A Fault Injection Attitude based on Background Debug Mode in Embedded Systems

The embedded systems usage in different applications are prevalent in recent years. These systems include a wide range of equipments from cell phones to medical instruments, which consist of hardware and software. In many examples of embedded systems, fault occurrence can lead to serious dangers in system behavior (for example in satellites). Therefore, we try to increase the fault tolerance feature in these systems. Therefore, we need some mechanisms that increase the robustness and reliability of such systems. These objects cause the on-line test to be a great concern. It is not important that these mechanisms work in which level (Hardware level, Software level or Firmware). The major concern is that how well these systems can provide debugging, test and verification features for the user regardless of their implementation levels. Background Debug Module is a real time tool for these features. In this paper we apply an innovative way to use the BDM tool for fault injection in an embedded system

A DTMC Model for Performance Evaluation of Irregular Interconnection Networks with Asymmetric Spatial Traffic Distributions

Several mathematical models have been proposed to evaluate the performance of interconnection networks used for high-speed connections for supercomputers, switches and routers for local and wide area networks, as well as networks on a chip. Often these models are based on state space reduction by exploiting symmetries of the network and requiring uniform traffic patterns. If an interconnection network is built for a specific application with non-uniform spatial traffic distribution, models that are more general are needed. This paper proposes a mathematical model for performance evaluation of application-specific interconnection networks based on inhomogeneous discrete time Markov chains (DTMC). It supports store and forward routing, irregular network topologies, and asymmetric spatial traffic distributions. The model is described in a generalized way so that it can support arbitrary switching element sizes within the network and its input buffers

The association of age, body mass index, and frailty with vestibular schwannoma surgical morbidity.

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether increased body mass index (BMI), age, or frailty influence vestibular schwannoma (VS) short-term surgical morbidity.MethodsThe 2005-2017 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients with VS undergoing surgical resection. Age was stratified according to age <50, 50-64, and ≥65, while BMI was stratified based on a threshold of 30. Frailty score (0-5) was indicated based on functional status, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension.ResultsA total of 1405 patients were included consisting of 56.7 % females with a mean age of 50.7 ± 13.8 years and mean BMI of 29.4 ± 6.6. Patients <50 (n = 604), 50-64 (n = 578), and ≥65 (n = 223), had different duration of surgery (428 ± 173 vs. 392 ± 149 vs. 387 ± 154 min; p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality rates (0.7 % vs. 0% vs. 1.8 %; p = 0.01). However, post-operative length of stay (LOS) (p = 0.16), readmission (p = 0.08), reoperation (p = 0.54), and complication rates were similar. Post-operative myocardial infarction (p = 0.03) and wound infection (p = 0.02) were more commonly observed in the obese cohort (BMI≥30) but readmission (p = 0.18), reoperation (p = 0.44), and complication rates were similar to those with BMI<30. Severely obese patients (BMI≥35) also had higher rates of deep vein thrombosis (p = 0.004). Frailty score 0 (n=921), 1 (n=375), and 2-4 (n=109) was associated with LOS (4.7±3.5 vs. 5.3 ± 4.1 vs. 6.7 ± 6.6 days, p < 0.001) and prolonged intubation rates (1.0 % vs. 2.4 % vs. 3.7 %; p = 0.03).ConclusionsIncreased age, BMI, and frailty among VS patients were associated with different post-operative complication rates, operation time, or LOS. Knowledge of these can optimize care for at-risk patients