The Honeycomb Architecture: Prototype Analysis and Design

Due to the inherent potential of parallel processing, a lot of attention has focused on massively parallel computer architecture. To a large extent, the performance of a massively parallel architecture is a function of the flexibility of its communication network. The ability to configure the topology of the machine determines the ease with which problems are mapped onto the architecture. If the machine is sufficiently flexible, the architecture can be configured to match the natural structure of a wide range of problems. There are essentially four unique types of massively parallel architectures: 1. Cellular Arrays 2. Lattice Architectures [21, 30] 3. Connection Architectures [19] 4. Honeycomb Architectures [24] All four architectures are classified as SIMD. Each, however, offers a slightly different solution to the mapping problem. The first three approaches are characterized by easily distinguishable processor, communication, and memory components. In contrast, the Honeycomb architecture contains multipurpose processing/communication/memory cells. Each cell can function as either a simple CPU, a memory cell, or an element of a communication bus. The conventional approach to massive parallelism is the cellular array. It typically consists of an array of processing elements arranged in a mesh pattern with hard wired connections between neighboring processors. Due to their fixed topology, cellular arrays impose severe limitations upon interprocessor communication. The lattice architecture is a somewhat more flexible approach to massive parallelism. It consists of a lattice of processing elements embedded in an array of simple switching elements. The switching elements form a programmable interconnection network. A lattice architecture can be configured in a number of different topologies, but it is still only a partial solution to the mapping problem. The connection architecture offers a comprehensive solution to the mapping problem. It consists of a cellular array integrated into a packet-switched communication network. The network provides transparent communication between all processing elements. Note that the communication network is physically abstracted from the processor array, allowing the processors to evolve independently of the network. The Honeycomb architecture offers a unique solution to the mapping problem. It consists of an array of identical processing/communication/memory cells. Each cell can function as either a processor cell, a communication cell, or a memory cell. Collections of Honeycomb cells can be grouped into multicell CPUs, multi-cell memories, or multi-cell CPU-memory systems. Multi-cell CPU-memory systems are hereafter referred to as processing clusters. The topology of the Honeycomb is determined at compilation time. During a preprocessing phase, the Honeycomb is adjusted to the desired topology. The Honeycomb cell is extremely simple, capable of only simple arithmetic and logic operations. The simplicity of the Honeycomb cell is the key to the Honeycomb concept. As indicated in [24], there are two main research avenues to pursue in furthering the Honeycomb concept: 1. Analyzing the design of a uniform Honeycomb cell 2. Mapping algorithms onto the Honeycomb architecture This technical report concentrates on the first issue. While alluded to throughout the report, the second issue is not addressed in any detail

Folic Acid Supplementation Improves Vascular Function in Professional Dancers With Endothelial Dysfunction

Objective To determine if folic acid supplementation improves vascular function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) in professional dancers with known endothelial dysfunction. Design Prospective cross-sectional study. Setting Academic institution in the Midwestern United States. Subjects Twenty-two professional ballet dancers volunteered for this study. Main Outcome Measures Subjects completed a 3-day food record to determine caloric and micronutrient intake. Menstrual status was determined by interview and questionnaire. Endothelial function was determined as flow-induced vasodilation measured by high-frequency ultrasound of the brachial artery. A change in brachial diameter of Results Sixty-four percent of dancers (n = 14) had abnormal brachial artery FMD (P\u3c .0001). Conclusions This study reveals that vascular endothelial function improves in dancers after supplementation with folic acid (10 mg/day) for at least 4 weeks. This finding may have clinically important implications for future cardiovascular disease risk prevention

Association Between the Female Athlete Triad and Endothelial Dysfunction in Dancers

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the 3 components of the female athlete triad [disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, low bone mineral density (BMD)] and their relationships with brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in professional dancers. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Academic institution in the Midwest. Participants: Twenty-two professional ballet dancers volunteered for this study. Interventions: The prevalence of the female athlete triad and its relationship to endothelial dysfunction. Main Outcome Measures: Subjects completed questionnaires to assess disordered eating and menstrual status/history. They also completed a 3-day food record and wore an accelerometer for 3 days to determine energy availability. Serum baseline thyrotropin, prolactin, and hormonal concentrations were obtained. Bone mineral density and body composition were measured with a GE Lunar Prodigy dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Endothelial function was determined as flow-mediated vasodilation measured by high-frequency ultrasound in the brachial artery. An increase in brachial diameter Results: Seventeen dancers (77%) had evidence of low/negative energy availability. Thirty-two percent had disordered eating (EDE-Q score). Thirty-six percent had menstrual dysfunction and 14% were currently using hormone contraception. Twenty-three percent had evidence of low bone density (Z-score \u3c -1.0). Sixty-four percent had abnormal brachial artery flow-mediated dilation ( Conclusions: Endothelial dysfunction was correlated with reduced BMD, menstrual dysfunction, and low serum estrogen. These findings may have profound implications for cardiovascular and bone health in professional women dancers

