Scalable mpNoC for massively parallel systems – Design and implementation on FPGA

The high chip-level integration enables the implementation of large-scale parallel processing architectures with 64 and more processing nodes on a single chip or on an FPGA device. These parallel systems require a cost-effective yet high-performance interconnection scheme to provide the needed communications between processors. The massively parallel Network on Chip (mpNoC) was proposed to address the demand for parallel irregular communications for massively parallel processing System on Chip (mppSoC). Targeting FPGA-based design, an efficient mpNoC low level RTL implementation is proposed taking into account design constraints. The proposed network is designed as an FPGA based Intellectual Property (IP) able to be configured in different communication modes. It can communicate between processors and also perform parallel I/O data transfer which is clearly a key issue in an SIMD system. The mpNoC RTL implementation presents good performances in terms of area, throughput and power consumption which are important metrics targeting an on chip implementation. mpNoC is a flexible architecture that is suitable for use in FPGA-based parallel systems. This paper introduces the basic mppSoC architecture. It mainly focuses on the mpNoC flexible IP based design and its implementation on FPGA. The integration of mpNoC in mppSoC is also described. Implementation results on a Stratix II FPGA device are given for three data-parallel applications ran on mppSoC. The obtained good performances justify the effectiveness of the proposed parallel network. It is shown that the mpNoC is a lightweight parallel network making it suitable for both small as well as large FPGA-based parallel systems.     

NAVIG: augmented reality guidance system for the visually impaired

Navigating complex routes and finding objects of interest are challenging tasks for the visually impaired. The project NAVIG (Navigation Assisted by artificial VIsion and GNSS) is directed toward increasing personal autonomy via a virtual augmented reality system. The system integrates an adapted geographic information system with different classes of objects useful for improving route selection and guidance. The database also includes models of important geolocated objects that may be detected by real-time embedded vision algorithms. Object localization (relative to the user) may serve both global positioning and sensorimotor actions such as heading, grasping, or piloting. The user is guided to his desired destination through spatialized semantic audio rendering, always maintained in the head-centered reference frame. This paper presents the overall project design and architecture of the NAVIG system. In addition, details of a new type of detection and localization device are presented. This approach combines a bio-inspired vision system that can recognize and locate objects very quickly and a 3D sound rendering system that is able to perceptually position a sound at the location of the recognized object. This system was developed in relation to guidance directives developed through participative design with potential users and educators for the visually impaired.     

Optimization and mechanisms analysis of indigo dye removal using continuous electrocoagulation

Electrocoagulation (EC) is among the most effective techniques that remove color and decontaminate effluent. Coagulants are delivered in situ by anode corrosion. In this research, indigo dye removal using iron electrodes in continuous electrocoagulation process and the responsible species for decolorization were investigated. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process parameters. The finding in this study shows that at fixed conductivity at 15,000 μS·cm^-1, the neutral conditions (pH from 6 to 8), the low absorbance, the low flow rate and the high voltage level enhance the color removal efficiency. The high R² value of 97.8% and ANOVA analyses show a good correlation between the experimental and predicted results. Under the optimum conditions, which are pH of 7.5, solution concentration of 60 mg·L^-1, inlet flow rate of 2 L·min^-1 and voltage of 47 V, the predicted decolorization of 94.083% was achieved at 93.972% with a total cost of 0.0927 USD·m^-3 of treated effluent. At the optimum pH (7.5), the zeta potential value (-4 mV) of the effluent during EC match with the one of iron Ⅲ hydroxide. The dye removal is ensured thanks to physical adsorption and flocculation. The results exposed in this work prove that the continuous electrocoagulation process could be successfully used for indigo dye removal at industrial scale.     

