Instruction Execution Research Articles

Analog Implementation of a Spiking System for Performing Arithmetic Logic Operations on Mixed‐Signal Neuromorphic Processors

In recent years, physical limitations in the integration of transistors in computers have forced the search for low‐computational‐power alternatives in hardware design. Although doubts may arise regarding the limit of the relationship between performance and power consumption in computers, these disappear when considering the brain, which is one of the most efficient computing systems. In this way, bioinspired applications try to benefit from the low‐power consumption present in the biological nervous system. Previous work has shown the feasibility of implementing spiking neural networks that operate in a Boolean manner on digital platforms, such as SpiNNaker, using basic logic gates and a spiking memory, which suggests the potential for constructing a low‐power consumption spiking computer. This work takes a first step in the implementation of a spiking central processing unit by developing an arithmetic logic unit, which is an essential block for instruction execution, demonstrating its correct operation on Dynap‐SE1. The results confirm the feasibility of using this Boolean approach on this platform, despite certain limitations in the number of inputs and operating frequencies of the blocks, and pave the way for the construction of a spiking computer.

FastProtein-an automated software for in silico proteomic analysis.

Although various tools provide proteomic information, each tool has limitations related to execution platforms, libraries, versions, and data output format. Integrating data generated from different software is a laborious process that can prolong analysis time. Here, we present FastProtein, a protein analysis pipeline that is user-friendly, easily installable, and outputs important information about subcellular location, transmembrane domains, signal peptide, molecular weight, isoelectric point, hydropathy, aromaticity, gene ontology, endoplasmic reticulum retention domains, and N-glycosylation domains. It also helps determine the presence of glycosylphosphatidylinositol and obtain functional information from InterProScan, PANTHER, Pfam, and alignment-based annotation searches. FastProtein provides the scientific community with an easy-to-use computational tool for proteomic data analysis. It is applicable to both small datasets and proteome-wide studies. It can be used through the command line interface mode or a web interface installed on a local server. FastProtein significantly enhances proteomics analysis workflows by producing multiple results in a single-step process, thereby streamlining and accelerating the overall analysis. The software is open-source and freely available. Installation and execution instructions, as well as the source code and test files generated for tool validation, are available at https://github.com/bioinformatics-ufsc/FastProtein.

Design and Implementation of Digital Integrated Circuit Based CPU

This paper presents a simplified 16-bit CPU design and its implementation using digital integrated circuits developed with Verilog hardware description language, while emphasizing simulation through the EDA tool. This design puts more emphasis on the critical roles played by the data path and the control unit, executing key instructions including arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, bitwise logic, and conditional jumps. This structurally modular CPU is both functioning and stable in nature, allowing support for future enhancements and enhancements as well, thereby serving as an effective model towards an understanding of the principles of CPU design. The execution of these basic instructions puts the core of the CPU under test and reaffirms its proper operation in respect of the detailed instruction set, while its extensibility design confirms further improvement possibilities for future complex instructions as well as finite-state machine optimization for the control unit. The present work not only proves the possibility of creating a fully working CPU, using readily available bare minimum resources to implement a prototype, but is also a breakthrough in future research with CPU architecture. The obtained results will shed light on CPU functionality optimization and extension, being the ground for building more powerful and effective processors in the future.

Acceleration of Tensor-Product Operations with Tensor Cores

In this paper, we explore the acceleration of tensor product operations in finite element methods, leveraging the computational power of the NVIDIA A100 GPU Tensor Cores. We provide an accessible overview of the necessary mathematical background and discuss our implementation strategies. Our study focuses on two common programming approaches for NVIDIA Tensor Cores: the C++ Warp Matrix Functions in nvcuda::wmma and the inline Parallel Thread Execution (PTX) instructions mma.sync.aligned . A significant focus is placed on the adoption of the versatile inline PTX instructions combined with a conflict-free shared memory access pattern, a key to unlocking superior performance. When benchmarked against traditional CUDA Cores, our approach yields a remarkable 2.3-fold increase in double precision performance, achieving 8 TFLOPS/s—45% of the theoretical maximum. Furthermore, in half-precision computations, numerical experiments demonstrate a fourfold enhancement in solving the Poisson equation using the flexible GMRES (FGMRES) method, preconditioned by a multigrid method in 3D. This is achieved while maintaining the same discretization error as observed in double precision computations. These results highlight the considerable benefits of using Tensor Cores for finite element operators with tensor products, achieving an optimal balance between computational speed and precision.

