A Dynamic Load Balancing Framework for Real-time Applications in Message Passing Systems

Load balancing algorithms are designed essentially to equally distribute the load on processors and maximize their utilities while minimizing the total task execution time. In order to achieve these goals, the load-balancing mechanism should be “fair” in distributing the load across the different processors. This implies that the difference between the heaviest-loaded and the lightest-loaded processors should be minimized. Therefore, the load information on each processor must be updated such that the load-balancing mechanism can be more effective. In this work, we present an application independent dynamic algorithm for scheduling tasks and load- balancing in message passing systems. We propose a DAG-based Dynamic Load Balancing algorithm for Real time applications (DAG-DLBR) that is designed to work dynamically to cope with possible changes in the load that might occur during runtime. This algorithm addresses the challenge of devising a load balancing scheme which judicially deals with the hybrid execution of existing real-time application (represented by a Direct Acyclic Graph (DAG)) together with newly arriving jobs. The main objective of this algorithm is to reduce response times of the newly arriving jobs while maintaining the time constrains of the existing DAG. To evaluate the performance of the DAG-DLBR algorithm, a comparison with the performance of two common dynamic load balancing algorithms is presented. This comparison is performed by evaluating, experimentally, the execution time of different load balancing algorithms on a homogenous real parallel machine. In addition, the values of load imbalance, the execution time, and the communication overhead time are evaluated analytically using different benchmarks as test-bed workloads. These workloads cover a wide range of dynamic applications with different task types. Experimental results illustrate the improved performance of the DAG-DLBR algorithm compared to both distributed and hierarchal based algorithms by at least 12 and 19%, respectively. This improvement is true for all workloads, even with highly dependent workload. The DAG-DLBR algorithm achieves lower computation time than its corresponding values of both the distributed and the hierarchical-based algorithms for 4, 8, 12 and 16 processors.     

Performance evaluation of control chart for multiple assignable causes using genetic algorithm

With a view to monitoring and controlling manufacturing processes in industries, control charts are widely used and needed to be designed economically to achieve minimum quality costs. Many authors have studied the economic design of the $ \overline{X} $ control chart after Duncan (J Am Stat Assoc 51(274):228–242, 1956) first proposed the economic model of the $ \overline{X} $ control chart for a single assignable cause. But, in practice, multiple assignable causes are more logical and realistic. Moreover, the economic design does not consider statistical properties like bound on type I and type II error, and average time to signal (ATS). This paper focuses on evaluating the performance of genetic algorithm (GA) in pure economic and economic statistical design of the $ \overline{X} $ control chart for multiple assignable causes. The performances of GA are demonstrated by comparing its result with the previously proposed grid search technique for a numerical example. The Duncan model of multiple assignable causes is adopted to formulate objective function, and the computation is achieved by approximation through a numerical method named Simpson's 1/3 rule. Comparison distinctly shows the superiority of GA over grid search results for economic statistical design.     

Effect of Humidity on Lubricated Carbon Overcoats

An apparatus has been designed and built to measure the adsorption of contaminants on the surfaces of lubricated carbon overcoats such as those used on magnetic data storage media. The device is based on a quartz crystal microbalance housed in a high vacuum chamber and can be used to make rapid measurements of both the amounts and the rates of contaminant adsorption from the gas phase during exposure. Initial measurements of the adsorption of water during exposure to water vapor indicate that at room temperature and moderate humidity levels (50% RH) the amount of water on a surface is of the order of one adsorbed monolayer. Adsorption and desorption is remarkably rapid indicating that equilibrium with ambient humidity is reached on timescales of minutes. Finally, the comparison of H₂O and D₂O adsorption indicates that the adsorbed water either forms a hydrogen bonded network on the surface or is hydrogen bonded to some species exposed at the surface of the carbon overcoat.     

