Directory Based Cache Coherency Protocols for Shared Memory Multiprocessors

Directory based cache coherency protocols can be used to build large scale, weakly ordered, shared memory multiprocessors. The salient feature of these protocols is that they are interconnection network independent, making them more scaleable than snoopy bus protocols. The major criticisms of previously defined directory protocols point to the size of memory heeded to store the directory and the amount of communication across the interconnection network required to maintain coherence. This thesis tries solving these problems by changing the entry format of the global table, altering the architecture of the global table, and developing new protocols. Some alternative directory entry formats are described, including a special entry format for implementing queueing semaphores. Evaluation of the various entry formats is done with probabilistic models of shared cache blocks and software simulation. A variable length global table organization is presented which can be used to reduce the size of the global table, regardless of the entry format. Its performance is analyzed using software simulation. A protocol which maintains a linked list of processors which have a particular block cached is presented. Several variations of this protocol induce less interconnection network traffic than traditional protocols

Student and parent satisfaction with online education at the elementary and secondary levels

The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with student and parent satisfaction with online education at the elementary and secondary level. The study involved the development and validation of two questionnaires (student and parent) to determine factors related to satisfaction. The questionnaires were developed through a review of current literature concerning distance and online education and with feedback from administrators and teachers currently working in online education at the elementary and secondary levels; The student satisfaction questionnaire contained 27 items that were assigned to five hypothesized dimensions or factors: (a) school-level technology support, (b) school-level instructional support, (c) curriculum programs, (d) social interactions, and (e) overall satisfaction. The students who completed the digital questionnaire were enrolled in one of three different programs of online education; Results of a maximum likelihood exploratory factor analysis with oblimin (oblique) rotation supported the hypothesized factor structure. A multiple regression analysis also was conducted to determine which of the four specific factors identified by the exploratory factor analysis were related to overall student satisfaction with online education. The multiple regression analysis indicated that school-level technology support, school-level instructional support, curriculum programs, and social interactions were all significantly related to overall student satisfaction; The parent satisfaction questionnaire contained 28 items that were assigned to the same five hypothesized dimensions or factors (e.g., school-level technology support; school-level instructional support; curriculum programs; social interactions; and overall satisfaction). The parents who completed the digital questionnaire had at least one child who was enrolled in one of three different programs of online education; Results of a maximum likelihood exploratory factor analysis with oblimin (oblique) rotation supported the hypothesized factor structure. A multiple regression analysis also was conducted to determine which of the four specific factors identified by the exploratory factor analysis were related to overall parent satisfaction with online education. The multiple regression analysis indicated that school-level instructional support, curriculum programs, and social interactions were significantly related to overall parent satisfaction. School-level technology support was not significantly related to overall parent satisfaction

A Steady-State Transfer Function Analysis of Portions of the Circulatory System Using Indicator Dilution Techniques

journal articleBiomedical Informatic

A Transfer Function Analysis of Coronary and Renal Circulation Calculated from Upstream and Downstream Indicator-Dilution Curves

journal articleBiomedical Informatic

Primary Sequence and Developmental Expression Pattern of mRNAs and Protein for an α1Subunit of the Sodium Pump Cloned from the Neural Plate ofXenopus laevis

AbstractExpression of a catalytic α subunit of the sodium pump was followed in earlyXenopusembryos for correlation with physiological experiments showing that the sodium pump controls cavity expansion and the differentiation of neurones from the neural plate. Two cDNAs (one full length, one partial) for α1subunit isoforms were cloned from a neural plate stageXenopuslibrary and sequenced. Other isoforms were not detected. Temporal and spatial expression patterns for α1subunit transcripts and protein revealed extensive developmental regulation. At all stages, cells involved in cavity generation (outer ectoderm and cells lining the archenteron) expressed α1transcripts with protein confined to the lateral and basal membranes. Before gastrulation, transcript levels were low and predominantly in animal cells. During gastrulation, α1mRNAs rose significantly. Transcripts and protein were down-regulated in future outer neural plate cells as the mesoderm invaginated. Protein appeared at the blastopore on apical surfaces of lip cells and apposing surfaces of invaginating cells, suggesting that the Na pump opposes entry of fluid. In early neurulae, α1mRNAs rose sharply. Transcript expression remained low in outer neural plate cells and increased in the endoderm, and protein appeared in the notochord. In midneurulae, transcripts returned in outer neural plate cells. Protein expression appeared on basal surfaces of deep neural plate cells and the floor plate, matching physiological observations. After neural tube closure, transcripts were detected in all dorsal structures. Protein was retained in the notochord and floor plate, was eliminated from the outer layer of the neural tube, and appeared on ependymal cells. The results are discussed in relation to previous physiological observations

