A Discrete-Continuous Method for Predicting Thermochemical Phenomena in a Cement Kiln and Supporting Indirect Monitoring

Thermochemical phenomena involved in cement kilns are still not well understood because of their complexity, besides technical difficulties in achieving direct measurements of critical process variables. This article addresses the problem of their comprehensive numerical prediction. The presented numerical model exploits Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Difference Method approaches for solving the gas domain and the rotating wall, respectively. The description of the thermochemical conversion and movement of the powder particles is addressed with a Lagrangian approach. Coupling between gas, particles and the rotating wall includes momentum, heat and mass transfer. Three-dimensional numerical predictions for a full-size cement kiln are presented and they show agreement with experimental data and benchmark literature. The quality and detail of the results are believed to provide a new insight into the functioning of a cement kiln. Attention is paid to the computational burden of the model and a methodology is presented for reducing the time-to-solution and paving the way for its exploitation in quasi-real-time, indirect monitoring

Evaluating Orthogonality between Application Auto-Tuning and Run-Time Resource Management for Adaptive OpenCL Applications

Abstract-The ever increasing number of processing units integrated on the same many-core chip delivers computational power that can exceed the performance requirements of a single application. The number of chips (and related power consumption) can thus be reduced to serve multiple applications -a practice which is called resource consolidation. However, this solution requires techniques to partition and assign resources among the applications and to manage unpredictable dynamic workloads. To provide the performance requirements in such scenarios, we exploit application auto-tuning, based on design-time analysis, of both application-specific dynamic knobs and computational parallelism. Such features are implemented in a software library, which is used to demonstrate the main contribution of this paper: a light-weight Run-Time Resource Management -RTRM -technique to improve resource sharing for computationally intensive OpenCL applications. We evaluate how much the interaction between RTRM and application auto-tuning can become synergistic yet orthogonal. In the proposed approach, run-time adaptation decisions are taken by each application, autonomously. This has two main advantages: i) a non-invasive application design, in terms of source code, and ii) a very low run-time overhead, since it does not require any central coordination of a supervisor nor communication between the applications. We carried out an experimental campaign by using a video processing application -an OpenCL stereo-matching implementation -and stressing out resource usage. We proved that, while RTRM is necessary to provide lower variance of the application performance, the application auto-tuning layer is fundamental to trade it off with respect to the computation accuracy

XDEM for Tuning Lumped Models of Thermochemical Processes Involving Materials in the Powder State

Processes involving materials in gaseous and powder states cannot be modelled without coupling interactions between the two states. XDEM (Extended Discrete Element Method) is a valid tool for tackling this issue, since it allows a coupled CFD- DEM simulation to be run. Such strength, however, mainly finds in long computational times its main drawback. This aspect is indeed critical in several applications, since a long computational time is in contrast with the increasing demand for predictive tools that can provide fast and accurate results in order to be used in new monitoring and control strategies. This paper focuses on the use of the XDEM framework as a tool for fine tuning a lumped representation of the non-isothermal decarbonation of a CaCO3 sample in powder state. The tuning of the lumped model is performed exploiting the multi-objective optimization capability of genetic algorithms. Results demonstrate that such approach makes it possible to estimate fast and accurate models to be used, for instance, in the fields of virtual sensing and predictive control

Evaluating orthogonality between application auto-tuning and run-time resource management for adaptive OpenCL applications

The ever increasing number of processing units integrated on the same many-core chip delivers computational power that can exceed the performance requirements of a single application. The number of chips (and related power consumption) can thus be reduced to serve multiple applications — a practice which is called resource consolidation. However, this solution requires techniques to partition and assign resources among the applications and to manage unpredictable dynamic workloads. To provide the performance requirements in such scenarios, we exploit application auto-tuning, based on design-time analysis, of both application-specific dynamic knobs and computational parallelism. Such features are implemented in a software library, which is used to demonstrate the main contribution of this paper: a light-weight Run-Time Resource Management — RTRM — technique to improve resource sharing for computationally intensive OpenCL applications. We evaluate how much the interaction between RTRM and application auto-tuning can become synergistic yet orthogonal. In the proposed approach, run-time adaptation decisions are taken by each application, autonomously. This has two main advantages: i) a non-invasive application design, in terms of source code, and ii) a very low run-time overhead, since it does not require any central coordination of a supervisor nor communication between the applications. We carried out an experimental campaign by using a video processing application — an OpenCL stereo-matching implemen- tation — and stressing out resource usage. We proved that, while RTRM is necessary to provide lower variance of the application performance, the application auto-tuning layer is fundamental to trade it off with respect to the computation accuracy

