Automatic mapping of graphical programming applications to microelectronic technologies

Adaptive computing systems (ACSs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) can serve as flexible hardware accelerators for applications in domains such as image processing and digital signal processing. However, the mapping of applications onto ACSs and ASICs using the traditional methods can take months for a hardware engineer to develop and debug. In this dissertation, a new approach for automatic mapping of software applications onto ACSs and ASICs has been developed, implemented and validated. This dissertation presents the design flow of the software environment called CHAMPION, which is being developed at the University of Tennessee. This environment permits high-level design entry using the Cantata graphical programming software fromKRI. Using Cantata as the design entry, CHAMPION hides from the user the low-level details of the hardware architecture and the finer issues of application mapping onto the hardware. Validation of the CHAMPION environment was performed using multiple applications of moderate complexity. In one case, theapplication mapping time which required six weeks to perform manually took only six minutes for CHAMPION, yet comparable results were produced. Furthermore, the CHAMPION environment was constructed such that retargeting to a new adaptive computing system could be accomplished in just a few hours as opposed to weeks using manual methods. Thus, CHAMPION permits both ACSs and ASICs to be utilized by a wider audience and application development accomplished in less time

Under-Pricing and Long-Run Performance of Initial Public Offerings in Developing Markets

The purpose of this paper is to examine the long-run performance of IPOs in developing markets using various methods to ascertain the significance of the over or under-performance of IPOs. Among the many reasons for the performance which we see, one of them could be the sensitivity of the results to the choice of benchmarks. Dimson and Marsh, Ritter, Gregory et al., Fama and French and Fama have successively demonstrated the sensitivity of the long-run performance of the IPOs the benchmark used in the study. For this reason, I am also motivated to study the effect of various benchmarks on the return measurements so as to elucidate the possibility that the magnitude of the performance is benchmark dependent. Finally, the focus of this study will be the Chinese and Indian markets

Antinociceptive activity of 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol in mice

A novel compound from diarylpentanoids analogues, 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol, was evaluated on its antinociceptive activity in mice through acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test. Antinociception of 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol was indicated by the reduction in the mean of the number of abdominal constrictions in the test groups compared to the control group. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg) was used as reference drugs while control group only received vehicle (5% DMSO: 5% Tween 20: 90% Distilled water) that used to dissolve the compound. The mice that received intraperitoneal injections of 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol at 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg showed 48.34%, 60.79%, 90.07% and 98.54% of inhibition respectively. Acetic acid injection in mice peritoneal cavity can promote the release of many inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin, bradykinin, substance P, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 and other mediator, which will then stimulate primary afferent neurons to enhance the release of aspartate and glutamate. Hence, the result obtained from this chemical model of nociception suggests that the antinociceptive activity of 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol may be linked partly to the inhibition of the inflammatory mediators

The involvement of L-arginine-nitric ox-ide-cGMP-ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway in antinocicep-tion of BBHC, a novel diarylpentanoid analogue, in mice model

The present study focuses on the possible involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide-cGMP-ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway in the antinociceptive activity of a novel diarylpentanoid analogue, 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol (BBHC) via a chemical nociceptive model in mice. The antinociceptive action of BBHC (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was attenuated by the intraperitoneal pre-treatment of l-arginine (a nitric oxide synthase precursor) and glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker) in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction tests. Interestingly, BBHC’s antinociception was significantly enhanced by the i.p. pre-treatment of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a selective inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (p < 0.05). Altogether, these findings suggest that the systemic administration of BBHC is able to establish a significant antinociceptive effect in a mice model of chemically induced pain. BBHC’s antinociception is shown to be mediated by the involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide-cGMP-ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway, without any potential sedative or muscle relaxant concerns

Distinct 'Immuno-Allertypes' of Disease and High Frequencies of Sensitisation in Non-Cystic-Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Rationale: Allergic sensitization is associated with poor clinical outcomes in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis; however, its presence, frequency, and clinical significance in non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis remain unclear. Objectives: To determine the frequency and geographic variability that exists in a sensitization pattern to common and specific allergens, including house dust mite and fungi, and to correlate such patterns to airway immune-inflammatory status and clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis. Methods: Patients with bronchiectasis were recruited in Asia (Singapore and Malaysia) and the United Kingdom (Scotland) (n = 238), forming the Cohort of Asian and Matched European Bronchiectasis, which matched recruited patients on age, sex, and bronchiectasis severity. Specific IgE response against a range of common allergens was determined, combined with airway immune-inflammatory status and correlated to clinical outcomes. Clinically relevant patient clusters, based on sensitization pattern and airway immune profiles (“immunoallertypes”), were determined. Measurements and Main Results: A high frequency of sensitization to multiple allergens was detected in bronchiectasis, exceeding that in a comparator cohort with allergic rhinitis (n = 149). Sensitization was associated with poor clinical outcomes, including decreased pulmonary function and more severe disease. “Sensitized bronchiectasis” was classified into two immunoallertypes: one fungal driven and proinflammatory, the other house dust mite driven and chemokine dominant, with the former demonstrating poorer clinical outcome. Conclusions: Allergic sensitization occurs at high frequency in patients with bronchiectasis recruited from different global centers. Improving endophenotyping of sensitized bronchiectasis, a clinically significant state, and a “treatable trait” permits therapeutic intervention in appropriate patients, and may allow improved stratification in future bronchiectasis research and clinical trials.Ministry of Education (MOE)Ministry of Health (MOH)National Medical Research Council (NMRC)Published versionSupported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under its Transition Award NMRC/TA/0048/2016 (S.H.C.) and Changi General Hospital Research grant CHF2016.03-P (T.B.L.). The work performed at NUS was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund, SIgN, and National Medical Research Council grants N-154-000-038-001, R-154-000-404-112, R-154-000-553-112, R-154-000-565-112, R-154-000-630-112, R-154-000-A08-592, R-154-000-A27-597, SIgN-06-006, SIgN-08-020, and NMRC/1150/2008 (F.T.C.); J.D.C. is supported by the GSK/British Lung Foundation Chair of Respiratory Research

