scholarly journals Formal verification: will the seedling ever flower?

2017 ◽  
Vol 375 (2104) ◽  
pp. 20150402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil White ◽  
Stuart Matthews ◽  
Roderick Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Critical Systems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Software Companies ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
National Significance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Formal Techniques

In one sense, formal specification and verification have been highly successful: techniques have been developed in pioneering academic research, transferred to software companies through training and partnerships, and successfully deployed in systems with national significance. Altran UK has been in the vanguard of this movement. This paper summarizes some of our key deployments of formal techniques over the past 20 years, including both security- and safety-critical systems. The impact of formal techniques, however, remains within an industrial niche, and while government and suppliers across industry search for solutions to the problems of poor-quality software, the wider software industry remains resistant to adoption of this proven solution. We conclude by reflecting on some of the challenges we face as a community in ensuring that formal techniques achieve their true potential impact on society. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Verified trustworthy software systems’.

scholarly journals Neurocircuitry of Reward and Addiction: Potential Impact of Dopamine–Glutamate Co-release as Future Target in Substance Use Disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1887
Author(s):  
Zisis Bimpisidis ◽  
Åsa Wallén-Mackenzie
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Unique Property ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Behavioral Regulation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Midbrain Neurons ◽  
Natural Rewards ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact

Dopamine–glutamate co-release is a unique property of midbrain neurons primarily located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Dopamine neurons of the VTA are important for behavioral regulation in response to rewarding substances, including natural rewards and addictive drugs. The impact of glutamate co-release on behaviors regulated by VTA dopamine neurons has been challenging to probe due to lack of selective methodology. However, several studies implementing conditional knockout and optogenetics technologies in transgenic mice have during the past decade pointed towards a role for glutamate co-release in multiple physiological and behavioral processes of importance to substance use and abuse. In this review, we discuss these studies to highlight findings that may be critical when considering mechanisms of importance for prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

Private Equity Demystified

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Gilligan ◽  
Mike Wright
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Private Equity ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Adverse Consequence ◽  
Risk Capital ◽  
Performance Impact ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Established Firms ◽  
The Impact

This book deals with risk capital provided for established firms outside the stock market, private equity. It has grown rapidly over the last three decades, yet it is largely poorly understood. Although private equity has often been criticised in the public mind as being short-termist and having adverse consequence for employment, in reality this is far from the case. Dispelling some of the biggest myths and misconceptions about private equity, the book explains in detail what private equity involves and provides a review of the systematic evidence of what the impact of private equity has been. Written in a highly accessible style, it takes the reader through what private equity means, the different actors involved, and issues concerning sourcing, checking out, valuing, and structuring deals. The book contains summary tables of the academic research carried out over the past three decades across the private equity landscape, including the returns to investors, economic performance, impact on R&D and employees, and the longevity and life-cycle of private equity backed deal.

scholarly journals Coastal vulnerability of a pinned, soft-cliff coastline – Part I: Assessing the natural sensitivity to wave climate

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 295-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Barkwith ◽  
C. W. Thomas ◽  
P. W. Limber ◽  
M. A. Ellis ◽  
A. B. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Wave Climate ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Coastal Morphology ◽  
Transport Dynamics ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
The Past ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Offshore Wave ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The impact of future sea-level rise on coastal erosion as a result of a changing climate has been studied in detail over the past decade. The potential impact of a changing wave climate on erosion rates, however, is not typically considered. We explore the effect of changing wave climates on a pinned, soft-cliff, sandy coastline, using as an example the Holderness coast of East Yorkshire, UK. The initial phase of the study concentrates on calibrating a numerical model to recently measured erosion rates for the Holderness coast using an ensemble of geomorphological and shoreface parameters under an observed offshore wave climate. In the main phase of the study, wave climate data are perturbed gradually to assess their impact on coastal morphology. Forward-modelled simulations constrain the nature of the morphological response of the coast to changes in wave climate over the next century. Results indicate that changes to erosion rates over the next century will be spatially and temporally heterogeneous, with a variability of up to ±25% in the erosion rate relative to projections under constant wave climate. The heterogeneity results from the current coastal morphology and the sediment transport dynamics consequent on differing wave climate regimes.

