Performance Analysis of a Novel GPU Computation-to-core Mapping Scheme for Robust Facet Image Modeling

Though the GPGPU concept is well-known in image processing, much more work remains to be done to fully exploit GPUs as an alternative computation engine. This paper investigates the computation-to-core mapping strategies to probe the efficiency and scalability of the robust facet image modeling algorithm on GPUs. Our fine-grained computation-to-core mapping scheme shows a significant performance gain over the standard pixel-wise mapping scheme. With in-depth performance comparisons across the two different mapping schemes, we analyze the impact of the level of parallelism on the GPU computation and suggest two principles for optimizing future image processing applications on the GPU platform

The Raf/MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway can mediate growth inhibitory and differentiation signaling via androgen receptor downregulation in prostate cancer cells.

Upregulated ERK1/2 activity is correlated with androgen receptor (AR) downregulation in certain prostate cancer (PCa) that exhibits androgen deprivation-induced neuroendocrine differentiation, but its functional relevance requires elucidation. We found that sustained ERK1/2 activation using active Raf or MEK1/2 mutants is sufficient to induce AR downregulation at mRNA and protein levels in LNCaP. Downregulation of AR protein, but not mRNA, was blocked by proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and bortezomib, indicating that the pathway regulation is mediated at multiple points. Ectopic expression of a constitutively active AR inhibited Raf/MEK/ERK-mediated regulation of the differentiation markers, neuron-specific enolase and neutral endopeptidase, and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16(INK4A) and p21(CIP1), but not Rb phosphorylation and E2F1 expression, indicating that AR has a specific role in the pathway-mediated differentiation and growth inhibitory signaling. However, despite the sufficient role of Raf/MEK/ERK, its inhibition using U0126 or ERK1/2 knockdown could not block androgen deprivation-induced AR downregulation in an LNCaP neuroendocrine differentiation model, suggesting that additional signaling pathways are involved in the regulation. We additionally report that sustained Raf/MEK/ERK activity can downregulate full length as well as hormone binding domain-deficient AR isoforms in androgen-refractory C4-2 and CWR22Rv1, but not in LAPC4 and MDA-PCa-2b. Our study demonstrates a novel role of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in regulating AR expression in certain PCa types and provides an insight into PCa responses to its aberrant activation

An Application-Oriented Approach for Accelerating Data-Parallel Computation with Graphics Processing Unit

This paper presents a novel parallelization and quantitative characterization of various optimization strategies for data-parallel computation on a graphics processing unit (GPU) using NVIDIA's new GPU programming framework, Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA). CUDA is an easy-to-use development framework that has drawn the attention of many different application areas looking for dramatic speed-ups in their code. However, the performance tradeoffs in CUDA are not yet fully understood, especially for data-parallel applications. Consequently, we study two fundamental mathematical operations that are common in many data-parallel applications: convolution and accumulation. Specifically, we profile and optimize the performance of these operations on a 128-core NVIDIA GPU. We then characterize the impact of these operations on a video-based motion-tracking algorithm called vector coherence mapping, which consists of a series of convolutions and dynamically weighted accumulations, and present a comparison of different implementations and their respective performance profiles

FRAMEWORK OF AN INTEGRATED INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH OpenBIM BASED LIBRARY FOR NEW KOREAN STYLE HOUSE

ABSTRACT: This research introduces the roadmap of Establishment of Korean Traditional House Component Library Project (EKTHCLP) which developed an open BIM-based library system for new Korean traditional house components. In the project, the authors defined a parametric library by an XML-based approach; implemented the library to a browser and then developed a DB web contents Service which can be easily accessed by users. Using this system, users will be able to adjust the parameters to their wills and apply the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files generated from the browser to their projects regardless of software package selection. Because of additional information added in the IFC files, the translator for the generated IFC files from the browser to readable IFC file is under developing. BACKGROUND The Korean traditional house (woodened and assembled) is named Han-Ok that has passed through several centuries. Due to the popularity of the occidental house and expensive construction fee of Korean traditional house, the traditional house was always not preferred. However, since the eco-friendly and sustainable architectures were preferred and related construction technology of New Korean style house was developed as well as some national policy were made, the demands on Korean traditional house are increasing. Even though being improved, the traditional house is rather more difficult and expensive than we thought; therefore, an integrated information system which can be easily accessed by users is required. The research is carried out for openBIM based library development, popularity and cost decrease. SUMMARY There are five steps to implement an integrated information system for new Korean Traditional house. First step is to analyze geometry information and methods of assembled traditional house components from case study. Second step is to build database such as drawing sheet, documents, photo, and so on. Third step is to make 3D BIM Library and input needed properties to components. Fourth step is to connect a web service to distribute BIM libraries for end-users

