Low power general purpose loop acceleration for NDP applications

Modern processor architectures face a throughput scaling problem as the performance bottleneck shifts from the core pipeline to the data transfer operations between the dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and the processor chip. To address such issue researchers have proposed the near-data processing (NDP) paradigm in which the instruction execution is moved to the DRAM die thus, lowering the data movement between the processor and the DRAM. Previous NDP works focus on specific application types and thus the general purpose application execution paradigm is neglected. In this work we propose an NDP methodology for low power general purpose loop acceleration. For this reason we design and implement a hardware loop accelerator from the ground up to improve the throughput and lower the power consumption of general purpose loops. We adopt a novel loop scheduling approach which enables the loop accelerator to take advantage of the dataflow parallelism of the executing loop and we implement our design on the logic layer of a hybrid memory cube (HMC) DRAM. Post-layout simulations demonstrate an average speedup factor of 20.5x when executing kernels from various scientific fields while the energy consumption is reduced by a factor of 9.3x over the host CPU execution

The Moderating Role of Parental Sleep Knowledge on Children with Developmental Disabilities and Their Parents’ Sleep

Background: Children with intellectual and developmental difficulties often experience sleep problems, which in turn may impact parental sleep patterns. This study explored the role of parental sleep knowledge as a moderator on the relationship between child sleep and parental sleep impairment. Methods: 582 parents or caregivers (92.6% mothers) of children with different developmental disabilities (Age M = 9.34, 29.5% females) such as Down’s syndrome, participated in an online survey. Multiple regression analysis was conducted. Results: Parental sleep knowledge of child sleep was a moderating variable in the relationship between child sleep nocturnal duration and parental sleep impairment. Although overall, sleep knowledge was high in this sample, two specific knowledge gaps were identified namely child sleep duration requirements, and the recognition of signs of a well-rested child. Conclusion: This study has provided evidence that increased parental sleep knowledge can positively impact both child and parental sleep outcomes

Theoretical Findings and Measurements on Planning a UHF RFID System inside a Room

This paper investigates the problem of improving the identification performance of a UHF RFID system inside a room. We assume static reader, passive tags and availability of commodity antennas. A ray-tracing propagation model is developed that includes multipath in 3D space. It is found that careful selection of reader antenna placement and tilting must be performed to control destructive interference effects. Furthermore, 3D coverage performance gains on the order of 10% are observed by implementing tags’ diversity. A device that successfully manipulates destructive interference is introduced. All theoretical findings are verified by measurements. Finally, a method to perform propagation measurements with commodity RFID hardware is demonstrated

Influence of a montmorency cherry juice blend on indices of exercise-induced stress and upper respiratory tract symptoms following marathon running—a pilot investigation

Background: Prolonged exercise, such as marathon running, has been associated with an increase in respiratory mucosal inflammation. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of Montmorency cherry juice on markers of stress, immunity and inflammation following a Marathon. Methods: Twenty recreational Marathon runners consumed either cherry juice (CJ) or placebo (PL) before and after a Marathon race. Markers of mucosal immunity secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), salivary cortisol, inflammation (CRP) and self-reported incidence and severity of upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTS) were measured before and following the race. Results: All variables except secretory IgA and IgG concentrations in saliva showed a significant time effect (P < 0.01). Serum CRP showed a significant interaction and treatment effect (P < 0.01). The CRP increase at 24 and 48 h post-Marathon was lower (P < 0.01) in the CJ group compared to PL group. Mucosal immunity and salivary cortisol showed no interaction effect or treatment effect. The incidence and severity of URTS was significantly greater than baseline at 24 h and 48 h following the race in the PL group and was also greater than the CJ group (P < 0.05). No URTS were reported in the CJ group whereas 50 % of runners in the PL group reported URTS at 24 h and 48 h post-Marathon. Conclusions: This is the first study that provides encouraging evidence of the potential role of Montmorency cherries in reducing the development of URTS post-Marathon possibly caused by exercise-induced hyperventilation trauma, and/or other infectious and non-infectious factors

Ulnar Nerve Compression in the Cubital Tunnel by an Epineural Ganglion: A Case Report

