Computer Engineering Commons^™

Accelerating The Stochastic Simulation Algorithm Using Emerging Architectures, David Dewayne Jenkins

Masters Theses

In order for scientists to learn more about molecular biology, it is imperative that they have the ability to construct and evaluate models. Model statistics consistent with the chemical master equation can be obtained using Gillespie's stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA). Due to the stochastic nature of the Monte Carlo simulations, large numbers of simulations must be run in order to get accurate statistics for the species populations and reactions. However, the algorithm tends to be computationally heavy and leads to long simulation runtimes for large systems. In this research, the performance of Gillespie's stochastic simulation algorithm is analyzed and optimized …

Vision-Based Reinforcement Learning Using A Consolidated Actor-Critic Model, Christopher Allen Niedzwiedz

Masters Theses

Vision-based machine learning agents are tasked with making decisions based on high-dimensional, noisy input, placing a heavy load on available resources. Moreover, observations typically provide only partial information with respect to the environment state, necessitating robust state inference by the agent. Reinforcement learning provides a framework for decision making with the goal of maximizing long-term reward. This thesis introduces a novel approach to vision-based reinforce- ment learning through the use of a consolidated actor-critic model (CACM). The approach takes advantage of artificial neural networks as non-linear function approximators and the reduced com- putational requirements of the CACM scheme to yield …

Automated System To Debug Under-Performing Network Flows In Wide Area Networks, Harika Tandra

Masters Theses

Locating the cause of performance losses in large high performance Wide Area Networks (WAN) is an extremely challenging problem. This is because WANs comprise several distributed sub-networks (Autonomous Networks), with their own independent network monitoring systems. Each individual monitoring system has limited or no access to network devices outside its own network. Moreover, conventional network monitoring systems are designed only to provide information about the health of individual network devices, and do not provide sufficient information to monitor endto- end performance – thus, adding severe overhead on debugging end-toend performance issues.

In this thesis, an automated tool is designed that …

Parallel Processing Architecture For Solving Large Scale Linear Systems, Arun Nagari

Masters Theses

Solving linear systems with multiple variables is at the core of many scienti…c problems. Parallel processing techniques for solving such system problems has have received much attention in recent years. A key theme in the literature pertains to the application of Lower triangular matrix and Upper triangular matrix(LU) decomposing, which factorizes an N N square matrix into two triangular matrices. The resulting linear system can be more easily solved in O(N²) work. Inher- ently, the computational complexity of LU decomposition is O(N³). Moreover, it is a challenging process to parallelize. A highly-parallel …

Minimum Transmission Power Configuration In Real-Time Wireless Sensor Networks, Xiaodong Wang

Masters Theses

Multi-channel communications can effectively reduce channel competition and interferences in a wireless sensor network, and thus achieve increased throughput and improved end-to-end delay guarantees with reduced power consumption. However, existing work relies only on a small number of orthogonal channels, resulting in degraded performance when a large number of data flows need to be transmitted on different channels. In this thesis, empirical studies are conducted to investigate the interferences among overlapping channels. The results show that overlapping channels can also be utilized for improved real-time performance if the node transmission power is carefully configured. In order to minimize the overall …

Design And Implementation Of An Asynchronous Null Convention Logic (Ncl) Fpga, Indira Priyadarshini Dugganapally

Masters Theses

"This Master’s thesis outlines the design of a completely asynchronous Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for implementing NULL Convention Logic (NCL) digital circuits. The proposed design uses four Configurable Logic Blocks (CLB), each of which in turn is designed using four Logic Elements (LE) to implement NCL logic function. Each LE can be configured to function as any one of the 27 fundamental NCL gates. A Logic Element is designed by concatenating a Look-Up-Table (LUT) with a pull-up pull-down transistor chain and a hysteresis loop. The interconnections and the switch box are designed using pass transistors and SRAM. In this …

Applications Of Swarm, Evolutionary And Quantum Algorithms In System Identification And Digital Filter Design, Bipul Luitel

Masters Theses

"The thesis focuses on the application of computational intelligence (CI) techniques for two problems - system identification and digital filter design. In system identification, different case studies have been carried out with equal or reduced number of orders as the original system and also in identifying a blackbox model. Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass and Bandstop FIR and Lowpass IIR filters have been designed using three algorithms using two different fitness functions. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution based PSO (DEPSO) and PSO with Quantum Infusion (PSO-QI) algorithms have been applied in this work"--Abstract, page iii.

Functional Testing Of Faults In Asynchronous Crossbar Architecture, Sriram Venkateswaran

Masters Theses

"The challenge of extending Moore's Law past the physical limits of the present semiconductor technology calls for novel innovations. Several novel nanotechnologies are being proposed as an alternative to their CMOS counterparts, with nanowire crossbar being one of the most promising paradigms. Quite recently, a new promising clock-free architecture, called the Asynchronous Crossbar Architecture has been proposed to enhance the manufacturability and to improve the robustness of digital circuits by removing various timing related failure modes. Even though the proposed clock-free architecture offers several merits, it is not free from the high defect rates induced due to nondeterministic nanoscale assembly. …

Automatic Vessel And Telangiectases Analysis In Dermoscopy Skin Lesion Images, Beibei Cheng

Masters Theses

"The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. Vessels have their own features such as distinctive color compared to surrounding skin as well as distinctive curved and/or linear shape. Telangiectases are small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. In this research, image analysis techniques are investigated to detect vessels in dermoscopy skin lesion images. Machine vision and neural network methods are explored to discriminate skin lesions containing telangiectases from those containing normal vessels. A vessels Detection technique …

Stressed-Eye Analysis And Jitter Separation For High-Speed Serial Links, Nitin Radhakrishnan

Masters Theses

"As the computer and electronics industry moves towards higher data rates, the most important concern in the field of signal integrity is jitter. A data communication link path often consists of a transmitter, a channel, and a receiver. Many mechanisms can contribute to jitter, a timing uncertainty in the received signal. For example, transmitters have intrinsic noise sources that contribute to random jitter and to certain types of deterministic jitter. In addition, external coupling may cause periodic jitter. The bandwidth limitation of the channel also contributes to a fourth type of jitter, inter-symbol interference. This thesis studies the various components …