Innovative Techniques for Testing and Diagnosing SoCs

We rely upon the continued functioning of many electronic devices for our everyday welfare, usually embedding integrated circuits that are becoming even cheaper and smaller with improved features. Nowadays, microelectronics can integrate a working computer with CPU, memories, and even GPUs on a single die, namely System-On-Chip (SoC). SoCs are also employed on automotive safety-critical applications, but need to be tested thoroughly to comply with reliability standards, in particular the ISO26262 functional safety for road vehicles. The goal of this PhD. thesis is to improve SoC reliability by proposing innovative techniques for testing and diagnosing its internal modules: CPUs, memories, peripherals, and GPUs. The proposed approaches in the sequence appearing in this thesis are described as follows: 1. Embedded Memory Diagnosis: Memories are dense and complex circuits which are susceptible to design and manufacturing errors. Hence, it is important to understand the fault occurrence in the memory array. In practice, the logical and physical array representation differs due to an optimized design which adds enhancements to the device, namely scrambling. This part proposes an accurate memory diagnosis by showing the efforts of a software tool able to analyze test results, unscramble the memory array, map failing syndromes to cell locations, elaborate cumulative analysis, and elaborate a final fault model hypothesis. Several SRAM memory failing syndromes were analyzed as case studies gathered on an industrial automotive 32-bit SoC developed by STMicroelectronics. The tool displayed defects virtually, and results were confirmed by real photos taken from a microscope. 2. Functional Test Pattern Generation: The key for a successful test is the pattern applied to the device. They can be structural or functional; the former usually benefits from embedded test modules targeting manufacturing errors and is only effective before shipping the component to the client. The latter, on the other hand, can be applied during mission minimally impacting on performance but is penalized due to high generation time. However, functional test patterns may benefit for having different goals in functional mission mode. Part III of this PhD thesis proposes three different functional test pattern generation methods for CPU cores embedded in SoCs, targeting different test purposes, described as follows: a. Functional Stress Patterns: Are suitable for optimizing functional stress during I Operational-life Tests and Burn-in Screening for an optimal device reliability characterization b. Functional Power Hungry Patterns: Are suitable for determining functional peak power for strictly limiting the power of structural patterns during manufacturing tests, thus reducing premature device over-kill while delivering high test coverage c. Software-Based Self-Test Patterns: Combines the potentiality of structural patterns with functional ones, allowing its execution periodically during mission. In addition, an external hardware communicating with a devised SBST was proposed. It helps increasing in 3% the fault coverage by testing critical Hardly Functionally Testable Faults not covered by conventional SBST patterns. An automatic functional test pattern generation exploiting an evolutionary algorithm maximizing metrics related to stress, power, and fault coverage was employed in the above-mentioned approaches to quickly generate the desired patterns. The approaches were evaluated on two industrial cases developed by STMicroelectronics; 8051-based and a 32-bit Power Architecture SoCs. Results show that generation time was reduced upto 75% in comparison to older methodologies while increasing significantly the desired metrics. 3. Fault Injection in GPGPU: Fault injection mechanisms in semiconductor devices are suitable for generating structural patterns, testing and activating mitigation techniques, and validating robust hardware and software applications. GPGPUs are known for fast parallel computation used in high performance computing and advanced driver assistance where reliability is the key point. Moreover, GPGPU manufacturers do not provide design description code due to content secrecy. Therefore, commercial fault injectors using the GPGPU model is unfeasible, making radiation tests the only resource available, but are costly. In the last part of this thesis, we propose a software implemented fault injector able to inject bit-flip in memory elements of a real GPGPU. It exploits a software debugger tool and combines the C-CUDA grammar to wisely determine fault spots and apply bit-flip operations in program variables. The goal is to validate robust parallel algorithms by studying fault propagation or activating redundancy mechanisms they possibly embed. The effectiveness of the tool was evaluated on two robust applications: redundant parallel matrix multiplication and floating point Fast Fourier Transform

Centros celulares nutritivos e espumas microscópicas como formas elementares dos seres viventes

