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International audience; Parallel multi-threaded applications are needed to gain advantage from multi- and many-core processors. Such processors are more frequently considered for embedded hard real-time with defined timing guarantees, too. The static timing analysis, which is one way to calculate the worst-case execution time (WCET) of parallel applications, is complex and time-consuming due to the difficulty to analyze the interferences of threads and the high annotation effort to resolve it.

Beginning with the analysis of the limitation which the sequence design of hardware prior and the parallel design of hardware and software both have, do some researches on the method of parallel design based on simulation which ensures the balance of hardware and software, rapid prototyping design and avoids the risk by simulating on testing platform in design process of the embedded system,. Through the analysis and design of a framework of simulation platform based on ARM, illustrate the application of simulation platform in this method.

A bioequivalence study was carried out to compare the bioavailabilities of two formulations containing racemic hydroxychloroquine. The study was based on a single phase parallel design because the enantiomers of hydroxychloroquine have very long terminal phase half lives. A group of n = 72 healthy young men were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of either test ( n = 36 subjects) or the reference ( n = 36 subjects) formulation after which serial blood samples were harvested over 77 days. The two products were found to be bioequivalent in that 90% confidence intervals fell entirely within bioequivalence limits of 80–125% for the log transformed parameters C max and AUC 4 whether calculated from non-chiral or enantioselective blood concentrations. Similarly, 90% confidence intervals for the partial areas from AUC 4 through AUC Inst all fell within 80–125%. These data suggest that enantioselective assays were not required and that blood samples need only have been harvested up to 12 h.

The pharmaco-dynamic action of plant-derived drugs still remains a big challenge in the field of pharmacology. This applies especially for the discovering of the possible mechanism of action. With respect to the brain, surrogate parameters may be very helpful. Non-invasive pharmaco-EEG has been proven to provide valid information on drug effects in general. Fast dynamic EEG recording with epoch length of 364 ms has now been achieved in combination with Eye-Tracking in order to elucidate single scenes during cognitive and emotional challenges (EnkephaloVision). The present investigation deals with the psychophysiological characterization of the effect of a plant-derived preparation marketed in Germany under the name of PASCOFLAIR® containing 425 mg of passionflower extract in subjects suffering from examination anxiety. Forty healthy volunteer subjects (17 men and 23 woman), with ages varying between 18 and 40 years (26 ± 6.726 for men and 25 ± 5.397 for women) were included into the study when having a score higher than 60 in the PAF (PrUfungsangstfragebogen). Spectral power analysis of pre-drug data with respect to beta waves revealed a significant correlation to the score of the PAF. Increases of delta, theta and beta waves as induced by 4 cognitive and 4 emotional challenges were attenuated in the presence of 2 tablets of PASCOFLAIR® already 45 minutes after intake in a statistically significant manner in comparison to placebo. Regarding attenuation of beta1 and beta2 spectral power, effects on glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, respectively, can be suspected according to our knowledge of frequency—transmitter relations. Accordingly, this attenuation must be interpreted as ability to counteract examination induced stress symptoms. Results confirm and extend earlier experimental data showing a calming action of PASCOFLAIR®.

This paper presents a parallel design optimization method for multi-trailer articulated heavy vehicles (MTAHVs) with active safety systems (ASSs). It is a challenge to deal with the trade-off between high-speed stability and low-speed maneuverability. Evolutionary algorithms have been used for the design optimization of MTAHVs, but the computation efficiency is low. To address the problem, a parallel computing technique with a master–slave system is proposed. Active trailer steering, differential braking and anti-roll sub-systems are combined in an integrated ASS. Considering the interactions of Driver-Vehicle-ASS, the method simultaneously searches optimal active and passive variables of the ASS controllers, the driver model, and the trailers using a master–slave computing system. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method provides an effective approach to the design synthesis of MTAHVs with ASSs.

This paper proposes the parallel design of a shot change detection algorithm using frame segmentation and moving blocks. In the proposed approach, the high parallel processing components, such as frame histogram calculation, block histogram calculation, Otsu threshold setting function, frame moving operation, and block histogram comparison, are designed in parallel for NVIDIA GPU. In order to minimize memory access delay time and guarantee fast computation, the output of a GPU kernel becomes the input data of another kernel in a pipeline way using the shared memory of GPU. In addition, the optimal sizes of CUDA processing blocks and threads are estimated through the prior experiments. In the experimental test of the proposed shot change detection algorithm, the detection rate of the GPU based parallel algorithm is the same as that of the CPU based algorithm, but the average of processing time speeds up about 6~8 times.

The triumphant spread of multicore processors over the past decade increases the pressure on software developers to exploit the growing amount of parallelism available in the hardware. However, writing parallel programs is generally challenging. For sequential programs, the formulation of design patterns marked a turning point in software development, boosting programmer productivity and leading to more reusable and maintainable code. While the literature is now also reporting a rising number of parallel design patterns, programmers confronted with the task of parallelizing an existing sequential program still struggle with the question of which parallel pattern to apply where in their code. In this article, we show how template matching, a technique traditionally used in the discovery of sequential design patterns, can also be used to support parallelization decisions. After looking for matches in a previously extracted dynamic dependence graph, we classify code blocks of the input program according to the structure of the parallel patterns we find. Based on this information, the programmer can easily implement the detected pattern and create a parallel version of his or her program. We tested our approach with six programs, in which we successfully detected pipeline and do-all patterns.

