Analysis of an OpenMP Program for Race Detection

The race condition in a shared memory parallel program is subtle and harder to find than in a sequential program. The race conditions cause non-deterministic and unexpected results from the program. It should be avoided in the parallel region of OpenMP programs. The proposed OpenMP Race Avoidance Tool statically analyzes the parallel region. It gives alerts regarding possible data races in that parallel region. The proposed tool has the capability to analyze the basic frequently occurring non-nested ‘for loop(s)’. We are comparing the results of the proposed tool with the commercially available static analysis tool named Intel Parallel Lint and the dynamic analysis tool named Intel Thread Checker for race detection in OpenMP program. The proposed tool detects race conditions in the ‘critical’ region that have not been detected by existing analysis tools. The proposed tool also detects the race conditions for the ‘atomic’, ‘parallel’, ‘master’, ‘single’ and ‘barrier’ constructs. The OpenMP beginner programmers can use this tool to understand how to create a shared-memory parallel program

Using Peptoids to Build Robust, Efficient Microarray Systems

Recent studies have shown microarrays to be indispensable for various biological applications, allowing for high-throughput processing and screening of biological samples such as RNA, DNA, proteins and peptides using a small sample volume (\u3c 1 µL). Peptoids (poly-N-substituted glycine oligomers) can be used as a substitute for antibodies as capture molecules, as well as coatings for slides in antibody microarrays. The ease of synthesis of peptoids, high customizability with desired bioactivity, and speed of synthesis allows us to build a diagnostic system with a large dynamic range that can detect biomolecules from a minimal sample size. In this study, peptoid-based antibody mimics are designed to have both structural and functional features similar to those of antibodies, including a stable constant region (scaffolding) and a variable region for protein recognition. Peptoids previously screened via combinatorial library synthesis to be specific to bind Mdm-2 (mouse double minute 2 homolog) and GST (gluthathione S-transferase), have been synthesized. The protein recognition peptoids have been conjugated to PEG (polyethylene glycol) molecules with modified end groups; an amine group on one end that allows for immobilization and orientation on the slide, and an azide group on the other end that will allow for attachment to the peptoid through “click chemistry”. The number of capture molecules printed on the slides can be increased by making the available surface area of the slide larger via coating with microspheres. We have determined that partially water soluble peptoids that are also helical, can self-assemble into microspheres. Sequences have been developed that can consistently produce uniform microsphere coatings on slides that increase the overall surface area. A high surface area corresponds to a higher number of binding sites, and therefore a more sensitive system. The work done has shown that slides may be successfully coated in order to potentially improve the detection system

PERVAPORATION OF SOLVENT MIXTURES USING POLYMERIC AND ZEOLITIC MEMBRANES: SEPARATION STUDIES AND MODELING

The separation characteristics of binary alcohol-water mixtures were studied overa wide range of feed concentration and temperature using polymeric and zeoliticpervaporation membranes. For the hydrophilic PVA membrane, the total flux (at 55 0C)for the ethanol-water system decreased from 0.45 to 0.05 kg/m2/hr as the feed ethanolconcentration was increased from 30 to 95 wt. %. The separation factor (water/ethanol)was found to increase by about 100 times for the same range of concentration. TheUNIQUAC theory was used to predict the activity of binary alcohol-water mixtures in thePVA membrane. The UNIQUAC theory successfully takes into account the nonidealitiespresent in the alcohol/water-PVA membrane system. The transport of waterand alcohol species through the PVA membrane was modeled using the UNIQUACtheory in conjunction with the conventional activity driving force model. Using themodel and the experimental pervaporation data, the diffusivity correlations andconcentration profiles for various species through the membrane were developed. Basedon the developed diffusivity correlations, the water and alcohol fluxes through the PVAmembrane were predicted at 80 ??C.Experiments were also conducted on the water selective zeolite (type NaA)membrane using various alcohol-water mixtures and with dimethylformamide-watermixture over a wide range of temperatures (25 to 70 ??C) and solvent concentrations (0 -100 wt. %). The total flux for the ethanol-water mixture was found to decrease from 2 to0.05 kg/m2/hr at 60 ??C as the feed ethanol concentration was increased from 0 to 100 wt.%. Both, the water to ethanol and water to isopropanol separation factors were observedto lie between 1000 and 5000 over a wide range of solvent concentrations. The Maxwell-Stefan theory was used to model the permeation of water through zeolite NaAmembranes. The precise micropore structure of the zeolite cage helps in a partialmolecular sieving of the large solvent molecules leading to high separation factors. Thezeolite membrane active layer may contain certain non-zeolitic interstitial pores withpreferential water sorption. A high degree of hydrophilicity of the zeolite membrane issuggested from a pure water sorption value of 0.6 gm/gm zeolite. The detailedinterpretation of this result, however, requires consideration of both true zeoliticmicrocavity uptake as well as interstitially held water between crystallites. The use ofpervaporation for volume reduction and solvent recovery applications in thepharmaceutical industry has been demonstrated

