Developing Efficient Discrete Simulations on Multicore and GPU Architectures

In this paper we show how to efficiently implement parallel discrete simulations on multicoreandGPUarchitecturesthrougharealexampleofanapplication: acellularautomatamodel of laser dynamics. We describe the techniques employed to build and optimize the implementations using OpenMP and CUDA frameworks. We have evaluated the performance on two different hardware platforms that represent different target market segments: high-end platforms for scientific computing, using an Intel Xeon Platinum 8259CL server with 48 cores, and also an NVIDIA Tesla V100GPU,bothrunningonAmazonWebServer(AWS)Cloud;and on a consumer-oriented platform, using an Intel Core i9 9900k CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI GPU. Performance results were compared and analyzed in detail. We show that excellent performance and scalability can be obtained in both platforms, and we extract some important issues that imply a performance degradation for them. We also found that current multicore CPUs with large core numbers can bring a performance very near to that of GPUs, and even identical in some cases.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (MINECO), and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of Spain, cofinanced by FEDER funds (EU) TIN2017-89842

Aceptación / rechazo parental en una muestra de adolescentes. Diferencias según sexo y edad

El concepto de estilos parentales ha sido ampliamente utilizado en la investigación sobre el desarrollo infantil y juvenil a lo largo de las últimas décadas. Se han elaborado diversas definiciones desde distintas perspectivas, aunque una de las más aceptadas es la proporcionada, en su modelo integrativo, por Darling y Steinberg (1993), quienes definen estilo parental como «una constelación de actitudes hacia el niño que le son comunicadas y que, tomadas conjuntamente, crean un clima emocional en el cual las conductas de los padres son expresadas. Diversos estudios muestran como la percepción que los hijos tienen de los estilos educativos que los padres ejercen sobre ellos, influyen en aspectos generales como su salud mental (Funes, 1984), y su ajuste personal, social (Llopis y Llopis, 2001 y López-Soler, Puerto, López-Pina y Prieto, 2009) y comportamental (Sánchez Sandoval, 2002), así como en aspectos más concretos como son el autoconcepto (Musitu y García, 2004), y el consumo de sustancias (Pons y Berjano, 1997). Nuestro trabajo se enmarca dentro de una investigación más amplia relacionada con la convivencia escolar y bullying en centros de educación primaria y secundaria y pretende evaluar la percepción de los hijos acerca de los estilos educativos parentales, en concreto la aceptación/rechazo parental y obtener así información sobre variables moduladoras como son el sexo y la edad. Han participado para ello un total de 700 adolescentes, estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) de la Comunidad de Extremadura. Para la obtención de datos se empleo” Escala de Afecto versión hijos, EA-H” (Fuentes, Motrico y Bersabé, 2001). Nuestros resultados confirman que los hijos varones perciben un mayor rechazo, crítica y falta de confianza por parte de sus padres, que las hijas. Por otro lado, los adolescentes de edades tempranas perciben más afecto y comunicación y menos rechazo y crítica por parte de sus padres (padre y madre), que los adolescentes de mayor edad.The concept of parenting styles has been widely used in research on child and youth development over recent decades. Various definitions have been developed from different perspectives, but one of the most accepted is that provided, in its integrative model by Darling and Steinberg (1993), who define parenting style as “a constellation of attitudes toward the child must communicate andwhich, taken together, create an emotional climate in which parental behaviors are expressed. Studies show as the perception that children have the educational styles that parents have on them, influence generality and mental health (Funes, 1984), and personal adjustment, social (Llopis and Llopis, 2001 and Lopez- Soler, Port, Lopez-Pina and Prieto, 2009) and behavioral (Sanchez Sandoval, 2002), as well as more specific aspects such as self-concept (Musitu and Garcia, 2004) and substance (Pons and Berjano, 1997). Our work is part of a larger research related to school life and bullying in primary schools and secondary schools and aims to assess the perceptions of children about parenting styles, particularly the acceptance / rejection and obtain parental information on modulating variables such as sex and age. Have participated to this a total of 700 adolescents, students of Secondary Education (ESO) of the Community of Extremadura. To obtain employment data Affect Schedule sons version, EA-H (Fuentes, Motrico and Bathsheba, 2001). Our results confirm that sons perceive more rejection, criticism and lack of trust from their parents than daughters. On the other hand, adolescents perceived more affection early age and communication and more rejection and criticism from their parents (father and mother), that older adolescents

