Improved results for scheduling batched parallel jobs by using a generalized analysis framework

We present two improved results for scheduling batched parallel jobs on multiprocessors with mean response time as the performance metric. These results are obtained by using a generalized analysis framework where the response time of the jobs is expressed in two contributing factors that directly impact a scheduler’s competitive ratio. Specifically, we show that the scheduler IGDEQ is 3-competitive against the optimal while AGDEQ is 5.24-competitive. These results improve the known competitive ratios of 4 and 10, obtained by Deng et al. and by He et al., respectively. For the common case where no fractional allotments are allowed, we show that slightly larger competitive ratios can be obtained by augmenting the schedulers with the round-robin strategy.     

Energy-efficient cooperative data aggregation for wireless sensor networks

Recently, cooperative communication mechanism is shown to be a promising technology to improve the transmit diversity only by a single transceiver antenna. Using this communication paradigm, multiple source nodes are able to coordinate their transmissions so as to obtain energy savings. As data aggregation is one of the most important operations in wireless sensor networks, this paper studies the energy-efficient data aggregation problem through cooperative communication. We first define the cooperative data aggregation (CDA) problem, and formally prove that this problem is NP-Hard. Due to the difficult nature of this problem, we propose a heuristic algorithm MCT for cooperative data aggregation. The theoretical analysis shows that this algorithm can reach the approximate performance ratio of 2. Moreover, the distributed implementation DMCT of the algorithm is also described. We prove that both centralized and distributed algorithms can construct the same topology for cooperative data aggregation. The experimental simulations show that the proposed algorithms will decrease the power consumption by about 12.5% and 66.3% compared with PEDAP and PEGASIS algorithms respectively.     

3-D B-spline Wavelet-Based Local Standard Deviation (BWLSD): Its Application to Edge Detection and Vascular Segmentation in Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Extracting reliable image edge information is crucial for active contour models as well as vascular segmentation in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). However, conventional edge detection techniques, such as gradient-based methods and wavelet-based methods, are incapable of returning reliable detection responses from low contrast edges in the images. In this paper, we propose a novel edge detection method by combining B-spline wavelet magnitude with standard deviation inside local region. It is proved theoretically and demonstrated experimentally in this paper that the new edge detection method, namely BWLSD, is able to give consistent and reliable strengths for edges with different image contrasts. Moreover, the relationship between the size of local region with non-zero wavelet magnitudes and the scale of wavelet function is established. This relationship indicates that if the scale of the adopted wavelet function is s, then the size of a local region, from which the standard deviation is estimated, should be 2s−1. The proposed edge detection technique is embedded in FLUX, namely, BWLSD-FLUX, for vascular segmentation in MRA image volumes. Experimental results on clinical images show that, as compared with the conventional FLUX, BWLSD-FLUX can achieve better segmentations of vasculatures in MRA images under same initial conditions.     

Dynamically modulated intensity interrogation scheme using waveguide coupled surface plasmon resonance sensors

An electro-optically modulated intensity interrogation method based on tunable waveguide coupled surface plasmon resonance sensors has been proposed. It has been theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the proposed scheme can enable sensitive measurement of measurand variations. By modulating the refractive index in the waveguide layer, this interrogation method yields modulated signal whose amplitude is related to measurand's refractive index. This amplitude modulated signal offers a higher signal to noise ratio and eliminates additive noise in the sensor system. A preliminary investigation using saline buffers with different NaCl concentrations shows a resolution of 2.3 × 10^?6 refractive index unit by our approach. Resolution can be controlled by the amplitude of the applied modulation voltage and can be further enhanced by optimizing the device structure or improving the electro-optical (E-O) coefficient of the E-O material. This approach is simple, stable, and promising for low-cost or multi-channel SPR biosensor applications.     

