PowerPlanningDL: Reliability-Aware Framework for On-Chip Power Grid Design using Deep Learning

With the increase in the complexity of chip designs, VLSI physical design has become a time-consuming task, which is an iterative design process. Power planning is that part of the floorplanning in VLSI physical design where power grid networks are designed in order to provide adequate power to all the underlying functional blocks. Power planning also requires multiple iterative steps to create the power grid network while satisfying the allowed worst-case IR drop and Electromigration (EM) margin. For the first time, this paper introduces Deep learning (DL)-based framework to approximately predict the initial design of the power grid network, considering different reliability constraints. The proposed framework reduces many iterative design steps and speeds up the total design cycle. Neural Network-based multi-target regression technique is used to create the DL model. Feature extraction is done, and the training dataset is generated from the floorplans of some of the power grid designs extracted from the IBM processor. The DL model is trained using the generated dataset. The proposed DL-based framework is validated using a new set of power grid specifications (obtained by perturbing the designs used in the training phase). The results show that the predicted power grid design is closer to the original design with minimal prediction error (~2%). The proposed DL-based approach also improves the design cycle time with a speedup of ~6X for standard power grid benchmarks.Comment: Published in proceedings of IEEE/ACM Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference (DATE) 2020, 6 page

Growth, Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Nitrogen Uptake in Silicon and/or Potassium Fed barley Grown under Two Watering Regimes

The present pot experiment was an attempt to monitor the beneficial effects of silicon (Si) and/or potassium (K) applications on growth and nitrogen uptake in barley plants grown under water (FC1) and non water (FC2) stress conditions using 15N and 13C isotopes. Three fertilizer rates of Si (Si50, Si100 and Si200) and one fertilizer rate of K were used. Dry matter (DM) and N yield (NY) in different plant parts of barley plants was affected by Si and/ or K fertilization as well as by the watering regime level under which the plants have been grown. Solely added K or in combination with adequate rate of Si (Si 100) were more effective in alleviating water stress and producing higher yield in barley plants than solely added Si. However, the latter nutrient was found to be more effective than the former in producing higher spike's N yield. Solely added Si or in combination with K significantly reduced leaves ∆13 C reflecting their bifacial effects on water use efficiency (WUE), particularly in plants grown under well watering regime. This result indicated that Si might be involved in saving water loss through reducing transpiration rate and facilitating water uptake; consequently, increasing WUE. Although the rising of soil humidity generally increased fertilizer nitrogen uptake (Ndff) and its use efficiency (%NUE) in barley plants, applications of K or Si fertilizers to water stressed plants resulted in significant increments of these parameters as compared with the control. Our results highlight that Si or K is not only involved in amelioration of growth of barley plants, but can also improve nitrogen uptake and fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency particularly under water deficit conditions

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG DENTISTS

Dentists are at high risk for contracting Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which leads to severe liver disease. Proper infection control measures are supposed to be in place to avoid transmission, especially with the exposure to blood that dentists are at risk of. A cross-sectional study with quantitative method using a valid research questionnaire. A convenience sample of 101 dentists from around Lebanon participated in the study. The results showed that 83% of the participating dentists were vaccinated yet only 21% received the required dose for prevention against HBV. The dentists had moderate to high knowledge of HBV infection control measures, negative attitudes towards treating HBV exposed patients, as well as good practices of standard precautions. The results showed that there was a difference association between gender and vaccination (P=0.04). The results also showed that there was no remarkable association between years of experience and HBV infection prevention knowledge, however there was a significant association between gender, vaccination status and practices if infection control measures (P=0.00). The dentists report good KPA of infection control measures yet reinforcement is needed to ensure proper prevention of transmission of HBV in dental practice

Growth, Nitrogen Uptake and Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Barley Genotypes Grown under Saline Conditions