In this paper I will compare two conceptions of basic elements or units of living organisms from the second half of the nineteenth century: Goodsir’s cellular centers and Bütschli’s protoplam. The comparison will be made from the proposition of a nucleoplasmic form, and the referred conceptions are historical expressions of this general form. The nutrition center is a form that combines the functions of nutrition, germination and reproduction, responsible for the production of tissues (textures), organs, tumors and the whole organism from the fertilized egg. Microscopic foams produce organic differentiation through dynamic stabilization of the surface tension between the alveoli. I will conclude critically by discussing the relationship of these two expressions in terms of their continuity or exhaustion as scientific achievements of the biology of the period cited.No presente artigo comparo duas concepções de elementos ou unidades básicas dos organismos vivos da segunda metade do século XIX: os centros celulares de Goodsir e o protoplasma de Bütschli. A comparação será feita a partir da proposição de uma forma nucleoplasmática, sendo as referidas concepções expressões históricas dessa forma geral. O centro de nutrição é uma forma que combina as funções de nutrição, germinação e reprodução, responsável pela produção de tecidos (texturas), órgãos, tumores e a totalidade do organismo a partir do ovo fecundado. As espumas microscópicas produzem a diferenciação orgânica por meio de estabilizações dinâmicas da tensão superficial existente entre os alvéolos. Concluirei criticamente discutindo a relação dessas duas expressões em termos de sua continuidade ou esgotamento como realizações científicas da biologia do período citado

Nominal C-Unification

Nominal unification is an extension of first-order unification that takes into account the \alpha-equivalence relation generated by binding operators, following the nominal approach. We propose a sound and complete procedure for nominal unification with commutative operators, or nominal C-unification for short, which has been formalised in Coq. The procedure transforms nominal C-unification problems into simpler (finite families) of fixpoint problems, whose solutions can be generated by algebraic techniques on combinatorics of permutations.Comment: Pre-proceedings paper presented at the 27th International Symposium on Logic-Based Program Synthesis and Transformation (LOPSTR 2017), Namur, Belgium, 10-12 October 2017 (arXiv:1708.07854

A SciFi tracker for the LHCb experiment

The quest to understand the prevalence of matter over antimatter in the observable universe drives the Large Hadron Collider Beauty (LHCb) Experiment at CERN, situated beneath the France-Switzerland border. This thesis focuses on a detector upgrade crucial to enhance the sensitivity of the LHCb Experiment. A key ingredient of this upgrade is the Scintillating Fiber Detector (SciFi) Tracker.The introduction of the SciFi replaced key components like the Outer and Inner Tracker, improving tracking efficiency and spatial resolution.To ensure SciFi's radiation resilience, comprehensive tests were conducted, that revealed effects on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), including speed degradation, leakage current, re-programmability loss, Single Event Upsets (SEU), and Single Event Latch-ups (SEL).Results indicated that speed degradation, leakage current, and SELs were manageable during the detector's lifetime. However, FPGAs became unprogrammable after a certain radiation exposure, necessitating operational planning. Mitigation strategies, like triple modular redundancy, reduced SEUs to an acceptable level.Mass-produced SciFi modules and readout electronics underwent their first particle beam test, allowing optimization of operating parameters of the front-end electronics, such as clustering coefficients, thresholds, and shaper settings.Resolution analysis demonstrated compliance with detector specifications. With an efficiency surpassing 99\% and a spatial resolution better than 70 µm, SciFi is validated for LHCb operation.As SciFi is commissioned, the configurations explored in this thesis offer valuable insights for optimizing the detector during commissioning and beyond

Uso da eritropoetina recombinante humana no tratamento da anemia associada à insuficiência renal crônica : estudo de 20 pacientes em hemodíalise

