A Theory of Service Dependency

Service composition has become commonplace nowadays, in large part due to the increased complexity of software and supporting networks. Composition can be of many types, for instance sequential, prioritising, non-deterministic. However, a fundamental feature of the services to be composed consists in their dependencies with respect to each other. In this paper we propose a theory of service dependency, modelled around a dependency operator in the Action Systems formalism. We analyze its properties, composition behaviour, and refinement conditions with accompanying examples.Comment: In Proceedings Refine'15, arXiv:1606.0134

Existence of Atoms and Molecules in the Mean-Field Approximation of No-Photon Quantum Electrodynamics

The Bogoliubov-Dirac-Fock (BDF) model is the mean-field approximation of no-photon Quantum Electrodynamics. The present paper is devoted to the study of the minimization of the BDF energy functional under a charge constraint. An associated minimizer, if it exists, will usually represent the ground state of a system of $N$ electrons interacting with the Dirac sea, in an external electrostatic field generated by one or several fixed nuclei. We prove that such a minimizer exists when a binding (HVZ-type) condition holds. We also derive, study and interpret the equation satisfied by such a minimizer. Finally, we provide two regimes in which the binding condition is fulfilled, obtaining the existence of a minimizer in these cases. The first is the weak coupling regime for which the coupling constant $\alpha$ is small whereas $\alpha Z$ and the particle number $N$ are fixed. The second is the non-relativistic regime in which the speed of light tends to infinity (or equivalently $\alpha$ tends to zero) and $Z$, $N$ are fixed. We also prove that the electronic solution converges in the non-relativistic limit towards a Hartree-Fock ground state.Comment: Final version, to appear in Arch. Rat. Mech. Ana

Desarrollo de electrolito de cobreado en medio alcalino libre de cianuro

Desde ya hace muchos años en la industria de la galvanoplastia se utilizan los electrolitos basados en cianuro para obtener recubrimientos de cobre. Estos electrolitos son altamente tóxicos y se están haciendo numerosas investigaciones con el fin de obtener alternativas para su reemplazo. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar el sistema de Cu+2-glutamato como reemplazo del cianuro y evaluar su idoneidad para la obtención de recubrimientos de cobre alcalino moderado (pH8) sobre sustratos de acero y de Zamak con fines industriales y decorativos. Para ello se realizaron experiencias de cobreado en las distintas geometría de celdas utilizadas en la industria a escala de laboratorio (celdas de cátodo plano con agitador magnético, celdas de cátodo oscilante y celdas de barril rotativo. Los depósitos obtenidos fueron caracterizados por diferentes técnicas. Se obtuvieron recubrimientos de cobre homogéneos, de aspecto brillante y de adecuada adherencia sobre los diferentes sustratos y en las distintas geometrías de celdas utilizadas

Developing banking system stability index for Nigeria

This study constructed a banking system stability index (BSSI) for Nigeria, using a combination of financial soundness indicators and macro-fundamentals. It applied statistical and Conference Board Methodology normalisation processes on Nigeria's banking and macroeconomic data from 2007Q1 to 2012Q2. The resultant index traced fairly well the episodes of crisis in the system over the study period. Hence, the BSSI is capable of acting as an early warning mechanism of signaling fragility. It could, therefore, be used as a complimentary regulatory policy tool to detect potential threat to enable monetary authorities take timely pre-emptive policy measures to avert crisis

A new family of StART domain proteins at membrane contact sites has a role in ER-PM sterol transport

Sterol traffic between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane (PM) is a fundamental cellular process that occurs by a poorly understood non-vesicular mechanism. We identified a novel, evolutionarily diverse family of ER membrane proteins with StART-like lipid transfer domains and studied them in yeast. StART-like domains from Ysp2p and its paralog Lam4p specifically bind sterols, and Ysp2p, Lam4p and their homologs Ysp1p and Sip3p target punctate ER-PM contact sites distinct from those occupied by known ER-PM tethers. The activity of Ysp2p, reflected in amphotericin-sensitivity assays, requires its second StART-like domain to be positioned so that it can reach across ER-PM contacts. Absence of Ysp2p, Ysp1p or Sip3p reduces the rate at which exogenously supplied sterols traffic from the PM to the ER. Our data suggest that these StART-like proteins act in trans to mediate a step in sterol exchange between the PM and ER

