Genetic Quantization-Aware Approximation for Non-Linear Operations in Transformers

Non-linear functions are prevalent in Transformers and their lightweight variants, incurring substantial and frequently underestimated hardware costs. Previous state-of-the-art works optimize these operations by piece-wise linear approximation and store the parameters in look-up tables (LUT), but most of them require unfriendly high-precision arithmetics such as FP/INT 32 and lack consideration of integer-only INT quantization. This paper proposed a genetic LUT-Approximation algorithm namely GQA-LUT that can automatically determine the parameters with quantization awareness. The results demonstrate that GQA-LUT achieves negligible degradation on the challenging semantic segmentation task for both vanilla and linear Transformer models. Besides, proposed GQA-LUT enables the employment of INT8-based LUT-Approximation that achieves an area savings of 81.3~81.7% and a power reduction of 79.3~80.2% compared to the high-precision FP/INT 32 alternatives. Code is available at https:// github.com/PingchengDong/GQA-LUT.Comment: 61st ACM/IEEE Design Automation Conference (DAC) 202

GhCalS5 is involved in cotton response to aphid attack through mediating callose formation

Callose synthase plays an essential role in plant growth and development and in response to all sorts of stresses through regulating callose formation. However, few research about the function and mechanism of the insect resistance of callose synthase genes have been reported in cotton. In this study, a cotton callose synthase gene GhCalS5 was cloned, and its function and mechanism of resistance to cotton aphids were analyzed. The expression of GhCalS5 was significantly upregulated in both, leaves and stems of cotton plants at 48 h after cotton aphid infestation and in the leaves of cotton plants at 24 h after salicylic acid treatment. The overexpression of GhCalS5 enhanced cotton resistance to cotton aphids. Expectedly silencing of GhCalS5 reduced cotton resistance to cotton aphids. Overexpression of GhCalS5 enhanced callose formation in cotton leaves. Our results suggest that GhCalS5 is involved in cotton resistance against cotton aphids by influencing callose formation

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

Field and experimental research on airflow velocity boundary layer in coal mine roadway

There is an airflow velocity boundary layer near tunnel wall when the air is flowing in the underground coal mine. The thickness and distribution of the airflow velocity boundary layer could influence the discharge of harmful and toxic gases that enter the ventilating airflow through this flow interface. It may also have a major impact in coal mine gas explosion. The results of field measurements and simulation experimental data are used to research airflow velocity boundary layer in a flat walled mine roadway, which is considered in turn: as unsupported, I-steel sectioned arch or bolted and shot create supported cross section. By referenced to other literature studies that consider boundary layer characteristics and the analysis of on-site and experimental data sets we obtain the corresponding airflow velocity boundary layer characteristics for each of the supported roadway sections. The airflow velocity within the boundary layer increase is assumed to follow a logarithmic law given by the expression: u = a Ln(x) + b. It is concluded that the thickness of the airflow velocity boundary layer is observed to significantly decrease with the airflow center velocity and to increase with roadway wall roughness. The airflow velocity distribution is found to be described by the equation: u = (m1v + n1)Ln(d) + m2v + n2, for the three types coal mine tunnel taking into account the influence of center airflow velocity

Equivalent Properties of Transition Layer Based on Element Distribution in Laser Bending of 304 Stainless Steel/Q235 Carbon Steel Laminated Plate

Compared with the single-component metal plate, there is a special transition layer on the joint interface between two kinds of materials in the stainless steel-carbon steel laminated plate (SCLP). In order to describe the finite element model of laser bending accurately, it is of great significance to determine material properties of the transition layer. Based on the element distribution, an equivalent method is adopted to calculate thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, elastic modulus, density, Poisson’s ratio, and specific heat capacity of transition layer. The electron probe experiments show that the transition layer is formed by interfacial element diffusion with thickness of 7 μm. Besides, the volume fraction of stainless steel (46.63%) and carbon steel (53.37%) in the transition layer is tested by energy dispersive spectrometer, respectively. Through the equivalent method, a laser bending model of SCLP is simulated by ANSYS software to predict the bending angle under different parameters. The experimental verification shows that the maximum of bending angle errors is 3.74%, which is lower than the maximum 4.93% of errors calculated by the mean value method. The analysis verifies that the laser bending model is feasible and contributes to improving the accuracy of modeling SCLP in the laser bending process

The Effect of High-Standard Farmland Construction Policy on Grain Harvest Losses in China

The United Nations included reducing harvest losses as a Sustainable Development Goal in 2015, sparking heightened research and policymaker interest in reducing losses to ensure food security. High-standard farmland construction plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. Few studies have combined high-standard farmland construction with grain harvest losses. Drawing on the data from the 2022 Chinese Post-Harvest Loss Survey (CPHLS 2022), the study utilizes OLS (ordinary least square) and quantile regression models to explore the impact of high-standard farmland construction on grain harvest losses. Empirical results show that high-standard farmland construction can significantly reduce grain harvest losses. The research conclusions are still valid after passing a series of robustness tests. The heterogeneity analysis shows that high-standard farmland construction significantly impacts on grain harvest losses for farmers in major grain-producing areas, plain areas, and eastern regions. Mechanism analysis reveals that high-standard farmland construction mainly reduces grain harvest losses by expanding operational scale and enhancing mechanization application. Based on research findings, the Chinese government should formulate a targeted high-standard farmland construction policy, optimize the agricultural machinery operating environment, and promote appropriate operational scale to ensure national food security