An efficient unused integrated circuits detection algorithm for parallel scan architecture

In recent days, many integrated circuits (ICs) are operated parallelly to increase switching operations in on-chip static random access memory (SRAM) array, due to more complex tasks and parallel operations being executed in many digital systems. Hence, it is important to efficiently identify the long-duration unused ICs in the on-chip SRAM memory array layout and to effectively distribute the task to unused ICs in SRAM memory array. In the present globalization, semiconductor supply chain detection of unused SRAM in large memory arrays is a very difficult task. This also results in reduced lifetime and more power dissipation. To overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, an efficient unused integrated circuits detection algorithm (ICDA) for parallel scan architecture is proposed to differentiate the ‘0’ and ‘1’ in a larger SRAM memory array. The proposed architecture avoids the unbalancing of ‘0’ and ‘1’ concentrations in the on-chip SRAM memory array and also optimizes the area required for the memory array. As per simulation results, the proposed method is more efficient in terms of reliability, the detection rate in both used and unused ICs and reduction of power dissipation in comparison to conventional methods such as backscattering side-channel analysis (BSCA) and network attached storage (NAS) algorithm

Study of the possible roles of OsFKBP12 in plant defense system.

Au Yeung, Wan Kin."August 2011."Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-103).Abstracts in English and Chinese.Thesis committee --- p.iStatement --- p.iiAbstract --- p.iiiAcknowledgements --- p.vGeneral abbreviations --- p.viAbbreviations of chemicals --- p.viiList of figures --- p.ixList of figures in Appendix VI --- p.xiiList of tables --- p.xivTable of Contents --- p.xvChapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- The significance of studying rice disease resistance --- p.1Chapter 1.1.1 --- Economic importance of rice --- p.1Chapter 1.1.2 --- Diseases caused by pathogens virulent to rice --- p.1Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Bacterial leaf blight diseases --- p.1Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Fungal blast diseases --- p.2Chapter 1.1.3 --- Approach to enhance resistance of crops towards pathogens --- p.2Chapter 1.2 --- Literature review on plant immunity system --- p.3Chapter 1.2.1 --- Pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and PAMP -triggered immunity (PTI) --- p.4Chapter 1.2.2 --- Pathogen effectors and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) --- p.5Chapter 1.2.3 --- Roles of phytohormones in plant defense responses --- p.6Chapter 1.2.4 --- G protein signaling and plant defense responses --- p.9Chapter 1.3 --- Literature review on FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) --- p.10Chapter 1.4 --- Background information of this study - origin of the clone chosen for study in this project --- p.11Chapter 1.5 --- Hypothesis and Objectives --- p.12Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.13Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.13Chapter 2.1.1 --- "Plants, bacterial strains and vectors" --- p.13Chapter 2.1.2 --- Chemicals and Regents --- p.18Chapter 2.1.3 --- Commercial kits --- p.18Chapter 2.1.4 --- Primers and Adaptors --- p.19Chapter 2.1.5 --- Equipments and facilities used --- p.23Chapter 2.1.6 --- "Buffer, solution, gel and medium" --- p.23Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.24Chapter 2.2.1. --- Bacterial and yeast cultures --- p.24Chapter 2.2.2 --- Plant growth conditions and treatments --- p.25Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Surface sterilization of J. thaliana seeds --- p.25Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Environmental conditions of A. thaliana for germination of seeds and growing of seedlings --- p.26Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Environmental conditions of A. thaliana for growing of plants --- p.26Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Pathogen