A DfT Architecture for Asynchronous Networks-on-Chip

International audienceThe Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) paradigm is emerging as a solution for the communication of SoCs. Many NoC architecture propositions are presented but few works on testing these network architectures. To test the SoCs, the main challenge is to reach into the embedded cores (i.e, the IPs). In this case, the DFT techniques that integrate test architectures into the SoCs to ease the test of these SoCs are really favoured. In this paper, we present a new methodology for testing NoC architectures. A modular, generic, scalable and configurable DFT architecture is developed in order to ease the test of NoC architectures. The target of this test architecture is asynchronous NoC architectures that are implemented in GALS systems. The proposed architecture is therefore named ANOC-TEST and is implemented in QDI asynchronous circuits. In addition, this architecture can be used to test the computing resources of the networked SoCs. Some initial results and conclusions are also give

How to Implement an Asynchronous Test Wrapper for Network-on-Chip Nodes

International audienceThe Network-on-Chip (NoC) paradigm is currently known as an alternative solution for the on chip communication in the next SoC generation, especially, asynchronous NoCs. One of the challenges for asynchronous NoC-based systems design is testing asynchronous network architectures for manufacturing defects. To improve the testability of asynchronous NoCs, we have developed a scalable and configurable asynchronous Design-for-Test (DfT) architecture. In this architecture, each asynchronous network node is surrounded by an asynchronous test wrapper and the network communication channels are reused as a high-speed Test Access Mechanism (TAM). This architecture is designed to test all network elements (routers, communication channels), but it can also be used to test computational resources. In this paper, we introduce how to realize and implement the test wrapper in Quasi Delay Insensitive (QDI) asynchronous logic style. The validation and experimental results are also presented

Risques professionnels dans la fabrication des semi-conducteurs

La fabrication des semi-conducteurs utilise de nombreux produits chimiques dont certains sont toxiques. Ce travail a pour objectif d'améliorer la connaissance de ces risques professionnels en établissant un état des lieux international, comparé ensuite aux données nationales issues des centres de consultations en pathologies professionnelles (CCPP). Ceci a été réalisé grâce à une revue de la littérature scientifique associée à une analyse comparée de la base de données du RNV3P (Réseau National de Vigilance et de Prévention des Pathologies Professionnelles). Les résultats montrent l omniprésence des agents chimiques mais avec des niveaux d exposition très faibles. Peu d informations sont disponibles sur les effets du mélange des agents chimiques et des sous-produits. Des cas d hémopathies malignes sont retrouvés dans la bibliographie (sans cause professionnelle avérée) et par le RNV3P. Le risque de fausses couches spontanées, attribué essentiellement aux éthylènes glycol (substitués en France), est plus plausible, sans cas retrouvé dans le RNV3P. Les pathologies dues aux risques psycho-sociaux (RPS) et les troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) sont les plus représentées et imputables à une nuisance professionnelle dans le RNV3P, contrastant avec un nombre très restreint d études publiées sur ces sujets. Une vigilance doit être portée sur les hémopathies malignes mais aussi de manière équivalente sur les RPS et les TMS ainsi que sur l amélioration des connaissances des sous-produits.GRENOBLE1-BU Médecine pharm. (385162101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Blockade of the acute activation of mTOR complex 1 decreases hypertrophy development in rats with severe aortic valve regurgitation.

