Cost and Coding Efficient Motion Estimation Design Considerations for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) Standard

This paper focuses on motion estimation engine design in future high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) encoders. First, a methodology is explained to analyze hardware implementation cost in terms of hardware area, memory size and memory bandwidth for various possible motion estimation engine designs. For 11 different configurations, hardware cost as well as the coding efficiency are quantified and are compared through a graphical analysis to make design decisions. It has been shown that using smaller block sizes (e.g. 4 × 4) imposes significantly larger hardware requirements at the expense of modest improvements in coding efficiency. Secondly, based on the analysis on various configurations, one configuration is chosen and algorithm improvements are presented to further reduce hardware implementation cost of the selected configuration. Overall, the proposed changes provide 56 × on-chip bandwidth, 151 × off-chip bandwidth, 4.3 × core area and 4.5 × on-chip memory area savings when compared to the hardware implementation of the HM-3.0 design.Texas Instruments Incorporate

Self-aware Computing in the Angstrom Processor

Addressing the challenges of extreme scale computing requires holistic design of new programming models and systems that support those models. This paper discusses the Angstrom processor, which is designed to support a new Self-aware Computing (SEEC) model. In SEEC, applications explicitly state goals, while other systems components provide actions that the SEEC runtime system can use to meet those goals. Angstrom supports this model by exposing sensors and adaptations that traditionally would be managed independently by hardware. This exposure allows SEEC to coordinate hardware actions with actions specified by other parts of the system, and allows the SEEC runtime system to meet application goals while reducing costs (e.g., power consumption).United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Ubiquitous High Performance Computing Progra

Antibody light-chain-restricted recognition of the site of immune pressure in the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial is phylogenetically conserved.

CAPRISA, 2014.Abstract available in pdf

Hand Assisted Retroperitoneoscopic Donor Nephrectomy in Challenging Cases; Right Sided Donor Nephrectomy With Multiple Renal Arteries

American Transplant Congress -- MAY 02-06, 2015 -- Philadelphia, PAWOS: 000370124201611

COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients: A multicenter experience in Istanbul

PubMed: 32657540Introduction: Management of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients should include treatment of the infection, regulation of immunosuppression, and supportive therapy. However, there is no consensus on this issue yet. This study aimed to our experiences with kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19. Material and Methods: Kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 from five major transplant centers in Istanbul, Turkey, were included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were classified as having moderate or severe pneumonia for the analysis. the primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. the secondary endpoints were acute kidney injury, the average length of hospital stay, admission to intensive care, and mechanical ventilation. Results: Forty patients were reviewed retrospectively over a follow-up period of 32 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Cough, fever, and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms in all patients. the frequency of previous induction and rejection therapy was significantly higher in the group with severe pneumonia compared to the moderate pneumonia group. None of the patients using cyclosporine A developed severe pneumonia. Five patients died during follow-up in the intensive care unit. None of the patients developed graft loss during follow-up. Discussion: COVID-19 has been seen to more commonly cause moderate or severe pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients. Immunosuppression should be carefully reduced in these patients. Induction therapy with lymphocyte-depleting agents should be carefully avoided in kidney transplant recipients during the pandemic period. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLCIstanbul ÜniversitesiI would like to mention those healthcare professionals who have been victims of COVID-19 in Turkey. in Turkey, 7428 health workers have been infected and some of these individuals have died from the disease. in particular, I wish to commemorate our teacher, Professor Murat Dilmener, and Cemil Tas??o?lu, both of whom died of COVID-19. Both spent many years working as clinicians and teachers at Istanbul University. We remember them with respect and appreciation

