VeriFly: On-the-fly Assertion Checking via Incrementality

Assertion checking is an invaluable programmer’s tool for finding many classes of errors or verifying their absence in dynamic languages such as Prolog. For Prolog programmers, this means being able to have relevant properties, such as modes, types, determinacy, nonfailure, sharing, constraints, and cost, checked and errors flagged without having to actually run the program. Such global static analysis tools are arguably most useful the earlier they are used in the software development cycle, and fast response times are essential for interactive use. Triggering a full and precise semantic analysis of a software project every time a change is made can be prohibitively expensive. This is specially the case when complex properties need to be inferred for large, realistic code bases. In our static analysis and verification framework, this challenge is addressed through a combination of modular and incremental (context- and path-sensitive) analysis that is responsive to program edits, at different levels of granularity. In this tool paper, we present how the combination of this framework within an integrated development environment (IDE) takes advantage of such incrementality to achieve a high level of reactivity when reflecting analysis and verification results back as colorings and tooltips directly on the program text – the tool’s VeriFly mode. The concrete implementation that we describe is Emacs-based and reuses in part off-the-shelf “on-the-fly” syntax checking facilities (flycheck). We believe that similar extensions are also reproducible with low effort in other mature development environments. Our initial experience with the tool shows quite promising results, with low latency times that provide early, continuous, and precise assertion checking and other semantic feedback to programmers during the development process. The tool supports Prolog natively, as well as other languages by semantic transformation into Horn clauses.

Calculation of Equilibrium Composition of Complex Thermodynamic Systems using Julia Language and Ipopt Library

The article considers the possibility of using the Ipopt optimization package for the calculating the phase and equilibrium compositions of a multicomponent heterogeneous thermodynamic system. Two functions are presented for calculating the equilibrium composition and properties of complex thermodynamic systems, written in the Julia programming language. These functions are the key ones in the program integrated with the IVTANTERMO database on thermodynamic properties of individual substances and used for conducting test calculations. The test calculations showed that Ipopt package allows determining the phase and chemical compositions of simple and complex thermodynamic systems with a fairly high speed. Using the JuMP modeling language significantly simplifies the preparation of the initial data for the Ipopt package, therefore the functions presented in this article are very compact. It is shown how the Ipopt package can be used when the temperature of the thermodynamic system is unknown. The approach proposed in this work is applicable both for analyzing the equilibrium of individual chemical reactions and for calculating the equilibrium composition of complex chemically reacting systems. The simplicity of the proposed functions allows their easy integrating into application programs, embedding them into more complex applications, using them in combination with more complex models (real gas, nonideal solutions, constrained equilibria), and, if necessary, modifying them. It should be noted that the versatility of the JuMP modeling language makes it possible to replace the Ipopt package with another one without significant modification of the program text

Identification of the Program Text and Algorithm Correspondence Based on the Control Graph Constructive-Synthesizing Model

Purpose.The main article purpose is to develop and implement the method for identifying the correspondence between the text and the program algorithm represented in the form of a flowchart. As part of the method work conversion of the input data in the graph representation is performed by means of constructive-synthesizing modelling. Methodology. To compare the program text and flowchart, we constructed a mathematical model for converting the program code into a graphical representation on the basis of control structures. To build the model, the apparatus of constructive-synthesizing modeling and its methods were used: specialization, concretization, interpretation and implementation. The graph representation of the text is created taking into account the control operators; the flowcharts are created using a json file containing the description of the diagram elements and their links. To compare the graphs we use the breadth-first search algorithm with the number of identical vertices being counted. To obtain the software implementation of the developed method and models we used the technology of object-oriented programming and CASE-technologies, which are based on the unified modeling language UML. Findings A method is proposed to present the text and the flowchart of the program in a uniform format of the directed graph (control graph) and to evaluate their correspondence by the number of identical vertices. For its formalization and automated usage, we developed constructive-synthesizing models of input data transformers. The program application was developed based on the models and the method. Originality. The methods of constructive-synthesizing modeling in the tasks of processing texts written in artificial languages were further developed. We developed the system of constructors, which transforms text program in C++ into a control graph. Practical value. The results are significant for solving such tasks as assembling program texts for borrowings detection, determining the correspondence of the program algorithms and their software implementations to improve coding skills. The graph representation produced by the developed system of constructors can be used for investigation of influence of optimization and code refactoring on the program complexity using McCabe's metrics.