Customization of OpenCL Applications for Efficient Task Mapping Under Heterogeneous Platform Constraints

When targeting an OpenCL application to platforms with multiple heterogeneous accelerators, task tuning and mapping have to cope with device-specific constraints. To address this problem, we present an innovative design flow for the customization and performance optimization of OpenCL applications on heterogeneous parallel platforms. It consists of two phases: 1) a tuning phase that optimizes each application kernel for a given platform and 2) a task-mapping phase that maximizes the overall application throughput by exploiting concurrency in the application task graph. The tuning phase is suitable for customizing parameterized OpenCL kernels considering device-specific constraints. Then, the mapping phase improves task-level parallelism for multi-device execution accounting for the overhead of memory transfers --- overheads implied by multiple OpenCL contexts for different device vendors. Benefits of the proposed design flow have been assessed on a stereo-matching application targeting two commercial heterogeneous platforms

Reduced ventilatory efficiency during exercise predicts major vascular complications and mortality for interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis

Objective. Major vascular complication, such as digital ulcers (DUs), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) are hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the major cause of mortality in SSc. The aim of study is to identify cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) vari- ables that predict MVC and mortality for ILD in SSc patients. Methods. In this cohort study, 45 SSc patients underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and CPET. PFTs and echocardiography were performed annually for a 5-year follow-up. Results. 16 (35.6%) SSc patients had MVC: 14 new DUs (31.1%), 1 PAH (2.2%) and 1 SRC (2.2%). At univariate regression analysis, mRss [HR 1.099 (1.008-1.199), p<0.05], NVC patterns (active and late) [HR 0.032 (0.004-0.250), p<0.001], V’E/V’CO2 slope [HR 1.123 (1.052-1.198), p<0.001] were predictive of new onset of MVC. In multivariate analysis, NVC patterns (active and late) (HR 0.044 (0.004-0.486), p<0.05), V’E/V’CO2 (HR 1.094(1.020-1.198), p<0.05) were predictive of new onset of MVC. The 5-year mortality for ILD is 8.9%. In univariate analysis, DLco [(HR 0.927(CI 0.874-0.983), p<0.05], V’E/V’CO2 slope and lung parenchymal with radiological patterns of ILD [(1.2.02 (CI 1.018-1.419), p<0.05], represent risk factors for 5-year mortality for ILD [HR 1.142 (1.030-1.267), p<0.05]. In multivariate analysis, only V’E/V’CO2 slope [1.268 (CI 1.003- 1.602), p<0.05] represents a risk factor for 5-year mortality for ILD. Conclusions. V’E/V’CO2 slope is a prognostic marker of MVC and five-year mortality for ILD

An exploration methodology for a customizable OpenCL stereo-matching application targeted to an industrial multi-cluster architecture

Open Computing Language (OpenCL) is emerging as a standard for parallel programming of heterogeneous hardware accelerators. With respect to device specific languages, OpenCL enables application portability but does not guarantee performance portability, eventually requiring additional tuning of the implementation to a specific platform or to unpredictable dynamic workloads. In this paper, we present a methodology to analyze the customization space of an OpenCL application in order to improve performance portability and to support dynamic adaptation. We formulate our case study by implementing an OpenCL image stereo-matching application (which computes the relative depth of objects from a pair of stereo images) customized to the STMicroelectronics Platform 2012 many-core computing fabric. In particular, we use design space exploration techniques to generate a set of operating points that represent specific configurations of the parameters allowing different trade-offs between performance and accuracy of the algorithm itself. These points give detailed knowledge about the interaction between the application parameters, the underlying architecture and the performance of the system; they could also be used by a run-time manager software layer to meet dynamic Quality-of-Service (QoS) constraints. To analyze the customization space, we use cycle-accurate simulations for the target architecture. Since the profiling phase of each configuration takes a long simulation time, we designed our methodology to reduce the overall number of simulations by exploiting some important features of the application parameters; our analysis also enables the identification of the parameters that could be explored on a high-level simulation model to reduce the simulation time. The resulting methodology is one order of magnitude more efficient than an exhaustive exploration and, given its randomized nature, it increases the probability to avoid sub-optimal trade-offs

