Cycle-accurate modeling of multicore processors on FPGAs

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 169-176).We present a novel modeling methodology which enables the generation of a high-performance, cycle-accurate simulator from a cycle-level specification of the target design. We describe Arete, a full-system multicore processor simulator, developed using our modeling methodology. We provide details on Arete's resource-efficient and high-performance implementation on multiple FPGA platforms, and the architectural experiments performed using it. We present clear evidence that the use of simplified models in architectural studies can lead to wrong conclusions. Through two experiments performed using both cycle-accurate and simplified models, we show that on one hand there are substantial quantitative and qualitative differences in results, and on the other, the results match quite well.by Asif Imtiaz Khan.Ph.D

Emulation of microprocessor memory systems using the RAMP design framework

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-50).With the computer hardware industry and the academic world focused on multiprocessor systems, the RAMP project is aiming to provide the infrastructure for supporting high-speed emulation of large scale, massively-parallel multiprocessor systems using FPGAs. The RAMP design framework provides the platform for building this infrastructure. This research utilizes this design framework to emulate various microprocessor memory systems through a model built in an FPGA. We model both the latency and the bandwidth of memory systems through a parameterized emulation platform, thereby, demonstrating the validity of the design framework. We also show the efficiency of the framework through an evaluation of the utilized FPGA resources.by Asif I. Khan.S.M

A general technique for deterministic model-cycle-level debugging

Efficient use of FPGA resources requires FPGA-based performance models of complex hardware to implement one model cycle, i.e., one time-step of the original synchronous system, in several implementation cycles. Generally implementation cycles have no simple relationship with model cycles, and it is tricky to reconstruct the state of the synchronous system at the model-cycle boundaries if only implementation-cycle-level control and information is provided. A good debugging facility needs to provide: complete control over the functioning of the target design being simulated; fast and easy access to all the significant target design state for both monitoring and modification; and some means of accomplishing deterministic execution when the target design is a multicore processor running a parallel application. Moreover, these features need to be provided in a manner which does not incur substantial resource and performance penalties. In this paper, we present a debugging technique based on the LI-BDN theory. We show how the technique facilitates deterministic model-cycle-level debugging. We used it to build the debugging infrastructure for Arete, which is an FPGA-based cycle-accurate multicore simulator. The resource and performance penalties of our debugging technique are minimal; in Arete the debugging infrastructure has area and performance overheads of 5% and 6%, respectively.IBM Researc

Hybrid Quinoline-Thiosemicarbazone Therapeutics as a New Treatment Opportunity for Alzheimer’s Disease‒Synthesis, In Vitro Cholinesterase Inhibitory Potential and Computational Modeling Analysis

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2021-10-27, pub-electronic 2021-10-30Publication status: PublishedAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide. The limited pharmacological approaches based on cholinesterase inhibitors only provide symptomatic relief to AD patients. Moreover, the adverse side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, and headaches associated with these drugs and numerous clinical trial failures present substantial limitations on the use of medications and call for a detailed insight of disease heterogeneity and development of preventive and multifactorial therapeutic strategies on urgent basis. In this context, we herein report a series of quinoline-thiosemicarbazone hybrid therapeutics as selective and potent inhibitors of cholinesterases. A facile multistep synthetic approach was utilized to generate target structures bearing multiple sites for chemical modifications and establishing drug-receptor interactions. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were fully established using readily available spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H- and 13C-NMR). In vitro inhibitory results revealed compound 5b as a promising and lead inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.12 ± 0.02 μM, a 5-fold higher potency than standard drug (galantamine; IC50 = 0.62 ± 0.01 μM). The synergistic effect of electron-rich (methoxy) group and ethylmorpholine moiety in quinoline-thiosemicarbazone conjugates contributes significantly in improving the inhibition level. Molecular docking analysis revealed various vital interactions of potent compounds with amino acid residues and reinforced the in vitro results. Kinetics experiments revealed the competitive mode of inhibition while ADME properties favored the translation of identified inhibitors into safe and promising drug candidates for pre-clinical testing. Collectively, inhibitory activity data and results from key physicochemical properties merit further research to ensure the design and development of safe and high-quality drug candidates for Alzheimer’s disease

A Systemic Review of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) And its Emergence in Pakistan