EFL students’ writing achievement via the execution of scaffolding strategies instruction

This paper examined the effects of scaffolding strategies instruction on EFL students' writing achievement, and its consistency in writing sub-skills. The study followed a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design, and data were collected from 48 students in each comparison and experimental group. Results from paired-samples t-test confirmed a significant writing achievement score difference between the pretest and posttest for the experimental group (p = .001), but an insignificant difference for the comparison group (p = .426). Independent-sample t-test of post-test yielded a significant difference between the two groups favoring the experimental class (p = .001). The findings verified scaffolding teaching's feasibility for improving students' writing. Results from MANOVA proved writing sub-skills content, vocabulary, grammar, mechanics and organization jointly account for significant variance between comparison and experimental groups writing. Separate results of the variables revealed composing relevant content as the stronger predictor (F (1, 94) = 35.08, p = .001), but no mechanics' use disparity between the two groups, F (1, 94) = .42, p = .520. The findings verified the scaffolding strategies' substantial role in enhancing learners' overall writing achievement and all writing sub-skills except for mechanics. Results from the questionnaire showed participants' positive perceptions about scaffolding strategies instruction. Based on the findings, we recommend scaffolding strategies teaching for EFL students' writing improvements.

Industrial Sustainable Development: The Development Trend of Programmable Logic Controller Technology

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are indispensable for current and future industrial development, especially in smart factories, smart home technology, automated production lines, and machinery manufacturing. This study presents the trends in PLC software and hardware development through a technology roadmap and offers relevant suggestions to help industries achieve sustainable development, enhance market competitiveness, and provide references for research. Through expert interviews and fuzzy Delphi analysis, this study points out that future PLC development needs to focus on editing interfaces, syntax, Central Processing Units, Memory Units, and Communication Modules. Specific recommendations include visualizing regional/global label settings and connection settings, adding Python, JAVA, LabVIEW, and Scratch syntax, improving instruction execution speed, expanding program and expansion capacities, and adopting dual-channel Ethernet and connections to external networks and wireless networks. Fuzzy hierarchical analysis shows that Communication Modules are the most important component, followed by Central Processing Units and syntax expansion, and, finally, program and expansion capacity enhancements. These suggestions aim to promote product innovation and social environment demand evaluation, enhance product competitiveness, and achieve sustainable development goals.

Blockchain based secret key management for trusted platform module standard in reconfigurable platform

SummaryThe growing sophistication of cyber attacks, vulnerabilities in high computing systems and increasing dependency on cryptography to protect our digital data, make it more important to keep secret keys safe and secure. A few major issues of secret keys, like incorrect use of keys, inappropriate storage of keys, inadequate protection of keys, insecure movement of keys, lack of audit logging, insider threats and nondestruction of keys can compromise the whole security system severely. In this work, we propose a field programmable gate array (FPGA)‐based trusted platform module (TPM) framework for operating system companies and OS users, utilizing blockchain to address NIST‐recommended secret key management issues. The security processor used in OS user machines is partitioned into three areas such that processor area, confidential area, and crypto area. The isolated secret key memory in confidential area, along with a private blockchain (BC) can log the life cycle of secret keys of TPM standard. We have also implemented a special custom bus interconnect, which receives custom crypto instructions from Processing Element (PE). During the execution of crypto instructions, the architecture ensures that secret keys are present in confidential area and crypto area but never in the processor area. The movements of secret keys between confidential area, and crypto area are recorded cryptographically after the proper authentication process controlled by the proposed hardware‐based private BC framework. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first attempt to implement a blockchain‐based framework between OS company and OS users to address NIST recommended secret key management issues of TPM standard hardware environment. The additional cost of resource usage and timing complexity we spent to implement the proposed idea is nominal. The proposed architecture is implemented with Xilinx EDA tool using FPGA board.

