Towards Vulnerability Discovery Using Staged Program Analysis

Eliminating vulnerabilities from low-level code is vital for securing software. Static analysis is a promising approach for discovering vulnerabilities since it can provide developers early feedback on the code they write. But, it presents multiple challenges not the least of which is understanding what makes a bug exploitable and conveying this information to the developer. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a practical vulnerability assessment framework, called Melange. Melange performs data and control flow analysis to diagnose potential security bugs, and outputs well-formatted bug reports that help developers understand and fix security bugs. Based on the intuition that real-world vulnerabilities manifest themselves across multiple parts of a program, Melange performs both local and global analyses. To scale up to large programs, global analysis is demand-driven. Our prototype detects multiple vulnerability classes in C and C++ code including type confusion, and garbage memory reads. We have evaluated Melange extensively. Our case studies show that Melange scales up to large codebases such as Chromium, is easy-to-use, and most importantly, capable of discovering vulnerabilities in real-world code. Our findings indicate that static analysis is a viable reinforcement to the software testing tool set.Comment: A revised version to appear in the proceedings of the 13th conference on Detection of Intrusions and Malware & Vulnerability Assessment (DIMVA), July 201

Pattern formation of microtubules and motors: inelastic interaction of polar rods

We derive a model describing spatio-temporal organization of an array of microtubules interacting via molecular motors. Starting from a stochastic model of inelastic polar rods with a generic anisotropic interaction kernel we obtain a set of equations for the local rods concentration and orientation. At large enough mean density of rods and concentration of motors, the model describes orientational instability. We demonstrate that the orientational instability leads to the formation of vortices and (for large density and/or kernel anisotropy) asters seen in recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. E, Rapid Communication

First Results from the Transit Ephemeris Refinement and Monitoring Survey (TERMS)

Transiting planet discoveries have yielded a plethora of information towards understanding the structure and atmospheres of extra-solar planets. These discoveries have been restricted to the short-period or low-periastron distance regimes due to the bias inherent in the geometric transit probability. Through the refinement of planetary orbital parmaters, and hence reducing the size of transit windows, long-period planets become feasible targets for photometric follow-up. Here we describe the TERMS project which is monitoring these host stars at predicted transit times

Improving the retention rate for residential treatment of substance abuse by sequential intervention for social anxiety

BACKGROUND Residential drug rehabilitation is often seen as a treatment of last resort for people with severe substance abuse issues. These clients present with more severe symptoms, and frequent psychiatric comorbidities relative to outpatients. Given the complex nature of this client group, a high proportion of clients seeking treatment often do not enter treatment, and of those who do, many exit prematurely. Given the highly social nature of residential drug rehabilitation services, it has been argued that social anxieties might decrease the likelihood of an individual entering treatment, or increase the likelihood of them prematurely exiting treatment. The current paper reports on the protocol of a Randomised Control Trial which examined whether treatment of social anxiety prior to entry to treatment improves entry rates and retention in residential drug rehabilitation. METHOD/DESIGN A Randomised Control Trial comparing a social skills treatment with a treatment as usual control group was employed. The social skills training program was based on the principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and was adapted from Ron Rapee's social skills training program. A permutated block randomisation procedure was utilised. Participants are followed up at the completion of the program (or baseline plus six weeks for controls) and at three months following entry into residential rehabilitation (or six months post-baseline for participants who do not enter treatment). DISCUSSION The current study could potentially have implications for addressing social anxiety within residential drug treatment services in order to improve entry and retention in treatment. The results might suggest that the use of additional screening tools in intake assessments, a focus on coping with social anxieties in support groups for clients waiting to enter treatment, and greater awareness of social anxiety issues is warranted. AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN) registration number: ACTRN12611000579998.This research was supported under Australian Research Council's Linkage Projects funding scheme (project number: LP0990162)

