The Double Edge Sword Based Distributed Executor Service

Scalability is one of the most important quality attribute of software-intensive systems, because it maintains an effective performance parallel to the large fluctuating and sometimes unpredictable workload. In order to achieve scalability, thread pool system (TPS) (which is also known as executor service) has been used extensively as a middleware service in software-intensive systems. TPS optimization is a challenging problem that determines the optimal size of thread pool dynamically on runtime. In case of distributed-TPS (DTPS), another issue is the load balancing b/w available set of TPSs running at backend servers. Existing DTPSs are overloaded either due to an inappropriate TPS optimization strategy at backend servers or improper load balancing scheme that cannot quickly recover an overload. Consequently, the performance of software-intensive system is suffered. Thus, in this paper, we propose a new DTPS that follows the collaborative round robin load balancing that has the effect of a double-edge sword. On the one hand, it effectively performs the load balancing (in case of overload situation) among available TPSs by a fast overload recovery procedure that decelerates the load on the overloaded TPSs up to their capacities and shifts the remaining load towards other gracefully running TPSs. And on the other hand, its robust load deceleration technique which is applied to an overloaded TPS sets an appropriate upper bound of thread pool size, because the pool size in each TPS is kept equal to the request rate on it, hence dynamically optimizes TPS. We evaluated the results of the proposed system against state of the art DTPSs by a client-server based simulator and found that our system outperformed by sustaining smaller response times.     

基于双重注意力机制和GRU网络的短期负荷预测模型

电力负荷预测对电力系统的部署、规划和运行影响重大,但目前各输入特征对电网负荷情况影响的程度不稳定,且递归神经网络捕获负荷数据的长期记忆能力差,导致预测精度下降。提出一种基于双重注意力机制和GRU网络的预测新模型,利用特征注意力机制自主分析历史信息与输入特征间的关联关系,提取重要特征,并通过时序注意力机制自主选取GRU网络中关键时间点的历史信息,提升较长时间段预测效果的稳定性。在3个公开数据集上的实验结果表明,该模型在预测精度指标上表现良好,对比SVR、KPCA-ELM、DBN、GRU、Attention-GRU、CNN-LSTM、Attention-CNN-GRU模型预测精度分别提高了2.47、1.14、1.93、1.37、1.04、0.74、0.41个百分点。     

基于低频触发的高精度RFID定位系统的设计与实现

为了解决传统RFID定位技术中存在的定位精度差和电子标签功耗高这2个问题,提出了一种基于低频触发的2.4GHz高精度区域定位系统的设计方案。该方案将低频125kHz触发信号与2.4GHz射频信号相结合,采用低频唤醒的方法极大降低了电子标签的功耗,利用可调节触发距离的触发机制将RFID系统的定位精度进一步提高.基于该方案设计了2.4GHz有源电子标签、125kHz触发器和2.4GHz阅读器三个子系统。阅读器与触发器的分离式设计,节约了铺设成本。系统硬件电路设计中加入了可调电位器和数字电压调节器,分别对识别距离和触发距离进行调节,使设备的配置更为方便,增强了系统的实用性。测试数据显示,阅读器与标签的最大通信距离长达120m,有源电子标签的待机时间约为2a(年),RFID定位系统能够实现1~5.2m的可调定位精度。测试结果验证了该方案的有效性。     

Deformation due to expanding ring load in modified couple stress thermoelastic diffusion in time and frequency domain

The two-dimensional problem of expanding ring load in a modified couple stress theory of thermoelastic diffusion with heat sources in time and frequency domains is investigated. The mathematical formulation prepared for thermoelastic diffusion solids with one and two relaxation times using Laplace and Hankel transforms. The displacements, stress components, temperature change, and chemical potential are obtained in a transformed domain. Numerical computation is performed for these quantities and the resulting quantities are shown graphically for the time and frequency domains. Comparisons are made with the results predicted by the two theories and different values of time and frequency. Particular cases of interest are also deduced.     

Can twice weekly hemodialysis expand patient access under resource constraints?

The convention of prescribing hemodialysis on a thrice weekly schedule began empirically when it seemed that this frequency was convenient and likely to treat symptoms for a majority of patients. Later, when urea was identified as the main target and marker of clearance, studies supported the prevailing notion that thrice weekly dialysis provided appropriate clearance of urea. Today, national guidelines on hemodialysis from most countries recommend patients receive at least thrice weekly therapy. However, resource constraints in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) have resulted in a substantial proportion of patients using less frequent hemodialysis in these settings. Observational studies of patients on twice weekly dialysis show that twice weekly therapy has noninferior survival rates compared with thrice weekly therapy. In fact, models of urea clearance also show that twice weekly therapy can meet urea clearance “targets” if patients have significant residual function or if they follow a protein‐restricted diet, as may be common in LMIC. Greater reliance on twice weekly therapy, at least at the start of hemodialysis, therefore has potential to reduce health care costs and increase access to renal replacement therapy in low‐resource settings; however, randomized control trials are needed to better understand long‐term outcomes of twice versus thrice weekly therapy.     

