CA-MPSoC : an automated design flow for predictable multi-procesor architectures for multiple applications.

Future embedded systems demand multi-processor designs to meet real-time deadlines. The large number of applications in these systems generates an exponential number of use-cases. The key design automation challenges are designing systems for these use-cases and fast exploration of software and hardware implementation alternatives with accurate performance evaluation of these use-cases. These challenges cannot be overcome by current design methodologies which are semi-automated, time consuming and error prone. In this paper, we present a fully automated design flow to generate communication assist (CA) based multi-processor systems (CA-MPSoC). A worst-case performance model of our CA is proposed so that the performance of the CA-based platform can be analyzed before its implementation. The design flow provides performance estimates and timing guarantees for both hard real-time and soft real-time applications, provided the task to processor mappings are given by the user. The flow automatically generates a super-set hardware that can be used in all use-cases of the applications. The software for each of these use-cases is also generated including the configuration of communication architecture and interfacing with application tasks. CA-MPSoC has been implemented on Xilinx FPGAs for evaluation. Further, it is made available on-line for the benefit of the research community and in this paper, it is used for performance analysis of two real life applications, Sobel and JPEG encoder executing concurrently. The CA-based platform generated by our design flow records a maximum error of 3.4% between analyzed and measured periods. Our tool can also merge use-cases to generate a super-set hardware which accelerates the evaluation of these use-cases. In a case study with six applications, the use-case merging results in a speed up of 18 when compared to the case where each use-case is evaluated individually

Integrated use of biological approaches provides effective control of parthenium weed

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.; Asteraceae) is an invasive weed species in agro-ecosystems. It causes huge losses to native biodiversity and agricultural productivity. This study was conducted to assess the combined effect of a leaf-feeding beetle, (Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister; Chrysomelidae) and suppressive plant species, bull Mitchell grass (Astrebella squrossa C.E. Hubb.; Poaceae) or butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.; Fabaceae) on parthenium weed under shade house conditions. The suppressive plant species significantly reduced the parthenium weed height (16%), biomass (29%) and seed production (42%), in the absence of Z. bicolorata. However, this suppressive ability was further enhanced in the presence of Z. bicolorata. The combined effect of the suppressive plant species and Z. bicolorata further reduced the parthenium weed height (46%), biomass (66%) and seed production (95%). The combination also had a significant negative effect upon seed fill, decreasing the reproductive output of the current generation. The presence of Z. bicolorata also had positive effect on the biomass (10%) and plant height (11%) of both suppressive species. So, the combined use of suppressive plant species and the biological control agent suppressed parthenium weed more effectively than their sole use. Such integrated approaches should be prioritized for future management of parthenium weed

Chalcone Scaffolds Exhibiting Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Inhibition: Mechanistic and Computational Investigations

This study was aimed to perform the mechanistic investigations of chalcone scaffold as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation tools. Basic chalcones (C1–C5) were synthesized and their in vitro AChE inhibition was tested. Binding interactions were studied using AutoDock and Surflex-Dock programs, whereas the molecular dynamics simulation studies were performed to check the stability of the ligand–protein complex. Good AChE inhibition (IC50 = 22 ± 2.8 to 37.6 ± 0.75 μM) in correlation with the in silico results (binding energies = −8.55 to −8.14 Kcal/mol) were obtained. The mechanistic studies showed that all of the functionalities present in the chalcone scaffold were involved in binding with the amino acid residues at the binding site through hydrogen bonding, π–π, π–cation, π–sigma, and hydrophobic interactions. Molecular dynamics simulation studies showed the formation of stable complex between the AChE enzyme and C4 ligand

River Tea Tree Oil: Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities, and Potential Applications in Agriculture

Melaleuca is one of the genera of the Myrtaceae family enriched in tea tree oil (TTO). Tea tree oils of Melaleuca bracteata and Melaleuca alternifolia are of prime importance and have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Terpinen-4-ol and 1-8 cineole are major constituents of M. alternifolia oil. The percentages of the compounds in the oils can slightly vary according to the region of plant harvest, the distillation technique, or the part of the plant used for oil extraction. TTO has a bactericidal effect against various bacterial species such as Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, E. coli, Pseudomonas putida, and S. aureus. Several reports proved that this essential oil is also effective against fungal strains of Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Candida species. It also has antioxidant properties such as radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The antioxidant properties of TTO at a concentration of 30 mM were observed to be greater than those of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), commonly used as a synthetic antioxidant. TTO is also an effective organic fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide for use in the agriculture sector. Postharvest application of the oil has been found efficient on sweet basil, citrus, and strawberry. It is concluded that tea tree oil has the potential to be used in the food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries as a natural antimicrobial and preservative agent. This review provides comprehensive information regarding the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of tea tree oil and its potential applications in agriculture

Outcomes of Prediabetes Compared with Normoglycaemia and Diabetes Mellitus in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

: Patients with prediabetes are at increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the association between prediabetes and adverse clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is inconsistent, in contrast to outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Thus, this meta-analysis evaluated the impact of dysglycaemia on PCI outcomes. : The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically reviewed from inception of databases until June 2022. In 17 studies, outcomes of PCI in patients with prediabetes were compared with patients who were normoglycaemic, and patients with DM. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at the longest follow-up. : Included were 12 prospective and five retrospective studies, with 11,868, 14,894 and 13,536 patients undergoing PCI in the prediabetes, normoglycaemic and DM groups, respectively. Normoglycaemic patients had a statistically lower risk of all-cause mortality, (risk ratio [RR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.84), myocardial infarction (MI; RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.61-0.95) and cardiac mortality (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.87) compared with prediabetic patients undergoing PCI at the longest follow-up. Patients with prediabetes had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (RR=0.72 [95% CI 0.53-0.97]) and cardiac mortality (RR =0.47 [95% CI 0.23-0.93]) compared with patients with DM who underwent PCI. : Among patients who underwent PCI for CAD, the risk of all-cause and cardiac mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events and MI in prediabetic patients was higher compared with normoglycaemic patients but lower compared with patients with DM. [Abstract copyright: © Touch Medical Media 2023.

Overview of the JET preparation for deuterium-tritium operation with the ITER like-wall

\u3cp\u3eFor the past several years, the JET scientific programme (Pamela et al 2007 Fusion Eng. Des. 82 590) has been engaged in a multi-campaign effort, including experiments in D, H and T, leading up to 2020 and the first experiments with 50%/50% D-T mixtures since 1997 and the first ever D-T plasmas with the ITER mix of plasma-facing component materials. For this purpose, a concerted physics and technology programme was launched with a view to prepare the D-T campaign (DTE2). This paper addresses the key elements developed by the JET programme directly contributing to the D-T preparation. This intense preparation includes the review of the physics basis for the D-T operational scenarios, including the fusion power predictions through first principle and integrated modelling, and the impact of isotopes in the operation and physics of D-T plasmas (thermal and particle transport, high confinement mode (H-mode) access, Be and W erosion, fuel recovery, etc). This effort also requires improving several aspects of plasma operation for DTE2, such as real time control schemes, heat load control, disruption avoidance and a mitigation system (including the installation of a new shattered pellet injector), novel ion cyclotron resonance heating schemes (such as the three-ions scheme), new diagnostics (neutron camera and spectrometer, active Alfven eigenmode antennas, neutral gauges, radiation hard imaging systems...) and the calibration of the JET neutron diagnostics at 14 MeV for accurate fusion power measurement. The active preparation of JET for the 2020 D-T campaign provides an incomparable source of information and a basis for the future D-T operation of ITER, and it is also foreseen that a large number of key physics issues will be addressed in support of burning plasmas.\u3c/p\u3