Dynamic data memory partitioning for access region caches

For wide-issue processors, data cache needs to be heavily multi-ported with extremely wide data-paths. A recent proposal of multi-porting cache design divides memory streams into multiple independent sub-streams with the help of prediction mechanism before they enter the reservation stations. Partitioned memory-reference instructions are then fed into separate memory pipelines, each of which is connected to a small data-cache, called access region cache (ARC). A selection function for mapping memory references to each ARC can affect the data memory bandwidth as conflicts and load balance at each ARC may differ. In this thesis, we study various static and dynamic memory partitioning methods to see the effects of distributing memory references among the ARCS through exposing memory traffic of those designs. Six different approaches of distributing memory references, including two randomization methods and two dynamic methods, are considered. The potential effects on the memory performance with ARC are measured and compared with existing multi-porting solution as well as an ideal multi-ported data cache. This study concludes that scattering access conflicts dynamically, redirecting conflicting references dynamically to different ARCs at each cycle, can increase the memory bandwidth. However, increasing data bandwidth alone does not always results in performance improvement. Keeping the cache miss rate low is as important as sufficient memory bandwidth to achieve higher performance in wide-issue processors

Pseudogap and weak multifractality in disordered Mott charge-density-wave insulator

The competition, coexistence and cooperation of various orders in low-dimensional materials like spin, charge, topological orders and charge-density-wave has been one of the most intriguing issues in condensed matter physics. In particular, layered transition metal dichalcogenides provide an ideal platform for studying such an interplay with a notable case of 1${T}$-TaS$_{2}$ featuring Mott-insulating ground state, charge-density-wave, spin frustration and emerging superconductivity together. We investigated local electronic states of Se-substituted 1${T}$-TaS$_{2}$ by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), where superconductivity emerges from the unique Mott-CDW state. Spatially resolved STS measurements reveal that an apparent V-shape pseudogap forms at the Fermi Level (E$_{F}$), with the origin of the electronic states splitting and transformation from the Mott states, and the CDW gaps are largely preserved. The formation of the pseudogap has little correlation to the variation of local Se concentration, but appears to be a global characteristics. Furthermore, the correlation length of local density of states (LDOS) diverges at the Fermi energy and decays rapidly at high energies. The spatial correlation shows a power-law decay close to the Fermi energy. Our statistics analysis of the LDOS indicates that our system exhibits weak multifractal behavior of the wave functions. These findings strongly support a correlated metallic state induced by disorder in our system, which provides an new insight into the novel mechanism of emerging superconductivity in the two-dimensional correlated electronic systems

Successful Use of Newspapers in Curriculum Development for First-year College Students

The course, Fashion and Society, is designed to provide first-year Clothing and Textiles major students with an integrated view of fashion as social phenomenon. From the survey on the first-year students’ perceptions about fashion, we have found that many students considered fashion tend to be irrelevant, something fancy and distant to their daily life, and difficult to understand. Based on the comments, we need teaching materials that can be perceived to be “not difficult” (and fun) and relevant. We also needed to design the course to provide students opportunities to apply their knowledge to real life. Thus, we developed the course using several newspapers to help students experience various fashion expressions and reflections a society carries in

Influence of cultivation parameters or supplement on product qualities and culture performances during perfusion

Perfusion processes have been developed with technological advances in single-use bioreactor and cell retention device. Perfusion has advantages such as high cell density culture in compact facilities and media change or culture parameter shifts for protein production with desired qualities. Single use bioreactor (200L or 1000L) with ATF System was used for the clinical production. For the process development, the scale-down model was established with lab-scale (2L) bioreactor with ATF2. A recombinant CHO cell line producing a fusion protein was cultivated using in-house serum-free media. Influence of insulin (0~3mg/L) on qualities was investigated in the established perfusion process using in-house serum-free medium and 2L scale-down model. The results showed that low concentration of insulin enhanced O-glycosylation and -2 charged N-glycan of fusion protein. Temperature (30~34oC) conditions, under no addition of insulin, were investigated to evaluate effect on qualities. High temperature enhanced O-glycosylation and -2 charged N-glycan of fusion protein. To evaluate interaction among culture parameters (Temperature, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen) in the perfusion process, Central Composite Inscribed (CCI) was selected as design of experiment. 20 perfusion cultures were carried out in the 2L scale-down model. The results showed each parameter and interactions among parameters had an effect on qualities and culture performances