Errors Resulting From Excluding the Effects of Humidity on the Performance of Combustion Turbine Plants Equipped With Evaporative Coolers

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sasso
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Brayton Cycle ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
Combustion Gas ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
The Past ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Combustion turbine combined cycle (CTCC) plants have generally been the “power plant of choice” over the past two decades for a number of reasons, including first cost, efficiency, and low emissions. Combustion (Gas) turbine (CT) based plants now account for over 30% of the electric power capacity in the United States. Despite the significant reliance on this technology, the electric Independent System Operators (ISOs) have yet to recognize and acknowledge in their production templates, test forms and performance predicting software the Brayton Cycle limitations, most notably how humidity affects output for CT plants equipped with evaporative cooling systems. Such plants account for an estimated 48% of the CT power installed in the last 10 years. Ignoring the impact of humidity on these plants can lead to errors in production predictions beyond the normal tolerance band of 3% to as high as 9% during peak ambient temperatures for certain units. As such the electric ISO’s prediction of available generation and the associated capacity reserve margins have the potential to be overestimated. The article explores the situation in more depth, presents examples within the NYISO, quantifies the potential impact and recommends easy solutions to close the gap.

scholarly journals Scenarios for the Development of the Migration Problem in Russia

2020 ◽  
pp. 281-296
Author(s):  
Sergey Stepanov ◽  
Ekaterina Ivanova
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
General Concept ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Migration Process ◽  
Interethnic Relations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Comparison Of The Results ◽  
The Impact

The article is devoted to the impact of migration processes on public opinion and possible solutions to the migration problem in modern Russia. An analysis and comparison of the results of sociological surveys conducted by various sociological agencies over the past five years has made it possible to identify the most vulnerable points in interethnic relations. Speaking about the future prospects of Russian migration policy, the authors offer scenarios for the development of the migration problem in Russia. To study the experience of the organization, as well as to determine the specific features of the functioning of the migration process, comparative methods are used to identify the main ways of regulating the migration policy in Russia and to compare this practice with international experience. The generalization method is also used, allowing the authors to identify common properties and characteristics of the objects of study by moving from a particular or less general concept and judgment to a more general concept or judgment within the framework of this study. The methods of induction and deduction are widely used in academic research. Thanks to these methods, researchers have the opportunity to examine certain processes in detail, build logical relationships and sequences, and identify patterns. The use of induction made it possible to derive general propositions from a series of particular statements and isolated facts based on data from past experience.

Fluorescent potentiometric dyes for membrane-potential imaging

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Leslie M. Loew
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Quantitative Imaging ◽  
Optical Recording ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Major Focus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Excitable Systems ◽  
Major Application ◽  
The Impact

A major application of potentiometric dyes has been the multisite optical recording of electrical activity in excitable systems. After being championed by L.B. Cohen and his colleagues for the past 20 years, the impact of this technology is rapidly being felt and is spreading to an increasing number of neuroscience laboratories. A second class of experiments involves using dyes to image membrane potential distributions in single cells by digital imaging microscopy - a major focus of this lab. These studies usually do not require the temporal resolution of multisite optical recording, being primarily focussed on slow cell biological processes, and therefore can achieve much higher spatial resolution. We have developed 2 methods for quantitative imaging of membrane potential. One method uses dual wavelength imaging of membrane-staining dyes and the other uses quantitative 3D imaging of a fluorescent lipophilic cation; the dyes used in each case were synthesized for this purpose in this laboratory.