Optimization of continuous electrocoagulation-adsorption combined process for the treatment of a textile effluent

The aims of this study is to design and optimize the functioning of a full continuous combined process based on electrocoagulaion-adsorption on crude Tunisian clay to treat a real textile effluent. The clay characterization shows that the used clay is a rich-smectite clay. The response surface methodology (RSM) technique based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the process. At optimum conditions which are initial pH solution of 8.24, effluent flow rate of 0.5 L·min^-1, voltage of 70 V, and added suspension of clay flow rate of 100 ml·min^-1 the achieved color, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solid (TSS) removal efficiencies were respectively 96.87%, 89.77% and 84.46% with 0.75USD·m^-3 as total cost. The additional laboratory experiments at optimum conditions agree with the predicted results, which confirm the accuracy and the capability of RSM to predict results in the defined space. Finally the designed process could be a good eco-friendly alternative to treat and reuse wastewater in industrial process with reasonable cost.     

The effect of plasma‐polymerised silicon hydride‐rich polyhydrogenmethylsiloxane on the adhesion of silicone elastomers

BACKGROUND: Silicone elastomers have outstanding material properties including good thermal stability, low electrical conductivity, biocompatibility and resilient physical and chemical properties. These elastomers, however, exhibit relatively poor adhesion to stainless steel, and the use of a nanometre thick plasma‐polymerised primer layer as a means of enhancing this adhesion was investigated in this study. The primer coatings studied consisted of polyhydrogenmethylsiloxane (PHMS), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and mixtures of these two liquid precursors. RESULTS: The plasma‐polymerised primer coatings were deposited onto stainless steel substrates using a PlasmaStream^? atmospheric pressure plasma jet system. Deposited coatings were examined using ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, optical profilometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The adhesion of silicone elastomers bonded to the primed and bare stainless steel surfaces was assessed using 45° adhesion strength measurements. Elastomer adhesion was correlated with surface energy, thickness and roughness. CONCLUSION: An up to 15‐fold increase in adhesive fracture energy was observed for silicone elastomers bonded to the primed versus untreated stainless steel. The highest adhesion was observed for a coating deposited from a PHMS‐to‐TEOS precursor molar ratio of 3 to 1. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

A large deletion within the protein 4.1 gene associated with a stable truncated mRNA and an unaltered tissue-specific alternative splicing

Protein 4.1 is a major protein of the red blood cell skeleton. It binds to the membrane through its 30-kD N-terminal domain and to the spectrin-actin lattice through its 10-kD domain. We describe here the molecular basis of a heterozygous hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) associated with protein 4.1 partial deficiency. The responsible allele displayed a greater than 70-kb genomic deletion, beginning within intron 1 and ending within a 1.3-kb region upstream from exon 13. This deletion encompassed both erythroid and nonerythroid translation initiation sites. It accounts for the largest deletion known in genes encoding proteins of the red blood cell membrane. The corresponding mRNA was shortened by 1727 bases, due to the absence of exons 2 to 12. Nevertheless, this mRNA was stable. It showed a similar pattern in lymphoblastoid cells as in reticulocytes. Differential splicing of exons within the undeleted region remained regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Exons 14, 15, and 17a were absent from both reticulocyte and lymphocyte mRNAs, whereas exon 16 was present in reticulocytes but absent from lymphocytes. Thus, differential splicing on a local scale was not dependent on the overall structure of protein 4.1 mRNA in this particular instance.     

Schiff bases of polyvinylbenzaldehyde and chemical release of amines

Summary Polyvinylbezaldehyde reacts with primary amines with an acidic catalyst to give polymeric Schiff bases. The hydrolyses of these imines have been studied in acidic medium at pH=1,2 or in pure water at pH=6.5.     

A Dde I RFLP in exon 21 of human EL1 gene, encoding protein 4.1, detectable by SSCP

We reported a case of pontine infarction presenting as diminished taste on the contralateral side. A 67-year-old man was hospitalized with a sudden onset of right hypogeusia. No neurological abnormalities were found except diminished taste in the areas innervated by the chorda tympani, greater petrosal and glossopharyngeal nerves on the right side. Brain MRI demonstrated a lesion with low-intensity on T1-weighted images and high-intensity on T2-weighted images in the left suprapontine tegmentum. Cases of pontine disease presenting as contralateral dysgeusia have rarely been reported. In the present case, we considered that infarction occurred superior to the pontine taste are (PTA). It is suggested that the gustatory pathway superior to PTA takes a chiasmal tract ascending in the brainstem.