Refinement with Time - Refining the Run-Time of Algorithms in Isabelle/HOL

Separation Logic with Time Credits is a well established method to formally verify the correctness and run-time of algorithms, which has been applied to various medium-sized use-cases. Refinement is a technique in program verification that makes software projects of larger scale manageable. Combining these two techniques for the first time, we present a methodology for verifying the functional correctness and the run-time analysis of algorithms in a modular way. We use it to verify Kruskal\u27s minimum spanning tree algorithm and the Edmonds - Karp algorithm for network flow. An adaptation of the Isabelle Refinement Framework [Lammich and Tuerk, 2012] enables us to specify the functional result and the run-time behaviour of abstract algorithms which can be refined to more concrete algorithms. From these, executable imperative code can be synthesized by an extension of the Sepref tool [Lammich, 2015], preserving correctness and the run-time bounds of the abstract algorithm

Lock sensitive analysis of parallel programs

"Lock sensitive analysis of parallel programs" (Lock-Sensitive Analyse nebenläufiger Programme) Diese Dissertation behandelt einen Modellprüfungsalgorithmus für dynamische Pushdown-Netzwerke mit Monitoren (Monitor-DPNs). Monitor-DPNs sind ein Modell für parallele Programme mit rekursiven Prozeduren, Thread-Erzeugung, und wechselweisem Ausschluss durch Monitore. Betrachtet werden Vorgängermengenberechnungen, mit denen man viele interessante Eigenschaften ausdrücken kann, unter Anderem Race-Conditions, Bitvektoranalysen und das (EF,EX)-Fragment der branching-time Logik CTL

Gamma-Secretase Represents a Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Invasive Glioma Mediated by the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor

The multifunctional signaling protein p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a central regulator and major contributor to the highly invasive nature of malignant gliomas. Here, we show that neurotrophin-dependent regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) of p75NTR is required for p75NTR-mediated glioma invasion, and identify a previously unnamed process for targeted glioma therapy. Expression of cleavage-resistant chimeras of p75NTR or treatment of animals bearing p75NTR-positive intracranial tumors with clinically applicable γ-secretase inhibitors resulted in dramatically decreased glioma invasion and prolonged survival. Importantly, proteolytic processing of p75NTR was observed in p75NTR-positive patient tumor specimens and brain tumor initiating cells. This work highlights the importance of p75NTR as a therapeutic target, suggesting that γ-secretase inhibitors may have direct clinical application for the treatment of malignant glioma