Custom optimization algorithms for efficient hardware implementation

The focus is on real-time optimal decision making with application in advanced control systems. These computationally intensive schemes, which involve the repeated solution of (convex) optimization problems within a sampling interval, require more efficient computational methods than currently available for extending their application to highly dynamical systems and setups with resource-constrained embedded computing platforms. A range of techniques are proposed to exploit synergies between digital hardware, numerical analysis and algorithm design. These techniques build on top of parameterisable hardware code generation tools that generate VHDL code describing custom computing architectures for interior-point methods and a range of first-order constrained optimization methods. Since memory limitations are often important in embedded implementations we develop a custom storage scheme for KKT matrices arising in interior-point methods for control, which reduces memory requirements significantly and prevents I/O bandwidth limitations from affecting the performance in our implementations. To take advantage of the trend towards parallel computing architectures and to exploit the special characteristics of our custom architectures we propose several high-level parallel optimal control schemes that can reduce computation time. A novel optimization formulation was devised for reducing the computational effort in solving certain problems independent of the computing platform used. In order to be able to solve optimization problems in fixed-point arithmetic, which is significantly more resource-efficient than floating-point, tailored linear algebra algorithms were developed for solving the linear systems that form the computational bottleneck in many optimization methods. These methods come with guarantees for reliable operation. We also provide finite-precision error analysis for fixed-point implementations of first-order methods that can be used to minimize the use of resources while meeting accuracy specifications. The suggested techniques are demonstrated on several practical examples, including a hardware-in-the-loop setup for optimization-based control of a large airliner.Open Acces

Los desequilibrios geodemográficos en Canarias: una expresión de su especialización económica

Canarias es actualmente la tercera comunidad autónoma con mayor densidad de población detrás de Madrid y País Vasco. Con casi 2,2 millones de habitantes, más una carga de 237 556 turistas/día, se articula un espacio fragmentado con una distribución de la población muy polarizada territorialmente, tanto a nivel regional como en cada isla. La dinámica común en todas ellas ha tendido a una litoralización creciente de las actividades económicas y residenciales, frente a un amplio espacio insular escasamente poblado. Este estudio pretende actualizar el análisis geodemográfico sobre la distribución de la población en Canarias, atendiendo a la relación economía-población. Se plantea que la creciente especialización de su economía en el sector terciario, con fuerte dependencia del turismo, ha profundizado el desequilibrio geodemográfica en las Islas. Para ello, se aplica una metodología apoyada en el manejo de la bibliografía, el análisis geoestadístico, datos económicos y la representación cartográfica del fenómeno analizado a distintas escalas

FTIR, LIBS.PHYSICO CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION, TAPHONOMY AND ECOLOGYOF Orthokarstenia ewaldi (FORAMINIFERA: SIPHOGENERINOIDIDAE) LOSPINOS FORMATION (CRETACEOUS: MAASTRICHTIAN) FROM SAMACÁ(BOYACÁ, COLOMBIA)

