A Holistic Solution for Reliability of 3D Parallel Systems

Monolithic 3D technology is emerging as a promising solution that can bring massive opportunities, but the gains can be hindered due to the reliability issues exaggerated by high temperature. Conventional reliability solutions focus on one specific feature and assume that the other required features would be provided by different solutions. Hence, this assumption has resulted in solutions that are proposed in isolation of each other and fail to consider the overall compatibility and the implied overheads of multiple isolated solutions for one system. This article proposes a holistic reliability management engine, R2D3, for post-Moore’s M3D parallel systems that have low yield and high failure rate. The proposed engine, comprising a controller, reconfigurable crossbars, and detection circuitry, provides concurrent single-replay detection and diagnosis, fault-mitigating repair, and aging-aware lifetime management at runtime. This holistic view enables us to create a solution that is highly effective while achieving a low overhead. Our solution achieves 96% coverage of defect; reduces V th degradation by 53%, leading to a 78% performance improvement on average over 8 years for an eight-core system; and ultimately yields a 2.16× longer mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) while incurring an overhead of 7.4% in area, 6.5% in power, and an 8.2% decrease in frequency.

Reliability modeling of three-state systems with multiple types of components

In this paper, a system consisting of three states: perfect functioning, partial functioning, and down is considered. The system is assumed to be composed of several non-identical groups of binary components. The reliability of the system states under various assumptions on the component lifetimes is investigated. For this purpose, first, a new concept of bivariate survival signature (BSS) is introduced. Then, under the assumption that the component lifetimes of each type are exchangeable dependent, representations for the joint reliability function of the state lifetimes are obtained based on the notion of BSS. In the particular case, three-state systems composed of two types of different modules such as general-series (parallel) systems and systems with component-wise redundancy are investigated. Several examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical results.

Exploring parallel formal verification of BIG-DATA systems

Software Engineering is trying to adapt its tools, mechanisms and techniques to cope with the challenges involved when developing BIG DATA software systems. In particular, formal verification in one of the areas that more urgently is required to step in. In this work we introduce two crucial aspects to consolidate the FVS tool to tackle this issue. For one side, FVS’s parallel algorithm is proved to be sound and correct. For the other side, we developed a compelling empirical validation of our approach, employing a communication protocol relevant in the industrial world within a context of parallel systems, introducing a load-balancer process and comparing several implementations.

Stochastic Comparisons of Lifetimes of Series and Parallel Systems with Dependent Heterogeneous MOTL-G Components under Random Shocks

To measure the magnitude among random variables, we can apply a partial order connection defined on a distribution class, which contains the symmetry. In this paper, based on majorization order and symmetry or asymmetry functions, we carry out stochastic comparisons of lifetimes of two series (parallel) systems with dependent or independent heterogeneous Marshall–Olkin Topp Leone G (MOTL-G) components under random shocks. Further, the effect of heterogeneity of the shape parameters of MOTL-G components and surviving probabilities from random shocks on the reliability of series and parallel systems in the sense of the usual stochastic and hazard rate orderings is investigated. First, we establish the usual stochastic and hazard rate orderings for the lifetimes of series and parallel systems when components are statistically dependent. Second, we also adopt the usual stochastic ordering to compare the lifetimes of the parallel systems under the assumption that components are statistically independent. The theoretical findings show that the weaker heterogeneity of shape parameters in terms of the weak majorization order results in the larger reliability of series and parallel systems and indicate that the more heterogeneity among the transformations of surviving probabilities from random shocks according to the weak majorization order leads to larger lifetimes of the parallel system. Finally, several numerical examples are provided to illustrate the main results, and the reliability of series system is analyzed by the real-data and proposed methods.

Sustainability of a mobile phone application-based data reporting system in Myanmar’s malaria elimination program: a qualitative study

Background Strengthening surveillance systems to collect near-real-time case-based data plays a fundamental role in achieving malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). With the advanced and widespread use of digital technology, mHealth is increasingly taking a prominent role in malaria surveillance systems in GMS countries, including Myanmar. In Myanmar’s malaria elimination program, an mHealth system called Malaria Case-based Reporting (MCBR) has been applied for case-based reporting of malaria data by integrated community malaria volunteers (ICMVs). However, the sustainability of such mHealth systems in the context of existing malaria elimination programs in Myanmar is unknown. Methods Focus group discussions were conducted with ICMVs and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with malaria program stakeholders from Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports and its malaria program implementing partners. Thematic (deductive followed by inductive) analysis was undertaken using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results Technological and financial constraints such as inadequate internet access, software errors, and insufficient financial resources to support mobile phone-related costs have hampered users’ access to MCBR. Poor system integrity, unpredictable reporting outcomes, inadequate human resources for system management, and inefficient user support undermined the perceived quality of the system and user satisfaction, and hence its sustainability. Furthermore, multiple parallel systems with functions overlapping those of MCBR were in use. Conclusions Despite its effectiveness and efficiency in malaria surveillance, the sustainability of nationwide implementation of MCBR is uncertain. To make it sustainable, stakeholders should deploy a dedicated human workforce with the necessary technical and technological capacities; secure sustainable, long-term funding for implementation of MCBR; find an alternative cost-effective plan for ensuring sustainable system access by ICMVs, such as using volunteer-owned mobile phones for reporting rather than supporting new mobile phones to them; and find a solution to the burden of multiple parallel systems. Trial registration Not applicable.