OPTIMIZING LEMPEL-ZIV FACTORIZATION FOR THE GPU ARCHITECTURE

Lossless data compression is used to reduce storage requirements, allowing for the relief of I/O channels and better utilization of bandwidth. The Lempel-Ziv lossless compression algorithms form the basis for many of the most commonly used compression schemes. General purpose computing on graphic processing units (GPGPUs) allows us to take advantage of the massively parallel nature of GPUs for computations other that their original purpose of rendering graphics. Our work targets the use of GPUs for general lossless data compression. Specifically, we developed and ported an algorithm that constructs the Lempel-Ziv factorization directly on the GPU. Our implementation bypasses the sequential nature of the LZ factorization and attempts to compute the factorization in parallel. By breaking down the LZ factorization into what we call the PLZ, we are able to outperform the fastest serial CPU implementations by up to 24x and perform comparatively to a parallel multicore CPU implementation. To achieve these speeds, our implementation outputted LZ factorizations that were on average only 0.01 percent greater than the optimal solution that what could be computed sequentially. We are also able to reevaluate the fastest GPU suffix array construction algorithm, which is needed to compute the LZ factorization. We are able to find speedups of up to 5x over the fastest CPU implementations

Malaysia's services industry towards the global environment

Nowadays, services sector is an important engine of the global economy development and it continues to grow vigorously. The progress of globalization, government liberalization, and the rapid advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) contributes to the continual acceleration of this sector. Since the services sector is playing its role fruitfully as one of the main economic builders to many economies throughout the world, most governments are putting greater emphasis on services sector in their countries’ economic planning. Therefore, this paper describes briefly the evolution of services sector in Malaysia, the services world trade and the current global trend in this outstanding sector. Despite all the potential opportunities that the services sector would generate, the multifaceted challenges will be invoked simultaneously. Hence, this paper also will describe in broad the opportunities and challenges, which services sector will stimulate for service industry players specifically Malaysia. To survive in the dynamic and competitive service environment, there is an ultimate necessity for services players to build a competitive edge. At the end of the paper, three competitive service strategies namely positioning, people, and system is discussed

The effect of perception on consumers' attitude towards purchasing Islamic Banking products

Islamic banking concept is highly regulated by emphasizing Shariah principles which is conventional banking does not apply in daily banking transaction. Islamic banking could be defined as a banking system that is based on the principle of Islamic law and guided by Islamic economics which focus on sharing profit and loss with the prohibition of the collection and payment of interest. The problem statement of this study can be divided into industrial problems and academic problems that connected to the gap of the study. The primary objective of this research is to examine the relationship between consumer perception and consumer purchase intention and evaluate the underlying determinants that influence consumer intention to consumer Islamic banking with the aim of developing a behavioral framework for analyzing and explaining consumer behavior regarding Islamic banking. This research has been undertaken using mixed method which incorporates aspects of qualitative and quantitative research both. This is selected because survey strategy provides different options of data collection such as; interviews, questionnaire and focus group. The sample size used in this research will be 600 customers of any of the listed Islamic bank in Malaysia. To be on the safe side, 620 respondents were approached and to eliminate the error of responses, the additional survey will be evaluated. Since, information for this research is gathered both qualitatively and quantitatively, consequently it is important to select suitable techniques for data analysis to viably translate the outcome in an understandable manner and achieve the finished conclusion. The researcher has performed appropriate data analysis techniques to examine the values such as Beta, chi square, sig value, standard error and t value. Moreover, the study likewise performed reliability test to access of the obtained data is reliable to use. The research is concluded that comprehensively covers the aspect of Islamic banking and its role on the minds of the customer. Furthermore, results also concluded that consumer intent to purchase Islamic banking products were significantly influenced by the certain factors that shaped their behaviour and perception of an Islamic banking product. Additionally, statistically strong relationship between the dependent variable i.e. intent to purchase and all four independent variables including attitude, consumer perception, perceived control behaviour and subjective norm confirmed the perception of consumers regarding Islamic banking and the way if influenced the their purchase intention

A review of the principle of good faith in English Contract Law / Bryan Ching-Wing Lo

Today, the question of “Is there a duty to negotiate in good faith?” still arises in most of the jurisdictions that practice English Law. This paper reviews the principle of good faith in English contract law to provide an insight of how the UK courts make judgment decisions. The main reference case to support this research paper is Walford v Miles which had been cited by many jurisdictions for their previous court decisions. Other sources of references were derived from legal journal articles and books. In the discussion, there were findings both supporting and rejecting the “agreement to agree”. However, the final outcome of the analysis revealed that a more explicit definition by the UK law is required to end the debate on the principle vagueness

Satisfaction of Dental Students, Faculty, and Patients with Tooth Shade-Matching Using a Spectrophotometer