The effect of different salinity levels of irrigation water (ECw range 1-12 dS/m) on dry matter yield, nitrogen uptake, fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency (%NUE), stomatal conductance and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C‰) in three barley genotypes originating from different geographic areas (Arabi.Abiad, Syria; Pk-30-136, Pakistan and WI-2291, Australia) was investigated in a pot experiment. An increase in salinity resulted in a decrease in Δ13C in all the genotypes. Increasing salinity reduced leaf stomatal conductance which was less pronounced in WI-2291 comparing to other genotypes. At high salinity level, the reduction in Δ13C corresponded to a considerable decrease in the ratio (Ci/Ca) of intercellular (Ci) and atmospheric (Ca) partial pressures of CO2 in all the genotypes indicating that such a decrease was mainly due to the stomatal closure. Moreover, since the reduction in dry matter yield in all the genotypes grown at 12 dS/m did not exceed 50% in comparison with their controls, the photosynthetic apparatus of all studied genotypes seemed to be quit tolerant to salinity. At the moderate salinity level (8 dS/m), the enhancement of leaf dry matter yield in the WI2291 genotype might have been due to positive nutritional effects of the salt as indicated by a significant increase in nitrogen uptake and NUE. Thus, the lower Ci/Ca ratio could result mainly from higher rates of photosynthetic capacity rather than stomatal closure. On the other hand, relationships between dry matter yield or NUE and Δ13C seemed to be depending on plant genotype, plant organ and salinity level. Based on growth, nutritional and Δ13C data, selection of barley genotypes for saline environments was affected by salinity level. Therefore, such a selection must be achieved for each salinity level under which the plants have been grown

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AMONG LEBANESE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

During the first week of March, the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reached over 100 countries with more than 100,000 cases. Healthcare authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities beyond borders. A poor understanding of the disease among healthcare workers (HCWs) may result in delayed treatment and the rapid spread of infection. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs about COVID-19. A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID19, where a 23-item survey instrument was developed and distributed randomly to HCWs using google forms and email portals. The majority of the sample were females (75.5%) and have been working as registered nurses (50.3%), where their main source of information was their hospital and the Ministry of Health, followed by the social media the results of the study showed that the healthcare providers had adequate knowledge and positive perception regarding the prevention of COVID-19, however they have expressed concerns regarding contracting the infection and infecting family members. There has been a significant difference between those who have attended lectures and trainings and who have not on the level of the knowledge and perceptions (

Evaluation of dissolved heavy metals in water of the Sungai Semenyih (Peninsular Malaysia) using environmetric methods

The study to determine the concentrations of dissolved heavy metals in the Sungai Semenyih and to use the environmetric methods to evaluate the influence of different pollution sources on heavy metals concentrations was carried out. Cluster analysis (CA) classified 8 sampling stations into two clusters based on the similarity of sampling stations characteristics, cluster 1 included stations 1, 2, 3 and 4 (low pollution area), whereas cluster 2 comprised of stations 5, 6, 7 and 8 (high pollution area). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the two datasets yield two factors for low pollution area and three factors for the high pollution area at Eigenvalues >1, representing 92.544% and 100% of the total variance in each heavy metals data sets and allowed to gather selected heavy metals based on the anthropogenic and lithologic sources of contamination

Role of SMEs in Lebanese Economy

In Lebanon, the majority of organizations work as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs play an important role in the monetary improvement of numerous countries. This paper utilizes current viewpoints to analyze the variables influencing venture, efficiency and development of SMEs in Lebanon. It explores main factors affecting investment and productivity as follows: flexibility,customers and employee’s relations, motivation of the owners, education of the labour force, access to infrastructure, access to finance, size of firms and other business climate variables. Other business climate variables are insecurity, bribe or corruption, the amount of time that businesses spend dealing with government regulation, poor power availability, etc. The most concerning issue for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is not the idea or the product provided and neither its customers, but their needs. High costs of operations and office space are basics to the survival of a private venture. Incubators come as a reaction to the necessities of SMEs in key strides of a business, for example, commencement and market entrance. An incubator aims to have a positive effect on the economic health of an area, of a community even on a country

THE EFFECT OF MODERATE VERSUS DEEP SEDATION ON THE SATISFACTION AND LENGTH OF STAY OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING COLONOSCOPY IN A LEBANESE SPECIALIZED ENDOSCOPY CENTER

Colonoscopy is one of the most common screening procedure to detect colorectal cancer. Sedation during colonoscopy decreases anxiety, discomfort, minimizes risks, and promotes the overall satisfaction of the patient. It’s a challenge for nurses to adopt a sedation regimen taking into consideration traditional and modern techniques and methods. Purpose: To compare moderate and deep sedation effects on satisfaction, length of stay, and overall experience of patients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was conducted among 149 patients who responded to the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale after been consented pre-procedure. Results: Statistically significant differences were demonstrated for almost most items of Iowa satisfaction with the anesthesia scale, in addition to the clear difference between the post-procedure stay duration and time to have had their vitals baselined again. Conclusion: Deep sedation using Propofol was much more effective in enhancing patient satisfaction and reducing the length of stay and procedure duration substantially, thus contributing to a higher quality of care and improved performance of the endoscopy units