Development and Usability of a Text Messaging Program for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects 5-10% of pregnancies and can lead to serious fetal and maternal complications. SMS text messaging is an effective way to improve diabetes management outside of pregnancy, but has not been well studied in GDM. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to perform user experience testing and assess usability and acceptability of a text messaging program (Text 4 Success) for women with GDM. METHODS An automated two-way texting program was developed. It included: 1) reminders to check blood glucoses, 2) positive feedback to user-reported glucoses, 3) weekly educational messages and 4) weekly motivational messages. For the user experience testing, women received simulated messages. For the usability study, women were enrolled in the program and received messages for 2 weeks. All women participated in semi-structured interviews. For women in the usability study, glucose measuring devices were downloaded to assess adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), measured as the percent of recommended SMBG checks performed (a secondary outcome). RESULTS Ten women participated in user experience testing. Suggestions for optimization included further customization of message timing and minimization of jargon which were incorporated. Ten women participated in the usability study. All 10 would recommend the program to other women with GDM. Participants liked the immediate feedback to glucose values. Suggestions included further flexibility of messages related to mealtimes and the ability to aggregate blood glucose data into a table or graph. Overall, adherence to SMBG testing was high at baseline (>90%). In comparing the week prior to the trial to the two weeks during the trial, there was a small but statistically insignificant difference in the percentage of recommended SMBG performed (median 93% [5 to 95 percentile 82-100%] vs median 97% [83-100%]). CONCLUSIONS Overall, women with GDM would recommend the Text 4 Success in GDM program and think it is helpful for GDM self-management. The program was usable and acceptable. The program may be better suited to those who have a low adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose at baseline. Adaptations to the program will be made based on user suggestions. Further study of text messaging to improve SMBG in GDM is needed.

VISUAL-GRAPHIC PROGRAMMING SYSTEM BASED ON DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK DIAGRAMS OF ALGORITHMS. CONVERTING PROGRAMS TEXTS IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES INTO BLOCK DIAGRAMS AND BACK

В работе представлены результаты исследований и разработки средств визуально-графического проектирования сложных алгоритмов в виде блок-схем в целом и, в частности, интерфейсной компоненты таких средств – конвертора текстов программ на различных языках программирования во внутреннее структурно-вложенное представление и обратно в тексты. Визуально-графическое представление алгоритмов лучше воспринимается человеком-разработчиком, чем традиционное текстовое представление, поэтому развитию подобных систем программирования в последнее время уделяется определенное внимание. Однако реализация максимально удобных для человека технологий создания и редактирования блок-схем сопряжена с необходимостью решения ряда сложных задач формирования и адекватного отображения управляющих структур, используемых в популярных языках программирования. Проведен анализ таких структур для наиболее популярных по разным метрикам языков программирования, представлены его результаты и предложен способ выявления и преобразования управляющих структур во внутреннее представление визуально-графического редактора. Описаны основные алгоритмы работы конвертора текстов программ как в прямом, так и в обратном направлениях. The paper presents the results of research and development of tools for visual and graphic design of complex algorithms in the form of block diagrams in general and, in particular, the interface component of such tools - a converter of programs texts in various programming languages ​​into an internal structurally nested representation and back into texts. The visual-graphical representation of algorithms is better perceived by a human developer than the traditional textual representation, therefore, some attention has been paid to the development of such programming systems in recent years. However, the implementation of the most human-friendly technologies for creating and editing block diagrams is associated with the need to solve a number of complex problems of forming and adequately displaying control structures used in popular programming languages. The analysis of such structures for the most popular programming languages ​​in terms of various metrics is carried out, its results are presented, and a method for identifying and transforming control structures into an internal representation of a visual-graphic editor is proposed. The main algorithms for the operation of the program text converter both in forward and backward directions are described.

Nurse Assertiveness Repertoire Skills: A Training Text and Workbook

This training program text and workbook is designed to help you improve your ability to communicate assertively with your colleagues, nursing management personnel, members of the health care team and even with clients. The topic of this training is based on the result of a study on assertiveness and contents were adapted from relevant related literature on assertiveness training primarily from the Centre for Clinical Interventions. Nurses can make use of this training as they begin their professional journey. This training is based on the belief that effective nurse communicators are not made.

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Text Messaging to Increase Tobacco Treatment Reach in the Emergency Department

Background Automated text messaging programs have been studied as a treatment tool, but have not been studied as an outreach tool to increase the reach of smoking cessation treatment. Methods Two distinct text messaging programs were developed. One was aimed at connecting smokers to quitline phone counseling via text message (Text4Coach (T4C)) and the other was aimed at connecting smokers to a smoking cessation text messaging program (Text&Quit (T&Q)). Adult daily smokers with Medicaid insurance (N=80) were recruited from the Emergency Department at an urban hospital and randomized to T4C or T&Q. The primary outcome was program reach. Results Outreach text messages were found to have moderately high uptake, with the majority of participants (63.8%) opting into their assigned tobacco treatment program and younger and female participants more likely to opt in (p<.01). Receipt of the treatment portion of the program differed among the programs with 67.5% of T&Q receiving the treatment program and 27.5 % of T4C receiving the program (p<.001). Most participants across both groups replied to at least 1 message (71.3%) and very few unsubscribed from the service over the 3 week trial. The majority of participants reported overall satisfaction with their program (63.8%), found it helpful for quitting smoking (60.0%) and would recommend the program to a friend (62.5%). Overall, 11 (13.8 %) participants reported being abstinent from smoking for the past 7 days at follow-up, with no differences between groups. Conclusion Outreach text messages were found to have moderately high reach among Medicaid smokers. Larger trials are needed to evaluate the impact of such programs on helping low-income smokers quit.