Orientador: Mario Luiz LuvizottoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da SaúdeResumo: A anemia acompanha a insuficiencia renal cronica e esta presente na maioria dos pacientes em dialise. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito de seis meses de tratamento com a eritropoetina recombinante humana (EPO-rHu) na anemia associada a insuficiencia renal cronica terminal em vinte pacientes mantidos em programa de hemodialise. Os criterios de inclusao foram: pacientes que estivessem em hemodialise por pelo menos 3 meses, com idade maior que 18 ou menor que 70 anos; hematocrito menor que 24%; cinco ou mais unidades de concentrados de hemacias transfundidas nos 12 meses anteriores ao estudo; angina ou insuficiencia cardiaca agravadas pela anemia. A EPO-rHu foi utilizada por via endovenosa, em dose inicial de 75 Ul/kg de peso por semana para todos os pacientes, e aumentada mensalmente ate se atingir hematocrito de 30% ou dose total semanal de 150 Ul/kg. Foi administrado ferro por via endovenosa sempre que a saturacao da transferrina estivesse abaixo de 20%. Houve um aumento significativo do hematocrito medio do grupo, de 22,75% para 30,50% (p<0,0001), aumento do indice de reticulocitos (1,31 }0,59 vs. 1,88 }0,61;p< 0,004) e diminuicao do numero de transfusoes(1,5 }2,09 vs 0,35+1,08;p<0,0001). Quatorze pacientes alcancaram hematocrito igual ou maior que 30%, Nao houve variacao significativa na pressao arterial, peso corporal total, ferro serico, saturacao da transferrina, fosforo, calcio, porcentagem de reducao de ureia e indice KtA/. O efeito colateral mais importante observado durante o uso de EPOrHu foi a hiperpotassemia (maior que 5,5 mEq/l), presente em 55% dos pacientes. Concluimos que a EPO-rHu foi eficaz e segura na correcao da anemia associada a insuficiencia renal cronica. Atencao especial deve ser dada a monitorizacao do potassio serico durante o tratamento.Abstract: Anemia accompanies chronic renal failure and is present in most patients in dialysis. The purpose of the present study was to analise the effect of six months of treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO-rHu) in the anemia associated with end-stage renal disease in twenty patients under hemodialysis. The inclusion criteria were: patients in hemodialysis for at least three months, with more than 18 or less than 70 years of age; hematocrit lower than 24%; five or more units of packed red cells transfused in the last 12 months; angina or congestive cardiac failure made worse by anemia. The EPO-rHu was given intravenously, initially at 75 Ul/kg/week for all patients and increased monthly until a target hematocrit of 30% or total dosage of 150 Ul/kg/week. Iron was given intravenously when the transferrin saturation was below 20%. There was a significant increase in the medium hematocrit of the group, from 22,75% to 30,50% (p<0,0001), increase in reticulocyte index (1,31 }0,59 vs.1,88 }0,61; p<0,004) and decrease in the number of transfusions (1,5 }2,09 vs. 0,35 }1,08; p<0,0001). Fourteen patients achieved hematocrit equal to or higher than 30%. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, weight, serum levels of iron, phosphorus and calcium, transferrin saturation, percent reduction of urea and Kt/V index. The most important side effect observed during EPO-rHu therapy was hyperkalemia (more than 5,5 mEq/l), present in 55% of patients. We conclude that EPO-rHu was effetive and safe in correcting the anemia associated with chronic renal failure. Especial attention must be paid to the serum potassium during the therapy

Análise de um processo de povoamento de colméias de Melipona compressipes fasciculata Smith (Hymenoptera, Apidae).

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar um processo de povoamento de colmeias para aumentar o número de colônias de Melipona compressipes fasciculata Smith. Utilizaram-se abelhas adultas (jovens e campeiras) e favos de cria nascentes constituindo três tratamentos: 80, 160 e 240 abelhas adultas, com cinco repetições. Avaliaram-se os seguintes caracteres nas colônias recém–formadas: quantidade de potes de alimento construídos; presença da rainha virgem e de rainha fisiogástrica; quantidade de células de cria construídas e tamanho dos favos durante 60 dias. As colônias que receberam 160 abelhas adultas foram superiores às demais quanto ao peso e ao número de potes de alimento, já as colônias que receberam 240 abelhas adultas foram superiores às demais quanto ao número de células de cria construídas. As colônias doadoras influenciaram as colônias recém-formadas quanto ao seu potencial genético. Logo é possível realizar o povoamento de colônias de Melipona compressipes fasciculata Smith. através da divisão racional baseada no número de abelhas adultas, jovens e campeiras, e favos de cria nascente

CESAR, Constança Marcondes. Filosofia da Cultura Grega. Aparecida: Ideias e Letras, 2008. 143 p.

