Multilevel MPSoC Performance Evaluation: New ISSPT Model

To deploy the enormous hardware resources available in Multi Processor Systems-on-Chip (MPSoC) efficiently, rapidly and accurately, methods of Design Space Exploration (DSE) are needed to evaluate the different design alternatives. In this paper, we present a framework that makes fast simulation and performance evaluation of MPSoC possible early in the design flow, thus reducing the time-to-market. In this framework and within the Transaction Level Modeling (TLM) approach, we present a new definition of ISS level by introducing two complementary modeling sublevels ISST and ISSPT. This later, that we illustrate an arbiter modeling approach that allows a high performance MPSoC communication. A round-robin method is chosen because it is simple, minimizes the communication latency and has an accepted speed-up. Two applications are tested and used to validate our platform: Game of life and JPEG Encoder. The performance of the proposed approach has been analyzed in our platform MPSoC based on multi-MicroBlaze. Simulation results show with ISSPT sublevels gives a high simulation speedup factor of up to 32 with a negligible performance estimation error margin

Modèles D’estimation De L’émission Du Méthane Entérique Des Animaux D’élevage Au Maroc

Enteric CH4 emissions have been of great scientific interest as they represent a real energy loss for livestock and are also responsible for global warming. The objective of this study is to measure enteric methane emissions in farm animals, and then develop models for estimating quantities emitted based on the amount of dry matter ingested (MSI). Holstein cows (n = 38) received dietary rations of 50% forage and 50% feed concentrate, and a linear regression model was developed to predict CH4 production per animal (g). CH4 (animal / day) from the amount of dry matter ingested and the equation obtained was as follows: Y = 19.05X. Here, Y is the amount of CH4 (g CH4 / cow / day) and X is the amount of ingested dry matter (kg), with R² = 0.91, r = 0.97, and RMSPE = 5.53%. For small ruminants (n = 22), three dietary levels were used and methane production was measured. In addition, the equation obtained was: Y = 12.21 X with R² = 0.81, r = 0, 91 and RMSPE = 15.80%. In camelins (n = 12) and equines (n = 10), only one food level was used and methane measurements did not develop an estimation model. However, mean values of methane production were determined and they corresponded to 11.41 g CH4 / kg MSI in camels and 2.18 g CH4 / kg MSI in horses

La plaine du Tafilalet (Sud-est, Maroc) face aux problèmes d'environnement

L’écosystème de la plaine du Tafilalet connaît une multitude de problèmes environnementaux qui menacent son équilibre naturel : la surexploitation des eaux souterraines, la salinité des eaux et des sols, une agriculture basée quasi-exclusivement sur l’irrigation, la dégradation du couvert végétal des forêts naturelles à cause de la forte pression anthropique, la sévérité du climat, la situation géographique, l’ensablement, et une faune sauvage qui nécessite la conservation, ainsi que le contexte socio-économique marqué par le besoin

The effect of insulin and calcitonin on osteoblast proliferation and biomineralization

OBJECTIVE: Insulin and calcitonin are involved in bone remodeling. Our aim was to determine the effect of insulin and calcitonin when added separately and in combination to mouse calvarial cultures on osteoblast proliferation and osteoblast mediated biomineralization in medium containing ascorbic acid and beta-glycerol phosphate. Our hypothesis is that both hormones in combination will cause a synergistic increase in osteoblast proliferation and biomineralization. METHODS: Osteoblasts were isolated from neonatal mouse calvaria and cultured under conditions that allow quantification of cellular proliferation and biomineralization. In our proliferation model, osteoblasts were grown in medium containing fetal calf serum stimulated by insulin, calcitonin, both, or culture medium alone that served as control. Proliferation was measured using a hemocytometer (Neubauer cell chamber). Osteoblast biomineralization was estimated by assessing cellular calcium uptake and secreted alkaline phosphatase activity. In the biomineralization model, osteoblasts were grown in the presence of ascorbic acid and betaglycerol phosphate and stimulated by factors used in the proliferation study. Calcium uptake was measured by an Arsenazo III microplate calcium assay and alkaline phosphatase activity was measured by enzyme release from the calvarial cellular layer. Histological and quantitative histomorphometric evaluations measured mineral deposition. RESULTS: Osteoblast proliferation was significantly increased by insulin or calcitonin alone but not by both together. All treatments, especially calcitonin, significantly increased calcium uptake. Only the combination of insulin and calcitonin significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity. Discussion: Our findings suggest that insulin and calcitonin increase proliferation and biomineralization controlled by osteoblasts.

Experimental Investigation on Flexural Behaviour of Prefabricated Ultra-Shallow Steel Concrete Composite Slabs

This paper presents the experimental results of four static full-size four-point bending tests to investigate the flexural behaviour of a recently developed prefabricated steel-concrete composite ultra-shallow flooring system (PUSS®). The flooring system comprises of T-ribbed concrete floors partially-embedded within and connected to side C-channel beams and horizontally-oriented shear connectors. This study investigates the effects of three parameters on the flexural behaviour of PUSS and the performance of the shear connectors under bending. The parameters under study are the type of concrete, degree of shear connection and depth of the slab. Four 4m span test specimens are constructed using two types of concrete, two with reinforced normal weight concrete (NWC) and the remaining two with reinforced lightweight aggregates concrete (LWC). Three of the test specimens employ the unique shear connection system composed of horizontally-oriented steel dowels with horizontally-oriented web-welded shear studs (dowels with WWSS) while the last one employs horizontal steel dowels only. The contribution of the above parameters on flexural behaviour and failure mechanisms are examined. The study concludes that replacing NWC with LWC of similar strength does not affect the flexural behaviour of PUSS in terms of slab capacity, ductility and failure mechanism. However, LWC demonstrates lower initial stiffness and leads to the development of larger cracks as loads increases. Also, reducing the degree of shear connection lowers the moment capacity of the slabs and results in failure of some shear connectors during testing. PUSS units exhibit ductile behaviour under bending conditions regardless of the degree of shear connection