The aims of this study were to evaluate dental students’ clinical shade-matching outcomes (from subjective use of shade guide) with an objective electronic shade-matching tool (spectrophotometer); to assess patients’, students’, and supervising faculty members’ satisfaction with the clinical shade-matching outcomes; and to assess clinicians’ support for use of the spectrophotometer to improve esthetic outcomes. A total of 103 volunteer groups, each consisting of patient, dental student, and supervising faculty member at the University of Louisville, were recruited to participate in the study in 2015. Using the spectrophotometer, clinical shade-matching outcome (ΔEclinical) and laboratory shade-matching outcome (ΔElaboratory) were calculated. Two five-point survey items were used to assess the groups’ satisfaction with the clinical shade-matching outcome and support for an objective electronic shade-matching tool in the student clinic. The results showed that both ΔEclinical (6.5±2.4) and ΔElaboratory (4.3±2.0) were outside the clinical acceptability threshold ΔE values of 2.7, when visual shade-matching method (subjective usage of shade guide) was used to fabricate definitive restorations. Characteristics of the patients, dental students, supervising faculty members, and restorations had minimal to no effect on the ΔEclinical. The patients, dental students, and supervising faculty members generally had positive opinions about the clinical shade-matching outcome, despite the increased ΔEclinical observed. Overall, clinical shade-matching outcomes in this school need further improvement, but the patients’ positive opinions may indicate the need to revisit the acceptability threshold ΔE value of 2.7 in the academic setting

Regulation of Planar Cell Polarity by Smurf Ubiquitin Ligases

SummaryPlanar cell polarity (PCP) is critical for morphogenesis in metazoans. PCP in vertebrates regulates stereocilia alignment in neurosensory cells of the cochlea and closure of the neural tube through convergence and extension movements (CE). Noncanonical Wnt morphogens regulate PCP and CE in vertebrates, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Smurfs are ubiquitin ligases that regulate signaling, cell polarity and motility through spatiotemporally restricted ubiquitination of diverse substrates. Here, we report an unexpected role for Smurfs in controlling PCP and CE. Mice mutant for Smurf1 and Smurf2 display PCP defects in the cochlea and CE defects that include a failure to close the neural tube. Further, we show that Smurfs engage in a noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway that targets the core PCP protein Prickle1 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Our work thus uncovers ubiquitin ligases in a mechanistic link between noncanonical Wnt signaling and PCP/CE

Cost-effectiveness analysis of left atrial appendage occlusion compared with pharmacological strategies for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation

Background Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a promising therapy for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) but its cost-effectiveness remains understudied. This study evaluated the cost- effectiveness of LAAO for stroke prophylaxis in NVAF. Methods A Markov decision analytic model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of LAAO with 7 pharmacological strategies: aspirin alone, clopidogrel plus aspirin, warfarin, dabigatran 110 mg, dabigatran 150 mg, apixaban, and rivaroxaban. Outcome measures included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), lifetime costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Base-case data were derived from ACTIVE, RE-LY, ARISTOTLE, ROCKET-AF, PROTECT-AF and PREVAIL trials. One- way sensitivity analysis varied by CHADS2 score, HAS-BLED score, time horizons, and LAAO costs; and probabilistic sensitivity analysis using 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations was conducted to assess parameter uncertainty. Results LAAO was considered cost-effective compared with aspirin, clopidogrel plus aspirin, and warfarin, with ICER of US$5,115,$2,447, and $6,298 per QALY gained, respectively. LAAO was dominant (i.e. less costly but more effective) compared to other strategies. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated favorable ICERs of LAAO against other strategies in varied CHADS2 score, HAS-BLED score, time horizons (5 to 15 years) and LAAO costs. LAAO was cost-effective in 86.24$50,000/QALY. Conclusions Transcatheter LAAO is cost-effective for prevention of stroke in NVAF compared with 7 pharmacological strategies. Condensed abstract The transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is considered cost-effective against the standard 7 oral pharmacological strategies including acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) alone, clopidogrel plus ASA, warfarin, dabigatran 110 mg, dabigatran 150 mg, apixaban, and rivaroxaban for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation management

Labuan IOFC offshore banking and industry: the growth through product/service innovation

Labuan IOFC is an International financial center located at the "positioned center" of the Asia-Pacific basin. The center is moving ahead to become a premier offshore financial center in the world. In the mean time, it promotes more activities and services to a great extent a truly integrated service provider center. Hence, new activities and innovative products are continuously being developed in Labuan which will benefit investors and other offshore players. It offers wide range of offshore financial products and services and complements Kuala Lumpur as a regional financial center. Besides, the legislative framework is not only business friendly but also prudent to safeguard Labuan's reputation and image as offshore financial center. The main objective of this research is to identify the growth of financial products and services in labuan IOFC Offshore Banking Industry. The significance of the research indudes contributing the direction of marketing financial products and services and attracting customers that has changed through the growth of financial product and service innovations. Through product and service innovations, the offshore bankers may consider the key product and service to achieve competitive edge. Moreover, by conducting this research, Labuan and national economy may be improved through better financial services and higher profit from the offshore banking industry