Parallelizing irregular C codes assisted by interprocedural shape analysis

In the new multicore architecture arena, the problem of improving the performance of a code is more in the soft-ware side than in the hardware one. However, optimizing irregular dynamic data structure based codes for such ar-chitectures is not easy, either by hand or compiler assisted. Regarding this last approach, shape analysis is a static tech-nique that achieves abstraction of dynamic memory and can help to disambiguate, quite accurately, memory references in programs that create and traverse recursive data struc-tures. This kind of analysis has promising applicability for accurate data dependence tests in loops or recursive func-tions that traverse dynamic data structures. However, sup-port for interprocedural programs in shape analysis is still a challenge, especially in the presence of recursive func-tions. In this work we present a novel fully context-sensitive interprocedural shape analysis algorithm that supports re-cursion and can be used to uncover parallelism. Our ap-proach is based on three key ideas: i) intraprocedural sup-port based on “Coexistent Links Sets ” to precisely describe the memory configurations during the abstract interpreta-tion of the C code; ii) interprocedural support based on “Recursive Flow Links ” to trace the state of pointers in previous calls; and iii) annotations of the read/written heap locations during the program analysis. We present prelim-inary experiments that reveal that our technique compares favorably with related work, and obtains precise memory abstractions in a variety of recursive programs that create and manipulate dynamic data structures. We have also im-plemented a data dependence test over our interprocedural shape analysis. With this test we have obtained promis-ing results, automatically detecting parallelism in three C codes, which have been successfully parallelized

Generación de mapas de luminancia urbana a partir de un sensor hiperespectral VNIR y una cámara fotogramétrica digital

Revista oficial de la Asociación Española de Teledetección[EN] This paper puts forward a methodology for the generation of high resolution luminance maps from simultaneous hyperspectral VNIR and photogrammetric imagery. The integration of hyperspectral radiance at ground level, properly weighted by the photopic-based coefficients, plus a sensor fusion strategy, provides for the first time a quantitative description of the luminous flux at high spatial resolution and with multi-angle geometry. Accordingly, this methodology allows following up any strategic policy aimed to improve urban illumination management and quantifying its effects in terms of energetic efficiency.[ES] Esta comunicación presenta una metodología para la generación de mapas de luminancia de alta reso-lución a partir de imágenes simultáneas hiperespectrales VNIR y fotogramétricas. La integración de la radiancia hiperespectral a nivel de suelo, ponderada según la curva de visión fotópica, más una estrategia de calibración cruzada de sensores, permiten por primera vez la descripción cuantitativa del flujo luminoso de altísima resolución espacial y con posibilidad de extensión a geometría multiangular. Desde el punto vista práctico, esta metodología hace posible el seguimiento de las acciones adoptadas para mejorar la gestión de la iluminación urbana y cuantifi-car su resultado en términos de eficiencia energética.Pipia, L.; Alamús, R.; Tardà, A.; Pérez-Aragüés, F.; Palà, V.; Corbera, J.; Arnaldich, J. (2016). Hyperspectral VNIR and photogrammetric data fusion approach for urban luminance map generation. Revista de Teledetección. (47):85-97. doi:10.4995/raet.2016.5383.SWORD859747Aubé, M. 2008. Light Pollution Modelling and Detection in a Heterogeneous Environment. Proceedings of Starlight, a Common Heritage, La Palma, Espa-a.Barducci, A., Benvenuti, M., Bonora, L., Castagnoli, F., Guzzi, D., Marcoionni P., Pippi, I. 2006. Hyperspectral remote sensing for light pollution monitoring, Annals of Geophysics, 49(1), 305-310.Berk, A., Anderson, G. P., Acharya, P. K., Bernstein, L. S., Muratov, L., Lee, J., … Lewis, P. E. (2005). MODTRAN 5: a reformulated atmospheric band model with auxiliary species and practical multiple scattering options: update. Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XI. doi:10.1117/12.606026CIE. 1926. Commission internationale de l'Eclairage Proceedings, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Gaston, K. J., Visser, M. E., & Hölker, F. (2015). The biological impacts of artificial light at night: the research challenge. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 370(1667), 20140133. doi:10.1098/rstb.2014.0133Kyba, C., Garz, S., Kuechly, H., de Miguel, A., Zamorano, J., Fischer, J., & Hölker, F. (2014). High-Resolution Imagery of Earth at Night: New Sources, Opportunities and Challenges. Remote Sensing, 7(1), 1-23. doi:10.3390/rs70100001Oppenheim, A.V., Schafer, R.W. 1999. Discrete-Time Signal Processing, Second Edition, Prentice-Hall Inc.Zeitler, W., Dörstel, C., Jacobsen, K. 2002. Geometric Calibration of the DMC: Method and Results, International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Science, 2002, 34, 324-332

