Polish grid infrastructure for science and research

Structure, functionality, parameters and organization of the computing Grid in Poland is described, mainly from the perspective of high-energy particle physics community, currently its largest consumer and developer. It represents distributed Tier-2 in the worldwide Grid infrastructure. It also provides services and resources for data-intensive applications in other sciences.Comment: Proceeedings of IEEE Eurocon 2007, Warsaw, Poland, 9-12 Sep. 2007, p.44

Locust-inspired vision system on chip architecture for collision detection in automotive applications

This paper describes a programmable digital computing architecture dedicated to process information in accordance to the organization and operating principles of the four-layer neuron structure encountered at the visual system of Locusts. This architecture takes advantage of the natural collision detection skills of locusts and is capable of processing images and ascertaining collision threats in real-time automotive scenarios. In addition to the Locust features, the architecture embeds a Topological Feature Estimator module to identify and classify objects in collision course.European Commission IST2001 - 38097Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC2003 - 09817- C02 - 0

The Effects Of Mobile Computing on Teleworking

This paper examines Mobile Computing Technology with a particular focus on the effect Mobile Computing is having on teleworking. Mobile computing as it is defined for this paper is described. The enablers of this technology as well as the inhibitors to this technology are discussed. Future possible trends in the area of mobile computing are also explored. Teleworking is reviewed in terms of the advantages and disadvantages it offers to the organization. Also outlined is the use Information Technology (IT) in teleworking. This examination of teleworking leads the paper into the next step up from teleworking i.e. The virtual organization. The issues around this type of structure are outlined including, Strategic Change Issues, Virtual teams, Integration of Virtual teams, Trust Issues and Cultural Issues. The paper then examines the implications involved in managing a virtual organization. Having explored the issues and possible complications surrounding a virtual organization it is important to highlight any strategic advantage that a move to this type of organizational set up would give and organization

Investigating the Link Between Multinational Strategy-Structure and Management of End User Computing

The goal of this paper is to investigate the link between existing organization strategy-structure and the management of end user computing, in a multinational setting. This paper attempts to answer the question: Is there any consistency between the multinational strategy-structure and its end user computing strategy? The factors influencing the degree of fit between the organization strategy and end-user strategy will also be identified. Recommendations based on the preliminary investigation are made for tackling some of the problem areas. This preliminary investigation is followed by a detailed survey of multinational corporations. Though the results from the survey are not currently available, the initial results from the case studies in this research are presented and discussed

Hierarchical organization of functional connectivity in the mouse brain: a complex network approach

This paper represents a contribution to the study of the brain functional connectivity from the perspective of complex networks theory. More specifically, we apply graph theoretical analyses to provide evidence of the modular structure of the mouse brain and to shed light on its hierarchical organization. We propose a novel percolation analysis and we apply our approach to the analysis of a resting-state functional MRI data set from 41 mice. This approach reveals a robust hierarchical structure of modules persistent across different subjects. Importantly, we test this approach against a statistical benchmark (or null model) which constrains only the distributions of empirical correlations. Our results unambiguously show that the hierarchical character of the mouse brain modular structure is not trivially encoded into this lower-order constraint. Finally, we investigate the modular structure of the mouse brain by computing the Minimal Spanning Forest, a technique that identifies subnetworks characterized by the strongest internal correlations. This approach represents a faster alternative to other community detection methods and provides a means to rank modules on the basis of the strength of their internal edges.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

A Focal-Plane Image Processor for Low Power Adaptive Capture and Analysis of the Visual Stimulus

Portable applications of artificial vision are limited by the fact that conventional processing schemes fail to meet the specifications under a tight power budget. A bio-inspired approach, based in the goal-directed organization of sensory organs found in nature, has been employed to implement a focal-plane image processor for low power vision applications. The prototype contains a multi-layered CNN structure concurrent with 32times32 photosensors with locally programmable integration time for adaptive image capture with on-chip local and global adaptation mechanisms. A more robust and linear multiplier block has been employed to reduce irregular analog wave propagation ought to asymmetric synapses. The predicted computing power per power consumption, 142MOPS/mW, is orders of magnitude above what rendered by conventional architectures

Optimal modularity and memory capacity of neural reservoirs

The neural network is a powerful computing framework that has been exploited by biological evolution and by humans for solving diverse problems. Although the computational capabilities of neural networks are determined by their structure, the current understanding of the relationships between a neural network's architecture and function is still primitive. Here we reveal that neural network's modular architecture plays a vital role in determining the neural dynamics and memory performance of the network of threshold neurons. In particular, we demonstrate that there exists an optimal modularity for memory performance, where a balance between local cohesion and global connectivity is established, allowing optimally modular networks to remember longer. Our results suggest that insights from dynamical analysis of neural networks and information spreading processes can be leveraged to better design neural networks and may shed light on the brain's modular organization