Virtual Runtime Application Partitions for Resource Management in Massively Parallel Architectures

This thesis presents a novel design paradigm, called Virtual Runtime Application Partitions (VRAP), to judiciously utilize the on-chip resources. As the dark silicon era approaches, where the power considerations will allow only a fraction chip to be powered on, judicious resource management will become a key consideration in future designs. Most of the works on resource management treat only the physical components (i.e. computation, communication, and memory blocks) as resources and manipulate the component to application mapping to optimize various parameters (e.g. energy efficiency). To further enhance the optimization potential, in addition to the physical resources we propose to manipulate abstract resources (i.e. voltage/frequency operating point, the fault-tolerance strength, the degree of parallelism, and the configuration architecture). The proposed framework (i.e. VRAP) encapsulates methods, algorithms, and hardware blocks to provide each application with the abstract resources tailored to its needs. To test the efficacy of this concept, we have developed three distinct self adaptive environments: (i) Private Operating Environment (POE), (ii) Private Reliability Environment (PRE), and (iii) Private Configuration Environment (PCE) that collectively ensure that each application meets its deadlines using minimal platform resources. In this work several novel architectural enhancements, algorithms and policies are presented to realize the virtual runtime application partitions efficiently. Considering the future design trends, we have chosen Coarse Grained Reconfigurable Architectures (CGRAs) and Network on Chips (NoCs) to test the feasibility of our approach. Specifically, we have chosen Dynamically Reconfigurable Resource Array (DRRA) and McNoC as the representative CGRA and NoC platforms. The proposed techniques are compared and evaluated using a variety of quantitative experiments. Synthesis and simulation results demonstrate VRAP significantly enhances the energy and power efficiency compared to state of the art.Siirretty Doriast

Migraine and Fasting

Migraine is considered as the second leading cause of disability worldwide, most commonly seen in young women. Skipping meals, dehydration and fasting are among many triggering factors which have been described in literature as a cause of increased frequency and severity of migraine attacks. The underlying pathophysiology, prevention and management of fasting induced migraine has been documented, however, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials for the same. This review article discusses these important aspects in the light of published literature and gives directions on future areas of research

Burden of common mental disorders in patients with functional dyspepsia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of common mental disorders among diagnosed functional dyspepsia patients.METHODS: A case-control study with 150 cases of functional dyspepsia (FD) and 150 healthy controls were recruited from Gastroenterology Clinic at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi from 1st March 2009 through 31st August 2009. Urdu version of WHO-developed Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) was administered to diagnose patients of FD and healthy controls. A cut off score of 8 on SRQ was used to confirm cases of Common mental disorders (CMD). Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 16.0.RESULT: There was significant difference in CMD i.e. 107 (71.33%) versus 23 (15.33%) in cases and controls respectively (p

A Mathematical Approach for Hidden Node Problem in Cognitive Radio Networks

Cognitive radio (CR) technology has emerged as a realistic solution to the spectrum scarcity problem in present day wireless networks. A major challenge in CR radio networks is the hidden node problem, which is the inability of the CR nodes to detect the primary user. This paper proposes energy detector-based distributed sequential cooperative spectrum sensing over Nakagami-m fading, as a tool to solve the hidden node problem. The derivation of energy detection performance over Nakagami-m fading channel is presented. Since the observation represents a random variable, likelihood ratio test (LRT) is known to be optimal in this type of detection problem. The LRT is implemented using the Neyman-Pearson Criterion (maximizing the probability of detection but at a constraint of false alarm probability). The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated both by numerical analysis and simulations. The effect of cooperation among a group of CR nodes and system parameters such as SNR, detection threshold and number of samples per CR nodes is investigated. Results show improved detection performance by implementing the proposed model

Development of web-based tutorial for data structure using animation / SyahdatulHikmah Mohammad Jafri

