12,627 research outputs found
Just-In-Time Compilation of NumPy Vector Operations
In this paper, we introduce JIT compilation for thehigh-productivity framework Python/NumPy in order to boost theperformance significantly. The JIT compilation of Python/NumPyis completely transparent to the user – the runtime system willautomatically JIT compile and execute the NumPy instructionsencountered in a Python application. In other words, we introducea framework that provides the high-productivity from Pythonwhile maintaining the high-performance of a low-level, compiledlanguage.We transforms NumPy vector instruction into an AbstractSyntax Tree representation that creates the basis for furtheroptimizations. From the AST we auto-generate C code whichwe compile into computational kernels and execute. These incorporatetemporary array removal and loop-fusion which are mainbenefactors in the achieved speedups. In order to amortize theoverhead of creation, we also implement a cache for the compiledkernels.We evaluate the JIT compilation by executing several scientificcomputing benchmarks on an AMD. Compared to NumPy, weachieve speedups of a factor 4.72 for a N-Body application and7.51 for a Jacobi Stencil application executing on a single CPUcore
Photon number discrimination without a photon counter and its application to reconstructing non-Gaussian states
The non-linearity of a conditional photon-counting measurement can be used to
`de-Gaussify' a Gaussian state of light. Here we present and experimentally
demonstrate a technique for photon number resolution using only homodyne
detection. We then apply this technique to inform a conditional measurement;
unambiguously reconstructing the statistics of the non-Gaussian one and two
photon subtracted squeezed vacuum states. Although our photon number
measurement relies on ensemble averages and cannot be used to prepare
non-Gaussian states of light, its high efficiency, photon number resolving
capabilities, and compatibility with the telecommunications band make it
suitable for quantum information tasks relying on the outcomes of mean values.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Theory section expanded in response to referee
comment
Signature of the Simplicial Supermetric
We investigate the signature of the Lund-Regge metric on spaces of simplicial
three-geometries which are important in some formulations of quantum gravity.
Tetrahedra can be joined together to make a three-dimensional piecewise linear
manifold. A metric on this manifold is specified by assigning a flat metric to
the interior of the tetrahedra and values to their squared edge-lengths. The
subset of the space of squared edge-lengths obeying triangle and analogous
inequalities is simplicial configuration space. We derive the Lund-Regge metric
on simplicial configuration space and show how it provides the shortest
distance between simplicial three-geometries among all choices of gauge inside
the simplices for defining this metric (Regge gauge freedom). We show
analytically that there is always at least one physical timelike direction in
simplicial configuration space and provide a lower bound on the number of
spacelike directions. We show that in the neighborhood of points in this space
corresponding to flat metrics there are spacelike directions corresponding to
gauge freedom in assigning the edge-lengths. We evaluate the signature
numerically for the simplicial configuration spaces based on some simple
triangulations of the three-sphere (S^3) and three-torus (T^3). For the surface
of a four-simplex triangulation of S^3 we find one timelike direction and all
the rest spacelike over all of the simplicial configuration space. For the
triangulation of T^3 around flat space we find degeneracies in the simplicial
supermetric as well as a few gauge modes corresponding to a positive
eigenvalue. Moreover, we have determined that some of the negative eigenvalues
are physical, i.e. the corresponding eigenvectors are not generators of
diffeomorphisms. We compare our results with the known properties of continuum
superspace.Comment: 24 pages, RevTeX, 4 eps Figures. Submitted to Classical Quantum
Gravit
Selection of reliable reference genes for the normalisation of gene expression levels following time course LPS stimulation of murine bone marrow derived macrophages
© 2017 The Author(s). Background: Macrophages are key players in the initiation, perpetuation and regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. They largely perform these roles through modulation of the expression of genes, especially those encoding cytokines. Murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) are commonly used as a model macrophage population for the study of immune responses to pro-inflammatory stimuli, notably lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which may be pertinent to the human situation. Evaluation of the temporal responses of LPS stimulated macrophages is widely conducted via the measurement of gene expression levels by RT-qPCR. While providing a robust and sensitive measure of gene expression levels, RT-qPCR relies on the normalisation of gene expression data to a stably expressed reference gene. Generally, a normalisation gene(s) is selected from a list of "traditional" reference genes without validation of expression stability under the specific experimental conditions of the study. In the absence of such validation, and given that many studies use only a single reference gene, the reliability of data is questionable. Results: The stability of expression levels of eight commonly used reference genes was assessed during the peak (6 h) and resolution (24 h) phases of the BMDM response to LPS. Further, this study identified two additional genes, which have not previously been described as reference genes, and the stability of their expression levels during the same phases of the inflammatory response were validated. Importantly, this study demonstrates that certain "traditional" reference genes are in fact regulated by LPS exposure, and, therefore, are not reliable candidates as their inclusion may compromise the accuracy of data interpretation. Testament to this, this study shows that the normalisation of gene expression data using an unstable reference gene greatly affects the experimental data obtained, and, therefore, the ultimate biological conclusions drawn. Conclusion: This study reaffirms the importance of validating reference gene stability for individual experimental conditions. Given that gene expression levels in LPS stimulated macrophages is routinely used to infer biological phenomena that are of relevance to human conditions, verification of reference gene expression stability is crucial
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