Scalability and performance of an agent‐based network management middleware

Rapid growth of computer network sizes and uses necessitate analysis of network application middleware in terms of its scalability as well as performance. In this paper we analyze a distributed network management middleware based on agents that can be dispatched to locations where they can execute close to the managed nodes. The described middleware operates between the network protocol layer and the application layer and uses standard TCP protocol and SNMP probes to interface the network. By aggregating requests from many users into a single agent, our system allows multiple managers to probe problem areas with minimal management traffic overhead. We discuss and quantify the benefits of the described middleware by implementing real‐time network managers using our system. The main result of this paper is a comparison of scalability and efficiency of our agent‐based management middleware and traditional SNMP‐based data collection. To this end, we measured traffic in both real and simulated networks. In the latter case, we designed, used and described here a method of separating simulated application flow into separate subflows to simplify design of simulations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Management gaps analysis: a case study of groundwater resource management in New Zealand

The primary objective of this project is to identify gaps, whether real or perceived, that hinder effective groundwater management in New Zealand. These gaps show as gaps in information, gaps in implementation, gaps in technological and management tools, and gaps in understanding of fundamental processes. The secondary objective is to propose a management strategy to close the identified gaps. Several methods are used to meet these objectives: surveys distributed to selected staff in each regional council; the review of various written reports; the analysis of land-use databases; and private consultation within each regional council. Results show that groundwater management in New Zealand is generally reactionary with the main gaps being in strategic planning and national guidelines. Most gaps appear to be predominantly information and implementation issues. In some cases there are gaps in the understanding of fundamental processes within an aquifer system, including the long-term effects of land-use on groundwater quality. An adaptive management approach is suggested as a means of closing these gaps.     

Dual command travel times and miniload system throughput with turnover-based storage

We analyze travel times for automated storage/retrieval systems. In particular, we apply our travel time model to turnover-based storage systems and determine the mean and variance of dual command travel times. We present detailed numerical results for selected rack shape factors and ABC inventory profiles. We then investigate the effect of alternative rack configurations on travel time performance measures. We also show how to determine the throughput of miniload systems with turnover-based storage and exponentially distributed pick times.     

Partial congenital defect of the left pericardium: angiographic diagnosis and treatment by thoracoscopic pericardiectomy: case report

Twenty-six patients with an intracardiac myxoma underwent surgical resection at our institution from 1977 through 1992. Left atrial myxoma was diagnosed in 22 patients, left ventricular in 1, right atrial in 2, and right ventricular in 1. Six patients were asymptomatic; preoperative symptoms included dyspnea, arrhythmias, embolic episodes, and syncope. The diagnosis was established with transthoracic echocardiography in all cases but one. Surgery was performed in all cases with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia and cold crystalloid cardioplegia. One patient with a left ventricular myxoma died in a comatose state during the immediate postoperative period. Long-term clinical and echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 19 patients; results were excellent (all the patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II), and no recurrences were documented. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and surgical approach are presented and discussed.     

Uncooled DBR laser directly Modulated at 3.125 gb/s as athermal transmitter for low-cost WDM systems

An uncooled three-section tunable distributed Bragg reflector laser is demonstrated as an athermal transmitter for low-cost uncooled wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) systems with tight channel spacing. A /spl plusmn/0.02-nm thermal wavelength drift is achieved under continuous-wave operation up to 70/spl deg/C. Dynamic sidemode suppression ratio of greater than 35 dB is consistently obtained under 3.125-Gb/s direct modulation over a 20/spl deg/C-70/spl deg/C temperature range, with wavelength variation of as low as /spl plusmn/0.2 nm. This indicates that more than an order of magnitude reduction in coarse WDM channel spacing is possible using this source.     

Potential for integration of electrophoretic deposition into electronic device manufacture; demonstrations using silver/palladium

A silver palladium (Ag/Pd) alloy powder is used as an example material to illustrate potential applications of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) in electronics manufacturing, in particular the forming of multilayer devices. The dispersion and deposition of the Ag/Pd powder in acetic acid is characterized. It is found that deposition can be explained by the direct action of electrostatic force on individual particles. Depositions of this Ag/Pd powder are then used to demonstrate: forming of a continuous layer on a rigid substrate; forming of continuous layers in laminated and sintered BaTiO₃ multilayers; and incorporation of patterned depositions into a multilayer by either overcasting the patterned deposition with a particulate slip to form a multicomponent tape, or direct lamination of the patterned deposition to a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape. It is shown that electrically conducting layers can be formed at an average thickness of only two times the diameter of the starting powder. Continuous conductor lines thirty times the average diameter of the starting powder were formed.     

SQUID NMR Studies of the Second Layer of 3He at High Density

Nuclear magnetism in the second layer of ³He films on graphite has been studied as a function of density in the zero-field limit at temperatures down to 300 µK. Total surface coverages in this study ranged from 20 atoms/nm² (the lowest coverage at which the effective exchange parameter turns ferromagnetic) through the two-phase region (ending at about 24 atoms/nm²) and into the single-phase imcommensurate solid region up to 31.2 atoms/nm². The surface layers were studied using both pulsed and cw NMR measured with our SQUID NMR system in magnetic fields of 500 µT and lower. As the surface density continues to increase in the single-phase region, the exchange constant decreases consistently with a picture of steric hindrance impeding ferromagnetic exchange. Several different observational features scale with this inferred exchange: low-field magnetization, NMR frequency shift, and the temperature of onset of significant magnetization.