Phosphorus dynamics in the marshland upwelling system

The Marshland Upwelling System (MUS) is an alternative onsite wastewater treatment technology designed to utilize the natural ecology of saltwater marshes to remove human-borne contaminants. Previous research has assessed the ability of MUS to remove both total and orthophosphate. Studies have also indicated a clear zone of phosphorus (P) saturation occurring in MUS soils. Laboratory column study was performed to accomplish the objectives of this study which were to: 1) determine the fate and fractionation of phosphorus in the soil matrix, 2) understand sorption kinetics and determine phosphorus sorption potential of wetland soils in retaining phosphorus in the MUS, 3) determine the service life of the MUS for phosphorus retention. Column study was performed under saltwater and freshwater conditions, wherein artificial wastewater was injected in the columns at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min, every alternate day. At the end of the study, soil in all columns receiving different salinity treatments was analysed for different phosphorus fractions. Inorganic-P was found to be dominating in sub-surface layers. Organic-P fractions were found in considerable amount in surface layers, which were potentially released by the soil microbial activity. Inorganic-P fractions were likely precipitated by high concentrations of Fe, Al, Ca and, Mg cations present in the soil, under low redox and near neutral to alkaline pH conditions. According to the P-sorption studies conducted, Langmuir one-site isotherm proved best to predict phosphorus sorption mechanism for the MUS soils. It showed a minimum of 361 mg P/kg soil and maximum of 646 mg-P/kg-soil of maximum adsorption capacity at different ionic strengths under anaerobic conditions. Significant differences (p\u3c0.0001) were found between soil and salinity (ionic strength) interactions for the sorption phenomena for aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Longevity parameter (LT) was developed to predict the service life of MUS based on the saturation of phosphorus observed. Service life of minimum and maximum of 15 and 26.9 years, respectively were predicted by the LT under anaerobic conditions for a representative filter volume of 125 m2 at a constant depth of 4m and hydraulic loading rate of 2016 L/d at an influent phosphorus concentration of 15 mg/L

Cell Selection Techniques in Heterogeneous LTE Advanced System

This survey paper provides a performance evaluation of cell selection technique s proposed for Pico cells in the Long Term Evolution - Advance d (LTE - A) networks. Pico cell is the focus of this study because i t can be deployed in areas with high volume of traffic so as to improve the system capacity. Cell selection which plays a important role in improving cell spectrum efficiency especially in heterogeneous systems is the process that allows the user equipments ( USEd) t o select a suitable cell in order to access available services. This paper analysis the new interference environment and the limitations of traditional cell selection method which caused by low power nodes, and propose anew cell selectio n strategy to resolve these problems in order to improve efficiency in L TE - A heterogeneous systems

A Comparative study of min-sum based decoding algorithms for low density parity check codes