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an infectious disease caused by the virus lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). The family of LSDV is Poxiviridae and the genus Capripoxvirus (CaPV). The GTPV (goat pox virus) and SPPV (sheep pox virus) also belong to the same genus. LSDV causes disease in livestock animals except for dogs. LSDV causes vast economic losses in the country in the livestock industry and dairy industries. LSDV also affects the industries belonging to these industries like the leather industry. The sequence of 21 strains of LSDV were taken from NCBI database and their fasta files were retrieved. After that, phylogenetic analysis was performed using these sequences. This study provides an overall overview of the lumpy skin disease (LSD) its genome, causative agent, transmission, epidemic, molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, control, and treatment of the LSDV. We also give a short review of the emergence of LSD in Pakistan

Hemato-Biochemical Alterations in Cross Bred Cattle Affected with Bovine Theileriosis in Semi Arid Zone

This study was carried out to ascertain the changes in hematology and serum constituents in cross bred cattle affected with bovine theileriosis in semi arid zone of Pakistan. A total of 50 cross bred cows of age 2-5 years were included in the study. Twenty animals of same age were kept as healthy controls. The affected animals showed signs and symptoms of bovine theileriosis i.e., high rise in body temperature, general debility, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes, mucosal hemorrhages, conjunctivitis, etc. These animals were subjected to examination of peripheral blood smears for the presence of Theileria annulata schizonts in infected mononuclear cells and piroplasms in red blood cells. Significant (P≤0.05) decrease was observed in total erythrocyte counts, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, serum total proteins, albumin, globulins, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations in cattle affected with bovine theileriosis compared with healthy controls, while significant (P≤0.05) increase was observed in serum bilirubin and alanine transaminase of affected cattle compared with healthy controls. Non significant differences were observed in serum magnesium and uric acid concentration in both affected and healthy controls. These observations revealed that bovine theileriosis caused by T. annulata in cross bred cattle in semi arid zone is associated with hemato-biochemical alterations

Implementing a fast cartesian-polar matrix interpolator

The 2009 MEMOCODE Hardware/Software Co-Design Contest assignment was the implementation of a cartesian-to-polar matrix interpolator. We discuss our hardware and software design submissions

Investigation of slow pyrolysis mechanism and kinetic modeling of Scenedesmus quadricauda biomass

Bioenergy potential of microalage Scednedesmus quadricuda through pyrolysis was investigated using kinetic and thermodynamic analyses. From model-free isoconversional methods, the estimated average activation energies were 152.37 (+/- 20.93), 174.98 (+/- 22.38), and 153.00 (+/- 21.23) kJ/mol, using Friedman, OFW and advance Vyazovkin methods, respectively. Avrami-Erofeev's A1/4 reaction model was the most probable single-step re-action mechanism determined from the combined kinetic analysis. The activation energy profile, however, indicated a complex degradation process in the active pyrolysis zone. Two independent parallel reactions were considered in the active pyrolysis zone. Average activation energy for low temperature conversion was 77.95 (+/- 3.12) kJ/mol, pre-exponential coefficient 4.86E4 (+/- 2.24E4) s(-1), and n = 1.51 (+/- 0.10), whereas for high temperature conversion, the activation energy was 73.26 (+/- 17.93) kJ/mol, pre-exponential coefficient 1.32E3 (+/- 2.61E3) s(-1), and n = 1.21 (+/- 0.16). Thermodynamic analysis of pyrolysis in terms of enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy indicated the feasibility of conversion

Air gasification of high-ash sewage sludge for hydrogen production: Experimental, sensitivity and predictive analysis

In this work, air gasification of sewage sludge was conducted in a lab-scale bubbling fluidized bed gasifier. Further, the gasification process was modeled using artificial neural networks for the product gas composition with varying temperatures and equivalence ratios. Neural network-based prediction will help to predict the hydrogen production from product gas composition at various temperatures and equivalence ratios. The gasification efficiency and lower heating values were also established as a function of temperatures and equivalence ratios. The maximum H2 and CO was recorded as 16.26 vol% and 33.55 vol %. Intraileally at ER 0.2 gas composition H2, CO, and CH4 show high concentrations of 20.56 vol%, 45.91 vol%, and 13.32 vol%, respectively. At the same time, CO2 was lower as 20.20 vol% at ER 0.2. Therefore, optimum values are suggested for maximum H2 and CO yield and lower concentration of CO2 at ER 0.25 and temperature of 850 degrees C. A predictive model based on an Artificial Neural network is also developed to predict the hydrogen production from product gas composition at various temperatures and equivalence ratios.Web of Science4788373843737