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.     

46,XX/69,XXX diploid-triploid mixoploidy with hypothyroidism and precocious puberty

We report a 20 month old female patient with diploid-triploid mixoploidy (46,XX/69,XXX) syndrome with hypothyroidism and precocious puberty. The triploid cell line was only expressed in the fibroblast culture and comprised the majority (95%) of the cells. Chromosome analysis of the fetal blood sample and peripheral blood sample were normal. The patient shows typical features of full triploidy (growth and severe mental retardation, cranial and facial dysmorphism, complete syndactyly of fingers 3/4, partial syndactyly of toes 2/3) and facial but no body asymmetry. At the age of 5 months central hypothyroidism and precocious puberty were diagnosed. Thin pigmented streaks were visible on the wrists and legs of the patient at the age of 16 months. This is the first patient reported so far with 46,XX/69,XXX mixoploidy suffering from hypothyroidism and precocious puberty.     

The murine immune response to the male-specific antigen mouse testicular cytochrome c

Male and female A/J mice were examined for their ability to elicit T lymphocyte and antibody (Ab) responses to the male-specific Ag, mouse testicular cytochrome c (Mt cyt). T lymphocytes from both male and female mice primed in vivo responded to the Ag in in vitro proliferation assays, and the dose-response curves were statistically indistinguishable. In addition, similar levels of Ab to Mt cyt were observed in immunized male and female mice. The B cells producing the Ab had switched isotypes to IgG1 and IgG2a, indicating that the self-reactive T helper (Th) cells in male mice were functional. Thus, male mice do not appear to be immunologically tolerant to Mt cyt, at least at the Th and B lymphocyte levels. No evidence for disease was found in male mice primed with Mt cyt. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive antigen-presenting cells are present in the testes and these were shown in vitro to process and present Mt cyt to a T cell hybridoma specific for the synthetic peptide Mt cyt 93-104. However, the hybridoma was not activated in the absence of exogenous Mt cyt 93-104 or Mt cyt, indicating that endogenous Mt cyt is not normally processed in sufficient quantity to effectively load MHC class II molecules with this particular Mt cyt-derived peptide. Notwithstanding any immunologic privilege of the testes, the lack of tolerance to Mt cyt and its failure to elicit an autoimmune disease could extend from the low levels of processed Mt cyt Ag available for T cell recognition. The T cell response elicited by Mt cyt contrasts the lack of response to mouse somatic cytochrome c which differs from Mt cyt at 13 amino acid residues and is expressed in most tissues and at higher levels.     

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.     

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocyte chemotactic hyperresponsiveness in a case of canine acromegaly

Growth hormone (GH) has recently been shown to affect polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocyte (PMN) function and to be secreted by mononuclear cells, indicating that the hormone may be active in an immunophysiologic network, acting as an endo- or paracrine priming agent. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the chemotactic responsiveness of canine peripheral PMN in a dog with acromegaly, caused by spontaneous, progesterone-induced hypersecretion of GH and, secondary to this, a seven-fold increase in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). The chemotactic responsiveness towards zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was evaluated at a time when the dog suffered from acromegaly and again 57 days after corrective surgery (ovariohysterectomy). The experiments showed that PMN from the patient exhibited enhanced chemotactic migration that appeared to be associated with the hypersomatotropic condition as judged from the reversibility of the phenomenon. The glucose intolerance and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase that were observed in the acromegalic dog were also shown to be reversible following surgery.