COVID-19 Guidelines to Protect Healthcare Workers at Hospitals and Dental Professionals at Dental Office

BACKGROUND፡ Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. This study aimed to address the preventive procedures to protect healthcare workers at hospital to avoid COVID-19, and infection control procedures to protect dental professionals in dental office.METHODS: We conducted a search of published articles from PubMed, google scholar databases using key words such as COVID-19, healthcare worker, infection control, and dental practice. Relevant articles were identified and reviewed. Most published papers were clinical reports and case studies. We have selected some of the current published papers written in English in 2020.RESULTS: Infection control procedures to protect health workers at hospitals, and dental professionals at dental office were summurised and presented. Infection control procedures for healthcare workers at hospitals include Personal protective equipment, Korea filter (KF)94 respirator, goggles, face protector,disposable waterproof long-arm gown, and gloves, and others. Extra-protection procedures should be taken with old and vulnerable healthcare workers. Dental professionals should evaluate patients in advance before starting dental treatment. Aerosols generating procedures should be avoided and personal protective equipment should be used. Dental treatment should be restricted to emergency cases only.CONCLUSION: Old medical staff should be in safer distance to avoid infection, but young physicians and nurses should work at frontline as their immunity is better than their colleagues at old age. Screening patients and measurement of the body temperature are essential measures before dental treatment

MARKETING EXPENDITURE IMPACT ON BANK’S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY ON KUWAITI BANKS

Marketing personnel are always under pressure to justify their marketing strategies expenses to bank top management and shareholders. This study aims to provide some justification for their expenses by linking it to the financial performance of the firm. Using the data of ten Kuwaiti banks that are listed at Kuwait stock exchange (KSE) over the period spanning from 2008 to 2018, results show that there is a statistically significant direct relation between marketing expenditure and the financial performance of banks in Kuwait. In addition, results show that both bank size and assets per employee also have a direct relation with bank performance. JEL: G21; G24; G10 Article visualizations

Engineering a microbiosphere to clean up the ocean – inspiration from the plastisphere

Plastic is a ubiquitous material that has become an essential part of our lives. More than one hundred million tons of plastic has accumulated in the world’s oceans as a result of poor waste management. This plastic waste gradually fragments into smaller pieces known as microplastics and nanoplastics. These small plastic particles can cause significant damage to marine ecosystems, and negatively impact human health. According to a recent review of international patents, the majority of ocean-cleaning inventions are limited to microplastics larger than 20 μm. Furthermore, such technologies are ineffective for nanoplastics, which measure less than 1000 nm, or even fibrous plastics. Alternative solutions need to be considered for the large-scale in situ removal of microplastics and nanoplastics from the ocean. In this perspective, we present the concept of engineering a microbial ecosystem, which we term the microbiosphere. The concept is based on key observations that have been made for natural plastic-based ecosystems known as plastispheres. These observations relate to the solid support material, self-sustainability, attachment to plastic, degradation of plastic, and risk of pathogenicity. Inspiration can be taken from the plastisphere whereby a novel microbial ecosystem could be designed and engineered as a bioremediation tool to rid the ocean of micro- and nanoplastics. Such an engineered system could outcompete pathogens for marine plastic waste and potentially reduce the risk of infectious diseases

An Empirical Study to Measuring the Impact of Organizational Media Performance on the Relationship between Social Media Management and Public Perception in UAE

This studys main contribution is to deepen our understanding of the connections between social media management strategies, social media goals, the use of multiple platforms, content quality, follower interaction, scheduled publications, metrics analysis, organizational media performance, and public perception. The study looks at how social media management elements in government media organizations (such as the usage of social media tools, goals, various platforms, content quality, follower interaction, planned publication, and metrics analysis) affect the level of public perception in Dubai. Analyze the impact of social media management factors on the organizational media performance in Dubais government media organizations, as well as the impact of organizational media performance in Dubais government media institutions on public perception levels. and to investigate how organizational media performance mediates links between social media management characteristics and public perception in the UAE

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Composite Prefabricated Ultra-Shallow Slabs (PUSS) and Hollow Core Slabs in the UK

Life cycle assessment studies of precast construction methods highlight their superiority over traditional cast-in-situ construction in reducing buildings’ environmental impacts. Among the extensively used precast structural elements, hollow core precast slabs have proven benefits with their practical implementation in flooring systems across various flooring spans and live loads. This paper presents a case study comparing the global warming potential and embodied energy impacts of a recently developed lightweight prefabricated composite flooring system (PUSS) with hollow core precast slabs in the UK. The analysis is based on 16 live load/ flooring span scenarios, between 6 and 12m. The study examines the benefits and drawbacks of utilising different concrete types in PUSS flooring, namely normal weight concrete, lightweight aggregates concrete and geopolymer concrete. PUSS with GPC demonstrates potential savings of up to 50% in GWP compared with hollow core slabs, while PUSS with LWC exhibits potential savings of up to 35% in total EE compared with hollow core slabs