Legitimacy in REDD+ governance in Indonesia

This paper addresses the question of legitimacy in REDD+ governance in Indonesia. It develops a legitimacy framework that builds on elements of Scharpf (J Eur Pub Policy 4(1):18–36, 1997) input and output legitimacy concept and the political economy lens described by Brockhaus and Angelsen (Analysing REDD+: Challenges and choices, CIFOR, Bogor, 2012). Using data collected through key informant interviews and focus groups, we identify and explore stakeholder perceptions of legitimacy. The analysis reveals a complex interplay between input and output legitimacy, finding that state, non-state and hybrid actors perceive output legitimacy (i.e. project outcomes) as highly dependent on the level of input legitimacy achieved during the governance process. Non-state actors perceive proxies for input legitimacy, such as participation and inclusion of local people, as goals in themselves. In the main, they perceive inclusion to be integral to the empowerment of local people. They perceive output legitimacy as less important because of the intangibility of REDD+ outcomes at this stage in the process. The findings also highlight the challenges associated with measuring the legitimacy of REDD+ governance in Indonesia

Integrating place-specific livelihood and equity outcomes into global assessments of bioenergy deployment

__Abstract__ Integrated assessment models suggest that the large-scale deployment of bioenergy could contribute to ambitious climate change mitigation efforts. However, such a shift would intensify the global competition for land, with possible consequences for 1.5 billion smallholder livelihoods that these models do not consider. Maintaining and enhancing robust livelihoods upon bioenergy deployment is an equally important sustainability goal that warrants greater attention. The social implications of biofuel production are complex, varied and place-specific, difficult to model, operationalize and quantify. However, a rapidly developing body of social science literature is advancing the understanding of these interactions. In this letter we link human geography research on the interaction between biofuel crops and livelihoods in developing countries to integrated assessments on biofuels. We review case-study research focused on first-generation biofuel crops to demonstrate that food, income, land and other assets such as health are key livelihood dimensions that can be impacted by such crops and we highlight how place-specific and global dynamics influence both aggregate and distributional outcomes across these livelihood dimensions. We argue that place-specific production models and land tenure regimes mediate livelihood outcomes, which are also in turn affected by global and regional markets and their resulting equilibrium dynamics. The place-specific perspective suggests that distributional consequences are a crucial complement to aggregate outcomes; this has not been given enough weight in comprehensive assessments to date. By narrowing the gap between place-specific case studies and global models, our discussion offers a route towards integrating livelihood and equity considerations into scenarios of future bioenergy deployment, thus contributing to a key challenge in sustainability sciences

Bioenergy production and sustainable development: science base for policymaking remains limited

The possibility of using bioenergy as a climate change mitigation measure has sparked a discussion of whether and how bioenergy production contributes to sustainable development. We undertook a systematic review of the scientific literature to illuminate this relationship and found a limited scientific basis for policymaking. Our results indicate that knowledge on the sustainable development impacts of bioenergy production is concentrated in a few well-studied countries, focuses on environmental and economic impacts, and mostly relates to dedicated agricultural biomass plantations. The scope and methodological approaches in studies differ widely and only a small share of the studies sufficiently reports on context and/or baseline conditions, which makes it difficult to get a general understanding of the attribution of impacts. Nevertheless, we identified regional patterns of positive or negative impacts for all categories – environmental, economic, institutional, social and technological. In general, economic and technological impacts were more frequently reported as positive, while social and environmental impacts were more frequently reported as negative (with the exception of impacts on direct substitution of GHG emission from fossil fuel). More focused and transparent research is needed to validate these patterns and develop a strong science underpinning for establishing policies and governance agreements that prevent/mitigate negative and promote positive impacts from bioenergy production

Structuring Factors Of The Cumacean Communities Of The Continental Shelf Of Southeastern Brazil

Cumaceans are benthic crustaceans distributed worldwide, from intertidal to abyssal plains. They live in sandy and muddy bottoms and can sometimes be found in the water column. Despite their ecological importance as food items for fishes and other organisms and their usefulness as environmental indicators, very few studies have investigated their biodiversity and distribution in Brazil. The present paper reports an ecological study of the cumacean species found on the continental shelf off Santos, southeastern Brazil. It investigates the composition and spatio-temporal structure of the communities, the main environmental factors responsible for the maintenance of that structure and analyzes the effects of the seasonal oceanographic changes on the community descriptors. A grid of 21 stations located between 10 and 100 m depth was created in winter 2005 and summer 2006 and the sediment samples collected with a 0.1 m2 box corer. Twenty four species were obtained, five of them being the most numerous: Diastylis sexpectinata, D. sympterygiae, Eudorella sp., Oxyurostylis salinoi and Anchistylis notus, the latter highly dominant in summer. Diastylis sympterygiae was characteristic of the shallowest and least saline stations (< 16 m depth; S = 33.07 - 34.2) in both seasons. Of the total of 919 individuals, nearly 70% occurred in summer. The area was divided into four depth bands and no significant temporal difference was found as regards the density distribution of cumaceans in those bands as between the samples of the two campaigns. There were, however, spatial differences within bands in the summer campaign: the higher values of density, diversity and richness were close to the 50 m isobath in both campaigns, a fact that could well be attributed to the ongoing effect of the South Atlantic Central Water in this area. The results showed also that depth and the sediment particle size were the main structural factors determining the composition and distribution of the cumacean species