Background : Hypertrophy (H) is an adaptive response of the heart to a hemodynamic overload. Severe left ventricular (LV) volume overload (VO) from valve regurgitations (aortic (AR) or mitral regurgitation) leads to eccentric LVH. Increased protein turnover is a major event during development of LVH and the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key molecule for its control. The role of mTOR inhibition in the development of LVH using rapamycin for relatively short periods of time (days to a few weeks) has been studied in the past in pressure overload models but not in VO models. We investigated if mTOR pathway was activated during LVH development in a model of severe VO (AR) in rats and if a rapamycin treatment can slow heart remodeling in this situation. Methods and Results : Male rats with severe AR were studied acutely at 2 days, at 8 weeks (compensated phase) and 6 months (late phase) after VO induction. mTOR complex (mTORC) 1 (ribosomal S6 protein phosphorylation) was activated early after AR induction but not later in the disease whereas mTORC2 activity levels (Akt phosphorylation at Ser473) remained stable. We observed that a moderate dose of rapamycin (2 mg/kg/day; orally) for 8 weeks prevented severe LVH caused by AR (−46 %: p < 0.001). Rapamycin treatment specifically inhibited LV mTORC1 without altering mTORC2 activity at 8 weeks. Rapamycin also prevented cardiac myocyte hypertrophy caused by AR. Conclusion : Rapamycin slows hypertrophy in LV VO by inhibiting early activation of mTORC1 without modulating mTORC2

A Comparison between Low and High-dose of Hydroxyethylstarch Solution in Resuscitation for Shock induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rabbits

The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of high and low dose of 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution (HES) on resuscitation for shock induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits. Thirty-two anesthetized rabbits were randomized into four groups of eight animals each, which was either treated with no fluid resuscitation as control, lactated Ringer's solution (LRS, 20ml/kg/h), LRS+HES (LRS 18ml/kg/h + HES 2ml/kg/h, low dose of HES) or only treated with HES (high dose of HES, 20ml/kg/h). These rabbits underwent the intestinal I/R injury developed by occluding superior mesenteric artery (SMA) with a noncrushing vascular clamp for 60min and then loosing the clamp for 240min. The fluid resuscitation began at the same time of reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters including MAP, HR, aortic velocity (Qaorta, as CO) and SMA blood flow (Osma) were measured. Tissue oxygenation was assessed indirectly by measuring the tonometric parameters of gut, including difference between intestinal intramucosal PtCO2 and arterial PaCO2 (PCO2-gap), intestinal intramucosal pH (pHi), arterial lactate acid concentration and oxygen delivery (DO2). Mortality of the rabbits was calculated at the end. The results showed that hemodynamic parameters were significantly higher in group LRS+HES and HES than in group LRS and control (P<0.05). Low dose of HES was better than high dose of HES in restoring hemodynamic parameters (P<0.05). Low dose of HES could greatly decrease lactate and PCO2-gap, significantly improve pHi than other three groups (P<0.05), but high dose of HES did not do so, rather, which induced oral and nasal bleeding, even death of some animals. Low dose and high dose of HES significantly improved DO2 while LRS did not (P<0.05). Therefore low dose of HSE together with LRS was more effective than only high dose of HES or LRS in the resuscitation for shock induced by intestinal I/R injury in rabbits, because hemodynamic parameters increased suitably and tissue oxygenation was greatly improved

Combining X-ray Nano-CT and XANES Techniques for 3D Operando Monitoring of Lithiation Spatial Composition evolution in NMC Electrode

In this study, we present a well-defined methodology for conducting Operando X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) in conjunction with transmission X-ray nano computed tomography (TXM-nanoCT) experiments on the LiNi$_{0.5}$Mn$_{0.3}$Co$_{0.2}$O$_2$ (NMC) cathode electrode. To minimize radiation-induced damage to the sample during charge and discharge cycles and to gain a comprehensive 3D perspective of the (de)lithiation process of the active material, we propose a novel approach that relies on employing only three energy levels, strategically positioned at pre-edge, edge, and post-edge. By adopting this technique, we successfully track the various (de)lithiation states within the three-dimensional space during partial cycling. Furthermore, we are able to extract the nanoscale lithium distribution within individual secondary particles. Our observations reveal the formation of a core-shell structure during lithiation and we also identify that not all surface areas of the particles exhibit activity during the process. Notably, lithium intercalation exhibits a distinct preference, leading to non-uniform lithiation degrees across different electrode locations. The proposed methodology is not limited to the NMC cathode electrode but can be extended to study realistic dedicated electrodes with high active material (AM) density, facilitating exploration and quantification of heterogeneities and inhomogeneous lithiation within such electrodes. This multi-scale insight into the (de)lithiation process and lithiation heterogeneities within the electrodes is expected to provide valuable knowledge for optimizing electrode design and ultimately enhancing electrode performance in the context of material science and battery materials research.Comment: 6 figures (SI, 3 figures

