Formal Verification of Software-Intensive Systems Architectures Described with Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams

International audienceSocio-technical systems are increasingly becoming software-intensive. The challenge now is to design the architecture of such software-intensive systems for guaranteeing not only its correctness, but also the correctness of its implementation. In social-technical systems, the architecture (including software and physical elements) is described in terms of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID). The design of these P&ID is still considered an art for which no rigorous design support exists. In order to detect and eliminate architectural design flaws, this paper proposes a formal-based automated approach for the verification of the essential architecture “total correctness” properties, i.e. compatibility, completeness, consistency, and correctness. This approach is based on the definition of an architectural style for P&ID design in Alloy. We use MDE to automatically generate Alloy models from a P&ID and check their compatibility with the style and its completeness, consistency, and correctness properties. Our approach is presented through an industrial case study: the system of storage and production of freshwater for a ship

Lysyl oxidase secreted by tumour endothelial cells promotes angiogenesis and metastasis

Background: Molecules that are highly expressed in tumour endothelial cells (TECs) may be candidates for specifically targeting TECs. Using DNA microarray analysis, we found that the lysyl oxidase (LOX) gene was upregulated in TECs compared with its expression in normal endothelial cells (NECs). LOX is an enzyme that enhances invasion and metastasis of tumour cells. However, there are no reports on the function of LOX in isolated TECs. Methods: TECs and NECs were isolated to investigate LOX function in TECs. LOX inhibition of in vivo tumour growth was also assessed using beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN). Results: LOX expression was higher in TECs than in NECs. LOX knockdown inhibited cell migration and tube formation by TECs, which was associated with decreased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (Tyr 397). Immunostaining showed high LOX expression in human tumour vessels in vivo. Tumour angiogenesis and micrometastasis were inhibited by BAPN in an in vivo tumour model. Conclusion: LOX may be a TEC marker and a possible therapeutic target for novel antiangiogenic therapy

Mechanisms of occupational asthma.

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