Deductive Verification of Unmodified Linux Kernel Library Functions

This paper presents results from the development and evaluation of a deductive verification benchmark consisting of 26 unmodified Linux kernel library functions implementing conventional memory and string operations. The formal contract of the functions was extracted from their source code and was represented in the form of preconditions and postconditions. The correctness of 23 functions was completely proved using AstraVer toolset, although success for 11 functions was achieved using 2 new specification language constructs. Another 2 functions were proved after a minor modification of their source code, while the final one cannot be completely proved using the existing memory model. The benchmark can be used for the testing and evaluation of deductive verification tools and as a starting point for verifying other parts of the Linux kernel.Comment: 18 pages, 2 tables, 6 listings. Accepted to ISoLA 2018 conference. Evaluating Tools for Software Verification trac

Optimization of Rear Point Contact Geometry by Means of 3-D Numerical Simulation

Abstract In this work three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations, validated by the experimental measurements of a reference cell, have been performed to optimize the rear contact geometry of a PERC-type solar cell, featuring a high sheet resistance (140 Ω/sq) phosphorus-doped emitter and a front-side metallization with narrow and highly-conductive electro-plated copper lines (40 μm wide) on lowly resistive Ti contacts. The simulation results show that an optimization of the rear point contact design potentially leads to an efficiency improvement of 0.68%abs compared to the reference cell

Oligonucleotide ligation assay detects HIV drug resistance associated with virologic failure among antiretroviral-naive adults in Kenya

Background: Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) is increasing in some areas of Africa. Detection of TDR may predict virologic failure of first-line non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). We evaluated the utility of a relatively inexpensive oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) to detect clinically relevant TDR at time of ART initiation. Methods: Pre-ART plasmas from ART-naive Kenyans initiating an NNRTI-based fixed-dose combination ART in a randomized adherence trial conducted in 2006 were retrospectively analyzed by OLA for mutations conferring resistance to NNRTI (K103N, Y181C, and G190A) and lamivudine (M184V). Post-ART plasmas were analyzed for virologic failure (≥1,000 copies/mL) at 6 month intervals over 18-month follow-up. Pre-ART plasmas of those with virologic failure were evaluated for drug resistance by consensus and 454-pyrosequencing. Results: Among 386 participants, TDR was detected by OLA in 3.89% [95% Confidence Interval (CI), 2.19-6.33], and was associated with a 10-fold higher rate of virologic failure [Hazard Ratio (HR), 10.39; 95% CI, 3.23-32.41; p Conclusions: Detection of TDR by a point mutation assay may prevent use of sub-optimal ART

