THE ERA OF NEUROSYNAPTICS: NEUROMORPHIC CHIPS AND ARCHITECTURE

Since its invention the modern day computer has shown a significant improvement in its performance and storage capacity.However, most of the current processor cores remain sequential in nature which limit the speed of computation. IBM has been consistently working over this and with the launching of neurosynaptic chips, it has opened a new gateway of thought process. This paper aims at reviewing the various stages and researches that have been instrumental in the overall development of neuromorphic architecture which aims at developing flexible brain like structure capable of performing wide range of real time computations while keeping ultra-low power consumption and size factor in mind. Inspired by the human brain, which is capable of performing complex tasks rapidly and accurately without being programmed and utilizing very less energy, TrueNorth chips tends to mimic the human brain so as to perform complex computations at a faster pace. This has inspired a new field of study aimed at development of the cognitive computing systems that could potentially emulate the brain's computing efficiency, size and power.The paper also aims to highlight the inadvertent challenges of neuromorphic architecture as posed by the prevailing technologies which are a major field of research in near future

Selecting Attributes, Rules, and Membership Functions for Fuzzy SoS Architecture Evaluation

The development of the FILA-SoS meta-architecture approach to acknowledged systems of systems (SoS) analysis allows a relatively unbiased method for exploring a potential SoS architecture space. This paper delves more deeply into the process of building the lists of desirable fuzzy attributes of a SoS, developing rules for combining attribute values to an overall assessment, and discovering membership function shapes that work well. A wide range of options exist for all the individual elements of SoS assessment. Some recommendations for finding an appropriate combination for the adjustable parameters of fuzzy assessment models through random architecture chromosome testing and iteration are developed

DIGITAL CAMPAIGN TRACKING WITH RESPECT TO APPLICATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Digital campaigns are often derailed from their goals due to amiss or often miscalculated aspects of the impact of the campaign on application infrastructure. To mitigate this problem, an approach is described herein which unifies these otherwise disjoint domains of digital marketing and application monitoring analytics. A solution is provided whereby a user may perform capacity planning for upcoming campaigns and perform real time correlation on campaign and infrastructure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), thus maximizing revenue and optimizing infrastructure cost. Through machine learning algorithms which are running on top of correlated data from both the domains, a plethora of actionable and valuable insights may be unraveled

SOIL EROSION MAPPING OF WATERSHED IN MIRZAPUR DISTRICT USING RUSLE MODEL IN GIS ENVIRONMENT

Soil erosion is one of the serious issues threatening the environment. It is a growing problem especially in areas of agricultural activity where soil erosion not only leads to de-creased agricultural productivity but also reduces water availability. This leads to drastic degradation of the agricultural lands. So there is a need to take up conservation and management measures which can be applied to check further soil erosion. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is the most popular empirically based model used globally for erosion prediction and control. Remote sensing and GIS techniques have become valuable tools for the digitization of the input data and genereation of maps. In the present study, RUSLE model has been adopted to estimate the soil erosion in the Khajuri watershed of Uttar Pradesh, India. This model involves calculation of parameters including runoff-rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodability Factor (K), topographic factor  (LS), cropping management factor (C), and support practice factor (P). Layer wise thematic maps of each of these factors were generated using GIS platform using various data sources and data preparation methods. The results of the study indicate that the annual average soil loss within the watershed is about  t/ha/yr (metric ton per hectare per year)

Flexible and Intelligent Learning Architectures for SOS (FILA-SoS)

Multi-faceted systems of the future will entail complex logic and reasoning with many levels of reasoning in intricate arrangement. The organization of these systems involves a web of connections and demonstrates self-driven adaptability. They are designed for autonomy and may exhibit emergent behavior that can be visualized. Our quest continues to handle complexities, design and operate these systems. The challenge in Complex Adaptive Systems design is to design an organized complexity that will allow a system to achieve its goals. This report attempts to push the boundaries of research in complexity, by identifying challenges and opportunities. Complex adaptive system-of-systems (CASoS) approach is developed to handle this huge uncertainty in socio-technical systems

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Modeling the Scaling of Intra-Tablet Coating Variability