Reducing Hysteresis and Enhancing Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Low‐Temperature Processed Y‐Doped SnO2 Nanosheets as Electron Selective Layers

Despite the rapid increase of efficiency, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) still face some challenges, one of which is the current–voltage hysteresis. Herein, it is reported that yttrium‐doped tin dioxide (Y‐SnO₂) electron selective layer (ESL) synthesized by an in situ hydrothermal growth process at 95 °C can significantly reduce the hysteresis and improve the performance of PSCs. Comparison studies reveal two main effects of Y doping of SnO₂ ESLs: (1) it promotes the formation of well‐aligned and more homogeneous distribution of SnO₂ nanosheet arrays (NSAs), which allows better perovskite infiltration, better contacts of perovskite with SnO₂ nanosheets, and improves electron transfer from perovskite to ESL; (2) it enlarges the band gap and upshifts the band energy levels, resulting in better energy level alignment with perovskite and reduced charge recombination at NSA/perovskite interfaces. As a result, PSCs using Y‐SnO₂ NSA ESLs exhibit much less hysteresis and better performance compared with the cells using pristine SnO₂ NSA ESLs. The champion cell using Y‐SnO₂ NSA ESL achieves a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 17.29% (16.97%) when measured under reverse (forward) voltage scanning and a steady‐state efficiency of 16.25%. The results suggest that low‐temperature hydrothermal‐synthesized Y‐SnO₂ NSA is a promising ESL for fabricating efficient and hysteresis‐less PSC.     

Cleanable Air Filter Transferring Moisture and Effectively Capturing PM2.5

The lethal danger of particulate matter (PM) pollution on health leads to the development of challenging individual protection materials that should ideally exhibit a high PM_2.5 purification efficiency, low air resistance, an important moisture‐vapor transmission rate (MVTR), and an easy‐to‐clean property. Herein, a cleanable air filter able to rapidly transfer moisture and efficiently capture PM_2.5 is designed by electrospinning superhydrophilic polyacrylonitrile/silicon‐dioxide fibers as the adsorption–desorption vector for moisture‐vapor, and hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride fibers as the repellent components to avoid the formation of capillary water under high humidity. The desorption rate of water molecules increases from 10 to 18 mg min^?1, while the diameters of polyacrylonitrile fibers reduce from 1.02 to 0.14 µm. Significantly, by introducing the hydroxyl on the surface of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers, rapid adsorption–desorption of the water molecules is observed. Moreover, by constructing a hydrophobic to super‐hydrophilic gradient structure, the MVTR increases from 10 346 to 14 066 g m^?2 d^?1. Interestingly, the prepared fibrous membranes is easy to clean. More importantly, benefiting from enhanced slip effect, the resultant fibrous membranes presented a low air resistance of 86 Pa. A field test in Shanghai shows that the air filter maintains stable PM_2.5 purification efficiency of 99.99% at high MVTR during haze event.     

Writing with Fluid: Structuring Hydrogels with Micrometer Precision by AFM in Combination with Nanofluidics

Hydrogels have many applications in biomedical surface modification and tissue engineering. However, the structuring of hydrogels after their formation represents still a major challenge, in particular due to their softness. Here, a novel approach is presented that is based on the combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanofluidics, also referred to as FluidFM technology. Its applicability is demonstrated for supramolecular hydrogel films that are prepared from low‐molecular weight hydrogelators, such as derivates of 1,3,5‐benzene tricarboxamides (BTAs). BTA films can be dissolved selectively by ejecting alkaline solution through the aperture of a hollow AFM‐cantilever connected to a nanofluidic controller. The AFM‐based force control is essential in preventing mechanical destruction of the hydrogels. The resulting “chemical writing” process is studied in detail and the influence of various parameters, such as applied pressure and time, is validated. It is demonstrated that the achievable structuring precision is primarily limited by diffusion and the aperture dimensions. Recently, various additive techniques have been presented to pattern hydrogels. The here‐presented subtractive approach can not only be applied to structure hydrogels from the large class of reversibly formed gels with superior resolution but would also allow for the selective loading of the hydrogels with active substances or nanoparticles.     

An Overview of Control Charts for High‐quality Processes

Major difficulties in the study of high‐quality processes with traditional process monitoring techniques are a high false alarm rate and a negative lower control limit. The purpose of time‐between‐events control charts is to overcome existing problems in the high‐quality process monitoring setup. Time‐between‐events charts detect an out‐of‐control situation without great loss of sensitivity as compared with existing charts. High‐quality control charts gained much attention over the last decade because of the technological revolution. This article is dedicated to providing an overview of recent research and presenting it in a unifying framework. To summarize results and draw a precise conclusion from the statistical point of view, cross‐tabulations are also given in this article. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.