Context-sensitive multivariant assertion checking in modular programs

We propose a modular, assertion-based system for verification and debugging of large logic programs, together with several interesting models for checking assertions statically in modular programs, each with different characteristics and representing different trade-offs. Our proposal is a modular and multivariant extensión of our previously proposed abstract assertion checking model and we also report on its implementation in the CiaoPP system. In our approach, the specification of the program, given by a set of assertions, may be partial, instead of the complete specification required by raditional verification systems. Also, the system can deal with properties which cannot always be determined at compile-time. As a result, the proposed system needs to work with safe approximations: all assertions proved correct are guaranteed to be valid and all errors actual errors. The use of modular, context-sensitive static analyzers also allows us to introduce a new distinction between assertions checked in a particular context or checked in general

The International Cancer Expert Corps: A Unique Approach for Sustainable Cancer Care in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries

The growing burden of non-communicable diseases including cancer in low- and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) and in geographic-access limited settings within resource-rich countries requires effective and sustainable solutions. The International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC) is pioneering a novel global mentorship–partnership model to address workforce capability and capacity within cancer disparities regions built on the requirement for local investment in personnel and infrastructure. Radiation oncology will be a key component given its efficacy for cure even for the advanced stages of disease often encountered and for palliation. The goal for an ICEC Center within these health disparities settings is to develop and retain a high-quality sustainable workforce who can provide the best possible cancer care, conduct research, and become a regional center of excellence. The ICEC Center can also serve as a focal point for economic, social, and healthcare system improvement. ICEC is establishing teams of Experts with expertise to mentor in the broad range of subjects required to establish and sustain cancer care programs. The Hubs are cancer centers or other groups and professional societies in resource-rich settings that will comprise the global infrastructure coordinated by ICEC Central. A transformational tenet of ICEC is that altruistic, human-service activity should be an integral part of a healthcare career. To achieve a critical mass of mentors ICEC is working with three groups: academia, private practice, and senior mentors/retirees. While in-kind support will be important, ICEC seeks support for the career time dedicated to this activity through grants, government support, industry, and philanthropy. Providing care for people with cancer in LMICs has been a recalcitrant problem. The alarming increase in the global burden of cancer in LMICs underscores the urgency and makes this an opportune time fornovel and sustainable solutions to transform cancer care globally

Making knowledge work for health: a strategy for health research.

The Strategy for Health Research emphasises a partnership approach to developing a thriving research culture in the health services, a partnership between health agencies, third level institutions, the research charities and the healthcare industry. The framework proposed in this document is built on the foundation of partnership and provides a structure for much greater co-operation between the interests involved. It also recognises the added value to be gained from co-operation in research for the island of Ireland as a whole. The core proposals in this document are for a strengthening of support for scientific research for health and the development of an innovative research and development function in the health services. These proposals are complementary and mutually supportive. Funding for both strands of the research strategy will be allocated according to the principle of competitive peer review to ensure quality and value for money

Friends need a bit more: Maintaining invariants over shared state

Abstract. A friendship system is introduced for modular static verification of object invariants. It extends a previous methodology, based on ownership hierarchy encoded in auxiliary state, to allow for state dependence across ownership boundaries. Friendship describes a formal protocol for a granting class to grant a friend class permission to express its invariant over fields in the granting class. The protocol permits the safe update of the granter’s fields without violating the friend’s invariant. The ensuing proof obligations are minimal and permit many common programming patterns. A soundness proof is sketched. The method is demonstrated on several realistic examples, showing that it significantly expands the domain of programs amenable to static verification.

Path-Sensitive Dataflow Analysis with Iterative Refinement

In this paper, we present a new method for supporting abstraction refinement in path-sensitive dataflow analysis. We show how an adjustable merge criterion can be used as an interface to control the degree of abstraction. In particular, we partition the merge criterion with two sets of predicates | one related to the dataflow facts being propagated and the other related to path feasibility. These tracked predicates are then used to guide join operations and path feasibility analysis, so that expensive computations are performed only at the right places. Refinement amounts to lazily growing the path predicate set to recover lost precision. We have implemented our refinement technique in ESP, a software validation tool for C/C++ programs. We apply ESP to validate a future version of Windows against critical security properties. Our experience suggests that applying iterative refinement to path-sensitive dataflow analysis is both effective in cutting down spurious errors and scalable enough for solving real world problems

Making specifications complete through models

Good components need precise contracts. In the practice of Design by Contract, applications and libraries typically express, in their postconditions and class invariants, only a subset of the relevant properties. We present: – An approach to making these contract elements complete without extending the assertion language, by relying on “model classes ” directly deduced from mathematical concepts. – An actual “Mathematical Model Library ” (MML) built for that purpose – A method for using MML to express complete contracts through abstraction functions, and an associated theory of specification soundness. – As a direct application of these ideas, a new version of a widely used data structure and algorithms library equipped with complete contracts through MML. All the software is available for download. The approach retains the pragmatism of the Design by Contract method, suitable for ordinary applications and understandable to ordinary programmers, while potentially achieving the benefits of much heavier formal specifications. The article concludes with a discussion of applications to testing and program proving, and of remaining issues