On-Line Dependability Enhancement of Multiprocessor SoCs by Resource Management

This paper describes a new approach towards dependable design of homogeneous multi-processor SoCs in an example satellite-navigation application. First, the NoC dependability is functionally verified via embedded software. Then the Xentium processor tiles are periodically verified via on-line self-testing techniques, by using a new IIP Dependability Manager. Based on the Dependability Manager results, faulty tiles are electronically excluded and replaced by fault-free spare tiles via on-line resource management. This integrated approach enables fast electronic fault detection/diagnosis and repair, and hence a high system availability. The dependability application runs in parallel with the actual application, resulting in a very dependable system. All parts have been verified by simulation

Dependability investigation of wireless short range embedded systems: hardware platform oriented approach

A new direction in short-range wireless applications has appeared in the form of high-speed data communication devices for distances of hundreds meters. Behind these embedded applications, a complex heterogeneous architecture is built. Moreover, these short range communications are introduced into critical applications, where the dependability/reliability is mandatory. Thus, dependability concerns around reliability evaluation become a major challenge in these systems, and pose several questions to answer. Obviously, in such systems, the attribute reliability has to be investigated for various components and at different abstraction levels. In this paper, we discuss the investigation of dependability in wireless short range systems. We present a hardware platform for wireless system dependability analysis as an alternative for the time consuming simulation techniques. The platform is built using several instances of one of the commercial FPGA platforms available on the market place. We describe the different steps of building the wireless hardware platform for short range systems dependability analysis. Then, we show how this HW platform based dependability investigation framework can be a very interactive approach. Based on this platform we introduce a new methodology and a flow to investigate the different parts of system dependability at different abstraction levels. The benefits to use the proposed framework are three fold: first, it takes care of the whole system (HW/SW -digital part, mixed RF part, and wireless part); Second, the hardware platform enables to explore the application’s reliability under real environmental conditions taking into account the effect of the environment threats on the system; And last, the wireless platform built for dependability investigation present a fast investigation approach in comparison with the time consuming co-simulation technique

Diverse effects of RacV12 on cell transformation by Raf: partial inhibition of morphological transformation versus deregulation of cell cycle control

AbstractActivated Raf kinases and Rac GTPases were shown to cooperate in the oncogenic transformation of fibroblasts, which is characterised by the disassembly of the cellular actin cytoskeleton, a nearly complete loss of focal adhesion complexes and deregulated cell proliferation. This is surprising since the Rac GTPase induces actin structures and the adhesion of suspended cells to extracellular matrix proteins. NIH 3T3 cells expressing a hydroxytamoxifen-inducible oncogenic c-Raf-1–oestrogen receptor fusion protein (c-Raf-1-BxB-ERTM, N-BxB-ERTM cells) undergo morphological transformation upon stimulation of the Raf kinase. We show that treatment with the Rac, Rho and Cdc42 activating Escherichia coli toxin CNF1 or coexpression of an activated RacV12 mutant partially inhibits and reverses the disassembly of cellular actin structures and focal adhesion complexes by oncogenic Raf. Activation of the Rac GTPase restores actin structures and focal adhesion complexes at the cellular boundary, leading to spreading of the otherwise spindle-shaped Raf-transformed cells. Actin stress fibres, however, which are regulated by the function of the Rho GTPase, are disassembled by oncogenic Raf even in the presence of activated Rac and Rho. With respect to the RacV12-mediated spreading of Raf-transformed cells, we postulate an anti-oncogenic function of the activated Rac. Another feature of cell transformation is the deregulation of cell cycle control. NIH 3T3 cells expressing high levels of the c-Raf-1-BxB-ERTM protein undergo a cell cycle arrest upon stimulation of the oncogenic Raf kinase. Our results show that in N-BxB-ERTM-RacV12 cells the expression of the activated RacV12 mediates cell proliferation in the presence of high-intensity Raf signals and high levels of the Cdk inhibitor p21Cip1. These results indicate a pro-oncogenic function of the Rac GTPase with respect to the deregulation of cell cycle control

Spectroscopy of a Cooper-Pair box in the Autler-Townes configuration

A theoretical spectroscopic analysis of a microwave driven superconducting charge qubit (Cooper-pair box coupled) to an RLC oscillator model is performed. By treating the oscillator as a probe through the backreaction effect of the qubit on the oscillator circuit, we extract frequency splitting features analogous to the Autler-Townes effect from quantum optics, thereby extending the analogies between superconducting and quantum optical phenomenology. These features are found in a frequency band that avoids the need for high frequency measurement systems and therefore may be of use in qubit characterization and coupling schemes. In addition we find this frequency band can be adjusted to suit an experimental frequency regime by changing the oscillator frequency.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. v2: Revised version after referee comments. Accepted for publication by Physical Review

Surveying the Dynamic Radio Sky with the Long Wavelength Demonstrator Array

This paper presents a search for radio transients at a frequency of 73.8 MHz (4 m wavelength) using the all-sky imaging capabilities of the Long Wavelength Demonstrator Array (LWDA). The LWDA was a 16-dipole phased array telescope, located on the site of the Very Large Array in New Mexico. The field of view of the individual dipoles was essentially the entire sky, and the number of dipoles was sufficiently small that a simple software correlator could be used to make all-sky images. From 2006 October to 2007 February, we conducted an all-sky transient search program, acquiring a total of 106 hr of data; the time sampling varied, being 5 minutes at the start of the program and improving to 2 minutes by the end of the program. We were able to detect solar flares, and in a special-purpose mode, radio reflections from ionized meteor trails during the 2006 Leonid meteor shower. We detected no transients originating outside of the solar system above a flux density limit of 500 Jy, equivalent to a limit of no more than about 10^{-2} events/yr/deg^2, having a pulse energy density >~ 1.5 x 10^{-20} J/m^2/Hz at 73.8 MHz for pulse widths of about 300 s. This event rate is comparable to that determined from previous all-sky transient searches, but at a lower frequency than most previous all-sky searches. We believe that the LWDA illustrates how an all-sky imaging mode could be a useful operational model for low-frequency instruments such as the Low Frequency Array, the Long Wavelength Array station, the low-frequency component of the Square Kilometre Array, and potentially the Lunar Radio Array.Comment: 20 pages; accepted for publication in A