Sequential signal processing based on single digital signal processor (DSP) for Coriolis Mass Flowmeter (CMF) can hardly achieve critical real-time performance. A multi-task parallel signal processing scheme based on dual-core DSP for CMF is proposed in this paper. While the sample-based task implements data acquisition and digital filtering, the frame-based task conducts frequency detection and phase difference detection tasks and etc. The two tasks are synchronized via event-based inter-processor communication. Since no real time operating system (RTOS) is needed for task scheduling, the software is of low complexity. Experimental study verifies the higher real-time performance of the proposed scheme over sequential signal processing.

Logic-circuit integration of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) has grown considerably with improvements in semiconductor technology. High-level synthesis (HLS) is now widely used to implement complex FPGA applications to increase design efficiency, taking the place of typical register-transfer level (RTL) design. Most HLS tools support C-like languages such as C/C++, SystemC, OpenCL, and CUDA. However, coarse-grain parallelism from a C-like language cannot be extracted easily, hence some tools use explicitly parallel programming languages to design hardware. However, all such tools rely on the programmer to correctly parallelize and perform optimizations on the application, which often forces the programmer to acquire hardware-design knowledge. In this work, we propose an HLS environment for FPGAs using the embedded domain-specific language (DSL) of Haskell as the design language. Haskell is a pure functional language that has the features of referential transparency and no side effects. Hence, it is better for mapping to hardware. Higher-order functions such as map, zipWith, and reduce are useful for allowing a parallel design pattern to automatically extract parallelism in the design. In our environment, the embedded DSL program is compiled to the LLVM intermediate representation (LLVM IR), which is then integrated into the open-source HLS tool, LegUp. LegUp synthesizes the LLVM IR to Verilog HDL, which can be merged with the FPGA design tools of the FPGA vendor. The evaluation results show that our proposed implementation achieves 3.00 and 4.96 times speed-up in two benchmarks, array addition and summation of array, respectively, relative to a C-like language design.

Repetitive administration of valerian/hops combinations has been widely used for self-administered therapy of sleep disturbances due to their lack of side effects. Based on the electrohypnogram – derived from a validated computer assisted automatic analysis for depth of sleep – a new approach was started following a single dose administration of verum (n=20) or placebo (n=22) to poor sleepers. Two ml of the liquid extract or placebo were diluted in 50ml water (flavoured with honey) and administered 15 minutes before EEG recording during the medication night following a polysomnographic baseline night. The time spent in sleep (values of the sleep frequency index (SFx) of the electrohypnogram beyond 74% or lower as difference between the baseline nights and the medication nights) was significantly higher for the verum group in comparison to the placebo group (p

The problem of designing complex systems, with performance specifications from multiple disciplines, consisting of several subsystems, and where the subsystems are designed in parallel is addressed. The subsystems interact in the sense that the performance of one subsystem is influenced by the design details of other subsystems. This introduces uncertainty into the design process. A team designing a given subsystem needs design details from other subsystems to evaluate its subsystem performance. If the subsystems are designed in parallel, these design details are generally not readily available. In this paper, we formulate the subsystem design problems using a robust design framework. Nonlinear optimization is used to design subsystems that are robust with respect to the uncertainties arising from designing the subsystems in parallel. In addition to its own uncertain design parameters, the uncertain parameters for a given subsystem include the design variables and outputs from other subsystems that are needed in that subsystem analysis. Accounting for these uncertainties allows the subsystems to be designed in parallel while guaranteeing achievement of system-level performance specifications upon assembly of the subsystems. The proposed robust parallel design (RPD) approach is illustrated using a passive suspension design example for a half-car model.

Background: In the 2015/2016 season, the quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) became available in Japan. We evaluated the immunogenicity of simultaneous administration (SIM) of QIV and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Methods: This study was a randomized, non-inferiority, open label trial conducted at a single center in Japan. A total of 162 adults aged ≥65 years were randomly assigned to either the SIM group (received injections of PPSV23 and QIV simultaneously) or sequential administration (SEQ) group (received injection of PPSV23 at 2 weeks post-administration of QIV). Pneumococcal IgG titers of serotype 23F, 3, 4, 6B, 14, and 19A were assessed. This trial was registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02592486. Results: A total of 81 and 76 patients were evaluated in the SIM and SEQ groups, respectively. We found that the response rate of serotype 23F in the SIM group (77.8%) was not inferior to that in the SEQ group (77.6%) (difference, 0.1%; 90% confidence interval, -10.8% to 11.1%). IgG titers at 4–6 weeks after vaccination did not show significant differences between the two groups in all serotypes. H1N1, H3N2, and B Phuket strains of influenza did not show differences in the odds ratios for seroprotection rates between the two groups. No significant differences were found in adverse reactions. The results at 6 month after vaccination will be reported at the congress. Conclusion: The SIM of PPSV23 and QIV showed an acceptable immune response compared to that of SEQ, without an increase of adverse reactions.

