FORTEST: Formal methods and testing

Formal methods have traditionally been used for specification and development of software. However there are potential benefits for the testing stage as well. The panel session associated with this paper explores the usefulness or otherwise of formal methods in various contexts for improving software testing. A number of different possibilities for the use of formal methods are explored and questions raised. The contributors are all members of the UK FORTEST Network on formal methods and testing. Although the authors generally believe that formal methods are useful in aiding the testing process, this paper is intended to provoke discussion. Dissenters are encouraged to put their views to the panel or individually to the authors

The first definitive Middle Jurassic atoposaurid (Crocodylomorpha, Neosuchia), and a discussion on the genus Theriosuchus

Atoposaurids were a clade of semiaquatic crocodyliforms known from the Late Jurassic to the latest Cretaceous. Tentative remains from Europe, Morocco, and Madagascar may extend their range into the Middle Jurassic. Here we report the first unambiguous Middle Jurassic (late Bajocian–Bathonian) atoposaurid: an anterior dentary from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK. A comprehensive review of atoposaurid specimens demonstrates that this dentary can be referred to Theriosuchus based on several derived characters, and differs from the five previously recognized species within this genus. Despite several diagnostic features, we conservatively refer it to Theriosuchus sp., pending the discovery of more complete material. As the oldest known definitively diagnostic atoposaurid, this discovery indicates that the oldest members of this group were small-bodied, had heterodont dentition, and were most likely widespread components of European faunas. Our review of mandibular and dental features in atoposaurids not only allows us to present a revised diagnosis of Theriosuchus, but also reveals a great amount of variability within this genus, and indicates that there are currently five valid species that can be differentiated by unique combinations of dental characteristics. This variability can be included in future broad-scale cladistics analyses of atoposaurids and closely related crocodyliforms, which promise to help untangle the complicated taxonomy and evolutionary history of Atoposauridae

Using Electrofishing Demonstrations to Increase Water Quality Awareness

OSU Extension has developed a new program that utilizes electrofishing demonstrations to increase water quality awareness. Since 2001, over 2,000 participants have attended 72 demonstrations. Participants learn about water quality indicators and the electrofishing process, view aquatic wildlife and stream habitat, and discuss conservation measures that can protect and restore streams. An Extension professional does not need to be an expert on electrofishing or have any equipment to organize a demonstration. An interest and a dedicated fisheries resource person is all that is needed. Electrofishing demonstrations provide a fun, non-confrontational way to discuss water quality topics that can be controversial

Real-time national GPS networks: Opportunities for atmospheric sensing

Real-time national Global Positioning System (GPS) networks are being established in a number of countries for atmospheric sensing. UCAR, in collaboration with participating universities, is developing one of these networks in the United States. The network, named "SuomiNet" to honor meteorological satellite pioneer Verner Suomi, is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. SuomiNet will exploit the recently-shown ability of ground-based GPS receivers to make thousands of accurate upper and lower atmospheric measurements per day. Phase delays induced in GPS signals by the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere can be measured with high precision simultaneously along up to a dozen GPS ray paths in the field of view. These delays can be converted into total electron content (TEC), and integrated water vapor (if surface pressure data or estimates are available), along each GPS ray path. The resulting continuous, accurate, all-weather, real-time upper and lower atmospheric data create a variety of opportunities for atmospheric research. In this letter we describe SuomiNet, its applications, and the opportunity to coordinate national real-time GPS networks to create, a global network with larger scientific and operational potential. Copy right© The Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences (SGEPSS); The Seismological Society of Japan; The Volcanological Society of Japan; The Geodetic Society of Japan; The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences

Postnatal adaptations of phosphatidylcholine metabolism in extremely preterm infants: implications for choline and PUFA metabolism