Combining application adaptivity and system-wide Resource Management on multi-core platforms

To better exploit the capabilities offered by multi-core high-end embedded systems, new parallel programming paradigms, such as OpenCL, combined with effective resource management should be adopted. However, dealing with mixed workloads and time varying scenarios is still an open problem. This paper addresses such challenges by exploiting the synergy between Design Space Exploration and Run-Time Resource Management to achieve effective and flexible system-wide application adaptivity. The proposed approach and related toolset have been validated on a multi-core NUMA platform, showing significant improvements in terms of QoS and resource utilization compared to conventional application-level optimization strategies

薜荔抗腸病毒活性及其免疫調節作用之研究

Outbreak of enterovirus occurred annually in Taiwan. The major isolats were enterovirus 71 (EV71), coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), and coxsackievirus A16, which caused severe manifestations such as aseptic meningitis, cardiopulmonary edema, foot and mouth disease, meningitis, and viral myocarditis;and even death. Ficus pumila L. grows commonly in Taiwan traditionally for the treatment of kidney storing essence, antioncotic, detoxication, and blood-stanching. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-EV71 and CVB3 activity of the Ficus pumila 95% ethanol extracts and its relevant immunomodulation. The Ficus pumila 95% ethanol extract exhibited high anti-EV71 and CVB3 activity with 3.38～10.4 and 34.1～39.1 μg/mL, respectively, of 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50). The anti-EV71 activity of the extrcet was better than that of CVB3. The Ficus pumila 95% ethanol extract had high selectivity index (SI, 23.5～72.7) against EV71. Prophylactic viral infection (inhibition rate : 0.21～5.39% and 18.1～50.4%), direct virucidal action (inhibition rate : 12.5～54.3% and 21.9～74.7%), and anti-viral replication (inhibition rate : 16.5～89.5% and 24.3～89.3%) for the extract were observed in both EV71 and CVB3 infections. The Ficus pumila 95% ethanol extract significantly increased the IL-6 and decreaced the IL-8, IL-2 and IL-1β (only effective on RD infected cells) levels in the EV71-or CVB3-infected cells. A high correlation was observed between the extract and the IL-6 increasing. The IL-8 and IL-1β reduction is able to retard the EV71 or CVB3-induced inflammation. To summarize, the Ficus pumila 95% ethanol extract exhibited high anti-EV71 and CVB3 activity, in which the IL-6 plays an important role in antivirus.台灣每年春夏季節均會爆發腸病毒感染，分離之病毒株主要為腸病毒71型 (enterovirus 71, EV71)、克沙奇B3型 (coxsackievirusB3, CVB3) 及克沙奇A16型 (coxsackievirusA16, CVA16)，臨床症狀包括無菌性腦膜炎、心肺水腫、手足口症及腦膜炎、病毒性心肌炎等，皆具嚴重之致命性。薜荔 (Ficus pumila L.) 為台灣野生資源極為豐富之藤本植物，傳統上具有固精消腫散毒止血之功效。本研究探討薜荔95%乙醇萃取物抗EV71及CVB3之活性及其對宿主細胞之免疫調節作用。結果顯示出，薜荔95%乙醇萃取物具有非常優異的抗EV71及CVB3活性，50%抑制濃度分別為3.38～10.4 μg/mL及34.1～39.1 μg/mL，對EV71之作用優於CVB3。薜荔萃取物對EV71具有高選擇指數 (selectivity index, SI；23.5～72.7)。萃取物對EV71及CVB3之抑制作用包括預防病毒感染 (抑制率：0.2～5.3%及18.1～50.4%)、使病毒失活 (抑制率：12.5～54.3%及25.5～74.7%) 及抑制病毒之複製 (抑制率：44.1～69.3%及10.6～85.6%)。宿主細胞免疫調節結果顯示出，薜荔95%乙醇萃取物會誘導被EV71及CVB3感染之宿主細胞顯著的增加IL-6及降低IL-8、IL-2、IL-1β (僅對感染之RD細胞) 之生成量。薜荔95%乙醇萃取物對EV71及CVB3之抑制作用與IL-6的增加有高度的相關性，IL-8、IL-1β的降低可減緩EV71及CVB3誘發之發炎反應。綜合本研究之結果，薜荔95%乙醇萃取物對EV71及CVB3顯示出高度抑制活性，其中IL-6扮演抗病毒重要角色。目 次 圖表目次 III 附圖表目次 IV 中文摘要 1 英文摘要 2 縮寫表 4 壹、前言 5 貳、文獻整理 6 一、腸病毒 6 (一) 腸病毒的種類與特性 6 (二) 腸病毒71型 6 (三) 克沙奇B3型 9 二、抗腸病毒藥物之探討 12 三、細胞激素 13 (一) 促發炎細胞激素 13 四、薜荔 16 (一) 薜荔之介紹 16 (二) 薜荔的營養成分 17 (三) 薜荔之化學成分 19 (四) 薜荔之生理活性 20 (五) 薜荔於食品工業之應用 21 參、研究目的 24 肆、實驗架構 25 伍、材料與方法 26 一、材料 26 (一) 薜荔 26 (二) 細胞株及病毒 26 (三) 儀器設備 26 二、方法 27 (一) 薜荔萃取物製備 27 (二) 細胞培養 27 (三) 病毒增殖及效價測定 29 (四) 50%細胞毒性濃度測定 31 (五) 50%抑制濃度測定 32 (六) 病毒感染時間效應 34 (七) 細胞激素含量測定 36 (八) 統計分析 38 陸、結果與討論 39 一、薜荔抗病毒之活性 39 (一) 50%細胞毒性濃度 39 (二) 50%抑制濃度 39 (三) 選擇指數 40 (四) 病毒感染時間效應 42 二、感染EV71及CVB3宿主細胞之免疫反應 47 (一) 萃取物對感染EV71宿主細胞之細胞激素生成量 48 (二) 萃取物對感染CVB3宿主細胞之細胞激素生成量 51 柒、結論 56 捌、參考文獻 57 玖、附錄 (藥品配置) 6

