Reconfiguration systems use the partial reconfiguration characteristic of FPGA to dynamically load different bitstreams into different partial reconfiguration regions without affecting other active circuit areas. The hardware must provide two functions to support dynamic reconfiguration. First, the FPGA must support the partial reconfiguration function. Many Xilinx FPGAs such as Virtex-II and Virtex-IV have supported the function. Second, the FPGA must provide a way to load a partial bitstream into a specific region during the runtime. This can be achieved through the Xilinx Internal Configuration Access Port (ICAP). However, the functions mentioned above are not sufficient for constructing a dynamic self-reconfiguration system. In this paper, we describe the design flow and the related hardware support for constructing such a system based on the aforementioned hardware functions. We have also implemented the system and the hardware support. In our system, partial bitstreams that were stored in the external flash memory can be loaded into one of the four reconfiguration regions on demand. Moreover, a static module in the system is used for communication between the processor (i.e., Microblaze) and the dynamically-loaded hardware. The static module communicates with Microblaze via FSL (Fast Simplex Link), and communicates with all the dynamically-loaded hardware modules via a uniform interface defined by us. According to the experimental results, configuring a floating-point square-root bitstream via ICAP requires only 0.696 second, which is acceptable in common cases.

abstract: A recorded tutorial dialogue can produce positive learning gains, when observed and used to promote discussion between a pair of learners; however, this same effect does not typically occur when an leaner observes a tutorial dialogue by himself or herself. One potential approach to enhancing learning in the latter situation is by incorporating self-explanation prompts, a proven technique for encouraging students to engage in active learning and attend to the material in a meaningful way. This study examined whether learning from observing recorded tutorial dialogues could be made more effective by adding self-explanation prompts in computer-based learning environment. The research questions in this two-experiment study were (a) Do self-explanation prompts help support student learning while watching a recorded dialogue? and (b) Does collaboratively observing (in dyads) a tutorial dialogue with self-explanation prompts help support student learning while watching a recorded dialogue? In Experiment 1, 66 participants were randomly assigned as individuals to a physics lesson (a) with self-explanation prompts (Condition 1) or (b) without self-explanation prompts (Condition 2). In Experiment 2, 20 participants were randomly assigned in 10 pairs to the same physics lesson (a) with self-explanation prompts (Condition 1) or (b) without self-explanation prompts (Condition 2). Pretests and posttests were administered, as well as other surveys that measured motivation and system usability. Although supplemental analyses showed some significant differences among individual scale items or factors, neither primary results for Experiment 1 or Experiment 2 were significant for changes in posttest scores from pretest scores for learning, motivation, or system usability assessments. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Technology 2018

This work discusses <i>autonomous computing systems</i>, as implemented in hardware, and the properties required for such systems to function. Particular attention is placed on shifting the associated complexity into the systems themselves, and making them responsible for their own resources and operation. The resulting systems present simpler interfaces to their environments, and are able to respond to changes within themselves or their environments with little or no outside intervention. This work proposes a roadmap for the development of autonomous computing systems, and shows that their individual components can be implemented with present day technology. This work further implements a proof-of-concept demonstration system that advances the state-of-the-art. The system detects activity on connected inputs, and responds to the conditions without external assistance. It works from mapped netlists, that it dynamically parses, places, routes, configures, connects, and implements within itself, at the finest granularity available, while continuing to run. The system also models itself and its resource usage, and keeps that model synchronized with the changes that it undergoes—a critical requirement for autonomous systems. Furthermore, because the system assumes responsibility for its resources, it is able to dynamically avoid resources that have been masked out, in a manner suitable for defect tolerance. / Ph. D.

