Optimizing construction of scheduled data flow graph for on-line testability

The objective of this work is to develop a new methodology for behavioural synthesis using a flow of synthesis, better suited to the scheduling of independent calculations and non-concurrent online testing. The traditional behavioural synthesis process can be defined as the compilation of an algorithmic specification into an architecture composed of a data path and a controller. This stream of synthesis generally involves scheduling, resource allocation, generation of the data path and controller synthesis. Experiments showed that optimization started at the high level synthesis improves the performance of the result, yet the current tools do not offer synthesis optimizations that from the RTL level. This justifies the development of an optimization methodology which takes effect from the behavioural specification and accompanying the synthesis process in its various stages. In this paper we propose the use of algebraic properties (commutativity, associativity and distributivity) to transform readable mathematical formulas of algorithmic specifications into mathematical formulas evaluated efficiently. This will effectively reduce the execution time of scheduling calculations and increase the possibilities of testability

Multilingual Text Representation

Modern NLP breakthrough includes large multilingual models capable of performing tasks across more than 100 languages. State-of-the-art language models came a long way, starting from the simple one-hot representation of words capable of performing tasks like natural language understanding, common-sense reasoning, or question-answering, thus capturing both the syntax and semantics of texts. At the same time, language models are expanding beyond our known language boundary, even competitively performing over very low-resource dialects of endangered languages. However, there are still problems to solve to ensure an equitable representation of texts through a unified modeling space across language and speakers. In this survey, we shed light on this iterative progression of multilingual text representation and discuss the driving factors that ultimately led to the current state-of-the-art. Subsequently, we discuss how the full potential of language democratization could be obtained, reaching beyond the known limits and what is the scope of improvement in that space.Comment: PhD Comprehensive exam repor

Differential evolution algorithm aided minimum symbol error rate multi-user detection for multi-user OFDM/SDMA systems

A Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm assisted Minimum Symbol Error Ratio (MSER) Multi-User Detection (MUD) scheme is proposed for multi-user Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) aided Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing / Space Division Multiple Access (OFDM/SDMA) systems. Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is employed in most wireless standards by virtue of providing a high throughput. The MSER Cost Function (CF) may be deemed to be the most relevant one for QAM, but finding its minimum is challenging. Hence we propose a sophisticated DE assisted MSER-MUD scheme, which directly minimizes the SER CF of multi-user OFDM/SDMA systems employing QAM. Furthermore, the effects of the DE assisted MSER-MUD’s algorithmic parameters, namely those of the population size Ps, of the scaling factor ? and of the crossover probability Cr on the number of DE generations required for attaining convergence were investigated in our simulations. This allowed us to directly quantify their complexity. The simulation results also demonstrate that the proposed DE assisted MSER-MUD scheme significantly outperforms the conventional MMSE-MUD in term of the system’s overall BER and it is capable of narrowing its BER performance discrepancy with respect to the optimal Maximum Likelihood (ML) MUD to about 4dB, while requiring about 200 times less CF evaluations compared to the optimal ML-MUD scheme

Chapter 12: Including the Exclusive: A Framework for Diversity and Inclusion Training in Intercollegiate Athletics

This research provides an analysis of Kentucky State University\u27s (KSU) Athletic Departmental Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) training series based on Wolfe\u27s leadership competencies. Utilizing Wolfe\u27s competencies of leaders profile to measure DEIB training effectiveness provided a framework to evaluate the program. Wolfe\u27s four domains are Domain 1: Vision, Values, and Culture; Domain 2: Personal Skills, Mindsets, and Values; Domain 3: Capacity Building for Innovation and Continuous Improvement; and Domain 4: Shared Responsibility and Structures for Continuous Improvement, Innovation, and Assessment. It was found that leaders must focus on the internal complexities of leadership and organizational development, as well as operations. The goal of this chapter is to illuminate areas of growth as well as proficiency in DEIB training. Described is the execution of the DEIB training and development program in an intercollegiate athletic setting at a Historical Black College and University (HBCU)

