Operation Scheduling in a Reconfigurable Computing Environment

We consider the problem of scheduling the operations of a data flow graph in a reconfigurable computing environment. In the recent years, FPGAs have become highly popular as a medium to rapidly prototype complex systems. As the FPGA technology improves in terms of speeds and the number of gates/chip, FPGAs are being used in system construction and not just for prototyping. Some innovations such as dynamic and partial reconfiguration of FPGAs has opened new doors to high-performance computing using limited amount of hardware. For example, the Dynamic Instruction Set Computer (DISC) allows a CPU to reconfigure its hardware dynamically depending on the set of instructions it is currently executing. Similarly, one can design an application-specific computer using dynamically reconfigurable FPGAs which use a limited number of FPGA chips to run a large computation within a time limit. In this paper, our intention is to describe the problem of operator scheduling in such a dynamically reconfi..

MRI findings in Hirayama disease

The objective of the study was to study the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of Hirayama disease on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Nine patients with clinically suspected Hirayama disease were evaluated with neutral position, flexion, contrast-enhanced MRI and fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA) sequences. The spectrum of MRI features was evaluated and correlated with the clinical and electromyography findings. MRI findings of localized lower cervical cord atrophy (C5-C7), abnormal curvature, asymmetric cord flattening, loss of attachment of the dorsal dural sac and subjacent laminae in the neutral position, anterior displacement of the dorsal dura on flexion and a prominent epidural space were revealed in all patients on conventional MRI as well as with the dynamic 3D-FIESTA sequence. Intramedullary hyperintensity was seen in four patients on conventional MRI and on the 3D-FIESTA sequence. Flow voids were seen in four patients on conventional MRI sequences and in all patients with the 3D-FIESTA sequence. Contrast enhancement of the epidural component was noted in all the five patients with thoracic extensions. The time taken for conventional and contrast-enhanced MRI was about 30–40 min, while that for the 3D-FIESTA sequence was 6 min. Neutral and flexion position MRI and the 3D-FIESTA sequence compliment each other in displaying the spectrum of findings in Hirayama disease. A flexion study should form an essential part of the screening protocol in patients with suspected Hirayama disease. Newer sequences such as the 3D-FIESTA may help in reducing imaging time and obviating the need for contrast