Semi-classical Dynamical Triangulations

For non-critical string theory the partition function reduces to an integral over moduli space after integrating over matter fields. The moduli integrand is known analytically for genus one surfaces. The formalism of dynamical triangulations provides us with a regularization of non-critical string theory and we show that even for very small triangulations it reproduces very well the continuum integrand when the central charge $c$ of the matter fields is large negative, thus providing a striking example of how the quantum fluctuations of geometry disappear when $c \to -\infty$.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Gradel

A major problem facing Computer Science faculty members at Cedarville University is grading student assignments. Specifically, grading programming assignments can be a repetitive, time-consuming process which makes it prime for automation. Professors need a web application that takes student code, compiles it, and compares the output to what the professors provides as correct. Gradel, a senior design project, allows students to submit their code online and receive instant feedback based on professor-designed test cases. Furthermore, professors need to be able to keep track of what grades students earn on their projects, which is functionality Gradel provides. In addition to allowing professors to create courses for typical class use, Gradel also allows professors to create contests, such as the annual programming competition that takes place on campus every year. Gradel has been used for several sections of a class and this year’s contest, and the results are extremely promising

OSU v 3.0 Browser : window into GUI applications

Graphical user interface (GUI) applications based on object-oriented design are difficult to build without a supportive tool to graphically visualize the structure of the entire application. As an application becomes larger and more complex, it becomes harder to visualize its class hierarchy. Several systems, such as Smalltalk, MacApp, THINK C 5.0 and THINK Pascal, have provided powerful tools for this visualization. However, none of them can be invoked internally by the Oregon Speedcode Universe version 3.0 (OSU v3.0) supporting tools such as the Petri Net Editor [Keh 91]. The Petri Net Editor needs to view the class hierarchy of an application and obtain information to specify a transition arc, such as the method that sends a message to an object, the class that defines this method. and the path to find the definition of this class. The solution is straight forward: to build our own OSU 3.0 Browser to meet the OSU v3.0 supporting tools' needs. A browser provides a graphical view of the class hierarchy of an entire application and gives a better idea of how the system or the application is structured and how the classes relate to each other. The functionalities of the OSU 3.0 Browser is to parse the C++ source code of the OSU Application Framework, save the necessary information in an internal data structure, display the class hierarchy in a tree chart, and return the path name of the definition of the selected methods to the Petri Net Editor. The Browser is built on the OSU Application Framework [Wittel 91] and integrated with the Petri Net Editor

Machine learning outperforms clinical experts in classification of hip fractures

Hip fractures are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, and incur high health and social care costs. Given projected population ageing, the number of incident hip fractures is predicted to increase globally. As fracture classification strongly determines the chosen surgical treatment, differences in fracture classification influence patient outcomes and treatment costs. We aimed to create a machine learning method for identifying and classifying hip fractures, and to compare its performance to experienced human observers. We used 3659 hip radiographs, classified by at least two expert clinicians. The machine learning method was able to classify hip fractures with 19% greater accuracy than humans, achieving overall accuracy of 92%

Towards Symbolic Model-Based Mutation Testing: Combining Reachability and Refinement Checking

Model-based mutation testing uses altered test models to derive test cases that are able to reveal whether a modelled fault has been implemented. This requires conformance checking between the original and the mutated model. This paper presents an approach for symbolic conformance checking of action systems, which are well-suited to specify reactive systems. We also consider nondeterminism in our models. Hence, we do not check for equivalence, but for refinement. We encode the transition relation as well as the conformance relation as a constraint satisfaction problem and use a constraint solver in our reachability and refinement checking algorithms. Explicit conformance checking techniques often face state space explosion. First experimental evaluations show that our approach has potential to outperform explicit conformance checkers.Comment: In Proceedings MBT 2012, arXiv:1202.582

Ki67 Proliferation Index as a Tool for Chemotherapy Decisions During and After Neoadjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Treatment of Breast Cancer: Results From the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1031 Trial (Alliance)

To determine the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in estrogen receptor (ER) –positive primary breast cancer triaged to chemotherapy when the protein encoded by the MKI67 gene (Ki67) level was > 10% after 2 to 4 weeks of neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy. A second objective was to examine risk of relapse using the Ki67-based Preoperative Endocrine Prognostic Index (PEPI)

Supplement use during an intergroup clinical trial for breast cancer (S0221)

The use of supplements during chemotherapy is controversial, partly due to the potential effect of antioxidants on reduced efficacy of chemotherapy-related cytotoxicity. We examined supplement use among breast cancer patients registered to a clinical trial (SWOG 0221) before diagnosis and during treatment. Patients (n = 1,467) completed questionnaires regarding multivitamin and supplement use at trial registration (baseline) to capture use before diagnosis. Of these patients, 1,249 completed a 6-month followup questionnaire to capture use during treatment. We examined the use of vitamins C, D, E, B6, B12, folic acid, and calcium at these timepoints, as well as physician recommendations regarding supplement use. The use of vitamins C, E, folic acid, and calcium decreased during treatment, while the use of vitamin B6 increased. Five hundred seventy four patients (51 %) received no physician recommendations regarding supplement use. Among the remaining 49, 10 % were advised not to take multivitamins and/or supplements, 7 % were advised to use only multivitamins, and 32 % received recommendations to use multivitamins and/or supplements. Among patients who took vitamin C before diagnosis, those who were advised not to take supplements were >5 times more likely not to use of vitamin C during treatment than those not advised to stop use (OR = 5.27, 95 % CI 1.13–24.6). Previous non-users who were advised to take a multivitamin were nearly 5 times more likely to use multivitamins during treatment compared to those who received no recommendation (OR = 4.66, 95 % CI 2.10–10.3). In this clinical trial for high-risk breast cancer, supplement use generally decreased during treatment. Upon followup from the clinical trial, findings regarding supplement use and survival outcomes will better inform physician recommendations for patients on adjuvant chemotherapy