Synergistic Execution of Stream Programs on Multicores with Accelerators

The StreamIt programming model has been proposed to exploit parallelism in streaming applications oil general purpose multicore architectures. The StreamIt graphs describe task, data and pipeline parallelism which can be exploited on accelerators such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) or CellBE which support abundant parallelism in hardware. In this paper, we describe a novel method to orchestrate the execution of if StreamIt program oil a multicore platform equipped with an accelerator. The proposed approach identifies, using profiling, the relative benefits of executing a task oil the superscalar CPU cores and the accelerator. We formulate the problem of partitioning the work between the CPU cores and the GPU, taking into account the latencies for data transfers and the required buffer layout transformations associated with the partitioning, as all integrated Integer Linear Program (ILP) which can then be solved by an ILP solver. We also propose an efficient heuristic algorithm for the work-partitioning between the CPU and the GPU, which provides solutions which are within 9.05% of the optimal solution on an average across the benchmark Suite. The partitioned tasks are then software pipelined to execute oil the multiple CPU cores and the Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) of the GPU. The software pipelining algorithm orchestrates the execution between CPU cores and the GPU by emitting the code for the CPU and the GPU, and the code for the required data transfers. Our experiments on a platform with 8 CPU cores and a GeForce 8800 GTS 512 GPU show a geometric mean speedup of 6.94X with it maximum of 51.96X over it single threaded CPU execution across the StreamIt benchmarks. This is a 18.9% improvement over it partitioning strategy that maps only the filters that cannot be executed oil the GPU - the filters with state that is persistent across firings - onto the CPU.

Area Efficient Loop Filter Design for Charge Pump Phase Locked Loop

In this paper, two new dual-path based area efficient loop filtercircuits are proposed for Charge Pump Phase Locked Loop (CPPLL). The proposed circuits were designed in 0.25 CSM analog process with 1.8V supply. The proposed circuits achievedup to 85% savings in capacitor area. Simulations showed goodmatch of the new circuits with the conventional circuit. Theproposed circuits are particularly useful in applications thatdemand low die area.

An Online Implementable Differential Evolution Tuned Optimal Guidance Law

This paper proposes a novel application of differential evolution to solve a difficult dynamic optimisation or optimal control problem. The miss distance in a missile-target engagement is minimised using differential evolution. The difficulty of solving it by existing conventional techniques in optimal control theory is caused by the nonlinearity of the dynamic constraint equation, inequality constraint on the control input and inequality constraint on another parameter that enters problem indirectly. The optimal control problem of finding the minimum miss distance has an analytical solution subject to several simplifying assumptions. In the approach proposed in this paper, the initial population is generated around the seed value given by this analytical solution. Thereafter, the algorithm progresses to an acceptable final solution within a few generations, satisfying the constraints at every iteration. Since this solution or the control input has to be obtained in real time to be of any use in practice, the feasibility of online implementation is also illustrated.

Diversity Multiplexing Tradeoff of Asynchronous Cooperative Relay Networks

The assumption of nodes in a cooperative communication relay network operating in synchronous fashion is often unrealistic. In the present paper we consider two different models of asynchronous operation in cooperative-diversity networks experiencing slow fading and examine the corresponding diversity-multiplexing tradeoffs (DMT). For both models, we propose protocols and distributed space-time codes that asymptotically achieve the transmit diversity bound for all multiplexing gains and for number of relays N >= 2.

Improving Flow-Insensitive Solutions for Non-Separable Dataflow Problems

Flow-insensitive solutions to dataflow problems have been known to be highly scalable; however also hugely imprecise. For non-separable dataflow problems this solution is further degraded due to spurious facts generated as a result of dependence among the dataflow facts. We propose an improvement to the standard flow-insensitive analysis by creating a generalized version of the dominator relation that reduces the number of spurious facts generated. In addition, the solution obtained contains extra information to facilitate the extraction of a better solution at any program point, very close to the flow-sensitive solution. To improve the solution further, we propose the use of an intra-block variable renaming scheme. We illustrate these concepts using two classic non-separable dataflow problems --- points-to analysis and constant propagation.

Induction of carnitine acetyltransferase by clofibrate in rat liver

Administration of the anti-hypercholesterolaemic drug clofibrate to the rat increases the activity of carnitine acetyltransferase (acetyl-CoA-carnitine -acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.7) in liver and kidney. The drug-mediated increase in enzyme activity in hepatic mitochondria shows a time lag during which the activity increases in the microsomal and peroxisomal fractions. The enzyme induced in the particulate fractions is identical with one normally present in mitochondria. The increase in enzyme activity is prevented by inhibitors of RNA and general protein synthesis. Mitochondrial protein-synthetic machinery does not appear to be involved in the process. Immunoprecipitation shows increased concentration of the enzyme protein in hepatic mitochondria isolated from drug-treated animals. In these animals, the rate of synthesis of the enzyme is increased 7-fold.

