The GPU-based heterogeneous architectures (e.g., Tianhe-1A, Nebulae), composing multi-core CPU and GPU, have drawn increasing adoptions and are becoming the norm of supercomputing as they are cost-effective and power-efficient. However, programming such heterogeneous architectures still requires significant effort from application developers using sophisticated GPU programming languages such as CUDA and OpenCL. Although some automatic parallelization tools utilizing static analysis could ease the programming efforts, this approach could only parallelize loops 100% free of inter-iteration dependency (i.e., determined DO-ALL loops) because of imprecision of static analysis. To exploit the abundant runtime parallelism and take full advantage of the computing resources both in CPU and GPU, in this work, we propose a new user-friendly compiler framework and runtime system, which helps Java applications harness the full power of a heterogeneous system. It unveils an all-round system design unifying the programming style and language for transparent use of both CPUs and GPUs, automatically parallelizing all kinds of loops, scheduling workloads efficiently across CPU and GPU resources while ensuring data coherence during highly-threaded execution. By means of simple user annotations, sequential Java source code will be analyzed, translated and compiled into a dual executable consisting of CUDA kernels and multiple Java threads running on GPU and CPU cores respectively. Annotated loops will be automatically split into loop chunks (or tasks) being scheduled to execute on all available GPU/CPU cores. To guide the runtime task scheduling, we develop a novel dynamic loop profiler which generates the program dependency graph (PDG) and computes the density of dependencies across iterations through a hybrid checking scheme combining intra-warp and inter-warp analyses. Implementing a GPU-tailored thread-level speculation (TLS) model, our system supports speculative execution of loops with moderate dependency densities and privatization of loops having only false dependencies on the GPU side. Our scheduler also supports task stealing and task sharing algorithms that allow swift load redistribution across GPU and CPU. We have carried out several experiments to evaluate the profiling overhead and up to 11 real-life applications to evaluate our system performance. Testing results show that the overhead is moderate compared with the sequential execution and prove that almost all the applications could benefit from our system. / published_or_final_version / Computer Science / Master / Master of Philosophy

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M. Tech. Water Care. / Aims to evaluate promising technologies for local application in the removal of viruses and protozoan parasites and to provide guidelines for the selection and use of appropriate home water treatment systems that could be used in rural households.

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This study explores characteristics of students’ repertoires of representations in two mathematical contexts: whole number multiplication and the comparison of common fractions. A repertoire of representations refers to a set of representations which a student can reconstruct as needed. Of particular interest are (1) how multiplicative relationships among units were represented, and (2) whether continuous measurement was an underlying conceptual framework for their representations. In addition, the characteristics of students’ representations and interpretation of units of linear and area measurement were explored. Data were collected through a series of interviews with Grade 5 and Grade 7 students. Some results of the study were as follows. Each repertoire of representations was exemplified by a dominant form of units, either discrete or contiguous. Within a repertoire, all forms of units were related, first through a common system of measurement (either numerosity or area), and second through their two-dimensional characteristic. In the multiplication context, some repertoires were comprised only of representations with discrete units, but others also included some representations with contiguous units. Students sought characteristics in their representations which reflected those based on continuous measurement, however linear or area measurement was not used as a conceptual framework. Instead, all representations were based on the measurement of numerosity. Also, students exhibited different limits in their representation of multiplicative relationships among units. Some represented no multiplicative relationships, but most represented at least a multiplicative relationship between two units. Relationships among three units were seldom constructed and difficult to achieve. Common fraction repertoires were based on the measurement of either numerosity or area, but the physical characteristics of the units varied. Some repertoires had only contiguous representations of units, others also included representations with discrete units, and a few did not represent fractional units at all. Students’ representations reflected characteristics of area-based representations, however area measurement was not necessarily a conceptual framework. In addition, students’ beliefs about what constituted units of area measurement were variable. As a result, they either represented no multiplicative relationships among units, or fluctuated between representing two-unit and three-unit relationships. Linear measurement was notably absent as a basis for representations in both mathematical contexts. The one-dimensional characteristic of linear measurement did not fit students’ dominant framework for constructing mathematical representations. With respect to measurement, students represented linear units in terms of discrete points or line segments. Counting points and interpreting the count in terms of the numerosity of line segments was problematic for nearly all students. When partitioning regions into units of area, a few students also equated the number of lines with the number of parts. The direct relationship of action and result in counting discrete objects was generalized without consideration of other geometric characteristics. When comparing quantities having linear or area units, numerical reasoning was not always used. Alternatively, either quantities were transformed to facilitate a direct comparison, or only perceptual judgements were made. No students consistently used numerical reasoning to compare fractional units of area. In the latter situations, the part-whole relationship among units seldom was observed. In general, there was no direct relationship between the forms of representations used by students in the two mathematical contexts and the characteristics of their representations of units of the measurement contexts. The development of repertoires of representations appears to be context specific. The repertoires were strictly limited in terms of the forms of representations of which they were comprised.