Föreliggande studie är en kvantitativ undersökning av sambandet mellan ICAP teorin och återfallsbrottslighet i the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development. Syftet med studien är att undersöka om det existerar ett signifikant samband mellan långsiktig antisocial potential (AP) respektive kortsiktig AP och risken för återfall, samt vilken effekt AP har på återfall. Studien är ett försök till att öka kriminologisk kunskap samt identifiera riskfaktorer för återfall, speciellt om långsiktig och kortsiktig AP kan användas för att förutsäga återfall i brott. Begreppet antisocial potential är baserad på David Farringtons ICAP teori om sambandet mellan AP och brottslighet och fungerar som ett försök att identifiera och utvärdera vilka individuella riskfaktorer som kan förutsäga återfall. Återfall mäts i variabeln officiellt återfall. För att mäta långsiktig AP respektive kortsiktig AP skapas variabler bestående av föräldrars äktenskap, äldre syskons brottslighet, familjestorlek, brottslighet bland vänner, koncentration, rastlöshet, alkohol samt droger. Resultaten visar på ett samband mellan hög långsiktig AP och officiellt återfall i brott samt mellan hög kortsiktig AP och officiellt återfall i brott. Variablerna föräldrars äktenskap, äldre syskons brottslighet och brottslighet bland vänner visar sig öka risken för officiellt återfall vid hög långsiktig AP medan sannolikheten för officiellt återfall ökar vid hög kortsiktig AP och variablerna koncentration, rastlöshet samt droger oberoende av förekomsten av hög långsiktig AP. Studiens konklusion är att resultaten ej stödjer att ICAP teorin som helhet kan användas som prediktor för officiellt återfall i brott då hög AP även existerar inom gruppen som ej återfallit i brott. / The present study is a quantitative study of the relationship between ICAP theory and recidivism in crime in the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether there is a significant correlation between long-term antisocial potential (AP) and short-term AP and the risk of recidivism, as well as the effect of AP on recidivism. The study is an attempt to increase criminological knowledge as well as identify risk factors for recidivism, especially if long-term and short-term AP can be used to predict recidivism in crime. The term antisocial potential is based on David Farrington's ICAP theory about the relationship between AP and crime and serves as an attempt to identify and evaluate which individual risk factors can predict relapse. Relapse is measured in the variable “official recidivism”. To measure long-term AP and short-term AP, variables are created consisting of parental marriage, criminal older siblings, family size, crime among friends, concentration, restlessness, alcohol and drugs. The results show a link between high-long-term AP and official recidivism in crimes, as well as between high short-term AP and official recidivism in crimes. The variables parental marriage, criminal older siblings and crime among friends increase the risk of official recidivism at high long-term AP while the probability of official recidivism increases at high short-term AP amongst the variables restlessness and drug regardless of the existence of high long-term AP. The conclusion of the study is that the results do not support that the ICAP theory as a whole can be used as a predictor for official recidivism in crimes, as the high AP also exists within the group that has not relapsed in crimes.

Reconfigurable hardware in a cloud environment is a power efficient way to increase the processing power of future data centers beyond today\'s maximum. This work enhances an existing framework to support concurrent users on a virtualized reconfigurable FPGA resource. The FPGAs are used to provide a flexible, fast and very efficient platform for the user who has access through a simple cloud based interface. A fast partial reconfiguration is achieved through the ICAP combined with a PCIe connection and a combination of custom and TCL scripts to control the tool flow. This allows for a reconfiguration of a user space on a FPGA in a few milliseconds while providing a simple single-action interface to the user.

Reconfigurable hardware in a cloud environment is a power efficient way to increase the processing power of future data centers beyond today\'s maximum. This work enhances an existing framework to support concurrent users on a virtualized reconfigurable FPGA resource. The FPGAs are used to provide a flexible, fast and very efficient platform for the user who has access through a simple cloud based interface. A fast partial reconfiguration is achieved through the ICAP combined with a PCIe connection and a combination of custom and TCL scripts to control the tool flow. This allows for a reconfiguration of a user space on a FPGA in a few milliseconds while providing a simple single-action interface to the user.

L'intégrine β1 appartient à une large famille de récepteurs de première importance pour les interactions cellule/matrice extracellulaire. La délétion spécifique d'un régulateur négatif de l'intégrine β1, ICAP-1α, induit de sévères défauts osseux. Nous avons pu montrer que la perte d'ICAP-1α est accompagnée d'une augmentation de l'activité de l'intégrine β1, affectant le dépôt des matrices de fibronectine et de collagène de type I. De plus, nous avons pu montrer qu'ICAP-1α a une action antagoniste sur le recrutement de la kindline-2 au niveau du domaine cytoplasmique de l'intégrine β1 (Brunner et al. JCB 2011). Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés au rôle de l'intégrine β1 elle-même dans l'ostéogenèse afin de comprendre comment les ostéoblastes intègrent les signaux du microenvironnement pour coordonner la formation et le remodelage osseux. Dans cette optique, nous avons généré un modèle de souris délétées pour l'intégrine β1 spécifiquement dans les ostéoblastes en cours de maturation. Ces souris présentent un sévère phénotype osseux caractérisé par des réductions importantes de la minéralisation et de la dynamique osseuse, ainsi que des déformations osseuses et des fractures rappelant le syndrome d'Ostéoporose Juvénile. L'analyse in vitro d'ostéoblastes n'exprimant pas l'intégrine β1 a révélé un défaut majeur de prolifération impliquant non pas la voie canonique MAPK/ERK mais plutôt un défaut d'activation du co-facteur de transcription YAP. De plus, nous avons pu montrer que les intégrines β1 régulaient le niveau d'AMP cyclique (AMPc) dans les ostéoblastes et que ceci était corrélé à l'inactivation de YAP. De même, nous avons pu relier l'inactivation de YAP à la dynamique d'endocytose des rafts. Finalement, des analyses in vivo et in vitro ont révélé un défaut fonctionnel des ostéoblastes dépourvus d'intégrine β1. Nous avons pu montrer que cette incapacité fonctionnelle était due à une réduction de la réponse au BMP-2, facteur de croissance ostéoblastique majeur, non pas au niveau de son récepteur mais probablement au niveau de l'activation des promoteurs BMP-dépendants. Nos résultats montrent ainsi que l'intégrine β1 est un régulateur clé de la prolifération ostéoblastique dépendante de YAP et de la signalisation BMP régulant la fonction ostéoblastique, la minéralisation et la formation osseuse. / Β1 integrins belong to a large family of receptors that have been shown to be of paramount importance for cell/extracellular matrix interactions. The ablation of the specific β1 integrin regulator ICAP-1α results in severe bone and mineralization defects. By combining mouse and cell biology we could demonstrate that loss of ICAP-1α was accompanied by an increase of β1 integrin activity that affects fibronectin and collagen deposition. Moreover, we could show that ICAP-1 is an important negative regulator of kindlin-2 recruitment on β1 integrin cytoplasmic domain (Brunner et al. JCB 2011). We then wanted to address the functional role of β1 integrin per se in osteogenesis and to understand how osteoblasts integrate environmental cues to coordinate bone formation and remodeling. For this we generated osteoblast specific β1 integrin deficient mice. These mice showed severe bone defects characterized by reduced bone mineralization and dynamic, as well as bending and fractures reminding human Juvenile Osteoporosis symptoms. In vitro analyses of β1 integrin deficient osteoblasts revealed proliferation defect which is not due to defective canonical MAPK/ERK pathway, but rather to defective activity of the co-transcription factor YAP. Then, we showed that β1 integrins are regulating cAMP level in osteoblasts and that the cAMP level correlates with YAP inactivation. We also linked YAP inactivation with raft endocytosis. Finally, in vivo and in vitro analyses revealed a functional incapacity of β1 integrin deficient osteoprecursors. We could show that the lazy phenotype of β1 integrin deficient osteoblasts is likely due to a reduced response to BMP signaling, a major osteoblast growth factor. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that β1 integrin is a key regulator of YAP-dependent osteoblast proliferation and BMP signaling allowing osteoblast functionality, mineralization and bone formation.