Attribution of the 2015 record high sea surface temperatures over the central equatorial Pacific and tropical Indian Ocean

This study assessed the anthropogenic contribution to the 2015 record-breaking high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) observed in the central equatorial Pacific and tropical Indian Ocean. Considering a close link between extreme warm events in these regions, we conducted a joint attribution analysis using a fraction of attributable risk approach. Probability of occurrence of such extreme anomalies and long-term trends for the two oceanic regions were compared between CMIP5 multi-model simulations with and without anthropogenic forcing. Results show that the excessive warming in both regions is well beyond the range of natural variability and robustly attributable to human activities due to greenhouse gas increase. We further explored associated mechanisms including the Bjerknes feedback and background anthropogenic warming. It is concluded that background warming was the main contribution to the 2015 extreme SST event over the central equatorial Pacific Ocean on a developing El Niño condition, which in turn induced the extreme SST event over the tropical Indian Ocean through the atmospheric bridge effect.113Ysciescopu

A Study of ICU Nursing Core Skill Design for Nursing Practice Education and Nursing Students’ Performance Competency

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental information for the establishment of ICU Nursing Core Skill for nursing students of Cheju Halla University, South Korea by clarifying contemporary nursing skills/activities used in an ICU. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a Nursing Activities Questionnaire that included 99 questions in a 4-Likert scale. Data were collected from 111 nurses working in ICUs within 6 different hospitals in Jeju and 168 3rd year students who were enrolled in the ICU core skills course with a response rate of 78.87%. The Important Index was calculated from the urgency multiplied by four and added frequency of nursing activities (The Important Index = the urgency×4 + frequency). The data was analysed with SPSS 20.0 program using descriptive statistics for frequency, urgency, importance and performance competency of nursing activities. Results: Fifty nursing activities that had ranked upper 25 % of the Important Index score among 99 nursing activities were examined. When 14 ICU Nursing Skills used at the Cheju Halla University were matched with 50 nursing activities identified by the ICU RNs, upper 25% of the Importance Index score, 9 items were found to be consistent. Conclusions: This research showed the frequency of relevant nursing interventions ranked within an Importance Index, and the focus of performance competency elements of nursing activities in ICU of hospitals in Jeju Island. Based on the results of this study, there is need to correct and revise ICU Core Skill elements within programs at Cheju Halla University. Future study is suggested to examine and evaluate the ability of nursing students who perform nursing activities shown as relevant and critical on the Importance Index in this study

Generation of a single-cycle pulse using a two-stage compressor and its temporal characterization using a tunnelling ionization method

A single-cycle laser pulse was generated using a two-stage compressor and characterized using a pulse characterization technique based on tunnelling ionization. A 25-fs, 800-nm laser pulse was compressed to 5.5 fs using a gas-filled hollow-core fibre and a set of chirped mirrors. The laser pulse was further compressed, down to the single-cycle limit by propagation through multiple fused-silica plates and another set of chirped mirrors. The two-stage compressor mitigates the development of higher-order dispersion during spectral broadening. Thus, a single-cycle pulse was generated by compensating the second-order dispersion using chirped mirrors. The duration of the single-cycle pulse was 2.5 fs, while its transform-limited duration was 2.2 fs. A continuum extreme ultraviolet spectrum was obtained through high-harmonic generation without applying any temporal gating technique. The continuum spectrum was shown to have a strong dependence on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser pulse, confirming the generation of a single-cycle pulse. © 2019, The Author(s