O livro de Constança Marcondes César examina “a contribuição de Evanghélos Moutsopoulos para o estudo da crise da sociedade contemporânea, bem como para o seu ultrapassamento, em vista da realização do homem” (p. 6). Moutsopoulos é um filósofo grego que elaborou uma filosofia de cultura alicerçada em valores universais, que ele considera já se encontravam nas origens do pensamento grego. A sua filosofia faz uma atualização destes valores

Karl Jaspers: bases of the scientific orientation to live. A dialogue with Kant

Nesse trabalho examina-se, segundo Karl Jaspers, até onde a ciência pode servir como orientação para viver. O conhecimento científico não alcança o ser em si, já dizia Kant, tem limites para alcançar e prever o funcionamento do núcleo da matéria, ensina a Física contemporânea. Por outro lado, a razão também encontra limite na liberdade pessoal, o que faz as ciências humanas precisarem conviver com essa limitação. Assim, uma orientação para viver que necessita de uma imagem completa do mundo somente pode vir da Filosofia, mas isto não significa que a Ciência não faça parte deste processo e nem ofereça elementos de orientação. A Ciência oferece a base e alimenta as filosofias de cada tempo. Não há como avançar na orientação filosófica sem o conhecimento que a ciência oferece a cada geração, quando esta respeita os limites da razão para conhecer o mundo. Esta é a forma de Jaspers refazer o diálogo com o Kant e o iluminismo, apontando que há de melhor e pior no movimento.This study exams, according to Karl Jaspers, how science can serve as an orientation to live. The scientific knowledge does not reach the being in itself, already said by Kant, it has limits to reach and preview the function of the nucleus of the matter, as taught by the contemporary Physics. On the other hand, the reason also finds a limit on the personal freedom, which makes the human sciences the need to live together with this limitation. Thus, an orientation to live that needs a complete image of the world, can only come from the Philosophy, but that does not mean that the Science is not part of this process and does not offer orientation elements. Science offers a base and feeds the philosophies of each time. There is not a way to reach on the philosophy orientation without the knowledge which science offers to each generation, when this one respects the limits of the reason to see the world. This is the Jaspers’s way to redo the dialogue with Kant and the Illuminism, showing the better and the worst on the movemen

O INCONSCIENTE ESPIRITUAL DE VIKTOR FRANKL

 Neste artigo apresentamos a compreensão que o psiquiatra Viktor Frankl teve do inconsciente. A compreensão desse conceito é nuclear em sua teoria psicológica, pois está na raiz do funcionamento da sua compreensão de estrutura mental. Como evidência de sua realidade Frankl apresenta duas provas: a descrição fenomenológica da liberdade e o conteúdo de determinados sonhos. No inconsciente espiritual encontra-se o sentido da vida da pessoa, frequentemente inconsciente ou pouco consciente. Esse sentido vai sendo descoberto em relação aos desafios do dia a dia, mas aponta para um sentido último ou super sentido. Assim o conceito encontra-se também associado ao problema do sentido que é fundamental do tratamento psicoterápico proposto de Frankl. VIKTOR FRANKL'S SPIRITUAL UNCONSCIOUSABSTRACTIn this article, we present psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's understanding of the unconscious. Understanding this concept is central to your psychological theory, as it is at the root of how your understanding of mental structure works. As evidence of his reality, Frankl presents two proofs: the phenomenological description of freedom and the content of certain dreams. In the spiritual unconscious is the meaning of the person's life, often unconscious or little conscious. This sense is being discovered in relation to the daily challenges, but it points to an ultimate or super sense. Thus, the concept is also associated with the problem of meaning, which is fundamental to Frankl's proposed psychotherapeutic treatment.

MARTIN BUBER E O SIGNIFICADO DE NAÇÃO

Neste artigo examina-se o conceito de nação elaborado pelo filósofo judeu Martin Buber. Mostra-se como ele desenvolveu uma posição equidistante tanto do projeto de um poder político que levasse à criação do Estado de Israel afastado da espiritualidade judaica, quanto a de viver essa espiritualidade afastada do compromisso do povo de criar um espaço terreno onde fosse feito a experiência do Reino de Deus. Isso significou historicamente posicionar-se entre as posições de Theodor Herzel e Hermann Cohen. A tese de Buber também se distancia do conceito de nação preconizado pelo idealismo alemão. Finalmente, a posição de Buber é contraposta à visão do assunto de outros fenomenólogos com os quais tem semelhanças e diferenças