Two-sided orthogonal reductions to condensed forms on asymmetric multicore processors

[EN] We investigate how to leverage the heterogeneous resources of an Asymmetric Multicore Processor (AMP) in order to deliver high performance in the reduction to condensed forms for the solution of dense eigenvalue and singular-value problems. The routines that realize this type of two-sided orthogonal reductions (TSOR) in LAPACK are especially challenging, since a significant fraction of their floating-point operations are cast in terms of memory-bound kernels while the remaining part corresponds to efficient compute-bound kernels. To deal with this scenario: (1) we leverage implementations of memory-bound and compute-bound kernels specifically tuned for AMPs; (2) we select the algorithmic block size for the TSOR routines via a practical model; and (3) we adjust the type and number of cores to use at each step of the reduction. Our experiments validate the model and assess the performance of our asymmetry-aware TSOR routines, using an ARMv7 big.LITTLE AMP, for three key operations: the reduction to tridiagonal form for symmetric eigenvalue problems, the reduction to Hessenberg form for non-symmetric eigenvalue problems, and the reduction to bidiagonal form for singular-value problems.The researchers from Universidad Jaume I were supported by project TIN2014-53495-R of MINECO and FEDER, and the FPU program of MECD. The researcher from Universitat Politecnica de Valencia was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEOII/2014/003. The researcher from Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya was supported by projects TIN2015-65316-P from the Spanish Ministry of Education and 2014 SGR 1051 from the Generalitat de Catalunya, Dep. d'Innovacio, Universitats i Empresa.Alonso-Jordá, P.; Catalán, S.; Herrero, JR.; Quintana-Ortí, ES.; Rodríguez-Sánchez, R. (2018). Two-sided orthogonal reductions to condensed forms on asymmetric multicore processors. Parallel Computing. 78:85-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parco.2018.03.005S851007

Spatial and temporal variations in PM10 and PM2.5 across Madrid metropolitan area in 1999–2008

AbstractThis paper presents a summary of the results obtained from the particulate matter (PM) data collected over the 1999–2008 period from representative sites of the Madrid air basin (an urban traffic site, an urban background site and a rural site) which is located in the centre of Spain. A number of PM10 and PM2.5 filters were obtained with high volume samplers and cut-off inlets and chemically analyzed. Pollutants recorded in this area at the Air Quality monitoring stations were also analyzed. The influence of the atmospheric transport scenarios on the levels of PM was investigated by means of atmospheric back-trajectories, satellite imagery and meteorological synoptic charts. Source apportionment studies were performed to characterize the main PM sources whenever was possible. Their contributions to bulk PM levels showed clear spatial patterns, linked to characteristic meteorological scenarios

Estudio de las comunidades de interés pascícola en un puerto de montaña: II. Evolución en la intensidad de selección del pasto por dos razas ovinas (Churra y Merina)