The demand for large scale broadband networks is gaining immense popularity for convenient access of information. A common concern of transmitting data through a wireless medium is the effects of noise on the signal. Maintaining the reliability of the data becomes crucial. Employing Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes specified by the IEEE 802.16e (WiMAX) standard simplifies the encoding and decoding structure within a digital communication system, making it attractive for the premise of this study

Delay Modeling And Long-range Predictive Control Of Czochralski Growth Process

This work presents the Czochralski growth dynamics as time-varying delay based model, applied to the growth of La3Ga5.5Ta0.5O14 (LGT) piezoelectric crystals. The growth of high-quality large-diameter oxides by Czochralski technique requires the theoretical understanding and optimization of all relevant process parameters, growth conditions, and melts chemistry. Presently, proportional-integral- derivative (PID) type controllers are widely accepted for constant-diameter crystal growth by Czochralski. Such control systems, however, do not account for aspects such as the transportation delay of the heat from crucible wall to the crystal solidification front, heat radiated from the crucible wall above the melt surface, and varying melt level. During crystal growth, these time delays play a dominant role, and pose a significant challenge to the control design. In this study, a time varying linear delay model was applied to the identification of nonlinearities of the growth dynamics. Initial results reveled the benefits of this model with actual growth results. These results were used to develop a long-range model predictive control system design. Two different control techniques using long range prediction are studied for the comparative study. Development and testing of the new control system on real time growth system are discussed in detail. The results are promising and suggest future work in this direction. Other discussion about the problems during the crystal growth, optimization of crystal growth parameters are also studied along with the control system design

Estimation of Leptin Levels in Serum in Periodontal Health and Disease: A Clinical and Biochemical Study

Introduction: Leptin is a hormone secreted by the adipocytes. As the periodontal breakdown increases, leptin concentration in serum increases with the destruction of the periodontium, but the evidence for this association is not so strong. So, the aim of our study was to evaluate the serum leptin levels in healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis group. Materials and methods: Total 75 patients were selected and divided into three groups. Healthy (BOP < 30%, PD ≤ 4 mm), gingivitis (BOP ≥ 30%, PD ≤ 4 mm) and periodontitis (PD ≥ 4 mm). The clinical parameters that evaluated were OHI-S, PI, PD and % of BOP at baseline, 15 days and 1 month. Also, blood was collected from the anticubical fossa and was analyzed for Leptin ELISA test. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in all clinical parameters at the end of 15 days and 1 month. In healthy group, there was strong association between OHI-S and serum leptin levels. Whereas in gingivitis group, there was a statistically significant association between OHI-S, PD and serum leptin levels than in periodontitis group. Conclusion: In our study, as the periodontal disease progressed, there was raise in serum leptin concentration in gingivitis (p < 0.005) but these results did not remain  consistent for periodontitis group. From, this we can say that for leptin to be an inflammatory marker and risk indicator or risk predictor in the progression of periodontal diseases further studies are needed.&nbsp

HARMONIC MITIGATION AND REACTIVE POWER COMPENSATION USING SHUNT ACTIVE FILTER WITH PI CONTROLLER

Due to the advancement of electrical equipment as most of the load is the nonlinear poor quality of electric supply caused. This paper describes a shunt active filter for power quality improvement. It deals with the problem related to harmonics due to the nonlinear load. The Harmonic current is drawn with the aid of the nonlinear burden from the supply which results in a distortion of the voltage waveform in a supply-side. This distorted voltage and current may make conductors heat up and can lessen the effectiveness and future of the gear. With the goal that the decrease of harmonics is significant in nowadays life.  This filter is utilized to make up for sounds reduced harmonics and receptive power. Three-phase thyristor loads are taken as a nonlinear load. For thyristor 180° scheme is used here. Thyristors are fired for seven different values of firing angle from 0° to 60°. The exhibition of a three-stage shunt dynamic power channel utilizing the instantaneous power hypothesis with a PI controller is clarified in this paper. Simulations are carried out using MATLAB/SIMULINK. simulation results are presented