Deviation control strategy for electric vehicle virtual energy storage dispatching instruction execution

Abstract As flexible resources, electric vehicles (EVs) participate in the dispatching of power grid regulation. Due to the randomness of entering and exiting the station, each EV cluster cannot fully respond to the guiding power instructions issued by the operator, resulting in biased values. This paper establishes a deviation management and control model, and proposes a local deviation control strategy and a cross-cluster collaborative deviation control strategy based on the model, so as to fully utilize the deviation control capabilities of each EV’s virtual energy storage and minimize the power deviation. The effectiveness of the proposed deviation control strategy for scheduling instructions is verified by numerical examples.

A reference architecture for quantum computing as a service

Quantum computers (QCs) aim to disrupt the status-quo of computing – replacing traditional systems and platforms that are driven by digital circuits and modular software – with hardware and software that operate on the principle of quantum mechanics. QCs that rely on quantum mechanics can exploit quantum circuits (i.e., quantum bits for manipulating quantum gates) to achieve ‘quantum computational supremacy’ over traditional, i.e., digital computing systems. Currently, the issues that impede mass-scale adoption of quantum systems are rooted in the fact that building, maintaining, and/or programming QCs is a complex and radically distinct engineering paradigm when compared to the challenges of classical computing and software engineering. Quantum service orientation is seen as a solution that synergises the research on service computing and quantum software engineering (QSE) to allow developers and users to build and utilise quantum software services based on pay-per-shot utility computing model. The pay-per-shot model represents a single execution of instruction on quantum processing unit and it allows vendors (e.g., Amazon Braket) to offer their QC platforms, simulators, and software services to end-users. This research contributes by (i) developing a reference architecture for enabling Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS), (ii) implementing microservices with the quantum-classic split pattern as an architectural use-case, and (iii) evaluating the architecture based on practitioners’ feedback. The proposed reference architecture follows a layered software pattern to support the three phases of service lifecycle namely development, deployment, and split of quantum software services. In the QSE context, the research focuses on unifying architectural methods and service-orientation patterns to promote reuse knowledge and best practices to tackle emerging and futuristic challenges of architecting QCaaS.

Process-based modeling of energy consumption for multi-material FDM 3D printing

Purpose This paper endeavors to create a predictive model for the energy consumption associated with the multi-material fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing process.Design/methodology/approach An online measurement system for monitoring power and temperature has been integrated into the dual-extruder FDM printer. This system enables a comprehensive study of energy consumption during the dual-material FDM printing process, achieved by breaking down the entire dual-material printing procedure into distinct operational modes. Concurrently, the analysis of the G-code related to the dual-material FDM printing process is carried out.Findings This work involves an investigation of the execution instructions that delineate the tooling plan for FDM. We measure and simulate the nozzle temperature distributions with varying filament materials. In our work, we capture intricate details of energy consumption accurately, enabling us to predict fluctuations in power demand across different operational phases of multi-material FDM 3D printing processes.Originality/value This work establishes a model for quantifying the energy consumption of the dual-material FDM printing process. This model carries significant implications for enhancing the design of 3D printers and advancing their sustainability in mobile manufacturing endeavors.

A new XR-based human‐robot collaboration assembly system based on industrial metaverse