Variant-Based Decidable Satisfiability in Initial Algebras with Predicates

[EN] Decision procedures can be either theory-specific, e.g., Presburger arithmetic, or theory-generic, applying to an infinite number of user-definable theories. Variant satisfiability is a theory-generic procedure for quantifier-free satisfiability in the initial algebra of an order-sorted equational theory (¿,E¿B) under two conditions: (i) E¿B has the finite variant property and B has a finitary unification algorithm; and (ii) (¿,E¿B) protects a constructor subtheory (¿,E¿¿B¿) that is OS-compact. These conditions apply to many user-definable theories, but have a main limitation: they apply well to data structures, but often do not hold for user-definable predicates on such data structures. We present a theory-generic satisfiability decision procedure, and a prototype implementation, extending variant-based satisfiability to initial algebras with user-definable predicates under fairly general conditions.Partially supported by NSF Grant CNS 14-09416, NRL under contract number N00173-17-1-G002, the EU (FEDER), Spanish MINECO project TIN2015-69175- C4-1-R and GV project PROMETEOII/2015/013. Ra´ul Guti´errez was also supported by INCIBE program “Ayudas para la excelencia de los equipos de investigaci´on avanzada en ciberseguridad”.Gutiérrez Gil, R.; Meseguer, J. (2018). Variant-Based Decidable Satisfiability in Initial Algebras with Predicates. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 10855:306-322. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94460-9_18S30632210855Armando, A., Bonacina, M.P., Ranise, S., Schulz, S.: New results on rewrite-based satisfiability procedures. TOCL 10(1), 4 (2009)Armando, A., Ranise, S., Rusinowitch, M.: A rewriting approach to satisfiability procedures. 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Ph.D. thesis, ENS Cachan (2011)Comon, H.: Complete axiomatizations of some quotient term algebras. TCS 118(2), 167–191 (1993)Comon-Lundh, H., Delaune, S.: The finite variant property: how to get rid of some algebraic properties. In: Giesl, J. (ed.) RTA 2005. LNCS, vol. 3467, pp. 294–307. Springer, Heidelberg (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32033-3_22Dershowitz, N., Jouannaud, J.P.: Rewrite systems. In: Handbook of Theoretical Computer Science, North-Holland, vol. B, pp. 243–320 (1990)Dovier, A., Piazza, C., Rossi, G.: A uniform approach to constraint-solving for lists, multisets, compact lists, and sets. TOCL 9(3), 15 (2008)Dross, C., Conchon, S., Kanig, J., Paskevich, A.: Adding decision procedures to SMT solvers using axioms with triggers. JAR 56(4), 387–457 (2016)Escobar, S., Sasse, R., Meseguer, J.: Folding variant narrowing and optimal variant termination. JALP 81, 898–928 (2012)Goguen, J.A., Meseguer, J.: Models and equality for logical programming. In: Ehrig, H., Kowalski, R., Levi, G., Montanari, U. (eds.) TAPSOFT 1987. LNCS, vol. 250, pp. 1–22. Springer, Heidelberg (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0014969Goguen, J., Meseguer, J.: Order-sorted algebra I: equational deduction for multiple inheritance, overloading, exceptions and partial operations. TCS 105, 217–273 (1992)Gutiérrez, R., Meseguer, J.: Variant satisfiability in initial algebras with predicates. Technical report, CS Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018). http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99039Jouannaud, J.P., Kirchner, H.: Completion of a set of rules modulo a set of equations. SICOMP 15, 1155–1194 (1986)Kroening, D., Strichman, O.: Decision Procedures - An algorithmic point of view. Texts in TCS. An EATCS Series. Springer, Heidelberg (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-74105-3Lynch, C., Morawska, B.: Automatic decidability. In: Proceedings of LICS 2002, p. 7. IEEE Computer Society (2002)Lynch, C., Tran, D.-K.: Automatic decidability and combinability revisited. In: Pfenning, F. (ed.) CADE 2007. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 4603, pp. 328–344. Springer, Heidelberg (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73595-3_22Meseguer, J.: Variant-based satisfiability in initial algebras. SCP 154, 3–41 (2018)Meseguer, J.: Strict coherence of conditional rewriting modulo axioms. TCS 672, 1–35 (2017)Meseguer, J., Goguen, J.: Initiality, induction and computability. In: Algebraic Methods in Semantics, Cambridge, pp. 459–541 (1985)Meseguer, J., Goguen, J.: Order-sorted algebra solves the constructor-selector, multiple representation and coercion problems. I&C 103(1), 114–158 (1993)Nelson, G., Oppen, D.C.: Simplification by cooperating decision procedures. TOPLAS 1(2), 245–257 (1979)Shostak, R.E.: Deciding combinations of theories. J. ACM 31(1), 1–12 (1984)Skeirik, S., Meseguer, J.: Metalevel algorithms for variant satisfiability. In: Lucanu, D. (ed.) WRLA 2016. 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Metalevel algorithms for variant satisfiability

Variant satisfiability is a theory-generic algorithm to decide quantifier-free satisfiability in an initial algebra when its corresponding theory has the finite variant property and its constructors satisfy a compactness condition. This paper: (i) gives a precise definition of several meta-level sub-algorithms needed for variant satisfiability; (ii) proves them correct; and (iii) presents a reflective implementation in Maude 2.7 of variant satisfiability using these sub-algorithms.NSF CNS 13-19109Ope

Cell cyclins: triggering elements of cancer or not?

Cyclins are indispensable elements of the cell cycle and derangement of their function can lead to cancer formation. Recent studies have also revealed more mechanisms through which cyclins can express their oncogenic potential. This review focuses on the aberrant expression of G1/S cyclins and especially cyclin D and cyclin E; the pathways through which they lead to tumour formation and their involvement in different types of cancer. These elements indicate the mechanisms that could act as targets for cancer therapy