The PCNN algorithm based on the visual perception of information can better analyze and understand the natural essence of image. But the multi-parameter settings and high computational complexity restrict the application of the algorithm in the industrial real-time image processing. Based on this, The parallel design and implementation of the PCNN algorithm based on the visual perception information is proposed. The PCNN algorithm is improved by the visual perception method, through analyzing parallelization of the feasibility of the algorithm, the parallel algorithm running at the cluster and experimental environment are developed. The performance of the parallel algorithm is verified by industrial image on the cluster, the experimental results show that the parallelized the PCNN algorithm has a better scalability and speedup.

This paper, first, analyzes the problem about alternative models in parallel process; Secondly, present a neural network architecture and learning algorithm; Finally, discuss parallel software design method based on multi-layered neural network model and object-oriented techniques. An object-oriented approach to the initial analysis and design of a solution model provided the benefits of data abstraction and encapsulation which aided in the identification and modeling of the parallelism inherent in the problem domain.

Introduction: Our current understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic venous disease (CVD) suggests that veno-active drugs (VAD) can provide effective symptom relief. Few studies have conducted head-to-head comparisons of VAD and placebo while also assessing objective measures (such as water plethysmography findings and tibiotarsal joint range of motion) and patient-reported quality of life outcomes. Objectives: To compare the effects of different VAD on limb volume reduction, tibiotarsal range of motion, and quality of life. Methods: 136 patients with CVD (CEAP grades 2–5) were randomly allocated into four groups to receive micronized diosmin + hesperidin, aminaphthone, coumarin + troxerutin, or placebo (starch). Patients were administered a questionnaire consisting of a quality of life (QoL) measure designed specifically for persons with CVD, and underwent tibiotarsal joint angle measurement and water plethysmography of the lower extremity before and 30 days after pharmacological intervention. Assessors were blind to the treatment groups. Results: Nine patients dropped out of the trial. Data collected from the 127 remaining patients was considered for statistical analysis. There were no differences in tibiotarsal joint range of motion. Volume reductions ≥100 mL were more frequent in the diosmin + hesperidin group than in any other group. QoL scores were best in the aminaphthone group, and between-group differences were found on individual analysis of questionnaire items. Conclusions: Use of VAD was associated with significant improvements in QoL as compared with placebo. VAD may be effective for providing symptom relief in patients with CVD.

In recent years, many researchers have proposed intelligent systems based on the IoT (Internet of Things). Among these smart systems, one of the most common applications is intelligent surveillance system. Due to the development of the camera, some applications adopt higher resolution of images to get more accurate results. Therefore, how to process these high-resolution images in real time has become more and more important. In this paper, we design two efficient libraries to detect and track objects. Background subtraction and template matching techniques are our basic approaches which are usually applied to object detection and tracking systems. In order to process high-resolution images, we optimize these two modules by parallel technique to enhance the performance. Experimental results show that the performance of the tracking system using the proposed approach can be increased about 52%.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a racemic 4-aminoquinoline derivative that was first introduced as an antimalarial, and subsequently applied to the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Information on the pharmacokinetics of HCQ in healthy volunteers, especially in a Chinese population is limited, and this study was conducted to provide support for a generic product to obtain marketing authorization in China. The aim of the present study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and assess bioequivalence of a new generic test and the branded reference hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets in healthy volunteers. This was a parallel, open-label, randomized, single-dose, 1-period fasting study. 54 healthy subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 200 mg hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets of the test or the reference formulation. 15 blood samples were collected and whole blood concentrations of HCQ were determined by a validated liquid chromatography-isotopic dilution mass spectrometry method. Log-transformed Cmax and AUC0–24 values were used to test for bioequivalence. The 2 formulations were considered bioequivalent if 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the log-transformed ratios of Cmax and AUC0–24 were within the predetermined bioequivalence range of 80–125%. Tolerability was evaluated throughout the study by vital signs, physical examinations, clinical laboratory tests, 12-lead electrocardiograms, and interviews with the subjects about adverse events. 54 healthy subjects were enrolled and completed the study (mean [SD] age, height, body weight, and BMI were 23.9 [2.4] years, 168.9 [5.0] cm, 61.3 [5.4] kg, and 21.5 [1.7] kg/m2), 27 subjects per group. No formulation or sequence effects were observed. The mean values of Cmax and AUC0–24 for the test and reference formulations of HCQ (197.6 and 199.0 ng/mL, 2460.1 and 2468.3 ng/mL/h) were not significantly different. The 90% CIs of the ratios of Cmax and AUC0–24 were 99.3% (98.1–102.1%), 99.7% (98.9–101.4%), respectively. 4 subjects (7.41%) experienced a total of 4 mild AEs (headache and microscopic hematuria, 1 each; and increase in plasma triglycerides, 2). The results of this study suggest that the test and reference hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets are bioequivalent. Both formulations were generally well tolerated.

