AMROFloor: An Efficient Aging Mitigation and Resource Optimization Floorplanner for Virtual Coarse-Grained Runtime Reconfigurable FPGAs

With the rapid reduction of CMOS process size, the FPGAs with high-silicon accumulation technology are becoming more sensitive to aging effects. This reduces the reliability and service life of the device. The offline aging-aware layout planning based on balance stress is an effective solution. However, the existing methods need to take a long time to solve the floorplanner, and the corresponding layout solutions occupy many on-chip resources. To this end, we proposed an efficient Aging Mitigation and Resource Optimization Floorplanner (AMROFloor) for FPGAs. First, the layout solution is implemented on the Virtual Coarse-Grained Runtime Reconfigurable Architecture, which contributes to avoiding rule constraints for placement and routing. Second, the Maximize Reconfigurable Regions Algorithm (MRRA) is proposed to quickly determine the RRs’ number and size to save the solving time and ensure an effective solution. Furthermore, the Resource Combination Algorithm (RCA) is proposed to optimize the on-chip resources, reducing the on-Chip Resource Utilization (CRU) while achieving the same aging relief effect. Experiments were simulated and implemented on Xilinx FPGA. The results demonstrate that the AMROFloor method designed in this paper can extend the Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) by 13.8% and optimize the resource overhead by 19.2% on average compared to the existing aging-aware layout solutions.

Survival is the driver for adaptation: safety engineering changed the future, security engineering prevented disasters and transition engineering navigates the pathway to the climate-safe future

Consider a simple idea describing the time, space and relationship scales of survival. Engineering has been going along with the current paradigm that growth in wealth and material consumption can continue through innovation and technology development. The proposed survival continuum concept represents a new way to think about sustainability that has clear implications for influencing engineering projects in all fields. The argument for survival as the driver for adaptation is developed sequentially, building on theory, definition, examples and history. The key idea is that sustainability will be effectively addressed by a new engineering discipline furthering development of the field of safety engineering with longer time scale, broader space scale and more complex relationship scale. The implication is that the past 100-year development of safety engineering can be leveraged to fast-track the inclusion of sustainability risk management throughout the entire engineering profession. The conclusion is that a new, interdisciplinary field, Transition Engineering, is emerging as the way our society will achieve sustainability-safety through rapid reduction in fossil fuel use and reduction in detrimental social and environmental impacts of industrialization.

Cognitive Hypnotherapy and EMDR: Two Effective Psychodynamic Therapies for the Rapid Reduction of Cognitive Anxiety

In the main research into cognitive anxiety has focused on the conscious mind. The aim of this chapter is to review two psychodynamic psychotherapies, cognitive hypnotherapy (CH) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). Both therapies focus on implicit or unconscious processes for the rapid relief of cognitive anxiety. The objective is to give credence to CH and EMDR both in the scientific and medical domains. The philosophy is concerned with changing negative cognitions and dysfunctional feelings through a process of desensitisation and reprocessing, utilising positive imagery. CH and EMDR were investigated in an intervention study with advanced pianists (n = 46). Participants were of mixed gender aged 18–26 and were randomly assigned to a therapy or control group. The therapy groups received two therapies of either CH or EMDR during a two week period between two concerts. Quantitative data were collected through the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results showed that both therapy groups (but not the control) experienced a significant reduction in state anxiety post-therapy and trait anxiety decreased significantly below baseline levels in the EMDR group. This chapter further reviews research into CH and EMDR documented through a case study allowing for qualitative assessment of the therapies where two sessions only were required to effect positive change.

Evolution of the geological structure and mechanical properties due to the collision of multiple basement topographic highs in a forearc accretionary wedge: insights from numerical simulations

We propose a conceptual geological model for the collision of multiple basement topographic highs (BTHs; e.g., seamounts, ridges, and horsts) with a forearc accretionary wedge. Even though there are many BTHs on an oceanic plate, there are few examples of modeling the collision of multiple BTHs. We conducted numerical simulations using the discrete element method to examine the effects of three BTH collisions with forearcs. The typical geological structure associated with a BTH collision was reproduced during the collision of the first BTH, and multiple BTH collisions create a cycle of formation of BTH collisional structures. Each BTH forces the basal décollement to move up to the roof décollement, and the roof décollement becomes inactive after the passage of the BTH, and then the décollement moves down to the base. As the active décollement position changes, the sequences of underthrust sediments and uplifted imbricate thrusts are sandwiched between the décollements and incorporated into the wedge. At a low horizontal compressive stress, a “shadow zone” is formed behind (i.e., seaward of) the BTH. When the next BTH collides, the horizontal compressive stress increases and tectonic compaction progresses, which reduce the porosity in the underthrust sediments. Heterogeneous evolution of the geological and porosity structure can generate a distinctive pore pressure pattern. The underthrust sediments retain fluid in the “shadow” of the BTH. Under the strong horizontal compressive stresses associated with the next BTH collision, pore pressure increases along with a rapid reduction of porosity in the underthrust sediments. The distinctive structural features observed in our model are comparable to the large faults in the Kumano transect of the Nankai Trough, Japan, where a splay fault branches from the plate boundary and there are old and active décollements. A low-velocity and high-pore-pressure zone is located at the bottom of the accretionary wedge and in front (i.e., landward) of the subducting ridge in the Kumano transect. This suggests that strong horizontal compressive stresses associated with the current BTH collision has increased the pore pressure within the underthrust sediments associated with previous BTHs.

