Safe Parallelism: Compiler Analysis Techniques for Ada and OpenMP

There is a growing need to support parallel computation in Ada to cope with the performance requirements of the most advanced functionalities of safety-critical systems. In that regard, the use of parallel programming models is paramount to exploit the benefits of parallelism. Recent works motivate the use of OpenMP for being a de facto standard in high-performance computing for programming shared memory architectures. These works address two important aspects towards the introduction of OpenMP in Ada: the compatibility of the OpenMP syntax with the Ada language, and the interoperability of the OpenMP and the Ada runtimes, demonstrating that OpenMP complements and supports the structured parallelism approach of the tasklet model. This paper addresses a third fundamental aspect: functional safety from a compiler perspective. Particularly, it focuses on race conditions and considers the fine-grain and unstructured capabilities of OpenMP. Hereof, this paper presents a new compiler analysis technique that: (1) identifies potential race conditions in parallel Ada programs based on OpenMP or Ada tasks or both, and (2) provides solutions for the detected races.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under contract TIN2015-65316-P, and by the FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) within the CISTER Research Unit (CEC/04234).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Comparación de modelos mensuales y anuales para estimar el coeficiente de Hargreaves en la Comunidad Valenciana

El modelo de Hargreaves (HG) para estimar evapotranspiración de referencia (ETo) es una alternativa interesante a la ecuación de Penman Monteith (PM), propuesta como método estándar por la FAO, pero que no es aplicable en muchas situaciones porque requiere muchas variables climáticas que no suelen estar disponibles o cuyos valores medidos no son fiables. Para la aplicación de esta ecuación se recomienda una calibración local preliminar del llamado coeficiente de Hargreaves (AHC). Sin embargo, la obtención de valores concretos de AHC tiene un uso limitado, dado que se requieren valores locales de PM, que se aplicará realmente para determinar la ETo de la estación. Asimismo los valores de AHC no pueden extrapolarse. Por ello es preciso proponer y estudiar modelos para estimar el AHC, dado que en las condiciones en las que la ecuación de HG pretende ser útil no habrá posibilidad de calibración previa mediante valores de PM. Este estudio analiza si están justificadas las parametrizaciones mensuales o estacionales del AHC. Para ello se compararon tres escalas temporales en el desarrollo de los modelos de AHC: la anual, la mensual y la estacional. Los resultados sugieren que el desarrollo de modelos mensuales podría reducir el error relativo alrededor del 2% para AHC diarios y alrededor de 1% para AHC medios mensuales, es decir, un único modelo anual de AHC podría ser insuficiente para recoger toda la variabilidad anual de AHC. Por ello, la aplicación de modelos mensuales (o estacionales) podría estar justificado para una correcta estimación de los AHC. Asimismo, los resultados muestran que la estimación mensual del AHC fue más ajustada de mayo a septiembre que de octubre a abril, y, particularmente, que de noviembre a enero

Vertebral compression fractures managed with brace: risk factors for progression

The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for vertebral compression fracture (VCF) progression in patients treated conservatively with a brace. Then, a case–control study was designed. All patients over 50 years old with diagnosis of thoracic or lumbar VCF (T5 to L5) in absence of underlying oncological process, treated conservatively with brace, and consecutively attended at our department from January 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively selected for analysis. Patients missed for follow-up or dead during the frst 3 months of follow-up were excluded. Five hundred and eighty-two consecutive patients were recorded. Incomplete follow-up excluded 74 patients and other 19 died in the frst three months after diagnosis, so 489 cases were fnally analyzed. Median follow-up was 21 (IQR 13;30) weeks. Increased collapse of the vertebral body was found in 29.9% of VCFs with a median time to progression of 9 (IQR 7;13) weeks. Male gender (OR 1.6), type A3 fracture of the AOSpine classifcation (OR 2.7), thoracolumbar junction location (OR 1.7), and incorrect use of the brace (OR 3.5) were identifed as independent risk factors for progression after multivariable analysis. Male gender, type A3 fracture of the AOSpine classifcation, thoracolumbar junction location, and incorrect use of the brace were identifed as independent risk factors for VCF progression, which resulted in worse pain control, when treated with brace. Thus, other treatments such as percutaneous vertebral augmentation could be considered to avoid progression in selected cases, since collapse rate has been demonstrated lower with these procedure

