A review on queueing network models with finite capacity queues for software architectures performance prediction

A review is carried out on how queueing network models with blocking have been applied so far into the performance evaluation and prediction of Software Architectures (SA). Queueing network models with finite capacity queues and blocking have recently been introduced and applied as more realistic models of systems with finite capacity resources and population constraints. Queueing network models have been often adopted as models for the evaluation of software performance. Starting from our own experience, we observe the need of a more accurate definition of the performance models of SA to capture some features of the communication systems. We consider queueing networks with finite capacity and blocking after service (BAS) to represent some synchronization constraints that cannot be easily modeled with queueing network models with infinite capacity queues. We investigate the use of queueing networks with blocking as performance models of SA with concurrent components and synchronous communication. Queueing theoretic analysis is used to solve the queueing network model and study the synchronous communication and performance of concurrent software components. Our experience is supported by other approaches that also propose the use of queueing networks with blocking. Directions for future research work in the field are included.     

FMR and EXAFS modeling of heat-treated Fe-rich and Co-rich TM-M thin films

Ion-beam sputter-deposited alloy films of Co/sub 74/Fe/sub 6/B/sub 15/Si/sub 5/ and Fe/sub 75/Ni/sub 5/B/sub 15/Si/sub 5/ were examined for their magnetic and structural properties. Films were characterized by ferromagnetic resonance, vibrating sample magnetometry, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. Using atomic parameters deduced from EXAFS modeling and fitting procedures, magnetic properties were calculated with no adjustable parameters. Correlation between perpendicular FMR measurements and EXAFS first-shell modeling suggests a low-temperature formation of cobalt-borides in the Co/sub 74/Fe/sub 6/B/sub 15/Si/sub 5/ alloy. Annealed Fe/sub 75/Ni/sub 5/B/sub 15/Si/sub 5/ samples did not display evidence of structural and/or magnetic instabilities until the onset of long-range crystallization near T/sub ann/=400 degrees C.<>     

Molecular orientation in drawn smectic and crystalline isotactic polypropylene

The drawing behavior of two polypropylene films of different structures was analyzed. The two films differ as a consequence of different quenching conditions. At low temperature, a biphasic smectic-amorphous system was obtained, while quenching at 100°C produced a biphasic crystalline-amorphous system. The drawing of samples was carried out at 110°C at which temperature the smectic phase is not stable and is transformed into the crystalline α-form. The initial structure affects the drawing behavior and the properties of the drawn samples. The mechanical, optical, and X-ray analyses clearly show that high molecular orientation is achieved at lower deformations in the initially smectic sample. In particular, the amorphous phase is highly oriented, inducing higher axial elastic modulus.     

Semi-transparent blotches removal from sepia images exploiting visibility laws

This paper presents a novel model for the removal of semi-transparent blotches on the digitized copy of sepia archive photographs. As these defects cannot be successfully eliminated by conventional interpolation methods, a proper combination of a novel visual distortion and multiresolution analysis is used for performing user-independent detection and restoration. Extensive experimental results and comparative studies show the potential of the proposed model in terms of visual quality and computational complexity.     

A polyfluoroalkyl imidazolium ionic liquid as iodide ion source in dye sensitized solar cells

We report on the use of a fluorinated imidazolium ionic liquid as a source of iodide ions in solvent-based electrolytes for DSSCs. Efficient dye regeneration and fast charge transport in the fluorinated electrolyte result in an overall improvement of the device performances compared to conventional hydrogenated ionic liquids.     

Transport properties of dichloromethane in glassy polymers. VI. Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Sorption and diffusion of dichloromethane vapor in amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were investigated, with the aim of studying how aging phenomena, at different temperatures, influence the transport properties. It has been found that aging produces the appearance of non-Fickian behavior in the sorption curves as well as the reduction of the diffusion coefficients. Furthermore, aging at 60°C reduces the sorption of vapor at low activity, and this led to the hypothesis of the presence of ordered domains in the aged samples. In this case, the process of solvent-induced crystallization is favored, and it appears at lower activity. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Campylobacter jejuni loss of culturability in aqueous microcosms and ability to resuscitate in a mouse model