The sequential parallel clinical trial is a novel clinical trial design being used in psychiatric diseases that are known to have potentially high placebo response rates. The design consists of an initial parallel trial of placebo versus drug augmented by a second parallel trial of placebo versus drug in the placebo non-responders from the initial trial. Statistical research on the design has focused on hypothesis tests. However, an equally important output from any clinical trial is the estimate of treatment effect and variability around that estimate. In the sequential parallel trial, the most important treatment effect is the effect in the overall population. This effect can be estimated by considering only the first phase of the trial, but this ignores useful information from the second phase of the trial. We develop estimates of treatment effect that incorporate data from both phases of the trial. Our simulations and a real data example suggest that there can be substantial gains in precision by incorporating data from both phases. The potential gains appear to be greatest in moderate-sized trials, which would typically be the case in phase II trials. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This multi-center single-blind study compared clinical outcomes following guided tissue regeneration (GTR) treating human Class II furcation defects with a new polylactic-acid-based bioabsorbable barrier (test treatment) or a non-absorbable ePTFE barrier (control treatment). Clinical parameters evaluated were change in vertical attachment level (VAL), horizontal attachment level (HAL), probing depth (PD), and gingival margin location (REC). Surgical treatment resulted in clinically and statistically equivalent changes when comparisons were made between test and control treatments. VAL gain was 2.0 mm for test and 1.6 mm for control groups; HAL gain was 2.1 mm for both test and control groups. PD reduction was 2.3 mm for the test group and 2.1 mm for the control group. Test sites experienced an additional 0.3 mm of recession beyond baseline; control sites, 0.5 mm. Within-group comparisons showed that the amount of recession was not significantly different from baseline in the test group. Recession in the control group was significantly different from baseline. All other parameters in both the test and control groups were significantly different from baseline. Evaluation of safety data indicated no significant differences between test and control treatments, although there was a strong trend for the control group to have more postoperative abscess or suppuration than test sites (control = 11; test = 4; P = 0.06).

Purpose: This randomized phase II, parallel-design study evaluated preoperative combined modality therapy and the matrix metalloprotease (MMP) inhibitor prinomastat in patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagus that were stage II or greater. The objectives of the trial were to determine pathologic complete response rate (pCR), overall response rate, progression-free survival, pattern of disease relapse, and two-year and overall survival. Patients and Methods: Preoperative staging included computed tomography, endoscopic ultrasound, and, when feasible, laparoscopy. Eligible patients were randomized to preoperative prinomastat or placebo, plus continuous infusion 5-FU, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and concurrent radiotherapy. Esophagectomy was performed on day 71. Adjuvant paclitaxel and prinomastat were available to all study patients. Results: Between August 2000 and June 2001, 15 of a planned 78 patients were randomized into the trial. One patient after randomization withdrew consent. Fourteen patients, 7 in each arm, completed preoperative treatment and surgery. pCR was achieved in 5 patients; 1/ 7 prinomastat and 4/ 7 placebo. Disease improvement was achieved in 7 patients; 5 /7 prinomastat and 2 /7 placebo. At a median follow-up of 28 months, 7 patients (2 prinomastat, 5 placebo) are alive with no evidence of disease. The primary prinomastat related toxicity was moderate to severe musculoskeletal toxicity interfering with daily function. This toxicity was managed with treatment rest, dose reduction, or discontinuation. Five patients (3 prinomastat and 2 placebo) had life-threatening thrombo-embolic events, which led to early evaluation of safety and efficacy, and subsequent termination of the study. Conclusions: All patients, regardless of treatment arm, were able to successfully undergo neoadjuvant combined modality therapy and esophagectomy. However, early closure of the study due to unexpected thrombo-embolic events precluded any conclusions regarding clinical activity of prinomastat in locally advanced esophageal cancer patients.

Background and objectives: Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often experience abnormal mental and behavioral symptoms. Clinically, antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs are often used to control behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), but these drugs have anticholinergic and vertebral effects and have the risk of affecting metabolic diseases and increasing stroke mortality. Infra-low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (ILF-TMS) can regulate the electrical activity of each transmitter, modulating the physiological function of the transmitter to achieve therapeutic effects. Thus, this randomized parallel-design controlled trial examined the use of ILF-TMS as a treatment for BPSD in patients with AD. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ILF-TMS in patients with AD who also show BPSD following conventional drug therapy. Design: This is a randomized parallel-design controlled trial. Methods: AD patients with BPSD in the Beijing Geriatric Hospital, China will be randomized into control (sham stimulation) and stimulation groups (n = 50/group). Eight patients from each group will participate in a preliminary experiment, and the remaining 42 will participate in the trial. For the stimulation group, along with conventional drug therapy, participants will be exposed to ILF-TMS (stimulation frequency < 0.2 Hz; total magnetic field strength, 0.1–40 mT) for 20 minutes per exposure 5 times/week for 8 consecutive weeks. Patients in the control group will undergo sham stimulation and conventional drug therapy. Outcome measures: The primary outcome measure will be neuropsychiatric inventory score differences observed before treatment, at 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment. The secondary outcome measures will be Mini-Mental State Examination and Barthel Index scores before treatment, at 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment. Discussion: The trial is intended to explore a potential new approach for the treatment of behavioral and psychiatric symptoms in patients with AD. This will help to improve poor mental symptoms and the quality of life and reduce psychological and social burdens. Ethics and dissemination: The protocols have been approved by the ethics committee of Beijing Geriatric Hospital of China (approval No. 2016-021) on November 11th, 2016. Study design completed October 2016; ethical approval received November 2016; clinical registration conducted January 2017; patient recruitment began January 2017. Each patient will receive 8 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up. Follow-up will be completed December 2017, and data analysis will be completed December 2018. Results will be disseminated through presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration: This trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration No. ChiCTR-INR-17010487) on January 20th, 2017.