BACKGROUND: Lipid metabolism in pregnancy delivers PUFAs from maternal liver to the developing fetus. The transition at birth to diets less enriched in PUFA is especially challenging for immature, extremely preterm infants who are typically supported by total parenteral nutrition. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to characterize phosphatidylcholine (PC) and choline metabolism in preterm infants and demonstrate the molecular specificity of PC synthesis by the immature preterm liver in vivo. METHODS: This MS-based lipidomic study quantified the postnatal adaptations to plasma PC molecular composition in 31 preterm infants <28 weeks' gestational age. Activities of the cytidine diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) and phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PEMT) pathways for PC synthesis were assessed from incorporations of deuterated methyl-D9-choline chloride. RESULTS: The concentration of plasma PC in these infants increased postnatally from median values of 481 (IQR: 387-798) µM at enrollment to 1046 (IQR: 616-1220) µM 5 d later (P < 0.001). Direct incorporation of methyl-D9-choline demonstrated that this transition was driven by an active CDP-choline pathway that synthesized PC enriched in species containing oleic and linoleic acids. A second infusion of methyl-D9-choline chloride at day 5 clearly indicated continued activity of this pathway. Oxidation of D9-choline through D9-betaine resulted in the transfer of 1 deuterated methyl group to S-adenosylmethionine. A very low subsequent transfer of this labeled methyl group to D3-PC indicated that liver PEMT activity was essentially inactive in these infants. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the preterm infant liver soon after birth, and by extension the fetal liver, was metabolically active in lipoprotein metabolism. The low PEMT activity, which is the only pathway for endogenous choline synthesis and is responsible for hormonally regulated export of PUFAs from adult liver, strongly supports increased supplementation of preterm parenteral nutrition with both choline and PUFAs

Supersymmetric sound in fluids

We consider the hydrodynamics of supersymmetric fluids. Supersymmetry is broken spontaneously and the low energy spectrum includes a fermionic massless mode, the $\mathit{phonino}$. We use two complementary approaches to describe the system: First, we construct a generating functional from which we derive the equations of motion of the fluid and of the phonino propagating through the fluid. We write the form of the leading corrections in the derivative expansion, and show that the so called diffusion terms in the supercurrent are in fact not dissipative. Second, we use an effective field theory approach which utilizes a non-linear realization of supersymmetry to analyze the interactions between phoninos and phonons, and demonstrate the conservation of entropy in ideal fluids. We comment on possible phenomenological consequences for gravitino physics in the early universe.Comment: Modified introduction and discussion of diffusion terms in the supercurren

Endoscopic ultrasound in the assessment of advanced duodenal adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis

Objective Current surveillance strategies for duodenal adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) miss malignancies and underestimate cancer risk in ampullary disease. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the assessment of FAP patients with duodenal and/or ampullary polyposis referred for surgical intervention. Design A retrospective analysis of FAP patients undergoing index EUS between December 2006 and May 2015 was performed. Follow-up was completed in January 2018, including review of all EUS procedures and surgical interventions (median follow-up 6 years). Results Fifty-five patients underwent 188 EUS procedures. Six patients (11%) developed malignancy (three duodenal, three ampullary). Ampullary cancer risk was underestimated by Spigelman stage and overestimated by Kashiwagi classification. Ultrasound findings were poor predictors of malignancy, with common bile duct dilatation being the only finding present in one EUS prior to a diagnosis of ampullary cancer. The best predictors of ampullary malignancy were an ampullary polyp size >3 cm and an increase >1 cm in ampullary polyp size. Ampullary polyp size >3 cm provided the best predictive value, correctly identifying two of the three cases of ampullary cancer and both patients with high-grade dysplasia. EUS biopsy failed to detect malignancy later confirmed by surgical histology in two patients. Conclusion EUS surveillance confers little additional benefit to standard endoscopic surveillance in FAP patients. The best predictor of ampullary malignancy is an ampullary polyp >3 cm; this could be regarded as a relative indication for surgery

Endoscopic ultrasound in the assessment of advanced duodenal adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis

Objective: Current surveillance strategies for duodenal adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) miss malignancies and underestimate cancer risk in ampullary disease. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the assessment of FAP patients with duodenal and/or ampullary polyposis referred for surgical intervention. Design: A retrospective analysis of FAP patients undergoing index EUS between December 2006 and May 2015 was performed. Follow-up was completed in January 2018, including review of all EUS procedures and surgical interventions (median follow-up 6 years). Results: Fifty-five patients underwent 188 EUS procedures. Six patients (11%) developed malignancy (three duodenal, three ampullary). Ampullary cancer risk was underestimated by Spigelman stage and overestimated by Kashiwagi classification. Ultrasound findings were poor predictors of malignancy, with common bile duct dilatation being the only finding present in one EUS prior to a diagnosis of ampullary cancer. The best predictors of ampullary malignancy were an ampullary polyp size >3 cm and an increase >1 cm in ampullary polyp size. Ampullary polyp size >3 cm provided the best predictive value, correctly identifying two of the three cases of ampullary cancer and both patients with high-grade dysplasia. EUS biopsy failed to detect malignancy later confirmed by surgical histology in two patients. Conclusion: EUS surveillance confers little additional benefit to standard endoscopic surveillance in FAP patients. The best predictor of ampullary malignancy is an ampullary polyp >3 cm; this could be regarded as a relative indication for surgery