A Dynamic Reconfiguration Framework to Maximize Performance/Power in Asymmetric Multicore Processors

Recent trends in technology scaling have shifted the processing paradigm to multicores. Depending on the characteristics of the cores, the multicores can be either symmetric or asymmetric. Prior research has shown that Asymmetric Multicore Processors (AMPs) outperform their symmetric (SMP) counterparts within a given resource and power budget. But, due to the heterogeneity in core-types and time-varying workload behavior, thread-to-core assignment is always a challenge in AMPs. As the computational requirements vary significantly across different applications and with time, there is a need to dynamically allocate appropriate computational resources on demand to suit the applications’ current needs, in order to maximize the performance and minimize the energy consumption. Performance/power of the applications could be further increased by dynamically adapting the voltage and frequency of the cores to better fit the changing characteristics of the workloads. Not only can a core be forced to a low power mode when its activity level is low, but the power saved by doing so could be opportunistically re-budgeted to the other cores to boost the overall system throughput. To this end, we propose a novel solution that seamlessly combines heterogeneity with a Dynamic Reconfiguration Framework (DRF). The proposed dynamic reconfiguration framework is equipped with Dynamic Resource Allocation (DRA) and Voltage/Frequency Adaptation (DVFA) capabilities to adapt the core resources and operating conditions at runtime to the changing demands of the applications. As a proof of concept, we illustrate our proposed approach using a dual-core AMP and demonstrate significant performance/power benefits over various baselines

Chrysopogon zizanioides aqueous extract mediated synthesis characterization of crystalline silver and gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Kantha D Arunachalam, Sathesh Kumar Annamalai Center for Environmental Nuclear Research, Directorate of Research, SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract: The exploitation of various plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green technology as it does not involve any harmful chemicals. The aim of this study was to develop a simple biological method for the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using Chrysopogon zizanioides. To exploit various plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles was considered a green technology. An aqueous leaf extract of C. zizanioides was used to synthesize silver and gold nanoparticles by the bioreduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) respectively. Water-soluble organics present in the plant materials were mainly responsible for reducing silver or gold ions to nanosized Ag or Au particles. The synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The kinetics decline reactions of aqueous silver/gold ion with the C. zizanioides crude extract were determined by UV-visible spectroscopy. SEM analysis showed that aqueous gold ions, when exposed to the extract were reduced and resulted in the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles in the size range 20–50 nm. This eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles is simple, can be scaled up for large-scale production with powerful bioactivity as demonstrated by the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles can have clinical use as antibacterial, antioxidant, as well as cytotoxic agents and can be used for biomedical applications. Keywords: nanoparticles, bioreduction, SEM, silver, gol

Potential anticancer properties of bioactive compounds of Gymnema sylvestre and its biofunctionalized silver nanoparticles

Kantha Deivi Arunachalam,1 Lilly Baptista Arun,1 Sathesh Kumar Annamalai,1 Aarrthy M Arunachalam2 1Center for Environmental Nuclear Research, SRM University, Potheri, Tamil Nadu, India; 2Division of Educational Services, Kaplan University (Medical), Washington DC, USA Background: Gymnema sylvestre is an ethno-pharmacologically important medicinal plant used in many polyherbal formulations for its potential health benefits. Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were biofunctionalized using aqueous leaf extracts of G. sylvestre. The anticancer properties of the bioactive compounds and the biofunctionalized SNPs were compared using the HT29 human adenoma colon cancer cell line.Methods: The preliminary phytochemical screening for bioactive compounds from aqueous extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, and saponins. Biofunctionalized SNPs were synthesized using silver nitrate and characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction for size and shape. The characterized biofunctionalized G. sylvestre were tested for its in vitro anticancer activity against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells.Results: The biofunctionlized G. sylvestre SNPs showed the surface plasmon resonance band at 430 nm. The scanning electron microscopy images showed the presence of spherical nanoparticles of various sizes, which were further determined using the Scherrer equation. In vitro cytotoxic activity of the biofunctionalized green-synthesized SNPs (GSNPs) indicated that the sensitivity of HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells for cytotoxic drugs is higher than that of Vero cell line for the same cytotoxic agents and also higher than the bioactive compound of the aqueous extract.Conclusion: Our results show that the anticancer properties of the bioactive compounds of G. sylvestre can be enhanced through biofunctionalizing the SNPs using the bioactive compounds present in the plant extract without compromising their medicinal properties. Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre, gymnemic acid, biofunctionalized silver nanoparticles, anticancer activity, HT29 cell lin

