X-Rel: Energy-Efficient and Low-Overhead Approximate Reliability Framework for Error-Tolerant Applications Deployed in Critical Systems

Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) is one of the most common techniques in fault-tolerant systems, in which the output is determined by a majority voter. However, the design diversity of replicated modules and/or soft errors that are more likely to happen in the nanoscale era may affect the majority voting scheme. Besides, the significant overheads of the TMR scheme may limit its usage in energy consumption and area-constrained critical systems. However, for most inherently error-resilient applications such as image processing and vision deployed in critical systems (like autonomous vehicles and robotics), achieving a given level of reliability has more priority than precise results. Therefore, these applications can benefit from the approximate computing paradigm to achieve higher energy efficiency and a lower area. This paper proposes an energy-efficient approximate reliability (X-Rel) framework to overcome the aforementioned challenges of the TMR systems and get the full potential of approximate computing without sacrificing the desired reliability constraint and output quality. The X-Rel framework relies on relaxing the precision of the voter based on a systematical error bounding method that leverages user-defined quality and reliability constraints. Afterward, the size of the achieved voter is used to approximate the TMR modules such that the overall area and energy consumption are minimized. The effectiveness of employing the proposed X-Rel technique in a TMR structure, for different quality constraints as well as with various reliability bounds are evaluated in a 15-nm FinFET technology. The results of the X-Rel voter show delay, area, and energy consumption reductions of up to 86%, 87%, and 98%, respectively, when compared to those of the state-of-the-art approximate TMR voters.Comment: This paper has been published in IEEE Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) System

Conceptualization of Addiction to Romantic Relationships: A Conceptual Model

Introduction: Addiction to romantic relationship is one of the prevalent disorders in the field of psychology. The objective of the present study is to formulate a qualitative model of addiction to romantic relationships. Methods: The research is an applied study using discovery manner, in which, qualitative research method and grounded theory were utilized. The population was the entire people who were addicted to romantic relationships, selecting purposefully 100 samples for interview process. To collect data, in-depth interview was used, and then, after the implementation of the data, they prepared for analysis. The process of data analysis was deductive. In the other hand, there was no previous conceptual framework for coding and categorizing; rather, it was analyzed freely by coding technique of grounded theory. Results: Regarding the results, the final model of the study comprised eight different concepts, including: affective mental, family, emotional, needs, critics, consequences factors, and the factors related to relationship. Discussion: The results addressed the different context and dimensions of vulnerability to romantic relationships addiction, thus, considering the results of the present study, practitioners particularly psychologists can adopt appropriate intervention either in treatment or prevention of romantic relationship addiction

Synthesis and formulation of diethyltoluamide as an insect repellent

During World War II more than 10,000 chemical substances were tested as insect repellents. Perhaps the best and all-purpose repellent developed since then is diethyltoluamide, which in various tests has been shown to be the most effective agent against a wide variety of insects. In this study diethyltoluamide was synthesized and formulated as a gel. Reaction of primary acid with thionylchloride produced acyl halide, which in reaction with diethylamine produced diethyltoluamide, with 96% yield. Reaction of diethylamine with ethyl ester of primary acid did not yield diethyltoluamide even in different experimental conditions. For production of diethyltoluamid gel, various gelling agents such as carbapol and hydroxy propyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were tested. The results showed that a suitable gel could be formulated by HPMC. Physical stability, spread and viscosity of gels were evaluated. The gels that contained 14 and 18% of diethyltoluamide were stable. Rheograms of the gels that were plotted by brockfild viscometer showed that the gels have a psudoplastic characteristic

Topical gel of Metformin solid lipid nanoparticles: a hopeful promise as a dermal delivery system

The aim of the present study was to enhance the skin delivery of metformin by making solid lipid nanoparticles containing metformin using the ultra-sonication method. To achieve the optimum skin delivery for metformin, the effects of the ratio of two surfactants (Tween:Span) on nanoparticles properties and their performance were investigated. Photon correlation spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray Diffractometer (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the solid state of metformin in solid lipid nanoparticles. Generally, the particle size of nanoparticles decreased by the addition of co-emulsifier (Span®60). Results showed that all formulations made by binary mixtures of surfactants had low particle size, low Polydispersity index and high zeta potential. It was interesting to note that the smallest nanoparticles (203.8 ± 15.356) was obtained when the HLB of the binary surfactants (HLB of 11.67) was closer to the HLB of beeswax (HLB of 12) used in the preparation of SLN. It was also found that by decreasing the HLB of the system from 14.9 to 10.06 the zeta potential of SLNs increased from −0.651 ± 0.315 to −6.18 ± 0.438 mV. But, a further reduction in the HLB from 10.06 to 8.45 caused a reduction in the zeta potential from −6.18 to −3.596 ± 0.255. Results showed that the highest entrapment efficiency of 45.98 ± 9.20% was obtained for formulation with larger particle size and with the highest HLB value (HLB 14.9). DSC study showed that metformin in SLN is in an amorphous form. FT-IR spectra of Met-SLN showed that the prominent functional groups existed in the formulations which could be an indication of good entrapment of metformin in a lipid matrix. FT-IR results also ruled out any chemical interaction between the drug and the excipients. The amounts of metformin detected in the skin layers and the receptor chamber at all sampling times were higher for nanogel compared to metformin gel. This is an indication of a better performance of Metformin nanogel ex-vivo and could be developed further for clinical studies

