{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7125170620","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2026.3655800","title":"Mutants Will Tell: Statistical Mutation-Based Multiple Fault Localization for Deep Learning Programs","display_name":"Mutants Will Tell: Statistical Mutation-Based Multiple Fault Localization for Deep Learning Programs","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-01-20","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7125170620","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2026.3655800"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1109/tse.2026.3655800","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2026.3655800","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S8351582","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","issn_l":"0098-5589","issn":["0098-5589","1939-3520","2326-3881"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320439","host_organization_name":"IEEE Computer Society","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320439","https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["IEEE Computer Society","Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5031789677","display_name":"Huan Xie","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5265-0051"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I158842170","display_name":"Chongqing University","ror":"https://ror.org/023rhb549","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Huan Xie","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5265-0051","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5111067202","display_name":"Zhengxiong Deng","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I158842170","display_name":"Chongqing University","ror":"https://ror.org/023rhb549","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Zhengxiong Deng","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8810-4466","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100639534","display_name":"Yan Lei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4504-6806"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I158842170","display_name":"Chongqing University","ror":"https://ror.org/023rhb549","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Yan Lei","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4504-6806","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5054854588","display_name":"Maojin Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4117-8430"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I158842170","display_name":"Chongqing University","ror":"https://ror.org/023rhb549","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Maojin Li","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4117-8430","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5070783668","display_name":"Meng Yan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9538-9121"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I158842170","display_name":"Chongqing University","ror":"https://ror.org/023rhb549","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Meng Yan","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9538-9121","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Big Data &#x0026; Software Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I158842170"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5122900149","display_name":"David Lo","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I79891267","display_name":"Singapore Management University","ror":"https://ror.org/050qmg959","country_code":"SG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I79891267"]}],"countries":["SG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"David Lo","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Computing and Information Systems, Singapore Management University, Singapore"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4367-7201","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Computing and Information Systems, Singapore Management University, Singapore","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I79891267"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":2,"institutions_distinct_count":2,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.06935216,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":"52","issue":"3","first_page":"939","last_page":"953"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10743","display_name":"Software Testing and Debugging Techniques","score":0.6319000124931335,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1712","display_name":"Software"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10743","display_name":"Software Testing and Debugging Techniques","score":0.6319000124931335,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1712","display_name":"Software"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11005","display_name":"Radiation Effects in Electronics","score":0.1573999971151352,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12423","display_name":"Software Reliability and Analysis Research","score":0.03799999877810478,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1712","display_name":"Software"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/process","display_name":"Process (computing)","score":0.6032999753952026},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/mutation","display_name":"Mutation","score":0.5748000144958496},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/notice","display_name":"Notice","score":0.5730000138282776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/deep-learning","display_name":"Deep learning","score":0.5716999769210815},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/statement","display_name":"Statement (logic)","score":0.550000011920929},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/fault","display_name":"Fault (geology)","score":0.5185999870300293},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/baseline","display_name":"Baseline (sea)","score":0.44699999690055847}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.7646999955177307},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C154945302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11660","display_name":"Artificial intelligence","level":1,"score":0.6151999831199646},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C98045186","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205663","display_name":"Process (computing)","level":2,"score":0.6032999753952026},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C501734568","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42918","display_name":"Mutation","level":3,"score":0.5748000144958496},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779913896","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7063001","display_name":"Notice","level":2,"score":0.5730000138282776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C108583219","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q197536","display_name":"Deep learning","level":2,"score":0.5716999769210815},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777026412","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2684591","display_name":"Statement (logic)","level":2,"score":0.550000011920929},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C175551986","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47089","display_name":"Fault (geology)","level":2,"score":0.5185999870300293},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C12725497","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q810247","display_name":"Baseline (sea)","level":2,"score":0.44699999690055847},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C119857082","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2539","display_name":"Machine learning","level":1,"score":0.41440001130104065},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C124101348","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172491","display_name":"Data