Luca Sterpone

Bio: Luca Sterpone is an academic researcher from Polytechnic University of Turin. The author has contributed to research in topics: Fault injection & Field-programmable gate array. The author has an hindex of 24, co-authored 222 publications receiving 3125 citations. Previous affiliations of Luca Sterpone include Instituto Politécnico Nacional.

A scalable platform for run-time reconfigurable satellite payload processing

Abstract: Reconfigurable hardware is gaining a steadily growing interest in the domain of space applications. The ability to reconfigure the information processing infrastructure at runtime together with the high computational power of today's FPGA architectures at relatively low power makes these devices interesting candidates for data processing in space applications. Partial dynamic reconfiguration of FPGAs enables maximum flexibility and can be utilized for performance increase, for improving energy efficiency, and for enhanced fault tolerance. To be able to prove the effectiveness of these novel approaches for satellite payload processing, a highly scalable prototyping environment has been developed, combining dynamically reconfigurable FPGAs with the required interfaces such as SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553B, and SpaceFibre. Up to 30 SpaceWire interfaces, 5 copper-based SpaceFibre interfaces, and 270 GPIOs can be realized and combined with one to five dynamically reconfigurable Xilinx FPGAs and up to 20 GByte of working memory. The implemented approach for dynamic reconfiguration enables partial reconfiguration at 400 MByte/s. Blind and readback scrubbing is supported and the scrub rate can be adapted individually for different parts of the design.

Analysis of SEU effects in partially reconfigurable SoPCs

Abstract: Systems on Programmable Chips (SoPCs) are receiving an increasing interest from various application domains. Safety critical missions, driven by space and avionics applications, are especially attracted in using SoPCs due to low non-recurring engineering costs, reconfigurability and the large number of logic resources they provide. The capability of partial reconfiguration has recently become a promising approach to enhance the flexibility of a given system and to adapt and customize to different requirements. However, Single Event Upsets (SEUs) induced by radiation environment where space and avionics system operate, have a critical and catastrophic effect in these devices. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm, which is able to identify critical SEUs corrupting the functionality of a SoPC using dynamic and partial reconfiguration. The algorithm is based on an analyzer able to interact with the dynamic system components containing partial reconfiguration modules, the communication infrastructure and the static region. Efficient critical SEUs estimation depends not only on the independent component mapping but also on the routing interaction between reconfigurable modules placed in different feasible positions. The analysis algorithm has been proven on a partially reconfigurable platform using different applications, besides it has been validated by means of fault injection campaigns of SEUs into SoPC's configuration memory. The experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed algorithm. Fault injection results have been accurately investigated and commented.

Static and Dynamic Analysis of SEU Effects in SRAM-Based FPGAs

Abstract: SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are very sensitive to Single Event Upsets (SEUs) affecting their configuration memory. SEUs may have critical effects on the circuit FPGA devices implement. In order to deploy safety- or mission-critical applications on SRAM-based FPGAs, designers need to adopt hardening techniques, as well as methodologies for estimating and validating the SEU's sensitivity of the obtained applications in the early design phase. In this paper we describe a new methodology for predict the effects of SEUs by combining static and dynamic analysis of the circuit's FPGA implements. The proposed methodology is able to identify the critical single event upset locations within the configuration memory and to provide a detailed classification of the provoked effects. Experimental results on several realistic applications demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed methodology.

A new low-cost non intrusive platform for injecting soft errors in SRAM-based FPGAs

Abstract: SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are becoming more and more popular among aerospace devices. Radiation effects have to be investigated in order to measure the fault tolerance degree of the applications and to validate new mitigation techniques. Fault injection is one of the possible evaluation methods. Several platforms have been developed in the past years in order to inject soft errors within FPGAs, however they have their greater drawbacks in intrusiveness and high-costs. In this paper we propose a new, low-cost and not-intrusive, fault injection platform to emulate soft errors within the configuration memory of SRAM-based FPGAs. In particular, radiation effects can be evaluated without modifying neither the circuit implemented in the FPGA nor the application it executes, thus allowing to study the real system that will take part to the mission. Experimental results on several test circuits are reported and commented, demonstrating the feasibility of the presented approach.