The industrial metaverse is an emerging paradigm of integrated information technologies. A human-robot collaboration assembly system is developed using extended reality (XR) and blockchain technologies. This system includes the physical, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) supporting, and blockchain systems. Virtual avatars represent physical operators and mobile robots in the XR environment. The VR system emulates real-time physical operations, facilitating pre-planning, online task optimization, and converting strategic decisions into executable instructions for physical robots. The AR system enhances the cognitive experience of intelligent operators, contributing to decision-making and VR system control through multi-modal interactions. The integration of the VR and AR systems in perception-decision-control enables real-time process optimization and the reverse control of physical operations. The system is implemented using a decentralized blockchain and end-edge-cloud collaborative network architecture to regulate interaction permissions for each scene characters, ensuring systematic functionality, robust communication, and comprehensive data management. A case study of a gearbox assembly is used to demonstrate the system’s development and efficacy. The results indicate the VR system's comprehensive perception and the AR system's detailed insights, yielding reliable information on global and local levels. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and spatiotemporal visualization during VR decision-making provides computational advantages. Incorporating human input into the AR system enables human-in-the-loop operational decision-making, providing optimal instructions to improve human-robot collaboration performance. Notably, the fusion of blockchain and end-edge-cloud architectures augments inter-system data exchange by efficiently managing and processing human-robot interactions and their diverse avatars. This system offers an innovative approach to human-robot collaboration assembly in manufacturing, with implications for analogous contexts.

Hunting for quantum-classical crossover in condensed matter problems

The intensive pursuit for quantum advantage in terms of computational complexity has further led to a modernized crucial question of when and how will quantum computers outperform classical computers. The next milestone is undoubtedly the realization of quantum acceleration in practical problems. Here we provide a clear evidence and arguments that the primary target is likely to be condensed matter physics. Our primary contributions are summarized as follows: 1) Proposal of systematic error/runtime analysis on state-of-the-art classical algorithm based on tensor networks; 2) Dedicated and high-resolution analysis on quantum resource performed at the level of executable logical instructions; 3) Clarification of quantum-classical crosspoint for ground-state simulation to be within runtime of hours using only a few hundreds of thousand physical qubits for 2d Heisenberg and 2d Fermi-Hubbard models, assuming that logical qubits are encoded via the surface code with the physical error rate of p = 10−3. To our knowledge, we argue that condensed matter problems offer the earliest platform for demonstration of practical quantum advantage that is order-of-magnitude more feasible than ever known candidates, in terms of both qubit counts and total runtime.

A comparative assessment of OMP and MATLAB for parallel computation

The prime goal of parallel computing is the simultaneous parallel execution of several program instructions. Consequently, to accomplish this, the program should be divided into independent sets so that each processor can execute its program part concurrently with the other processors. This study compares OMP and MATLAB, two important parallel computing simulation tools, through the use of a dense matrix multiplication technique. The results showed that OMP outperformed the MATLAB parallel environment by over 8 times in sequential execution and 6 times in parallel execution. From this proposed method, it was also observed that OMP with an even slower processor performs much better than MATLAB with a higher processor. Thus, the present analysis indicates that OMP is a superior environment for parallel computing and should be preferred over parallel MATLAB.

A Hierarchical Classification Method for High-accuracy Instruction Disassembly with Near-field EM Measurements

Electromagnetic (EM) fields have been extensively studied as potent side-channel tools for testing the security of hardware implementations. In this work, a low-cost side-channel disassembler that uses fine-grained EM signals to predict a program's execution trace with high accuracy is proposed. Unlike conventional side-channel disassemblers, the proposed disassembler does not require extensive randomized instantiations of instructions to profile them, instead relying on leakage-model-informed sub-sampling of potential architectural states resulting from instruction execution, which is further augmented by using a structured hierarchical approach. The proposed disassembler consists of two phases: (i) In the feature-selection phase, signals are collected with a relatively small EM probe, performing high-resolution scans near the chip surface, as profiling codes are executed. The measured signals from the numerous probe configurations are compiled into a hierarchical database by storing the min-max envelopes of the probed EM fields and differential signals derived from them, a novel dimension that increases the potency of the analysis. The envelope-to-envelope distances are evaluated throughout the hierarchy to identify optimal measurement configurations that maximize the distance between each pair of instruction classes. (ii) In the classification phase, signals measured for unknown instructions using optimal measurement configurations identified in the first phase are compared to the envelopes stored in the database to perform binary classification with majority voting, identifying candidate instruction classes at each hierarchical stage. Both phases of the disassembler rely on a four-stage hierarchical grouping of instructions by their length, size, operands, and functions. The proposed disassembler is shown to recover ∼97–99% of instructions from several test and application benchmark programs executed on the AT89S51 microcontroller.

