Optimizing the FPGA memory design for a Sobel edge detector

This paper explores different memory systems by investigating the trade-offs involved with choosing one memory system over another on an FPGA. As an example, we use a Sobel edge detector to look at the trade-offs for different memory components. We demonstrate how each type of memory affects I/O performance and area. By exploiting these trade-offs in performance and area a designer should be able to find an optimum on-chip memory system for a given application

SEARCHING FOR RECRUITS: UNDERSTANDING THE NEW GENERATION OF POTENTIAL RURAL POLICE APPLICANTS

Person-organization (P-O) fit theory is commonly used to assess the ability of an organization to match the work motives of an individual once they have started working for the organization (Chapman et al., 2005). As police services generally struggle to recruit highly educated applicants, this study used P-O fit theory to examine potential organizational recruits to better understand how rural police organizations can appeal to the work motives of the current generation of post-secondary educated applicants (Bruns, 2010; Hutchins, 2015). This study also answers the call for more research on rural police in Canada (Lithopoulos & Ruddell, 2013). Following P-O fit research on work motives by Ritz and Waldner (2011), the current study examined potentially important factors to consider in rural policing to determine areas that rural police organizations may wish to address when appealing to potential applicants. This study’s purpose, therefore, was to explore the work motives of university students and the ability of rural police organizations to meet those work-place goals. Using regression analyses, this study revealed that participants who preferred living in a rural setting, had a lower academic average, were older, had considered applying to the military, and had a higher P-O fit score, were more likely to be attracted to a rural police organization as a potential employer. Recommendations are offered to rural police organizations for consideration when appealing to potential recruits and to researchers when applying person-organization fit (P-O Fit) theory to potential organizational applicants

Exploratory studies to inform full-scale evaluations of complex public health interventions: the need for guidance

No abstract available

Optimizing the FPGA memory design for a Sobel edge detector

This research explored different memory systems on FPGA chips in order to show the various trade-offs involved with choosing one memory system over another. We explored the different memory components that are found on FPGA chips using the example of a Sobel edge detector. We demonstrated how the different FPGA chip’s memories affected I/O performance and area. By exploiting the trade-offs between these a designer should be able to find an optimal on-chip memory system for a given application. Given further study, we believe we can develop application-specific memory templates that can be used with a hardware compiler to generate optimal on-chip memory system

Application of the Subsequent Injury Categorisation (SIC) model for longitudinal injury surveillance in elite rugby and cricket: Inter-sport comparisons and inter-rater reliability of coding

Background: When an athlete has more than one injury over a time period it is important to determine if these are related to each other or not. The subsequent injury categorisation (SIC) model is a method designed to consider the relationship between an index injury and subsequent injury(ies). Objective: The primary aim was to apply SIC to longitudinal injury data from two team sports: rugby union and cricket. The secondary aim was to determine SIC inter-rater reliability. Methods: Rugby union (time-loss; TL) and cricket (TL and non time-loss; NTL) injuries sustained between 2011-2014 within one international team respectively, were recorded using international consensus methods. SIC was applied by multiple raters; team clinicians, non-team clinicians, and a sports scientist. Weighted kappa and Cohen’s kappa scores were calculated for inter-rater reliability of the rugby union TL injuries and cricket NTL and TL injuries. Results: 67% and 51% of the subsequent injuries in rugby union and cricket respectively were categorised as injuries to a different body part not related to an index injury (SIC code 10). At least moderate agreement (weighted and Cohen kappa ≥ 0.60) was observed for team clinicians and the non-team clinician for both sports. Including NTL and TL injuries increased agreement between team clinician and non-team clinician, but not between clinician and sport scientist. Conclusion: The most common subsequent injury in both sports was an injury to a different body part that was not related to an index injury. The SIC model was generally reliable, with the highest agreement between clinicians working within the same team. Recommendations for future use of SIC are provided based on the proximity of the rater to the team and the raters’ level of clinical knowledge

Activities to support the implementation of complex interventions as part of routine care: a review of the quality of reporting in cluster randomised controlled trials

Objective: To review a sample of cluster randomised controlled trials and explore the quality of reporting of (1) enabling or support activities provided to the staff during the trial, (2) strategies used to monitor fidelity throughout the trial and (3) the extent to which the intervention being tested was delivered as planned. Design: A descriptive review. Data sources and study selection: We searched MEDLINE for trial reports published between 2008 and 2014 with combinations of the search terms 'randomised', 'cluster', 'trial', 'study', 'intervention' and 'implement∗'. We included trials in which healthcare professionals (HCPs) implemented the intervention being tested as part of routine practice. We excluded trials (1) conducted in non-health services settings, (2) where the intervention explicitly aimed to change the behaviours of the HCPs and (3) where the trials were ongoing or for which only trial protocols were available. Data collection: We developed a data extraction form using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR checklist). Review authors independently extracted data from the included trials and assessed quality of reporting for individual items. Results: We included 70 publications (45 results publications, 25 related publications). 89% of trials reported using enabling or support activities. How these activities were provided (75.6%, n=34) and how much was provided (73.3%, n=33) were the most frequently reported items. Less than 20% (n=8) of the included trials reported that competency checking occurred prior to implementation and data collection. 64% (n=29) of trials reported collecting measures of implementation. 44% (n=20) of trials reported data from these measures. Conclusions: Although enabling and support activities are reported in trials, important gaps exist when assessed using an established checklist. Better reporting of the supports provided in effectiveness trials will allow for informed decisions to be made about financial and resource implications for wide scale implementation of effective interventions