An Analysis of SEU Effects in Embedded Operating Systems for Real-Time Applications

Abstract: Embedded operating systems are becoming widely used in electronic systems for fields ranging from the mobile phone to the industrial control mechanisms. The major advantages in using embedded operating systems include the capability of adapting the electronic functionalities to several kind of applications while respecting the real-time constraints. These characteristics make them attractive also for specific fields where the dependability is a major concern, such as automotive, avionic or space missions. When the dependability is considered embedded operating systems must guarantee their functionality under the presence of Single Event Upsets (SEUs) that may alter their modules. In this paper we proposed a novel methodology for the analysis and the classification of SEU's induced effects that may corrupt the functionality of an embedded operating system while executing a real-time application. The developed method is based on a fault injection engine that is able to inject and classify SEU within the internal registers and memory cells of an embedded operating systems running on a FPGA device. As case study we evaluated the muC-Linux operating system running on a Xilinx-based microprocessor core supported by a Virtex-II Pro SRAM-based FPGA. Experimental results are presented and commented.

Biological properties of extracellular vesicles and their physiological functions

Abstract: In the past decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as potent vehicles of intercellular communication, both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This is due to their capacity to transfer proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, thereby influencing various physiological and pathological functions of both recipient and parent cells. While intensive investigation has targeted the role of EVs in different pathological processes, for example, in cancer and autoimmune diseases, the EV-mediated maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of physiological functions have remained less explored. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the physiological roles of EVs, which has been written by crowd-sourcing, drawing on the unique EV expertise of academia-based scientists, clinicians and industry based in 27 European countries, the United States and Australia. This review is intended to be of relevance to both researchers already working on EV biology and to newcomers who will encounter this universal cell biological system. Therefore, here we address the molecular contents and functions of EVs in various tissues and body fluids from cell systems to organs. We also review the physiological mechanisms of EVs in bacteria, lower eukaryotes and plants to highlight the functional uniformity of this emerging communication system.

Extracellular vesicles: biology and emerging therapeutic opportunities

Abstract: Within the past decade, extracellular vesicles have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication, being involved in the transmission of biological signals between cells in both prokaryotes and higher eukaryotes to regulate a diverse range of biological processes. In addition, pathophysiological roles for extracellular vesicles are beginning to be recognized in diseases including cancer, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting potential novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, both unmodified and engineered extracellular vesicles are likely to have applications in macromolecular drug delivery. Here, we review recent progress in understanding extracellular vesicle biology and the role of extracellular vesicles in disease, discuss emerging therapeutic opportunities and consider the associated challenges.

Atheroprotective communication between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells through miRNAs.

Abstract: The shear-responsive transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a critical regulator of endothelial gene expression patterns induced by atheroprotective flow. As microRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally control gene expression in many pathogenic and physiological processes, we investigated the regulation of miRNAs by KLF2 in endothelial cells. KLF2 binds to the promoter and induces a significant upregulation of the miR-143/145 cluster. Interestingly, miR-143/145 has been shown to control smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypes; therefore, we investigated the possibility of transport of these miRNAs between endothelial cells and SMCs. Indeed, extracellular vesicles secreted by KLF2-transduced or shear-stress-stimulated HUVECs are enriched in miR-143/145 and control target gene expression in co-cultured SMCs. Extracellular vesicles derived from KLF2-expressing endothelial cells also reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation in the aorta of ApoE(-/-) mice. Combined, our results show that atheroprotective stimuli induce communication between endothelial cells and SMCs through an miRNA- and extracellular-vesicle-mediated mechanism and that this may comprise a promising strategy to combat atherosclerosis.