mining","level":1,"score":0.3650999963283539},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C202532154","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4374193","display_name":"Problem statement","level":2,"score":0.31619998812675476},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C114289077","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3284399","display_name":"Statistical model","level":2,"score":0.30820000171661377},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2986587452","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q938438","display_name":"Statistical analysis","level":2,"score":0.2858999967575073},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C163565370","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4308623","display_name":"Mutation testing","level":4,"score":0.27230000495910645},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C152745839","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5438153","display_name":"Fault detection and isolation","level":3,"score":0.26840001344680786},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C167391956","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1401211","display_name":"Fault model","level":3,"score":0.2678999900817871},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C80444323","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2878974","display_name":"Theoretical computer science","level":1,"score":0.26759999990463257},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C101738243","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q786435","display_name":"Autoencoder","level":3,"score":0.2644999921321869},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C143065580","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3285695","display_name":"Mutant","level":3,"score":0.2630000114440918}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1109/tse.2026.3655800","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2026.3655800","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S8351582","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","issn_l":"0098-5589","issn":["0098-5589","1939-3520","2326-3881"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320439","host_organization_name":"IEEE Computer Society","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320439","https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["IEEE Computer Society","Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[{"score":0.42627426981925964,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/16","display_name":"Peace, Justice and strong institutions"}],"awards":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/G3716495093","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"62272072","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","funder_display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China"}],"funders":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","ror":"https://ror.org/01h0zpd94"}],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":61,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1950030762","https://openalex.org/W1977696633","https://openalex.org/W1990785546","https://openalex.org/W2013655083","https://openalex.org/W2047836084","https://openalex.org/W2059197810","https://openalex.org/W2119269793","https://openalex.org/W2135841285","https://openalex.org/W2159949130","https://openalex.org/W2171451409","https://openalex.org/W2200971133","https://openalex.org/W2246070153","https://openalex.org/W2311532076","https://openalex.org/W2343875716","https://openalex.org/W2725449579","https://openalex.org/W2762786131","https://openalex.org/W2799640043","https://openalex.org/W2801490189","https://openalex.org/W2807928569","https://openalex.org/W2850992922","https://openalex.org/W2851896161","https://openalex.org/W2887782043","https://openalex.org/W2898868990","https://openalex.org/W2962715466","https://openalex.org/W2964164993","https://openalex.org/W2968594320","https://openalex.org/W2981207549","https://openalex.org/W2985883399","https://openalex.org/W2993007949","https://openalex.org/W3000280594","https://openalex.org/W3005940936","https://openalex.org/W3007157104","https://openalex.org/W3011646207","https://openalex.org/W3048160496","https://openalex.org/W3081485108","https://openalex.org/W3082760180","https://openalex.org/W3088548528","https://openalex.org/W3090643686","https://openalex.org/W3134796670","https://openalex.org/W3160349922","https://openalex.org/W3160369295","https://openalex.org/W3178469298","https://openalex.org/W3196239222","https://openalex.org/W3208245500","https://openalex.org/W4220891756","https://openalex.org/W4226033453","https://openalex.org/W4226337124","https://openalex.org/W4229068576","https://openalex.org/W4285108207","https://openalex.org/W4285818829","https://openalex.org/W4296592009","https://openalex.org/W4313563424","https://openalex.org/W4327594616","https://openalex.org/W4384154428","https://openalex.org/W4386764794","https://openalex.org/W4388483172","https://openalex.org/W4388483745","https://openalex.org/W4400680980","https://openalex.org/W4402443943","https://openalex.org/W4410536950","https://openalex.org/W7125935754"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"As":[0],"deep":[1],"learning":[2],"(DL)":[3],"systems":[4,23,28],"are":[5],"increasingly":[6],"deployed":[7],"in":[8,21,108,158],"safety-critical":[9],"domains,":[10],"e.g.,":[11,191],"intelligent":[12],"planning":[13],"and":[14,138,166],"autonomous":[15],"driving,":[16],"localizing":[17,192],"faults":[18,32,66],"that":[19,56,118,185],"occur":[20],"such":[22],"becomes":[24],"indispensable.":[25],"Inevitably,":[26],"DL":[27,41,50,76,111,134,140,145,151,164,169,189,196],"also":[29],"suffer":[30],"from":[31],"like":[33],"traditional":[34],"software.":[35],"Although":[36],"single":[37],"fault":[38],"localization":[39,48],"for":[40,49,63,127],"programs":[42,51],"has":[43],"been":[44],"studied,":[45],"the":[46,71,103,119,129,149,156,159,162,167,173,181,199],"multiple-fault":[47,195],"remains":[52],"underexplored.":[53],"We":[54],"notice":[55],"mutation":[57,141],"analysis":[58],"is":[59,117],"a":[60,75,109,133,144],"powerful":[61],"technique":[62],"locating":[64],"multiple":[65,80,104],"since":[67],"it":[68],"can":[69,202],"simulate":[70,148],"faulty":[72,105,110,130,150],"behaviors":[73,121],"of":[74,115,122,132,175,194,206],"program":[77,146],"by":[78],"generating":[79],"mutants":[81,123],"simultaneously.":[82],"Thus,":[83],"we":[84],"propose":[85],"MuMuFL:":[86],"Statistical":[87],"<underline":[88,91,94,97],"xmlns:mml=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\"":[89,92,95,98],"xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">Mu</u>tation-based":[90],"xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">Mu</u>ltiple":[93],"xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">F</u>ault":[96],"xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">L</u>ocalization":[99],"approach":[100],"to":[101,147,171],"locate":[102],"statements":[106,131],"residing":[107],"program.":[112],"The":[113],"insight":[114],"MuMuFL":[116,136,154,186],"different":[120],"provide":[124],"valuable":[125],"information":[126],"pinpointing":[128],"fault.":[135],"defines":[137],"leverages":[139],"operators":[142],"on":[143],"behavior.":[152],"Then,":[153],"evaluates":[155],"difference":[157],"accuracy":[160],"between":[161],"original":[163],"model":[165,170],"mutated":[168],"quantify":[172],"suspiciousness":[174],"each":[176],"statement":[177],"being":[178],"faulty.":[179],"Finally,":[180],"large-scale":[182],"experiments":[183],"show":[184],"effectively":[187],"localizes":[188],"faults,":[190],"36%":[193],"programs,":[197],"whereas":[198],"best-performing":[200],"baseline":[201],"only":[203],"localize":[204],"14%":[205],"them.":[207]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-03-20T20:47:17.329874","created_date":"2026-01-22T00:00:00"}
