6,717 research outputs found
Hierarchic Superposition Revisited
Many applications of automated deduction require reasoning in first-order
logic modulo background theories, in particular some form of integer
arithmetic. A major unsolved research challenge is to design theorem provers
that are "reasonably complete" even in the presence of free function symbols
ranging into a background theory sort. The hierarchic superposition calculus of
Bachmair, Ganzinger, and Waldmann already supports such symbols, but, as we
demonstrate, not optimally. This paper aims to rectify the situation by
introducing a novel form of clause abstraction, a core component in the
hierarchic superposition calculus for transforming clauses into a form needed
for internal operation. We argue for the benefits of the resulting calculus and
provide two new completeness results: one for the fragment where all
background-sorted terms are ground and another one for a special case of linear
(integer or rational) arithmetic as a background theory
Sampling-based path planning for multi-robot systems with co-safe linear temporal logic specifications
© 2017, Springer International Publishing AG. This paper addresses the problem of path planning for multiple robots under high-level specifications given as syntactically co-safe linear temporal logic formulae. Most of the existing solutions use the notion of abstraction to obtain a discrete transition system that simulates the dynamics of the robot. Nevertheless, these solutions have poor scalability with the dimension of the configuration space of the robots. For problems with a single robot, sampling-based methods have been presented as a solution to alleviate this limitation. The proposed solution extends the idea of sampling methods to the multiple robot case. The method samples the configuration space of the robots to incrementally constructs a transition system that models the motion of all the robots as a group. This transition system is then combined with a Büchi automaton, representing the specification, in a Cartesian product. The product is updated with each expansion of the transition system until a solution is found. We also present a new algorithm that improves the performance of the proposed method by guiding the expansion of the transition system. The method is demonstrated with examples considering different number of robots and specifications
A Theory of Cheap Control in Embodied Systems
We present a framework for designing cheap control architectures for embodied
agents. Our derivation is guided by the classical problem of universal
approximation, whereby we explore the possibility of exploiting the agent's
embodiment for a new and more efficient universal approximation of behaviors
generated by sensorimotor control. This embodied universal approximation is
compared with the classical non-embodied universal approximation. To exemplify
our approach, we present a detailed quantitative case study for policy models
defined in terms of conditional restricted Boltzmann machines. In contrast to
non-embodied universal approximation, which requires an exponential number of
parameters, in the embodied setting we are able to generate all possible
behaviors with a drastically smaller model, thus obtaining cheap universal
approximation. We test and corroborate the theory experimentally with a
six-legged walking machine. The experiments show that the sufficient controller
complexity predicted by our theory is tight, which means that the theory has
direct practical implications. Keywords: cheap design, embodiment, sensorimotor
loop, universal approximation, conditional restricted Boltzmann machineComment: 27 pages, 10 figure
A comparison of transgenic rodent mutation and in vivo comet assay responses for 91 chemicals.
A database of 91 chemicals with published data from both transgenic rodent mutation (TGR) and rodent comet assays has been compiled. The objective was to compare the sensitivity of the two assays for detecting genotoxicity. Critical aspects of study design and results were tabulated for each dataset. There were fewer datasets from rats than mice, particularly for the TGR assay, and therefore, results from both species were combined for further analysis. TGR and comet responses were compared in liver and bone marrow (the most commonly studied tissues), and in stomach and colon evaluated either separately or in combination with other GI tract segments. Overall positive, negative, or equivocal test results were assessed for each chemical across the tissues examined in the TGR and comet assays using two approaches: 1) overall calls based on weight of evidence (WoE) and expert judgement, and 2) curation of the data based on a priori acceptability criteria prior to deriving final tissue specific calls. Since the database contains a high prevalence of positive results, overall agreement between the assays was determined using statistics adjusted for prevalence (using AC1 and PABAK). These coefficients showed fair or moderate to good agreement for liver and the GI tract (predominantly stomach and colon data) using WoE, reduced agreement for stomach and colon evaluated separately using data curation, and poor or no agreement for bone marrow using both the WoE and data curation approaches. Confidence in these results is higher for liver than for the other tissues, for which there were less data. Our analysis finds that comet and TGR generally identify the same compounds (mainly potent mutagens) as genotoxic in liver, stomach and colon, but not in bone marrow. However, the current database content precluded drawing assay concordance conclusions for weak mutagens and non-DNA reactive chemicals
HD molecules at high redshift: The absorption system at z=2.3377 towards Q 1232+082
We present a detailed analysis of the H_2 and HD absorption lines detected in
the Damped Lyman-alpha (DLA) system at z_abs=2.3377 towards the quasar
Q1232+082. We show that this intervening cloud has a covering factor smaller
than unity and covers only part of the QSO broad emission line region. The zero
flux level has to be corrected at the position of the saturated H_2 and
optically thin HD lines by about 10%. We accurately determine the Doppler
parameter for HD and CI lines (b = 1.86+/-0.20 km/s). We find a ratio
N(HD)/N(H_2)=(7.1 +3.7 -2.2)x10^-5 that is significantly higher than what is
observed in molecular clouds of the Galaxy. Chemical models suggest that in the
physical conditions prevailing in the central part of molecular clouds,
deuterium and hydrogen are mostly in their molecular forms. Assuming this is
true, we derive D/H = (3.6 +1.9 -1.1)x10^-5. This implies that the
corresponding baryon density of the Universe is \Omega_b h^2 = (0.0182 +0.0047
-0.0042). This value coincides within 1\sigma with that derived from
observations of the CMBR as well as from observations of the D/H atomic ratio
in low-metallicity QSO absorption line systems. The observation of HD at high
redshift is therefore a promising independent method to constrain \Omega_b.
