bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FlashProfile: a framework for synthesizing data profiles
Authors: Padhi Saswat , Jain Prateek , Perelman Daniel , Polozov Oleksandr , Gulwani Sumit , Millstein Todd 
Published: October 2018

We address the problem of learning a
syntactic profile
for a collection of strings, i.e. a set of regex-like patterns that succinctly describe the syntactic variations in the strings. Real-world datasets, typically curated from multiple sources, often contain data in various syntactic formats. Thus, any data processing task is preceded by the critical step of data format identification. However, manual inspection of data to identify the different formats is infeasible in standard big-data scenarios.

Prior techniques are restricted to a small set of pre-defined patterns (e.g. digits, letters, words etc.), and provide no control over granularity of profiles. We define syntactic profiling as a problem of clustering strings based on syntactic similarity, followed by identifying patterns that succinctly describe each cluster. We present a technique for synthesizing such profiles over a given language of patterns, that also allows for interactive refinement by requesting a desired number of clusters.
Using a state-of-the-art inductive synthesis framework, PROSE, we have implemented our technique as FlashProfile. Across 153 tasks over 75 large real datasets, we observe a median profiling time of only ∼ 0.7s. Furthermore, we show that access to syntactic profiles may allow for more accurate synthesis of programs, i.e. using fewer examples, in programming-by-example (PBE) workflows such as Flash Fill.
Speeding up symbolic reasoning for relational queries
Authors: Wang Chenglong , Cheung Alvin , Bodik Rastislav 
Published: October 2018

The ability to reason about relational queries plays an important role across many types of database applications, such as test data generation, query equivalence checking, and computer-assisted query authoring. Unfortunately, symbolic reasoning about relational queries can be challenging because relational tables are multisets (bags) of tuples, and the underlying languages, such as SQL, can introduce complex computation among tuples.
We propose a space refinement algorithm that soundly reduces the space of tables such applications need to consider. The refinement procedure, independent of the specific dataset application, uses the abstract semantics of the query language to exploit the provenance of tuples in the query output to prune the search space. We implemented the refinement algorithm and evaluated it on SQL using three reasoning tasks: bounded query equivalence checking, test generation for applications that manipulate relational data, and concolic testing of database applications. Using real world benchmarks, we show that our refinement algorithm significantly speeds up (up to 100×) the SQL solver when reasoning about a large class of challenging SQL queries, such as those with aggregations.
Compositional programming and testing of dynamic distributed systems
Authors: Desai Ankush , Phanishayee Amar , Qadeer Shaz , Seshia Sanjit A. 
Published: October 2018

A real-world distributed system is rarely implemented as a standalone monolithic system. Instead, it is composed of multiple independent interacting components that together ensure the desired system-level specification. One can scale systematic testing to large, industrial-scale implementations by decomposing the system-level testing problem into a collection of simpler component-level testing problems.This paper proposes techniques for compositional programming and testing of distributed systems with two central contributions: (1) We propose a module system based on the theory of compositional trace refinement for dynamic systems consisting of asynchronously-communicating state machines, where state machines can be dynamically created, and communication topology of the existing state machines can change at runtime; (2) We present ModP, a programming system that implements our module system to enable compositional reasoning (assume-guarantee) of distributed systems.We demonstrate the efficacy of our framework by building two practical fault-tolerant distributed systems, a transaction-commit service and a replicated hash-table. ModP helps implement these systems modularly and validate them via compositional testing. We empirically demonstrate that the abstraction-based compositional reasoning approach helps amplify the coverage during testing and scale it to real-world distributed systems. The distributed services built using ModP achieve performance comparable to open-source equivalents.
Safe replication through bounded concurrency verification
Authors: Kaki Gowtham , Earanky Kapil , Sivaramakrishnan KC , Jagannathan Suresh 
Published: October 2018