inoculation test of A. thaliana with Pst DC3000 --- p.27Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cloning and subcloning of OsFKBP 12 and OsUCCl --- p.27Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Sub-cloning of OsFKBP12 to pGEX-4T-l and pMAL-c2 --- p.27Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Cloning of OsUCCl to pGEX-4T-l --- p.29Chapter 2.2.4 --- "DNA, RNA and protein extractions" --- p.29Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Plasmid extraction from bacterial cells --- p.29Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Genomic DNA extraction from plant through CTAB method --- p.29Chapter 2.2.4.3 --- RNA extraction from plant tissues --- p.30Chapter 2.2.4.4 --- Protein extraction from plant tissues --- p.31Chapter 2.2.4.5 --- Fusion protein extraction from E. coli --- p.31Chapter 2.2.5 --- Western blot analyses --- p.32Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Western blot analysis of GST tag and MBP tag fusion proteins --- p.32Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- Western blot analysis native OsYchFl proteins --- p.33Chapter 2.2.6 --- Real-time PCR study --- p.33Chapter 2.2.6.1 --- cDNA synthesis --- p.33Chapter 2.2.6.2 --- Real-time PCR --- p.34Chapter 2.2.7 --- Yeast two hybrid --- p.35Chapter 2.2.7.1 --- Screening of OsFKBP 12 interaction protein partners by yeast mating --- p.35Chapter 2.2.7.2 --- Identification of positive interacting protein partners by extracting DNA plasmid from yeast --- p.35Chapter 2.2.7.3 --- Re-transformation of pGBKTl-OsFKBP 12 with their interacting partner clones into yeast (AH 109) by co-transformation --- p.36Chapter 2.2.8 --- In vitro pull down assay of OsFKBP 12 with their putative protein interacting partner --- p.36Chapter 2.2.8.1 --- In vitro pull down of native OsYchFl by MBP-His-OsFKBP12 --- p.36Chapter 2.2.8.2 --- In vitro pull down of GST-AtYchF 1 by MBP-His-OsFKBP12 --- p.37Chapter 2.2.8.3 --- In vitro pull down of MBP-His-OsFKBP12 by GST-OsUCCl --- p.37Chapter 2.2.8.4 --- In vitro pull down of MBP-His-OsFKBP12 by GST-OsYchFl G domain --- p.38Chapter 2.2.9 --- GTPase assay ofOsYchF with OsFKBP12 --- p.38Chapter 2.3.0 --- Phylogenetic analysis and sequence alignment --- p.39Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.40Chapter 3.1 --- Identification of OsFKBP 12 encoding a FKBP (FK506 binding protein)-domain containing protein in Oryza sativa (rice) --- p.40Chapter 3.2 --- OsFKBP12 was down-regulated in the pathogen-inoculated Xal4 rice line CBB14 --- p.47Chapter 3.3 --- Ecotpic expression of OsFKBP 12 repressed the expression of defense marker genes in transgenic A. thaliana --- p.50Chapter 3.4 --- Expressing OsFKBP 12 in transgenic A. thaliana enhanced the susceptibility to the bacterial pathogen Pst DC3000 --- p.54Chapter 3.5 --- OsFKBP 12 protein interacted with a putative defense-related G-protein and a copper binding protein --- p.57Chapter 3.6 --- "OsFKBP 12 protein interacted with the G domain of defense-related G protein, OsYchFl" --- p.69Chapter 3.7 --- OsFKBP 12 protein enhanced the in vitro phosphate release of OsYchFl --- p.72Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.74Chapter 4.1 --- The identification and characterization of OsFKBP 12 --- p.74Chapter 4.2 --- Expression pattern of OsFKBP 12 upon biotic stress in bacterial blight resistant near isogenic line (NIL) --- p.75Chapter 4.3 --- OsFKBP 12 repressed the expression of SA-regulated defense marker genes when ectopically expressed in A. thaliana --- p.75Chapter 4.4 --- Ectopic expression of OsFKBP 12 enhanced susceptibility towards Pst DC3000 in transgenic A. thaliana --- p.76Chapter 4.5 --- The interacting partners of OsFKBP 12 in relation to plant defense response --- p.78Chapter 4.6 --- The specific biochemical interaction of OsFKBP 12 with OsYchFl --- p.80Chapter 4.7 --- Future perspectives --- p.85Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.87References --- p.89Appendix --- p.10

Age-related macular degeneration: interventional tissue engineering and predictive modeling of disease progression