Institutional Operability: Outward Rule-Following, Inward Role-Playing

Abstract Institutional operability refers to the normative conditions governing the exercise of power of office that makes an institution work. Because institutional action occurs by the interrelated actions of the officeholders, a focus on institutional operability requires the analysis and assessment of the officeholders’ conduct in their institutional capacity. This article distinguishes two perspectives on operability: ‘outward’ and ‘inward.’ The outward view emphasizes predefined instructions for efficient execution, focusing on rule-following to achieve institutional purposes. The inward perspective highlights role-playing and reflective engagement among officeholders to uphold an institution’s raison d’être. The inward perspective brings to the fore the relational aspect of institutional life and officeholders’ interrelated responsibility for guiding institutional action.

Legal regulation of information security in Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of the system of legal regulation of information security in Ukraine. It has been established that the Constitution is the foundation of the system of legal acts, which is the basis of legal regulation of information security in Ukraine. It is followed by the Laws of Ukraine: On Information, On Protection of Information in Information and Communication Systems, On Protection of Personal Data, On State Secrets, On National Security of Ukraine, On Basic Principles of Ensuring Cyber Security of Ukraine, On Electronic Communications, On Media, On Copyright and related rights, On the protection of rights to the composition of semiconductor products, On the protection of rights to inventions and utility models, On state secrets, etc. Norms defining information security of Ukraine have found further development at the sub-legal level. By­laws are aimed at detailing individual provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine and laws. They have a subject direction and regulate a specific sphere of social relations or areas of work of state administration bodies. At the level of central executive bodies, orders, instructions and orders are issued as by-laws. The documents defining the regulatory and technical basis of information protection in Ukraine also include standards and industry materials. They are of key importance because they ensure uniformity in the field of information security, standardize procedures for protecting information, methods for ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of data, as well as measures for preventing and responding to information incidents. We also included international acts: conventions, declarations, resolutions, etc., in the system of legal acts that constitute the basis of legal regulation of information security in Ukraine. It was concluded that today the normative and legal basis of ensuring information security is an extensive network of domestic and international norms of different legal force and focus, which in its totality ensures the comprehensive functioning of the entire system of ensuring information security in Ukraine.

SuM: Efficient shadow stack protection on ARM Cortex-M

System software written in unsafe languages such as C/C++ is susceptible to various types of security vulnerabilities. Historically, backward-edges such as return addresses have been an attractive target for control-flow hijacking attacks due to the severity and ease of exploitation. Although various backward-edge control-flow integrity schemes have been proposed over the years, most of them mainly focus on protecting desktop/server-class systems, leaving embedded systems unprotected. Even worse, bringing their defense mechanisms into resource-constrained embedded systems is undesirable because they were originally designed for high-end computing systems and thus are not directly applicable to embedded systems without compromising performance and real-time constraints.In this paper, we propose Shadow under the Mask (SuM), an efficient and robust backward-edge control flow protection that is applicable to ARM Cortex-M processors. Specifically, SuM realizes a non-bypassable shadow stack mechanism and safeguards its structural integrity in a novel combination of an MPU and FaultMask—an overlooked hardware feature in Cortex-M processors. To be more specific, SuM restricts all access to the shadow stack through MPU, ensuring its integrity; and temporarily disables its MPU protection through FaultMask during the execution of safe instructions, guaranteeing that only authorized instructions can modify the shadow stack. In our empirical evaluation, SuM incurs minimal runtime overhead of 2.77% and 2.63%, respectively, on the BEEBS and CoreMark benchmark suites. These results underscore the viability of our proposed approach as a practical and potent solution to address the highlighted cybersecurity challenge.