Specificity of protein - Nucleic acid interaction and the biochemical evolution

The water soluble carbodiimide mediated condensation of dipeptides of the general form Gly-X was carried out in the presence of mono- and poly-nucleotides. The observed yield of the tetrapeptide was found to be higher for peptide-nucleotide system of higher interaction specificity following mainly the anticodon-amino acid relationship (Basu, H.S. & Podder, S.K., 1981, Ind. J. Biochem. Biophys.,19, 251-253). The yield of the condensation product of L-peptide was more because of its higher interaction specificity. The extent of the racemization during the condensation of Gly-L-Phe, Gly-L-Tyr and Gly-D-Phe was found to be dependent on the specificity of the interaction -the higher the specificity, the lesser the racemization. The product formed was shown to have a catalytic effect on the condensation reaction. These data thus provide a mechanism showing how the specific interaction between amino acids/dipeptides and nucleic acids could lead to the formation of the lsquoprimitiversquo translation machinery.

Experimental networking of microcomputers and a minicomputer

The objective of this paper is to discuss some hardware and software features of an experimental network of 8080 and 8085 microcomputers named Micronet. The interprocessor communication in the ring network is established using ring interfaces consisting of universal synchronous-asynchronous receivers-transmitters (USARTs). Another aspect considered is the interfacing of an 8080 microcomputer to a PDP-11/35 minicomputer and the development of the software for the microcomputer-minicomputer link which has been established over a serial line using the USART interface of the microcomputer and the DZ11 module of the minicomputer. This is useful in developing a host-satellite configuration of microcomputers and the minicomputer.

Varied Immune Response to FVIII: Presence of Proteolytic Antibodies Directed to Factor VIII in Different Human Pathologies

The versatility of antibodies is demonstrated by the various functions that they mediate such as neutralization, agglutination, fixation of the complement and its activation, and activation of effector cells. In addition to this plethora of functions, antibodies are capable of expressing enzymatic activity. Antibodies with catalytic function are a result of the productive interplay between the highly evolved machinery of the immune system and the chemical framework used to induce them (antigens). Catalytic antibodies are immunoglobulins with an ability to catalyze the reactions involving the antigen for which they are specific. Catalytic immunoglobulins of the IgM and IgG isotypes have been detected in the serum of healthy donors. In addition, catalytic immunoglobulins of the IgA isotype have been detected in the milk of healthy mothers. Conversely, antigen-specific hydrolytic antibodies have been reported in a number of inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic disorders. The pathophysiological occurrence and relevance of catalytic antibodies remains a debated issue. Through the description of the hydrolysis of coagulation factor VIII as model target antigen, we propose that catalytic antibodies directed to the coagulation factor VIII may play a beneficial or a deleterious role depending on the immuno-inflammatory condition under which they occur.

Automatic phonetic transcription of Tamil in Roman script

Simple formalized rules are proposed for automatic phonetic transcription of Tamil words into Roman script. These rules are syntax-directed and require a one-symbol look-ahead facility and hence easily automated in a digital computer. Some suggestions are also put forth for the linearization of Tamil script for handling these by modern machinery.

Embryogenesis in flowering plants: Recent approaches and prospects

The overall architectural pattern of the mature plant is established during embryogenesis. Very little is known about the molecular processes that underlie embryo morphogenesis. Last decade has, nevertheless, seen a burst of information on the subject. The synchronous somatic embryogenesis system of carrot is largely being used as the experimental system. Information on the molecular regulation of embryogenesis obtained with carrot somatic embryos as well as observations on sandalwood embryogenic system developed in our laboratory are summarized in this review. The basic experimental strategy of molecular analysis mostly relied on a comparison between genes and proteins being expressed in embryogenic and non-embryogenic cells as well as in the different stages of embryogenesis. Events such as expression of totipotency of cells and establishment of polarity which are so critical for embryo development have been characterized using the strategy, Several genes have been identified and cloned from the carrot system, These include sequences that encode certain extracellular proteins (EPs) that influence cell proliferation and embryogenesis in specific ways and sequences of the abscisic acid (ABA) inducible late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins which are most abundant and differentially expressed mRNAs in somatic embryos. That LEAs are expressed in the somatic embryos of a tree flora also is evidenced from studies on sandalwood Several undescribed or novel sequences that are enhanced in embryos were identified. A sequence of this nature exists in sandalwood embryos was demonstrated using a Cuscuta haustorial (organ-specific) cDNA probe. Somatic embryogenesis systems have been used to assess the expression of genes isolated from non-embryogenic tissues. Particular attention has been focused on both cell cycle and histone genes.

Characterization of Somatic Embryogenesis in Sandalwood (Santalum album L.)

