Rethinking Embedded Blocks for Machine Learning Applications

The underlying goal of FPGA architecture research is to devise flexible substrates that implement a wide variety of circuits efficiently. Contemporary FPGA architectures have been optimized to support networking, signal processing, and image processing applications through high-precision digital signal processing (DSP) blocks. The recent emergence of machine learning has created a new set of demands characterized by: (1) higher computational density and (2) low precision arithmetic requirements. With the goal of exploring this new design space in a methodical manner, we first propose a problem formulation involving computing nested loops over multiply-accumulate (MAC) operations, which covers many basic linear algebra primitives and standard deep neural network (DNN) kernels. A quantitative methodology for deriving efficient coarse-grained compute block architectures from benchmarks is then proposed together with a family of new embedded blocks, called MLBlocks. An MLBlock instance includes several multiply-accumulate units connected via a flexible routing, where each configuration performs a few parallel dot-products in a systolic array fashion. This architecture is parameterized with support for different data movements, reuse, and precisions, utilizing a columnar arrangement that is compatible with existing FPGA architectures. On synthetic benchmarks, we demonstrate that for 8-bit arithmetic, MLBlocks offer 6× improved performance over the commercial Xilinx DSP48E2 architecture with smaller area and delay; and for time-multiplexed 16-bit arithmetic, achieves 2× higher performance per area with the same area and frequency. All source codes and data, along with documents to reproduce all the results in this article, are available at http://github.com/raminrasoulinezhad/MLBlocks .

Exploring the Role of Digital and Socio-civic Skills for Promoting Youth Participation and Digital Citizenship

<p style="text-align: justify;">The emergence of digital technologies and a more global and digital society has brought about the need to develop and educate in Digital Citizenship, as well as to study how youth are taught to participate and learn citizenship in a digital age. This paper aims to explore the role of digital and socio-civic skills development, as facilitators for youth participation and analyses the relationship between sociodemographic variables (sex, age, educational level, and political ideology) with the participatory profile of participants. This is a study with a quantitative methodology, where, based on non-probabilistic convenience sampling, 534 young people between 16 and 35 years old from Spain, completed an online questionnaire regarding the development of digital and socio-civic skills. The results indicate how a participant’s participatory profile is related to other variables. In addition, significant differences are observed between the different participation profiles and digital and socio-civic skills, underlining that the development of digital and socio-civic skills are essential for educating in digital citizenship.</p>

Influencia de la edad, la maternidad y el empleo en las barreras para la práctica de actividad física y deporte de las mujeres adultas en España (Influence of age, maternity and employment in barriers to practicing physical activity and sport for Spanish

Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron analizar la influencia de la edad y tipo de ocupación relacionada con el empleo y la crianza, en las barreras para la práctica de las mujeres adultas en España. La metodología de carácter cuantitativa, se ha apoyado en el uso de la encuesta mediante el empleo de un cuestionario basado en la teoría bio-ecológica de Bronfenbrenner, con ítems individuales, ocupación crianza-hogar, ocupación empleo-tiempo y oferta de actividad física y deporte, a una muestra representativa de 1.731 mujeres adultas españolas (entre 30 y 64 años). Los resultados evidenciaron efecto multivariado de la ocupación en las barreras ocupación-empleo y tiempo (“No soy capaz de generar tiempo para mí”, “empleo” y “horarios incompatibles”). Las mujeres adultas que concilian maternidad y empleo perciben en mayor grado estas tres barreras mencionadas. Además, se evidenció efecto multivariado de la edad y la ocupación, y de la interacción, en las barreras ocupación maternidad-hogar (“Tengo que cuidar de mi/s hijo/as” y “Tengo que ocuparme de las tareas del hogar”). Las madres adultas, empleadas o no, percibieron la maternidad en mayor grado como barrera. En las empleadas que no son madres, las tareas del hogar como barrera tuvieron mayor prevalencia en las mayores de cincuenta años. Estas evidencias deberían considerarse para diseñar innovaciones y adaptar intervenciones, en el ámbito de la actividad física y el deporte, para estos grupos específicos, de mujeres adultas. Abstract. The objectives of the present paper were to analyze the age and occupation type related to employment and maternity influencing Spanish adult women’s barriers to practice. A quantitative methodology based on the use of the survey was applied to a representative sample of 1,731 Spanish adult women (between 30 and 64 years old) who filled out a questionnaire based on the Bronfenbrenner´s bioecological theory with individual items, occupation maternity-household, occupation employment-time and physical activity and sport provision through a personal interview. The results showed a multivariate effect of the occupation on the occupation-employment and time barriers (“I can´t generate time for myself”, “employment” and “incompatible timetables”). The adult women who combine maternity and employment perceived the three barriers mentioned to a greater extent. Also, there was found a multivariate effect of age and occupation, and of the interaction, on the occupation maternity-household barriers (“I have to take care of my children” and “I have to do the housework”). The adult mothers, employed or unemployed, perceived maternity as a barrier to a greater degree. In employed women who are not mothers, household chores as a barrier showed a higher prevalence in those over fifty years old. These findings should be considered for designing innovations and tailoring interventions in the field of physical activity and sport to fit these targeted groups of adult women.

