Monte Carlo Simulations of Spin Glasses on Cell Broadband Engine

Several large-scale computational scientific problems require high-end computing systems to be solved. In the recent years, design of multi-core architectures delivers on a single chip tens or hundreds Gflops of peak computing performance, with high power dissipation efficiency, and it makes available computational power previously available only on high-end multi-processor systems. The aim of this Ph.D. thesis is to study the capability of multi-core processors for scientific programming, analyzing sustained performance, issues related to multicore programming, data distribution, synchronization, in order to define a set of guideline rules to optimize scientific applications for this class of architectures. As an example of multi-core processor, we consider the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE), developed by Sony, IBM and Toshiba. The CBE is one of the most powerful multi-core CPU current available, integrating eight cores and delivering a peak performance of 200 Gflops in single precision and 100 Gflops in double precision. As case of study, we analyze the performances of CBE for Monte Carlo simulations of the Edwards-Anderson Spin Glass model, a paradigm in theoretical and condensed matter physics, used to describe complex systems characterized by phase transitions (such as the para-ferro transition in magnets) or model “frustrated” dynamics. We descrive several strategies for the distribution of data set among on-chip and off-chip memories and propose analytic models to find out the balance between computational and memory access time as a function of both algorithmic and architectural parameters. We use the analytic models to set the parameters of the algorithm, like for example size of data structures and scheduling of operations, to optimize execution of Monte Carlo spin glass simulations on the CBE architecture

Study on the Probability Distribution of Pitting for Naturally Corroded Prestressing Strands Accounting for Surface Defects

One of the most urgent scientific needs from a technical and economic engineering point of view is the assessment of concrete structures suffering corrosion deterioration. However, the pursuit of this target in the case of corroded prestressed concrete (PC) members is hindered by the lack of (i) consolidated simplified formulations to be used in the engineering daily practice and (ii) works investigating the uncertainties in the correlation between the damage induced by corrosion and the structural resistance. To this aim, the present study adopts a 3D-scanning technique for the pitting morphology evaluation of several corroded prestressing strands retrieved from 10-year-old PC beams. First, the probabilistic distributions of penetration depths have been investigated. Second, the pitting factors alpha and omega(i) have been proposed and discussed to quantify the level of corrosion in longitudinal and transversal direction, respectively. Finally, correlations have been derived between the maximum and average penetration depth as a function of the level of corrosion and the surface defects mapping has been carried out on the corroded PC beams. The results show that the penetration depth of strands subjected to chloride-induced corrosion can be best fitted by a lognormal distribution function. Additionally, the simultaneous consideration of longitudinal and transversal pitting factor is found out to be essential for an exhaustive comprehension of pitting corrosion. Moreover, the outcomes highlight that the presence of longitudinal splitting cracks plays a fundamental role in the corrosion spatial variability of prestressing strands

USE OF CROSS-POL MULTI-TEMPORAL SAR DATA FOR IMAGE SEGMENTATION

The contribution to the image segmentation of multi-temporal SAR data acquired with VV - VH polarization is analyzed. The backscattering intensity, the short time interferometric coherence and the decorrelation time of scatterers have been used to separate different ground backscattering behavior both in VV and VH polarization. Then, these six parameters have been projected into a domain with reduced dimensionality by means of a Covariance Matrix Analysis. The resulting covariance values show that the main contribution to the image segmentation from the VH polarization comes when the short time interferometric coherence is different from that of the VV polarization. Preliminary results are presented on an agricultural area. Moreover, the VV-VH complex coherence has been exploited to identify urban areas and permanent scatterers. It has been verified that the coherence phase in urban environments can be only 0 or pi accordingly to the theory of dihedral and trihedral backscattering

JANUS: an FPGA-based System for High Performance Scientific Computing

This paper describes JANUS, a modular massively parallel and reconfigurable FPGA-based computing system. Each JANUS module has a computational core and a host. The computational core is a 4x4 array of FPGA-based processing elements with nearest-neighbor data links. Processors are also directly connected to an I/O node attached to the JANUS host, a conventional PC. JANUS is tailored for, but not limited to, the requirements of a class of hard scientific applications characterized by regular code structure, unconventional data manipulation instructions and not too large data-base size. We discuss the architecture of this configurable machine, and focus on its use on Monte Carlo simulations of statistical mechanics. On this class of application JANUS achieves impressive performances: in some cases one JANUS processing element outperfoms high-end PCs by a factor ~ 1000. We also discuss the role of JANUS on other classes of scientific applications.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Improved version, largely rewritten, submitted to Computing in Science & Engineerin

Innovating European Long-Term Care Policies through the Socio-Economic Support of Families: A Lesson from Practices

LTC and socio-economic deprivation of families are two relevant issues in international debate. The economic or time investment made by families in caregiving has an impact on the socio-economic status of family members in terms of economic means and social inclusion. This study analyzes the practices that are supported by home LTC, examining their characteristics, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, drivers, and barriers, as well as identifying social innovation aspects. The study provides a qualitative interpretative comparison of 22 practices from eight countries, representing the four LTC care models existing in Europe. Cross-studies aid in the development of sustainable policies. The study highlights the differences and similarities between selected practices. The results indicate the effectiveness of integrative and coordination strategies at the macro, meso, and micro levels for the development of supportive policies for family members with burdens of care. Nevertheless, the results underline the lack of a genuine focus on families’ socio-economic support for providing care. The partial support provided by compensatory cash benefits or unpaid care leave schemes partially addresses the difficulties of familial burden of care. The study recommends that fair economic compensation and social security benefits be incorporated into innovative and sustainable strategies for supporting caregiving in LTC and welfare schemes

