Specification-driven model transformation testing

Testing model transformations poses several challenges, among them the automatic generation of appropriate input test models and the specification of oracle functions. Most approaches for the generation of input models ensure a certain coverage of the source meta-model or the transformation implementation code, whereas oracle functions are frequently defined using query or graph languages. However, these two tasks are usually performed independently regardless of their common purpose, and sometimes, there is a gap between the properties exhibited by the generated input models and those considered by the transformations. Recently, we proposed a formal specification language for the declarative formulation of transformation properties (by means of invariants, pre-, and postconditions) from which we generated partial oracle functions used for transformation testing. Here, we extend the usage of our specification language for the automated generation of input test models by SAT solving. The testing process becomes more intentional because the generated models ensure a certain coverage of the transformation requirements. Moreover, we use the same specification to consistently derive both the input test models and the oracle functions. A set of experiments is presented, aimed at measuring the efficacy of our technique.     

Hypothermic coagulopathy in trauma: effect of varying levels of hypothermia on enzyme speed, platelet function, and fibrinolytic activity

Comparative study of protein metabolism in neurons of layers III and V of the sensorimotor cortex was carried out in two groups of Wistar rats, which differed in learning results: "bad" (60% of population) and "good" learners (40%). It was found out that the associative neurons (layer III) were most sensitive to cognitive load. In "bad" learners, an increase in nuclear and cytoplasmic dimensions and rise in protein concentration and content took place in these neurons, while in the efferent neurons (layer V) the protein content increased only in the cytoplasm. In "good" learners, the cognitive load led to a decrease in all the cytochemical parameters in neurons of the layer III while in the neurons of the layer V the content and concentration of proteins increased both in nuclei and cytoplasm. It is suggested that the character of protein metabolism changes produced by information load can be considered as a reflection of individual peculiarities of cognitive activity, and the extent of cytochemical changes as a reflection of complicity of a cognitive task.     

metaSMT: focus on your application and not on solver integration

International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer - Many applications from artificial intelligence and formal methods use decision procedures as their core solving engines. In this...     

A controlled study of quantitative feedback in married-couples brief group psychotherapy.

Investigated the impact of delayed, written feedback on the process and outcome of brief group psychotherapy for married couples using a 2-group, 2-stage design. 12 18–36 yr old heterosexual couples participated. Results show that (1) feedback variables showed more significant changes in expected directions than did the nonfeedback variables; (2) therapy plus feedback, in contrast to therapy alone, led to the assessment of greater behavioral change; (3) therapy plus feedback was a more effective tool than therapy alone for increasing the degree of congruence between self and peer ratings, and between self and therapist ratings. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in abused women in a primary care setting

Abuse is a major source of trauma to women, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from exposure to extreme trauma. To describe the relationship between symptoms of PTSD and severity of abuse, an ethnically stratified cohort of 131 abused women in a primary care setting was interviewed. Symptoms of PTSD, both intrusion (i.e., trouble falling asleep, strong waves of feelings about the abuse) and avoidance (i.e., trying not to think or talk about the abuse, staying away from reminders of the abuse), were significantly (p < 0.01) correlated to severity of abuse, regardless of ethnicity. When asked about childhood physical or sexual abuse, women reporting physical abuse had significantly (p < 0.05) higher intrusion scores, whereas those reporting sexual abuse had significantly (p < 0.004) higher avoidance scores. Sixty-five percent of the women reported dreams, flashbacks, or terror attacks and had significantly (p < 0.001) higher mean results on both intrusion and avoidance. The need to offer abused women information about the connection between severity of abuse and symptoms of PTSD is discussed. We recommend that clinicians ask all abused women about dreams, flashbacks, or terror attacks to assess for further symptoms of PTSD.     

Trading off circuit lines and gate costs in the synthesis of reversible logic

Motivated by its application in several emerging technologies, the synthesis of reversible circuits has received significant attention in the last decade. The proposed methods can roughly be divided into two different categories: (A) approaches ensuring the minimal number of circuit lines and (B) hierarchical approaches. Both synthesis paradigms have significant differences with respect to the gate costs and the number of lines in the resulting circuits. Hence, designers often have to deal with unsatisfactory results were either the gate costs or the number of circuit lines is disproportionately large.     

Respondents' perceived protection when using randomized response.

Assessed the self-perceived protection via randomness of respondents and their willingness to cooperate in the unrelated-question randomized response technique; 480 undergraduates participated. The 2?×?4 factorial design included 2 strategies for constructing the innocuous questions and 4 levels for the probability (p) of selecting the sensitive item. Willingness to apply randomized response was not significantly associated with either of the factors under study. The perceived protection, however, was associated with the probability of selecting the sensitive item. One recommendation proceeding from post hoc tests is that p be restricted to .70?≤?p?≤?.85. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of setwise randomized response procedures for surveying multiple sensitive attributes.

Presents a setwise randomized-response (RR) approach that uses a single randomization across sets of paired questions. Consideration is given to the relative merits and limitations of this approach with an empirical comparison to direct questioning and to the usual itemwise RR procedures. The potential effect of item order within the set is also examined and found not to be a factor. Finally, an attempt is made to assess the effectiveness of incorporating nonsensitive covariates to identify differential estimates within specific subgroups. Data from a survey of 270 graduate nursing students and faculty, including Ss' responses to sensitive questions, are included. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)