OpenCL Actors - Adding Data Parallelism to Actor-based Programming with CAF

The actor model of computation has been designed for a seamless support of concurrency and distribution. However, it remains unspecific about data parallel program flows, while available processing power of modern many core hardware such as graphics processing units (GPUs) or coprocessors increases the relevance of data parallelism for general-purpose computation. In this work, we introduce OpenCL-enabled actors to the C++ Actor Framework (CAF). This offers a high level interface for accessing any OpenCL device without leaving the actor paradigm. The new type of actor is integrated into the runtime environment of CAF and gives rise to transparent message passing in distributed systems on heterogeneous hardware. Following the actor logic in CAF, OpenCL kernels can be composed while encapsulated in C++ actors, hence operate in a multi-stage fashion on data resident at the GPU. Developers are thus enabled to build complex data parallel programs from primitives without leaving the actor paradigm, nor sacrificing performance. Our evaluations on commodity GPUs, an Nvidia TESLA, and an Intel PHI reveal the expected linear scaling behavior when offloading larger workloads. For sub-second duties, the efficiency of offloading was found to largely differ between devices. Moreover, our findings indicate a negligible overhead over programming with the native OpenCL API.Comment: 28 page

Intentions to use contraceptives in Pakistan: implications for behavior change campaigns

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 1990-91, traditional method use has increased at a faster rate in Pakistan than modern method use. The importance of hormonal methods or the IUD has diminished and that of traditional methods has increased in the method mix. There is a need to identify factors motivating and deterring the adoption of specific family planning methods among married men and women in Pakistan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In addition to social and demographic characteristics of respondents, a representative household survey collected information on psychological correlates of family planning behavior from 1,788 non-pregnant wives and 1,805 husbands with not-pregnant wives. Males and females were from separate households. Principal components analysis was conducted to identify the underlying constructs that were important for each gender. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the correlates of male and female intentions to use contraceptive methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Amongst women, the perception that her in-laws support family planning use was the strongest determinant of her intentions to use contraceptive methods. A woman's belief in the importance of spacing children and her perception that a choice of methods and facilities with competent staff were available were also powerful drivers of her intentions to use contraceptive methods. The strongest obstacle to a woman's forming an intention to use contraceptive methods was her belief that family planning decisions were made by the husband and fertility was determined by God's will. Fears that family planning would harm a woman's womb lowered a woman's intentions to use methods requiring procedures, such as the IUD and female sterilization.</p> <p>The perception that a responsible, caring, husband uses family planning to improve the standard of living of his family and to protect his wife's health was the most important determinant of a man's intention to use condoms. A husband's lack of self-efficacy in being able to discuss family planning with his wife was the strongest driver of the intention to use withdrawal. A man's fear that contraceptives would make a woman sterile and harm her womb lowered his intention to use modern contraceptive methods.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings highlight the importance of having secondary target audiences such as mothers-in-law and husbands in family planning behavior change campaigns implemented in Pakistan. Campaigns that stress the importance of child spacing are likely to have an impact. Client perceptions of the quality of care are important determinants of intentions to use contraceptive methods in Pakistan. Client concerns that the IUD and sterilization procedures might harm a woman's womb and cause sterility should be addressed. The findings suggest that there is a need to assess the actual quality of service delivery in Pakistan.</p

Development and applications of Ion-selective electrodes

A new type of liquid state electrode assembly based on a natural rubber membrane and using a graphite rod as internal reference electrode, has been developed for use with organic salts which are soluble in organic solvent. Electrodes have been developed for determination of zinc(II)j perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate ions, using basic dye salts containing those arAons. In general, natural rubber sheeting is treated with a water immiscible organic solvent containing the salt; swollen sheeting is used as the membrane. These electrodes respond in a Nernstian manner, giving a potential-concentration slopes of 29.5,57.5 and 58.5 mV for zinc(II), perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate electrodes respectively. The slope is stable for a reasonable length of time, e.g. potential-concentration slope is decreased by 0.5 W after about three to five weeks, depending on the type of electrode. In the preparation of these electrodes, the choice of solvent and the kind of natural rubber has been carefully selected, as these factors influence the operation of the membrane. Effects of solution pH and the temperature variations on response of the electrodes, have also been studied. Further work also has been done on studying the Gmelin reaction (reaction of nitroprusside and sulphide ions) with a sulphide ionselective electrode. This reaction involves a study of the reaction between nitroprusside and sulphide ions, where nitrosyl group is modified to pentacyanothionitroferrate(II) imparting a purple colour to the solution. For determination of sulphide and nitroprusside by potentiometric titration optimum conditions have been developed. Also a colorimetric procedure for sulphide determination is recommended