Calibration of residual stress difference of MetalMUMPs silicon nitride films

The metal multi-user MEMS processes (MetalMUMPs) provide one nickel film, two silicon nitride films and one polysilicon film for constructing various nickel MEMS devices. The two silicon nitride films are either bonded together as a bi-layered structure or they sandwich the polysilicon film to form a tri-layered structure to support nickel structures. The residual stress difference of the two silicon nitride films causes undesired deformations of suspended MetalMUMPs devices. In this paper, the residual stress difference of the two MetalMUMPs silicon nitride thin films is calibrated and the result is 169 MPa. The Young’s modulus of the MetalMUMPs nitride films is also measured, which is 209 GPa.     

Towards a web-based progressive handwriting recognition environment for mathematical problem solving

The emergence of pen-based mobile devices such as PDAs and tablet PCs provides a new way to input mathematical expressions to computer by using handwriting which is much more natural and efficient for entering mathematics. This paper proposes a web-based handwriting mathematics system, called WebMath, for supporting mathematical problem solving. The proposed WebMath system is based on client–server architecture. It comprises four major components: a standard web server, handwriting mathematical expression editor, computation engine and web browser with Ajax-based communicator. The handwriting mathematical expression editor adopts a progressive recognition approach for dynamic recognition of handwritten mathematical expressions. The computation engine supports mathematical functions such as algebraic simplification and factorization, and integration and differentiation. The web browser provides a user-friendly interface for accessing the system using advanced Ajax-based communication. In this paper, we describe the different components of the WebMath system and its performance analysis.     

安全仪表系统的功能安全设计

针对安全仪表系统（SIS）的产品开发,分析了应用于石化领域的安全仪表系统的基本特性、冗余结构和常见产品类型。在介绍IEC 61508标准的基础上,提出了安全仪表系统产品开发过程中整体安全生命周期、产品硬件及安全相关软件的功能安全设计方法;最后以SIL2级压力变送器为例,着重阐述了SIS系统结构设计和故障诊断覆盖要求。     

DNA在SiO2纳米粒子薄膜表面的单分子行为研究

基于应用全内反射荧光显微镜,利用YOYO-1标记的λ-DNA分子作为探针研究了SiO2纳米粒子薄膜的表面性质,在不同的pH值下,考察了pH值对单个DNA分子在其表面行为(自由运动和吸附)的影响,并采用接触角(CA)和原子力显微镜(Atomic Force Microscope,AFM)表征了SiO2纳米粒子薄膜表面的性质.实验表明,随着pH值的降低,DNA分子在其表面的吸附率随之增大.DNA分子在SiO2纳米粒子薄膜表面的吸附行为是静电作用和疏水作用共同作用的结果,但是起主导作用的是疏水作用.此外,相同pH值下,与文献中报道的DNA在玻片上的吸附率相比,DNA在SiO2纳米粒子薄膜表面的吸附率要大得多,这是由于SiO2纳米粒子的比表面积大,表面活性位点多,且疏水性能强的缘故.     

Improved delay‐dependent absolute stability and robust stability for a class of nonlinear systems with a time‐varying delay

This paper investigates the problem of the absolute stability of Lur'e systems with a time‐varying delay. By considering the relationships among the time‐varying delay, its upper bound, and the difference between them, less conservative delay‐dependent stability criteria are obtained and formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities, without ignoring any useful terms in the derivative of a Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional. Numerical example shows that the results obtained in this paper are better than the previous results. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Scalable multi-variate analytics of seismic and satellite-based observational data

Over the past few years, large human populations around the world have been affected by an increase in significant seismic activities. For both conducting basic scientific research and for setting critical government policies, it is crucial to be able to explore and understand seismic and geographical information obtained through all scientific instruments. In this work, we present a visual analytics system that enables explorative visualization of seismic data together with satellite-based observational data, and introduce a suite of visual analytical tools. Seismic and satellite data are integrated temporally and spatially. Users can select temporal ;and spatial ranges to zoom in on specific seismic events, as well as to inspect changes both during and after the events. Tools for designing high dimensional transfer functions have been developed to enable efficient and intuitive comprehension of the multi-modal data. Spread-sheet style comparisons are used for data drill-down as well as presentation. Comparisons between distinct seismic events are also provided for characterizing event-wise differences. Our system has been designed for scalability in terms of data size, complexity (i.e. number of modalities), and varying form factors of display environments.