Combining Processor Virtualization and Component-Based Engineering in C for Heterogeneous Many-Core Platforms

Embedded system design is driven by strong efficiency constraints in terms of performance, silicon area and power consumption, as well as pressure on the cost and time-to-market. As of today, this forms three tough problems: 1) many-core systems are becoming mainstream, however there is still no decent approach for distributing software applications on those platforms; 2) these systems still integrate heterogeneous processors for efficiency reasons, thus programming them requires complex compilation environments; 3) hardware resources are precious and low-level languages are still a must to exploit them subtly. These factors have negative impact on the programmability of many-core platforms and limit our ability to address the challenges of the next decade. This paper devises a new programming approach leveraging processor virtualization and component-based software engineering technologies to address these issues all together. It presents a programming model based on C for developing fine grain component-based applications, and a toolset that compiles them into a processor-independent bytecode representation that can be deployed on heterogeneous platforms. We also discuss the effectiveness of this approach and present some ideas that might have a key role in addressing the above challenges

Using a summary measure for multiple quality indicators in primary care: the Summary QUality InDex (SQUID)

BACKGROUND: Assessing the quality of primary care is becoming a priority in national healthcare agendas. Audit and feedback on healthcare quality performance indicators can help improve the quality of care provided. In some instances, fewer numbers of more comprehensive indicators may be preferable. This paper describes the use of the Summary Quality Index (SQUID) in tracking quality of care among patients and primary care practices that use an electronic medical record (EMR). All practices are part of the Practice Partner Research Network, representing over 100 ambulatory care practices throughout the United States. METHODS: The SQUID is comprised of 36 process and outcome measures, all of which are obtained from the EMR. This paper describes algorithms for the SQUID calculations, various statistical properties, and use of the SQUID within the context of a multi-practice quality improvement (QI) project. RESULTS: At any given time point, the patient-level SQUID reflects the proportion of recommended care received, while the practice-level SQUID reflects the average proportion of recommended care received by that practice's patients. Using quarterly reports, practice- and patient-level SQUIDs are provided routinely to practices within the network. The SQUID is responsive, exhibiting highly significant (p < 0.0001) increases during a major QI initiative, and its internal consistency is excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). Feedback from physicians has been extremely positive, providing a high degree of face validity. CONCLUSION: The SQUID algorithm is feasible and straightforward, and provides a useful QI tool. Its statistical properties and clear interpretation make it appealing to providers, health plans, and researchers