The importance of socio-economic context for social marketing models for improving reproductive health: Evidence from 555 years of program experience

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, social marketing programs have become an important element of the national family planning and HIV prevention strategy in several developing countries. As yet, there has not been any comprehensive empirical assessment to determine which of several social marketing models is most effective for a given socio-economic context. Such an assessment is urgently needed to inform the design of future social marketing programs, and to avoid that programs are designed using an ineffective model. METHODS: This study addresses this issue using a database of annual statistics about reproductive health oriented social marketing programs in over 70 countries. In total, the database covers 555 years of program experience with social marketing programs that distribute and promote the use of oral contraceptives and condoms. Specifically, our analysis assesses to what extent the model used by different reproductive health social marketing programs has varied across different socio-economic contexts. We then use random effects regression to test in which socio-economic context each of the models is most successful at increasing use of socially marketed oral contraceptives and condoms. RESULTS: The results show that there has been a tendency to design reproductive health social marketing program with a management structure that matches the local context. However, the evidence also shows that this has not always been the case. While socio-economic context clearly influences the effectiveness of some of the social marketing models, program maturity and the size of the target population appear equally important. CONCLUSIONS: To maximize the effectiveness of future social marketing programs, it is essential that more effort is devoted to ensuring that such programs are designed using the model or approach that is most suitable for the local context

Equality of averaged and quenched large deviations for random walks in random environments in dimensions four and higher

We consider large deviations for nearest-neighbor random walk in a uniformly elliptic i.i.d. environment. It is easy to see that the quenched and the averaged rate functions are not identically equal. When the dimension is at least four and Sznitman's transience condition (T) is satisfied, we prove that these rate functions are finite and equal on a closed set whose interior contains every nonzero velocity at which the rate functions vanish.Comment: 17 pages. Minor revision. In particular, note the change in the title of the paper. To appear in Probability Theory and Related Fields

Two-photon interference using background-free quantum frequency conversion of single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot

We show that quantum frequency conversion (QFC) can overcome the spectral distinguishability common to inhomogeneously broadened solid-state quantum emitters. QFC is implemented by combining single photons from an InAs quantum dot (QD) at 980 nm with a 1550 nm pump laser in a periodically-poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide to generate photons at 600 nm with a signal-to-background ratio exceeding 100:1. Photon correlation and two-photon interference measurements confirm that both the single photon character and wavepacket interference of individual QD states are preserved during frequency conversion. Finally, we convert two spectrally separate QD transitions to the same wavelength in a single PPLN waveguide and show that the resulting field exhibits non-classical two-photon interference.Comment: Supercedes arXiv:1205.221

The Relationship between Organizational Justice and Organizational Citizenship Behavior

The paper focuses on determining whether organizational justice has impact on the organizational citizenship behavior in charity organization in Erbil/Iraq. Correlation analysis analyzed (r =0.795**) was found between organizational justice and OCB, (r =0.424**) was found between Distributive and OCB (r =0.768**) was found between Procedural and OCB, (r =0.784**) e was found between Interactional and OCB. Simple Analysis concluded supported that there is linkage between organizational justice as an independent variable and OCB as a dependent variable (Adjusted R2 = 0.630, p &lt;0.01). Multiple Regression Analysis concluded supported that there is linkage between dimensions of organizational justice as an independent variable as listed as Distributive, Procedural and Interactional with OCB as a dependent variable (Adjusted R2 = 0.654, p &lt;0.05). Rely of the study outcome all hypotheses which are H1, H2, H3 and H4 were confirmed

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS TO FARMERS AS A RESULT OF PESTICIDES’ MISMANAGEMENT IN KHANYOUNIS GOVERNORATE, GAZA STRIP

Several poisoning and death cases were reported in Khanyounis Governorate as a result of mis-use and mishandling of pesticides. Carcinogenic and internationally banned pesticides are still available in the markets in all the governorates of the Gaza Strip. This study aims to investigate the awareness and health issues of the farmers. Fortyfive farmers were randomly selected to fill a questionnaire prepared for this purpose. The results showed that protective clothing are totally not worn during application of pesticides. Lack of storage faculties, unlicensed pesticide shops, improper disposal of the empty containers and smoking and eating during application are among the hot spots related to pesticides handling and application. Also, 44.5% of the farmers complain of health problems, of which headache, coughing, skin rashes and difficulty in breathing. Only 4.5% of the farmers attended general agricultural training courses. In conclusion the study suggests that the government, public, the non-governmental organizations and all the interested parties should cooperate in a collective and serious work to minimize these environmental and health risks

Verrucous Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75147/1/j.1572-0241.1984.tb11856.x.pd