11 páginas, 1 figura, 3 tablas.[ES] Con objeto de conocer la intensidad de selección del pasto en el ganado ovino y las diferencias entre los animales de raza Churra y de raza Merina en este parámetro, se llevo a cabo un experimento sobre un pasto de "Nardus” en la zona de montaña del Puerto de San Isidro en la provincia de León. Se utilizaron 4 machos adultos castados de cada raza, provistos de fístulas esofágicas para la toma de muestras de la dieta seleccionada por los animales (extrusa). El muestreo tuvo lugar en la última semana de los meses de junio, julio, agosto y septiembre de 1990. En cada muestra se separaron las hojas y los tallos, expresándolos posteriormente como porcentaje de la materia seca. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P>0,05) entre ambas razas, en la proporción de hojas en las extrusas (88,3 vs 85,3% para las razas Churra y Merina respectivamente). El efecto del periodo fue estadisticamente significativo (P>0,01) para la proporción de hojas, con un menor valor (78%) en julio. Las diferencias entre periodos, tampoco fueron estadísticamente significativas (P>0,05) en la selección de hojas en la raza Churra, no obstante en la raza Merina se obtuvo un menor valor en la proporción de hojas en las extrusas en el segundo periodo. El índice de seleccion (% de hojas en la extrusa /% hojas en el pasto) presentó diferencias en los valores correspondientes a los distintos periodos. En la raza Merina durante los meses de junio y julio el valor del índice de selección fue significativamente menor que en los meses de agosto y septiembre, no encontrando diferencias significativas en estos pares de valores. Para la raza Churra, el valor del índice de selección obtenido en el mes de junio fue significativamente menor que el encontrado en los otros tres periodos, entre los cuales no se pudo comprobar la existencia de diferencias estadsticamente significativas.[EN] In order to know how the grazing period during summer affects to the degree of food selection in mountain areas and consistency of this differences in Churro and Merino genotypes an experiment on “Nardus” grass was carried out. Four oesophageal fistulated wether lambs of each breed were used during the last week of June, ,July, August and September 1990 and the leaf and steam were separated in each sample. There were no differences (P>0,05) between breed in the proportion of extrusa leaves (88,3 and 85,3% for Churra and Merino respectively). The effect of period was significatively different (P0,05) entre les deux races en ce qui concerne la proportion de feuilles dans les extrusas (88,3 vs 85,3% pour les races Churra et Merina respectivement). L’effet de la pèriode a été statistiquement significatif (P0,05) en ce qui concerne la sélection de feuilles chez la race Churra, cependant chez la race Merina nous avons obtenu une valeur inférieure dans la proportion de feuilles dans les extrusas pendant la second période. L’indice de sélection (% de feuilles dans l’extrusa / % de feuilles dans le pâturage) a présenté des differences dans les valeurs correspondantes aux différentes périodes. Chez la race Merina pendant les mois de juin et juillet la valeur de l’indice de sélection a été significativement infèrieure à celle des mois d’aôutet septembre, sans trouver de différences significatives dans ces deux valeurs. Pour la race Churra, la valeur de l’indice de sélection obtenue pendant le mois de juin a été significativement inférieure á celle trouvée pendant les trois autre périodes, entre les quelles nous n’avons pas pu vérifier l’existence de différences statisquement significatives.Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto titulado "Utilización de pastos de montaña por el ganado ovino", subvencionado por la Excma. Diputación de León y ha sido realizado dentro del convenio específico de colaboración entre la Excma. Diputación Provincial de León y la Estación Agrícola Experimental del CSIC.Peer reviewe

Modelling the balance of care:Impact of an evidence-informed policy on a mental health ecosystem

Major efforts worldwide have been made to provide balanced Mental Health (MH) care. Any integrated MH ecosystem includes hospital and community-based care, highlighting the role of outpatient care in reducing relapses and readmissions. This study aimed (i) to identify potential expert-based causal relationships between inpatient and outpatient care variables, (ii) to assess them by using statistical procedures, and finally (iii) to assess the potential impact of a specific policy enhancing the MH care balance on real ecosystem performance. Causal relationships (Bayesian network) between inpatient and outpatient care variables were defined by expert knowledge and confirmed by using multivariate linear regression (generalized least squares). Based on the Bayesian network and regression results, a decision support system that combines data envelopment analysis, Monte Carlo simulation and fuzzy inference was used to assess the potential impact of the designed policy. As expected, there were strong statistical relationships between outpatient and inpatient care variables, which preliminarily confirmed their potential and a priori causal nature. The global impact of the proposed policy on the ecosystem was positive in terms of efficiency assessment, stability and entropy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that formalized expert-based causal relationships between inpatient and outpatient care variables. These relationships, structured by a Bayesian network, can be used for designing evidence-informed policies trying to balance MH care provision. By integrating causal models and statistical analysis, decision support systems are useful tools to support evidence-informed planning and decision making, as they allow us to predict the potential impact of specific policies on the ecosystem prior to its real application, reducing the risk and considering the population’s needs and scientific findings

Use of a decision support system for benchmarking analysis and organizational improvement of regional mental health care:Efficiency, stability and entropy assessment of the mental health ecosystem of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain)

