Comparative analysis of two different middleware approaches for reconfiguration of distributed real-time systems

Software-based reconfiguration of distributed real-time systems is a complex problem with many sides to it ranging from system-wide concerns down to the intrinsic non-robust nature of the specific middleware layer and the used programming techniques. In a completely open distributed system, mixing reconfiguration and real-time is not possible; the set of possible target states can be very large threatening the temporal predictability of the reconfiguration process. Over the last years, middle ware solutions have appeared mainly for general purpose systems where efficient state transitions are sought for, but real-time properties are not considered. One of the few contributions to run-time software reconfiguration in distributed real-time environments has been the iLAND middleware, where the germ of a solution with high potential has been conceived and delivered in practice.¹ The key idea has been the fact that a set of bounds and limitations to the structure of systems and to their open nature needs to be imposed in order to come up with practical solutions. In this paper, the authors present the different sides of the problem of software reconfiguration from two complementary middleware perspectives comparing two strategies built inside distribution middleware. We highlight the lessons learned in the iLAND project aimed at service-based reconfiguration and compare it to our experience in the development of distributed real-time Java reconfiguration based on distributed tasks rescheduling. Authors also provide a language view of both solutions. Lastly, empirical results are shown that validate these solutions and compare them on the basis of different programming language realizations.     

Polymeric dispersions of model azobenzene dyes

New host-guest systems were prepared by using poly(vinyl acetate) and different ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers as polymeric hosts because of their good compatibility with polar molecules. Two symmetric azobenzene diesters, that is 4,4′-dicarboxyethylazobenzene and 4,4′-di(2-ethylhexyloxycarbonyl)azobenzene were selected as guests. Both solution casting and melt processing were adopted for the preparation of dispersion films that were thoroughly characterized by thermal analysis, UV-vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, and by polarized optical microscopy. The reported results indicate that solution casting afforded heterogeneous dispersions of dye microcrystals at guest concentrations larger than 0.3% whereas homogeneous colored films were obtained at lower dye contents. On the other hand, both melt processing and the presence of branched diester groups favored the dye dispersion within the polymer matrix. At 0.1% dye content, the adopted preparation technique did not appreciably affect the film properties. After 4-8 fold stretching, the host-guest films were analyzed by polarized light spectroscopy. Some of the investigated films displayed interesting polarization efficiency, potentially suited for the preparation of thin film polarizers.     

透过节能减排政策和制度看中国节能减排

随着世界人口的增长、现代工业的高速发展,不可再生资源遭到掠夺式开采、能源消耗几何级增长、环境污染程度大大超出了生态系统的承受能力。如何解决能源短缺与污染严重对经济和社会发展的影响已经成为世界性的难题,我国同样如此。因此,加强对节能减排体系的研究,对我国节能减排工作的开展具有非常重要的意义。对我国节能减排的政策和制度进行剖析,指出了我国节能减排政策、制度以及做法中存在的问题,并提出解决的方法。     

Hot-spot combustion of heterogeneous condensed mixtures. Thermal percolation

A model of combustion of heterogeneous condensed mixtures composed of reactive particles separated by an inert heat-conducting substance is considered. Propagation of the reaction in a one-dimensional periodic system of point reaction cells connected by inert thermal bridges is examined. The burning rate is determined as a function of the basic parameters of the system, and stability of the steady combustion mode is studied. It is shown that there exists a range of parameters in which the reaction propagates in an unstable manner. Combustion of the system in the instability domain is examined. It is shown that the reaction propagation loses its stability many times as the adiabatic temperature of the system decreases; in this case, the existing unsteady mode is replaced by another, more complicated mode, and the alteration of the regimes in the examined systems always proceeds as a period-doubling bifurcation. Beginning from a certain value of adiabatic temperature, the reaction-propagation process becomes stochastic. In the systems examined, there exists an ultimate adiabatic temperature, below which self-sustained propagation of the reaction in the system becomes impossible.Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 41–54, January–February, 2005.     

发电系统短期可靠性评估的等效机组法

本文提出了等效机组的概念,有效地解决了发电系统短期可靠性评估中的“状态爆炸”难题该方法不仅提高了短期可靠性评估的速度和精度,而且极大地压缩了计算存贮量,使发电系统短期可靠性评估更趋于实用化.通过对示例发电系统进行短期可靠性评估,其结果证明了该方法的正确性和有效性.     

Modal Identification of Linear Time-varying Systems Using Continuous Wavelet Transform

A wavelet based identification method for linear time-varying systems is presented,and the ridge and skeleton of the continuous wavelet transform of free response is used to extract time-varying parameters. The stiffness and damping coefficients of single-degree-of—freedom systems,frequencies and damping ratios of multi-degree-of-freedom systems are estimated without any prior information of systems. The proposed method is applied to linear time-varying systems with both abrupt and smooth variation parameters. Gaussian white noise is added to the response to test the anti-noise performance of the algorithm. The simulation results show that the proposed method is capable of accurately tracking the variation of the systems.     

On the origins of anticipation as an evolutionary framework: functional systems perspective

This paper discusses the problem of anticipation from an evolutionary and systems-theoretical perspective, developed in the context of Russian/Soviet evolutionary biological and neurophysiological schools in the early and mid-twentieth century. On this background, an outline is given of the epigenetic interpretation of anticipatory capacities formulated and substantiated by the eminent Russian neurophysiologist academician Peter K. Anokhin in the framework of functional systems theory. It is considered that several key positions of this theory are well confirmed by recent evidence on anticipation as an evolutionarily basic adaptive capacity, possibly inherent to the organization of life. In the field of neuroscience, the theory of functional systems may potentially facilitate future studies at the intersection of learning, development and evolution by representing an integrative approach to the problem of anticipation.     

环境经济系统工程的思考

环境问题与经济问题紧密相连,由于环境问题的综合性和复杂性,需要运用系统工程的方法和经济学原理,将环境问题置于整个经济系统中统筹考虑,建立相对完整的环境经济系统工程方法体系,将环境保护工作纳入经济社会发展中,使其成为决策中主要考虑的因素之一,并引起应有的重视。本研究从环境与经济承载力、环境投资的经济分析、环境与投资效率比较、环境资源的经济价值以及生态补偿与污染赔偿等方面构建环境经济系统工程的基本框架体系,并结合实际进行案例分析。研究表明,单纯的政府行政干预不如创造条件,如补偿、税收减免、投资、贴息等,使其具备在市场规则下.自动引导资源向环境保护与污染治理的投入,如排污指标的交易等。此外,自然资源是不可或缺的稀有资本,应该将保护生态系统及生物多样性纳入各级政府决策的主要方面。