On Verifying Complex Properties using Symbolic Shape Analysis

One of the main challenges in the verification of software systems is the analysis of unbounded data structures with dynamic memory allocation, such as linked data structures and arrays. We describe Bohne, a new analysis for verifying data structures. Bohne verifies data structure operations and shows that 1) the operations preserve data structure invariants and 2) the operations satisfy their specifications expressed in terms of changes to the set of objects stored in the data structure. During the analysis, Bohne infers loop invariants in the form of disjunctions of universally quantified Boolean combinations of formulas. To synthesize loop invariants of this form, Bohne uses a combination of decision procedures for Monadic Second-Order Logic over trees, SMT-LIB decision procedures (currently CVC Lite), and an automated reasoner within the Isabelle interactive theorem prover. This architecture shows that synthesized loop invariants can serve as a useful communication mechanism between different decision procedures. Using Bohne, we have verified operations on data structures such as linked lists with iterators and back pointers, trees with and without parent pointers, two-level skip lists, array data structures, and sorted lists. We have deployed Bohne in the Hob and Jahob data structure analysis systems, enabling us to combine Bohne with analyses of data structure clients and apply it in the context of larger programs. This report describes the Bohne algorithm as well as techniques that Bohne uses to reduce the ammount of annotations and the running time of the analysis

The influence of geometrical and nongeometrical features on the use of the lexical concepts NEAR and FAR in English and Finnish

This paper investigates the impact of geometrical and nongeometrical features on the use of the lexical concepts NEAR and FAR in English and Finnish. Participants’ acceptability ratings for these concepts demonstrate that a bar in between a Figure and a Ground acts as a scale-setting object but not as a distance enhancing barrier, shows that the influence of the geometrical feature Figure–Ground distance exceeds the influence of several nongeometrical features, but most of all reveals that language specific lexical properties associated with NEAR and FAR predict language dependent effects for functional relatedness in interaction with Figure–Ground distance and bar presence

Timed Wheelchair Ambulation of Children Aged 11-17 Years and Their Perceptions of Their Function

Problem. Little data is available to aid physical therapists in writing functional wheelchair velocity goals. Purpose. This study begins to establish baseline data on wheelchair velocity. The authors hypothesize that there will be a significant relationship between a child\u27s perceived function and their wheelchair velocity over a given distance. Methods. One female and 10 male community manual wheelchair users aged 11-17 completed 3 time trials of 150 feet on carpet with 1 minute rest between trials. Following the WRAT-R reading screen, the subjects completed a questionnaire about wheelchair function in the community. Results. A two-tailed significance test of the correlation between wheelchair velocity and overall perceived function proved insignificant, r(9) = {dollar}-{dollar}.0357, p =.917, and shows only one significant correlation between velocity and individual questions, r(9) = {dollar}-{dollar}.8126, p =.002. Conclusion. The author\u27s hypothesis cannot be supported statistically, but the study points out the need for future research in the area of wheelchair velocity

Листи Чернігівського архієпископа Філарета (Гумілевського) до О.М. Бодянського

Публікація містить листи відомого історика Церкви Чернігівського архієпископа Філарета (Гумілевського) до О. М. Бодянського, які висвітлюють їхню співпрацю на ґрунті дослідження слов’янських старожитностей.Публикуются письма известного историка Церкви Черниговского архиепископа Филарета (Гумилевского) к О. М. Бодянскому, которые освещают их сотрудничество на ниве исследования славянских древностей.The published article contains the letters of the famous historian of the Church – the Archbishop of Chernihiv Filaret (Humilevskyi) to O.M. Bodyanskyi covering their collaboration on the basis of Slavic antiquities research

Verification of full functional correctness for imperative linked data structures

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-222).We present the verification of full functional correctness for a collection of imperative linked data structures implemented in Java. A key technique that makes this verification possible is a novel, integrated proof language that we have developed within the context of the Jahob program verification system. Our proof language allows us to embed proof commands directly within the program, making it possible to reason about the behavior of the program in its original context. It also allows us to effectively leverage Jahob's integrated reasoning system. Unlike conventional program verification systems that rely on a single monolithic prover, Jahob includes interfaces to a diverse collection of specialized automated reasoning systems-automated theorem provers, decision procedures, and program analyses-that work together to prove the verification conditions that the system automatically generates. Our proof language enables the developer to direct the efforts of these automated reasoning systems to successfully verify properties that the system is unable to verify without guidance. Our specifications characterize the behavior of the data structures in terms of their abstract state, resulting in verified interfaces that can be used to reason about the behavior of the data structures without revealing the underlying representation. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proof language and integrated reasoning approach, and provide valuable insight into the specification and verification of imperative linked data structures.by Karen K. Zee.Ph.D

Acculturation Strategies Among Ethnic Minority Workers and the Role of Intercultural Personality Traits

In an increasingly diverse work context minority employees strive to place and define themselves in terms of work and cultural identities. Based on Berry’s acculturation model (1990), we defined and tested preferred acculturation strategies at work. It was predicted that the dual identity, reflecting strong cultural identity maintenance combined with strong team identity adoption, is the most preferred strategy at work. The present study among non-Dutch employees working in The Netherlands (N = 108) showed that the dual identity is indeed preferred over strong team identity adoption, but solely among minority members who are emotionally stable. It is argued that these people are competent in dealing with the extra conflict and diversity-related stress that this acculturation strategy produces

A study of the adjustment of Western expatriates in Taiwan ROC with the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (MPQ)

The present paper examined the validity of the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (MPQ). As criteria of validity three levels of adjustment were used. The study took place among a sample of expatriates (N = 102) during their assignment in Taiwan. The MPQ has scales for cultural empathy, open-mindedness, social initiative, emotional stability and flexibility. The MPQ-scales appeared to be positively related to expatriates' personal, professional and social adjustment. In all three domains, emotional stability appeared most consistently as predictor of adjustment. Social initiative was an additional strong predictor of psychological well-being, and so was cultural empathy of satisfaction with life and of the amount of social support in the host country. Flexibility was a predictor of job satisfaction and social support. The study also examined the effects of marital status on adjustment. Married expatriates showed higher levels of adjustment than expatriates who were single or separated

The effectiveness of a mediation program in symmetrical versus asymmetrical neighbor-to-neighbor conflicts

Purpose – The last decades, neighborhood mediation programs have become an increasingly popular method to deal with conflicts between neighbors. In the current paper the aim is to propose and show that conflict asymmetry, the degree to which parties differ in perceptions of the level of conflict, may be important for the course and outcomes of neighborhood mediation. \ud \ud Design/methodology/approach – Data for testing the hypotheses were based on coding all (261) files of neighbor conflicts reported to a Dutch neighborhood mediation program in the period from 2006 through 2008. \ud \ud Findings – As expected, cases were more often about asymmetrical than symmetrical conflicts. Moreover, compared to symmetrical conflicts, asymmetrical conflicts less often led to a mediation session; the degree of escalation was lower; and, particularly in asymmetrical conflicts, a mere intake session already contributed to positive conflict outcomes. \ud \ud Originality/value – Past research on the effectiveness of mediation programs mainly focused on cases in which a mediation session effectively took place. However, persuading parties to participate in a mediation session forms a major challenge for mediators. In fact, many cases that are signed-up for mediation programs do not result in an actual mediation. The current study examines the entire mediation process – from intake to follow-up\u