The Impact of Communicating Sustainability and Ethical Behaviour of the Cosmetic Producers: Evidence from Thailand

Purpose—This study aims to demonstrate the antecedent factors of consumers’ cosmetics purchasing behaviour in the emerging market of Thailand from the perspective of sustainability. Specifically, the study aims to quantitatively analyse the impact of three hypothesised antecedents of consumer behaviour: product quality, communicating sustainability, and ethical business behaviour. Methodology—A quantitative methodology is applied in the study, which collects survey data from Thailand. This study focuses on two cosmetic brands in Thailand, a domestic brand and an international brand. The total 800-sample dataset was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling to validate a conceptual model with measurements of three antecedent factors: quality, ethical behaviour, and communication sustainability. Findings—It is found that ‘ethical behaviour of the producers had a non-significant impact for all samples and the ‘domestic brand’, whereas communicating sustainability had a significant impact in all sample cases. The proposed measurement scales present a practical and pioneering tool for assessing consumer responses and behaviour towards cosmetic brands. The set of scales will also help cosmetics marketers to appraise their strategic planning and monitor their progress toward creating and identifying consumer loyalty to cosmetics brands via producers’ ethical behaviour and CSR messaging. Originality—The global market and inter-stakeholder communications have greatly changed the way people perceive, behave towards, and react to business suppliers. The understanding of consumer brand loyalty in the cosmetics industry and the business strategies focused on the impact of communicating sustainability with ethical behaviour remain limited, especially in the context of the emerging market. This research contributes to filling this gap with empirical analyses.

Examination Of Customer Interest In The Use Of The Mandiri Syariah Mobile Application At PT. Bank Syariah Mandiri Bekasi Branch Office

We inspect client premium in the utilization of the Mandiri Syariah Mobile application as a type of improvement in the computerized world at one of the Islamic banks in Indonesia. The reason for this review was to decide the impact of control (age, sex, and experience) on the connection between free factors (execution assumptions, exertion, impact of social beliefs, assistance conditions, decadent inspiration, value esteems ??, and propensities) on the reliant variable (conduct expectations and conduct). utilization conduct) which alludes to the Unified Theory Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) II model. The technique is a quantitative methodology with an informative examination plan that intends to clarify the factors to be considered and the impact between one variable and another. Social conditions, assistance conditions, indulgent inspiration, value esteems ??, propensities with conduct expectation factors. Given the consequences of the examination, execution assumptions have the most significant relationship, precisely 43.2% on social goals. Subsequently, this review proposes that before expanding the connection between social aims to utilize conduct, PT Bank Syariah Mandiri needs to reinforce the impact of the seven factors on social goals.

PENGARUH PENERAPAN METODE DEMONSTRASI TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR PESERTA DIDIK MUATAN IPA KELAS IV DI SDN 102/II SUNGAI KERJAN

This examination is awakened by low learning outcomes of science content that has not yett reached the minimum completeness criteria (KKM). One variable that contributes is the low learning outcomes of practice, especially in science learning. Therefore, the right learning strategy is needed which affects the results of easy-to-understand learning. The aim in this study was to understand how much impact the demontrasion method on the results of learning in class IV at SDN 102 / II Kerjan River in Science learning. This type of research is a type of Pre Experimental Design research with a quantitative methodology. Design that uses the type of One Group Pretest Posttest Design. The subjects of this study were 27 students at SD Negeri 102/II Sungai Kerjan. In this examination, the data collection instrument of the researcher used an instrument in the form of test questions. The data collection technique utilizes up to 20 pretest and posttest questions. The data analysis technique used a statistical test, namely the Paired Samples T-Test test because the data were normally distributed. Information handled using SPSS 22.