HER2-Displaying M13 Bacteriophages induce Therapeutic Immunity against Breast Cancer

The advent of trastuzumab has significantly improved the prognosis of HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer patients; nevertheless, drug resistance limits its clinical benefit. Anti-HER2 active immunotherapy represents an attractive alternative strategy, but effective immunization needs to overcome the patient's immune tolerance against the self-HER2. Phage display technology, taking advantage of phage intrinsic immunogenicity, permits one to generate effective cancer vaccines able to break immune tolerance to self-antigens. In this study, we demonstrate that both preventive and therapeutic vaccination with M13 bacteriophages, displaying the extracellular (EC) and transmembrane (TM) domains of human HER2 or its Δ16HER2 splice variant on their surface (ECTM and Δ16ECTM phages), delayed mammary tumor onset and reduced tumor growth rate and multiplicity in ∆16HER2 transgenic mice, which are tolerant to human ∆16HER2. This antitumor protection correlated with anti-HER2 antibody production. The molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of vaccine-elicited anti-HER2 antibodies were analyzed in vitro against BT-474 human breast cancer cells, sensitive or resistant to trastuzumab. Immunoglobulins (IgG) purified from immune sera reduced cell viability mainly by impairing ERK phosphorylation and reactivating retinoblastoma protein function in both trastuzumab-sensitive and -resistant BT-474 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that phage-based HER2 vaccines impair mammary cancer onset and progression, opening new perspectives for HER2+ breast cancer treatment

Non-invAsive VentIlation for early General wArd respiraTory failurE (NAVIGATE):A multicenter randomized controlled study. Protocol and statistical analysis plan

Few randomized trials have evaluated the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for early acute respiratory failure (ARF) in non-intensive care unit (ICU) wards. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that early NIV for mild-moderate ARF in non-ICU wards can prevent development of severe ARF

A Systematic Review and International Web-Based Survey of Randomized Controlled Trials in the Perioperative and Critical Care Setting: Interventions Reducing Mortality

The authors aimed to identify interventions documented by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reduce mortality in adult critically ill and perioperative patients, followed by a survey of clinicians’ opinions and routine practices to understand the clinicians’ response to such evidence. The authors performed a comprehensive literature review to identify all topics reported to reduce mortality in perioperative and critical care settings according to at least 2 RCTs or to a multicenter RCT or to a single-center RCT plus guidelines. The authors generated position statements that were voted on online by physicians worldwide for agreement, use, and willingness to include in international guidelines. From 262 RCT manuscripts reporting mortality differences in the perioperative and critically ill settings, the authors selected 27 drugs, techniques, and strategies (66 RCTs, most frequently published by the New England Journal of Medicine [13 papers], Lancet [7], and Journal of the American Medical Association [5]) with an agreement ≥67% from over 250 physicians (46 countries). Noninvasive ventilation was the intervention supported by the largest number of RCTs (n = 13). The concordance between agreement and use (a positive answer both to “do you agree” and “do you use”) showed differences between Western and other countries and between anesthesiologists and intensive care unit physicians. The authors identified 27 clinical interventions with randomized evidence of survival benefit and strong clinician support in support of their potential life-saving properties in perioperative and critically ill patients with noninvasive ventilation having the highest level of support. However, clinician views appear affected by specialty and geographical location

Spotlights on Contemporary Family Life

Spotlights on Contemporary Family Life covers four issues of cross-cutting importance to families Structures and forms of families: issues relating to a diversification of families away from the ‘traditional nuclear family form’ are relatively uncontroversial from an academic perspective, but much more so for policy makers and family associations. Chapter 1 provides a thorough overview of the state of contemporary European families. Solidarities in families: too often the issue of an ‘ageing society’ is simply reduced to the problem of over-burdening social care systems, but longevity also represents opportunities for new kinds of solidarities inside families and family networks, and new relations between family members – not to mention the satisfaction felt by people who can continue to live fulfilling and rewarding lives long after they’re considered ‘elderly’. Chapter 2 gives voice to authors who identify these new opportunities and challenges. Demographic change: women are having fewer children and having them later in life. Having children is now a conscious decision and fertility rates have declined below the level required to sustain our current populations. At the same time we witness the ‘greying’ of Europe, which brings with it a whole host of opportunities and challenges. Chapter 3 raises important issues for policy makers today. Volunteering: inspired by family associations who could not survive without the support of volunteers, this chapter gives an overview of what’s known - and what isn’t - about volunteering. Coinciding with the European Year of Volunteering 2011, this chapter takes a timely look at the efforts that families put into volunteering across Europe and the important benefits that Europe gains from all of this combined voluntary effort. Linden Farrer and William Lay work for the Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE). This publication was produced by FAMILYPLATFORM, a project funded by the European Commission

Guidance on how to identify impacts of hydromorphological degradation on riparian ecosystems. Deliverable 3.4 of REFORM (REstoring rivers FOR effective catchment Management), a collaborative project (large-scale integrating project) funded by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Grant Agreement 282656

The aim of this deliverable is to address the impact of hydromorphological degradation on floodplain and riparian ecosystems, with specific focus on vegetation, fish and invertebrate responses and to provide guidance on how to identify those impacts