Background: This randomized, double blind trial determined the short and long-term clinical and hemodynamic vasodilator effects induced by percutaneous applications of natural CO2 gas in patients with moderate Fontaine stage II. Patients and methods: 62 patients with intermittent claudication (100-500 meters) were randomized to 18 consecutive days of CO2 treatment or placebo (air). The gas fluids were applied at a constant temperature of 30°C on pre-humidified skin. The effects of the treatment were evaluated by total distance walked (primary criterion) and hemodynamic and microcirculatory findings. Patients also answered a quality of life questionnaire. Results: The Strandness test showed a significant increase in total distance walked (+ 131 meters, 66%; p = 0.001) and pain-free distance (+ 81 meters, 73%; p = 0.02) after 18 days of CO2 treatment. The improvement was maintained 3 and 12 months later. The systolic pressure index (ABI) increased by 37% (p = 0.001) 1 minute after treadmill walking and ABI recovery time decreased significantly by 38% (p = 0.002). Microcirculatory findings showed an increase in systolic pressure of the great toe (13%; p

The industry shift to emerging forms of parallel and distributed computing (PDC), including multi-core CPUs, cloud computing, and general-purpose use of GPUs, have naturally led to increased presence of PDC elements undergraduate Computer Science curriculum recommendations, such as the new and substantial "PD" knowledge area in the ACM/IEEE CS2013 recommendations. How can undergraduate students grasp the extensive and complex range of PDC principles and practices, and apply that knowledge in problem solving, while PDC technologies continue to evolve rapidly? Parallel design patterns occur at all computational levels, ranging from low-level concurrent execution patterns (such as message passing or thread pool patterns) to high-level software design patterns suitable for organizing entire systems or their components (such as model-view-control or pipe and filter patterns). The ubiquity of these patterns in all forms of parallel and distributed computation makes parallel patterns relevant and illuminating at all undergraduate levels, and knowledge of those patterns can guide effective problem solving for parallel programs. This panel presents four viewpoints representing various approaches for teaching parallel patterns to CS undergraduates at various academic levels, including short "patternlets" examples, patterns in domain applications and parallel problem solving, and two tools, Seeds and Paraguin, for teaching parallel design patterns to undergraduates.

Synthetic aperture (SA) imaging algorithm, which combines sub-aperture elements to form high resolution image, can improve image quality in vivo ultrasound image. However, large computation resource is generally required for the implementation of SA. In this paper, we propose a parallel structural design for SA imaging algorithm that can be realized in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), so that light weight and miniaturized design can be achieved. The proposed design has been validated by MATLAB and was employed to construct a high resolution ultrasound imaging from the raw data of 128 array transducer elements. The processing time is about 2.6ms theoretically, which should be alright for usage.

In this article, a new method is proposed for the parallel of digital image processing algorithms. The method will transplant parallel the image matching algorithm based on cross correlation to the digital image processing platform.

Recently 42% of the population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetS), while the prevalence of the MetS in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) is 10-15% higher than in the most developed countries, with generally higher prevalence rates for women. Recent studies proved that black seed may have an effect in reducing the metabolic syndrome factors as well as the cardiovascular diseases risk factors. More studies proved the anti-lipidemic and anti-glycemic effects of blackseed; therefore, it could be used for the management and prevention of the MetS problems. Objectives: To measure the effect of blackseed powder on fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin (Hb), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), blood pressure (BP), waist circumference (WC) and body composition in participants at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Methodology: The study is a controlled, randomized, single blind, parallel-design study. 60 participants who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases were randomly distributed into 2 treatment groups, the first group was the blackseed powder group while the second group was a placebo-control (corn starch) group. 3 grams per day of each treatment was ingested by the participants for 12 weeks. Results: 51 participants continued the study from both groups (29 black seed, 22 Placebo), there was a significant improvement in Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglyceride levels, WC and the percent of body fat (P-value < 0.05). While it showed no effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and blood glucose levels for the black seed group compared to the placebo group. Conclusion: Black seed powder has a significant effect on improving Blood lipids levels in blood, WC and percent of body fat while it showed no improvement in blood glucose levels as well as blood pressure levels for individuals at risk for CVD.

The software design community considers human factors engineering to be a source of bottlenecks in the computer interface design cycle. This paper suggests a way to shorten and improve the typically linear design process, without skimping on human factors engineering. It proposes a parallel design process based on the genetic algorithm of natural biological evolution. Although the genetic algorithm design process can take place within a facilitated group, it differs significantly from facilitation techniques in several ways: It is a parallel process, each design generation is evaluated against a usability fitness function, successive generations must include components from the previous generation, and evolution continues until convergence (consensus regarding the best design) is reached. The process is demonstrated here by a case study of the interface design for a corporate software program. Participants considered 40 designs and reached consensus on a final design in eight hours, thereby shortening the design cycle from two weeks to one day.