Regulation status of quarantine pests of rice seeds in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Open Access JournalThe ever growing international trade has limited efforts towards the prevention of introduction, spread and establishment of invasive organisms. Non-native pests can cause severe loss of production and lead to restriction in exchange of genetic materials and seed marketing across regions. Regulating pests’ movement through quarantine measures and establishment of regional boards has been identified as a way to deal with introduction and expansion of invasive organisms. This review analyzes the different pest regulations in the West African sub-region with a specific focus on the implementation of quarantine measures in rice as a case study. The various regulations related to seed production, certification and marketing, and quarantine regulations in West Africa were analyzed and their enforcement and performance were assessed through comparison to international standards, especially the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Although a regional regulation on seeds and phytosanitary measures has been elaborated, ECOWAS countries are still enforcing their national phytosanitary legislations, which are nearly the same in all West African countries - they all aim at ensuring plant health by applying preventive and curative measures to prevent the introduction and spread of pests in their territory by controlling the import and export of plant materials and disseminating appropriate pest management techniques to boost agricultural production. Most ECOWAS countries are yet to submit their phytosanitary legislation to IPPC to comply with Article VII.2i of the endorsed convention. In addition, the entry points are not well defined and provided to the IPPC according to the Article VII.2d of the convention. When the quarantine list is available, the organisms regulated for each crop species are not stated, posing a real problem not only for rice genetic resource exchanges for research purposes but also for rice seed trade. Efforts and resources should be devoted by each country to research on pests and regulatory mechanisms in order to define, among others, pest status in the region, and to update regularly the quarantine pests list in the West African region

PELAKSANAAN PROGRAM LITERASI UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUN MEMBACA SISWA KELAS AWAL SEKOLAH DASAR DI KABUPATEN MIMIKA

