Most emerging applications in imaging and machine learning must perform immense amounts of computation while holding to strict limits on energy and power. To meet these goals, architects are building increasingly specialized compute engines tailored for these specific tasks. The resulting computer systems are heterogeneous, containing multiple processing cores with wildly different execution models. Unfortunately, the cost of producing this specialized hardware-and the software to control it-is astronomical. Moreover, the task of porting algorithms to these heterogeneous machines typically requires that the algorithm be partitioned across the machine and rewritten for each specific architecture, which is time consuming and prone to error. Over the last several years, the authors have approached this problem using domain-specific languages (DSLs): high-level programming languages customized for specific domains, such as database manipulation, machine learning, or image processing. By giving up generality, these languages are able to provide high-level abstractions to the developer while producing high-performance output. The purpose of this book is to spur the adoption and the creation of domain-specific languages, especially for the task of creating hardware designs. In the first chapter, a short historical journey explains the forces driving computer architecture today. Chapter 2 describes the various methods for producing designs for accelerators, outlining the push for more abstraction and the tools that enable designers to work at a higher conceptual level. From there, Chapter 3 provides a brief introduction to image processing algorithms and hardware design patterns for implementing them. Chapters 4 and 5 describe and compare Darkroom and Halide, two domain-specific languages created for image processing that produce high-performance designs for both FPGAs and CPUs from the same source code, enabling rapid design cycles and quick porting of algorithms. The final section describes how the DSL approach also simplifies the problem of interfacing between application code and the accelerator by generating the driver stack in addition to the accelerator configuration. This book should serve as a useful introduction to domain-specialized computing for computer architecture students and as a primer on domain-specific languages and image processing hardware for those with more experience in the field.

Osteoimmunology: Interactions of the Immune and Skeletal Systems, Second Edition, explores the advancements that have been made in the field during the last 40 years, including valuable information on our understanding of the interactions between hematopoietic, immune, and bone cells, now known as the field of osteoimmunology. This comprehensive work offers the most extensive summaries of research trends in the field and their translation into new therapeutics. Early chapters deal with the development of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, hematopoietic stem cells, T and B-lymphocytes, and communications between these cellular elements, while later sections contain discussions of the signaling pathways by which RANKL influences osteoclast development and function. Subsequent chapters explore the effects that estrogen has on bone and the immune system, the development of pathologic conditions, and the growing research around osteoporosis, Paget's disease, the genetics of bone disease, and bone cancer metastasis.

Fourteen years ago Sandy was pregnant with our son Ian. Being diligent parents we read the parenting books and magazines. We wanted to be as prepared as possible as we embarked on parenthood. When Ian was five months old we found out about his disability. Our library of parenting books didn't cover the new direction parenting was taking. There were no parenting books for this path. It would have been nice to get a heads up about how things were going to change and more importantly what we could do to reduce the added stress this new direction was going to create. For fourteen years we navigated the waters of special needs parenting before we decided to share what we've learned along the way. We decided to write this book to give others the heads up we didn't have and let others benefit from our experience and planning. In this informative guide you will find strategies and techniques to: Reduce the intensity and duration of meltdowns and tantrums. Improve the responses to transitions. Teach financial concepts and develop marketable skills. Make therapy equipment for home use. Deal with the challenges of mainstreaming at school, and socially. Plan for your child's future employment and financial well being. Improve your records management. Systemically compare therapies, learning programs and schools. Even though our kids different, as parents we are essentially faced with the same challenges. This guide will help you navigate the waters of being a special needs parents. About the Authors: Mark Horowitz is a planner, inventor, trainer, public speaker, change agent, and the major influence on his son Ian's imagination, creativity and sense of humor. As a change agent, Mark knows how important the computer and the Internet are to Ian's immediate success and his future well-being. The planner in Mark keeps him thinking about his Ian's future as an adult and ways to teach him about being an entrepreneur and developing multiple streams of income. Sandy Horowitz,