Role of Nutrition in Alcoholic Liver Disease: Summary of the Symposium at the ESBRA 2017 Congress.

The symposium, "Role of Nutrition in Alcoholic Liver Disease", was held at the European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism Congress on 9 October 2017 in Crete, Greece. The goal of the symposium was to highlight recent advances and developments in the field of alcohol and nutrition. The symposium was focused on experimental and clinical aspects in relation to the role of different types of dietary nutrients and malnutrition in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The following is a summary of key research presented at this session. The speakers discussed the role of dietary fats and carbohydrates in the development and progression of alcohol-induced multi-organ pathology in animal models of ALD, analyzed novel nutrition-related therapeutics (specifically, betaine and zinc) in the treatment of ALD, and addressed clinical relevance of malnutrition and nutrition support in ALD. This summary of the symposium will benefit junior and senior faculty currently investigating alcohol-induced organ pathology as well as undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students and fellows

The Metallicity of the Redshift 4.16 Quasar BR2248-1242

We estimate the metallicity in the broad emission-line region of the redshift z=4.16 quasar, BR2248-1242, by comparing line ratios involving nitrogen to theoretical predictions. BR2248-1242 has unusually narrow emission lines with large equivalent widths, thus providing a rare opportunity to measure several line-ratio abundance diagnostics. The combined diagnostics indicate a metallicity of ~2 times solar. This result suggests that an episode of vigorous star formation occurred near BR2248-1242 prior to the observed z=4.16 epoch. The time available for this enrichment episode is only ~1.5 Gyr at z=4.16 (for H_{0}=65 km s^-1 Mpc^-1, Omega_{m}=0.3 and Omega_Lambda ~< 1). This evidence for high metallicities and rapid star formation is consistent with the expected early-epoch evolution of dense galactic nuclei.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Prepared in AAStex. Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Revised version: added 1 referenc

Feasibility and acceptability of telehealth coaching to promote healthy eating in chronic kidney disease: A mixed-methods process evaluation

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a personalised telehealth intervention to support dietary self-management in adults with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Design Mixed-methods process evaluation embedded in a randomised controlled trial. Participants People with stage 3-4 CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]15-60 mL/min/1.73 m 2). Setting Participants were recruited from three hospitals in Australia and completed the intervention in ambulatory community settings. Intervention The intervention group received one telephone call per fortnight and 2-8 tailored text messages for 3 months, and then 4-12 tailored text messages for 3 months without telephone calls. The control group received usual care for 3 months then non-tailored education-only text messages for 3 months. Main outcome measures Feasibility (recruitment, non-participation and retention rates, intervention fidelity and participant adherence) and acceptability (questionnaire and semistructured interviews). Statistical analyses performed Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Results Overall, 80/230 (35%) eligible patients who were approached consented to participate (mean±SD age 61.5±12.6 years). Retention was 93% and 98% in the intervention and control groups, respectively, and 96% of all planned intervention calls were completed. All participants in the intervention arm identified the tailored text messages as useful in supporting dietary self-management. In the control group, 27 (69%) reported the non-tailored text messages were useful in supporting change. Intervention group participants reported that the telehealth programme delivery methods were practical and able to be integrated into their lifestyle. Participants viewed the intervention as an acceptable, personalised alternative to face-face clinic consultations, and were satisfied with the frequency of contact. Conclusions This telehealth-delivered dietary coaching programme is an acceptable intervention which appears feasible for supporting dietary self-management in stage 3-4 CKD. A larger-scale randomised controlled trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the coaching programme on clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Trial registration number ACTRN12616001212448; Results