O receptor dopaminérgico D2: ações endócrinas não clássicas

El receptor dopaminérgico D2 (RD2) participa en un complejo repertorio de funciones adaptativas para mejorar el desempeño del individuo, su éxito reproductivo y supervivencia. Utilizando estrategias combinadas de ensayos farmacológicos, líneas celulares y ratones transgénicos, nuestro laboratorio demostró la participación del RD2 no sólo en el desarrollo de prolactinomas, sino en el eje del crecimiento, la ingesta y el metabolismo de glucosa. Determinamos que el desarrollo de prolactinomas por ausencia de RD2 correlaciona con un aumento de VEGF y una disminución de TGFβ1 y su receptor TGFβ tipo II, posicionando estos factores como posible terapia complementaria en prolactinomas resistentes a agonistas dopaminérgicos. En el eje de crecimiento, postulamos que la acción de RD2 facilita la liberación de GHRH, y la ausencia del receptor condiciona la población reducida de somatotropos, y produce enanismo. Respecto a la ingesta, los resultados indicaron que la ausencia de RD2 modula varios factores orexígenos y anorexígenos, revelando una mayor complejidad del sistema. Por último, demostramos que la dopamina a través del RD2 pancreático modula la liberación de insulina, esclareciendo en parte por qué el uso de antisicóticos conlleva a un desarrollo de diabetes tipo II. En conjunto nuestros resultados destacan la importancia de este receptor en acciones endocrinas no clásicas y su participación en forma integral en la fisiología del individuo.Dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) participate in a complex system of adaptive functions to improve performance, reproductive success and survival of individuals.Using combined strategies with drug, cell lines and transgenic mice, our laboratory demonstrated that D2R take part, not only in the development of prolactinomas, but also in the regulation of the growth axis, food intake and glucose metabolism. It was determined that the development of prolactinomas due to the lack of D2R correlates with increased VEGF and decreased TGF β1 and TGF type II receptor, positioning these factors as potential targets in complementary therapies for dopamine agonist resistant prolactinomas. With regard to the growth axis, it was postulated that D2R facilitates the release of GHRH, and the absence of the receptor determines a decrease in the somatotroph population and produces dwarfism. Regarding food intake, it was demonstrated that the absence of D2R modulates several orexigenic and anorexigenic factors, pointing to a complexity of the system. Finally, it was shown that dopamine modulates insulin release through pancreatic D2R, partly clarifying why the use of antipsychotics leads to development of type II diabetes. Overall, our results highlight the importance of this receptor in non-classical endocrine actions and enable the understanding of the integral physiology of the D2R in homeostasis.O receptor dopaminérgico D2 (RD2) participa num complexo repertório de funções adaptativas para melhorar o desempenho do indivíduo, seu êxito reprodutivo e sobrevivência. Utilizando estratégias combinadas de ensaios farmacológicos, linhas celulares e camundongos transgênicos, nosso laboratório demonstrou a participação do RD2 não só no desenvolvimento de prolactinomas, mas no eixo do crescimento, a ingestão e o metabolismo de glicose. Determinamos que o desenvolvimento de prolactinomas por ausência de RD2 correlaciona com um aumento de VEGF e uma diminuição de TGFβ1 e seu receptor TGFβ tipo II, posicionando estes fatores como possível terapia complementar em prolactinomas resistentes a agonistas dopaminérgicos. No eixo de crescimento, postulamos que a ação de RD2 facilita a liberação de GHRH, e a ausência do receptor condiciona a população reduzida de somatotrofos, e produz nanismo. A respeito da ingestão, os resultados indicaram que a ausência de RD2 modula vários fatores orexígenos e anorexígenos, revelando uma maior complexidade do sistema. Por último, demonstramos que a dopamina através do RD2 pancreático modula a liberação de insulina, esclarecendo em parte por qué o uso de antipsicóticos leva a um desenvolvimento de diabetes tipo II. Em conjunto nossos resultados destacam a importância deste receptor em ações endócrinas não clássicas, e sua participação em forma integral na fisiologia do indivíduo.Fil: Garcia Tornadu, Isabel Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Recouvreux, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Luque, Guillermina Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Millán, María Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzo, Rodrigo Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Camilletti, María Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Ornstein, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Lacau, Isabel María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Cristina, Silvia Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Graciela Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Becu, Damasia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

ACOTES project: Advanced compiler technologies for embedded streaming

Streaming applications are built of data-driven, computational components, consuming and producing unbounded data streams. Streaming oriented systems have become dominant in a wide range of domains, including embedded applications and DSPs. However, programming efficiently for streaming architectures is a challenging task, having to carefully partition the computation and map it to processes in a way that best matches the underlying streaming architecture, taking into account the distributed resources (memory, processing, real-time requirements) and communication overheads (processing and delay). These challenges have led to a number of suggested solutions, whose goal is to improve the programmer’s productivity in developing applications that process massive streams of data on programmable, parallel embedded architectures. StreamIt is one such example. Another more recent approach is that developed by the ACOTES project (Advanced Compiler Technologies for Embedded Streaming). The ACOTES approach for streaming applications consists of compiler-assisted mapping of streaming tasks to highly parallel systems in order to maximize cost-effectiveness, both in terms of energy and in terms of design effort. The analysis and transformation techniques automate large parts of the partitioning and mapping process, based on the properties of the application domain, on the quantitative information about the target systems, and on programmer directives. This paper presents the outcomes of the ACOTES project, a 3-year collaborative work of industrial (NXP, ST, IBM, Silicon Hive, NOKIA) and academic (UPC, INRIA, MINES ParisTech) partners, and advocates the use of Advanced Compiler Technologies that we developed to support Embedded Streaming.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Genetic contributors to risk of schizophrenia in the presence of a 22q11.2 deletion

