Scheduling in Optical WDM Networks Using Hidden Markov Chain Based Traffic Prediction

This paper presents the design and performance analysis of a predictor-based scheduling algorithm for optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks. WDM technology provides multiple, simultaneous and independent gigabit-per-second channels on a single fiber. A reservation-based multiple access control (MAC) protocol is considered here for a local area WDM network based on the passive star topology. The MAC protocol schedules reservation requests from the network nodes on the multiple channels. In previous work, we have presented an on-line scheduling algorithm for such a network. We have shown earlier that schedule computation time can significantly affect performance and the scheduling algorithms should be simple for better performance. In this work, we further improve system performance by using a hidden Markov chain based prediction algorithm. The objective here is to reduce the amount of time spent in computing the schedule by predicting traffic requests. Performance analysis based on discrete-event simulation, varying parameters such as number of nodes and channels is presented. The results show that the error of prediction is reasonable for most cases: more than 70% of the time, the error between actual request and predicted request is less than 20%. Network throughput is higher with the proposed prediction algorithm due to pipelining of schedule computation.     

New procedure for improving precision and accuracy of instrumental color measurements of beef

The surface layers of steaks from bovine M. semimembranosus were prepared to have deoxy- (DMb), oxy- (OMb) and metmyoglobin (MMb) states using either chemicals (CHEM) or oxygen partial pressure packaging (OPP). Ninety-six different meat surface areas were measured in reflectance mode (400-1100 nm) for each preparation method. Reflectance spectra were converted to absorbance (A) and then transformed by Kubelka-Munk transformation (K/S) and/or extended multiplicative scatter correction (EMSC). Transformed spectra of prepared pure states were used to make calibration models of MMb, DMb and OMb using either selected wavelengths (SW) or partial least square (PLS) regression. Finally, the predicted myoglobin states were normalized to ensure that no state was <0 or >1 and the sum of all states equal to 1. Multivariate calibrations (i.e. PLS) outperformed the univariate calibrations (i.e. SW). The OPP method of preparing pure states was clearly best for OMb while the CHEM method was best for preparing MMb on fresh meat surfaces. Both preparation methods needed improvement concerning DMb. The CHEM(K/S) SW and the OPP EMSC(A) PLS methods predicted MMb, DMb and OMb with root-mean-square errors of cross validation (RMSECV) equal to 0.08, 0.16 and 0.18 (range 0-1) and 0.04, 0.04 and 0.04 (range 0-1), respectively. This new reflectance protocol has potential for routine meat color measurements.     

Alginate submicron beads prepared through w/o emulsification and gelation with CaCl2 nanoparticles

A simple method for preparing gelled alginate beads with a diameter smaller than 5 μm is described. A 1% alginate solution and a medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil are used to prepare a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion, stabilized by polyglycerol polyricinoleate. CaCl₂ nanoparticles with dimensions in the nano-range (6–400 nm), dispersed in MCT oil, are then added to the emulsion. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) show that these nanoparticles migrate to the emulsion droplet interface, where they dissolve into the aqueous alginate phase and cause gelation, forming beads. Gelation of the beads was confirmed with a novel technique using Congo red as an indicator. A color change occurs upon the addition of CaCl₂ to a Congo red solution and we believe this is due to formation of a Congo red–calcium complex. Scanning electron microscopy shows that alginate beads are mostly in a size range around 1 μm, but beads as small as 200 nm and smaller were also found. Extending the size range of alginate beads into the submicron range, while maintaining relatively mild pH conditions in the interior of the bead, will significantly extend the range of applications for this type of beads.     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Induce Fibrosis and Telomere Length Alterations

Telomere shortening can result in cellular senescence and in increased level of genome instability, which are key events in numerous of cancer types. Despite this, few studies have focused on the effect of nanomaterial exposure on telomere length as a possible mechanism involved in nanomaterial-induced carcinogenesis. In this study, effects of exposure to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on telomere length were investigated in mice exposed by intrapleural injection, as well as in human lung epithelial and mesothelial cell lines. In addition, cell cycle, apoptosis, and regulation of genes involved in DNA damage repair were assessed. Exposure to MWCNT led to severe fibrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells in pleura, and mesothelial cell hyperplasia. These histological alterations were accompanied by deregulation of genes involved in fibrosis and immune cell recruitment, as well as a significant shortening of telomeres in the pleura and the lung. Assessment of key carcinogenic mechanisms in vitro confirmed that long-term exposure to the long MWCNT led to a prominent telomere shortening in epithelial cells, which coincided with G1-phase arrest and enhanced apoptosis. Altogether, our data show that telomere shortening resulting in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis may be an important mechanism in long MWCNT-induced inflammation and fibrosis.     