Adorym: A multi-platform generic x-ray image reconstruction framework based on automatic differentiation

We describe and demonstrate an optimization-based x-ray image reconstruction framework called Adorym. Our framework provides a generic forward model, allowing one code framework to be used for a wide range of imaging methods ranging from near-field holography to and fly-scan ptychographic tomography. By using automatic differentiation for optimization, Adorym has the flexibility to refine experimental parameters including probe positions, multiple hologram alignment, and object tilts. It is written with strong support for parallel processing, allowing large datasets to be processed on high-performance computing systems. We demonstrate its use on several experimental datasets to show improved image quality through parameter refinement

Surgical need among the ageing population of Uganda

Background: Uganda’s ageing population (age 50 years and older) will nearly double from 2015 to 2050. HIV/AIDS, diabetes, stroke among other disease processes have been studied in the elderly population. However, the burden of disease from surgi- cally-treatable conditions is unknown. Objectives: To determine the proportion of adults above 50 years with unmet surgical need and deaths attributable to probable surgically-treatable conditions. Methods: A cluster randomized sample representing the national population of Uganda was enumerated. The previously vali- dated Surgeons Overseas assessment of surgical need instrument, a head-to-toe verbal interview, was used to determine any sur- gically-treatable conditions in two randomly-selected living household members. Deaths were detailed by heads of households. Weighted metrics are calculated taking sampling design into consideration and Taylor series linearization was used for sampling error estimation.   Results: The study enumerated 425 individuals above age 50 years. The prevalence proportion of unmet surgical need was 27.8% (95%CI, 22.1-34.3). This extrapolates to 694,722 (95%CI, 552,279-857,157) individuals living with one or more surgically treatable conditions. The North sub-region was observed to have the highest prevalence proportion. Nearly two out of five household deaths (37.9%) were attributed to probable surgically treatable causes.Conclusion: There is disproportionately high need for surgical care among the ageing population of Uganda with approximate- ly 700,000 consultations needed.Keywords: Surgical need, ageing population, Uganda

Caspase-2 is upregulated after sciatic nerve transection and its inhibition protects dorsal root ganglion neurons from Apoptosis after serum withdrawal

Sciatic nerve (SN) transection-induced apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGN) is one factor determining the efficacy of peripheral axonal regeneration and the return of sensation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that caspase-2(CASP2) orchestrates apoptosis of axotomised DRGN both in vivo and in vitro by disrupting the local neurotrophic supply to DRGN. We observed significantly elevated levels of cleaved CASP2 (C-CASP2), compared to cleaved caspase-3 (C-CASP3), within TUNEL+DRGN and DRG glia (satellite and Schwann cells) after SN transection. A serum withdrawal cell culture model, which induced 40% apoptotic death in DRGN and 60% in glia, was used to model DRGN loss after neurotrophic factor withdrawal. Elevated C-CASP2 and TUNEL were observed in both DRGN and DRG glia, with C-CASP2 localisation shifting from the cytosol to the nucleus, a required step for induction of direct CASP2-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, siRNAmediated downregulation of CASP2 protected 50% of DRGN from apoptosis after serum withdrawal, while downregulation of CASP3 had no effect on DRGN or DRG glia survival. We conclude that CASP2 orchestrates the death of SN-axotomised DRGN directly and also indirectly through loss of DRG glia and their local neurotrophic factor support. Accordingly, inhibiting CASP2 expression is a potential therapy for improving both the SN regeneration response and peripheral sensory recovery