Water is known as one of the main transmission routes of Campylobacter and contributes to increase the number of sporadic infections and outbreaks. Campylobacter jejuni persists in the environment, especially in water, in a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) form that is thought to be a possible cause of water-borne outbreaks. In this study, we evaluated the loss of culturability and viability of 9 C. jejuni strains of clinical origin and one ATCC reference strain when kept at 4 degrees C in artificial sea water (ASW). Culturability was measured as colony-forming units while viability was evaluated by CTC-DAPI double staining and the combined CTC-specific fluorescent antibody technique (CTC-FA). When cultured on Columbia Agar plates, strains exhibited different growth profiles which allowed to classify them into three different groups. Both techniques used to monitor the viability of the bacterial cells showed that C. jejuni strains survived in the VBNC form in the microcosms through a period lasting from 138 to 152 days. The recovery of C. jejuni VBNC forms to culturability, as evidenced by cell division, was obtained by passage in the mouse intestine. Our results indicate that C. jejuni VBNC cells were able to remain in this state for a few months and regain their culturability after in vivo passage depending on their lasting in the VBNC state, which affects the number of respiring bacteria. In fact, the resuscitation was achieved when the number of respiring bacteria became higher than 10(4) cell/ml. Therefore, a relatively high microbial titer of respiring bacteria in the VBNC state seems to be important for the resuscitation and subsequent intestinal colonisation.     

A simple model for deep dynamic stall conditions

The present study is focused on modeling of dynamic stall behavior of a pitching airfoil. The deep stall regime is in particular considered. A model is proposed, which has a low implementation and computational complexity but yet is able to deal with different types of dynamic stall conditions, including those characterized by multiple vortex shedding at the airfoil leading edge. The proposed model is appraised against an extensive data set of experimental (α,C_L) curves for NACA0012. The results of an existing widely used model, having comparable complexity, are also shown for comparison. The proposed model is able to well reproduce not only the classic curves of deep dynamic stall but also the curves characterized by lift oscillations at high angles of attack due to the shedding of multiple vortices. Furthermore, the model appears to be robust to variations of its parameters from the optimal values and of the airfoil geometry. Finally, the model is successfully implemented in a commercial CFD software and applied to the simulation of a vertical axis wind turbine within the actuator cylinder approach. The accuracy of the prediction of the turbine power coefficient in the whole rotation cycle is very good for the optimal working condition of the turbine, for which the model parameters were calibrated. Fairly good accuracy is also obtained in significantly different working conditions without any further calibration.     

Vapor barrier properties of polycaprolactone montmorillonite nanocomposites: effect of clay dispersion

Different compositions of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and (organo-modified) montmorillonite were prepared by melt blending or catalyzed ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Microphase composites were obtained by direct melt blending of PCL and sodium montmorillonite (MMT-Na⁺). Exfoliated nanocomposites were obtained by in situ ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone with an organo-modified montmorillonite (MMT-(OH)₂) by using dibutyltin dimethoxide as an initiator/catalyst. Intercalated nanocomposites were formed either by melt blending with organo-modified montmorillonite or in situ polymerization within sodium montmorillonite. The barrier properties were studied for water vapor and dichloromethane as an organic solvent. The sorption (S) and the zero concentration diffusion coefficient (D₀) were evaluated for both vapors. The water sorption increases with increasing the MMT content, particularly for the microcomposites containing the unmodified MMT-Na⁺. The thermodynamic diffusion parameters, D₀, were compared to the value of the parent PCL: both microcomposites and intercalated nanocomposites show diffusion parameters very near to PCL. At variance exfoliated nanocomposites show much lower values, even for small montmorillonite content. In the case of the organic vapor, the value of sorption at low relative pressure is mainly dominated by the amorphous fraction present in the samples, not showing any preferential adsorption on the inorganic component. At high relative pressure the isotherms showed an exponential increase of sorption, due to plasticization of the polyester matrix. The D₀ parameters were also compared to those of the unfilled PCL; in this case, both the exfoliated and the intercalated samples showed lower values, due to a more tortuous path for the penetrant molecules.