El género Orthokarstenia se considera un microfósil guía para las edades del periodo Cretácico. La especie característica de la Formación Los Pinos correspondiente al Periodo Cretácico y la edad Maastrichtiana se ajusta a la descripción morfológica de Orthokarstenia ewaldi. De la matriz silícea se extrajeron varios especímenes y se maceraron para realizar pruebas de Espectroscopía de Infrarrojos por la transformada de Fourier (FTIR) utilizando como base KBr. Se colectaron especímenes de tres niveles de una roca. Se tomaron imágenes tridimensionales con un video-microscopio para detallar la forma y organización de los minerales.Un fragmento de la roca se utilizó para llevar a cabo pruebas con Espectroscopia de plasma inducida por laser(LIBS) y determinar la presencia de los elementos Ca, Fe y Mg. También se elaboraron y describieron secciones delgadas. Los espectros de FTIR de los foraminíferos fueron similares en los tres niveles donde se tomaron las muestras aunque presentaron diferencias con el espectro de la matriz de sílice. Los análisis de LIBS confirmaron la presencia de Ca y de Fe en las muestras. En las secciones delgadas se pudo determinar que el relleno de las conchas, está constituido por sílice amorfo apreciándose además una débil traza de la concha original como un sedimento fino. Las trazas de Ca encontradas confirman el reemplazo de aragonito a calcita magnesiana y finalmente a sílice. Utilizando el método de la relación entre la varianza y la media en tres tamaños de cuadrantes se determinó la dispersión de los especímenes. Los valores obtenidos indicaron una distribución de tipo agrupado. Este tipo de distribución es un indicativo de las condiciones de recursos en el hábitat, del modo de reproducción y dispersión. Se puede inferir que el sistema reproductivo dominante de O. ewaldi fue el asexual predominando las formas megalosféricas. Palabras clave: Bentónico, Cretácico superior, Foraminífera,    The Orthokarstenia genus is considered a microfossil guide to the ages of the Cretaceous period. Thecharacteristic species of Los Pinos Formation corresponding to Cretaceous Period and Maastrichtian age and fitsto the morphological description of Orthokarstenia ewaldi species. From the siliceous matrix several specimenswere taken and macerated for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) testing with KBr base. Specimenswere collected from three levels of a rock. Three-dimensional images were taken with a video-microscopes to detail the form and structure of minerals. A fragment of rock was used to perform Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) tests and to establish the presence of the elements Ca, Fe and Mg. Thin sections were also made and described. FTIR spectra of for aminifera were similar in the three levels where the samples were taken but showed differences with the spectrum of the silica matrix. LIBS analysis confirmed the presence of Ca and Fe in the samples. In thin sections, amorphous silica filling the shell was observed, and also a faint. trace of the original shell as a fine sediment. Traces of Ca found with LIBS analysis confirm the replacement of aragonite to magnesian calcite and finally to silica. Using the relationship between the variance and the mean of three sizes of squares was determined the dispersion of the specimens. The values obtained indicated a clustered distribution type. This type of distribution is indicative of the conditions of resources in the habitat, reproduction and dispersal mode. It is possible to infer that the dominant reproductive system of O. ewaldi was megalospheric, being the asexual forms more common. Keywords: Benthic, Foraminifera, FTIR, LIBS, Upper Cretaceous

Seismic damage scenarios in the municipalities of Elche and Alicante (Spain). A first step to the emergency planning

South and South-East of Spain are the regions with a higher seismic hazard in Spain. Therefore, a regional normative, focused on the importance of developing seismic emergency planning in many of the municipalities of the Valencian community, was established in 2011. consequently, all the municipalities in Alicante province have to develop a seismic emergency planning. however, only Elche and Alicante have completed the seismic risk analysis and they have started to prepare their emergency plans which will be finished before the end of 2019. This paper shows the main results of the seismic risk analysis carried out in both municipalities. The seismic hazard update in the region has shown that the main earthquake scenarios, which may hit both cities, correspond to the crevillente and the Bajo Segura faults (also responsible for damaging historical earthquakes). In both cases, the urban areas are on a sedimentary deposit, which can reach hundreds of meters so site effects and possible site-building resonance can be important. Additionally, most of the building stock belongs to periods without seis- mic normative, increasing, therefore, their vulnerability and the obtained damage. The mean damage ratio for a magnitude of 5.5 increases from a 0.8% to a 10.3% at Alicante and Elche, respectively. Besides, if the magnitude increases to a 6.5 then the mean damage ratio increases from a 16.6% to a 60.3%. In conclusion, we recommend that the emergency planning developed for both municipalities has to take into consideration that even the occurrence of a probable earthquake (475 yrs return period) corresponding to a mw 5.5 will affect both cities so the procedures and protocols should be written in close cooperation.The present research has been funded by the Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (CGL2016-77688-R AEI/FEDER,UE), the Generalitat Valenciana (AICO/2016/098) and the cooperation and funding of the Elche and Alicante municipalities