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people over the age of 50. As many as 50 million people are affected by AMD worldwide and prevalence is expected to continue to rise due to an aging population. There are two forms of the disease, dry (geographic atrophy) and wet (choroidal neovascularization), both of which result in retinal degeneration and central vision loss. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies are moderately successful at treating the wet form, there are no treatments currently available for the more common dry form. Pharmacological therapies have been extensively explored for the treatment of dry AMD, but have achieved little success because the pathogenesis underlying AMD is unknown and likely varies among patients . Recently, tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach to restore function by replacing diseased retinal tissue with healthy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). While AMD-associated vision loss occurs when photoreceptors degenerate, this process arises as a consequence of earlier RPE dysfunction. In the healthy retina, the RPE acts as a critical regulator of the microenvironment for both photoreceptors and the nearby vasculature. However in AMD, the RPE no longer performs these essential homeostatic functions leading to photoreceptor apoptosis and vision loss. This dissertation describes the development and in vitro characterization of a tissue engineering scaffold for RPE delivery as potential treatment for dry AMD. First, a novel microfabrication-based method termed "pore casting" was developed to produce thin scaffolds with highly controlled pore size, shape, and spacing. Next, human RPE were cultured on pore-cast poly(c-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds and compared to cells on track-etched polyester, the standard RPE culture substrate. RPE on porous PCL demonstrated enhanced maturation and function compared to track-etched polyester including improved pigmentation, barrier formation, gene expression, growth factor secretion, and phagocytic degradation. Lastly, this study established a patient-specific method for predicting AMD progression using retinal oxygen concentration. This approach differs from current diagnosis techniques because it uses physiologically-relevant mechanisms rather than generalized clinical associations which have little, if any, prognostic value

Advanced Modeling, Control, and Optimization Methods in Power Hybrid Systems - 2021

The climate changes that are becoming visible today are a challenge for the global research community. In this context, renewable energy sources, fuel cell systems and other energy generating sources must be optimally combined and connected to the grid system using advanced energy transaction methods. As this reprint presents the latest solutions in the implementation of fuel cell and renewable energy in mobile and stationary applications such as hybrid and microgrid power systems based on the Energy Internet, blockchain technology and smart contracts, we hope that they will be of interest to readers working in the related fields mentioned above

On Computable Protein Functions

Proteins are biological machines that perform the majority of functions necessary for life. Nature has evolved many different proteins, each of which perform a subset of an organism’s functional repertoire. One aim of biology is to solve the sparse high dimensional problem of annotating all proteins with their true functions. Experimental characterisation remains the gold standard for assigning function, but is a major bottleneck due to resource scarcity. In this thesis, we develop a variety of computational methods to predict protein function, reduce the functional search space for proteins, and guide the design of experimental studies. Our methods take two distinct approaches: protein-centric methods that predict the functions of a given protein, and function-centric methods that predict which proteins perform a given function. We applied our methods to help solve a number of open problems in biology. First, we identified new proteins involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease using proteomics data of brains from a fly model of the disease. Second, we predicted novel plastic hydrolase enzymes in a large data set of 1.1 billion protein sequences from metagenomes. Finally, we optimised a neural network method that extracts a small number of informative features from protein networks, which we used to predict functions of fission yeast proteins

Evaluation of the role of evolutionary conserved polarity mechanisms in the establishment of podocyte architecture

Podozyten sind auf Grund ihrer Rolle in der Formierung und dem Erhalt der Schlitzmembran ein essentieller Bestandteil der glomerulären Filtrationsbarriere der Niere. Sowohl Formierung als auch Erhalt der Filtrationsbarriere ist abhängig von der korrekten Entwicklung der apikobasalen Polarität des Podozyten.Da der Verlust der Polarität und die damit einhergehende Dysfunktion der Schlitzmembran ein wichtiger Aspekt glomerulärer Erkrankungen sind, war es Ziel dieser Arbeit, die apikalen Polaritätsmechanismen in vitro und in vivo in murinen Podozyten zu untersuchen. Dafür lag der Fokus auf dem Crumbs Komplex, insbesondere auf den Polaritätsproteinen Crumbs3 und Pals1. Hier konnte gezeigt werden, dass sowohl Crumbs3 als auch Pals1 hochexprimiert in humanen und murinen Podozyten vorliegen. Besonders Pals1 spielt eine essentielle Rolle in der korrekten Entwicklung der epithelialen Zellen der Niere.<br/