High-level data types are often associated with semantic invariants that must be preserved by any correct implementation. While having implementations enforce strong guarantees such as linearizability or serializability can often be used to prevent invariant violations in concurrent settings, such mechanisms are impractical in geo-distributed replicated environments, the platform of choice for many scalable Web services. To achieve high-availability essential to this domain, these environments admit various forms of weak consistency that do not guarantee all replicas have a consistent view of an application's state. Consequently, they often admit difficult-to-understand anomalous behaviors that violate a data type's invariants, but which are extremely challenging, even for experts, to understand and debug.
In this paper, we propose a novel programming framework for replicated data types (RDTs) equipped with an automatic (bounded) verification technique that discovers and fixes weak consistency anomalies. Our approach, implemented in a tool called Q9, involves systematically exploring the state space of an application executing on top of an eventually consistent data store, under an unrestricted consistency model but with a finite concurrency bound. Q9 uncovers anomalies (i.e., invariant violations) that manifest as finite counterexamples, and automatically generates repairs for such anamolies by selectively strengthening consistency guarantees for specific operations. Using Q9, we have uncovered a range of subtle anomalies in implementations of well-known benchmarks, and have been able to apply the repairs it mandates to effectively eliminate them. Notably, these benchmarks were written adopting best practices suggested to manage distributed replicated state (e.g., they are composed of provably convergent RDTs (CRDTs), avoid mutable state, etc.). While the safety guarantees offered by our technique are constrained by the concurrency bound, we show that in practice, proving bounded safety guarantees typically generalize to the unbounded case.
Somatosensory working memory in human reinforcement-based motor learning
Authors: Sidarta Ananda , van Vugt Floris T. , Ostry David J. 
Published: October 2018

Recent studies using visuomotor adaptation and sequence learning tasks have assessed the involvement of working memory in the visuospatial domain. The capacity to maintain previously performed movements in working memory is perhaps even more important in reinforcement-based learning to repeat accurate movements and avoid mistakes. Using this kind of task in the present work, we tested the relationship between somatosensory working memory and motor learning. The first experiment involved separate memory and motor learning tasks. In the memory task, the participant’s arm was displaced in different directions by a robotic arm, and the participant was asked to judge whether a subsequent test direction was one of the previously presented directions. In the motor learning task, participants made reaching movements to a hidden visual target and were provided with positive feedback as reinforcement when the movement ended in the target zone. It was found that participants that had better somatosensory working memory showed greater motor learning. In a second experiment, we designed a new task in which learning and working memory trials were interleaved, allowing us to study participants’ memory for movements they performed as part of learning. As in the first experiment, we found that participants with better somatosensory working memory also learned more. Moreover, memory performance for successful movements was better than for movements that failed to reach the target. These results suggest that somatosensory working memory is involved in reinforcement motor learning and that this memory preferentially keeps track of reinforced movements. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present work examined somatosensory working memory in reinforcement-based motor learning. Working memory performance was reliably correlated with the extent of learning. With the use of a paradigm in which learning and memory trials were interleaved, memory was assessed for movements performed during learning. Movements that received positive feedback were better remembered than movements that did not. Thus working memory does not track all movements equally but is biased to retain movements that were rewarded.
Aspirin Use and Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure: A Population‐Based Cohort Study
Authors: Abi Khalil Charbel , Omar Omar M. , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Taheri Shahrad 
Published: October 2018

Background

Aspirin is of uncertain benefit for primary prevention in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We assessed whether primary prevention with aspirin is beneficial in patients with T2D and heart failure (
HF
).

Methods and Results

Data from The Health Improvement Network, a
UK
multicenter prospective primary care database, were analyzed. Those with T2D and
HF
, age ≥55 years, and no previous history of myocardial infarction and/or coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, or atrial fibrillation were included. We compared outcomes for those on aspirin to no aspirin after diagnosis of
HF
and T2D and assessed the role of a >75‐mg dose. The primary outcome was a composite of all‐cause mortality and hospitalization for
HF
; secondary outcomes were nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or major bleeding. There were 5967 participants on aspirin and 6567 not on aspirin. The mean age (
SD
) was 75.3 (9.6) years, 53.9% were men, and the mean follow‐up (
SD
) was for 5 (4.2) years. After propensity‐score matching and further multivariable adjustment, aspirin was significantly associated with a decrease in the primary outcome and all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio=0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.82‐0.93; 0.88, 0.83‐0.94], respectively); and an increased risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction (hazard ratio=1.66; 95% confidence interval 1.49‐1.85) and nonfatal stroke (hazard ratio=1.23, 1.01‐1.50). Major bleedings and hospitalization for
HF
were not significantly higher with aspirin (hazard ratio=0.68, 0.45‐1.03; 0.87, 0.66‐1.15, respectively). There was no additional benefit for a dose >75 mg.