Primer trasplante de islotes realizado en Colombia, experiencia fundación Valle del Lili

Introducción De acuerdo con las estadísticas suministradas en el 2014 por la Federación Internacional de Diabetes, la prevalencia de pacientes con diabetes está en aumento a nivel mundial, actualmente alrededor de 382 millones de personas sufren de esta patología. En relación con la diabetes tipo 1 se estima que corresponde al 5% de todos los casos diagnosticados de diabetes en adultos. Para el caso de Colombia, la incidencia de diabetes tipo 1 es de 3-4 por 100.000 niños menores de 15 años y la prevalencia se estima en 0,07%. Para el municipio de Santiago de Cali, según datos de la oficina de estadística de la Secretaría de Salud Pública, la diabetes (tipo 1 y 2) se encuentra entre las diez primeras causas de muerte en la ciudad, ocupando el octavo lugar en el grupo de hombres y el séptimo entre las mujeres. Cabe resaltar que la prevalencia de diabetes para Cali es del 6,76%, seguida del 5,4% para el departamento del Valle del Cauca, cifra mucho más alta cuando se compara con la prevalencia nacional que es de 2%. Específicamente, cuando nos referimos a la diabetes tipo 1, es una patología autoinmune crónica, que se presenta con una predisposición genética específica y en un 0,4% aparece sin antecedentes familiares. Su presentación se hace de forma inesperada, a causa de la destrucción rápidamente progresiva de las células beta pancreáticas, por esta razón requiere la suplencia total de insulina exógena de forma crónica. Lo anterior ocasiona que la enfermedad esté ligada a una carga económica alta para los pacientes, sus familias y el sistema de salud. A nivel global se estima que más del 10% de la inversión en salud se destina a gastos relacionados directamente con diabetes. En cuanto al tratamiento médico de la diabetes tipo 1, la recomendación actual está basada en la terapia intensiva con insulina exógena, sin embargo, este tratamiento se caracteriza por ser de difícil adherencia, costoso, y por conllevar a un incremento considerable de los eventos de hipoglicemia severa. Estos eventos aumentan en alto grado el riesgo de sufrir deterioro cardiovascular y cognitivo. Por lo tanto, existe una gran necesidad de encontrar mejores alternativas de tratamiento para estos pacientes, que impliquen menores riesgos biológicos y ofrezcan mejor calidad de vida

Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Funder: laura and john arnold foundationBACKGROUND: Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GEHFX ). METHODS: In this collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis, clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), the Cochrane COVID-19 register, the LOVE database, and PubMed were searched until April 8, 2021. Investigators of trials registered by March 1, 2021, without published results were contacted via email. Eligible were ongoing, discontinued and completed randomized clinical trials that compared convalescent plasma with placebo or no treatment in COVID-19 patients, regardless of setting or treatment schedule. Aggregated mortality data were extracted from publications or provided by investigators of unpublished trials and combined using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random effects model. We investigated the contribution of unpublished trials to the overall evidence. RESULTS: A total of 16,477 patients were included in 33 trials (20 unpublished with 3190 patients, 13 published with 13,287 patients). 32 trials enrolled only hospitalized patients (including 3 with only intensive care unit patients). Risk of bias was low for 29/33 trials. Of 8495 patients who received convalescent plasma, 1997 died (23%), and of 7982 control patients, 1952 died (24%). The combined risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92; 1.02) with between-study heterogeneity not beyond chance (I2 = 0%). The RECOVERY trial had 69.8% and the unpublished evidence 25.3% of the weight in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Convalescent plasma treatment of patients with COVID-19 did not reduce all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence that convalescent plasma treatment for patients with COVID-19 should not be used outside of randomized trials. Evidence synthesis from collaborations among trial investigators can inform both evidence generation and evidence application in patient care