‘The Chapters on Physics’ by Gregory Palamas: Historical Context, the Motivation of the Author, Addressee

Introduction. In spite of the fact that major researchers of Gregory Palamas’ theology, Robert Sinkewicz and John Demetracopoulos, offered detailed explanations of when and for what ‘The chapters on physics’ of Gregory Palamas were written, it seems that this issue was not finally resolved. Methods. This article, therefore, has two goals. The first is to answer the question why in ‘The chapters on physics’ the polemic against Barlaam and Akindynos, although it occupies a large part of the treatise, is presented as a part of the broader theological and philosophical program of Palamas, and what role does the cosmological part (1–14 chapters) play in the structure of the treatise. In the author’s opinion, such a statement of the question will allow us to understand what Gregory Palamas was guided by when writing the text. The second objective is to offer a social portrait of the addressee of this treatise, delivering some of representatives of the stratum on which the Palamas was oriented. Analysis. In answering the first question, special attention is paid to chapter 81 of the treatise, which, in the author’s opinion, reflects the intent of the entire text, namely, to demonstrate that the logic according to which something indivisible can be thought of as divisible without ceasing to be indivisible, works not only in the case of essence and energy, that is, in theology, but also in cosmology and anthropology. In answering the second question, the focus is on the figure of Matthew Kantakouzenos, who was at the time of writing the treatise in conflict with his father, emperor John VI Kantakouzenos, thereby causing discord in the political party, which at that time was a defender of the ideas of Hesychasm. It was Matthew Kantakouzenos, in the author’s opinion, or the social stratum behind him, who could be the recipients of the treatise. Results. The analysis of the treatise and its historical context shows that it was written largely for political reasons as a program text of Hesychasm, equipped with natural science and philosophical tools, since its recipients were both the broad educated strata of Byzantine society and direct participants in political life in the middle of the 14th century.

Features of Recreating the Poetics of Imagism in Translation into Russian (Based on the Material of an Independent Translation of the Poem by E. Pound «Salutation»)

Imagism is a current in Anglo-American poetry of the 1910s. The key program text of imagism is considered to be Ezra Pound's essay "A Few Don'ts", in which he briefly describes the state of poetry at the beginning of the XX century and makes a list of "several prohibitions" for contemporary poets. He notes that it is necessary to avoid redundant words and expressions, abstract vocabulary and generalizing concepts that do not contribute to the creation of images. Working on the translation, we came to the conclusion that the main difficulties encountered in the translation were related to the transfer of the imagist poetics of the original texts, as well as to the transfer of the author's private poetics. At the stage of pre-translation analysis of the text, we chose the strategy of equirithmic translation, which was dictated by the historical and literary context of the poem (E. Pound's observations on the principles that should guide a poet of the early XX century).

P090: Validation of a palliative or end of life care case-finding measure in emergency medical services

Introduction: The novel Paramedics Providing Palliative Care at Home program has been developed to address the mismatch between traditional paramedic practice and patient's goals of care. Case-finding is key to estimate potential impact for systems looking to establish such programs, continuous quality improvement once operational, and for prospective identification of patients who might benefit from referral to palliative care. Typical paramedic charting templates do not provide direct identification of these cases. Our objective was to test the validity of a previously derived Palliative Support Composite Measure (PSCM) and two modifications. Methods: A priori Gold Standard criteria for determining whether a response was appropriate for a paramedic palliative care approach were identified by expert consensus. Excluding chief complaints and clinical conditions that were universally identified as not appropriate for paramedic palliative support, these criteria were applied by two trained chart abstractors to 500 consecutive charts to classify calls as appropriate for paramedic palliative support, or not. The PSCM and modifications (added criteria call location type and registration in a palliative care program, text mining terms) were applied to the same cohort, and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicative (PPV/NPV) values calculated. Results: Of the 500 cases, 21 (4.2%) were classified as appropriate for paramedic palliative support by the Gold Standard (kappa 0.734). 9 cases with initial disagreement were reviewed with 8 ultimately being deemed to fit the palliative support criteria. The PSCM performed poorly (using the “potential palliative” cut point): sensitivity 71.4% (95%CI: 47.8-88.7), specificity 71.4% (95%CI: 67.1-75.4) and PPV of 9.9% (95%CI: 7.5-12.9) and NPV of 98.3% (95%CI: 96.7-99). The modified PSCM: sensitivity 61.9% (95% CI: 38.4-81.9), specificity 99% (95%CI: 97.6-99.7), PPV 72.2% (95%CI: 50.5-86.9) and NPV 98.3% (95%CI: 97.2-99). A Modified PSCM plus pall* text term performed similarly: sensitivity100% (83.9-100), specificity 97.3% (95% CI: 95.4-98.5), PPV 61.8% (95%CI: 48.6-73.4) and NPV100%. Conclusion: A modified PSCM provides moderate sensitivity, specificity and PPV, improved by the text term Pall* if feasible. This query will be helpful to systems considering a paramedic palliative care program or when one is already operational.