An Open Challenge Problem Repository for Systems Supporting Binders

A variety of logical frameworks support the use of higher-order abstract syntax in representing formal systems; however, each system has its own set of benchmarks. Even worse, general proof assistants that provide special libraries for dealing with binders offer a very limited evaluation of such libraries, and the examples given often do not exercise and stress-test key aspects that arise in the presence of binders. In this paper we design an open repository ORBI (Open challenge problem Repository for systems supporting reasoning with BInders). We believe the field of reasoning about languages with binders has matured, and a common set of benchmarks provides an important basis for evaluation and qualitative comparison of different systems and libraries that support binders, and it will help to advance the field.Comment: In Proceedings LFMTP 2015, arXiv:1507.0759

Margin of Error

According to Utah State University’s Office of Analysis, Assessment, and Accreditation during the Fall semester of 2020, about 18% of students enrolled were students of color. About 2.5% of students enrolled identified as two or more races. Margin of Error is a docudrama that elevates the voices of multiracial college students and promotes a better understanding of multiracial individuals. The project involves actor portrayals of interviews with multiracial college students who discuss navigating their multiple racial identities at often predominantly white universities. It also features reactions and commentary on the students’ experiences from faculty and students at Utah State University. This project was crafted through the devised theatre process. Devising is a subgroup of the larger genre, Applied Theatre, which intends to promote social change through theatre. In this form, “the audience is challenged to explore multiple possibilities within a given oppressive situation, and to actively engage in the theatrical process to attempt to overcome that oppression” (Boal as cited in Mesner, 2018, p. 256). The specific goals of this project were to: Elevate the voices of multiracial students. Provide space for multiracial individuals to discuss and share their stories. Promote a better understanding of multiracial people. The research questions that I investigated are as follows: How do multiracial individuals perform their self-identity in different social contexts? Do multiracial individuals feel obligated to perform particular racial identities, or aspects of those identities to perform? Why or why not? How do university demographics affect multiracial individuals\u27 educational experiences

A Moral Debate: The Responsibility of Human Resource Professionals in the Implementation of a Code of Ethics

The overarching idea of this thesis is that human resource professionals have a responsibility to oversee a code of ethics that governs employee behavior within an organization. Although the development and implementation of such a code is a collaborative effort between stakeholders, human resource managers bring value to a code through factors such as training and communication. Initially, one must define ethics and a code of ethics, in order to better understand the creation, management, and implementation of the code. Recent ethical situations in the world today, such as Enron and TI Instruments, establish and exemplify the purpose and overall effect of a code of ethics. A final look at the role of human resource management within an ethical framework establishes its position as a strategic business partner in the ultimate implementation of a code of ethics

Oral History Interview: Walter Felty

This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Dr. Felty is a retired professor and administrator from Marshall University. He gives a personal background, his growing up during the Great Depression, his mother\u27s involvement in the WPA (Works Progress Administration) during the war, and his stint in the U.S. Army. Dr. Felty talks about his positions at Marshall as Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Chairman of the College of Education. He briefly touched on former Marshall University presidents Hayes, Smith, Nelson, and Barker. He concludes by relating the Bottino case, how it came to be, and the result of the action that ended the situation as well as censorship by the AAUP (American Association of University Professors).https://mds.marshall.edu/oral_history/1493/thumbnail.jp

Proteomic 2D DIGE profiling of human vascular endothelial cells exposed to environmentally relevant concentration of endocrine disruptor PCB153 and physiological concentration of 17β-estradiol

