581 research outputs found

    Resource-aware scheduling for 2D/3D multi-/many-core processor-memory systems

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    This dissertation addresses the complexities of 2D/3D multi-/many-core processor-memory systems, focusing on two key areas: enhancing timing predictability in real-time multi-core processors and optimizing performance within thermal constraints. The integration of an increasing number of transistors into compact chip designs, while boosting computational capacity, presents challenges in resource contention and thermal management. The first part of the thesis improves timing predictability. We enhance shared cache interference analysis for set-associative caches, advancing the calculation of Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET). This development enables accurate assessment of cache interference and the effectiveness of partitioned schedulers in real-world scenarios. We introduce TCPS, a novel task and cache-aware partitioned scheduler that optimizes cache partitioning based on task-specific WCET sensitivity, leading to improved schedulability and predictability. Our research explores various cache and scheduling configurations, providing insights into their performance trade-offs. The second part focuses on thermal management in 2D/3D many-core systems. Recognizing the limitations of Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) in S-NUCA many-core processors, we propose synchronous thread migrations as a thermal management strategy. This approach culminates in the HotPotato scheduler, which balances performance and thermal safety. We also introduce 3D-TTP, a transient temperature-aware power budgeting strategy for 3D-stacked systems, reducing the need for Dynamic Thermal Management (DTM) activation. Finally, we present 3QUTM, a novel method for 3D-stacked systems that combines core DVFS and memory bank Low Power Modes with a learning algorithm, optimizing response times within thermal limits. This research contributes significantly to enhancing performance and thermal management in advanced processor-memory systems

    Efficient Model Checking: The Power of Randomness

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    Clustering Solutions of Multiobjective Function Inlining Problem

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    Hard real time-systems are often small devices operating on batteries that must react within a given deadline, so they must satisfy their timing, code size, and energy consumption requirements. Since these three objectives contradict each other, compilers for real-time systems go towards multiobjective optimizations which result in sets of trade-off solutions. A system designer can use the solution sets to choose the most suitable system configuration. Evolutionary algorithms can find trade-off solutions but the solution set might be large which complicates the task of the system designer. We propose to divide the solution set into clusters, so the system designer chooses the most suitable cluster and examines a smaller subset in detail. In contrast to other clustering techniques, our method guarantees that the sizes of all clusters are less than a predefined limit. Our method clusters a set by using any existing clustering method, divides clusters with sizes exceeding the predefined size into smaller clusters, and reduces the number of clusters by merging small clusters. The method guarantees that the final clusters satisfy the size constraint. We demonstrate our approach by considering a well-known compiler-based optimization called function inlining. It substitutes function calls by the function bodies which decreases the execution time and energy consumption of a program but increases its code size

    Obstructed pedunculated jejunal gastrointestinal Stromal tumor disguise as pelvic mass - a case report

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    INTRODUCTION: Obstructed pedunculated jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are very rare and can be misdiagnosed as gynaecological masses. OBJECTIVE: We are describing a rare case of small bowel obstruction caused by a jejunal GIST misdiagnosed as an ovarian mass. CASE REPORT A 70-year-old lady presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and no bowel movement for three days prior. Clinical abdominal examination reveals a palpable mass at the level of the umbilicus, which was unable to feel the lower border of it. Contrasted CT Abdomen revealed a solid cystic mass in the pelvis, suspected to be ovarian in origin and associated with small bowel dilatation. The patient was subjected to exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a 12x13cm pedunculated mass from the jejunum 115cm from the duodenojejunal junction. The lesion was twisted and caused small bowel dilatation. The lesion was resected at the base of the peduncle using a linear stapler. Pathology was confirmed to be a high-risk GIST with a clear margin. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on the third postoperative day. The patient is currently receiving adjuvant imatinib therapy. CONCLUSION: Obstructed pedunculated jejunal GIST is a very rare disease and challenging to diagnose. It should be considered in patients with small bowel obstruction and pelvic mass. Resection at the peduncle base is safe and provides a clear oncological resection margin

    A Survey of Recent Developments in Testability, Safety and Security of RISC-V Processors

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    With the continued success of the open RISC-V architecture, practical deployment of RISC-V processors necessitates an in-depth consideration of their testability, safety and security aspects. This survey provides an overview of recent developments in this quickly-evolving field. We start with discussing the application of state-of-the-art functional and system-level test solutions to RISC-V processors. Then, we discuss the use of RISC-V processors for safety-related applications; to this end, we outline the essential techniques necessary to obtain safety both in the functional and in the timing domain and review recent processor designs with safety features. Finally, we survey the different aspects of security with respect to RISC-V implementations and discuss the relationship between cryptographic protocols and primitives on the one hand and the RISC-V processor architecture and hardware implementation on the other. We also comment on the role of a RISC-V processor for system security and its resilience against side-channel attacks