Designing A Mixed System of Network DEA for Evaluating the Efficiency of Branches of Commercial Banks in Iran

One of the most important applications of data envelopment analysis tech-nique is measuring the efficiency of bank branches. Performance measure-ment in the banking industry is important for several groups, including bank managers, customers, investors, and shareholders. The purpose of this study is to examine and design a mixed structure to measure the efficiency of branches of Iranian banks according to their policies. In order to obtain the efficiency of the structure divisions proposed in this study, a slack-based NDEA model was selected to solve its mathematical model. The study sam-ple consists of 31 branches of a large commercial bank in Iran. The ad-vantage of this research to previous studies is that the result will be more realistic considering the inputs and outputs consistent with Iran's banking conditions

Relationship between Lighting and Noise Levels and Productivity of the Occupants in Automotive Assembly Industry

Work environment affects human productivity and his performance. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of lighting and noise levels on human productivity in the automotive assembly industry. Method. Subjects were 181 workers from different parts of an automobile assembly industry. Illuminance (Lx) at the height of 30 inches from the surface of work station and noise (dBA) were locally measured. Also human productivity by the Goldsmith and Hersey scale (1980) was measured. Data were analyzed by using SPSS v20 Pearson correlation coefficient. Results. The results showed that the relationship between noise level and human productivity is negative and significant (, ), but there was no significant relationship between lighting and human productivity (). Conclusion. Based on the results, in assembly tasks, noise has a negative impact on human productivity, and lighting does not affect this. So, in order to increase employee productivity, noise control and reduction to less than the standard values (less than 85 dB) is necessary

Health, Safety, and Environment Assessment in Schools Using a New Tool (HSE-S) Based on an Audit System

This study assessed the status of health, safety and environment (HSE) in all public schools (n=188) in Iran using a new tool (HSE-S) based on audit system. The first part of HSE-S tool was about general specifications and environment conditions. The second consists of the physical conditions and school management. The HSE-S was validated using CVI and CVR, Cronbach's alpha and Kappa coefficient. The CVI, CVR, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Kappa index were 0.75,> 0.7, 0.99 and 0.736 respectively. Ten schools were ranked as one-star, 149 as two-star and 29 as three-star. The top priorities for achieving an acceptable HSE status in schools were establishing a HSE unit, improving ergonomics and having a risk management system in each school. The HSE-S is an effective tool to evaluate and promote health, safety and environment in schools. Its application can help in implementing the “health promoting school” program of WHO

Formulation and Evaluation of Rose Oil Nanoemulsion %0.1 on Skin Properties

Introduction: One of the causes of the skin drying is lack of oil secretion by sebaceous glands in skin. Then this can make skin sensitive to environmental factors and some substances. Ancient Iranians have used rose water for washing the face and increase moister of skin. Nano-emulgel Due to its high stability, biocompatibility and proper solubility in water are considered as good carriers for targeted drug delivery, and have a good potential for drug delivery because they have the properties of nanoparticles of colloids and hydrogels simultaneously. In this research, effects of rose oil nanoemulgel %0.1 are evaluated on the normal and dried skin. Methods and Results: Different formulations of rose oil were evaluated using suitable surfactants. Then the best ratio of nano-emulgel Red flowers and sustainability criteria were determined. Rose oil components were identified by GC/MS. Clinical studies were conducted for an eight-week on 60 healthy volunteers in two groups. A nano-emulgel %0.1 rose oils and other non-essential emulgel with the same basic materials were used and the amount of sebum secretion, melanin, skin redness, hydration and elasticity of the skin and also complications were determined. Quantitative data analysis was done by using Chi-square test and P≤0.05 were considered significant. The results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the rose oils in skin hydration. Two groups with other characteristics such as the skin secretion of sebum, elasticity, pigmentation , and redness have shown similar effects. However, both groups did not show any complications. Conclusions: In this study, the main ingredient of essential oil is alcohol. The most important terpene alcohols are, 31% Nonadecane, 38% Citronellol, 23% Linalool , and 17% Heneicosane. The good effectiveness of Rose oil on increasing of skin moisture is the appropriate treatment of skin drying