Efficient and Scalable Computing for Resource-Constrained Cyber-Physical Systems: A Layered Approach

With the evolution of computing and communication technology, cyber-physical systems such as self-driving cars, unmanned aerial vehicles, and mobile cognitive robots are achieving increasing levels of multifunctionality and miniaturization, enabling them to execute versatile tasks in a resource-constrained environment. Therefore, the computing systems that power these resource-constrained cyber-physical systems (RCCPSs) have to achieve high efficiency and scalability. First of all, given a fixed amount of onboard energy, these computing systems should not only be power-efficient but also exhibit sufficiently high performance to gracefully handle complex algorithms for learning-based perception and AI-driven decision-making. Meanwhile, scalability requires that the current computing system and its components can be extended both horizontally, with more resources, and vertically, with emerging advanced technology. To achieve efficient and scalable computing systems in RCCPSs, my research broadly investigates a set of techniques and solutions via a bottom-up layered approach. This layered approach leverages the characteristics of each system layer (e.g., the circuit, architecture, and operating system layers) and their interactions to discover and explore the optimal system tradeoffs among performance, efficiency, and scalability. At the circuit layer, we investigate the benefits of novel power delivery and management schemes enabled by integrated voltage regulators (IVRs). Then, between the circuit and microarchitecture/architecture layers, we present a voltage-stacked power delivery system that offers best-in-class power delivery efficiency for many-core systems. After this, using Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) as a case study, we develop a real-time resource scheduling framework at the architecture and operating system layers for heterogeneous computing platforms with guaranteed task deadlines. Finally, fast dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) based power management across the circuit, architecture, and operating system layers is studied through a learning-based hierarchical power management strategy for multi-/many-core systems

Inflammation and energy metabolism in obesity: the search for biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies.