Mycophenolate Mofetil Improves Exercise Tolerance in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the overproduction of collagen leading to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the major causes of death in patients with SSc. Exercise tolerance can be investigated by cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPET). First-line therapies in patients with SSc associated with ILD (SSc-ILD) include cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of patients with SSc-ILD to MMF by means of CPET. Methods: Ten consecutive SSc patients were enrolled in this study. All SSc patients underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and CPET at baseline and after 2 years of therapy with MMF. Results: After 24 months of treatment with MMF (target dose 1500 mg twice daily), forced vitality capacity, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure had not improved significantly and there were no significant differences in HRCT findigns. In addition, peak oxygen uptake (V'O2 peak) and ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide production (V'E/V'CO2 slope) had not improved significantly. In contrast, there was a significant improvement from baseline to 24 months of treatment in the respiratory exchange ratio [median (interquartile range): 1.07 (0.92-1.22) vs. 1.26 (1.22-1.28), respectively; p < 0.01] and in the Borg scale for leg discomfort [median (interquartile range): 5 (5-7) vs. 4 (3-4), respectively; p < 0.01] . Conclusion: These data from our pilot study on a small cohort of SSc patients are the first to demonstrate that treatment with MMF can improves exercise tolerance and leg discomfort in patients with SSc-ILD. These preliminary results need to be confirmed in large randomized studies