Web-based learning tools provide integrated environments of various technologies to support diverse educators' and learners' needs via the Internet. Data Structure is one of the core or elective subjects for the students taking Diploma in Computer Science, and Bachelor in Computer Science. In order to gain more understanding of this course, that is Data Structure, students will always go and refer to overseas university's websites. However, the contents of those websites sometimes do not cover or fit with the UiTM's syllabus. In Malaysia, there is also no Data Structure website that teaches the student especially with an animation. So, this Data Structure Web-Based Tutorial Using Animation is significant for the user especially the students to give a clear understanding for them to learn Data Structure by referring to the visualization tool besides to develop a self-tutoring environment. In this project, we use prototyping as a benchmark for us to evaluate the project, which later will be used to develop the final version of the project. For the data collection, we did some interviews, observations as well as referring to the published materials and the existing Data Structure learning tools. We discussed the findings from this study in relation to basic usability issues that must be attended to when designing this web-based learning tool. For the design stage, there are two sections, which are the content design and the interface design. We also reported on students' perceptions of whether the tools have positively or negatively affected their learning in the course and their recommendations. The target of this project is to produce a prototype of a Data Structure Web-Based Tutorial Using Animation for the users to learn, feel enjoy with and understand the fundamental of Data Structure

Interferon alpha for chronic Hepatitis D

Background: Hepatitis D virus is a small defective RNA virus that requires the presence of hepatitis B virus infection to infect a person. Hepatitis D is a difficult-to-treat infection. Several clinical trials have been published on the efficacy of interferon alpha for hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. However, there are few randomised trials evaluating the effects of interferon alpha, and it is difficult to judge any benefit of this intervention from the individual trials. Objectives: To evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of interferon alpha for Patients with chronic hepatitis D. Search methods: We identified relevant for the review randomised clinical trials by electronic searches in the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded until May 2011. We also checked the bibliographic references of identified randomised trials, textbooks, and review articles in order to find randomised trials not identified by the electronic searches. Selection criteria: Randomised clinical trials evaluating interferon alpha versus placebo or no intervention for Patients with chronic hepatitis D infection. Data collection and analysis: Two authors assessed the trials and extracted data on mortality, virologic, biochemical, and histological response as well as adverse events at end of treatment and six months or more after completing treatment. The analyses were performed using the intention-to-treat principle including all randomised participants irrespective of follow-up. Drop-outs, withdrawals, and non-compliance were considered as treatment failures. Data were analysed with fixed- and random-effects models. Reported results were based on fixed-effect model except in cases where statistical significance varied between the two models. Main results: Six randomised trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two hundred and one randomised participants (male = 174) were included. The risk of bias in all the included trials was high. Five trials compared interferon alpha with no treatment in the control group. One of these trials had two treatment arms with a higher dose and lower dose of interferon alpha and a no-treatment control group. We analysed both treatment regimens as a single group in a primary analysis and as separate groups in the subgroup analysis of different interferon dosages. The sixth trial compared only a higher dose of interferon alpha with a lower dose. Meta-analysis of five trials comparing interferon alpha with no-treatment control group included 169 participants. There were seven drop-outs in the treatment group and nine in the control group. One Patient out of 92 (1.1%) died in the interferon alpha group compared with zero out of 77 (0.0%) in the no-intervention control group (risk ratio (RR)) 3.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 66.5). Interferon alpha led to failure of end of treatment virological response in 62/92 (67.4%) of the Patients compared with 71/77 (92.2%) in the untreated controls (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.87, P = 0.0001 by fixed-effect model and RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.16, P = 0.17 by random-effects model). Failure of normalisation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at the end of treatment was seen in 60/92 (65.2%) Patients treated with interferon alpha versus 76/77 (98.7%) in the control group (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.80, P \u3c 0.00001). Sustained virological response was not achieved in 76/92 (82.6%) of Patients on interferon compared with 73/77 (94.8%) of controls (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.98, P = 0.02). Serum alanine aminotransferase was abnormal in 81/92 (88.0%) treated with interferon alpha Patients at six months post-treatment follow-up compared with 76/77 (98.7%) in controls (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.99, P = 0.04). There was no significant histological improvement in 67/92 (72.8%) Patients treated with interferon alpha compared with 65/77 (84.4%) in controls (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.00, P = 0.06). Two trials comparing a higher dose of interferon alpha with the lower dose showed no significant difference in sustained virological response (76.7% compared with 90.0%) (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.07, P = 0.16). Adverse events such as flu-like symptoms, asthenia, weight loss, alopecia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia were reported in all these trials and the adverse events were related to interferon alpha. These were common and sometimes severe. One Patient in the treatment group was reported to have died by suicide towards the end of the study period. Authors\u27 conclusions: Interferon alpha does not seem to cure hepatitis D in most Patients. The agent seems effective in suppressing viral and liver disease activity in some Patients, but this improvement is not sustained in the majority of Patients. We cannot exclude overestimation of benefits and underestimation of harms due to high risk of bias (systematic errors) and high risk play of chance (random errors). Therefore, more randomised trials with large sample sizes and less risk of bias are needed before interferon can be recommended or refuted