This thesis is an investigation of the neurophysiologic mechanism, central sensitization, underlying pain and dysfunction in osteoarthritis. Central sensitization is an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis but, to our knowledge, its influence on motoneurone excitability is unknown. Our primary hypothesis states that increasing central sensitization within a spinal segment will cause a greater increase in the excitability of motoneurones in subjects with osteoarthritis when compared to healthy controls. To test this hypothesis, we experimentally induced central sensitization in individuals and monitored the recruitment threshold force of the motor units in the first dorsal interosseous muscle using indwelling electromyography. Findings from this study suggest that central sensitization lowers the motor unit recruitment threshold in osteoarthritis compared to healthy individuals. Motoneurone excitability might be inhibited in healthy individuals with persistent sensitization as well. Thus, central sensitization is an important consideration in the biomechanical dysfunction seen in osteoarthritis. / Canadian Arthritis Network

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<p>This paper documents a case study of the Innovation and Development Divisions of two public FET Colleges. The research asked the following question: &lsquo / How do FET College educators explain the role and function of college occupational training units?&rsquo / </p>

Introduction. MRSA is a major healthcare problem with particular relevance to morbidity and mortality in ICU (Byers & Decker 2008). Due to the increased infection risks associated with cardiac surgery, MRSA screening and surveillance is widely used as a standard preoperative Investigation In many settings (Teoh, Tsim & Yap, 2008). The results, in conjunction with appropriate hygiene precautions, are used to control and prevent infection with MRSA. Following an outbreak of MRSA in cardiac patients an MRSA protocol (MRSAP) was implemented In the cardiac intensive care unit in this study. Purpose. To evaluate how nurses implement the MRSAP in the surgical cardiac intensive care unit in this study, and to evaluate the change in MRSA infection rates following implementation of the MRSAP. From the results obtained, to identify any areas for improvement in nursing practice with respect to the MRSAP. Methods. Nursing staff knowledge with respect to the MRSAP was assessed using a survey questionnaire. Their compliance with required Infection control practice for control of MRSA was assessed through periods of observation on the unit. Screening compliance and reduction in infection rates were investigated using a retrospective records review. Results. The survey revealed good awareness of the MRSAP (88%, n=23), but knowledge of the detailed content was variable. Most staff were apparently satisfied with the existing standards of infection control in CICU (84.6%, n=22). Observation revealed that, compliance with routine hygiene measures was good (66% correct contacts, n=144) by the standard of other studies, but, given the high risk of postoperative infection for these patients improvements are required. Inadequate data in sampled records prevented meaningful analysis of screening compliance, and hence the systems for handling screening swabs and results need to be reviewed. The change in infection rates between the pre and post MRSAP periods, which incorporated use of infection risk stratification data to demonstrate comparability of the two groups of patients, revealed that despite the high MRSA infection rate in 2005 (1.18%), and subsequent drop post MRSAP (0.35%), the actual number of cases found was too small to test statistically for significant difference. An incidental finding was that female cardiac surgery patients were getting significantly younger (p<0.01). There was a significant decrease in hospital MRSA infection rates for matched periods (p<0.0001 ). Conclusions. Evidence was found to support the efficacy of the MRSAP in the reduction of MRSA infections. Deficits in staff knowledge and infection control practice were identified and feedback has been implemented in order to improve compliance with the MRSAP and maintain the improved infection rates. Further research with respect to implementation of, and compliance with, infection control measures could both improve quality of patient care and decrease the burden of preventable infectious disease such as health care associated infections (HAls) in South Africa. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Ultra-lightweight thermoformed stiffened structures are emerging as a viable option for spacecraft applications due to their advantage over inflatable structures. Although pressurization may be used for deployment, constant pressure is not required to maintain stiffness. However, thermoformed stiffening features are often locally nonlinear in their behavior under loading. This thesis has three aspects: 1) to understand stiffness properties of a thermoformed stiffened ultra-lightweight panel, 2) to develop finite element models using a phased-verification approach and 3) to verify panel response to dynamic loading. This thesis demonstrates that conventional static and dynamic testing principles can be applied to test ultra-lightweight thermoformed stiffened structures. Another contribution of this thesis is by evaluating the stiffness properties of different stiffener configurations. Finally, the procedure used in this thesis could be adapted in the study of similar ultra-lightweight thermoformed stiffened spacecraft structures.