Conclusions

Primary prevention with aspirin in patients with T2D and
HF
is associated with lower all‐cause mortality.
Maternal genotype determines kynurenic acid levels in the fetal brain: Implications for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
Authors: Beggiato Sarah , Notarangelo Francesca M , Sathyasaikumar Korrapati V , Giorgini Flaviano , Schwarcz Robert 
Published: October 2018

Background: Several studies suggest a pathophysiologically relevant association between increased brain levels of the neuroinhibitory tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid and cognitive dysfunctions in people with schizophrenia. Elevated kynurenic acid in schizophrenia may be secondary to a genetic alteration of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase, a pivotal enzyme in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation. In rats, prenatal exposure to kynurenine, the direct bioprecursor of kynurenic acid, induces cognitive impairments reminiscent of schizophrenia in adulthood, suggesting a developmental dimension to the link between kynurenic acid and schizophrenia. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the possible impact of the maternal genotype on kynurenine pathway metabolism. Methods: We exposed pregnant wild-type ( Kmo+/+ ) and heterozygous ( Kmo+/−) mice to kynurenine (10 mg/day) during the last week of gestation and determined the levels of kynurenic acid and two other neuroactive kynurenine pathway metabolites, 3-hydroxykynurenine and quinolinic acid, in fetal brain and placenta on embryonic day 17/18. Results: Maternal kynurenine treatment raised kynurenic acid levels significantly more in the brain of heterozygous offspring of Kmo+/− than in the brain of Kmo+/+ offspring. Conversely, 3-hydroxykynurenine and quinolinic acid levels in the fetal brain tended to be lower in heterozygous animals derived from kynurenine-treated Kmo+/− mice than in corresponding Kmo+/+ offspring. Genotype-related effects on the placenta were qualitatively similar but less pronounced. Kynurenine treatment also caused a preferential elevation in cerebral kynurenic acid levels in Kmo+/− compared to Kmo+/+ dams. Conclusions: The disproportionate kynurenic acid increase in the brain of Kmo+/− animals indicates that the maternal Kmo genotype may play a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Effects of chronic caffeine consumption on sleep and the sleep electroencephalogram in mice
Authors: Panagiotou Maria , Meijer Mandy , Meijer Johanna H , Deboer Tom 
Published: October 2018

Background: Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed psychostimulants, and it impacts sleep and circadian physiology. Aim: Caffeine is generally used chronically on a daily basis. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the chronic effect of caffeine on sleep in mice. Methods: We recorded the electroencephalogram and electromyogram on a control day, on the first day of caffeine consumption (acute), and following two weeks of continuous caffeine consumption (chronic). In the latter condition, a period of six-hour sleep deprivation was conducted during the light period. Control mice, which received normal drinking water, were also recorded and sleep deprived. Results: We found that caffeine induced differential effects following acute and chronic consumption. Over 24 h, waking increased following acute caffeine whereas no changes were found in the chronic condition. The daily amplitude of sleep–wake states increased in both acute and chronic conditions, with the highest amplitude in the chronic condition, showing an increase in sleep during the light and an increase in waking during the dark. Furthermore, electroencephalogram slow-wave-activity in non-rapid eye-movement sleep was increased, compared with both control conditions, during the first half of the light period in the chronic condition. It was particularly challenging to keep the animals awake during the sleep deprivation period under chronic caffeine. Conclusions: Together the data suggest an increased sleep pressure under chronic caffeine. In contrast to the traditional conception on the impact on sleep, chronic caffeine intake seems to increase the daily sleep–wake cycle amplitude and increase sleep pressure in mice.
Video clip training improved emergency medicine residents’ interpretation ability of visual ejection fraction
Authors: Yang Eun-suk , Yeo Woonhyung , Ko Jung-In , Kwon Jaehyun , Choi Seung-min , Chung Jaehoon , Lee Yu Jin , Cho Gyu Chong , Park Taejin 
Published: October 2018

Background: Information on cardiac contractility is very important in resuscitation of critically ill patients. However, the measurement of ejection fractions by echocardiography is very difficult to perform for non-cardiologists. We developed a video clip to train emergency medicine residents to measure visual ejection fraction and compared the improvement in their interpretation ability with that following the conventional training method. Objectives: Improvement of interpreting ability of vEF in short period. Methods: A total of 27 multicentre emergency medicine residents were recruited and divided into conventional training group (N = 13) and video clip training group (N = 14). Self-training was done for 1 week. Pre-test and post-test comprising 20 questions were used for evaluation, and scores and interpretation time were recorded. Results: The score of the video clip training group showed a statistically significant improvement in contrast to the conventional training group (the score of pre- and post-test, ±5% scoring method: correct answer; video clip training group, 5.4/20 to 10.4/20 ( p < 0.001) versus conventional training group, 5.8/20 to 6.7/20 ( p = 0.204)). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant reduction in the interpretation time (interpretation time of video clip training group, 417.7–358.8 s ( p = 0.005) versus conventional training group, 416.8–411.5 s ( p = 0. 497)). Conclusion: In the video clip training group, interpretation accuracy improved, and the interpretation time was shorter than that of the conventional training group. Based on these results, we conclude that improvement in the visual ejection fraction interpretation ability by emergency medicine residents can be expected.
Visualization of walking speed variation-induced synchronized dynamic changes in lower limb joint angles and activity of trunk and lower limb muscles with a newly developed gait analysis system
Authors: Miura Kousei , Kadone Hideki , Koda Masao , Nakayama Keita , Kumagai Hiroshi , Nagashima Katsuya , Mataki Kentaro , Fujii Kengo , Noguchi Hiroshi , Funayama Toru , Abe Tetsuya , Suzuki Kenji , Yamazaki Masashi 
Published: October 2018