abstract: This dissertation study quantitatively measured the performance of 345 students who received public speaking instruction through an online platform presented in one of six experimental conditions in order to explore the ability of online lectures to replicate the characteristics of instructor presence and learner interaction traditionally associated with face-to-face public speaking courses. The study investigated the following research questions: RQ1: How does the visibility of an instructor in a public speaking video lesson affect students' perception of presence? RQ2: How does the visibility of an instructor in a public speaking video lesson affect student learning? RQ3: How do self-explanation (Constructive) and note-taking (Active) types of learning activities affect students' perception of presence compared to passive lessons when presented in a video lesson? RQ4: How do self-explanation (Constructive) and note-taking (Active) types of learning activities affect student learning compared to passive lessons when presented in a video lesson? Additionally, the study collected qualitative feedback from participants on their experience in order to improve understanding of how to effectively design lectures for public speaking courses. Results of the study were unable to statistically distinguish between students assigned to treatments that varied in both modality and level of activity. However, a significant finding of this study is that learning gains and students' perception of instructor presence were positive across all conditions. The lack of significant differences by treatment indicates that the design attributes at the center of the study may be unnecessary considerations for developing content for online learning. Consequently, the improved performance of participants regardless of their assigned treatment in this study identifies a limitation to the application of Media Equation Theory and the Interactive-Constructive-Active-Passive (ICAP) Framework for designing online learning content for public speaking students as well as identifies two key implications: 1) exposure to an online lesson can increase learning; and 2) exposure to an online lesson can serve as a cost-effective alternative for producing lessons in public speaking courses. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Technology 2014

abstract: This dissertation details an action research study designed to teach engineering students enrolled in a First Year Composition course understand and learn to use effective conventions of written communication. Over the course of one semester, students participated in an intervention that included embodied and constructive pedagogical practices within a rhetorical framework. The theoretical perspectives include Martha Kolln’s rhetorical grammar framework, embodied cognition, and Chi’s ICAP hypothesis. The study was conducted using an explanatory multi-methodological approach. The majority of students demonstrated that in their post-intervention writing samples, their ability to use effective conventions had improved. Over the course of the study, students’ attitudes about writing improved as did their self-efficacy about their writing ability. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2020

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are excellent devices for high-performance computing, system-on-chip realization, and rapid system prototyping. While FPGAs offer flexibility and performance, they continue to lag behind application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) performance and power consumption. As manufacturing technology improves and IC feature size decreases, FPGAs may further lag behind ASICs due to interconnection scalability issues. To improve FPGA scalability, this thesis proposes an architectural enhancement to improve global communications in large FPGAs, where chip-length programmable interconnects are slow. It is expected that this architectural enhancement, based on wire emulation techniques, can reduce chip-length communication latency and routing congestion. A prototype wire emulation system that uses FPGA self-reconfiguration as a non-traditional means of intra-FPGA communication is implemented and verified on a Xilinx Virtex-II XC2V1000 FPGA. Wire emulation benefits and impact to FPGA architecture are examined with quantitative and qualitative analysis. / Master of Science