Pricing Python Parallelism: A Dynamic Language Cost Model for Heterogeneous Platforms

Execution times may be reduced by offloading parallel loop nests to a GPU. Auto-parallelizing compilers are common for static languages, often using a cost model to determine when the GPU execution speed will outweigh the offload overheads. Nowadays scientific software is increasingly written in dynamic languages and would benefit from compute accelerators. The ALPyNA framework analyses moderately complex Python loop nests and automatically JIT compiles code for heterogeneous CPU and GPU architectures. We present the first analytical cost model for auto-parallelizing loop nests in a dynamic language on heterogeneous architectures. Predicting execution time in a language like Python is extremely challenging, since aspects like the element types, size of the iteration space, and amenability to parallelization can only be determined at runtime. Hence the cost model must be both staged, to combine compile and run-time information, and lightweight to minimize runtime overhead. GPU execution time prediction must account for factors like data transfer, block-structured execution, and starvation. We show that a comparatively simple, staged analytical model can accurately determine during execution when it is profitable to offload a loop nest. We evaluate our model on three heterogeneous platforms across 360 experiments with 12 loop-intensive Python benchmark programs. The results show small misprediction intervals and a mean slowdown of just 13.6%, relative to the optimal (oracular) offload strategy

Out-of-Plane Behavior of Concrete Insulated Wall Panels with 2-Inch, 8-Inch, and 10-Inch Insulation

Insulated concrete sandwich wall panels provide structurally and thermally efficient building envelopes and are becoming more popular as energy regulations tighten. To continually adapt to an ever-changing building market and new energy regulations, insulated concrete wall panels are being constructed with thinner wythes, thicker insulation, and relying on partial composite action to decrease material costs and increase thermal and structural efficiency. Numerous methods of the design of partially composite insulated concrete sandwich wall panels have been introduced in recent decades and have been verified by comparing their results to existing experimental testing. Existing testing data for insulated concrete sandwich wall panels does not contain adequate experimental testing for thin wythe and thick insulation sandwich wall panels; therefore, the current methods of design have not been adequately verified for the design of such sandwich wall panels. This project aimed to validate current methods of design of sandwich wall panels for the use of thin wythe and thick insulation concrete sandwich wall panels. The study concluded that current methods of design adequately predict behavior of thin wythe and thick insulation concrete sandwich wall panels within the elastic region but do not adequately predict the ultimate capacity of thin wythe and thick insulation concrete sandwich wall panels. The predictions of two existing methods, which predict elastic shear stiffness of connectors, were compared to the results of 15 double shear tests for three unique connectors with agreeable results. The predictions of three methods, which predict elastic behavior and two methods, which calculate ultimate capacity, were compared to the testing results of six full-scale panels. All methods predicting elastic behavior proved to be accurate and one method adequately predicted ultimate panel capacities. Advisor: Marc Maguir

An Extensible Framework for Information Visualization and Collection

Developing successful information visualization experiments, principles, and applications requires iterative refinement of ideas and prototypes. Oftentimes realizing these prototypes involves a great deal of programming effort. Clearly, minimizing this effort permits research at a more accelerated pace due to shorter prototype turnaround time. The authors developed an extensible and flexible system along these lines that enables programmers and researchers to update and interchange data visualization and collection techniques with little effort. This system is discussed along with its relevant design patterns in the greater context of software orthogonality. Finally, the system is utilized to develop a computer supported cooperative work application for a large screen display

Out-of-Plane Flexural Behavior of InsulatedWall Panels Constructed with Large Insulation Thicknesses

Insulated concrete sandwich wall panels (ICSWPs) are gaining popularity as energy regulations become stricter worldwide. ICSWPs are now being constructed with thinner wythes and thicker insulation to keep up with the changing market, which is reducing material costs and increasing thermal and structural efficiency. However, there is a need for adequate experimental testing to validate the current design methods for these new panels. This research aims to provide that validation by comparing the predictions of four different methods with experimental data obtained from six large-scale panels. The study found that while current design methods adequately predict the behavior of thin wythe and thick insulation ICSWPs within the elastic region, they do not accurately predict their ultimate capacity

Prevalence of CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes in human neoplasms

Purpose!#!Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently been approved by the US FDA as first and/or second line therapy in a subset of cancer types. Recent evidence suggests that the quantity of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) influences the likelihood of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we set out to assess the density of CD8!##!Methods!#!The density of CD8!##!Results!#!We found that the median CD8!##!Conclusion!#!These data support the concept that among most tumor types at least some individual cancers may benefit from treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors

EUREC⁴A's HALO

International audienceAs part of the EUREC 4 A field campaign, the German research aircraft HALO, configured as a cloud observatory, conducted 15 research flights in the trade wind region east of Barbados in January and February 2020. Narrative text, aircraft state data, and meta data describing HALO's operation during the campaign are provided. Each HALO research flight is segmented by time-stamp intervals into standard elements to aid the consistent analysis of the flight data. Photographs from HALO's cabin and animated satellite images synchronized with flight tracks are provided to visually document flight condi-5 tions. As a comprehensive product from the remote sensing observations, a multi-sensor cloud mask product is derived and quantifies the incidence of clouds observed during the flights. In addition, to lower the threshold for new users of HALO's data, a collection of use cases is compiled into an online book "How to EUREC 4 A", included as an asset with this paper. This online book provides easy access to most of EUREC 4 A's HALO data through an intake catalogue

EUREC(4)A's HALO

As part of the EUREC(4)A (Elucidating the role of cloud-circulation coupling in climate) field campaign, the German research aircraft HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft), configured as a cloud observatory, conducted 15 research flights in the trade-wind region east of Barbados in January and February 2020. Narrative text, aircraft state data, and metadata describing HALO's operation during the campaign are provided. Each HALO research flight is segmented by timestamp intervals into standard elements to aid the consistent analysis of the flight data. Photographs from HALO's cabin and animated satellite images synchronized with flight tracks are provided to visually document flight conditions. As a comprehensive product from the remote sensing observations, a multi-sensor cloud mask product is derived and quantifies the incidence of clouds observed during the flights. In addition, to lower the threshold for new users of HALO's data, a collection of use cases is compiled into an online book, How to EUREC(4)A, included as an asset with this paper. This online book provides easy access to most of EUREC(4)A's HALO data through an intake catalogue. Code and data are freely available at the locations specified in Table 6

In-depth virological and immunological characterization of HIV-1 cure after CCR5 Delta 32/Delta 32 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Despite scientific evidence originating from two patients published to date that CCR5 Delta 32/Delta 32 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cure human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the knowledge of immunological and virological correlates of cure is limited. Here we characterize a case of long-term HIV-1 remission of a 53-year-old male who was carefully monitored for more than 9 years after allogeneic CCR5 Delta 32/Delta 32 HSCT performed for acute myeloid leukemia. Despite sporadic traces of HIV-1 DNA detected by droplet digital PCR and in situ hybridization assays in peripheral T cell subsets and tissue-derived samples, repeated ex vivo quantitative and in vivo outgrowth assays in humanized mice did not reveal replication-competent virus. Low levels of immune activation and waning HIV-1-specific humoral and cellular immune responses indicated a lack of ongoing antigen production. Four years after analytical treatment interruption, the absence of a viral rebound and the lack of immunological correlates of HIV-1 antigen persistence are strong evidence for HIV-1 cure after CCR5 Delta 32/Delta 32 HSCT. The recipient of an allogeneic stem cell transplant from a CCR5 Delta 32/Delta 32 donor shows evidence of HIV type 1 cure, including the absence of a viral rebound over 4 years after stopping antiretroviral treatment