Objective. To compare the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injections of two different hyaluronan preparations and placebo in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. In a randomized, patient- and observer-blind, placebo-controlled and multicentre trial with parallel groups, 210 patients, aged 60 yr or above, with knee osteoarthritis were included in a per protocol analysis. The patients were treated with three injections, once weekly, of either native high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (Artzal) or cross-linked hyaluronan (Synvisc) or with placebo and were followed for 52 weeks. The primary efficacy measures were weight-bearing pain during study weeks 026 and the duration of clinical benefit measured with KaplanMeier survival analysis for weeks 052. The secondary outcome measures were resting and maximum pain, Lequesne index, WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index) and SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey) scores. Results. The intra-articular injections produced a significant reduction in weight-bearing pain, resting pain, maximum pain and Lequesne and WOMAC scores after 26 weeks. There were no significant differences in outcome between any of the three study groups during the first 26 weeks. In direct comparison against placebo for weeks 052, neither hyaluronan treatment (Artzal or Synvisc) showed a significantly longer duration of clinical benefit than placebo. However, when data for the two hyaluronan-treated groups were pooled, treatment with hyaluronan had a significantly longer duration of benefit compared with placebo (P = 0.047). Conclusion. Patients with knee osteoarthritis who were treated by injection into the knee of either of two hyaluronan preparations or placebo showed clinical improvement during the first 26 weeks of treatment, though neither hyaluronan preparation gave a longer duration of clinical benefit than placebo. However, when data for the two hyaluronan treatments were pooled, there was a significantly longer duration of clinical benefit for hyaluronan treatment than for placebo. (Less)

Background: Historically, androgens have been utilized for the treatment of BC as the androgen receptor (AR) is the most highly expressed steroid receptor (∼95% in estrogen receptor positive (ER+), ∼50% in ER negative). However, steroidal androgens often exhibit virilizing side effects, thus limiting clinical use. A non-steroidal, tissue-selective, AR modulator (SARM), GTx-024, offers a targeted approach of AR activation in ER+/AR+ BC without virilization or estrogenic effects. A previous Phase 2 study of 9 mg GTx-024 in MET ER+ BC demonstrated proof-of-concept, with 6/17 ER+/AR+ patients (pts) exhibiting clinical benefit (CB) following 6 months (m) of treatment. Increasing the dose to 18 mg has the potential for greater efficacy without compromising safety. Trial Design: Open label, multinational, randomized, parallel design Phase 2 study to assess the efficacy and safety of GTx-024 in PM ER+/AR+ BC. Pts will be randomized to receive GTx-024, 9 mg or 18 mg orally (PO) daily. Therapy continues until disease progression. Pts achieving a CB can be treated for 12 m following the initiation of study treatment; those demonstrating continued CB are offered continuation in a safety extension study under a separate protocol. Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion: Informed consent, female, ≥18 years (yr), PM, MET or LA ER+ (≥1% staining) BC, HER2 negative, ≥1 prior hormonal treatment for BC (≥6 m response for MET; ≥3 yr response for adjuvant), provide archived tumor tissue for AR determination, measurable or bone-only disease, evidence of PD within 30 days (d), ECOG 0 or 1. Exclusion: >1 prior chemotherapy regimen for MET, uncontrolled CNS metastases, radiotherapy ≤14d prior to enrollment, major surgery ≤28d prior to enrollment, currently receiving hormone replacement, hepatitis B/C positive, HIV positive, another active cancer. Specific Aims: Primary endpoint: proportion of AR+ pts in each arm achieving a CB response (CBR) at 24 weeks (wks). CBR defined as pts with a complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD); per modified RECIST 1.1. Secondary endpoints: objective response rate, progression free survival, time to progression, and duration of response. Statistical Methods: Simon's two-stage (optimal) design will be used to assess primary efficacy, requiring up to 88 evaluable pts; i.e., pts with centrally confirmed AR+ who receive at least one dose of study drug. The trial will test for an unacceptably low CBR of ≤10% versus a CBR ≥30%. There is no intent to statistically compare the two dose arms, but to determine whether either or both doses result in an acceptable CBR. Target Accrual: Up to 118 pts will be enrolled. The first stage will be assessed in each arm among the first 18 evaluable pts. If at least 3/18 exhibit CB at 24 wks, then the arm will proceed to the second stage of recruitment up to a total of 44 pts. Otherwise, the arm will be discontinued for lack of efficacy. Trial Information: www.gtxinc.com Citation Format: Overmoyer B, Rugo H, Schwartzberg L, Palmieri C, Taylor R, Hancock M, Small S, Johnston MA. Phase 2 open label, multinational, randomized, parallel design study investigating the efficacy and safety of GTx-024 on metastatic (MET) or locally advanced (LA) ER+/AR+ breast cancer (BC) in postmenopausal (PM) women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-01-06.

3594 Background: PTK787/ZK 222584 (PTK/ZK) is a novel, oral, anti-angiogenesis compound that blocks tyrosine kinase activity from all known vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors. Prel...