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Psychiatric Disorders in Pakistan: A Case Control Study

Background. The psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression could have a profound influence on onset, expression, and course of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aim. To estimate the frequency and strength of association of common mental disorders (CMDs) in patients with IBS and patients with other chronic diseases, that is, migraine and hypertension. Method. This was a case control study. Individuals aged 18–70 years diagnosed as IBS were enrolled as cases. The control groups consisted of patients without IBS but diagnosed to have a chronic disease, that is, migraine or HTN. Self-Reporting Questonnaire-20(SRQ-20) was used as a screening tool for the detection of CMD. Results. 82 patients were enrolled in each group. Mean SRQ score was significantly higher in IBS group than controls (9.9 ± 4.5 versus 4.9 ± 3.6, P < 0.001). CMDs were more frequent (67.1% versus 22%) and the odds of CMD were 7.24 times higher among IBS patients than controls (95% CI 3.6–14.5, P < 0.001). No difference was found in frequency of CMDs among various subtypes of IBS. Conclusion. We found that CMDs are more common and strongly associated with IBS as compared to other chronic diseases. Early screening for CMDs might be useful for an effective management of IBS

Učinak dodanog ribljeg ulja i vitamina E na reproduktivnu sposobnost i metabolički profil mliječnih krava tijekom prijelaznog razdoblja

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of oral supplementation of dairy cows with a combination of fish oil and vitamin E (Vit E) from approximately 7 days (d) before the expected calving date up to 21 days postpartum, on their reproductive performance and metabolic profile. Eighty Holstein multiparous cows were randomly assigned into one of two ration groups during the transitional period. The treatment group cows (n=40) received a transitional diet (pre-and post-partum based on the NRC 2001) supplemented with fish oil (FO, 100 g/ once per day +Vit E (8000IU/kg/d); and the control cows (n=40) received the same concentrate without FO. Blood samples were collected at 1 week before the expected calving date, and 1, 2 and 3 weeks postpartum. After a voluntary waiting period, all cows received timed artificial insemination (TAI) at 76-81 days in milk (DIM) following the PresynchOvSynch protocol. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 30-40 days after TAI using a transrectal ultrasonography. Our results showed that the cows fed the FO+Vit E diet had a statistically higher first service pregnancy rate (46.3 % vs. 39.6%, P<0.001) at 30-40 days after TAI than those fed the control diet. Also, cows that consumed the FO+Vit E treatment diet had lower late embryo loss at 40-70 days post insemination than the control. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides (d7, 14, and 21), cholesterol (d7 and 14), glucose (d14), insulin (d-7) progesterone (d14 and 21) in the treatment group were higher (P<0.05) compared to the cows fed control diets. Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments pre-partum, while β –hydroxybutirate acids (BHBA) levels on day 21 (P<0.05) were higher in the control group. The results indicated that supplementation of the diet with fatty acid and high doses of vitamin E could improve reproductive performance in dairy cattle.Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi učinak peroralnog dodavanja kombinacije ribljeg ulja i vitamina E (VIT E) u obroke mliječnih krava. Dodavanje je započelo približno 7 dana (d) prije očekivanog teljenja i trajalo do 21. dana nakon teljenja, a učinci su procijenjeni s obzirom na reproduktivnu sposobnost i metabolički profil krava. Osamdeset višeteltki pasmine holštajn nasumično je raspoređeno u dvije brojčano ujednačene skupine tijekom prijelaznog razdoblja. Eksperimentalna skupina (n = 40) primila je hranu za prijelazno razdoblje (prije i poslije teljenja na temelju NRC 2001) dopunjenu (FO) ribljim uljem 100 g/jednom dnevno i vitaminom E 8000IU/kg/d. Krave iz kontrolne skupine (n = 40) primile su istu hranu za prijelazno razdoblje bez FO. Uzorci krvi krava prikupljeni su 1 tjedan prije očekivanog datuma teljenja te 1, 2 i 3 tjedna nakon teljenja. Servisno razdoblje svih krava završilo je umjetnim osjemenjivanjem (TAI) koje je prema protokolu Presynch-OvSynch provedeno od 76. do 81. dana laktacije (DIM). Provjera gravidnosti provedena je transrektalnim ultrazvukom 30-40 dana nakon umjetnog osjemenjivanja. Naši rezultati pokazuju da su nakon 1. pripusta 30.-40. dana nakon umjetnog osjemenjivanja krave eksperimentalne skupine (FO + VIT E dodatak) imale statistički višu stopu gravidnosti u odnosu na krave kontrolne skupine (46,3% prema 39,6%, P<0,001). Također, krave koje su primile FO + VIT E dodatak prehrani imale su u odnosu na krave kontrolne skupine manje kasne gubitke embrija 40-70 dana nakon osjemenjivanja. Koncentracije triglicerida (dani 7., 14. i 21.), kolesterola (dani 7. i 14.), glukoze (dan 14.), inzulina (dan 7.) progesterona (dani 14. i 21.) u plazmi krava iz eksperimentalne skupine bile su više (P<0,05) u usporedbi s plazmom krava kontrolne skupine. Prenatalni dodaci prehrani nisu znakovito utjecali na razine neesterificiranih masnih kiselina (NEFA), a razine β hidroksibutirat kiselina (BHBA) 21. dana bile su više (P<0,05) u kontrolnoj skupini. Rezultati su pokazali da bi dopuna prehrane masnim kiselinama i visokim dozama vitamina E mogla poboljšati reproduktivnu sposobnost mliječnih krava