Effect of initial PET status on clinical course in peritoneal dialysis patients

Introduction. To investigate the effect on mortality of initial peritoneal equilibration test (PET) in PD patients (pts). Methods. We included patients who initiated therapy between 2001-2014. Patients underwent initial PET in the first three months. They were divided into four groups according to the initial PET (high, high-average, lowaverage, low transport). Sociodemographic data, clinical courses and infectious complications between groups were compared, and the reasons for PD withdrawal were obtained. Technique survival analyses of patients were done. Results. In a total of 367 pts were PD was started, 104 pts were excluded. Data of the remaining 263 patients were evaluated. Thirty-seven pts (23F, mean age 44.6±16.5 years, mean follow-up 30.5±20.8 months) had high transport, 90 pts (49F, mean age 41.5±16 years, mean followup 42.6±27.7 months) had high-average transport, 91 pts (55F, mean age 44.5±14.9 years, mean follow-up 50±29.2 months) had low-average transport and 45 pts (17F, mean age 43.5±14 years, mean follow-up (63.4±34.5 months) had low transport. There was no difference between groups in terms of age, gender, body mass index, initial daily urine and ultrafiltration volume, initial albumin levels, presence of diabetes mellitus (p>0.05). Peritonitis and catheter exit-site/tunnel infection attacks were higher in patients with high transport (p=0.01 and 0.008, respectively). There was a difference between groups with respect to the last status of patients (p< 0.009). The major causes of deaths were peritonitis and/or sepsis and cardiovascular causes in all patients. The mortality and technique survival rate was found higher in patients with high transport (log rank: 0.004 and 0.027, respectively). Age (OR:1.045, p<0.001), initial albumin (OR: 0.482, p= 0.007), daily urine volume (OR: 1.045, p<0.001) and presence of catheter exit-site/tunnel infection (OR: 0.249, p<0.001) were found to predict patient survival. Only presence of catheter exit-site/tunnel infection (OR: 0.452, p=0.013) were found to predict patient survival. Conclusions. Initial PET has effects on PD patient survival; patients with high transport have the worst survival and frequent infectious complications

Renal Damage Frequency in Patients with Solitary Kidney and Factors That Affect Progression

Background. The aim of this study is to assess renal damage incidence in patients with solitary kidney and to detect factors associated with progression. Methods. Medical records of 75 patients with solitary kidney were investigated retrospectively and divided into two groups: unilateral nephrectomy (group 1) and unilateral renal agenesis/dysplasia (group 2). According to the presence of kidney damage, each group was divided into two subgroups: group 1a/b and group 2a/b. Results. Patients in group 1 were older than those in group 2 (p=0.001). 34 patients who comprise group 1a had smaller kidney size (p=0.002) and higher uric acid levels (p=0.028) than those in group 1b at presentation. Uric acid levels at first and last visit were associated with renal damage progression (p=0.004, 0.019). 18 patients who comprise group 2a were compared with those in group 2b in terms of presence of DM (p=0.038), HT (p=0.003), baseline proteinuria (p=0.014), and uric acid (p=0.032) levels and group 2a showed higher rates for each. Progression was more common in patients with DM (p=0.039), HT (p=0.003), higher initial and final visit proteinuria (p=0.014, for both), and higher baseline uric acid levels (p=0.047). Conclusions. The majority of patients with solitary kidney showed renal damage at presentation. Increased uric acid level is a risk factor for renal damage and progression. For early diagnosis of renal damage and reducing the risk of progression, patients should be referred to a nephrologist as early as possible

Renal Damage Frequency in Patients with Solitary Kidney and Factors That Affect Progression

Background. The aim of this study is to assess renal damage incidence in patients with solitary kidney and to detect factors associated with progression. Methods. Medical records of 75 patients with solitary kidney were investigated retrospectively and divided into two groups: unilateral nephrectomy (group 1) and unilateral renal agenesis/dysplasia (group 2). According to the presence of kidney damage, each group was divided into two subgroups: group 1a/b and group 2a/b. Results. Patients in group 1 were older than those in group 2 ( = 0.001). 34 patients who comprise group 1a had smaller kidney size ( = 0.002) and higher uric acid levels ( = 0.028) than those in group 1b at presentation. Uric acid levels at first and last visit were associated with renal damage progression ( = 0.004, 0.019). 18 patients who comprise group 2a were compared with those in group 2b in terms of presence of DM ( = 0.038), HT ( = 0.003), baseline proteinuria ( = 0.014), and uric acid ( = 0.032) levels and group 2a showed higher rates for each. Progression was more common in patients with DM ( = 0.039), HT ( = 0.003), higher initial and final visit proteinuria ( = 0.014, for both), and higher baseline uric acid levels ( = 0.047). Conclusions. The majority of patients with solitary kidney showed renal damage at presentation. Increased uric acid level is a risk factor for renal damage and progression. For early diagnosis of renal damage and reducing the risk of progression, patients should be referred to a nephrologist as early as possible