Immunological corollary of the pulmonary mycobiome in bronchiectasis:The Cameb study

Understanding the composition and clinical importance of the fungal mycobiome was recently identified as a key topic in a “research priorities” consensus statement for bronchiectasis. Patients were recruited as part of the CAMEB study: an international multicentre cross-sectional Cohort of Asian and Matched European Bronchiectasis patients. The mycobiome was determined in 238 patients by targeted amplicon shotgun sequencing of the 18S–28S rRNA internally transcribed spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2. Specific quantitative PCR for detection of and conidial quantification for a range of airway Aspergillus species was performed. Sputum galactomannan, Aspergillus specific IgE, IgG and TARC (thymus and activation regulated chemokine) levels were measured systemically and associated to clinical outcomes. The bronchiectasis mycobiome is distinct and characterised by specific fungal genera, including Aspergillus, Cryptococcus and Clavispora. Aspergillus fumigatus (in Singapore/Kuala Lumpur) and Aspergillus terreus (in Dundee) dominated profiles, the latter associating with exacerbations. High frequencies of Aspergillus-associated disease including sensitisation and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were detected. Each revealed distinct mycobiome profiles, and associated with more severe disease, poorer pulmonary function and increased exacerbations. The pulmonary mycobiome is of clinical relevance in bronchiectasis. Screening for Aspergillus-associated disease should be considered even in apparently stable patients.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)NMRC (Natl Medical Research Council, S’pore)Published versio

Postgraduate ethics training programs: a systematic scoping review

BACKGROUND: Molding competent clinicians capable of applying ethics principles in their practice is a challenging task, compounded by wide variations in the teaching and assessment of ethics in the postgraduate setting. Despite these differences, ethics training programs should recognise that the transition from medical students to healthcare professionals entails a longitudinal process where ethics knowledge, skills and identity continue to build and deepen over time with clinical exposure. A systematic scoping review is proposed to analyse current postgraduate medical ethics training and assessment programs in peer-reviewed literature to guide the development of a local physician training curriculum. METHODS: With a constructivist perspective and relativist lens, this systematic scoping review on postgraduate medical ethics training and assessment will adopt the Systematic Evidence Based Approach (SEBA) to create a transparent and reproducible review. RESULTS: The first search involving the teaching of ethics yielded 7669 abstracts with 573 full text articles evaluated and 66 articles included. The second search involving the assessment of ethics identified 9919 abstracts with 333 full text articles reviewed and 29 articles included. The themes identified from the two searches were the goals and objectives, content, pedagogy, enabling and limiting factors of teaching ethics and assessment modalities used. Despite inherent disparities in ethics training programs, they provide a platform for learners to apply knowledge, translating it to skill and eventually becoming part of the identity of the learner. Illustrating the longitudinal nature of ethics training, the spiral curriculum seamlessly integrates and fortifies prevailing ethical knowledge acquired in medical school with the layering of new specialty, clinical and research specific content in professional practice. Various assessment methods are employed with special mention of portfolios as a longitudinal assessment modality that showcase the impact of ethics training on the development of professional identity formation (PIF). CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic scoping review has elicited key learning points in the teaching and assessment of ethics in the postgraduate setting. However, more research needs to be done on establishing Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA)s in ethics, with further exploration of the use of portfolios and key factors influencing its design, implementation and assessment of PIF and micro-credentialling in ethics practice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-021-02644-5

Mentoring in palliative medicine in the time of covid-19: a systematic scoping review : Mentoring programs during COVID-19.

IntroductionThe redeployment of mentors and restrictions on in-person face-to-face mentoring meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic has compromised mentoring efforts in Palliative Medicine (PM). Seeking to address these gaps, we evaluate the notion of a combined novice, peer-, near-peer and e-mentoring (CNEP) and interprofessional team-based mentoring (IPT) program.MethodsA Systematic Evidence Based Approach (SEBA) guided systematic scoping review was carried out to study accounts of CNEP and IPT from articles published between 1st January 2000 and 28th February 2021. To enhance trustworthiness, concurrent thematic and content analysis of articles identified from structured database search using terms relating to interprofessional, virtual and peer or near-peer mentoring in medical education were employed to bring together the key elements within included articles.ResultsFifteen thousand one hundred twenty one abstracts were reviewed, 557 full text articles were evaluated, and 92 articles were included. Four themes and categories were identified and combined using the SEBA's Jigsaw and Funnelling Process to reveal 4 domains - characteristics, mentoring stages, assessment methods, and host organizations. These domains suggest that CNEP's structured virtual and near-peer mentoring process complement IPT's accessible and non-hierarchical approach under the oversight of the host organizations to create a robust mentoring program.ConclusionThis systematic scoping review forwards an evidence-based framework to guide a CNEP-IPT program. At the same time, more research into the training and assessment methods of mentors, near peers and mentees, the dynamics of mentoring interactions and the longitudinal support of the mentoring relationships and programs should be carried out

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data