Purpose: To evaluate a newly developed system for dynamic analysis of gait kinematics and muscle activity. Methods: We recruited 10 healthy men into this study. Analyses of three-dimensional motion and wireless surface electromyogram (EMG) were integrated to achieve synchronous measurement. The participants walked continuously for 10 min under two conditions: comfortable and quick pace. Outcome measures were joint angles of the lower limbs determined from reflective markers and myoelectric activity of trunk and lower limbs determined from EMG sensors, comparing comfortable and quick gait pace. Results: Lower limb joint angle was significantly greater at the quick pace (maximum flexion of the hip joint: 4.1°, maximum extension of hip joint: 2.3°, and maximum flexion of the knee joint while standing: 7.4°). The period of maximum flexion of the ankle joint during a walking cycle was 2.5% longer at a quick pace. EMG amplitudes of all trunk muscles significantly increased during the period of support by two legs (cervical paraspinal: 55.1%, latissimus dorsi: 31.3%, and erector spinae: 32.6%). EMG amplitudes of quadriceps, femoral biceps, and tibialis anterior increased significantly by 223%, 60.9%, and 67.4%, respectively, between the periods of heel contact and loading response. EMG amplitude of the gastrocnemius significantly increased by 102% during the heel-off period. Conclusion: Our gait analysis synchronizing three-dimensional motion and wireless surface EMG successfully visualized dynamic changes in lower limb joint angles and activity of trunk and lower limb muscles induced by various walking speeds.
Do the dynamic stress mobility radiographs predict the postoperative vertebral height restoration, kyphosis correction, and cement volume injected after vertebroplasty for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with intravertebral cleft?
Authors: Chiu Chee Kidd , Lisitha Kulathunga Arachchige , Elias Dahlia Munchar , Yong Voon Wei , Chan Chris Yin Wei , Kwan Mun Keong 
Published: October 2018

Background: This prospective clinical–radiological study was conducted to determine whether the dynamic mobility stress radiographs can predict the postoperative vertebral height restoration, kyphosis correction, and cement volume injected after vertebroplasty. Methods: Patients included had the diagnosis of significant back pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture secondary to trivial injury. All the patients underwent routine preoperative sitting lateral spine radiograph, supine stress lateral spine radiograph, and supine anteroposterior spine radiograph. The radiological parameters recorded were anterior vertebral height (AVH), middle vertebral height (MVH), posterior vertebral height (PVH), MVH level below, wedge endplate angle (WEPA), and regional kyphotic angle (RKA). The supine stress versus sitting difference (SSD) for all the above parameters were calculated. Results: A total of 28 patients (4 males; 24 females) with the mean age of 75.6 ± 7.7 years were recruited into this study. The mean cement volume injected was 5.5 ± 1.8 ml. There was no difference between supine stress and postoperative radiographs for AVH ( p = 0.507), PVH ( p = 0.913) and WEPA ( p = 0.379). The MVH ( p = 0.026) and RKA ( p = 0.005) were significantly less in the supine stress radiographs compared to postoperative radiographs. There was significant correlation ( p < 0.05) between supine stress and postoperative AVH, MVH, PVH, WEPA, and RKA. The SSD for AVH, PVH, WEPA, and RKA did not have significant correlation with the cement volume ( p > 0.05). Only the SSD-MVH had significant correlation with cement volume, but the correlation was weak ( r = 0.39, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Dynamic mobility stress radiographs can predict the postoperative vertebral height restoration and kyphosis correction after vertebroplasty for thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture with intravertebral clefts. However, it did not reliably predict the amount of cement volume injected as it was affected by other factors.