FORMS OF INTERACTION AND COORDINATION BY THE PROSECUTOR OF THE PROCESS OF ENSURING THE SECURITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Introduction. To date, the processes of interaction and coordination of the work of the law enforcement system as a type of state activity are an integral part of the implementation by the prosecutor of his powers in criminal proceedings. The prosecutor must be able to apply them in his activities, first of all, to ensure justice and protect the rights of citizens. However, due to the lack of a definition of these concepts in the legislation, there is uncertainty in their relationship. The issues of interaction of the prosecutor with participants in procedural and other activities in legal proceedings and the implementation of measures to coordinate the work of law enforcement agencies in order to ensure the security of the criminal process are considered. The correlation of the terms "interaction" and "coordination" of prosecutorial activity in criminal proceedings is shown. The purpose of the study is to analyze the relationship between the concepts of "interaction" and "coordination" in criminal procedure and other activities from the position of the prosecutor aimed at ensuring the safety of participants in a criminal case. Materials and methods. The study was conducted using the general dialectical method of scientific knowledge, as well as system-structural, cognitive methods and techniques. Sources, various scientific positions regarding the content of the terms "interaction" and "coordination" are compared. Results. The features of the participation of the prosecutor in criminal procedural activities from the standpoint of his interaction and coordination of criminal proceedings as an active participant in the criminal process at all stages of legal proceedings are revealed. The interrelation of the concepts (terms) under consideration is established and the specificity of their manifestation in the activities of the prosecutor in a criminal case is shown. Arguments are given about the broader content of the relationship in relation to coordination as an integral part of it. Findings. Comparing both the concepts of "interaction" and "coordination", we believe that interaction is a broader concept in relation to coordination. Coordination is an integral, more narrowly focused form of interaction between the prosecutor and other participants in the criminal process. This activity of the prosecutor extends exclusively to law enforcement agencies, because it provides for the mandatory execution of instructions sent to them. While the prosecutor can interact with the victim, the accused, the expert, etc., he is not entitled to coordinate their actions, except in cases of violation of the rights and legitimate interests of other participants. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the role of the prosecutor in coordinating the process of ensuring the security of participants in criminal proceedings are proposed.

“Do this instead” – Robots that Adequately Respond to Corrected Instructions

Natural language instructions are effective at tasking autonomous robots and for teaching them new knowledge quickly. Yet, human instructors are not perfect and are likely to make mistakes at times, and will correct themselves when they notice errors in their own instructions. In this paper, we introduce a complete system for robot behaviors to handle such corrections, during both task instruction and action execution. We then demonstrate its operation in an integrated cognitive robotic architecture through spoken language in two tasks: a navigation and retrieval task and a meal assembly task. Verbal corrections occur before, during, and after verbally taught sequences of tasks, demonstrating that the proposed methods enable fast corrections not only of the semantics generated from the instructions, but also of overt robot behavior in a manner shown to be reasonable when compared to human behavior and expectations.

A Framework for Implementing Lean Management in the Hospital Emergency Department

Background: Lean management is based on eliminating any waste of resources, increasing productivity, and creating sustainable value. Improving the quality of health services is achieved by knowing the system’s performance and using appropriate managerial methods and tools. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to provide solutions for the proper implementation of lean management in the emergency department of the hospital. Methods: The current research employed a qualitative methodology. In order to provide operational solutions, the existing literature was first reviewed. Then, a sample population was selected from the research community, including experts in the field of health, management, and statistics. Fifteen subjects were interviewed purposefully. In order to obtain the information desired, interviews and focus groups were held, and NVIVO10 software was used to code and store all interview documents. Results: In this study, by reviewing the available literature and conducting interviews with experts, the steps and activities, tools, techniques, and facilities that should be considered for guiding and developing the lean management project in the emergency department were identified and organized. In the next step, based on the Deming cycle, a model was designed to implement lean management in the emergency department. In this 6-step model, the necessary activities for the establishment of a lean management system in the emergency department, as well as the techniques related to each step, were presented along with the enablers needed for the successful implementation of the project. Conclusions: Many hospital inefficiencies can be attributed to the waste of resources and facilities. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce and eliminate waste sources by applying practical solutions and formulating executive instructions for these solutions. Applying the recommendations of the lean management system can cut waste in different fields in hospitals, just like in manufacturers. Using the lean management approach can reduce waste in different dimensions, such as inventory, waiting, processes, and services.