Interprocedural Compiler Optimization for Partial Run-Time Reconfiguration

In this paper, we study the performance impact of dynamic hardware reconfigurations for current reconfigurable technology. As a testbed, we target the Xilinx Virtex II Pro, the Molen experimental platform and the MPEG2 encoder as the application. Our experiments show that slowdowns of up to a factor 1000 are observed when the configuration latency is not hidden by the compiler. In order to avoid the performance decrease, we propose an interprocedural optimization that minimizes the number of executed hardware configuration instructions taking into account constraints such as the “FPGA-area placement conflicts” between the available hardware configurations. The presented algorithm allows the anticipation of hardware configuration instructions up to the application’s main procedure. The presented results show that our optimization produces a reduction of 3 to 5 order of magnitude of the number of executed hardware configuration instructions. Moreover, the optimization allows to exploit up to 97% of the maximal theoretical speedup achieved by the reconfigurable hardware execution.     

Cancellativity properties for t-norms and t-subnorms

On the one hand, cancellativity properties are mainly used to express to which extend the partial functions of a t-subnorm T are injective. On the other hand, the zooms of T corresponding to its non-trivial Archimedean components are t-subnorms that largely determine T. Fixing one out of four basic types of cancellativity (cancellativity, conditional cancellativity, weak cancellativity and weak conditional cancellativity) we figure out which less restrictive type of cancellativity expresses that all maximal Archimedean zooms of T satisfy the given cancellativity property. We lay bare the mutual relationships between all these types of cancellativity and solve an open problem posed by Klement et al.     

Motivational profiles from a self-determination perspective: The quality of motivation matters.

The present research complements extant variable-centered research that focused on the dimensions of autonomous and controlled motivation through adoption of a person-centered approach for identifying motivational profiles. Both in high school students (Study 1) and college students (Study 2), a cluster analysis revealed 4 motivational profiles: a good quality motivation group (i.e., high autonomous, low controlled); a poor quality motivation group (i.e., low autonomous, high controlled); a low quantity motivation group (i.e., low autonomous, low controlled); and a high quantity motivation group (i.e., high autonomous, high controlled). To compare the 4 groups, the authors derived predictions from qualitative and quantitative perspectives on motivation. Findings generally favored the qualitative perspective; compared with the other groups, the good quality motivation group displayed the most optimal learning pattern and scored highest on perceived need-supportive teaching. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

SAT-Solving in Practice, with a Tutorial Example from Supervisory Control

Satisfiability solving, the problem of deciding whether the variables of a propositional formula can be assigned in such a way that the formula evaluates to true, is one of the classic problems in computer science. It is of theoretical interest because it is the canonical NP-complete problem. It is of practical interest because modern SAT-solvers can be used to solve many important and practical problems. In this tutorial paper, we show briefly how such SAT-solvers are implemented, and point to some typical applications of them. Our aim is to provide sufficient information (much of it through the reference list) to kick-start researchers from new fields wishing to apply SAT-solvers to their problems. Supervisory control theory originated within the control community and is a framework for reasoning about a plant to be controlled and a specification that the closed-loop system must fulfil. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the computer science community and the control community by illustrating how SAT-based techniques can be used to solve some supervisory control related problems.     

Assessing the natural ventilation cooling potential of office buildings in different climate zones in China

This paper presents an investigation of the natural ventilation cooling potential (NVCP) of office buildings in the five generally recognised climate zones in China using the Thermal Resistance Ventilation (TRV) model, which is a simplified, coupled, thermal and airflow model. The acceptable operative temperature for naturally conditioned space supplied by the ASHARE Standard 55-2004 has been used for the comfort temperature setting. Dynamic simulations for a typical office room in the five representative cities, which are Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and Guangzhou, have been carried out. The study demonstrates that the NVCP depends on the multiple impacts of climate, the building's thermal characteristics, internal gains, ventilation profiles and regimes. The work shows how the simplified method can be used to generate detailed, indoor, operative temperature data based on the various building conditions and control profiles which are used to investigate the NVCP at the strategic design stage. The simulation results presented in this paper can be used as a reference guideline for natural ventilation design in China.     

Overview of an innovative EU–China collaboration in education and research in sustainable built environment

This paper introduces an international collaboration of EU and Asia in education, training and research in the field of sustainable built environment, which attempts to develop a network of practical and intellectual knowledge and training exchange between Chinese and European Universities in the field of sustainable building design and construction. The projects funded by the European Commission Asia Link program, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Council and the UK Engineering Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) have been introduced. The projects have significant impacts on promoting sustainable development in built environment in China. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences with those who are interested and searching the ways to collaborate with China in education and research.     

Morphologic and functional changes in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion rat model for Parkinson’s disease discerned with μSPECT and quantitative MRI

Object

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal tract in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease on the different MR contrasts (T₂, T₁, CBF and CBV) measured in the striatum.

Material and methods

Animals were injected with 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) in the substantia nigra resulting in massive loss of nigrostriatal neurons and hence dopamine depletion in the ipsilateral striatum. Using 7T MRI imaging, we have quantified T₂, T₁, CBF and CBV in the striata of 6OHDA and control rats. To validate the lesion size, behavioral testing, dopamine transporter μSPECT and tyrosine hydroxylase staining were performed.

Results

No significant differences were demonstrated in the absolute MRI values between 6OHDA animals and controls; however, 6OHDA animals showed significant striatal asymmetry for all MRI parameters in contrast to controls.

Conclusions

These PD-related asymmetry ratios might be the result of counteracting changes in both intact and affected striatum and allowed us to diagnose PD lesions. As lateralization is known to occur also in PD patients and might be expected in transgenic PD models as well, we propose that MR-derived asymmetry ratios in the striatum might be a useful tool for in vivo phenotyping of animal models of PD.