matOptimize: A parallel tree optimization method enables online phylogenetics for SARS-CoV-2

Phylogenetic tree optimization is necessary for precise analysis of evolutionary and transmission dynamics, but existing tools are inadequate for handling the scale and pace of data produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. One transformative approach, online phylogenetics, aims to incrementally add samples to an ever-growing phylogeny, but there are no previously-existing approaches that can efficiently optimize this vast phylogeny under the time constraints of the pandemic. Here, we present matOptimize, a fast and memory-efficient phylogenetic tree optimization tool based on parsimony that can be parallelized across multiple CPU threads and nodes, and provides orders of magnitude improvement in runtime and peak memory usage compared to existing state-of-the-art methods. We have developed this method particularly to address the pressing need during the COVID-19 pandemic for daily maintenance and optimization of a comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny. Thus, our approach addresses an important need for daily maintenance and refinement of a comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny.

Cost Problems for Parametric Time Petri Nets*

We investigate the problem of parameter synthesis for time Petri nets with a cost variable that evolves both continuously with time, and discretely when firing transitions. More precisely, parameters are rational symbolic constants used for time constraints on the firing of transitions and we want to synthesise all their values such that some marking is reachable, with a cost that is either minimal or simply less than a given bound. We first prove that the mere existence of values for the parameters such that the latter property holds is undecidable. We nonetheless provide symbolic semi-algorithms for the two synthesis problems and we prove them both sound and complete when they terminate. We also show how to modify them for the case when parameter values are integers. Finally, we prove that these modified versions terminate if parameters are bounded. While this is to be expected since there are now only a finite number of possible parameter values, our algorithms are symbolic and thus avoid an explicit enumeration of all those values. Furthermore, the results are symbolic constraints representing finite unions of convex polyhedra that are easily amenable to further analysis through linear programming. We finally report on the implementation of the approach in Romeo, a software tool for the analysis of time Petri nets.

Student Participation in Quality Assurance Processes of HEIs the Omani Context

Quality assurance and accreditation are the most pronounced words in the education sector. Quality culture involves all stakeholders in the process. Students who are the major stakeholders play a vital role in the QA process of an institution. The role of students in QA process in Oman context has been covered by conducting interviews from both students and staff members. The current study has been conducted on all the 13 branches of University of Technology and Applied Sciences. An online interview schedule was arranged with five students and two staff members from each branch. The list of students and staff was collected from the quality assurance department of UTAS branches. The results of the study showed that students are actively participating in various programs. The main hindrances to student involvement are low awareness about QA processes, time constraints, and low student representation towards QA processes. The implication of this research is important for HEIs, OAAA, academic researchers, and higher education stakeholders.

Building Ant System for Multi-Faceted Test Case Prioritization

This article presents the empirical study of multi-criteria test case prioritization. In this article, a test case prioritization problem with time constraints is being solved by using the ant colony optimization (ACO) approach. The ACO is a meta-heuristic and nature-inspired approach that has been applied for the statement of a coverage-based test case prioritization problem. The proposed approach ranks test cases using statement coverage as a fitness criteria and the execution time as a constraint. The proposed approach is implemented in MatLab and validated on widely used benchmark dataset, freely available on the Software Infrastructure Repository (SIR). The results of experimental study show that the proposed ACO based approach provides near optimal solution to test case prioritization problem.

Strengthening Resident, Proxy, and Staff Engagement in Injury Prevention in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Background and Objectives Engaging residents, their proxies, and skilled nursing facility (SNF) staff through effective communication has potential for improving fall-related injury prevention. The purpose of this study was to understand how multiple stakeholders develop and communicate fall-related injury prevention plans to enhance sustained implementation. Research Design and Methods Descriptive qualitative study using framework analysis applied to open-ended semi-structured interviews (n=28) regarding experiences of communication regarding fall-related injury prevention, guided by the Patient and Family Engaged Care framework. Participants included residents at high risk of injury and their proxies, nursing assistants, nurses, and a nurse practitioner from three SNFs in the Eastern U.S. (Massachusetts and North Carolina). Results Interdisciplinary teams were viewed as essential for injury prevention. However, the roles of the interdisciplinary team members were sometimes unclear. Communication structures were often hierarchical, which reduced engagement of nursing assistants and frustrated proxies. Practices that enhanced engagement included knowing the residents, active listening skills, and use of strategies for respecting autonomy. Engagement was inhibited by time constraints, lack of proactive communication among staff, and by challenges eliciting the perspectives of residents with dementia. Resident barriers included desire for autonomy, strong preferences, and language differences. Discussion and Implications Strengthening team meeting processes and cultivating open communication and collaboration could facilitate staff, resident, and proxy engagement in injury prevention planning and implementation. Skill building and targeting resources to improve communication can address barriers related to staff practices, resident characteristics, and time constraints.

High density single-unit human cortical recordings using the Neuropixels probe

A fundamental unit of neural computation is the action potential. While significant advances have been made in the ability to sample action potentials of large numbers of individual neurons in animal models, translation of these methodologies to humans has been lacking due to clinical time constraints, electrical noise in the operating room, and reliability of the methodology. Here we present a reliable method for intraoperative recording of dozens of neurons in humans using the Neuropixels probe, yielding up to ~100 simultaneously-recorded single-units (n=596 across 11 recordings in 8 participants). Most single-units were active within 1 minute of reaching target depth, compatible with clinical time constraints. Cell pairs active close in time were spatially closer in most recordings, demonstrating the power to resolve complex cortical dynamics. Altogether, this approach provides access to population single-unit activity across the depth of human neocortex at scales previously only accessible in animal models.

PENGEMBANGAN APLIKASI TELEGRAM PADA KEGIATAN PRAMUKA DI MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

This research uses development procedures that result in product design in the form of IT-based learning media development using the Telegram Application. This product researchers developed using research steps from Borg and Gall and THE ASSURE Model. The product developed in this study is an IT-based learning medium using the Telegram Application. With time constraints, researchers limit the steps of development procedures to only 6 (six) steps, namely (1) potential and problems, (2) data collection, (3) product design, (4) validation, (5) design revision, and (6) trials. The purpose of this research is to find out the effectiveness of IT-based learning media in the Telegram Application used in scouting education activities at Ambalan Bhira Sma Negeri 3 Purwokerto during the Covid-19 pandemic. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini menggunakan prosedur pengembangan yang menghasilkan desain produk berupa pengembangan media pembelajaran berbasis IT dengan menggunakan Aplikasi Telegram. Produk ini peneliti kembangkan dengan menggunakan langkah-langkah penelitian dari Borg and Gall dan Model ASSURE. Produk yang dikembangkan dalam penelitian ini yaitu media pembelajaran berbasis IT menggunakan Aplikasi Telegram. Dengan adanya keterbatasan waktu, maka peneliti membatasi langkah-langkah prosedur pengembangan hanya pada 6 (enam) langkah, yaitu (1) potensi dan masalah, (2) pengumpulan data, (3) desain produk, (4) validasi, (5) revisi desain, dan (6) uji coba. Tujuan penelitian kali ini untuk mengetahui efektifitas media pembelajaran berbasis IT pada Aplikasi Telegram yang digunakan dalam kegiatan Lajutin Pendidikan Kepramukaan di Ambalan Bhira SMA Negeri 3 Purwokerto pada masa pandemi Covid-19.