MILO : a microarchitecture and logic optimizer

In this report we discuss strengths and weaknesses of logic synthesis systems and describe a system for microarchitectural and logic optimization. Our system uses a set of algorithms for synthesizing SSI/MSI macros from parameterized microarchitecture components. In addition, it uses rules for optimizing both at the microarchitecture and logic level. The system increases designer productivity and requires less design knowledge and experience from circuit engineers

Beyond primary care : reorganization of SUS through the intersection of the political and economic sectors

Questionam-se os limites e as possibilidades para reestruturar os serviços de saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) a partir da atenção básica à saúde. Parte-se da hipótese de que a atenção básica à saúde, ação integrada de promoção, prevenção e recuperação da saúde da população, embora seja espaço político para produção de saberes e tecnologias partilhadas de poder, tem pouca influência no reordenamento do mercado em saúde no Brasil, comprometendo seu potencial para inversão do modelo de atenção. Este artigo tem como objetivos contextualizar a atenção básica na gestão da assistência à saúde no SUS; refletir teoricamente sobre a reorganização dos serviços a partir da atenção primária à saúde (APS), considerando as dimensões econômicas das políticas sociais. A pesquisa teórica e documental teve abordagem qualitativa. Fez-se análise crítica de documentos oficiais, nacionais e internacionais. Conclui-se pela necessidade de uma atenção básica melhor articulada à média e à alta complexidades, capaz de interferir na lógica da oferta a partir da demanda e reduzir iniquidades. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe limits and possibilities concerning the restructuring of the health services of Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS – National Health System) are discussed based on primary care. The hypothesis is that primary care, whichmeans integrated action of promotion, prevention and recuperation of the population’s health, despite the fact that it is a political space for the production of knowledge and of power-sharing technology, it has little influence on the reorganization of the health market in Brazil, which negatively affects its potential concerning the inversion of the primary care model. This paper aims to contextualize primary care in the health assistance management of SUS, and to think theoretically about the reorganization of the SUS services starting from primary health care, and taking into account the economic dimensions of the social policies. The theoretical and documental research had a qualitative approach. Critical analysis of official documents, both national and international, was performed. The conclusion is for the need of a primary care that is better articulated with the medium and high complexities, able to interfere in the logic of the offer based on the demand and to reduce inequities

Hostos as a philosopher.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Zones of Tradition - Places of Identity

What is the heritage of our cities? Which are the monuments, places, and spaces in which it accumulates, and by which practices is it formed, handed down, appropriated? Gerhard Vinken takes the readers to twelve cities on three continents and analyses the diverse and contradictory heritage formations that have had a lasting impact on urban life. The vitality of urban heritage, as these vivid and in-depth case studies show, lies in the dynamic and often conflictual processes of social appropriation and interpretation. Covering a diverse range of themes, the book familiarizes the reader with important questions and theories in urban research and heritage studies

A system for microarchitecture and logic optimization

This thesis spans two levels of the design process by examining optimization at both the register-transfer level and at the logic level. More specifically, this thesis addresses the following two problems: 1) performing logic synthesis for custom layout rather than the traditional approach that focuses on synthesis for standard cells, and 2) performing optimization for custom layout from register-transfer level netlists. Thus optimization is performed on the microarchitecture design and at a lower level for individual microarchitecture components.First, techniques are introduced for generating gate-level netlists that take advantage of custom layout capabilities. Such techniques include limiting serial/parallel transistor chains, transistor sizes, and capacitive loads in forming complex gates. These considerations have not been incorporated in previous logic synthesis systems.Second, techniques are introduced for improving the microarchitecture structure and using estimates from lower-level optimization tools to guide microarchitecture design optimizations that attempt to meet user specified area and time constraints. These techniques include the capability for mixing layout styles such as custom layout for random-logic components and bit-slicing for regularly structured components. In this manner the entire design, control logic and datapath, can be optimized at the same time. Further, this paper presents a new methodology for microarchitecture-level optimization that greatly reduces the amount of technology-specific knowledge necessary to perform the optimizations

Advances in Functional Decomposition: Theory and Applications

Functional decomposition aims at finding efficient representations for Boolean functions. It is used in many applications, including multi-level logic synthesis, formal verification, and testing. This dissertation presents novel heuristic algorithms for functional decomposition. These algorithms take advantage of suitable representations of the Boolean functions in order to be efficient. The first two algorithms compute simple-disjoint and disjoint-support decompositions. They are based on representing the target function by a Reduced Ordered Binary Decision Diagram (BDD). Unlike other BDD-based algorithms, the presented ones can deal with larger target functions and produce more decompositions without requiring expensive manipulations of the representation, particularly BDD reordering. The third algorithm also finds disjoint-support decompositions, but it is based on a technique which integrates circuit graph analysis and BDD-based decomposition. The combination of the two approaches results in an algorithm which is more robust than a purely BDD-based one, and that improves both the quality of the results and the running time. The fourth algorithm uses circuit graph analysis to obtain non-disjoint decompositions. We show that the problem of computing non-disjoint decompositions can be reduced to the problem of computing multiple-vertex dominators. We also prove that multiple-vertex dominators can be found in polynomial time. This result is important because there is no known polynomial time algorithm for computing all non-disjoint decompositions of a Boolean function. The fifth algorithm provides an efficient means to decompose a function at the circuit graph level, by using information derived from a BDD representation. This is done without the expensive circuit re-synthesis normally associated with BDD-based decomposition approaches. Finally we present two publications that resulted from the many detours we have taken along the winding path of our research

The role of endocannabinoid signaling in the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment and mental disorders. The actual cause and cascade of events in the progression of this pathology is not fully determined. AD is multifaceted in nature and is linked to different multiple mechanisms in the brain. This aspect is related to the lack of efficacious therapies that could slow down or hinder the disease onset/progression. The ideal treatment for AD should be able to modulate the disease through multiple mechanisms rather than targeting a single dysregulated pathway. Recently, the endocannabinoid system emerged as a novel potential therapeutic target to treat AD. In fact, exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids seem to be able to modulate multiple processes in AD, although the mechanisms that are involved are not fully elucidated. This review provides an update of this area. In this review, we recapitulate the role of endocannabinoid signaling in AD and the probable mechanisms through which modulators of the endocannabinoid system provide their effects, thus highlighting how this target might provide more advantages over other therapeutic targets