Realizing Impure Functions in Interaction Nets

We propose and illustrate first steps towards an extension of interaction nets based on monads to handle functions with side effects (e.g., I/O, exceptions). We define three monads for common types of side effects and show their correctness by proving the monad laws

Meta-evaluation of Actors with Side-effects

This report describes research done at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Support for the laboratory's artificial intelligence research is provided in part by the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense under Office of Naval Research contract N000-14-74-C-0643.Meta-evaluation is a process which symbolically evaluates an actor and checks to see whether the actor fulfills its contract (specification). A formalism for writing contracts for actors with side-effects which allow sharing of data is presented. Typical examples of actors with side-effects are the cell, actor counterparts of the LISP function rplaca and rplacd, and procedures whose computation depends upon their input history. Meta-evaluation of actors with side-effects is carried out by using situational tags which denotes a situation (local state of an actor systems at the moment of the transmissions of messages). It is illustrated how the situational tags are used for proving the termination of the activation of actors.MIT Artificial Intelligence Laborator

EEG Neurofeedback: An effective treatment for ADHD

In lieu of an abstract, below is the first paragraph of the paper. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is most commonly treated with psychostimulant medications due to the ease of administration. However, a new treatment called EEG biofeedback is proving efficacious in the treatment for ADHD without the side effects of psychostimulants. Neurofeedback is a process in which people learn to self-regulate their brain waves (Masterpasqua 8c Healey, 2003). The ability to alter brain activity ultimately has the ability to change behaviors that are causing people distress. This alteration occurs by operant conditioning, that is, reinforcement and punishment

Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Systems for Cancer Therapy.

Nanoscale polymers systems have dominated the revolution of drug delivery advancement. Their potential in the fight against cancer is unrivalled with other technologies. Their functionality increase, targeting ability and stimuli responsive nature have led to a major boom in research focus. This review article concentrates on the use of these smart polymers in cancer therapy. Nanotechnologies have shown potential as drug carriers leading to increased drug efficacy and penetration. Multifunctional smart carriers which can release their payload upon an external or internal trigger such as pH or temperature are proving to be major frontrunners in the development of effective strategies to overcome this disease with minimal patient side effects

SEQUENTIAL INDUCTION OF CHIRALITY IN POLY(PHENYLACETYLENE)S

Several hierarchical levels of chirality have been detected in functionalized poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPA).1 In this work we have studied the chirality induction throughout these levels in PPA functionalized with phenylglycine methyl ester groups, Fig. 1.2 These pendant groups force the PPA chain to lose its planar all-transoid shape to form helical structures. The chiral seed of the pendants, [(R)- or (S)-], dictates the preferent handedness of the helices, both the internal polyacetylene helical covalent backbone and the external helix formed by the side pendants which forms a complementary helix or counter-helix. In this work, we afford a full assessment of the interconnection between stereocenter and helix sources of chirality and the action of these polymers as chiral templates of other supra-molecular structures with inherited chiral properties. We then used VCD spectroscoy to demonstrate the chiral induction from the stereogenic centers to the backbone helix and from this to the pendant helix, which are largely promoted by two mechanisms: steric effects and hydrogen bonding. In addition, the VCD spectra supported that the helical setup of the pendants induces the solvent DMSO molecules to adopt a solvation helix around the polymer, thus proving how an achiral solvent becomes chirally organized owing to the template effect of the covalent polymer helices. A similar effect was observed in DMSO solutions of the monomeric units. Interestingly, this resulted in opposite helical sense to the one observed in the polymer with identical enantiomeric form.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Reverse Software Engineering of Concurrent Real Time Programs

This paper presents an algorithm for translating concurrent procedural language programs into nonprocedural, mathematical language programs, called specifications. The goal is to achieve reuse of old existing programs in developing new systems, through having them explained automatically and facilitating their modification. Mathematical languages are widely believed to be superior to procedural languages. Unlike procedural languages, mathematical languages do not have side effects and are oblivious to computer concepts. Thus mathematical languages free the user of having to think like a computer when developing or modifying a program. Its mathematical semantics make proving software correctness easier and improves software reliability. The specification can then be used to generate automatically highly efficient procedural language programs for computer system. The translation algorithm centers around the difference in the meaning of variables in procedural and mathematical languages. In a procedural language a variable may be assigned many values. In a mathematical language, however, a variable may be assigned only one value. The translation algorithm focuses on renaming variables in a procedural language program so that each variable is assigned only one value. This paper also presents a methodology for proving specification correctness. The idea is based on generating scenarios that define values of variable for an applicable situation and using this to prove the specification satisfy a given requirement. This is contrasted with use of temporal logic for proving correctness of concurrent programs

Indian Herbs and Herbal Drugs Used for the Treatment of Diabetes

Traditional Medicines derived from medicinal plants are used by about 60% of the world’s population. This review focuses on Indian Herbal drugs and plants used in the treatment of diabetes, especially in India. Diabetes is an important human ailment afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. In India it is proving to be a major health problem, especially in the urban areas. Though there are various approaches to reduce the ill effects of diabetes and its secondary complications, herbal formulations are preferred due to lesser side effects and low cost. A list of medicinal plants with proven antidiabetic and related beneficial effects and of herbal drugs used in treatment of diabetes is compiled. These include, Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana, Momordica charantia Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum graecum and Withania somnifera. One of the etiologic factors implicated in the development of diabetes and its complications is the damage induced by free radicals and hence an antidiabetic compound with antioxidant properties would be more beneficial. Therefore information on antioxidant effects of these medicinal plants is also included