Schizophrenia occurs in about one in four individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). The aim of this International Brain and Behavior 22q11.2DS Consortium (IBBC) study was to identify genetic factors that contribute to schizophrenia, in addition to the ~20-fold increased risk conveyed by the 22q11.2 deletion. Using whole-genome sequencing data from 519 unrelated individuals with 22q11.2DS, we conducted genome-wide comparisons of common and rare variants between those with schizophrenia and those with no psychotic disorder at age ≥25 years. Available microarray data enabled direct comparison of polygenic risk for schizophrenia between 22q11.2DS and independent population samples with no 22q11.2 deletion, with and without schizophrenia (total n = 35,182). Polygenic risk for schizophrenia within 22q11.2DS was significantly greater for those with schizophrenia (padj = 6.73 × 10−6). Novel reciprocal case–control comparisons between the 22q11.2DS and population-based cohorts showed that polygenic risk score was significantly greater in individuals with psychotic illness, regardless of the presence of the 22q11.2 deletion. Within the 22q11.2DS cohort, results of gene-set analyses showed some support for rare variants affecting synaptic genes. No common or rare variants within the 22q11.2 deletion region were significantly associated with schizophrenia. These findings suggest that in addition to the deletion conferring a greatly increased risk to schizophrenia, the risk is higher when the 22q11.2 deletion and common polygenic risk factors that contribute to schizophrenia in the general population are both present

A stack-based internal representation for GCC

International audienceComplex embedded systems have always been heterogeneous, and it is unlikely that this situation will change any time soon. Still, the huge non-recurring engineering cost of silicon products tends to make more parts of embedded systems programmable. Our research proposes to address this complexity through processor virtualization. We decided to rely on the CLI format, and we developed a GCC back-end for it. Even though we were able to generate reasonable code, we noticed that we were lacking some important optimizations that exploit the evaluation stack of the virtual machine. Since GCC internals do not provide any support for stack-based instruction set, we introduced our own. We review the limitations of our previous prototype, and we present the data structures of our internal representation, as well as its API. We also describe a number of optimizations that this representation enabled. To exemplify its convenience, we report the code size improvements we obtained with little effort

CLI-Based Compilation Flows for the C Language

Embedded systems contain a wide variety of processors. Economical and technological factors favor systems made of a combination of diverse but programmable processors. Software has a longer lifetime than the hardware for which it is initially designed. Application portability is thus of utmost importance for the embedded systems industry. The Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) is a rich virtualization environment for the execution of applications written in multiple languages. CLI efficiently captures the semantics of unmanaged languages, such as C. We investigate the use of CLI as a deployment format for embedded systems to reconcile apparently contradictory constraints: the need for portability, the need for high performance and the existence of a large base of legacy C code. In this paper, we motivate our CLI-based compilation environment for C, and its different use scenarios. We then focus on the specific challenges of effectively mapping the C language to CLI, and our proposed solutions. We finally analyze the interactions between the CLI environment and native libraries, which is of primary importance for a practical use of the proposed approach

Combining Processor Virtualization and Component-Based Engineering in C for Many-Core Heterogeneous Embedded MPSoCs

International audienceThe design of embedded systems is driven by strong constraints in terms of performance, silicon area and power consumption, as well as pressure on the cost and time-to-market. This has three consequences: 1) many-core systems are becoming mainstream, but there is still no satisfactory approach for distributing software applications on these platforms; 2) these systems integrate heterogeneous processors for efficiency reasons, thus programming them requires complex compilation environments; 3) hardware resources are precious and low-level languages are still a must to exploit them fully. These factors negatively impact the programmability of many-core platforms and limit our ability to address the challenges of the next decade. This paper devises a new programming approach leveraging processor virtualization and component-based software engineering paradigms to address these issues all together. We present a programming model based on C for developing fine grain component-based applications and a toolset that compiles them into a processor-independent bytecode representation that can be deployed on heterogeneous MPSoCs. We also discuss the effectiveness of this approach and present future directions that will have a key role in addressing the above challenges