Prospectus, March 22, 1984

BARKSTALL TALKS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION; News Digest; This is Karyn\u27s chance: and nothing will stop her!!; Scream and run--best self defense; PC Happenings: Workshop for radiologic technologists, SIU counselor at Parkland, Parkland play to open; Fear, anger, guilt and confusion: Common feelings after rape; StuGo conducting survey; 1984 motorcycle courses; Fall Registration; Did You Know...; The changing face of Women\u27s Lib: Working with and through the system; \u27Harry and Son\u27 warm and touching......; Run--\u27Just for the health of it\u27; Parkland student helps disaster effort; School prayer debate continues; \u27Yes\u27 appears at Assembly Hall; Creative Corner...Especially for you!!: Rain, Window Watching, We begin our lives as tiny..., The sun\u27s golden rays..., Climbing the Mountain, We are alone in this world..., He was only joking..., Used Too, You can\u27t stop rock-\u27n-roll..., The prison of my mind..., I am too younf to feel so worn and tired..., Living hard and fast..., Don\u27t get me wrong..., I can never forget...; Champaign County in the middle of a tornado belt; Tornado prevention; Classifieds; YES concert proves to be big disappointment; Skating projects emotion; \u27Splash\u27 wildly funny entertainment; WILL hosts telecourse; Orioles to repeat; Class A results; Lady Cobras finish third; Cobras eliminated; 1984 Parkland College Baseball Roster; Wet grounds hamper softball; Chargers ready for the Hall; I.M. Newshttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1984/1028/thumbnail.jp

Efficacy of home-based visuomotor feedback training in stroke patients with chronic hemispatial neglect

Hemispatial neglect is a severe cognitive condition frequently observed after a stroke, associated with unawareness of one side of space, disability and poor long-term outcome. Visuomotor feedback training (VFT) is a neglect rehabilitation technique that involves a simple, inexpensive and feasible training of grasping-to-lift rods at the centre. We compared the immediate and long-term effects of VFT vs. a control training when delivered in a home-based setting. Twenty participants were randomly allocated to an intervention (who received VFT) or a control group (n = 10 each). Training was delivered for two sessions by an experimenter and then patients self-administered it for 10 sessions over two weeks. Outcome measures included the Behavioural Inattention Test (BIT), line bisection, Balloons Test, Landmark task, room description task, subjective straight-ahead pointing task and the Stroke Impact Scale. The measures were obtained before, immediately after the training sessions and after four-months post-training. Significantly greater short and long-term improvements were obtained after VFT when compared to control training in line bisection, BIT and spatial bias in cancellation. VFT also produced improvements on activities of daily living. We conclude that VFT is a feasible, effective, home-based rehabilitation method for neglect patients that warrants further investigation with well-designed randomised controlled trials on a large sample of patients

Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) deficiency protects against MPTP toxicity

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Polysulfate hemmen durch elektrostatische Wechselwirkungen die SARS-CoV-2-Infektion

Wir zeigen, dass negativ geladene Polysulfate durch elektrostatische Wechselwirkungen an das Spike-Protein von SARS-CoV-2 binden. Durch einen Plaquereduktionstest verglichen wir die hemmende Wirkung von Heparin, Pentosanpolysulfat, linearem Polyglycerolsulfat (LPGS) und hyperverzweigtem Polyglycerolsulfat (HPGS) gegengber SARSCoV-2. Dabei ist das synthetische LPGS der vielversprechendste Inhibitor mit IC50=67 μgmL-1 (ca. 1,6 μm) und zeigt eine 60-fach hçhere virushemmende Aktivität als Heparin (IC50=4084 μgmL-1) bei zugleich deutlich geringerer gerinnungshemmender Aktivität. Außerdem konnten wir durch Moleküldynamiksimulationen bestätigen, dass LPGS stärker an das Spike-Protein bindet als Heparin selbst und dass LPGS sogar noch stärker an die Spike-Proteine der neuen N501Yund E484K-Varianten bindet. Unsere Studien belegen, dass die Aufnahme von SARS-CoV-2 in Wirtzellen über elektrostatische Wechselwirkungen blockiert werden kann. Deshalb kann LPGS als vielversprechender Prototyp für das Design weiterer neuartiger viraler Inhibitoren von SARS-CoV-2 herangezogen werden

Polysulfates block SARS-CoV-2 uptake through electrostatic interactions

Here we report that negatively charged polysulfates can bind to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 via electrostatic interactions. Using a plaque reduction assay, we compare inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by heparin, pentosan sulfate, linear polyglycerol sulfate (LPGS) and hyperbranched polyglycerol sulfate (HPGS). Highly sulfated LPGS is the optimal inhibitor, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 67 μg/mL (approx.1.6 μM). This synthetic polysulfates exhibit more than 60-fold higher virus inhibitory activity than heparin (IC50: 4084μg/mL), along with much lower anticoagulant activity. Furthermore, in molecular dynamics simulations, we verified that LPGS can bind stronger to the spike protein than heparin, and that LPGS can interact even morewith the spike protein of the new N501Y and E484K variants. Our study demonstrates that the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells can be blocked via electrostatic interaction, therefore LPGS can serve as a blueprint for the design of novel viral inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2