Exploring Agricultural Production Systems and Their Fundamental Components with System Dynamics Modelling

Agricultural production in the United States is undergoing marked changes due to rapid shifts in consumer demands, input costs, and concerns for food safety and environmental impact. Agricultural production systems are comprised of multidimensional components and drivers that interact in complex ways to influence production sustainability. In a mixed-methods approach, we combine qualitative and quantitative data to develop and simulate a system dynamics model that explores the systemic interaction of these drivers on the economic, environmental and social sustainability of agricultural production. We then use this model to evaluate the role of each driver in determining the differences in sustainability between three distinct production systems: crops only, livestock only, and an integrated crops and livestock system. The result from these modelling efforts found that the greatest potential for sustainability existed with the crops only production system. While this study presents a stand-alone contribution to sector knowledge and practice, it encourages future research in this sector that employs similar systems-based methods to enable more sustainable practices and policies within agricultural production

The Fundamental Nature of Time

The nature of time is intimately bound up with the nature of energy propagation, which has a long history of its philosophical understanding. Here I propose a new post-Einsteinian view of the nature of time, conceptualized as the outcome of the pure unidimensional rate of change of a process through the infinitesimal operator of differential equations. In this view, time is a local property that is generated by every individual process in the Universe rather than a fundamental dimension in which processes operate. The rate of change has an inherent “arrow of time” that does not depend on the ensemble properties of multiple processes, such as the laws of entropy, but is inherent to the function of each process, by virtue of its genesis in the Big Bang. The conventional view of time may be approximated either by aggregating the operations of large ensembles of diverse processes, or by choosing a process (such as the Atomic Clock) that has demonstrably stable temporal properties. For processes that are sufficiently nonlinear, their iterative progression may in principle lead to solutions describable as fractals, for which the integral derivation of the time variable would fractionate into a form of fractal time

Studies of the effects of gravitational and inertial forces on cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics

The current status and application are described of the biplane video roentgen densitometry, videometry and video digitization systems. These techniques were developed, and continue to be developed for studies of the effects of gravitational and inertial forces on cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics in intact animals and man. Progress is reported in the field of lung dynamics and three-dimensional reconstruction of the dynamic thoracic contents from roentgen video images. It is anticipated that these data will provide added insight into the role of shape and internal spatial relationships (which is altered particularly by acceleration and position of the body) of these organs as an indication of their functional status

Bender – An Educational Game for Teaching Agile Hardware Development

Within this paper, an educational game is presented that transfers Agile principles for the development of physical systems. The training leverages elements of Learning Factories (LF) to simulate an Agile hardware development project within two days. By doing so, the challenges of applying Agile within the hardware domain are realistically reflected. The training revolves around a physical wire bending machine, which a development team of four participants needs to modify within a realistic engineering and production setting. A trial with mechanical engineering students was conducted to validate the training design. The participants showed a positive attitude towards the active learning approach. Furthermore, the students expressed that they perceived the game to improve their learning regarding Agile hardware development

Effectively Managing the Air Force Enterprise Architecture

The Air Force is developing and implementing an enterprise architecture to meet the Clinger-Cohen Act\u27s requirement that all federal agencies use an architecture to guide their information technology (IT) investments. However, this act does not provide guidance on how to effectively manage an enterprise architecture. Prior research applied maturity models and competency stages to manage an enterprise architecture by defining layers of enterprise architecture management maturity. However, these efforts tend to view enterprise architecture development as a one-time planning process rather than an iterative progression. Enterprise architecture is not a one-time exercise, but rather it is an on-going effort within the organization to rationalize, integrate, and optimize the IT capability within an organization across many projects and business units. Hence, the critical success factors to effectively manage an enterprise architecture must be identified to ensure the structure, processes, and governing mechanisms are established within the organization for maintaining an enterprise architecture. This research draws from existing academic, professional, and government literature to identify the key issues affecting the Air Force\u27s ability to manage its enterprise architecture effectively. Once identified, a quantitative analysis will assist in interpreting the qualitative findings in hopes of determining the underlying factors driving these issues