One-step green synthesis and characterization of leaf extract-mediated biocompatible silver and gold nanoparticles from Memecylon umbellatum

Kantha D Arunachalam, Sathesh Kumar Annamalai, Shanmugasundaram HariCenter for Environmental Nuclear Research, Directorate of Research, SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaAbstract: In this experiment, green-synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles were produced rapidly by treating silver and gold ions with an extract of Memecylon umbellatum leaf. The reaction process was simple and easy to handle, and was monitored using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The effect of the phytochemicals present in M. umbellatum, including saponins, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and quinones, on formation of stable silver and gold nanoparticles was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology and crystalline phase of the nanoparticles were determined by transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The results indicate that the saponins, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds present in the plant extract play a major role in formation of silver and gold nanoparticles in their respective ions in solution. The characteristics of the nanoparticles formed suggest application of silver and gold nanoparticles as chemical sensors in the future. Given the simple and eco-friendly approach for synthesis, these nanoparticles could easily be commercialized for large-scale production.Keywords: green synthesis, phytochemicals, saponins, nanoparticles, transmission electron microscop

Performance per watt benefits of dynamic core morphing in asymmetric multicores

Abstract—The trend toward multicore processors is moving the emphasis in computation from sequential to parallel processing. However, not all applications can be parallelized and benefit from multiple cores. Such applications lead to under-utilization of parallel resources, hence sub-optimal performance/watt. They may however, benefit from powerful uniprocessors. On the other hand, not all applications can take advantage of more powerful uniprocessors. To address competing requirements of diverse applications, we propose a heterogeneous multicore architecture with a Dynamic Core Morphing (DCM) capability. Depending on the computational demands of the currently executing applications, the resources of a few tightly coupled cores are morphed at runtime. We present a simple hardware-based algorithm to monitor the time-varying computational needs of the application and when deemed beneficial, trigger reconfiguration of the cores at fine-grain time scales to maximize the performance/watt of the application. The proposed dynamic scheme is then compared against a baseline static heterogeneous multicore configuration and an equivalent homogeneous configuration. Our results show that dynamic morphing of cores can provide performance/watt gains of 43 % and 16 % on an average, when compared to the homogeneous and baseline heterogeneous configurations, respectively

Identification of lncRNA and weighted gene coexpression network analysis of germinating Rhizopus delemar causing mucormycosis

ABSTRACTRhizopus delemar, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, causes a highly fatal disease, mucormycosis. Spore germination is a crucial mechanism for disease pathogenesis. Thus, exploring the molecular mechanisms of fungal germination would underpin our knowledge of such transformation and, in turn, help control mucormycosis. To gain insight into the developmental process particularly associated with cell wall modification and synthesis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed including both coding and non-coding transcripts identified in the current study, to find out the module of interest in the germination stages. The module-trait relationship identified a particular module to have a high correlation only at the resting phase and further analysis revealed the module to be enriched for protein phosphorylation, carbohydrate metabolic process, and cellular response to stimulus. Moreover, co-expression network analysis of highly connected nodes revealed cell wall modifying enzymes, especially those involved in mannosylation, chitin-glucan crosslinking, and polygalacturonase activities co-expressing and interacting with the novel lncRNAs among which some of them predicted to be endogenous target mimic (eTM) lncRNAs. Hence, the present study provides an insight into the onset of spore germination and the information on the novel non-coding transcripts with key cell wall–related enzymes as potential targets against mucormycosis

Tissue engineered plant extracts as nanofibrous wound dressing

10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.10.026Biomaterials343724-734BIMA