Companies are shortening software project schedules to introduce products more rapidly than competitors. At the same time, customers are demanding higher usability. Unfortunately, the goals of increased usability and decreased development time conflict with traditional usability engineering approaches. The design process always requires several rounds where interfaces confront users' needs and capabilities and are modified accordingly. This approach is called iterative design. Our experience indicates the need for at least two iterations, yielding three versions, before the product is good enough for release. However three or more iterations are better. The paper considers how parallel design costs more than traditional iterative design but produces results faster by using several designers independently and simultaneously. It is preferable when time-to-market is critical.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have anti-inflammatory effects and may be useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).We examined the efficacy of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on RA on top of standard anti-inflammatory treatment. Patients with RA were randomized into two groups in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-design multicenter study. One hundred nine patients received five capsules of either n-3 PUFA (2.090 g of EPA and 1.165 g of DHA) or high-oleic-acid sunflower oil for 16 weeks. Eighty-one patients completed the study, and no adverse effects were reported. Dietary intake did not change significantly during the study. There were significant increases in n-3 PUFA and EPA levels in erythrocytes in the n-3 PUFA group versus the placebo group, but decreases in n-6 PUFA, 18:2n6, 20:4n6 and 18:1n9 levels in the n-3 PUFA group versus the placebo group. N-3 PUFA supplementation had no significant effects on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) requirements, clinical symptoms of RA or the concentration of cytokines, eicosanoids and bone turnover markers. However, n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly decreased NSAID requirements and leukotriene B4 levels in patients who weighed more than 55 kg. Our results suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation has no significant effect on RA but may decrease the requirement for NSAIDs in Korean patients with RA who weigh more than 55 kg.

Surface layout recovering helps computers understand the intricate information in an image by assigning local segments to different geometric classes. It greatly reduces the complexity of the following-up image processing and is widely used in various computer vision applications. However, the algorithm walks through every image pixel and imposes intensive computation requirement. Through comprehensive analysis on the execution behavior, this paper identifies significant parallelism inherent in the algorithm. With careful concerns on both multi-threaded software and parallel hardware, the optimized parallel design on a modern GPGPU has reached an average of 10.7X performance enhancement.

Video compression algorithms such as H.264 offer much potential for parallel processing that is not always exploited by the technology of a particular implementation. Consumer mobile encoding devices often achieve real-time performance and low power consumption through parallel processing in Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) technology, but many other applications require a software-defined encoder. High quality compression features needed for some applications such as 10-bit sample depth or 4:2:2 chroma format often go beyond the capability of a typical consumer electronics device. An application may also need to efficiently combine compression with other functions such as noise reduction, image stabilization, real time clocks, GPS data, mission/ESD/user data or software-defined radio in a low power, field upgradable implementation. Low power, software-defined encoders may be implemented using a massively parallel memory-network processor array with 100 or more cores and distributed memory. The large number of processor elements allow the silicon device to operate more efficiently than conventional DSP or CPU technology. A dataflow programming methodology may be used to express all of the encoding processes including motion compensation, transform and quantization, and entropy coding. This is a declarative programming model in which the parallelism of the compression algorithm is expressed as a hierarchical graph of tasks with message communication. Data parallel and task parallel design patterns are supported without the need for explicit global synchronization control. An example is described of an H.264 encoder developed for a commercially available, massively parallel memorynetwork processor device.

The use of detailed pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) models in order to investigate drug resistance and the susceptibility breakthrough by means of in-vivo or in-vitro trials is a widespread practice in the preliminary stages of drug development. However, complex PK-PD models are usually affected by identifiability issues typically related to their specific model structure and to the strong correlation among the model parameters. Model-based design of experiments (MBDoE) techniques can be successfully adopted to design multiple experiments to be executed simultaneously, detecting a proper set of experimental settings improving the identifiability of the model parameters. The preliminary results presented in this paper show that designing experiments in parallel, rather than sequentially, can substantially decrease the time and effort required by the model identification task for a microbial growth model.

Objective To compare the quality and accuracy of manual office blood pressure and automated office blood pressure using the awake ambulatory blood pressure as a gold standard. Design Multi-site cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting Primary care practices in five cities in eastern Canada. Participants 555 patients with systolic hypertension and no serious comorbidities under the care of 88 primary care physicians in 67 practices in the community. Interventions Practices were randomly allocated to either ongoing use of manual office blood pressure (control group) or automated office blood pressure (intervention group) using the BpTRU device. The last routine manual office blood pressure (mm Hg) was obtained from each patient’s medical record before enrolment. Office blood pressure readings were compared before and after enrolment in the intervention and control groups; all readings were also compared with the awake ambulatory blood pressure. Main outcome measure Difference in systolic blood pressure between awake ambulatory blood pressure minus automated office blood pressure and awake ambulatory blood pressure minus manual office blood pressure. Results Cluster randomisation allocated 31 practices (252 patients) to manual office blood pressure and 36 practices (303 patients) to automated office blood pressure measurement. The most recent routine manual office blood pressure (149.5 (SD 10.8)/81.4 (8.3)) was higher than automated office blood pressure (135.6 (17.3)/77.7 (10.9)) (P

Cancer pain is a serious public health issue and more effective treatments are needed. This study evaluates the analgesic activity of tetrodotoxin, a highly selective sodium channel blocker. This randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design study of subcutaneous tetrodotoxin, in patients with moderate or severe unrelieved cancer pain persisting despite best available treatment, involved 22 centers across Canada. The design called for tetrodotoxin administered subcutaneously over Days 1-4 with a period of observation to Day 15 or longer. All patients could enroll into an open-label extension efficacy and safety trial. The primary endpoint was the proportion of analgesic responders in each treatment arm. Eighty-two patients were randomized, and results on 77 were available for analysis. There was a nonstatistically significant trend toward more responders in the active treatment arm based on the primary endpoint (pain intensity difference). However, analysis of secondary endpoints, and an exploratory post hoc analysis, suggested there may be a robust analgesic effect if a composite endpoint is used, including either fall in pain level, or fall in opioid dose, plus improvement in quality of life. Most patients described transient perioral tingling or other mild sensory phenomena within about an hour of each treatment. Nausea and other toxicities were generally mild, but one patient experienced a serious, adverse event, truncal and gait ataxia. This trial suggests tetrodotoxin may potentially relieve moderate to severe, treatment-resistant cancer pain in a large proportion of patients, and often for prolonged periods following treatment, but further study is warranted using a composite primary endpoint.