Optical characterization of LDEF contaminant film

Dark brown molecular film deposits were found at numerous locations on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) and have been documented in great detail by several investigators. The exact deposition mechanism for these deposits is as yet unknown, although direct and scattered atomic oxygen, and solar radiation interacting with materials outgassing products have all been implicated in the formation process. Specimens of the brown molecular film were taken from below the flange of the experimental tray located at position D10 on the LDEF. The tray was one of two, comprising the same experiment, the other being located on the wake facing side of the LDEF satellite at position B4. Having access to both trays, we were able to directly compare the effect that orientation with respect to the atomic oxygen flux vector had on the formation of the brown molecular film deposits. The film is thickest on surfaces facing toward the exterior, i.e. the tray corner, as can be seen by comparing the lee and wake aspects of the rivets. The patterns appear to be aligned not with the velocity vector but with the corner of the tray suggesting that flux to the surface is due to scattered atomic oxygen rather than direct ram impingement. The role of scattered flux is further supported by more faint plume patterns on the sides of the tray. The angle of these plumes is strongly aligned with the ram direction but the outline of the deposit implies that incident atoms are scattered by collisions with the edges of the opening resulting in a directed, but diffuse, flux of atomic oxygen to the surface. Spectral reflectance measurements in the 2 to 10 micron (4000 to 1000 wavenumbers) spectral range are presented for the film in the 'as deposited' condition and for the free standing film. The material was analyzed by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) microspectroscopy using gold as the reference standard. The 'as deposited' specimen was on an aluminum rivet taken from beneath the tray flange while the free film was obtained by chipping some of the material from the rivet. The transmission spectrum over the 2 to 10 micron range for the free film is presented. This spectrum appears to be essentially the same as that presented by Crutcher et.al. for films formed at vent sites which faced into the ram direction and suggested to originate from urethanes and silicones used on the LDEF. Banks et. al. state that silicones, when exposed to atomic oxygen, release polymeric scission fragments which deposit on surfaces and form a glassy, dark contaminant layer upon further atomic oxygen exposure and solar irradiation

Protein expression of G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRK) in breast cancer cells

Background Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that a functional link exists between the G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel and the beta-adrenergic receptor pathway in breast cancer cell lines, and these pathways were involved in growth regulation of these cells. Alcohol is an established risk factor for breast cancer and has been found to open GIRK. In order to further investigate GIRK channels in breast cancer and possible alteration by ethanol, we identified GIRK channel protein expression in breast cancer cells. Results Cell pellets were collected and membrane protein was isolated to determine GIRK protein expression. GIRK protein was also analyzed by immuno-precipitation. GIRK protein was over-expressed in cells by transfection of GIRK plasmids. Gene expression studies were done by real-time RT-PCR. GIRK protein expression was identified in breast cancer cell lines. Expression of GIRK1 at the indicated molecular weight (MW) (62 kDa) was seen in cell lines MDA-MB-453 and ZR-75-1. In addition, GIRK1 expression was seen at a lower MW (40–42 kDa) in MDA-MB-361, MDA-MB-468, MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and MDA-MB-453 cell lines. To prove the lower MW protein was GIRK1, MDA-MB-453 cells were immuno-precipitated. GIRK2 expression was seen in MDA-MB-468, MCF-7, and ZR-75-1 and was variable in MDA-MB-453, while GIRK4 protein expression was seen in all six cell lines tested. This is the first report indicating GIRK protein expression in breast cancer cells. To determine functionality, MDA-MB-453 cells were stimulated with ethanol. Decreased GIRK1 protein expression levels were seen after treatment with 0.12% ethanol in MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells. Serum-free media decreased GIRK protein expression, possibly due to lack of estrogen in the media. Transfection of GIRK1 or GIRK4 plasmids increased GIRK1 protein expression and decreased gene expression in MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells. Conclusion Our data indicates that functional GIRK channels exist in breast cancer cells that are involved in cellular signaling

