On the Error Resilience of Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams

Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (OBDDs) are a data structure that is used in an increasing number of fields of Computer Science (e.g., logic synthesis, program verification, data mining, bioinformatics, and data protection) for representing and manipulating discrete structures and Boolean functions. The purpose of this paper is to study the error resilience of OBDDs and to design a resilient version of this data structure, i.e., a self-repairing OBDD. In particular, we describe some strategies that make reduced ordered OBDDs resilient to errors in the indexes, that are associated to the input variables, or in the pointers (i.e., OBDD edges) of the nodes. These strategies exploit the inherent redundancy of the data structure, as well as the redundancy introduced by its efficient implementations. The solutions we propose allow the exact restoring of the original OBDD and are suitable to be applied to classical software packages for the manipulation of OBDDs currently in use. Another result of the paper is the definition of a new canonical OBDD model, called {\em Index-resilient Reduced OBDD}, which guarantees that a node with a faulty index has a reconstruction cost $O(k)$, where $k$ is the number of nodes with corrupted index

Compact DSOP and partial DSOP Forms

Given a Boolean function f on n variables, a Disjoint Sum-of-Products (DSOP) of f is a set of products (ANDs) of subsets of literals whose sum (OR) equals f, such that no two products cover the same minterm of f. DSOP forms are a special instance of partial DSOPs, i.e. the general case where a subset of minterms must be covered exactly once and the other minterms (typically corresponding to don't care conditions of $f$) can be covered any number of times. We discuss finding DSOPs and partial DSOP with a minimal number of products, a problem theoretically connected with various properties of Boolean functions and practically relevant in the synthesis of digital circuits. Finding an absolute minimum is hard, in fact we prove that the problem of absolute minimization of partial DSOPs is NP-hard. Therefore it is crucial to devise a polynomial time heuristic that compares favorably with the known minimization tools. To this end we develop a further piece of theory starting from the definition of the weight of a product p as a functions of the number of fragments induced on other cubes by the selection of p, and show how product weights can be exploited for building a class of minimization heuristics for DSOP and partial DSOP synthesis. A set of experiments conducted on major benchmark functions show that our method, with a family of variants, always generates better results than the ones of previous heuristics, including the method based on a BDD representation of f

Enhancing Logic Synthesis of Switching Lattices by Generalized Shannon Decomposition Methods

In this paper we propose a novel approach to the synthesis of minimal-sized lattices, based on the decomposition of logic functions. Since the decomposition allows to obtain circuits with a smaller area, our idea is to decompose the Boolean functions according to generalizations of the classical Shannon decomposition, then generate the lattices for each component function, and finally implement the original function by a single composed lattice obtained by glueing together appropriately the lattices of the component functions. In particular we study the two decomposition schemes defining the bounded-level logic networks called P-circuits and EXOR-Projected Sums of Products (EP-SOPs). Experimental results show that about 34% of our benchmarks achieve a smaller area when implemented using the P-circuit decomposition for switching lattices, with an average gain of at least 25%, and about 27% of our benchmarks achieve a smaller area when implemented using the EP-SOP decomposition, with an average gain of at least 22%

Logic synthesis and testing techniques for switching nano-crossbar arrays

Beyond CMOS, new technologies are emerging to extend electronic systems with features unavailable to silicon-based devices. Emerging technologies provide new logic and interconnection structures for computation, storage and communication that may require new design paradigms, and therefore trigger the development of a new generation of design automation tools. In the last decade, several emerging technologies have been proposed and the time has come for studying new ad-hoc techniques and tools for logic synthesis, physical design and testing. The main goal of this project is developing a complete synthesis and optimization methodology for switching nano-crossbar arrays that leads to the design and construction of an emerging nanocomputer. New models for diode, FET, and four-terminal switch based nanoarrays are developed. The proposed methodology implements logic, arithmetic, and memory elements by considering performance parameters such as area, delay, power dissipation, and reliability. With combination of logic, arithmetic, and memory elements a synchronous state machine (SSM), representation of a computer, is realized. The proposed methodology targets variety of emerging technologies including nanowire/nanotube crossbar arrays, magnetic switch-based structures, and crossbar memories. The results of this project will be a foundation of nano-crossbar based circuit design techniques and greatly contribute to the construction of emerging computers beyond CMOS. The topic of this project can be considered under the research area of â\u80\u9cEmerging Computing Modelsâ\u80\u9d or â\u80\u9cComputational Nanoelectronicsâ\u80\u9d, more specifically the design, modeling, and simulation of new nanoscale switches beyond CMOS

In Vitro Activity of 3 Commercial Bacteriophage Cocktails Against Salmonella and Shigella spp. Isolates of Human Origin

Background: Salmonella and Shigella spp. are 2 of the most frequent and deadly enteric bacterial pathogens recorded worldwide. In developing countries Salmonella infections are responsible for many deaths annually and these mortality rates are prone to increase due to the emergence of resistance to antibiotics. In this overall scenario new alternative therapeutic approaches are needed. Methods: For the first time, we investigated the activity of 3 commercial bacteriophage cocktails (INTESTI, Septaphage, PYO) against a collection of contemporary Salmonella spp. (n = 30) and Shigella spp. (n = 20) strains isolated in Switzerland. Phage susceptibility was determined by implementing the spot test. Results: The overall susceptibility of Salmonella spp. to INTESTI and Septaphage was 87% and 77%, respectively. With regard to Shigella spp., the overall susceptibility to INTESTI and Septaphage was 95% and 55%, respectively. PYOwas observed to be active against only 10% of Salmonella spp. but against 95% of Shigella spp. Conclusions: Our results seem promising, especially for the INTESTI biopreparation against Salmonella enterica infections. Nevertheless, such speculation should be supported by further in vivo studies to confirm efficacy and safety of the cocktails. We also emphasize the importance of large in vitro screening analyses aimed to assess the activity of such biopreparations against contemporary multidrug-resistant strains that are emerging worldwide. Keywords: commercial; bacteriophages; Salmonella; Shigella cocktail