Flipped classroom applied to Neurosurgery in undergraduate medical education

To compare the academic achievement obtained in Neurosurgery in a class of undergraduate students according to the pedagogical methodology employed: flipped classroom (FC) versus traditional lecture. Students’ satisfaction with the FC model is also analyzed. A quasi-experimental study was designed. The traditional lecture was the pedagogical method employed in teaching units (TUs) 1, 2, and 3 (61, 60, and 66 enrolled students, respectively), whereas TU 4 (69 enrolled students) used the FC methodology. The dropout rate was lower, whereas the academic achievement and the rate of correct answers were higher in TU 4 compared to the rest of the TUs, but these results were not statistically significant. However, the mean score obtained in Neurosurgery was significantly higher in TU 4 compared to the rest of the TUs (p = 0.042). Active learning activities based on clinical cases were positively emphasized. The main weakness was with the time consumed for video-recorded lecture viewing. The FC approach showed better academic results than traditional lectures when comparing students in the same Medical School during the same academic year undergoing the same exam. The students rated the FC approach positively, considering it stimulating and useful for learnin

A Functional Safety OpenMP∗ for Critical Real-Time Embedded Systems

OpenMP* has recently gained attention in the embedded domain by virtue of the augmentations implemented in the last specification. Yet, the language has a minimal impact in the embedded real-time domain mostly due to the lack of reliability and resiliency mechanisms. As a result, functional safety properties cannot be guaranteed. This paper analyses in detail the latest specification to determine whether and how the compliant OpenMP implementations can guarantee functional safety. Given the conclusions drawn from the analysis, the paper describes a set of modifications to the specification, and a set of requirements for compiler and runtime systems to qualify for safety critical environments. Through the proposed solution, OpenMP can be used in critical real-time embedded systems without compromising functional safety.This work was funded by the EU project P-SOCRATES (FP7-ICT-2013- 10) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under contract TIN2015- 65316-P.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Assessment of weed control via foliar application of quinate

En estudios previos se detectó una importante acumulación de quinato en la parte aérea de las plantas tratadas con herbicidas inhibidores de la biosíntesis de aminoácidos, lo que podría explicar su capacidad de inducir la respuesta tóxica. También se evaluó el potencial efecto fitotóxico en función del modo de aplicación exógena, que fue superior tras aplicaciones radicales que foliares. En este trabajo se planteó valorar la utilización del quinato, pulverizado exógenamente, para el control del crecimiento de ciertas malas hierbas. Se realizaron aplicaciones foliares de quinato mediante pulverización en post-emergencia sobre plantas en diferentes estados fenológicos de “Sinapis alba”, “Papaver rhoeas”, “Lolium rigidum”, “Bromus diandrus” y “Cynodon dactylon”. Los resultados muestran que dicho compuesto presentó un mayor control y un efecto fitotóxico más evidente en las especies dicotiledóneas que en las monocotiledóneas, siendo “P. rhoeas” la única especie susceptible de ser controlada en sus estadios iniciales con este compuesto. En “S. alba” únicamente se produjo una reducción temporal del crecimiento sin llegar a ser letal.In previous studies quinate was accumulated in leaves of plants treated with amino acid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicides, which begged the question of whether quinate have the capacity of inducing the toxic effects of the herbicides. The phytotoxic effects of exogenous application were more evident when quinate was applied to the nutrient solution than when it was sprayed onto the foliage. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether sprayed quinate could control the growth of some weed species. This was evaluated by spraying quinate to the leaves of plants of “Sinapis alba”, “Papaver rhoeas”, “Lolium rigidum”, “Bromus diandrus” and “Cynodon dactylon” at different phenological states in postemergence. Exogenous application of quinate was more phytotoxic on dicotyledonous species than monocotyledonous species. “Papaver rhoeas” was the only species tested that would be potentially affected and controlled with the application of quinate, specifically in the initial states of plant development. Growth of “S. alba” was only temporally arrested after quinate application, but the treatment was not lethal

Educational effectiveness of gynaecological teaching associates: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

This trial was funded by The Medical College St Bartholo-mew’s Hospital Trust (reference number: 8368137)