L'obesitat representa un greu problema de salut. Una de les seves comorbiditats més importants és la malaltia no alcohòlica del fetge gras que s'associa amb una alta morbiditat i mortalitat. Un mètode no invasiu per al diagnòstic d'aquesta malaltia milloraria l'atenció clínica i la metabolòmica ha sorgit com una poderosa eina per a la cerca de nous biomarcadors. En aquesta línia, mitjançant un estudi metabolòmic proposem al a-cetoglutarat com un nou biomarcador; la quantificació d'aquest biomarcador pot potenciar la recerca de nous enfocaments terapèutics, disminuir la necessitat d'una biòpsia de fetge i els seus inconvenients i pot ser útil en l'avaluació de la progressió d'aquesta malaltia hepàtica. La ingesta d'energia excessiva molt comú en el nostre dia a dia, altera l'homeòstasi metabòlica i condueix a un estat inflamatori crònic, que té un paper important en el desenvolupament de malalties com l'obesitat i la malaltia no alcohòlica del fetge gras. Per aquesta raó, l'avaluació del paper de la inflamació crònica en models animals alimentats amb una dieta rica en greix podria suggerir noves estratègies terapèutiques. En aquest sentit, hem desenvolupat un ratolí transgènic que sobreexpressa CCL2 en tots els teixits. Aquest estudi va contribuir al coneixement sobre la relació entre la inflamació i el metabolisme i va suggerir una sèrie de preguntes per a futurs estudis. Finalment i per tal de determinar si els efectes nocius causats per una sobreexpressió de CCL2 combinada amb un excés d'energia es poden contrarestar per l'absència de CCR2, vam generar un altre model animal que sobreexpressa CCL2 però que a la vegada és deficient per CCR2. Els resultats van demostrar que els trastorns metabòlics observats en el model transgènic eren revertits per la inhibició de la funció biològica de l'eix CCL2/CCR2. D’aquesta manera els moduladors de CCR2 podrien convertir-se en nous agents terapèutics.La obesidad es un grave problema de salud. Una de sus comorbididades más importantes es la enfermedad hepática no alcohólica (EHNA) y se asocia con una alta morbilidad y mortalidad. Por ello, un método no invasivo para el diagnóstico de esta enfermedad mejoraría la atención clínica y la metabolómica ha surgido como una poderosa herramienta para la búsqueda de biomarcadores. Mediante un estudio metabólomico proponemos al a-cetoglutarato como un nuevo biomarcador, la quantificación de este biomarcador puede potenciar la búsqueda de nuevos enfoques terapéuticos, disminuir la necesidad de una biopsia de hígado y puede ser útil en la evaluación de la progresión de esta enfermedad. La ingesta de energía excesiva muy común en nuestro día a día, altera la homeostasis metabólica y conduce a un estado inflamatorio crónico, que tiene un papel importante en el desarrollo de enfermedades como la obesidad y la EHNA. Por esta razón, la evaluación del papel de la inflamación crónica en modelos animales alimentados con una dieta rica en grasa podría sugerir nuevas estrategias terapéuticas. Por ello, hemos desarrollado un ratón transgénico que sobreexpresa CCL2 en todos los tejidos. Éste estudio contribuyó al conocimiento sobre la relación entre la inflamación y el metabolismo y sugirió una serie de preguntas para futuros estudios. Por último y con el fin de determinar si los efectos nocivos causados por una sobreexpresión de CCL2 combinada con un exceso de energía se pueden contrarrestar por la ausencia de CCR2, creamos otro modelo animal que sobreexpresa CCL2 pero que a la vez deficiente para CCR2. Los resultados demostraron que los trastornos metabólicos observados en los ratones transgénicos eran contrarestados por la inhibición de la función biológica del eje CCL2/CCR2. De este modo los moduladores CCR2 podrían convertirse en nuevos agentes terapéuticos.Obesity severely affects human health, and the accompanying non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. For this reason, a non-invasive method to detect this liver impairment may substantially improve clinical care and metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool for discovering novel biomarkers. Accordingly, using metabolomics approaches, we propose plasma a-ketoglutarate as a novel biomarker for the detection of NAFLD. The measurement of this biomarker may potentiate the search for novel therapeutic approaches, may decrease the need for liver biopsy overcoming its drawbacks and may be useful in the assessment of disease progression. Furthermore, the excessive energy intake, that nowadays is a part of current human lifestyle, alters metabolic homeostasis and leads to a state of low-grade inflammations which has an important role in the development of diseases such as obesity and NAFLD. For this reason, the assessment of the role of chronic inflammation in animal models fed an energy surplus could suggest novel therapeutic strategies for the management. In this way, we generated a targeted CCL2 transgenic mouse which overexpresses CCL2 in all tissue which contributed to the knowledge about the relationship between inflammation and metabolism and suggested a number of mechanistic questions for future study. Finally, in order to determine if the deleterious metabolic effects caused by a continuous and ubiquitous expression of CCL2 combined with energy surplus can be counteract by the absence of CCR2, we created a CCL2 overexpressor but, at the same time, CCR2 knock-out mouse. Results of this study suggested that all metabolic disturbances observed in transgenic mice which overexpress CCL2 could be reverted by the inhibition of CCL2/CCR2 axis biologic function. All this information could be really important to establish CCR2 modulators as a new class of therapeutic agents to the management of metabolic disease

International Conference on Civil Infrastructure and Construction (CIC 2020)

This is the proceedings of the CIC 2020 Conference, which was held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani in Doha, Qatar from 2 to 5 February 2020. The goal of the conference was to provide a platform to discuss next-generation infrastructure and its construction among key players such as researchers, industry professionals and leaders, local government agencies, clients, construction contractors and policymakers. The conference gathered industry and academia to disseminate their research and field experiences in multiple areas of civil engineering. It was also a unique opportunity for companies and organizations to show the most recent advances in the field of civil infrastructure and construction. The conference covered a wide range of timely topics that address the needs of the construction industry all over the world and particularly in Qatar. All papers were peer reviewed by experts in their field and edited for publication. The conference accepted a total number of 127 papers submitted by authors from five different continents under the following four themes: Theme 1: Construction Management and Process Theme 2: Materials and Transportation Engineering Theme 3: Geotechnical, Environmental, and Geo-environmental Engineering Theme 4: Sustainability, Renovation, and Monitoring of Civil InfrastructureThe list of the Sponsors are listed at page 1