Introduction: The fixed dose combinations used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients need their rationale evaluation. If there is no added benefit; then it amounts economic burden on the society, reduced compliance, and unsuccessful therapy. This study evaluated the effectiveness of three regimens of dry powder inhaled preparations including tiotropium 18 μg once a day; tiotropium 18 μg plus formoterol 12 μg once a day, and tiotropium 18 μg once a day plus formoterol 12 μg twice a day in moderate COPD patients. Materials and Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, active drug controlled parallel design study was conducted in 42 moderate COPD patients without any other comorbidity. Three (R1, R2, and R3) regimens were evaluated in patients to assess the appropriate evidence-based pharmacotherapy regimen. The forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), Borg's scale of dyspnea, and vital signs (blood pressure and pulse rate) were measured on serial time points for 24 h. Results: The trough FEV 1 values of R1, R2, and R3 in liters were 1.836 ± 0.51, 1.886 ± 0.47, and 1.805 ± 0.37, respectively and did not show any statistical difference. No statistical significance was observed in FVC (liters), FEV 1 % predicted, ∆FEV 1 (liters), ∆FEV 1 % predicted, ∆FVC % predicted, and ∆ FVC (liters) except in 24 h FVC percentage predicted values where P - value for R3 is in the range between 0.05 and 0.1 over R1. Conclusions: Study shows that tiotropium alone once a day is the evidence based and rationale pharmacotherapy in moderate COPD. There is no advantage or statistical significance of adding long acting β 2 agonists (LABA) such as formoterol to tiotropium either for 12 h (once daily) or 24 h (twice daily).

The gradient based approach to finding the optimum design of a structure is not naturally suitable for parallelisation by the ‘divide and compute’ strategy, which simultaneously computes different independent designs, used by the random search based approach. This paper describes new workload distribution strategies which are used with an existing fine grain parallel analysis method in order to parallelise individual steps of the gradient based design procedure used in the authors' software viconopt . A simple plane frame program has been adapted to act as the testbed for all the strategies presented. Reasonably high levels of efficiency are reported for a relatively coarse grain Transtech Paramid parallel computer.

The Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is a means to analyze the frequency content of a signal and has extensive uses, including the JPEG2000 codec. Many portable and battery operated applications of DWT are expected in the near future that require a low power implementation of this transform. In this paper, a parallel VLSI implementation of a 2D lifting-based DWT processor is presented that is scalable from 2 to 256 parallel units. This design benefits from an efficient data distribution module to the parallel units, which constitutes a small overhead, and is able to significantly benefit from voltage scaling to achieve energy efficiency. In our design, the number of parallel units is increased and their speed is reduced through voltage scaling, while maintaining a constant throughput. Our results show that the optimal operating voltage of the parallel units, for a target throughput of 200MHz,4 is 386mV. This is below the threshold voltage, which is the voltage that turns the transistors on. Since operating a circuit in subthreshold voltage consumes 100+ times less power than running it at nominal voltage, our design is able to provide the same throughput as a reference pipelined implementation with 26 times less power consumption.

A distributed and integrated framework for missile design and manufacturing is developed in this study, using multidisciplinary optimization and workflow technology. The framework contains technologies of application integration, information integration and process integration. It can reduce the complexity of data exchange among disciplines, shorten the product development cycle and cut down the cost in product development. Users can customize system composing, design flow and data connection. In addition, the platform support engineers of optimization design and distributed design to work together. An example in this paper shows that the framework has been tested in missile design.

High Definition (HD) H.264/AVC video compression is the emerging necessity on nowadays home entertainment environment and so on. However, Although B-frame coding scheme provides better quality, only P-frame encoders are presented due to too high complexity and memory requirement. In this paper, a frame-parallel encoding scheme based on B-frame's data independency is proposed. It can largely reduce the system memory bandwidth and improve the processing capability. Then, the proposed IME and FME scheduling can further enhance the hardware utilization for frame-parallel scheme. Finally, a case study is given to show that the proposed scheme can largely reduce 66% system bandwidth compared to direct implementation from previous P-frame encoder.

Recently, 65 nm technology-based microprocessors have been introduced into high-end products such as games processors and high- performance servers [1]. As technology development in the modern-day relies more and more on non-traditional performance- leverage elements, there is an enhanced need to tighten the coupling between development, modeling, and design. We discuss the key challenges in the inter-related tasks of CMOS-technology development, early product engineering, and transition to full-volume manufacturing. In order to meet timely introduction to market, several key objectives must be pursued in a parallel fashion and must adhere to stringent timelines. The essence of this is the simultaneous development of (1) 65 nm process-technology (including continual process development geared towards minimization of variability) (2) highly accurate compact models and (3) product- design.