Solar Warning Architecture for Manned Missions to Mars

Solar radiation storms represent a dire threat to manned interplanetary space travel. Earth\u27s current solar forecasting architecture is Earth-focused and insufficient to provide timely warnings to a manned mission to Mars, therefore a best value solar warning architecture must be identified. A total of 14 solar warning architectures were developed by varying 5 solar sensor locations, 2 processing locations, and 2 communications strategies. Using Satellite Tool Kit, performance of the candidate architectures in terms of Warning Time and Solar Coverage was quantified during a Mars mission scenario based on NASA\u27s Design Reference Architecture 5.0. Cost of each candidate architecture was estimated by parametrically determining the total dry mass of each. Efficient frontiers graphs for Warning Time and Solar Coverage versus Dry Mass were developed which depicted the relative cost-benefit of each candidate. A value model was also applied to develop an overall performance value efficient frontier. The analysis indicates a solar sensor and processing capability onboard the manned spacecraft itself is the best value solution providing the most performance in return for cost

Magnetic characterization of perpendicular recording media

In this paper, we describe techniques for the magnetic characterization of perpendicular recording media. Such measurements made using traditional techniques, such as the vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM), have to be corrected for the sample shape demagnetizing factor, which is often found not to be equal to -4p. For measurements other than the simple hysteresis loop, such as remanence curves, this correction must be carried out in real time and we describe the method by which this can be achieved and the process for achieving the correct demagnetization of perpendicular films prior to measurements of the isothermal remanent magnetization curve. A further complication is that real perpendicular media have a soft underlayer beneath the recording layer, which swamps and confuses signals from instruments such as VSM or AGFM. Hence, we describe the construction and use of a magnetooptical Kerr effect magnetometer, which does not penetrate significantly into the soft layer and enables the perpendicular layer to be measured independently. We describe the properties of a traditional alloy perpendicular medium and a Co-Pd multilayer system, which in the latter case exhibits multiple switching behavior. We also address the issue of the effect of the soft underlayer on the coupling in similar longitudinal films and find that the presence of the underlayer induces significant additional coupling effects that may well give rise to an increase in noise in recorded signal

A multiwavelength survey of interacting galaxies

Galaxy-galaxy collisions are known to produce drastic changes in morphology and, in many cases, enhance the level of star formation activity in galaxies. In order to better quantify the effects that interactions have on the star formation characteristics of galaxies the authors undertook a multiwavelength survey of a large sample of interacting disk-type galaxies. The sample is optically-selected, the inclusion of systems having been based upon the presence of unusual morphological features--such as tidal tails, plumes, rings, warped disks--suggestive of tidal interaction. The sample is composed of about 115 systems, most of which are spiral-spiral pairs, with a few spiral-elliptical pairs and a few merging systems (see Bushouse 1986 for more details of the sample selection). This sample has now been studied in the optical, infrared, and radio regimes, including optical spectra and H alpha images, near-infrared photometry and imaging, far-infrared photometry, H I 21 cm emission-line measurements, Very Large Array (VLA) 20 cm maps, and CO emission-line measurements. This paper presents an overview and comparison of the results of the optical, infrared and CO surveys. With these data the authors can compare the far-infrared and CO properties of the galaxies with the classic optical and radio indicators of star formation activity and thereby determine what, if any, relationships exist between star formation activity and the far-infrared and CO properties of the galaxies

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors Use and Outcome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Aims. We investigate the effect of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) inhibitors on long-term outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Meta-analyses indicate that these agents are associated with improved short-term outcomes. However, many trials were undertaken before the routine use of P2Y12 inhibitors. Recent studies yield conflicting results and registry data have suggested that GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors may cause more bleeding than what trials indicate. Methods and Results. This retrospective observational study involves 3047 patients receiving dual-antiplatelet therapy who underwent PCI for NSTEMI. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were a secondary outcome. Mean follow-up was 4.6 years. Patients treated with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were younger with fewer comorbidities. Although the unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor use was associated with improved outcomes, multivariate analysis (including propensity scoring) showed no benefit for either survival (P=0.136) or MACE (P=0.614). GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor use was associated with an increased risk of major bleeding (P=0.021). Conclusion. Although GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor use appeared to improve outcomes after PCI for NSTEMI, patients who received GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors tended to be at lower risk. After multivariate adjustment we observed no improvement in MACE or survival and an increased risk of major bleeding