Alpha-tocopherol exerts protective function against the mucotoxicity of particulate matter in amphibian and human goblet cells

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) in ambient air is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders and mortality. The cytotoxicity of PM is mainly due to the abnormal increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cellular components such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. The correlation between PM exposure and human disorders, including mortality, is based on long-term exposure. In this study we have investigated acute responses of mucus-secreting goblet cells upon exposure to PM derived from a heavy diesel engine. To this end, we employed the mucociliary epithelium of amphibian embryos and human Calu-3 cells to examine PM mucotoxicity. Our data suggest that acute exposure to PM significantly impairs mucus secretion and results in the accumulation of mucus vesicles in the cytoplasm of goblet cells. RNA-seq analysis revealed that acute responses to PM exposure significantly altered gene expression patterns; however, known regulators of mucus production and the secretory pathway were not significantly altered. Interestingly, pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol nearly recovered the hyposecretion of mucus from both amphibian and human goblet cells. We believe this study demonstrates the mucotoxicity of PM and the protective function of alpha-tocopherol on mucotoxicity caused by acute PM exposure from heavy diesel engines

Ginseng Purified Dry Extract, BST204, Improved Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Fatigue and Toxicity in Mice

Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatments. A large proportion of cancer patients experience cancer-related physical and central fatigue so new strategies are needed for treatment and improved survival of these patients. BST204 was prepared by incubating crude ginseng extract with ginsenoside-β-glucosidase. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of BST204, mixture of ginsenosides on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced CRF, the glycogen synthesis, and biochemical parameters in mice. The mice were randomly divided into the following groups: the naïve normal (normal), the HT-29 cell inoculated (xenograft), xenograft and 5-FU treated (control), xenograft + 5-FU + BST204-treated (100 and 200 mg/kg) (BST204), and xenograft + 5-FU + modafinil (13 mg/kg) treated group (modafinil). Running wheel activity and forced swimming test were used for evaluation of CRF. Muscle glycogen, serum inflammatory cytokines, aspartic aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CRE), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), red blood cell (RBC), and hemoglobin (HGB) were measured. Treatment with BST204 significantly increased the running wheel activity and forced swimming time compared to the control group. Consistent with the behavioral data, BST204 markedly increased muscle glycogen activity and concentrations of WBC, NEUT, RBC, and HGB. Also, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), AST, ALT, and CRE levels in the serum were significantly reduced in the BST204-treated group compared to the control group. This result suggests that BST204 may improve chemotherapy-related fatigue and adverse toxic side effects

Hippocampal sclerosis and encephalomalacia as prognostic factors of tuberculous meningitis-related and herpes simplex encephalitis-related epilepsy

AbstractBackgroundTuberculous meningitis (TBM) and herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) are common neurological diseases involving the brain parenchyma, and both can result in chronic epilepsy. Here, we identified possible variables affecting the prognosis of central nervous system (CNS) infection-related epilepsy.MethodsThe clinical seizure characteristics and demographic data of 20 TBM- and 55 HSE-related epilepsy patients were compared. Statistically significant prognostic variables were identified using multiple regression analysis.ResultsSex, age at infection, age at epilepsy onset, presence of seizures at the time of infection, latency period, and seizure characteristics between two groups were similar except for the pattern of brain lesions observed on the MRI and their overall prognosis. Patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) only comprised 30% and 52.7% of the TBM and HSE groups, respectively. Encephalomalacia had a positive effect in the HSE group while HS had a negative effect in this group, but no significant effects were found in the TBM group. Through a multiple regression analysis with a correction for group effects, HS was associated with a poor prognosis. However, encephalomalacia was concomitantly associated with a good prognosis. In addition, a short latency period, with a one-year interval, and being male were both associated with a good prognosis, while the age at the onset of epilepsy was associated with a poor prognosis.ConclusionsThis study suggests that HS and encephalomalacia could have mutual but contradictory effects on the prognosis of CNS infection-related epilepsy