Decision support systems are appropriate tools for guiding policymaking processes, especially in mental health (MH), where care provision should be delivered in a balanced and integrated way. This study aims to develop an analytical process for (i) assessing the performance of an MH ecosystem and (ii) identifying benchmark and target-for-improvement catchment areas. MH provision (inpatient, day and outpatient types of care) was analysed in the Mental Health Network of Gipuzkoa (Osakidetza, Basque Country, Spain) using a decision support system that integrated data envelopment analysis, Monte Carlo simulation and artificial intelligence. The unit of analysis was the 13 catchment areas defined by a reference MH centre. MH ecosystem performance was assessed by the following indicators: relative technical efficiency, stability and entropy to guide organizational interventions. Globally, the MH system of Gipuzkoa showed high efficiency scores in each main type of care (inpatient, day and outpatient), but it can be considered unstable (small changes can have relevant impacts on MH provision and performance). Both benchmark and target-for-improvement areas were identified and described. This article provides a guide for evidence-informed decision-making and policy design to improve the continuity of MH care after inpatient discharges. The findings show that it is crucial to design interventions and strategies (i) considering the characteristics of the area to be improved and (ii) assessing the potential impact on the performance of the global MH care ecosystem. For performance improvement, it is recommended to reduce admissions and readmissions for inpatient care, increase workforce capacity and utilization of day care services and increase the availability of outpatient care services

Modelling mental healthcare improvement in highly integrated care systems: the case of the Basque Country (Spain)

Currently there is growing interest in providing integrated mental health care between hospital (acute residential care) and community-based services (… and other health systems). Mental health systems are complex due to the high disorder prevalence, socio-economic burden, stigma associated, and high gap of unmet population needs. Mental health can be considered an ecosystem related to, at least, physical health and social services ones. Decision support systems are robust tools for guiding and improving planning and management of health ecosystems by integrating methods like Bayesian networks. These models identify critical variables, domains and constructs and their corresponding causal relationships. The objective of this research is to design an integrated and integral theoretical Bayesian network for guiding mental health planning and management, and in consequence, improving mental health care delivery

Key role of the 3' untranslated region in the cell cycle regulated expression of the Leishmania infantum histone H2A genes: minor synergistic effect of the 5' untranslated region

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Histone synthesis in <it>Leishmania </it>is tightly coupled to DNA replication by a post-transcriptional mechanism operating at the level of translation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this work we have analyzed the implication of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) in the cell cycle regulated expression of the histone <it>H2A </it>in <it>Leishmania infantum</it>. For that purpose, <it>L. infantum </it>promastigotes were stably transfected with different plasmid constructs in which the <it>CAT </it>coding region used as a reporter was flanked by the 5' and 3' UTR regions of the different <it>H2A </it>genes. We report that in spite of their sequence differences, histone <it>H2A </it>5' and 3' UTRs conferred a cell cycle dependent pattern of expression on the CAT reporter since <it>de novo </it>synthesis of CAT increased when parasites enter the S phase. Using one established <it>L. infantum </it>cell line we showed that CAT expression is controlled by the same regulatory events that control the endogenous histone gene expression. Thus, although we did not detect changes in the level of <it>CAT </it>mRNAs during cell cycle progression, a drastic change in the polysome profiles of <it>CAT </it>mRNAs was observed during the progression from G1 to S phase. In the S phase <it>CAT </it>mRNAs were on polyribosomal fractions, but in the G1 phase the association of <it>CAT </it>transcripts with ribosomes was impaired. Furthermore, it was determined that the addition of just the <it>H2A </it>3' UTR to the <it>CAT </it>reporter gene is sufficient to achieve a similar pattern of post-transcriptional regulation indicating that this region contains the major regulatory sequences involved in the cell cycle dependent expression of the <it>H2A </it>genes. On the other hand, although CAT transcripts bearing the <it>H2A </it>5' alone were translated both in the G1 and S phase, higher percentages of transcripts were detected on polyribosomes in the S phase correlating with an increase in the <it>de novo </it>synthesis of CAT. Thus, it can be concluded that this region also contributes, although to a minor extent than the 3' UTR, in the enhancement of translation in the S phase relative to the G1 phase.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate that both, the 5' and the 3' UTRs contain sequence elements that contribute to the cell cycle expression of <it>L. infantum </it>H2A. The 3' UTR region is essential for cell cycle dependent translation of the <it>L. infantum </it>H2A transcripts whereas the 5' UTR has a minor contribution in their S phase dependent translation.</p