Perceived Burden of Informal Caregivers of a Chronically Ill Older Family Member

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmar Gräßel ◽  
Raffaela Adabbo
Keyword(s):  
Family Member ◽  
Informal Caregiver ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Stress Model ◽  
The Past ◽  
Perceived Burden ◽  
Hypothetical Construct ◽  
Care Situation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Further Development

The burden of caregivers has been intensively researched for the past 30 years and has resulted in a multitude of individual findings. This review illustrates the significance of the hypothetical construct of perceived burden for the further development and design of the homecare situation. Following explanations regarding the term informal caregiver, we derive the construct burden from its conceptual association with the transactional stress model of Lazarus and Folkman. Once the extent and characteristics of burden have been set forth, we then present the impact of perceived burden as the care situation. The question of predictors of burden will lead into the last section from which implications can be derived for homecare and relief of caregivers.

The Impact of Missing and Error-Prone Auxiliary Information on Sparse-Matrix Sub-Population Parameter Estimates

Methodology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Rutkowski ◽  
Yan Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Sparse Matrix ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Auxiliary Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Population Parameter ◽  
Conditioning Model ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Given a consistent interest in comparing achievement across sub-populations in international assessments such as TIMSS, PIRLS, and PISA, it is critical that sub-population achievement is estimated reliably and with sufficient precision. As such, we systematically examine the limitations to current estimation methods used by these programs. Using a simulation study along with empirical results from the 2007 cycle of TIMSS, we show that a combination of missing and misclassified data in the conditioning model induces biases in sub-population achievement estimates, the magnitude and degree to which can be readily explained by data quality. Importantly, estimated biases in sub-population achievement are limited to the conditioning variable with poor-quality data while other sub-population achievement estimates are unaffected. Findings are generally in line with theory on missing and error-prone covariates. The current research adds to a small body of literature that has noted some of the limitations to sub-population estimation.

Soziale Disziplinierung im flexiblen Kapitalismus

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (136) ◽  
pp. 339-356
Author(s):  
Tobias Wölfle ◽  
Oliver Schöller
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Capitalist Development ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Municipal Level

Under the term “Hilfe zur Arbeit” (aid for work) the federal law of social welfare subsumes all kinds of labour disciplining instruments. First, the paper shows the historical connection of welfare and labour disciplining mechanisms in the context of different periods within capitalist development. In a second step, against the background of historical experiences, we will analyse the trends of “Hilfe zur Arbeit” during the past two decades. It will be shown that by the rise of unemployment, the impact of labour disciplining aspects of “Hilfe zur Arbeit” has increased both on the federal and on the municipal level. For this reason the leverage of the liberal paradigm would take place even in the core of social rights.

Regulatory and sustainability initiatives lead to improved polyaminopolyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE) wet-strength resins and paper products

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (09) ◽  
pp. 519-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Crisp ◽  
Richard Riehle
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Wet Strength ◽  
The Past ◽  
Consumer Safety ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives ◽  
The Impact

Polyaminopolyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins are the predominant commercial products used to manufacture wet-strengthened paper products for grades requiring wet-strength permanence. Since their development in the late 1950s, the first generation (G1) resins have proven to be one of the most cost-effective technologies available to provide wet strength to paper. Throughout the past three decades, regulatory directives and sustainability initiatives from various organizations have driven the development of cleaner and safer PAE resins and paper products. Early efforts in this area focused on improving worker safety and reducing the impact of PAE resins on the environment. These efforts led to the development of resins containing significantly reduced levels of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), potentially carcinogenic byproducts formed during the manufacturing process of PAE resins. As the levels of these byproducts decreased, the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) profile of PAE resins and paper products improved. Recent initiatives from major retailers are focusing on product ingredient transparency and quality, thus encouraging the development of safer product formulations while maintaining performance. PAE resin research over the past 20 years has been directed toward regulatory requirements to improve consumer safety and minimize exposure to potentially carcinogenic materials found in various paper products. One of the best known regulatory requirements is the recommendations of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), which defines the levels of 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD that can be extracted by water from various food contact grades of paper. These criteria led to the development of third generation (G3) products that contain very low levels of 1,3-DCP (typically <10 parts per million in the as-received/delivered resin). This paper outlines the PAE resin chemical contributors to adsorbable organic halogens and 3-MCPD in paper and provides recommendations for the use of each PAE resin product generation (G1, G1.5, G2, G2.5, and G3).

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