Static locality analysis for cache management

Most memory references in numerical codes correspond to array references whose indices are affine functions of surrounding loop indices. These array references follow a regular predictable memory pattern that can be analysed at compile time. This analysis can provide valuable information like the locality exhibited by the program, which can be used to implement more intelligent caching strategy. In this paper we propose a static locality analysis oriented to the management of data caches. We show that previous proposals on locality analysis are not appropriate when the proposals have a high conflict miss ratio. This paper examines those proposals by introducing a compile-time interference analysis that significantly improve the performance of them. We first show how this analysis can be used to characterize the dynamic locality properties of numerical codes. This evaluation show for instance that a large percentage of references exhibit any type of locality. This motivates the use of a dual data cache, which has a module specialized to exploit temporal locality, and a selective cache respectively. Then, the performance provided by these two cache organizations is evaluated. In both organizations, the static locality analysis is responsible for tagging each memory instruction accordingly to the particular type(s) of locality that it exhibits.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Exercises using a touchscreen tablet application improved functional ability more than an exercise program prescribed on paper in people after surgical carpal tunnel release: a randomised trial

Question: In people who have undergone surgical carpal tunnel release, do sensorimotor-based exercises performed on the touchscreen of a tablet device improve outcomes more than a conventional home exercise program prescribed on paper? Design: Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants: Fifty participants within 10 days of surgical carpal tunnel release. Intervention: Each participant was prescribed a 4-week home exercise program. Participants in the experimental group received the ReHand tablet application, which administered and monitored exercises via the touchscreen. The control group was prescribed a home exercise program on paper, as is usual practice in the public hospital system. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was functional ability of the hand, reported using the shortened form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were grip strength, pain intensity measured on a 10-cm visual analogue scale, and dexterity measured with the Nine-Hole Peg Test. Outcomes were measured by a blinded assessor at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention period. Results: At Week 4, functional ability improved significantly more in the experimental group than the control group (MD –21, 95% CI –33 to –9) on the QuickDASH score (0 to 100). Although the mean estimates of effect on the secondary outcome also all favoured the experimental group, none reached statistical significance: grip strength (MD 5.6 kg, 95% CI –0.5 to 11.7), pain (MD –1.4 cm, 95% CI –2.9 to 0.1), and dexterity (MD –1.3 seconds, 95% CI –3.7 to 1.1). Conclusion: Use of the ReHand tablet application for early rehabilitation after carpal tunnel release is more effective in the recovery of functional ability than a conventional home exercise program. It remains unclear whether there are any benefits in grip strength, pain or dexterity. Trial registration: ACTRN12618001887268

‘Omics’ approaches for crop improvement

The growing human population and climate change are imposing unprecedented challenges on the global food supply [1]. To cope with these pressures, crop improvement demands enhancing important agronomical traits beyond yield, such as adaptation, resistance, and nutritional value, by pivoting direct and indirect selection approaches [2]. The development of next-generation high-throughput screening technologies, referred to as ‘omics’, promises to speed up plant trait improvement [3] while producing more sustainable crops. Large-scale techniques, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics, have already provided large datasets for that purpose. Meanwhile, modern bioinformatic and machine-learning approaches are helping us to process this heterogeneous hyper-dimensional data [4] while ultimately understanding the mechanisms behind agronomic features within the contemporary plant breeding triangle (i.e., genomics vs. phenomics vs. enviromics) [5]. ‘Omics’ datasets are also being generated to study macro-scale interactions and deepen our knowledge of crop behavior across the microbial [6] and environmental [7,8] continua. However, despite these massive technological and computational developments [4], systemic efforts to integrate ‘omics’ studies to understand biochemical pathways and cellular networks of crop systems are in their infancy [9], especially in orphan species [10]. Therefore, this Special Issue envisions offering updated emergent views on large-scale ‘omics’-based approaches. Specifically, the compilation explores the conceptual framework of the ‘omics’ paradigm [11], the practical uses of multiple ‘omics’ technologies, and their integration through trans-disciplinary bioinformatics as tools to improve qualitative and quantitative traits in a diverse panel of crop species

La extirpación de la grasa de Hoffa y de la porción central del tendón rotuliano: Estudio experimental en la rodilla del conejo

