema global. En ese marco, el presente artículo surgido de las experticias vividas en el viejo continente por estos autores, analiza la actual coyuntura europea, rescatando algunas de las principales contradicciones identitarias que emergen y se profundizan mientras Europa piensa su nuevo rol en un mundo en cambioModern Europe has emerged as a radiating center of culture and universal values, representing Western civilization. Eurocentric approaches have generated the design of hegemonic social constructs that have allowed it to build a sense of belonging despite the lack of unity within a deeply diverse continent, where multiple local, regional and national identities, are in friction systematically. So, on the one hand, the old continent is undergoing a transitive process product of a new multidimensional crisis, on the other, can still be seen a vanity in certain sectors - extreme version of which has been termed here Euronarcisimo - about civilization role that it be should play in the current global system. In this context, this paper that emerged from the expertise gained in the old continent by these authors, analyzes the current European situation, some of major identity contradictions that emerge and deepened as Europe rethinks his new role on a changing world.Comini, Nicolás M. Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales (Universidad del Salvador); Becario doctoral del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) y docente titular de cátedra de Política Internacional Contemporánea y Teoría de las Relaciones Internacionales II y III (Universidad del Salvador)Bontempo, Tomas. Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales (Universidad del Salvador); Docente adjunto e investigador de la cátedra de Teoría de las Relaciones Internacionales II y III (IDICSO/USAL) y Maestrando en Integración Latinoamericana (Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero - UNTREF

Uncertainties of synchrotron microCT-based digital volume correlation bone strain measurements under simulated deformation

Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) is used to measure internal displacements and strains in bone. Recent studies have shown that synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SR-microCT) can improve the accuracy and precision of DVC. However, only zero-strain or virtually-moved test have been used to quantify the DVC uncertainties, leading to potential underestimation of the measurement errors. In this study, for the first time, the uncertainties of a global DVC approach have been evaluated on repeated SR-microCT scans of bovine cortical bone (voxel size: 1.6μm), which were virtually deformed for different magnitudes and along different directions. The results showed that systematic and random errors of the normal strain components along the deformation direction were higher than the errors along unstrained directions. The systematic percentage errors were smaller for larger virtual deformations. The random percentage error was in the order of 10% of the virtual deformation. However, higher errors were localized at the boundary of the volumes of interest, perpendicular to the deformation direction. When only the central region of the samples was considered (100 micrometers layers removed from the borders where the deformation was applied), the errors in the direction of virtual deformation were comparable to the errors in the unstrained directions. In conclusion, the method presented to estimate the uncertainties of DVC is suitable for testing anisotropic specimens as cortical bone. The good agreement between the uncertainties in measurements of strain components obtained with this approach and with the simpler zero-strain-test suggests that the latter is adequate in the tested deformation scenarios

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

Low temperature gas sensing properties of Graphene Oxide/SnO2 nanowires composite for H-2

In this work Graphene Oxide (GO) and SnO2 nanowires (NWs) composite sensing performance were studied. Single crystal SnO2 NWs were directly grown by thermal evaporation method and GO was successfully synthesized using modified Hummers method. RF magnetron sputtered Pt particles were used as a catalyst for the growth of SnO2 NWs. Drop cast technique was used to deposited GO on top of the SnO2 NWs. FE-SEM (LEO 1525) was used to investigate the morphology of SnO2 NWs and GO. Fabricated sensors were tested towards various concentration of H-2 at different working temperatures. This GO/SnO2 hybrid sensors show a reversible response to H-2 at low operating temperature. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

K-ATP channel gene expression is induced by urocortin and mediates its cardioprotective effect

Background-Urocortin is a novel cardioprotective agent that can protect cardiac myocytes from the damaging effects of ischemia/reperfusion both in culture and in the intact heart and is effective when given at reperfusion.Methods and Results-We have analyzed global changes in gone expression in cardiac myocytes after urocortin treatment using gene chip technology. We report that urocortin specifically induces enhanced expression of the Kir 6.1 cardiac potassium channel subunit. On the basis of this finding, we showed that the cardioprotective effect of urocortin both in isolated cardiac cells and in the intact heart is specifically blocked by both generalized and mitochondrial-specific K-ATP channel blockers, whereas the cardioprotective effect of cardiotrophin-1 is unaffected. Conversely, inhibiting the Kir 6.1 channel subunit greatly enhances cardiac cell death after ischemia.Conclusions-This is, to our knowledge, the first report of the altered expression of a K-ATP. channel subunit induced by a cardioprotective agent and demonstrates that K-ATP, channel opening is essential for the effect of this novel cardioprotective agent

Los biocombustibles en la integración energética de la Unasur

In the context of energy integration as a regional problem, this article evaluates the Unasur biofuels policy during 2005-2012. This focuses on two dimensions that are analytically separable but are part of the same empirical object. These are: the politi- cal process energy integration that converged in Unasur and the behavior of two of its political units, Brazil and Argentina. A set of descriptions were made around the following areas of analysis: A brief overview of the most relevant background in energy integration; 2. The decisions taken at the regional level in energy; and 3. The relations of Argentina and Brazil and the European Union biofuel.En el marco de la integración energética como problemática regional, este artículo evalúa la política de biocombustibles en Unasur durante el periodo 2005-2012. Para ello se concentra en dos dimensiones analíticamente separables, pero que forman parte del mismo objeto empírico: el proceso político de integra- ción energética que confluyó en Unasur y el comportamiento de dos de sus unidades políticas, Brasil y Argentina. Para su aborda- je se realizó un conjunto de descripciones en torno a los siguientes ejes de análisis: 1. Breve reseña sobre los antecedentes más rele- vantes en integración energética; 2. Las decisiones acordadas a nivel regional en energía; y 3. Las relaciones de Argentina y Brasil con la Unión Europea, en materia de biocombustibles