Pharmaceutical tablets usually exhibit variability in coating where the distribution of coating between tablets as well as over an individual tablet\u27s surface is not uniform. The former is known as inter-tablet coating variability, and the latter is called intra-tablet coating variability. This work is focused on the intra-tablet coating variability and how it varies across different scales of the tablet coating operation. The discrete element method (DEM) is used to simulate the dynamics of almond-shaped tablets in coating pans of five different sizes. Polyhedral particles have been used in place of glued spheres to represent the tablet shape more accurately. An OpenGL program is used to simulate the spray and calculate the coating thicknesses. The virtual spray nozzles are placed at the center of the drum, and the spray direction is adjusted at each scale to be perpendicular to the tablet bed at most times. The tablet bed gets more flat in the spray area as the scale increases. There is some uncertainty in the spray angle at any scale, but the coating variability is insensitive to that. A major finding from the present work is that the asymptotic intra-tablet coating variability consistently increases with increasing pan size, indicating that it depends on the flow behavior as well, and not just the tablet shape. Also, since these are asymptotic values, the tablets require a considerable amount of time to achieve these values. It is difficult to reach the asymptotic values at lab scales since the operation is performed for a shorter duration for fewer tablets. The average angular displacement of a tablet while crossing the spray has been observed to be an important characteristic that represents the level of agitation among the tablet orientations. A higher angular displacement correlates to a reduced value of intra-tablet coating thickness variability. Based on this, increasing the width of the spray area in the streamwise direction is proposed to increase the angular displacement by increasing the time taken by the tablets to cross the spray area

OPM & Color Petri Nets Based Executable System of Systems Architecting: A Building Block in Fila-SoS

The ability to coordinate intricate operations in both intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations is a complex issue. Such operations can be described as a System-of-Systems (SoS). Both object process methodology (OPM) and color petri nets (CPN) can be used to create executable architecture models for an SoS. The modeling approach proposed in this study can capture the interactions that occur between either collaborating systems or components. It can also be used to analyze the behavioral aspects of an SoS. OPM models are easy to understand, giving stakeholders the ability to envision architecture\u27s quality and scale. In contrast, the simulation capabilities of CPN can be used for accurate performance assessment. The proposed modelling approach facilitates decision making by providing a better estimation and confidence of the SoS\u27s performance. Development of an executable architecture for an SoS will be of importance to policy makers by discerning, exploring, and adjusting stakeholder\u27s firmly held beliefs, finding new ways for systems to work together, learning more cost effective SoS arrangements and aid in negotiations with component systems to build an SoS

Physico-chemical studies on dyeing of jute and cotton fabrics using jackfruit wood extract: Part II — Dyeing kinetics and thermodynamic studies

66-72Bleached jute and cotton fabrics have been double pre-mordanted applying 20﹪ myrobolan (harda) as 1ˢt mordant and 20﹪ Al₂(SO₄)₃ or 20﹪ FeSO₄ as 2ⁿd mordant and subsequently dyed with aqueous extract of jackfruit wood under optimized conditions of dyeing. The physico-chemical parameters of dyeing, such as dyeing affinity, rate of dyeing, absorption isotherms and associated thermodynamic parameters like heat of dyeing (ΔH), entropy of dyeing (ΔS) and Gibb’s free energy (ΔG), have been assessed to explain the interaction among different fibre-mordant-dye systems. It is observed that all of these dyeing processes are endothermic, ΔH values being positive. Among different fibre-mordant-dye systems studied, jute fabric double pre-mordanted with harda and FeSO₄ shows a non-linear Langmuir type dye-absorption isotherm, while dye-absorption isotherms of all other fibre-mordant-dye systems are found to be linear following Nernst absorption isotherm, indicating the formation of co-ordinated complex in jute-harda + FeSO₄ –dye sample, and hydrogen bonding in all other cases of fibre-mordant-dye systems studied. However, the negative ΔG values of all the systems studied indicate that the potentiality of chemical interaction /reaction of these fibre-mordant-dye systems in some otherwise favorable conditions of dyeing need to be further studied

Predicting Response of Risk-Seeking Systems during Project Negotiations in a System of Systems

During project negotiations, typically, the awarding agency seeks bids from multiple parties. Examples of this setting include firms that are no longer willing to produce parts in-house or an airport seeking contracts for renovation. Risk-seeking parties are those that agree to work with lower budgets and under shorter deadlines, whereas risk-averse parties exhibit the opposite behavior. This setting can be found in the context of system of systems (SoS), where the SoS coordinator (the firm) has access to behavior characteristics of individual systems (parties) and their current workload from past interactions. The problem we study is for the SoS coordinator to predict the response of the systems in terms of budgets, deadlines, and performance targets, in advance of obtaining the actual response. This prediction can help the SoS negotiate the best deal. We present a quantitative model that predicts this response. Our model employs Markov chains to capture dynamics of the project, which would result when a bid is won, to quantify the response. Furthermore, our model accounts for the risk-taking tendencies and agility of the firm. We also analyze mathematical properties and provide numerical results to illustrate how our model can be used in a negotiation process