Impact of the workforce allocation on the technical performance of mental health services: the collective case of Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland)

Background Long-term mental health (MH) policies in Finland aimed at investing in community care and promoting reforms have led to a reduction in the number of psychiatric hospital beds. However, most resources are still allocated to hospital and community residential services due to various social, economic and political factors. Despite previous research focussing on the number and cost of these services, no study has evaluated the emerging patterns of use, their technical performance and the relationship with the workforce structure. Objective The purpose of this study was to observe the patterns of use and their technical performance (efciency) of the main types of care of MH services in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region (Finland), and to analyse the potential rela‑ tionship between technical performance and the corresponding workforce structure. Methods The sample included acute hospital residential care, non-hospital residential care and outpatient care services. The analysis was conducted using regression analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, fuzzy inference and data envelopment analysis. Results The analysis showed a statistically signifcant linear relationship between the number of service users and the length of stay, number of beds in non-hospital residential care and number of contacts in outpatient care services. The three service types displayed a similar pattern of technical performance, with high relative technical efciency on average and a low probability of being efcient. The most efcient acute hospital and outpatient care services integrated multidisciplinary teams, while psychiatrists and nurses characterized non-hospital residential care. Conclusions The results indicated that the number of resources and utilization variables were linearly related to the number of users and that the relative technical efciency of the services was similar across all types. This suggests homogenous MH management with small variations based on workforce allocation. Therefore, the distribution of workforce capacity should be considered in the development of efective policies and interventions in the southern Finnish MH system

Identification and location of hot and cold spots of treated prevalence of depression in Catalonia (Spain)

Abstract Background Spatial analysis is a relevant set of tools for studying the geographical distribution of diseases, although its methods and techniques for analysis may yield very different results. A new hybrid approach has been applied to the spatial analysis of treated prevalence of depression in Catalonia (Spain) according to the following descriptive hypotheses: 1) spatial clusters of treated prevalence of depression (hot and cold spots) exist and, 2) these clusters are related to the administrative divisions of mental health care (catchment areas) in this region. Methods In this ecological study, morbidity data per municipality have been extracted from the regional outpatient mental health database (CMBD-SMA) for the year 2009. The second level of analysis mapped small mental health catchment areas or groups of municipalities covered by a single mental health community centre. Spatial analysis has been performed using a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) which identified geographical clusters (hot spots and cold spots) of depression through the optimization of its treated prevalence. Catchment areas, where hot and cold spots are located, have been described by four domains: urbanicity, availability, accessibility and adequacy of provision of mental health care. Results MOEA has identified 6 hot spots and 4 cold spots of depression in Catalonia. Our results show a clear spatial pattern where one cold spot contributed to define the exact location, shape and borders of three hot spots. Analysing the corresponding domain values for the identified hot and cold spots no common pattern has been detected. Conclusions MOEA has effectively identified hot/cold spots of depression in Catalonia. However these hot/cold spots comprised municipalities from different catchment areas and we could not relate them to the administrative distribution of mental care in the region. By combining the analysis of hot/cold spots, a better statistical and operational-based visual representation of the geographical distribution is obtained. This technology may be incorporated into Decision Support Systems to enhance local evidence-informed policy in health system research.</p

Exploring the use of silica sands and calcite from natural deposits to prepare bioactive glasses.

Nowadays bioactive glasses represent one of the most successful bioceramics used for bone tissue restorations. In this work, three types of silica sands (White, Yellow and Gray Sands) and calcite from Cuban natural deposits were employed to synthesize glasses from the system SiO2-CaO-Na2O. The ions released from glasses were evaluated through in vitro tests in Tris-HCl and in simulated body fluids. All sands had purity around 99.2 % of SiO2 and contained traces (ppm) of Zr, Cr, Ba, Ce and Sr ions, while calcite raw material had traces of Sr, Cr, Zr, Ce and Zn. All glasses induced a pH change in Tris-HCl from 7.4 to 9 after 24 h; they had similar ion-release behavior in the in vitro solutions tested and showed a significant bioactive performance after 5 h. This work illustrates the potentialities of the use of natural resources to develop medical products when recognized trademark materials are not available