In Vitro Activity of Three Commercial Bacteriophage Cocktails against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli and Proteus spp. Strains of Human and Non-Human Origin

Background: Bacteriophages could represent a therapeutic alternative to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. However, studies analyzing their activity against MDR Enterobacteriaceae are limited. Methods: The in vitro lytic activity of three commercial bacteriophage cocktails (PYO, INTESTI, Septaphage) was evaluated against 70 Escherichia coli and 31 Proteus spp. of human and non-human origin. Isolates were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic methods and included 82 MDR strains: 44 ESBL (of which 15 CTX-M-15-like, including ST131/ST648 E. coli), 27 pAmpC (of which 23 CMY-2-like, including ST131 E. coli), 3 ESBL plus pAmpC, and 8 carbapenemase producers. Phage susceptibility was determined using the spot test. Results: E. coli susceptibility to PYO, INTESTI, and Septaphage was 61%, 67%, and 9%, whereas that of Proteus spp. was 29%, 39%, and 19%, respectively. For the subgroup of ESBL-producing E. coli/Proteus spp., the following susceptible rates were recorded: PYO, 57%; INTESTI, 59%; and Septaphage, 11%. With regard to the pAmpC producers, 59%, 70% and 11% resulted susceptible to PYO, INTESTI, and Septaphage, respectively. Five out of 8 carbapenemase producers and 3 out of 4 colistin-resistant E. coli were susceptible to PYO and INTESTI. Conclusions: This is the first study analyzing the activity of the above three cocktails against well-characterized MDR E. coli and Proteus spp. The overall narrow-spectrum of activity observed could be related to the absence of specific bacteriophages targeting these contemporary MDR strains that are spreading in different settings. Therefore, bacteriophages targeting emerging MDR pathogens need to be isolated and integrated in such bio-preparations

Porous nanoparticles with self-adjuvanting M2e-fusion protein and recombinant hemagglutinin provide strong and broadly protective immunity against influenza virus infections

Due to the high risk of an outbreak of pandemic influenza, the development of a broadly protective universal influenza vaccine is highly warranted. The design of such a vaccine has attracted attention and much focus has been given to nanoparticle-based influenza vaccines which can be administered intranasally. This is particularly interesting since, contrary to injectable vaccines, mucosal vaccines elicit local IgA and lung resident T cell immunity, which have been found to correlate with stronger protection in experimental models of influenza virus infections. Also, studies in human volunteers have indicated that pre-existing CD4(+) T cells correlate well to increased resistance against infection. We have previously developed a fusion protein with 3 copies of the ectodomain of matrix protein 2 (M2e), which is one of the most explored conserved influenza A virus antigens for a broadly protective vaccine known today. To improve the protective ability of the self-adjuvanting fusion protein, CTA1-3M2e-DD, we incorporated it into porous maltodextrin nanoparticles (NPLs). This proof-of-principle study demonstrates that the combined vaccine vector given intranasally enhanced immune protection against a live challenge infection and reduced the risk of virus transmission between immunized and unimmunized individuals. Most importantly, immune responses to NPLs that also contained recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) were strongly enhanced in a CTA1-enzyme dependentmanner and we achieved broadly protective immunity against a lethal infection with heterosubtypic influenza virus. Immune protection wasmediated by enhanced levels of lung resident CD4(+) T cells as well as anti-HA and -M2e serum IgG and local IgA antibodies

Placental pathology in perinatal asphyxia: a case–control study

IntroductionPlacentas of term infants with birth asphyxia are reported to have more lesion such as maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) and chorioamnionitis with fetal response (FIR) than those of term infants without birth asphyxia. We compared the placental pathology of asphyxiated newborns, including those who developed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), with non-asphyxiated controls.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case–control study of placentas from neonates with a gestational age ≥ 35 weeks, a birthweight ≥ 1,800 g, and no malformations. Cases were asphyxiated newborns (defined as those with an umbilical artery pH ≤ 7.0 or base excess ≤ −12 mMol, 10-minute Apgar score ≤ 5, or the need for resuscitation lasting >10 min) from a previous cohort, with (n=32) and without (n=173) diagnosis of HIE. Controls were non-asphyxiated newborns from low-risk l (n= 50) or high-risk (n= 68) pregnancies. Placentas were analyzed according to the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus Statement 2014.ResultsCases had a higher prevalence of nulliparity, BMI>25, thick meconium, abnormal fetal heart monitoring, and acute intrapartum events than controls (p<0.001). MVM and FVM were more frequent among non-asphyxiated than asphyxiated newborns (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in inflammatory lesions or abnormal umbilical insertion site. Histologic meconium-associated changes (MAC) were observed in asphyxiated newborns only (p= 0.039).DiscussionOur results confirm the role of antepartum and intrapartum risk factors in neonatal asphyxia and HIE. No association between neonatal asphyxia and placental lesions was found, except for in the case of MAC. The association between clinical and placental data is crucial to understanding and possibly preventing perinatal asphyxia in subsequent pregnancies