Considering the recent studies that question previously reported cardio-protective effects of estrogen, there is a growing concern that endocrine disruptors may also contribute to the pathology of cardiovascular disease. PCB153 is one of the most commonly found polychlorinated biphenyls, and based on epidemiological studies, has been implicated in cardiovascular disease. The endocrine disruptor PCB153 has been reported to bind the estrogen receptor alpha, induce vessel formation, and increase the formation of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells. Since PCB153-induced phenotypic changes are similar to estradiol, we postulated that PCB153 activates redox signaling pathways common to 17β-estradiol. Whether the effect of PCB153 on the proteome is comparable to 17β-estradiol is not known. Therefore we investigated the proteome of human microvascular endothelial cells exposed to PCB153 (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. Using 2D DIGE coupled to MALDI-time of flight (TOF)/TOF MS, we found 96 protein spots significantly (greater than 1.5-fold) modulated by experimental treatments. Mass spectrometry identified 11 of 13 protein spots with high confidence protein score CI that was greater than 95%. Of the identified proteins, lamin A/C and far upstream element-binding protein (FUBP1) were regulated similarly by both treatments. FUBP1 is of particular interest because it controls c-myc. While lamin A/C modulates transcription factor AP-1 function. Interestingly, both c-myc and AP-1 are redox-sensitive transcription factors known to regulate genes required for cell growth. Network analysis of these proteins showed transforming growth factor β-1 and c-myc to play central roles. While our findings do not reveal any mechanisms involved in PCB153-induced vascularization, the identified network does provide a potential target pathway for further mechanistic studies of these relationships

Adsorption of Propane on the Magnesium Oxide (100) Surface and Synthesis of Anodized Aluminum Oxide

This work is divided into two parts: the adsorption of propane on the magnesium oxide (100) surface and the synthesis of anodized aluminum oxide. The adsorption properties of propane on the MgO (100) surface were investigated using high-resolution volumetric isotherm techniques and a computational study was accomplished using Materials Studio. From the adsorption work, the two-dimensional isothermal compressibility, the isosteric heat of adsorption, the differential enthalpy, and the differential entropy of adsorption can be calculated. Three distinct layers of propane were observed to form on the MgO (100) surface and it was determined that a phase transition occurs at 162 K. The simulation study showed that the propane molecule adsorbs on the surface, centered over magnesium, at a distance of 3.18 Angstroms. The molecule is oriented such that the carbon backbone is parallel to the surface and is rotated so that three hydrogen atoms are close to the surface. The calculated minimum energy of this system is 13.70 kcal/mol. The second part of this study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of well defined, close packed, high aspect ratio cylindrical channels in an aluminum oxide matrix. These materials have been systematically produced using a two-step anodization process that provides the ability to tune the pore diameter (\u3c10 nm to 100 nm) while retaining the long-range hexagonal pattern. The effect of varying the type and concentration of the electrolyte was investigated. The synthesized materials were characterized using a scanning electron microscope, an atomic force microscope, and a high-resolution volumetric isotherm station to obtain adsorption and desorption measurements. It was found that these three techniques compliment each other nicely. The SEM results give a quick overview of the topography of the surface, AFM gives a more complete profile of the surface, and the isotherm measurements provide an overall pore distribution. These materials have the potential to be used in the study of gas storage, quantum confinement, and nanowire growth

Implementing Theorem Provers in Logic Programming

Logic programming languages have many characteristics that indicate that they should serve as good implementation languages for theorem provers. For example, they are based on search and unification which are also fundamental to theorem proving. We show how an extended logic programming language can be used to implement theorem provers and other aspects of proof systems for a variety of logics. In this language first-order terms are replaced with simply-typed λ-terms, and thus unification becomes higher-order unification. Also, implication and universal quantification are allowed in goals. We illustrate that inference rules can be very naturally specified, and that the primitive search operations of this language correspond to those needed for searching for proofs. We argue on several levels that this extended logic programming language provides a very suitable environment for implementing tactic style theorem provers. Such theorem provers provide extensive capabilities for integrating techniques for automated theorem proving into an interactive proof environment. We are also concerned with representing proofs as objects. We illustrate how such objects can be constructed and manipulated in the logic programming setting. Finally, we propose extensions to tactic style theorem provers in working toward the goal of developing an interactive theorem proving environment that provides a user with many tools and techniques for building and manipulating proofs, and that integrates sophisticated capabilities for automated proof discovery. Many of the theorem provers we present have been implemented in the higher-order logic programming language λProlog