Multi-criteria optimization for energy-efficient multi-core systems-on-chip

The steady down-scaling of transistor dimensions has made possible the evolutionary progress leading to today’s high-performance multi-GHz microprocessors and core based System-on-Chip (SoC) that offer superior performance, dramatically reduced cost per function, and much-reduced physical size compared to their predecessors. On the negative side, this rapid scaling however also translates to high power densities, higher operating temperatures and reduced reliability making it imperative to address design issues that have cropped up in its wake. In particular, the aggressive physical miniaturization have increased CMOS fault sensitivity to the extent that many reliability constraints pose threat to the device normal operation and accelerate the onset of wearout-based failures. Among various wearout-based failure mechanisms, Negative biased temperature instability (NBTI) has been recognized as the most critical source of device aging. The urge of reliable, low-power circuits is driving the EDA community to develop new design techniques, circuit solutions, algorithms, and software, that can address these critical issues. Unfortunately, this challenge is complicated by the fact that power and reliability are known to be intrinsically conflicting metrics: traditional solutions to improve reliability such as redundancy, increase of voltage levels, and up-sizing of critical devices do contrast with traditional low-power solutions, which rely on compact architectures, scaled supply voltages, and small devices. This dissertation focuses on methodologies to bridge this gap and establishes an important link between low-power solutions and aging effects. More specifically, we proposed new architectural solutions based on power management strategies to enable the design of low-power, aging aware cache memories. Cache memories are one of the most critical components for warranting reliable and timely operation. However, they are also more susceptible to aging effects. Due to symmetric structure of a memory cell, aging occurs regardless of the fact that a cell (or word) is accessed or not. Moreover, aging is a worst-case matric and line with worst-case access pattern determines the aging of the entire cache. In order to stop the aging of a memory cell, it must be put into a proper idle state when a cell (or word) is not accessed which require proper management of the idleness of each atomic unit of power management. We have proposed several reliability management techniques based on the idea of cache partitioning to alleviate NBTI-induced aging and obtain joint energy and lifetime benefits. We introduce graceful degradation mechanism which allows different cache blocks into which a cache is partitioned to age at different rates. This implies that various sub-blocks become unreliable at different times, and the cache keeps functioning with reduced efficiency. We extended the capabilities of this architecture by integrating the concept of reconfigurable caches to maintain the performance of the cache throughout its lifetime. By this strategy, whenever a block becomes unreliable, the remaining cache is reconfigured to work as a smaller size cache with only a marginal degradation of performance. Many mission-critical applications require guaranteed lifetime of their operations and therefore the hardware implementing their functionality. Such constraints are usually enforced by means of various reliability enhancing solutions mostly based on redundancy which are not energy-friendly. In our work, we have proposed a novel cache architecture in which a smart use of cache partitions for redundancy allows us to obtain cache that meet a desired lifetime target with minimal energy consumption

Mechanical properties and strain monitoring of glass-epoxy composites with graphene-coated fibers

An engineered interphase can improve the mechanical properties of epoxy/glass composites simultaneously inducing a piezoresistive response. To prove this concept, E-glass fibers were coated with graphene oxide (GO) by electrophoretic deposition, while reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated fibers were obtained by subsequent chemical reduction. The fiber-matrix interfacial shear strength (measured by the single-fiber fragmentation test) increased for both GO and rGO coated fibers. Unidirectional composites with a high content of both uncoated and coated fibers were produced and mechanically tested under various configurations (three-point bending, short beam shear and mode-I fracture toughness, creep). Composites with coated fibers performed similarly or better than composites prepared with uncoated fibers. Finally, composites with rGO coated fibers were tested for their piezoresistive response under both static and dynamic conditions. The electrical resistance changed proportionally to applied strain thus confirming the possibility of using composites with rGO coated fibers as strain sensors in load-bearing components

An Analysis of Macroeconomic State and Prospects of Pakistan during Recent Global Financial Turmoil

The overall economic situation of the world is facing a threat with a deep and prolonged recession as the consequence of the squeeze in the fiscal system which was triggered by housing mortgage crisis in the United States. The importunate financial ramification of the worldwide macroeconomic inequality smoothed the progress of the expansion of the housing fizz with the amplification of toxic assets that burst in September 2008 as many of the major investment and commercial banks and leasing institutions collapsed. This study aims to contribute in summarizing these events and the diffusion of this financial turmoil through the advanced economies like United States and the Eurozone to the developing economy of Pakistan. The paper analyzes specifically Pakistan’s current macroeconomic situation during this financial crisis. It also discusses the consequences of the surge in food and oil prices. This study also evaluates the government’s response to the deteriorating conditions and proposes a number of policy measures