In the synchronous embryogenesis system of sandalwood developed in our laboratory, we observed that the early events of differentiation from freshly induced callus (stage 0) are accomplished in three distinct stages viz., preglobular masses (stage 1), globular embryos (stage 2), and bipolar embryos (stage 3). Transition from stage 0 to 1 was accomplished using 2,4-D and involves a stage specific appearance of two polypeptides of 15 and 30 kDa molecular weight. A 24 kDa polypeptide that was detected as a marked band in extracts of primary callus was not detected in stages 1, 2, and 3. Further, the tissue level of a 50 kDa glycoprotein decreased during transition from stage 2 to stage 3. However, the levels of glycoproteins in the medium were markedly higher in stage 0 cultures compared to those in stage 1. The activities of a protein kinase, glycosidase, and xylanase increased markedly with progressing embryogenesis. Our observations suggest that in addition to being controlled at the level of stage-specific gene expression, somatic embryogenesis in sandalwood is also regulated at the level of controls on cell wall flexibility and posttranslational changes in the pool of preexisting proteins.

Arabidopsis thaliana J-class heat shock proteins: cellular stress sensors

Plants are sessile organisms that have evolved a variety of mechanisms to maintain their cellular homeostasis under stressful environmental conditions. Survival of plants under abiotic stress conditions requires specialized group of heat shock protein machinery, belonging to Hsp70:J-protein family. These heat shock proteins are most ubiquitous types of chaperone machineries involved in diverse cellular processes including protein folding, translocation across cell membranes, and protein degradation. They play a crucial role in maintaining the protein homeostasis by reestablishing functional native conformations under environmental stress conditions, thus providing protection to the cell. J-proteins are co-chaperones of Hsp70 machine, which play a critical role by stimulating Hsp70s ATPase activity, thereby stabilizing its interaction with client proteins. Using genome-wide analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana, here we have outlined identification and systematic classification of J-protein co-chaperones which are key regulators of Hsp70s function. In comparison with Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system, a comprehensive domain structural organization, cellular localization, and functional diversity of A. thaliana J-proteins have also been summarized. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10142-009-0132-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Design of multimedia surveillance systems

This article addresses the problem of how to select the optimal combination of sensors and how to determine their optimal placement in a surveillance region in order to meet the given performance requirements at a minimal cost for a multimedia surveillance system. We propose to solve this problem by obtaining a performance vector, with its elements representing the performances of subtasks, for a given input combination of sensors and their placement. Then we show that the optimal sensor selection problem can be converted into the form of Integer Linear Programming problem (ILP) by using a linear model for computing the optimal performance vector corresponding to a sensor combination. Optimal performance vector corresponding to a sensor combination refers to the performance vector corresponding to the optimal placement of a sensor combination. To demonstrate the utility of our technique, we design and build a surveillance system consisting of PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras and active motion sensors for capturing faces. Finally, we show experimentally that optimal placement of sensors based on the design maximizes the system performance.

Redefine: Runtime Reconfigurable Polymorphic ASIC

Emerging embedded applications are based on evolving standards (e.g., MPEG2/4, H.264/265, IEEE802.11a/b/g/n). Since most of these applications run on handheld devices, there is an increasing need for a single chip solution that can dynamically interoperate between different standards and their derivatives. In order to achieve high resource utilization and low power dissipation, we propose REDEFINE, a polymorphic ASIC in which specialized hardware units are replaced with basic hardware units that can create the same functionality by runtime re-composition. It is a ``future-proof'' custom hardware solution for multiple applications and their derivatives in a domain. In this article, we describe a compiler framework and supporting hardware comprising compute, storage, and communication resources. Applications described in high-level language (e.g., C) are compiled into application substructures. For each application substructure, a set of compute elements on the hardware are interconnected during runtime to form a pattern that closely matches the communication pattern of that particular application. The advantage is that the bounded CEs are neither processor cores nor logic elements as in FPGAs. Hence, REDEFINE offers the power and performance advantage of an ASIC and the hardware reconfigurability and programmability of that of an FPGA/instruction set processor. In addition, the hardware supports custom instruction pipelining. Existing instruction-set extensible processors determine a sequence of instructions that repeatedly occur within the application to create custom instructions at design time to speed up the execution of this sequence. We extend this scheme further, where a kernel is compiled into custom instructions that bear strong producer-consumer relationship (and not limited to frequently occurring sequences of instructions). Custom instructions, realized as hardware compositions effected at runtime, allow several instances of the same to be active in parallel. A key distinguishing factor in majority of the emerging embedded applications is stream processing. To reduce the overheads of data transfer between custom instructions, direct communication paths are employed among custom instructions. In this article, we present the overview of the hardware-aware compiler framework, which determines the NoC-aware schedule of transports of the data exchanged between the custom instructions on the interconnect. The results for the FFT kernel indicate a 25% reduction in the number of loads/stores, and throughput improves by log(n) for n-point FFT when compared to sequential implementation. Overall, REDEFINE offers flexibility and a runtime reconfigurability at the expense of 1.16x in power and 8x in area when compared to an ASIC. REDEFINE implementation consumes 0.1x the power of an FPGA implementation. In addition, the configuration overhead of the FPGA implementation is 1,000x more than that of REDEFINE.