虚拟化的优势

为了保持企业的业务运营全天候运行,比较有效的实现方法是利用地理冗余在不同的地理位置建立多个数据巾心或站点,把关键任务应用和数据复制到这些中心或站点。     

SPATIAL RESPONSES TO FORDIST AND POST-FORDIST ACCUMULATION AND REGULATION

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the political geography of regional economic development under Fordism and its transition to post-Fordism. It summarises international, national and regional trends in Fordist accumulation and regulation. Second, it indicates haw Fordism dissolves and is replaced by a so tar insufficiently perceived and defined "post-Fordism." A general sketch of the political and economic geography for this, perhaps, new stage in capitalist development is put forward. Third, the authors discuss which elements in different institutional and neo-Marxian theories of the state are the most helpful to understand the role of the state under Fordism and the transition to post-Fordism.     

Rupture Pathway of Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes on Silicon Dioxide

We have investigated the pathway by which unilamellar POPC liposomes upon adsorption undergo rupture and form a supported lipid bilayer (SLB) on a SiO₂ surface. Biotinylated lipids were selectively incorporated in the outer monolayer of POPC liposomes to create liposomes with asymmetric lipid compositions in the outer and inner leaflets. The specific binding of neutravidin and anti-biotin to SLBs formed by liposome fusion, prior to and after equilibrated flip-flop between the upper and lower monolayers in the SLB, were then investigated. It was concluded that the lipids in the outer monolayer of the vesicle predominantly end up on the SLB side facing the SiO₂ substrate, as demonstrated by having maximum 30–40% of lipids in the liposome outer monolayer orienting towards the bulk after forming the SLB.     

Algorithmic Graph Minor Theory: Improved Grid Minor Bounds and Wagner’s Contraction

We explore three important avenues of research in algorithmic graph-minor theory, which all stem from a key min-max relation between the treewidth of a graph and its largest grid minor. This min-max relation is a keystone of the Graph Minor Theory of Robertson and Seymour, which ultimately proves Wagner’s Conjecture about the structure of minor-closed graph properties. First, we obtain the only known polynomial min-max relation for graphs that do not exclude any fixed minor, namely, map graphs and power graphs. Second, we obtain explicit (and improved) bounds on the min-max relation for an important class of graphs excluding a minor, namely, K _3,k -minor-free graphs, using new techniques that do not rely on Graph Minor Theory. These two avenues lead to faster fixed-parameter algorithms for two families of graph problems, called minor-bidimensional and contraction-bidimensional parameters, which include feedback vertex set, vertex cover, minimum maximal matching, face cover, a series of vertex-removal parameters, dominating set, edge dominating set, R-dominating set, connected dominating set, connected edge dominating set, connected R-dominating set, and unweighted TSP tour. Third, we disprove a variation of Wagner’s Conjecture for the case of graph contractions in general graphs, and in a sense characterize which graphs satisfy the variation. This result demonstrates the limitations of a general theory of algorithms for the family of contraction-closed problems (which includes, for example, the celebrated dominating-set problem). If this conjecture had been true, we would have had an extremely powerful tool for proving the existence of efficient algorithms for any contraction-closed problem, like we do for minor-closed problems via Graph Minor Theory.     

Sensor placement for fault isolation in linear differential-algebraic systems

An algorithm is proposed for computing which sensor additions make a diagnosis requirement specification regarding fault detectability and isolability attainable for a given linear differential-algebraic model. Restrictions on possible sensor locations can be given, and if the diagnosis specification is not attainable with any available sensor addition, the algorithm provides the solutions that maximize specification fulfillment. Previous approaches with similar objectives have been based on the model structure only. Since the proposed algorithm utilizes the analytical expressions, it can handle models where structural approaches fail.