A 4-Week Multimodal Intervention for Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability: Examination of Disease-Oriented and Patient-Oriented Outcomes

Context Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience disease- and patient-oriented impairments that contribute to both immediate and long-term health detriments. Investigators have demonstrated the ability of targeted interventions to improve these impairments. However, the combined effects of a multimodal intervention have not been evaluated for their effects on a multidimensional profile of health. Objective To examine the effects of a 4-week rehabilitation program on disease- and patient-oriented impairments associated with CAI. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Twenty adults (5 males, 15 females; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 previous ankle sprain, at least 2 episodes of giving way in the 3 months before the study, and a Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score ≤24. Intervention(s) Individuals participated in 12 sessions over 4 weeks that consisted of balance training, ankle strengthening, and joint mobilizations. They also completed home ankle-strengthening and -stretching exercises daily. Main Outcome Measure(s) Dorsiflexion range of motion (weight-bearing–lunge test), isometric ankle strength (inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion), isometric hip strength (abduction, adduction, flexion, extension), dynamic postural control (Y-Balance test), static postural control (eyes-open and -closed time to boundary in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions), and patient-reported outcomes (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure–Activities of Daily Living and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure–Sport, modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale physical and mental summary components, and Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire–Physical Activity and Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire–Work) were assessed at 4 times (baseline, preintervention, postintervention, 2-week follow-up). Results Dorsiflexion range of motion, each direction of the Y-Balance test, 4-way ankle strength, hip-adduction and -extension strength, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure–Activities of Daily Living score, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale–physical summary component score, and the Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire–Physical Activity score were improved at postintervention (P \u3c .001; effect-size range = 0.72–1.73) and at the 2-week follow-up (P \u3c .001; effect-size range = 0.73–1.72) compared with preintervention. Hip-flexion strength was improved at postintervention compared with preintervention (P = .03; effect size = 0.61). Hip-abduction strength was improved at the 2-week follow-up compared with preintervention (P = .001, effect size = 0.96). Time to boundary in the anterior-posterior direction was increased at the 2-week follow-up compared with preintervention (P \u3c .04; effect-size range = 0.61–0.78) and postintervention (P \u3c .04) during the eyes-open condition. Conclusion A 4-week rehabilitation program improved a multidimensional profile of health in participants with CAI

Response Shift After a 4-Week Multimodal Intervention for Chronic Ankle Instability

Context The accurate evaluation of self-reported changes in function throughout the rehabilitation process is important for determining patient progression. Currently, how a response shift (RS) may affect the accuracy of self-reported functional assessment in a population with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is unknown. Objective To examine the RS in individuals with CAI after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Twenty adults (5 men, 15 women; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 previous ankle sprain, at least 2 episodes of the ankle giving way in the 3 months before the study, and a score ≤24 on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool. Intervention(s) Individuals participated in 12 intervention sessions over 4 weeks and daily home ankle strengthening and stretching. Main Outcome Measure(s) Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed at 4 times (baseline, preintervention, postintervention, and 2-week follow-up). At the postintervention and 2-week follow-up, participants completed then-test assessments to measure RS. Then-test assessments are retrospective evaluations of perceived baseline function completed after an intervention. The PROs consisted of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living and Sport subscales, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale physical and mental summary components, and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity and Work subscales. We used repeated-measures analyses of variance to compare preintervention with then-test measurements. Individual-level RSs were examined by determining the number of participants who experienced preintervention to then-test differences that exceeded the calculated minimal detectable change. Results We did not identify an RS for any PRO (F \u3e 2.338, P \u3e .12), indicating no group-level differences between the preintervention and retrospective then-test assessments. Individual- level RS was most prominent in the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport subscale (n = 6, 30%) and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity subscale (n = 9, 45%). Conclusions No group-level RS was identified for any PRO after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program in individuals with CAI. This finding indicates that traditional assessment of self-reported function was accurate for evaluating the short-term effects of rehabilitation in those with CAI. Low levels of individual-level RS were identified