Penelitianinidilatarbelakangidarisurvei yang dilakukanUNICEF tahun 2015 di Provinsi Papuaterdapatsebesar49,88% atausecara rata-rata terdapatsekitar 50% siswa di Tanah Papua yang tidakdapatmembaca. Hal inimenunjukkanbahwakemampuanmembacasiswarendah, sehinggaakanberdampakbagi masa depanmereka. Fokuspenelitianiniadalahbagaimanapelaksanaan program literasiyang dilaksanakanmulaidariperencanaan, implementasi, danevaluasisebagaiupayauntukmeningkatkankemampuanmembacasiswakelasawalsekolahdasar di KabupatenMimika. Dengandemikian, Yayasan Pembangunan PendidikandanKesehatan Papua (YP2KP) merupakanlembaga donor sebagaipelaksana program literasiyang bekerjasamadengan UNICEF, sertadidukungPemerintah Australia danDinasPendidikanKabupatenMimikauntukmenjalankan program literasi (bacatulis) di kelasawalsekolahdasar. Tujuanpenelitianiniadalahuntukmengetahuidampak program literasi yangtelahdilaksanakanselamatigatahundi sekolahintervensi model A dansekolahintervensi model B. Penelitianinimenggunakanpendekatankuantitatifdenganmetodeex post facto karenapenelitihanyamelakukanpengamatanterhadaphasilmaupundampakdaripelaksanaan program literasiyaitukemampuanmembacasiswa. Teknikpengumpulaan data yang digunakanadalahkuesioner, wawancara, danstudidokumentasi. Hasilpenelitianyang diperolahmenunjukkanbahwa: 1)perencanaan, implementasi, danevaluasiprogram literasiyang dilaksanakan disekolahintervensi model A dansekolahintervensi model B sudahberjalandenganbaik,walaupunadahambatan-hambatankecil di tengahpelaksanaan program; 2) kemampuanmembacasiswa di sekolahintervensi model A dansekolahintervensi model B lebihbaikdarikemampuanmembacasiswa di sekolah non-intervensisebagaisekolahpembanding.Berdasarkanhasilpenelitianmenunjukkanbahwapelaksanaan program literasisangatberkontribusiterhadappendidikan di KabupatenMimikasebagaisalahsatukabupaten yangmelaksanakan program literasi. Dengandemikianharapanbesardaripelaksanaan program literasibahwabutaaksara di Provinsi Papua khususnyaKabupatenMimikamenurundariangka-angkasebelumnya, sehinggamutupendidikandasartetapterjagadanmenunjukkanprestasi yang membanggakan. --------------------------------- This research was motivated by a survey conducted byUNICEF in 2015 in Papua Provincewhichfoundthatthere were around 49.88% or on average of50% of students in Papua could not read. It showed that student’s reading ability was low and ithas an impact on theirfuture. The focus of this research is todescribe the implementation of literacy programs included planning, implementation, and evaluation as an effort to improve the reading ability of thelowergrades students in the primary schoolsin Mimika Regency. The Papua Education and Health Development Foundation (YP2KP) is a donor institution whoimplement the literacy program in collaboration with UNICEF, supported by the Australian Government andMimika District Education Office to run literacy (reading and writing) programs for the lowergradesstudents in primary schools. The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of literacy programs that have been implemented for three years in the model A and model B intervention schools. This study used a quantitative approach with ex-post facto method because researchers only observed the result and impact of the literacy programs implementation, namely student reading skills. Data collection techniques used were questionnaires, interviews, and documentation studies. The results of the study showed that: 1) the planning, implementation and evaluation of literacy programs carried out in model A intervention schools and model B intervention schools were going well, although there were minor obstacles in the midst of program implementation; 2) student’s reading ability in model A and model B intervention schools is better than the student’s reading ability in non-intervention schools. Based on the results of the research, the implementation of the literacy program greatly contributes to education in Mimika Regency as one of the districts that carry out literacy programs. Therefore, the highest expectation of the literacy program implementation in Papua Province, especially in Mimika Regency decreased from the previous findings so that the quality of basic education canbe maintained and shows a proud achievement

Characterization of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria isolated from Antarctic soil

The 14th Symposium on Polar Science/Ordinary sessions [OB] Polar biology, Wed. 15 Nov. / Entrance Hall (1st floor), National Institute of Polar Researchconference objec

Strategic Airlift En Route Analysis and Considerations to Support the Global War on Terrorism

The Global War on Terrorism has mandated the need for additional global en route airfields. En route airfields consist of bases that are strategically located at intermediate locations between the Continental United States and the intended theater of operations. These airfields serve as refueling, crew staging, or maintenance stops for strategic airlift aircraft flying transoceanic routes. The focus of this study is to examine concepts to meet this need and to address important aspects that should be considered in devising new en route strategies. Based on various important factors associated with potential en route airfields, a goal programming methodology was used to develop an Excel based tool to aid the decision process for selecting the best future en route airfields and potential infrastructure improvements at those airfields. The factors included in this tool consist of 1)the distance from various origins to the en route of interest and the distance from the en route to various destinations, 2) the amount of parking capacity available at potential en route airfields, 3) the fuel capability present at these airfields to support strategic aircraft flow, 4) diplomatic relations with the en route host countries, 5) airfield distance from coastal seaports, and 6) the number of strategic aircraft capable airfields within a predetermined range of the potential en route. Using the developed goal program tool, 25 potential en route airfields used to transit to eight global destinations from ten different origins were studied. With the above factors assessed and examined, conclusions relating to which potential en route airfields would be the most beneficial in fighting the Global War on Terrorism are delineated