Parallel computation on sparse networks of processors

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06141 Abstracts Collection -- Dynamically Reconfigurable Architectures

From 02.04.06 to 07.04.06, the Dagstuhl Seminar 06141 ``Dynamically Reconfigurable Architectures\u27\u27 was held in the International Conference and Research Center (IBFI), Schloss Dagstuhl. During the seminar, several participants presented their current research, and ongoing work and open problems were discussed. Abstracts of the presentations given during the seminar as well as abstracts of seminar results and ideas are put together in this paper. The first section describes the seminar topics and goals in general. Links to extended abstracts or full papers are provided, if available

How to make stream processing more mainstream

Stream processing has a long history as a way of describing and implementing specific kinds of computational processes. So far, however, it has largely remained an exotic field of endeavor, with relatively small momentum compared to traditional von Neumann computing, and a large variety of programming models, languages, tools, and hardware realizations. However, as sequential machines cease to become faster over time, and future growth in computational speed will clearly derive from an increase in parallelism, the time has come for a general parallel programming model to supplant or complement the von Neumann abstraction

OpenDF - A Dataflow Toolset for Reconfigurable Hardware and Multicore Systems

International audienceThis paper presents the OpenDF framework and recalls that dataflow programming was once invented to address the problem of parallel computing. We discuss the problems with an imperative style, von Neumann programs, and present what we believe are the advantages of using a dataflow programming model. The CAL actor language is briefly presented and its role in the ISO/MPEG standard is discussed. The Dataflow Interchange Format (DIF) and related tools can be used for analysis of actors and networks, demonstrating the advantages of a dataflow approach. Finally, an overview of a case study implementing an MPEG-4 decoder is given

How to Make Stream Processing More Mainstream

Stream processing has a long history as a way of describing and implementing specific kinds of computational processes. So far, however, it has largely remained an exotic field of endeavor, with relatively small momentum compared to traditional von Neumann computing, and a large variety of programming models, languages, tools, and hardware realizations. However, as sequential machines cease to become faster over time, and future growth in computational speed will clearly derive from an increase in parallelism, the time has come for a general parallel programming model to supplant or complement the von Neumann abstraction. Many modern forms of computation are very well suited to a stream-based description and implementation, such as complex media coding [1], network processing [2], imaging and digital signal processing (e.g., see [3], [4]), as well as embedded control [5]. Together with the move toward parallelism, this represents a huge opportunity for stream processing. This paper shortly introduces a simple streambased model and discusses some of its properties in the light of requirements for a general parallel programming model

OpenDF – A Dataflow Toolset for Reconfigurable Hardware and Multicore Systems

This paper presents the OpenDF framework and recalls that dataflow programming was once invented to address the problem of parallel computing. We discuss the problems with an imperative style, von Neumann programs,and present what we believe are the advantages of using a briefly presented and its role in the ISO/MPEG standard is discussed. The Dataflow Interchange Format (DIF) and related tools can be used for analysis of actors and networks,demonstrating the advantages of a dataflow approach. Finally, an overview of a case study implementing an MPEG-4 decoder is given

The regulatory role of long-term depression in juvenile and adult mouse ocular dominance plasticity

The study of experience-dependent ocular dominance (OD) plasticity has greatly contributed to the understanding of visual development. During the critical period, preventing input from one eye results in a significant impairment of vision, and loss of cortical responsivity via the deprived eye. Residual ocular dominance plasticity has recently been observed in adulthood. Accumulating evidence suggests that OD plasticity involves N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression (LTD). Here we report that the administration of a selective LTD antagonist prevented the ocular dominance shift during the critical period. The NMDAR co-agonist D-serine facilitated adult visual cortical LTD and the OD shift in short-term monocularly deprived (MD) adult mice. When combined with reverse suture, D-serine proved effective in restoring a contralaterally-dominated visual input pattern in long-term MD mice. This work suggests LTD as a key mechanism in both juvenile and adult ocular dominance plasticity, and D-serine as a potential therapeutic in human amblyopic subjects