This observation indicates as well a low astration factor of deuterium. This
can be interpreted as the consequence of an intense infall of primordial gas
onto the associated galaxy.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Invariant Synthesis for Incomplete Verification Engines
We propose a framework for synthesizing inductive invariants for incomplete
verification engines, which soundly reduce logical problems in undecidable
theories to decidable theories. Our framework is based on the counter-example
guided inductive synthesis principle (CEGIS) and allows verification engines to
communicate non-provability information to guide invariant synthesis. We show
precisely how the verification engine can compute such non-provability
information and how to build effective learning algorithms when invariants are
expressed as Boolean combinations of a fixed set of predicates. Moreover, we
evaluate our framework in two verification settings, one in which verification
engines need to handle quantified formulas and one in which verification
engines have to reason about heap properties expressed in an expressive but
undecidable separation logic. Our experiments show that our invariant synthesis
framework based on non-provability information can both effectively synthesize
inductive invariants and adequately strengthen contracts across a large suite
of programs
A catalogue of damped Lyman alpha absorption systems and radio flux densities of the background quasars
We present a catalogue of the 322 damped Lyman alpha absorbers taken from the
literature. All damped Lyman alpha absorbers are included, with no selection on
redshift or quasar magnitude. Of these, 123 are candidates and await
confirmation using high resolution spectroscopy. For all 322 objects we
catalogue the radio properties of the background quasars, where known. Around
60 quasars have radio flux densities above 0.1 Jy and approximately half of
these have optical magnitudes brighter than V = 18. This compilation should
prove useful in several areas of extragalactic/cosmological research.Comment: 26 Pages, 12 PS tables, 1 embedded table. Accepted by PASA.
Continuously updated online catalogue available at
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~sjc/dl
Quantitative Phosphoproteomics of Proteasome Inhibition in Multiple Myeloma Cells
BACKGROUND: The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib represents an important advance in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib inhibits the activity of the 26S proteasome and induces cell death in a variety of tumor cells; however, the mechanism of cytotoxicity is not well understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We investigated the differential phosphoproteome upon proteasome inhibition by using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) in combination with phosphoprotein enrichment and LC-MS/MS analysis. In total 233 phosphoproteins were identified and 72 phosphoproteins showed a 1.5-fold or greater change upon bortezomib treatment. The phosphoproteins with expression alterations encompass all major protein classes, including a large number of nucleic acid binding proteins. Site-specific phosphopeptide quantitation revealed that Ser38 phosphorylation on stathmin increased upon bortezomib treatment, suggesting new mechanisms associated to bortezomib-induced apoptosis in MM cells. Further studies demonstrated that stathmin phosphorylation profile was modified in response to bortezomib treatment and the regulation of stathmin by phosphorylation at specific Ser/Thr residues participated in the cellular response induced by bortezomib. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our systematic profiling of phosphorylation changes in response to bortezomib treatment not only advanced the global mechanistic understanding of the action of bortezomib on myeloma cells but also identified previously uncharacterized signaling proteins in myeloma cells
The GATA1s isoform is normally down-regulated during terminal haematopoietic differentiation and over-expression leads to failure to repress MYB, CCND2 and SKI during erythroid differentiation of K562 cells
Background: Although GATA1 is one of the most extensively studied haematopoietic transcription factors little is currently known about the physiological functions of its naturally occurring isoforms GATA1s and GATA1FL in humans—particularly whether the isoforms have distinct roles in different lineages and whether they have non-redundant roles in haematopoietic differentiation. As well as being of general interest to understanding of haematopoiesis, GATA1 isoform biology is important for children with Down syndrome associated acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (DS-AMKL) where GATA1FL mutations are an essential driver for disease pathogenesis.
<p/>Methods: Human primary cells and cell lines were analyzed using GATA1 isoform specific PCR. K562 cells expressing GATA1s or GATA1FL transgenes were used to model the effects of the two isoforms on in vitro haematopoietic differentiation.
<p/>Results: We found no evidence for lineage specific use of GATA1 isoforms; however GATA1s transcripts, but not GATA1FL transcripts, are down-regulated during in vitro induction of terminal megakaryocytic and erythroid differentiation in the cell line K562. In addition, transgenic K562-GATA1s and K562-GATA1FL cells have distinct gene expression profiles both in steady state and during terminal erythroid differentiation, with GATA1s expression characterised by lack of repression of MYB, CCND2 and SKI.
<p/>Conclusions: These findings support the theory that the GATA1s isoform plays a role in the maintenance of proliferative multipotent megakaryocyte-erythroid precursor cells and must be down-regulated prior to terminal differentiation. In addition our data suggest that SKI may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of children with DS-AMKL
Directional Radiation and Photodissociation Regions in Molecular Hydrogen Clouds
Some astrophysical observations of molecular hydrogen point to a broadening
of the velocity distribution for molecules at excited rotational levels. This
effect is observed in both Galactic and high redshift clouds. Analysis of H_2,
HD, and CI absorption lines has revealed the broadening effect in the
absorption system of QSO 1232+082 (z_{abs}=2.33771). We analyze line broadening
mechanisms by considering in detail the transfer of ultraviolet radiation (in
the resonance lines of the Lyman and Werner H_2 molecular bands) for various
velocity distributions at excited rotational levels. The mechanism we suggest
includes the saturation of the lines that populate excited rotational levels
(radiative pumping) and manifests itself most clearly in the case of
directional radiation in the medium. Based on the calculated structure of a
molecular hydrogen cloud in rotational level populations, we have considered an
additional mechanism that takes into account the presence of a
photodissociation region. Note that disregarding the broadening effects we
investigated can lead to a significant systematic error when the data are
processed.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure
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