节日岁时中的蒙古族民间手工艺

蒙古人把对自我生存、发展的祈福寄予信仰之中,衍生出蒙古族民间手工艺的门类、造型、纹饰等。在这融合与共生中,彼此交织,你中有我,使之从感性到理性、个体到社会、内容到形式,最终通过民间风俗沉淀在多彩丰富的蒙古族民间手工艺品中。作为蒙古族风俗中的一项重要内容的蒙古族节日岁时,孕育着丰富灿烂的蒙古族民间手工艺,展现它们以何种方式影响着蒙古人的生产生活、精神世界,以及在历史洪流中的传承、变异和凸现出的蒙古民族特征。     

辽宁皮影戏的源流

皮影戏属傀儡戏的一种。影戏源于戏"影",即玩弄影子,由人操弄影人,利用光投于幕上,配以音乐、唱词。影戏流传入东北源于金。明代,"滦州影"传至辽宁。至清乾隆、嘉庆年间,滦州影戏再次从冀东传入辽南,与当地影戏结合,逐渐形成了辽南皮影戏。近代,社会动荡、内战外患、民不聊生,影戏呈现了衰落的面貌,但并未销声匿迹。     

Extension of grounding mechanism for abstract words: computational methods insights

The attempts to model cognitive phenomena effectively have split the research community in two paradigms: symbolic and connectionist. The extension of grounding phenomenon for abstract words is very important for social interactions of cognitive robots in real scenarios. This paper reviews the strength of symbolic and connectionist methods to address the abstract word grounding problem in cognitive robots. In particular, the presented work is focused on designing and simulating cognitive robotics model to achieve a grounding mechanism for abstract words by using the semantic network approach, as well as examining the utility of connectionist computation for the same problem. Two neuro-robotics models based on feed forward neural network and recurrent neural network are presented to see the pros and cons of connectionist approach. The simulation results and review of attributes of these methods reveal that the proposed symbolic model offers the solution to the problem of grounding abstract words with attributes like high data storage capacity with recall accuracy, structural integrity and temporal sequence handling. Whereas, connectionist computation based solutions give more natural solution to this problem with some shortcomings that include combinatorial ambiguity, low storage capacity and structural rigidity. The presented results are not only important for the advancement in communication system of cognitive robot, also provide evidence for embodied nature of abstract language.     

CFCS calibration circuit design for multi-bit pipelined ADC architectures

Microsystem Technologies - Design of high resolution ADCs in scaled CMOS technology is challenging due to increased component mismatch, comparator offset, and finite op-amp gain error. In this...     

Redox proteomics studies of in vivo amyloid beta-peptide animal models of Alzheimer's disease: Insight into the role of oxidative stress

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease. AD is characterized by the presence of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and synaptic loss. Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), a component of senile plaques, has been proposed to play an important role in oxidative stress in AD brain and could be one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of AD. In the present review, we discuss some of the AD animal models that express Aβ, and compare the proteomics-identified oxidatively modified proteins between AD brain and those of Aβ models. Such a comparison would allow better understanding of the role of Aβ in AD pathogenesis thereby helping in developing potential therapeutics to treat or delay AD.     

视听传达体验与探索

视觉艺术与听觉艺术作为艺术的两种表达方式,在审美效应及其信息传递等方面存在着密切的联系,两者的共通性使其在不同心理机制下可相互转换协调。文章以视听艺术中的音乐和绘画为例,通过对其载体和表现方式等诸多不同因素进行对比,阐述其密不可分、相互交融的性质。观众在欣赏或感受艺术作品的时候必将跨越视觉与听觉的艺术界限。     

视听传达体验与探索

视觉艺术与听觉艺术作为艺术的两种表达方式。在审美效应及其信息传递等方面存在着密切的联系。两者的共通性使其在不同心理机制下可相互转换协调。文章以视听艺术中的音乐和绘画为例,通过对其载体和表现方式等诸多不同因素进行对比,阐述其密不可分、相互交融的性质。观众在欣赏或感受艺术作品的时候必将跨越视觉与听觉的艺术界限。