Setting Off On a New Path: Reimaging a Library Department Annual Report

Background Academic libraries annually produce reports highlighting the previous year\u27s achievements while highlighting new resources, services, and programs. These are intended to communicate with different groups with different interests. The library in these reports must discuss what was done and how those activities provided value to the community of users. The librarians at a large public research university debated the effectiveness of the annual report produced within their department. An internship project was created to rethink the department’s annual report and develop a plan to determine its effectiveness. The project intended to allow the intern to learn more about how an academic library functions, while also helping the department rethink how to communicate the department\u27s activities to stakeholders. Description This poster will focus on the planning and suggested implementation of a new annual reporting cycle intended to streamline the process and make the report more effective and meaningful for the community of users. In addition, the opportunities and challenges of creating a report that addresses the needs of various stakeholders concurrently will also be addressed. Lastly, the poster will touch on the observations and lessons learned by the intern who headed up the project and the process\u27s next steps. Conclusions Overall, findings showed that user-centric research and design lead to higher-quality reporting outcomes. Additionally, making stakeholders part of the reporting process leads to greater transparency and stronger connections. Conclusions will focus on possible steps to take in the future for continuing reporting efforts

Fiber-Cavity-Based Optomechanical Device

We describe an optomechanical device consisting of a fiber-based optical cavity containing a silicon nitiride membrane. In comparison with typical free-space cavities, the fiber-cavity's small mode size (10 {\mu}m waist, 80 {\mu}m length) allows the use of smaller, lighter membranes and increases the cavity-membrane linear coupling to 3 GHz/nm and quadratic coupling to 20 GHz/nm^2. This device is also intrinsically fiber-coupled and uses glass ferrules for passive alignment. These improvements will greatly simplify the use of optomechanical systems, particularly in cryogenic settings. At room temperature, we expect these devices to be able to detect the shot noise of radiation pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; the following article has been submitted to Applied Physics Letter

A systematic review of cost-effectiveness analyses of complex wound interventions reveals optimal treatments for specific wound types.

BackgroundComplex wounds present a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems, costing billions of dollars annually in North America alone. The prevalence of complex wounds is a significant patient and societal healthcare concern and cost-effective wound care management remains unclear. This article summarizes the cost-effectiveness of interventions for complex wound care through a systematic review of the evidence base.MethodsWe searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) for cost-effectiveness studies that examined adults treated for complex wounds. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, abstracted data from full-text articles, and assessed methodological quality using the Drummond 10-item methodological quality tool. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were reported, or, if not reported, calculated and converted to United States Dollars for the year 2013.ResultsOverall, 59 cost-effectiveness analyses were included; 71% (42 out of 59) of the included studies scored 8 or more points on the Drummond 10-item checklist tool. Based on these, 22 interventions were found to be more effective and less costly (i.e., dominant) compared to the study comparators: 9 for diabetic ulcers, 8 for venous ulcers, 3 for pressure ulcers, 1 for mixed venous and venous/arterial ulcers, and 1 for mixed complex wound types.ConclusionsOur results can be used by decision-makers in maximizing the deployment of clinically effective and resource efficient wound care interventions. Our analysis also highlights specific treatments that are not cost-effective, thereby indicating areas of resource savings. Please see related article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12916-015-0288-5

Timbral Data Sonification from Parallel Attribute Graphs

Parallel coordinate plotting is an established data visualization technique that provides means for graphing and exploring multidimensional relational datasets on a two-dimensional display. Each vertical axis represents the range of values for one attribute, and each data tuple appears as a connected path traveling left-to-right across the plot, connecting attribute values for that tuple on the vertical axes. Parallel coordinate plots look like timedomain audio signal waveforms, and they can be translated into audio signals through straightforward mapping algorithms. This study looks at three data sonification algorithms, sonification being the mapping of data into sounds for perceptual exploration, similar to uses of data visualization. Sound-response survey results and subsequent analyses reveal that the most direct method for mapping parallel coordinates of data tuples to audio waveforms is the most accurate for generating sounds that listeners can use to classify data. Future work has begun on improving the accuracy of this audio waveform-based, timbral approach to classifying data