4,191 research outputs found
On the correctness of a branch displacement algorithm
The branch displacement problem is a well-known problem in assembler design. It revolves around the feature, present in several processor families, of having different instructions, of different sizes, for jumps of different displacements. The problem, which is provably NP-hard, is then to select the instructions such that one ends up with the smallest possible program.
During our research with the CerCo project on formally verifying a C compiler, we have implemented and proven correct an algorithm for this problem. In this paper, we discuss the problem, possible solutions, our specific solutions and the proofs
Figli della memoria
Figli della memoria, primo numero della collana di studi "Il tempo, la storia e la memoria", raccoglie contributi che affrontano il tema della Shoah e della memoria con approcci di tipo letterario, filosofico, artistico, storico, linguistico, politico e giuridico. Molti degli autori fanno parte della Rete Universitaria per il Giorno della Memoria e sono responsabili dei Corsi di Storia e didattica della Shoah istituiti dalla Rete in Italia e all'estero. Figli della memoria sintetizza la volont\ue0 di tenere uniti il mondo dell\u2019Universit\ue0, della Scuola e del Museo, senza facili strabismi e anzi mantenendo ferma l\u2019istanza civile, scientifica e didattica
Recollections of Tim Coen
The following interview was conducted with Tim Coen, the interviewee, and Renee Dube, the interviewer, for the Salve Regina Memory Project. It took place on Thursday, September 22nd, 2022, at Salve Regina University. Tim Coen served as the football coach for Salve Regina from 1992 to 1999. He finished his career at Salve with 53 wins, 12 losses, and an overall .815 winning percentage
A Bi-Directional Refinement Algorithm for the Calculus of (Co)Inductive Constructions
The paper describes the refinement algorithm for the Calculus of
(Co)Inductive Constructions (CIC) implemented in the interactive theorem prover
Matita. The refinement algorithm is in charge of giving a meaning to the terms,
types and proof terms directly written by the user or generated by using
tactics, decision procedures or general automation. The terms are written in an
"external syntax" meant to be user friendly that allows omission of
information, untyped binders and a certain liberal use of user defined
sub-typing. The refiner modifies the terms to obtain related well typed terms
in the internal syntax understood by the kernel of the ITP. In particular, it
acts as a type inference algorithm when all the binders are untyped. The
proposed algorithm is bi-directional: given a term in external syntax and a
type expected for the term, it propagates as much typing information as
possible towards the leaves of the term. Traditional mono-directional
algorithms, instead, proceed in a bottom-up way by inferring the type of a
sub-term and comparing (unifying) it with the type expected by its context only
at the end. We propose some novel bi-directional rules for CIC that are
particularly effective. Among the benefits of bi-directionality we have better
error message reporting and better inference of dependent types. Moreover,
thanks to bi-directionality, the coercion system for sub-typing is more
effective and type inference generates simpler unification problems that are
more likely to be solved by the inherently incomplete higher order unification
algorithms implemented. Finally we introduce in the external syntax the notion
of vector of placeholders that enables to omit at once an arbitrary number of
arguments. Vectors of placeholders allow a trivial implementation of implicit
arguments and greatly simplify the implementation of primitive and simple
tactics
General Recursion and Formal Topology.
Comment: In Proceedings PAR 2010, arXiv:1012.455
Quantum theory of the low-frequency linear susceptibility of interferometer-type superconducting qubits
We use the density matrix formalism to analyze the interaction of
interferometer-type superconducting qubits with a high quality tank circuit,
which frequency is well below the gap frequency of a qubit. We start with the
ground state characterization of the superconducting flux and charge qubits.
Then, by making use of a dressed state approach we describe the qubits'
spectroscopy when the qubit is irradiated by a microwave field which is tuned
to the gap frequency. The last section of the paper is devoted to continuous
monitoring of qubit states by using a DC SQUID in the inductive mode.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures; the title and abstract are slightly changed;
several typos are corrected; in order to make our argumentation more clear we
added some comments in the introduction and other section
New Insights into the Structural Roles of Nebulin in Skeletal Muscle
One important feature of muscle structure and function that has remained relatively obscure is the mechanism that regulates thin filament length. Filament length is an important aspect of muscle function as force production is proportional to the amount of overlap between thick and thin filaments. Recent advances, due in part to the generation of nebulin KO models, reveal that nebulin plays an important role in the regulation of thin filament length. Another structural feature of skeletal muscle that is not well understood is the mechanism involved in maintaining the regular lateral alignment of adjacent sarcomeres, that is, myofibrillar connectivity. Recent studies indicate that nebulin is part of a protein complex that mechanically links adjacent myofibrils. Thus, novel structural roles of nebulin in skeletal muscle involve the regulation of thin filament length and maintaining myofibrillar connectivity. When these functions of nebulin are absent, muscle weakness ensues, as is the case in patients with nemaline myopathy with mutations in nebulin. Here we review these new insights in the role of nebulin in skeletal muscle structure
Risk and protective factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents: matched cohort study
Objective: To examine biological and social risk factors for
meningococcal disease in adolescents.
Design: Prospective, population based, matched cohort study
with controls matched for age and sex in 1:1 matching.
Controls were sought from the general practitioner.
Setting: Six contiguous regions of England, which represent
some 65% of the country’s population.
Participants: 15-19 year olds with meningococcal disease
recruited at hospital admission in six regions (representing 65%
of the population of England) from January 1999 to June 2000,
and their matched controls.
Methods: Blood samples and pernasal and throat swabs were
taken from case patients at admission to hospital and from
cases and matched controls at interview. Data on potential risk
factors were gathered by confidential interview. Data were
analysed by using univariate and multivariate conditional
logistic regression.
Results: 144 case control pairs were recruited (74 male (51%);
median age 17.6). 114 cases (79%) were confirmed
microbiologically. Significant independent risk factors for
meningococcal disease were history of preceding illness
(matched odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 5.9),
intimate kissing with multiple partners (3.7, 1.7 to 8.1), being a
university student (3.4, 1.2 to 10) and preterm birth (3.7, 1.0 to
13.5). Religious observance (0.09, 0.02 to 0.6) and
meningococcal vaccination (0.12, 0.04 to 0.4) were associated
with protection.
Conclusions: Activities and events increasing risk for
meningococcal disease in adolescence are different from in
childhood. Students are at higher risk. Altering personal
behaviours could moderate the risk. However, the development
of further effective meningococcal vaccines remains a key
public health priority
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