Se estudia la repercusión de la extirpación parcial de la grada de Hoffa, y de ésta junto con el tercio central del tendón rotuliano en la rodilla de 16 conejos machos adultos, seguidos durante 6 meses. En los 6 casos que completan el estudio con extirpación de la grasa aislada no se detectó sobre el tendón o las superficies articulares cambios macro o microscópicos. Cuando se extirpó además de la grada el tercio central del ligamento rotuliano, se observó adelgazamiento y elongación del tendón rotuliano con erosiones mínimas en la articulación femororotuliana en 4 rodillas examinadas. En ninguno de los dos grupos se observó neoformación de la grasa extirpada.The repercussion on the knee after partial excision of the Hoffa pad, isolated or in combination with the central portion of the patella tendon, was studied in 16 adult male rabbits, with a follow-up of 6 months. In the 6 surviving cases of isolated Hoffa pad excision, no changes were observed on the tendon neither the articular surfaces on macro and microscopic. In the 6 cases of Hoffa pa and central portion of the patella tendon excision, thinning and elongation of the tendon with some erosion of the articular surface of the femoropatellar joint was observed. The fat pad was nor regenerated in neither group

Reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior por un abordaje trastendón rotuliano

Describimos la técnica de la plastia del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) usando el hueso-tendón-hueso a través de un abordaje transtendón rotuliano. Esto facilita la condiloplastia, la visión de los puntos de inserción del ligamento cruzado anterior y la realización de intervenciones asociadas con meniscectomía o suturas meniscales. Los resultados clínicos son semejantes a los de otras técnicas a cielo abierto o por atroscopia.The reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by bone-tendon-bone through a transpatellar tendon approach facilitates notchplasty, allows visualization of the insertion points of the ligament, and the performance of other associated surgery like meniscectomy and meniscal sutures. The clinical results are similar to other techniques using arthrotomy or arthroscopy

Desenvolupament d'una eina multimèdia interactiva per a l'ensenyament de la química en els estudis d'enginyeria

En aquest treball es descriu l'experiència en la utilització de la tecnologia multimèdia per al desenvolupament d'una unitat docent de la matèria de química que té relació amb les assignatures presencials: Fonaments Químics de l'Enginyeria del primer curs de la carrera d'Enginyeria Industrial i Química del primer curs de la carrera d’Enginyeria Aeronàutica impartides ambdues a l'Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Indústria de Terrassa. Es plantegen les motivacions prèvies que han portat a la realització d'aquest treball i s'emmarca l'àmbit del projecte: una vegada especificades les característiques de les assignatures i del seu entorn i analitzades les característiques dels alumnes als quals va dirigit el treball, s'analitzen els objectius que es pretenen aconseguir, i es tria l’entorn tecnològic més adequat per a la consecució del mateix. Es descriu la utilització del material a l'aula i es realitza una valoració dels resultats obtinguts, de la seva utilització per part dels estudiants, tenint en compte tant els aspectes docents: referència al tipus de continguts i facilitat de comprensió dels mateixos, així com els aspectes tecnològics de funcionament i utilització del material multimèdia, com són la facilitat d'accés i la interactivitat

Of Fears and Budgets: Strategies of Control in Vespa velutina Invasion and Lessons for Best Management Practices

[Abstrat] Implementing management practices for the control of invasive species can be a complex task with multiple dimensions, where the identification of stakeholders and drivers of those practices is of paramount importance. The invasive hornet Vespa velutina has spread across Europe and Asia from its native range in SE Asia in recent years. A common control method is the removal and destruction of its nests on citizens’ request to call centers. In this paper we have explored the knowledge and main factors that influence the perceptions of the citizens on the species in an invaded municipality in NW Spain, as well as the management practices of the municipal emergency unit responsible for nest removal activities. Our analysis brings out multiple drivers of management practices that derive both from the citizens’ and practitioners’ knowledge, and highlights several points of conflict between both stakeholder groups connected to (1) the degree of service provided to the local population, (2) the risk of allergic reactions as a motive to urge removals, or (3) the quality of information provided by mass media. Our results support the crucial importance of environmental education programs that seek to increase the knowledge of the general public about the threats of invasive species. Such programs might be incorporated to implement and optimize management plans of V. velutina by enhancing communication between experts and local population

Solving second-order linear differential equations with random analytic coefficients about ordinary points: A full probabilistic solution by the first probability density function