    GPU devices for safety-critical systems: a survey

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    Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) devices and their associated software programming languages and frameworks can deliver the computing performance required to facilitate the development of next-generation high-performance safety-critical systems such as autonomous driving systems. However, the integration of complex, parallel, and computationally demanding software functions with different safety-criticality levels on GPU devices with shared hardware resources contributes to several safety certification challenges. This survey categorizes and provides an overview of research contributions that address GPU devices’ random hardware failures, systematic failures, and independence of execution.This work has been partially supported by the European Research Council with Horizon 2020 (grant agreements No. 772773 and 871465), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under grant PID2019-107255GB, the HiPEAC Network of Excellence and the Basque Government under grant KK-2019-00035. The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness has also partially supported Leonidas Kosmidis with a Juan de la Cierva Incorporación postdoctoral fellowship (FJCI-2020- 045931-I).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

    Maintaining the Integrity Over Wear Time of a Hydrocolloid-based Ostomy Adhesive Whilst Maintaining Skin Barrier Function

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    In this extensive body of work, a thorough exploration delves into hydrocolloid based adhesives, with a focus on addressing challenges faced by stoma patients, particularly the susceptibility of ostomy adhesives to breakdown upon exposure to liquids. Stoma patients, compelled to wear pouching systems continuously, encounter issues like the compromise of skin barrier integrity, leading to medical adhesive-related skin injuries. The primary objective of this thesis is to reinforce the structural integrity of ostomy adhesives while preserving the skin barrier during pouching system use, an aspect often overlooked in current literature due to the hydrophilic nature of hydrocolloid based adhesives. The study introduces novel aims, examining the potential link between handedness and the preferred direction of adhesive removal, and its impact on peristomal skin complications as well as a novel skin capacitive imagery stitching technique. Another goal involves developing hierarchical structures on adhesive surfaces to enhance integrity, initial tack, and minimize skin contact for optimal skin health. The introduction provides a detailed breakdown of hydrocolloid-based ostomy adhesives, stoma anatomy, and the purpose of pouching systems. A comprehensive literature review, utilizing the PICO approach, encompasses stoma anatomy, physiology, indications for stoma surgery, and methods for assessing skin health. The review explores various methodologies to improve the durability of hydrocolloid-based adhesives, incorporating hydrodynamics, crosslinking, and layering systems. The potential influence of handedness on adhesive removal techniques is examined, considering its impact on peristomal skin complications. Results reveal the consistent performance of Welland Medical Ltd.'s hydrocolloid based adhesive but highlight the need for improved integrity over wear time. Strategies include modifying sodium-carboxymethylcellulose degree of substitution and increasing pectin degree of esterification, resulting in enhanced fluid handling capabilities and reduced susceptibility to degradation. Residual testing indicates that residual particles on the skin can impair the barrier function, remedied by a silicone-based adhesive remover. Surveys show that a patient's dominant hand and following the skin's natural langer lines during adhesive removal may minimize skin trauma. The results also show that structured surface profiles on hydrocolloid-based adhesive surfaces impact the skin's functional barrier recovery time. The research goal of this project and its objectives have been reached, the approaches have been explained clearly and implementations have been assessed using experimental findings. This project's findings contribute to advancements in ostomy care by enhancing adhesive performance, understanding patient behaviour, and improving the overall user experience. It also facilitates the efficient detachment of the adhesive from the skin surface

    Software Fault Tolerance in Real-Time Systems: Identifying the Future Research Questions

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    Tolerating hardware faults in modern architectures is becoming a prominent problem due to the miniaturization of the hardware components, their increasing complexity, and the necessity to reduce the costs. Software-Implemented Hardware Fault Tolerance approaches have been developed to improve the system dependability to hardware faults without resorting to custom hardware solutions. However, these come at the expense of making the satisfaction of the timing constraints of the applications/activities harder from a scheduling standpoint. This paper surveys the current state of the art of fault tolerance approaches when used in the context real-time systems, identifying the main challenges and the cross-links between these two topics. We propose a joint scheduling-failure analysis model that highlights the formal interactions among software fault tolerance mechanisms and timing properties. This model allows us to present and discuss many open research questions with the final aim to spur the future research activities

    Terminal ileum herniation through the broad ligament as rare cause of small bowel perforation

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    INTRODUCTION: Obstruction and perforation of small bowel due to internal herniation into the broad ligament is a rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third case report in the literature. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of small bowel herniated through broad ligament causing obstruction and perforation. REPORT A 38-year-old female with history of recent lower segment caesarean section, presented with nausea, abdominal pain and distention for 11 days prior. Clinically she was dehydrated, the abdomen was distended and tender but there was no peritonism. Abdomen X-ray show dilated small bowel. Contrast enhanced CT abdomen showed generalized dilation of small bowel most likely due to adhesion band. Emergency laparotomy was performed and noted small bowel was herniated and strangulated into a broad ligament defect with 2cm perforation at the terminal ileum. The attachment of the broad ligament then was released from the lateral peritoneal wall and limited right hemicolectomy with primary anastomosis was performed. Patient was discharged well post operatively. CONCLUSION Strangulated Small bowel broad ligament hernias are rare and challenging to diagnose preoperatively. Despite history of abdominal surgery, internal herniation should be considered before opting conservative treatment
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