Still Alive: Extending Keep-Alive Intervals in P2P Overlay Networks

Detecting node failures within Peer-to-Peer networks is an inherent trade-off between timely detection and consuming bandwidth on network maintenance. In the absence of user-driven messages, the majority of P2P networks rely upon the exchange of periodic keep-alive messages to maintain connections and network topology. We investigate three novel algorithms which prioritise keep-alive messages to nodes that are more likely to have failed. In doing so, these algorithms significantly reduce the expected delay between failures occurring and their subsequent detection in comparison to the standard approach, whilst consuming similar levels of bandwidth. Our algorithms build upon several studies that have shown that older peers are more likely to remain in the network than their short-lived counterparts. Each of our algorithms increase the interval between successive keep-alive messages as peers age in the system, based upon the distribution of peer session times and the current age of peers. We extensively describe the details of each algorithm, before comparing them to the standard periodic approach using simulations based upon measured network data. Furthermore, we show that these algorithms are complimentary to existing gossip-based mechanisms and investigate alternate methods of ascertaining a node??s age so that our algorithms can be robustly deployed in untrustworthy environments.     

Progress in CdZnTe substrate producibility and critical drivers of IRFPA yield originating with CdZnTe substrates

With the goal of maximizing the yield of infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPAs), Santa Barbara Research Center’s (SBRC) Infrared Materials Producibility Program (IRMP) has focused on assessing and improving the quality, yield, and throughput of CdZnTe substrates. A baseline detector lot was fabricated to identify the critical drivers of IRFPA yield coming from the substrates and to evaluate the quality and yield of the current vendor base for CdZnTe substrates. Substrate induced defects and impurities that can potentially affect device performance and operability were carefully mapped out in detail on 44 × 67 mm² size substrates, received from IRMP substrate vendors as well as SBRC. This paper will report on the correlations found between this substrate characterization data base and the IRFPA level defect distributions. Key results from these correlation studies are: (1) extended defects found on the substrates with the Nakagawa etch correlated well with responsivity reduction in the final IRFPA; (2) cross-hatch patterns that were evident in the responsivity map correlated well with similar features seen by x-ray topography on LPE double layers; and (3) a possible correlation of device performance (leakage current at 78K) with copper and lithium impurities in the substrate. Recent initiatives toward improving the quality and yield of the substrate growth process have focused on improving purity in the pre-growth charge preparation, modification of growth parameters to reduce defects and scaling up of the vertical Bridgman growth process from its current 67 mm diameter boule size to 92 mm diameter boules. Promising initial results from the large diameter boule growth process will be shown. The 92 mm diameter CdZnTe boule (6 kg charge) shows two predominant single crystal grains encompassing 75% of boule volume. Defect characterization of boules grown under baseline and modified conditions is discussed.     

Large-scale system testing of a power system dynamic equivalencingprogram

This paper presents the results of applying the EPRI Dynamic Equivalencing Program to a large-scale system test case of the New York Power Pool. The effects of coherent generator selection, network reduction, generator aggregation, and generator modeling on the accuracy of the reduced models are investigated     

High-speed 8:1 multiplexer and 1:8 demultiplexer implemented withAlGaAs/GaAs HBTs

An 8:1 multiplexer (MUX) and 1:8 demultiplexer (DMUX) implemented with AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors are described. The circuits were designed for lightwave communications, and were demonstrated to operate at data rates above 6 Gb/s. These are among the fastest 8-b MUX-DMUX circuits ever reported. Each contains about 600 transistors and consumes about 1.5 W. The pair provides features such as resettable timing, data framing, and clock recovery circuitry, and a built-in decision circuit on the DMUX. Emitter-coupled logic (ECL) compatible input/output (1/O) signals are available. The circuits were implemented with bi-level current mode logic (CML) and require a -5.2-V power supply and a +1-V bias for ECL compatibility     

Sectoral trends in global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

Integrated assessment models have been used to project both baseline and mitigation greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. Results of these scenarios are typically presented for a number of world regions and end-use sectors, such as industry, transport, and buildings. Analysts interested in particular technologies and policies, however, require more detailed information to understand specific mitigation options in relation to business-as-usual trends. This paper presents sectoral trend for two of the scenarios produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. Global and regional historical trends in energy use and carbon dioxide emissions over the past 30 years are examined and contrasted with projections over the next 30 years. Macro-activity indicators are analyzed as well as trends in sectoral energy and carbon demand. This paper also describes a methodology to calculate primary energy and carbon dioxide emissions at the sector level, accounting for the full energy and emissions due to sectoral activities.     

A review of selected thermal management solutions for military electronic systems

Thermal management of electronics is vital to the successful design, manufacture, and tactical operation of a variety of military electronic systems. Designs employ all modes of heat transfer including: conduction, natural and forced convection, aerodynamic heating, radiation, and two-phase heat transfer. A variety of heat sinks and heat exchange devices are employed, including the use of cold plates, electronic chassis coldwalls, compact heat exchangers, air-cycle and vapor-cycle refrigeration systems, phase change materials, thermoelectric devices, and heat pipes. This paper describes several military electronic systems on a variety of platforms and discusses the thermal management issues involved in the design of the thermal control systems. Specific examples are employed in the paper to emphasize the variety of thermal management problems encountered and the solution techniques employed.     

Estimation of Regional Scale Evapotranspiration Through Analysis of Satellite Thermal-infrared Data

Since the mid 70's the LANDSAT series of satelites has acquired visible and near-infrared observations of the earth at a frequency and spatial resolution suitable for agriculture assessment purposes. More recently satellite systems have acquired high precision thermalinfrared data relating to surface thermal properties and moisture status. A data set from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission [1] illustrates the potential applications of such data for inferring evapotranspiration on a regional scale. Methods described previously [2] are utilized to estimate evapotranspiration rates, yielding results which are consistent with surface measurements of pan evaporation.     

Megasonic agitation for enhanced electrodeposition of copper

In this paper we propose an agitation method based on megasonic acoustic streaming to overcome the limitations in plating rate and uniformity of the metal deposits during the electroplating process. Megasonic agitation at a frequency of 1 MHz allows the reduction of the thickness of the Nernst diffusion layer to less than 600 nm. Two applications that demonstrate the benefits of megasonic acoustic streaming are presented: the formation of uniform ultra-fine pitch flip-chip bumps and the metallisation of high aspect ratio microvias. For the latter application, a multi-physics based numerical simulation is implemented to describe the hydrodynamics introduced by the acoustic waves as they travel inside the deep microvias.     

Thermal Expansion of Alkaline‐Doped Lanthanum Ferrite Near the Néel Temperature

The thermal expansion and magnetic behaviors of divalent, alkaline‐doped lanthanum ferrites (La_0.9M_0.1FeO₃, M=Ca, Sr, Ba) were assessed using a combination of dilatometry, magnetometry, time‐of‐flight neutron diffraction, and high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction. Néel temperatures were determined through vibrating sample magnetometry and correlated well with changes in thermal expansion behavior observed during both dilatometry and X‐ray diffraction. The Néel temperatures observed for pure, Ca‐doped, Sr‐doped, and Ba‐doped lanthanum ferrites were 471°C, 351°C, 465°C, and 466°C, respectively. The effect of divalent substitutions on the magnetic behavior are attributed to charge compensation mechanisms and structural changes in the material.