An Analysis of Macroeconomic State and Prospects of Pakistan during Recent Global Financial Turmoil

The overall economic situation of the world is facing a threat with a deep and prolonged recession as the consequence of the squeeze in the fiscal system which was triggered by housing mortgage crisis in the United States. The importunate financial ramification of the worldwide macroeconomic inequality smoothed the progress of the expansion of the housing fizz with the amplification of toxic assets that burst in September 2008 as many of the major investment and commercial banks and leasing institutions collapsed. This study aims to contribute in summarizing these events and the diffusion of this financial turmoil through the advanced economies like United States and the Eurozone to the developing economy of Pakistan. The paper analyzes specifically Pakistan’s current macroeconomic situation during this financial crisis. It also discusses the consequences of the surge in food and oil prices. This study also evaluates the government’s response to the deteriorating conditions and proposes a number of policy measures

Highlighting the Sound Shift in Punjabi Language: A Corpus-Based Descriptive Study

Punjabi language is most widely spoken language of Pakistan (Abbas, Chohan, Ahmed, & Kaleem, 2016). Punjabi is under developed language because of which, upcoming generations are shifting to other technically and digitally developed languages such as Urdu and English. In result of which, the sound shift is being observed in Punjabi language. Sounds which used to be present in the past in Punjabi language are found missing now. This leads to a problematic situation that this sound shift may result in language extinction and sound loss. This study is about the sound change and it has been studied in Punjabi language. On the basis of observation of speech in surrounding, researcher made a hypothesis that those speakers of Punjabi language who acquired Punjabi as L1 are able to produce few distinctive sounds that are not produced by the speakers who acquired Urdu as a mother tongue. For this purpose, a corpus of 2 million words was collected and the words including the sounds |n|ن  and |l| ل were particularly shortlisted from the corpus. The speakers from both origins were asked to pronounce these words, the hypothesis was proved and, in result, variations in the pronunciation of sounds were observed. Sociolinguists and Phonologists need to heed on this issue to save Punjabi language from extinction

The outcome of Titanium Mesh Cranioplasty

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to report on the result and complications of titanium mesh cranioplasty in patients with trauma. Materials and Methods:  The patients who underwent craniectomy previously for acute subdural hematomas (20 cases) or depressed fractures (40 cases) following RTA (road traffic accidents) were included in the study. Titanium mesh was placed on the skull defect 3 – 6 months later in the private hospitals of Quetta. The resulting complications were reported. Results:  There were 50 male and 10 female patients. The majority (66.66%) of patients were from the age group 15 – 40 years. The majority of patients (83.33%) did not develop any complications. 8.3% of patients had wound infections, 3.3%had mesh exposures, 1.6% developed loosening screws and 1.6% had mesh indentation due to external pressure. Conclusion:  This study concludes that there are few patients (< 20%) who develop complications after cranioplasty. The study’s findings will assist neurosurgeons in the clinical decision-making process. Keywords:  Titanium Mesh Cranioplasty, Acute Subdural Hematoma, Road Traffic Accident, Depressed Fractures

Basics of Self Micro Emulsifying Drug Delivery System

About 70-75% of drugs is taken orally and is found not to be as useful as desired. A self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) is a drug delivery system that uses a micro-emulsion achieved by chemical rather than mechanical means. Micro-emulsions have significant potential for use in drug delivery, and SMEDDS are the best of these systems. SMEDDS are of particular value in increasing the absorption of lipophilic drugs taken orally. SMEDDS are mixtures  of natural or  synthetic oils,  solid  or  liquid  surfactants, or alternatively, one or more  hydrophilic solvents and  co-solvents/surfactants  that have a unique ability  of  forming fine  oil-in-water (o/w) micro  emulsions  upon mild agitation followed  by  dilution in  aqueous media, such as  GI fluids. SMEDDS spread readily in the GI tract, and the digestive motility of the stomach and the intestine provide the agitation necessary for self-emulsification. SMEDDS can be encapsulated in hard or soft gelatin capsules or can be converted to solid state (Solid SEDDS/SMEDDS). This review article provides an overview of SMEDDS and its advantages over conventional dosage forms. Keywords: SMEDDS, Micro-emulsions, Co-solvent