Towards AER VITE: building spike gate signal

Neuromorphic engineers aim to mimic the precise and efficient mechanisms of the nervous system to process information using spikes from sensors to actuators. There are many available works that sense and process information in a spike-based way. But there are still several gaps in the actuation and motor control field in a spike-based way. Spike-based Proportional-Integrative-Derivative controllers (PID) are present in the literature. On the other hand, neuro-inspired control models as VITE (Vector Integration To End point) and FLETE (Factorization of muscle Length and muscle Tension) are also present in the literature. This paper presents another step toward the spike implementation of those neuro-inspired models. We present a spike-based ramp multiplier. VITE algorithm generates the way to achieve a final position targeted by a mobile robotic arm. The block presented is used as a gate for the way involved and it also puts the incoming movement on speed with a variable slope profile. Only spikes for information representation were used and the process is in real time. The software simulation based on Simulink and Xilinx System Generator shows the accurate adjust to the traditional processing for short time periods and the hardware tests confirm and extend the previous simulated results for any time. We have implemented the spikes generator, the ramp multiplier and the low pass filter into the Virtex-5 FPGA and connected this with an USB-AER (Address Event Representation) board to monitor the spikes.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-10639-C04-0

GPU-based cellular automata simulations of laser dynamics

We present a parallel implementation for Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) of a model based on cellular automata (CA) to simulate laser dynamics. A cellular automaton is an inherent parallel type of algorithm that is very suitable to simulate complex systems formed by many individual components which give rise to emergent behaviours. We exploit the parallel character of this kind of algorithms to develop a fine-grained parallel implementation of the CA laser model on GPUs. A good speedup of up to 14.5 over a sequential implementation running on a single core CPU has been obtained, showing the feasibility of this model to run efficient parallel simulations on GPUs

AER Spiking Neuron Computation on GPUs: The Frame-to-AER Generation

Neuro-inspired processing tries to imitate the nervous system and may resolve complex problems, such as visual recognition. The spike-based philosophy based on the Address-Event-Representation (AER) is a neuromorphic interchip communication protocol that allows for massive connectivity between neurons. Some of the AER-based systems can achieve very high performances in real-time applications. This philosophy is very different from standard image processing, which considers the visual information as a succession of frames. These frames need to be processed in order to extract a result. This usually requires very expensive operations and high computing resource consumption. Due to its relative youth, nowadays AER systems are short of cost-effective tools like emulators, simulators, testers, debuggers, etc. In this paper the first results of a CUDA-based tool focused on the functional processing of AER spikes is presented, with the aim of helping in the design and testing of filters and buses management of these systems.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2009-10639-C04-0

A Two-Level Dynamic Chrono-Scheduling Algorithm

We propose a dynamic instruction scheduler that does not need any kind of wakeup logic, as all the instructions are “programmed” on issue stage to be executed in pre-calculated cycles. The scheduler is composed of two similar levels, each one composed of simple “stations”, where the timing information is recorded. The first level is aimed to the group of instructions whose timing information cannot be calculated at issue (for example, those instructions whose latency is not predictable). The second level contains simple “stations” for the instructions whose execution and write back cycle have been already calculated. The key idea of this scheduler is to extract and record all possible information about the future execution of an instruction during its issue, so as not to look for this information again and again during wait stages at the reservation stations. Another additional advantage is that time critical parts can be identified as instruction timing information is available, so high speed and frequency logic can be used only in these parts, while the rest of the scheduler can work at lower frequencies, therefore consuming much less power. The lack of wakeup and CAM (Content Addressable Memory) means that power consumption and latencies would be presumably reduced, frequency would probably be made higher, while CPI (clock Cycles Per Instruction) would remain approximately the same.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TIN2006-15617- C03-03Junta de Andalucía P06-TIC-0229