Free standing titanium dioxide hollow nanofibers for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A

Modernization and urbanization have adversely affected water quality and harmed the sustainability of water sources. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been identified as an endocrine-disrupting compound that, when exposed to the human body, can interfere with the hormone system and cause severe health effects and disorders. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), a prevalently used semiconductor in photocatalytic degradation fields, has wide bandgap energy and a low specific surface area. These properties can lead to a decline in photocatalytic degradation performance. The template synthesis approach can be used to produce hollow nanofibers photocatalysts with a large surface area, a narrow bandgap, and excellent degradation capability. This process, however, yields powder-form photocatalysts that require post-recovery treatment before being recycled in a photocatalytic slurry system. In this study, TiO2 hollow nanofibers (THNFs) were developed at various calcination temperatures. THNFs produced at 600 °C (THNF600) produced nanofibers with the best hollow morphology, with a bandgap of 3.0 eV, with a specific surface area of 81.2776 m2/g, and mixed-phase of 24.2 % anatase and 75.8 % rutile. As a result of the large surface area and excellent optical properties, the THNFs exhibited the highest BPA degradation of 71.48%. This result was also significantly better than that of Degussa P25, a commercial TiO2, with BPA degrades at only 38.62%. Using THNF600, the optimum photocatalysts dosage, pH, and initial BPA concentration were determined to be 0.75 g/L, pH 4.1, and 10 ppm, respectively. Then, the powderform THNF600 was assembled into a free-standing form using chemical treatment and vacuum filtration technique. Free-standing THNFs containing 0.75 g of THNF600 (FS75-THNFs) exhibited good adherence and connectivity between the nanofibers. After five cycles of reaction, the THNF600 experienced an average of 14.38% catalyst loss. The recyclability of FS75-THNFs outperformed the THNF600 which gave 5% average catalyst loss from its original weight while maintaining excellent degradation performance. In conclusion, this study recommends the potential application of freestanding TiO2 hollow nanofibers as the high potential novel photocatalysts for the treatment of BPA in wastewater

Helicobacter Pylori Gastritis and risk of Ischaemic Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To identify the association between H. Pylori gastritis and stroke. METHOD: Patients with biopsy proven H. Pylori gastritis and non H. Pylori gastritis were enrolled. Patients were followed for a period of two years. RESULTS: A total of 326 patients were included in the study. 162 patients were with H. Pylori gastritis. There was no significance difference in age, sex and duration of symptoms in the two groups. Three patients in H. Pylori group had stroke or TIA as compared to one in non H. Pylori group. Patients with H. Pylori gastritis were more likely to die or have cardiac and or neurological event as compared to Non H. pylori gastritis (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.89-1.67). This relationship was not significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (AOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.45-1.31). CONCLUSION: H. Pylori gastritis is not independently associated with increased risk for stroke. Larger, randomized studies are needed to confirm our findings