Abstract Epineural ganglia are considered to be a usual cause of peripheral nerve compression. In this report, we present a rare case of ulnar nerve compression by an epineural ganglion in the cubital tunnel. A 28-year-old right-handed female secretary developed progressive pain, numbness, and weakness in her right elbow, forearm, and hand for 6 months. Atrophy of the adductor pollicis and the first dorsal interosseous muscles was apparent. Clinical examination revealed a cystic mass at the posterior side of the elbow. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a ganglion while electrophysiologic studies revealed a severe conduction block of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. During surgery a 2-cm diameter epineural ganglion was identified compressing the ulnar nerve and was excised using microsurgery techniques. Two months postoperatively, the clinical recovery of the patient was very satisfactory, although the postoperative electrophysiologic studies demonstrated a less dramatic improvement

Competition intensity and fatigue in elite fencing

As yet, no studies have characterised fencing competitions. This was investigated in nine elite male foilists across two competitions, where countermovement jump (CMJ) height, testosterone (T), cortisol (C), alpha-amylase (AA) and immunoglobulin A (IgA), were obtained. Heart rate (HR) was measured throughout competitions and blood lactate (BL) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured post bouts. Average (± SD) scores for RPE, BL and HR (average, max and percentage of time ≥ 80% HRmax) were highest in the knockout bouts compared to poules (8.5 ± 1.3 vs. 5.7 ± 1.3, 3.6 ± 1.0 vs. 3.1 ± 1.4 mmol/L, 171 ± 5 vs. 168 ± 8 bpm, 195 ± 7 vs. 192 ± 7 bpm, 74 vs. 68%) however, only significant (p .05), increased throughout competition and dropped thereafter. While responses of C, AA and IgA showed a tendency to increase during competition and drop thereafter (T and T:C doing the opposite), no significant differences were noted for any analyte. Results suggest that fencing is a high-intensity anaerobic sport, relying on alactic energy sources, however, some bouts evoke BL values of ≥ 4 mmol/L and thus derive energy from anaerobic glycolysis. High HR’s appear possible on account of ample within and between-bout rest. The small competition load associated with fencing competitions may explain the non-significant findings found

Physical characteristics underpinning repetitive lunging in fencing

Given the repetitive demand to execute lunging and changes in direction within fencing, the ability to sustain these at maximal capacity is fundamental to performance. The aim of this study was threefold. Firstly to provide normative values for this variable referred to as repeat lunge ability (RLA) and secondly to identify the physical characteristics that underpin it. Thirdly, was to establish if a cause and effect relationship existed by training the associated characteristics. Assessment of lower body power, reactive strength, speed, change of direction speed (CODS) and a sport specific RLA were conducted on senior and junior elite male fencers (n = 36). Fencers were on average (± SD) 18.9 ± 3.2 years of age, 174.35 ± 10.42 cm tall, 70.67 ± 7.35 kg in mass, and 8.5 ± 4.2 years fencing experience. The RLA test had average work times of 16.03 s ± 1.40 and demonstrated "large" to "very large" associations with all tested variables, but in particular CODS (r = .70) and standing broad jump (SBJ; r = -68). Through linear regression analysis, these also provided a two-predictor model accounting for 61% of the common variance associated with RLA. A cause and effect relationship with SBJ and CODS was confirmed by the training group, where RLA performance in these fencers improved from 15.80 ± 1.07 s to 14.90 ± 0.86 s, with the magnitude of change reported as "moderate" (ES = 0.93). Concurrent improvements were also noted in both SBJ (216.86 cm ± 17.15 vs. 221.71 ± 17.59 cm) and CODS (4.44 ± 0.29 s s. 4.31 ± 0.09 s) and while differences were only significant in SBJ, magnitudes of change were classed as "small" (ES = 0.28) and "moderate" (ES = 0.61)respectively. In conclusion, to improve RLA strength and conditioning coaches should focus on improving lower-body power and reactive strength, noting that jump training and plyometrics designed to enhance horizontal propulsion may be most effective, and translate to improvement in CODS also