Augmented Reality to Facilitate Learning of the Acoustic Guitar

[Abstract] Many people wishing to learn a musical instrument opt to learn using alternative or informal methods instead of the traditional Master–Apprentice model that requires a greater cognitive load. This paper presents an augmented reality (AR)-based application designed to teach and train guitar chords, with the novelty that it is also used to teach short melodies consisting of four chord transitions so that users have to change hand and finger positions. The app uses high-quality 3D models of an acoustic guitar and animated hand to indicate correct finger positions and the movements required when changing from one chord to another. To follow the animated instructions, the learner overlaps the 3D model onto the neck of the physical guitar and his or her own hand. A system usability scale (SUS) questionnaire was used to measure the usability of the application. A score of 82.0 was obtained, which is higher than the average of 68 points that indicates the application is good from a user experience perspective, thus satisfying the purpose for which it was created. Having analysed the data for both groups—individuals with no prior experience of playing a musical instrument versus individuals with prior experience—it was concluded that the application provided a useful learning approach for all participants involved in the study, regardless of experience. That said, those possessing prior experience of playing an instrument learnt faster. It should be noted that the research revealed significant difference in learning by gender, with male participants learning faster than female participants. Similar results have been detected in other research performed in the field of music, as well as in other fields. As this study required spatial reasoning when viewing the 3D model, the differences identified this case may well have arisen as a consequence of differences in men and women’s spatial awareness, thereby leaving open an alternative line of research

Mixed-Valence Tetrametallic Iridium Chains

Neutral [X−{Ir2}−{Ir2}−X] (X=Cl, Br, SCN, I) and dicationic [L−{Ir2}−{Ir2}−L]2+ (L=MeCN, Me2CO) tetrametallic iridium chains made by connecting two dinuclear {Ir2} units ({Ir2}=[Ir2(μ‐OPy)2(CO)4], OPy=2‐pyridonate) by an iridium–iridium bond are described. The complexes exhibit fractional averaged oxidation states of +1.5 and electronic delocalization along the metallic chain. While the axial ligands do not significantly affect the metal–metal bond lengths, the metallic chain has a significant impact on the iridium–L/X bond distances. The complexes show free rotation around the unsupported iridium‐iridium bond in solution, with a low‐energy transition state for the chloride chain. The absorption spectra of these complexes show characteristic bands at 438–504 nm, which can be fine‐tuned by varying the terminal capping ligands

Drug polyconsumption is associated with increased synchronization of brain electrical-activity at rest and in a counting task

Drug abusers typically consume not just one but several types of drugs, starting from alcohol and marijuana consumption, and then dramatically lapsing into addiction to harder drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, or amphetamine. The brain of drug abusers presents various structural and neurophysiological abnormalities, some of which may predate drug consumption onset. However, how these changes translate into modifications in functional brain connectivity is still poorly understood. To characterize functional connectivity patterns, we recorded Electroencephalogram (EEG) activity from 21 detoxified drug abusers and 20 age-matched control subjects performing a simple counting task and at rest activity. To evaluate the cortical brain connectivity network we applied the Synchronization Likelihood algorithm. The results showed that drug abusers had higher synchronization levels at low frequencies, mainly in the θ band (4–8 Hz) between frontal and posterior cortical regions. During the counting task, patients showed increased synchronization in the β (14–35 Hz), and γ (35–45 Hz) frequency bands, in fronto-posterior and interhemispheric temporal regions. Taken together 'slow-down' at rest and task-related 'over-exertion' could indicate that the brain of drug abusers is suffering from a premature form of ageing. Future studies will clarify whether this condition can be reversed following prolonged periods of abstinence