On the Effective Deployment of Functional Formal Verification

We examine IBM's exploitation of formal verification using RuleBase—a formal verification tool developed by the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory. The goal of the paper is methodological. We identify an integrated methodology for the deployment of formal verification which involves three complementary modes: architectural verification, block-level verification, and design exploration.     

DIABLOG: a simulation program of insulin-glucose dynamics for education of diabetics

This paper presents a dialogue computer program, DIABLOG, for the education of diabetic patients with insulin therapy. Through mathematical modelling of glucose-insulin dynamics this program is able to simulate glucose and insulin profiles of a 24 h period and display them graphically as curves. The subjects could vary the carbohydrate content of meals, the injection time and dose of short-acting and intermediate-acting insulin and could switch to insulin pump therapy. For a first evaluation 22 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus tested the program and their comments were recorded by a questionnaire. The results indicate a good acceptance of the program even by patients with no previous computer experience. Further suggestions by the patients will be discussed as well.     

Microstructure and Compression Strength of Novel TRIP‐Steel/Mg‐PSZ Composites

Novel composites on basis of austenitic stainless TRIP‐steel as matrix with reinforcements of Mg‐PSZ are presented. Compact rods were produced by cold isostatic pressing and sintering, square honeycomb samples by the ceramic extrusion technique. The samples are characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy before and after deformation, showing the microstructure and the deformation‐ induced martensite formation. The mechanical properties of samples with 5 vol% zirconia are superior compared to zirconia‐free samples and composites with higher zirconia contents in terms of bending and compression tests. The honeycomb samples exhibit extraordinary high specific energy absorption in compression.     

Deduction Graphs with Universal Quantification

Deduction Graphs are meant to generalise both Gentzen-Prawitz style natural deductions and Fitch style flag deductions. They have the structure of acyclic directed graphs with boxes. In [Herman Geuvers and Iris Loeb. Natural Deduction via Graphs: Formal Definition and Computation Rules. Mathematical Structures in Computer Science (Special Issue on Theory and Applications of Term Graph Rewriting), Volume 17(03):485–526, 2007.] we have investigated the deduction graphs for minimal proposition logic. This paper studies the extension with first-order universal quantification, showing the robustness of the concept of deduction graphs.     

Positioning of goods in a cross-docking environment

Cross docking is one of the options to reduce lead times and inventories and to improve customer response time in supply chains. Cross-docking centres are dynamic environments where products arrive, are regrouped, and leave the same day. In this paper we focus on the process of short-term storage of unit-loads in a cross-docking environment. The goal is to determine temporary storage locations for incoming unit loads such that the travel distances of the forklift trucks with these unit loads are minimised. We model this problem as a novel application of the minimum cost flow problem and show the applicability of the model for different types of layouts and priorities. We demonstrate both the efficiency and effectiveness of the method in the operational and design phase at cross-docking environments by applying it to practice-oriented examples. Furthermore, we show that the approach is superior to a commonly used heuristic method.     

Are phonological representations of printed and spoken language isomorphic? Evidence from the restrictions on unattested onsets.

Are the phonological representations of printed and spoken words isomorphic? This question is addressed by investigating the restrictions on onsets. Cross-linguistic research suggests that onsets of rising sonority are preferred to sonority plateaus, which, in turn, are preferred to sonority falls (e.g., bnif, bdif, lbif). Of interest is whether these grammatical preferences constrain the recognition of auditory and printed words by speakers of English--a language in which such onsets are unattested. Five experiments compare phonological lexical decision responses to nonwords, including unattested onsets, through either aural or visual presentation. Results suggest that both hearers and readers are sensitive to the phonotactics of unattested onsets. However, the phonotactic generalizations of hearers and readers differ on their scope and source. Hearers differentiated all three types of onsets (e.g., bnif, bdif, and lbif), and their behavior implicated both grammatical and statistical constraints. In contrast, readers were able to differentiate only those structures similar to attested English onsets from dissimilar structures (i.e., bnif vs. bdif or lbif), and their preferences reflected statistical knowledge alone. These findings suggest that the phonological representations informing lexical decision to spoken and printed words are not isomorphic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transoral metal implant removal after ventral C2/C3 spondylodesis in pharyngo-vertebral fistula

A 26-year-old man sustained a C2 arc fracture. Ventral spondylodesis using an H-plate was performed. The patient developed a pharyngovertebral fistula which remained undetected for 1 year. Spontaneous fusion of C3/C4 and osteolysis of the cortical block occurred. The fistula was demonstrated intraoperatively and the implant was transorally removed. No further problems occurred after this unusual method of treatment. The anatomy of the cervical spine, special problems of intensive care patients and the use of proper instrumentation are discussed.     

R&D networks and regional knowledge production in Europe: Evidence from a space‐time model

In this study we estimate space‐time impacts of the embeddedness in R&D networks on regional knowledge production using a dynamic spatial panel data model with non‐linear effects for 229 European NUTS 2 regions in the period 1998–2010. Embeddedness refers to the positioning in networks where nodes represent regions that are linked by joint R&D projects funded by EU Framework Programmes. We find evidence that increasing embeddedness in EU funded R&D networks leads to positive immediate impacts on regional knowledge production, and that regions with lower levels of own knowledge endowments more likely exploit the positive effects. However, the long‐term impacts of a region's embeddedness in these R&D networks are comparatively small.     

Novel Furin Inhibitors with Potent Anti‐infectious Activity

New peptidomimetic furin inhibitors with unnatural amino acid residues in the P3 position were synthesized. The most potent compound 4‐guanidinomethyl‐phenylacteyl‐Arg‐Tle‐Arg‐4‐amidinobenzylamide (MI‐1148) inhibits furin with a K_i value of 5.5 pM . The derivatives also strongly inhibit PC1/3, whereas PC2 is less affected. Selected inhibitors were tested in cell culture for antibacterial and antiviral activity against infectious agents known to be dependent on furin activity. A significant protective effect against anthrax and diphtheria toxin was observed in the presence of the furin inhibitors. Furthermore, the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 and H7N1 avian influenza viruses and propagation of canine distemper virus was strongly inhibited. Inhibitor MI‐1148 was crystallized in complex with human furin. Its N‐terminal guanidinomethyl group in the para position of the P5 phenyl ring occupies the same position as that found previously for a structurally related inhibitor containing this substitution in the meta position, thereby maintaining all of the important P5 interactions. Our results confirm that the inhibition of furin is a promising strategy for a short‐term treatment of acute infectious diseases.