To burn-out or not to burn-out: A cross-sectional study in healthcare professionals in Spain during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To assess the prevalence of burn-out syndrome in healthcare workers working on the front line (FL) in Spain during COVID-19. Design Cross-sectional, online survey-based study. Settings Sampling was performed between 21st April and 3rd May 2020. The survey collected demographic data and questions regarding participants' working position since pandemic outbreak. Participants Spanish healthcare workers working on the FL or usual ward were eligible. A total of 674 healthcare professionals answered the survey. Main outcomes and measures Burn-out syndrome was assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Medical Personnel. Results Of the 643 eligible responding participants, 408 (63.5%) were physicians, 172 (26.8%) were nurses and 63 (9.8%) other technical occupations. 377 (58.6%) worked on the FL. Most participants were women (472 (73.4%)), aged 31-40 years (163 (25.3%)) and worked in tertiary hospitals (>600 beds) (260 (40.4%)). Prevalence of burn-out syndrome was 43.4% (95% CI 39.5% to 47.2%), higher in COVID-19 FL workers (49.6%, p<0.001) than in non-COVID-19 FL workers (34.6%, p<0.001). Women felt more burn-out (60.8%, p=0.016), were more afraid of self-infection (61.9%, p=0.021) and of their performance and quality of care provided to the patients (75.8%, p=0.015) than men. More burn-out were those between 20 and 30 years old (65.2%, p=0.026) and those with more than 15 years of experience (53.7%, p=0.035). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that, working on COVID-19 FL (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.37 to 2.71, p<0.001), being a woman (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.29, p=0.022), being under 30 years old (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.89, p=0.028) and being a physician (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.41, p=0.011) were associated with high risk of burn-out syndrome. Conclusions This survey study of healthcare professionals reported high rates of burn-out syndrome. Interventions to promote mental well-being in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented.publishersversionpublishe

Catalytically Active Imine-based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Detoxification of Nerve Agent Simulants in Aqueous Media

A series of imine-based covalent organic frameworks decorated in their cavities with di erent alkynyl, pyrrolidine, and N-methylpyrrolidine functional groups have been synthetized. These materials exhibit catalytic activity in aqueous media for the hydrolytic detoxification of nerve agents, as exemplified with nerve gas simulant diisopropylfluorophosphate (DIFP). These preliminary results suggest imine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as promising materials for detoxification of highly toxic molecules.MINECO (MAT2016-77608-C3-1-P and 2-P, CTQ2017-84692-R) and EU FEDER fundin

Spine Instability Neoplastic Score: agreement across different medical and surgical specialties

[eng] Background Context Spinal instability is an acknowledged complication of spinal metastases; in spite of recent suggested criteria, it is not clearly defined in the literature. Purpose This study aimed to assess intra and interobserver agreement when using the Spine Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) by all physicians involved in its management. Study Design Independent multicenter reliability study for the recently created SINS, undertaken with a panel of medical oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and radiation oncologists, was carried out. Patient Sample Ninety patients with biopsy-proven spinal metastases and magnetic resonance imaging, reviewed at the multidisciplinary tumor board of our institution, were included. Outcome Measures Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for SINS score agreement. Fleiss kappa statistic was used to assess agreement on the location of the most affected vertebral level; agreement on the SINS category ("stable," "potentially stable," or "unstable"); and overall agreement with the classification established by tumor board. Methods Clinical data and imaging were provided to 83 specialists in 44 hospitals across 14 Spanish regions. No assessment criteria were pre-established. Each clinician assessed the SINS score twice, with a minimum 6-week interval. Clinicians were blinded to assessments made by other specialists and to their own previous assessment. Subgroup analyses were performed by clinicians' specialty, experience (≤7, 8-13, ≥14 years), and hospital category (four levels according to size and complexity). This study was supported by Kovacs Foundation. Results Intra and interobserver agreement on the location of the most affected levels was "almost perfect" (κ>0.94). Intra-observer agreement on the SINS score was "excellent" (ICC=0.77), whereas interobserver agreement was "moderate" (ICC=0.55). Intra-observer agreement in SINS category was "substantial" (k=0.61), whereas interobserver agreement was "moderate" (k=0.42). Overall agreement with the tumor board classification was "substantial" (κ=0.61). Results were similar across specialties, years of experience, and hospital category. Conclusions Agreement on the assessment of metastatic spine instability is moderate. The SINS can help improve communication among clinicians in oncology care