Integration of Environment and Content Knowledge into STEM Education

With a central focus on the research question: “What must be done to encourage people to become more E+STEM educated?” this research is based on a Systematic review on ecological knowledge, which is linked to teachers' career growth as well as Environmental Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (E+STEM) pedagogy. The aim is to identify what instructors must do to improve their experience and credentials as E+STEM-educated people in light of expert views. To disclose expert views, a "mixed method" research approach is utilized in this study, which includes both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The technique employed is exploratory study sequencing, which is a kind of mixed-method study. The Delphi study's initial stage is to gather qualitative data on teachers' professional growth. The quantitative methodology is featured for the phase two of the Delphi research once the data has been analyzed in the first step. Lastly, the ultimate quantitative formulation (third phase) is produced following the data evaluation in the second phase.

TEACHING LANGUAGES FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES WITH TECHNOLOGY: WHAT TO TAKE TO THE DIGITAL CLASSROOM

The article focuses on the experience of online language learning in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic at Sechenov University (Moscow, Russia). Due to the differences in accepted professional communication practices in medical sphere in Russia and abroad there is a need of commenting, propagation and constant focusing on the part of the instructor. The aim of this research was to obtain a clear and a detailed picture of medical students’ attitude towards the change in the mode of delivery in teaching languages for medical purposes, which occurred during the lockdown and triggered a sudden shift in the roles. We analyzed the technologies used, the alterations to the academic content, modes of delivery, and the student’s attitude towards ESP/EMP employing mainly a quantitative methodology of gathering and analyzing data. The survey of the students showed that, though there is a strong preference in favor of technology use and more independent learning, they fully understand the role of the instructor in the process.

Suggestions for large-scale, postdisaster reconstruction involving indigenous populations: a participatory approach to recovery after Typhoon Morakot

Purpose The participatory method, a major factor for a successful post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) project, is applied in various stages of the PDR. However, the application of this method for PDR involving indigenous populations is underexplored. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the critical factors that can influence the participatory PDR in the indigenous context. Design/methodology/approach Two large-scale, indigenous, post-disaster relocation projects after the 2009 Typhoon Morakot were selected as case studies. The qualitative and quantitative methodology (semi-structured interview and questionnaire) were applied in the research. Findings A participation-friendly policy, community organization, the extent of damage, flexibility of nongovernmental organizations, understanding of the participatory concept and mutual trust were found to be essential factors that profoundly influence participation in PDR projects. Originality/value This study contributes by providing guidelines for future participatory PDR projects, especially in the indigenous context.

Cooperative education during Covid-19 pandemic: enhancing legal rights and professional development of interns in Thailand

Purpose The study aims at enriching the existing cooperative education sector in Thailand. Adequate cooperative education has direct impacts upon graduates’ future professional development, employability and enhanced professional skills. The cooperative education framework in Thailand is relatively a recent concept and lacks detailed research. Design/methodology/approach The methodology adopted in this study is mixed-method, inclusive of qualitative methodology where data were collected through key informant interviews and; quantitative methodology involving survey questionnaires with a sample of 350 respondents. The data analysis included the quantitative analysis with Chi-square and excerpts from the key informant interview respondents. Additional strength, weakness, opportunity and threat analysis is performed to provide for gaps at various levels of cooperative education and the potential opportunities to the graduates in Thailand. Findings The findings depict a lack of legal framework for effective skill development, uncertain moral and physical security of the interns and absence of legal rights for interns, minimal support and assistance from the government sector, reduced future employability and insufficient financial resources among poorer students. Research limitations/implications Lack of student and cooperative database with the government departments. Practical implications The Thai Qualification Framework has been adopted in a majority of universities, however, the quality assurance does not cover the student’s perspectives, financial and social limitations towards attending the cooperative education. Social implications With enhanced vulnerabilities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, adverse impacts are analysed and recommendations are provided for enhancing cooperative education opportunities towards students. Originality/value This research aims to understand the perspectives of the students who graduated with cooperative education and are currently working professionals.