15 research outputs found

    Techniques for Aging, Soft Errors and Temperature to Increase the Reliability of Embedded On-Chip Systems

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    This thesis investigates the challenge of providing an abstracted, yet sufficiently accurate reliability estimation for embedded on-chip systems. In addition, it also proposes new techniques to increase the reliability of register files within processors against aging effects and soft errors. It also introduces a novel thermal measurement setup that perspicuously captures the infrared images of modern multi-core processors

    Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration for Dependable Systems

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    Moore’s law has served as goal and motivation for consumer electronics manufacturers in the last decades. The results in terms of processing power increase in the consumer electronics devices have been mainly achieved due to cost reduction and technology shrinking. However, reducing physical geometries mainly affects the electronic devices’ dependability, making them more sensitive to soft-errors like Single Event Transient (SET) of Single Event Upset (SEU) and hard (permanent) faults, e.g. due to aging effects. Accordingly, safety critical systems often rely on the adoption of old technology nodes, even if they introduce longer design time w.r.t. consumer electronics. In fact, functional safety requirements are increasingly pushing industry in developing innovative methodologies to design high-dependable systems with the required diagnostic coverage. On the other hand commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices adoption began to be considered for safety-related systems due to real-time requirements, the need for the implementation of computationally hungry algorithms and lower design costs. In this field FPGA market share is constantly increased, thanks to their flexibility and low non-recurrent engineering costs, making them suitable for a set of safety critical applications with low production volumes. The works presented in this thesis tries to face new dependability issues in modern reconfigurable systems, exploiting their special features to take proper counteractions with low impacton performances, namely Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration

    Resilience of an embedded architecture using hardware redundancy

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    In the last decade the dominance of the general computing systems market has being replaced by embedded systems with billions of units manufactured every year. Embedded systems appear in contexts where continuous operation is of utmost importance and failure can be profound. Nowadays, radiation poses a serious threat to the reliable operation of safety-critical systems. Fault avoidance techniques, such as radiation hardening, have been commonly used in space applications. However, these components are expensive, lag behind commercial components with regards to performance and do not provide 100% fault elimination. Without fault tolerant mechanisms, many of these faults can become errors at the application or system level, which in turn, can result in catastrophic failures. In this work we study the concepts of fault tolerance and dependability and extend these concepts providing our own definition of resilience. We analyse the physics of radiation-induced faults, the damage mechanisms of particles and the process that leads to computing failures. We provide extensive taxonomies of 1) existing fault tolerant techniques and of 2) the effects of radiation in state-of-the-art electronics, analysing and comparing their characteristics. We propose a detailed model of faults and provide a classification of the different types of faults at various levels. We introduce an algorithm of fault tolerance and define the system states and actions necessary to implement it. We introduce novel hardware and system software techniques that provide a more efficient combination of reliability, performance and power consumption than existing techniques. We propose a new element of the system called syndrome that is the core of a resilient architecture whose software and hardware can adapt to reliable and unreliable environments. We implement a software simulator and disassembler and introduce a testing framework in combination with ERA’s assembler and commercial hardware simulators

    ‘Can I still be a mum’?’ An exploration of the experience of women with formerly diagnosed severe mental health issues in relation to motherhood during the postnatal period

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    Severe mental health issues are a substantial contributor to the global disease burden, and a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the perinatal period, with a prevalence of 1 in every 1,000 births. Women with a diagnosis of severe mental health issues (SMHI) are at higher risk of suicide or being admitted to hospital in the postnatal period. In addition, having a SMHI diagnosis influences the mother’s relationship with their infant which can have further implications for both. While maternity services in the UK have gradually adopted more responsibility for women with SMHI, there are several factors such as stigma, discrimination and isolation, social, economic and physical environment inequalities that challenges the care for them. Currently, there is a lack of understanding for SMHI mother’s postnatal experiences. Thus, there is lack of evidence on how to best address these challenges for them and improve their postnatal experiences and ultimately help with reducing the risk of hospital readmissions or suicide. The goal of this research was to understand, explore and develop a theory-based model on the experiences of women with SMHI in relation to motherhood during the postnatal period. A constructive grounded theory was employed, which was underpinned by the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism. Ten women with SMHI were interviewed with the focus on their postnatal experiences in relation to motherhood. The semi structured interviews were conducted online, and participants were recruited from mental health hospitals in accordance with ethical approval standards. The age of participants were from 18 to 49 years with different social backgrounds. Data analysis was according to grounded theory method utilising a constant comparison approach, and theoretical sampling was facilitated by Mind genius software and Nvivo. The generated Resilience-Led Behavioural Model (RLBM) for supporting SMHI mothers in the postnatal period had three categories. 1. personal resilience associated with coping mechanisms, hopes and sleep deprivation; 2. social context, such as family support cultural and religious issues, and stigma affecting access to services and 3. childbirth experiences, including met and unmet needs, anxiety, fear, bonding and attachment. The core category was personal resilience, which seemed to have the greatest influence on participants experiences. They strived towards coping and adopting positive changes with effective support from families concerning their motherhood role. Accepting the reality of a situation, although it is unpleasant and uncomfortable, is a crucial component of cognitive flexibility. The RLBM highlights the behavioural changes and resilience adopted by women during their transition into motherhood. The RLBM, therefore, creates awareness and introduces new ways and ideas on coping for women with SMHI in relation to motherhood during the postnatal period

    DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY TO EFFECTIVELY MARKET PAKISTAN SMEs PRODUCTS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

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    In many countries, small-medium enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in creating jobs and economic development, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. However, despite possible internationalisation benefits and strategic importance, numbers of Pakistani SMEs are not actively serving the international market because of their weak business strategy and market barriers faced in the global marketplace. This study focuses on the strategy and methods used by the SMEs of Pakistan to enter the international market. The upstream and downstream internationalisation model is used for the technological knowledge and acquisition of the market and the foreign customers' insight and foreign market insight. The dimensions, SMEs are required to focus for internationalisation are investigated in this research, such as market, product, and time and operation mode. This is the main focus of the study. To solicit the opinion of sampled Pakistan SMEs managers from the list provided by the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (SMEDA), a qualitative research design was employed and interviews were used for data collection. Findings reveal that SMEs' current strategy is the major challenge and obstacle for them entering the internationalisation process. Results show that market choice and region is not a part of the deliberate strategy but an unexpected opportunity outcome. Furthermore, the findings revealed that a lack of market knowledge makes it difficult for SMEs to gain access and assistance, as the government institutions' policies and regulations are not supportive. In addition, financial constraints make it challenging to manage this internationalisation process efficiently. The current research contributes to identifying the challenges required to be solved internationalisation process. Government institutions, skilled workforce, R&D, logistics, market access, and financial support are more likely to play a role in SMEs' journey to achieve internationalisation effectively

    Queensland University of Technology: Handbook 1995

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    The Queensland University of Technology handbook gives an outline of the faculties and subject offerings available that were offered by QUT

    Undergraduate course catalog (Florida International University). [2012-2013]

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    This catalog contains a description of the various policies, undergraduate programs, degree requirements, and course offerings at Florida International University during the 2012-2013 year.https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/catalogs/1070/thumbnail.jp

    Queensland University of Technology: Handbook 1995

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    The Queensland University of Technology handbook gives an outline of the faculties and subject offerings available that were offered by QUT

    Queensland University of Technology: Handbook 1994

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    The Queensland University of Technology handbook gives an outline of the faculties and subject offerings available that were offered by QUT
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