Blog

If a pipeline has one branch delay slot, then the instruction located at the branch delay slot will be executed no matter if the branch is taken or untaken.

Assume a classic five-stage single-pipeline microarchitecture (fetch, decode, execute, memory, write back). Also, assume (1) one branch delay slot (originally with an NOP instruction in it) (2) adequate hardware resources, and (3) branch calculation always taken in the Decode stage. Also, the MULTI instruction is fully pipelined and takes two execution cycles. For the following loop,              Loop:            LW            R3, 0(R6)     ; load word at memory address [R6] + 0 to R3  LW            R1, 0(R3)     ; load word at memory address [R3] + 0 to R1  MULTI      R1, R1, #6    ; Multiplying [R1] by 6 and put in R1  SW            R1, 0(R3)     ; Store [R1] at memory address [R3] + 0  ADDI         R6, R6, #4  BNEQ        R6, R4, Loop  a.      How many pipeline stalls are there for one loop if there is no forwarding scheme implemented? Show the details. b.     Assuming perfect pipeline, unroll the loop two times and reschedule the instructions to reduce pipeline stalls. Show the details.

You need to run two applications, A and B, on a Pentium processor with two identical cores. The CPU time for the first application (A) is 3 times of the second application (B). A has 50% of its code parallelizable (i.e. instructions can run at two cores simultaneously) and B has 80% code parallelizable. B can only start after A completes. How much overall system speedup can you achieve if you parallelized both applications?

7. In class we discussed several strategies for joint replacements. Select one discussed in class (spine arthroplasty, hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty) and describe the clinical problem (briefly) and the implant design, including the location and role of the polymer component. How would you improve upon the current design.

1. In terms of material properties, how is bone like “silly putty”? What material property do they share? Describe this property. Draw the stress-strain curve and use it to help in your description and explain the major points of the curve.

Comparing atomic numbers 3, 11, 19, 37, and 55, what trend do you notice?

What is the formula of strontium bromide? Make sure you use subscripts.

Which model best represents H2O?  

Record the measurement pictured. It is in centimeters. Pay close attention to where the ruler starts.

Which of the following describes the highest volume of ambulance calls in an EMS system?