AVALIAÇÃO DAS CONSEQUÊNCIAS DO GALGAMENTO COSTEIRO DE 10/11 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2013 NA FRENTE URBANA DO CONCE-LHO DE SANTA CRUZ, ILHA DA MADEIRA

The expansion and consolidation of urban areas along the coast lead to the exposure of a large number of anthropic elements to sea storm events. It is with the aim of identifying and classifying the consequences of coastal overtopping that we analyse the recent storm surge of 10/11 December of 2013 which affected the urban coastal fringe of the city of Santa Cruz, on the south coast of Madeira Island. Therefore, the atmospheric conditions of wind intensity and atmospheric pressure are analysed and is characterised the direction of the waves and their maximum height, as well as the tide variation. After the oceanographic and meteorological characterization, it´s identified and evaluated the structural damage on the coastal zone and classified the functional consequences on the port structures affected by overtopping. The quantitative analysis of atmospheric and oceanographic data supports that this overtopping is a green water type resulting from an extratropical storm arising from the rapid reduction of atmospheric pressure and an average wind velocity of 30 km/h, affecting approximately 1600 meters of the coastal area of Santa Cruz. The qualitative analysis of the consequences shows that the port structures suffered severe to catastrophic consequences and dysfunction of their normal activities. The most affected areas are at the extremes of the urban front, registering reduced to insignificant consequences, in the intermediate area. Thus, it shows areas of greatest exposure, and areas that had presented seriously to severe damages, which can be highlighted in future episodes.

Monoclonal antibody treatment drives rapid culture conversion in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are the treatment of choice for high-risk ambulatory persons with mild to moderate COVID-19. We studied viral culture dynamics post-treatment in a subset of participants receiving the mAb bamlanivimab in the ACTIV-2 trial. Viral load by qPCR and viral culture were performed from anterior nasal swabs collected on study days 0 (day of treatment), 1, 2, 3, and 7. Treatment with mAb resulted in rapid clearance of culturable virus in participants without treatment-emergent resistance. One day after treatment, 0 of 28 (0%) participants receiving mAb and 16 of 39 (41%) receiving placebo still had culturable virus (p <0.0001); nasal viral loads were only modestly lower in the mAb-treated group at days 2 and 3. Recrudescence of culturable virus was detected in three participants with emerging mAb resistance and viral load rebound. The rapid reduction in shedding of viable SARS-CoV-2 after mAb treatment highlights the potential role of mAbs in preventing disease transmission.

Investigation on Compressibility and Microstructure Evolution of Intact Loess During Wetting Process

Loess is widely deposited in arid and semi-arid areas and is characterized by low dry density, developed pore space, and loose structure, which is not commensurate with that high structural strength and shear strength in the dry state. Many natural phenomena and experimental studies show that intact loess is very sensitive to the change of water content, with slight increases in water content causing a rapid reduction in strength. Abundant information is available in the literature for collapsibility of loess; however, the research on the evolution of loess compressibility during wetting is still minimal, which is very helpful to understand the loess collapsible deformation caused by long-term irrigation. In this paper, the evolution of compressibility of intact loess during wetting are studied by oedometer test, and the microstructure and pore size distribution (PSD) is characterized on intact loess specimens with different water content before and after oedometer tests by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) methods. The results show that the compression index (Cc) and secondary compression index (Cα) of intact loess depend on water content and vertical stress and change abruptly after the vertical stress exceeds the yield stress. The Cα/Cc values of the intact loess are not constant, which increased with the vertical stress to peak and then gradually decreased and tend to 0.025. Both wetting and loading can cause microstructural damage to the intact loess, in which loading leads to the collapse of the overhead structure and transformation from a bimodal PSD into a single PSD, and wetting intensifies the collapse of microstructure to form a compacted interlocking structure and promotes the transformation of medium pores into small pores.

STUDY OF OCCUPATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

In the course of work it was demonstrated that occupational risk is considered to be the probability of harm to health as a result of exposure to harmful and / or dangerous production factors during the labor process. A prerequisite for occupational safety in production activities is knowledge and assessment of the activities of sources of danger, risk assessment tools, the degree of impact of hazards on people and taking the necessary measures. Risk management is carried out in the performance of each production operation performed by employees of the enterprise, and is aimed at eliminating or reducing unacceptable risks through the implementation of appropriate protective measures. Without the analysis and management of occupational risks, it is impossible to create safe conditions, as well as reduce injuries and reduce occupational diseases. One of the main methods of occupational risk analysis that gives the best results is the method of analysis of causation using a dynamic model. In order to identify hazards, assess risks and implement protective measures that can ensure the acceptable level of risks of future work, it is necessary to consider the production task and visit the work site. Work is allowed if there are no additional hazards and protective measures of the Risk Assessment Map are actually implemented. It is forbidden to perform the work when identifying additional hazards that require reducing the risks of additional resources and the decision of management. It is strictly forbidden to perform the work until the rapid reduction of the level of risk to an acceptable level begins − with the identification of additional hazards that require the development and implementation of protective measures at the expense of personal resources.