[EN] This paper deals with the approximate computation of the first probability density function of the solution stochastic process to second-order linear differential equations with random analytic coefficients about ordinary points under very general hypotheses. Our approach is based on considering approximations of the solution stochastic process via truncated power series solution obtained from the random regular power series method together with the so-called Random Variable Transformation technique. The validity of the proposed method is shown through several illustrative examples.This work has been partially supported by the Ministerio de Econom ia y Competitividad grant MTM2013-41765-P. Ana Navarro Quiles acknowledges the doctorate scholarship granted by Programa de Ayudas de Investigacion y Desarrollo (PAID), Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Cortés, J.; Navarro-Quiles, A.; Romero, J.; Roselló, M. (2018). Solving second-order linear differential equations with random analytic coefficients about ordinary points: A full probabilistic solution by the first probability density function. Applied Mathematics and Computation. 331:33-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2018.02.051S334533

Solving fully randomized higher-order linear control differential equations: Application to study the dynamics of an oscillator

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Cortés, J-C, Navarro-Quiles, A, Romero, J-V, Roselló, M-D. Solving fully randomized higher-order linear control differential equations: Application to study the dynamics of an oscillator. Comp and Math Methods. 2021; 3:e1163, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/cmm4.1163. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.[EN] In this work, we consider control problems represented by a linear differential equation assuming that all the coefficients are random variables and with an additive control that is a stochastic process. Specifically, we will work with controllable problems in which the initial condition and the final target are random variables. The probability density function of the solution and the control has been calculated. The theoretical results have been applied to study, from a probabilistic standpoint, a damped oscillator.European Social Fund, Grant/Award Numbers: GJIDI/2018/A/009, GJIDI/2018/A/010; Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER UE), Grant/Award Number: MTM2017-89664-P.Cortés, J.; Navarro-Quiles, A.; Romero, J.; Roselló, M. (2021). Solving fully randomized higher-order linear control differential equations: Application to study the dynamics of an oscillator. Computational and Mathematical Methods. 3(6):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/cmm4.1163S1153

Solving second-order linear differential equations with random analytic coefficients about regular-singular points

[EN] In this contribution, we construct approximations for the density associated with the solution of second-order linear differential equations whose coefficients are analytic stochastic processes about regular-singular points. Our analysis is based on the combination of a random Fröbenius technique together with the random variable transformation technique assuming mild probabilistic conditions on the initial conditions and coefficients. The new results complete the ones recently established by the authors for the same class of stochastic differential equations, but about regular points. In this way, this new contribution allows us to study, for example, the important randomized Bessel differential equation.This work was partially funded by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad Grant MTM2017-89664-P. Ana Navarro Quiles acknowledges the funding received from Generalitat Valenciana through a postdoctoral contract (APOSTD/2019/128). Computations were carried out thanks to the collaboration of Raul San Julian Garces and Elena Lopez Navarro granted by the European Union through the Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)/European Social Fund (ESF) of the Valencian Community 2014-2020, Grants GJIDI/2018/A/009 and GJIDI/2018/A/010, respectivelyCortés, J.; Navarro-Quiles, A.; Romero, J.; Roselló, M. (2020). Solving second-order linear differential equations with random analytic coefficients about regular-singular points. Mathematics. 8(2):1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/math8020230S12082Hussein, A., & Selim, M. M. (2012). Solution of the stochastic radiative transfer equation with Rayleigh scattering using RVT technique. Applied Mathematics and Computation, 218(13), 7193-7203. doi:10.1016/j.amc.2011.12.088Dorini, F. A., Cecconello, M. S., & Dorini, L. B. (2016). On the logistic equation subject to uncertainties in the environmental carrying capacity and initial population density. 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Random Airy type differential equations: Mean square exact and numerical solutions. Computers & Mathematics with Applications, 60(5), 1237-1244. doi:10.1016/j.camwa.2010.05.046Calbo, G., Cortés, J.-C., & Jódar, L. (2011). Random Hermite differential equations: Mean square power series solutions and statistical properties. Applied Mathematics and Computation, 218(7), 3654-3666. doi:10.1016/j.amc.2011.09.008Calbo, G., Cortés, J.-C., Jódar, L., & Villafuerte, L. (2011). Solving the random Legendre differential equation: Mean square power series solution and its statistical functions. Computers & Mathematics with Applications, 61(9), 2782-2792. doi:10.1016/j.camwa.2011.03.045Cortés, J.-C., Villafuerte, L., & Burgos, C. (2017). A Mean Square Chain Rule and its Application in Solving the Random Chebyshev Differential Equation. Mediterranean Journal of Mathematics, 14(1). doi:10.1007/s00009-017-0853-6Cortés, J.-C., Jódar, L., & Villafuerte, L. (2017). 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A., Cortés, J.-C., Jódar, L., & Villafuerte, L. (2018). On the random gamma function: Theory and computing. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 335, 142-155. doi:10.1016/j.cam.2017.11.04