A classification of emerging and traditional grid systems

The grid has evolved in numerous distinct phases. It started in the early ’90s as a model of metacomputing in which supercomputers share resources; subsequently, researchers added the ability to share data. This is usually referred to as the first-generation grid. By the late ’90s, researchers had outlined the framework for second-generation grids, characterized by their use of grid middleware systems to “glue” different grid technologies together. Third-generation grids originated in the early millennium when Web technology was combined with second-generation grids. As a result, the invisible grid, in which grid complexity is fully hidden through resource virtualization, started receiving attention. Subsequently, grid researchers identified the requirement for semantically rich knowledge grids, in which middleware technologies are more intelligent and autonomic. Recently, the necessity for grids to support and extend the ambient intelligence vision has emerged. In AmI, humans are surrounded by computing technologies that are unobtrusively embedded in their surroundings. However, third-generation grids’ current architecture doesn’t meet the requirements of next-generation grids (NGG) and service-oriented knowledge utility (SOKU).4 A few years ago, a group of independent experts, arranged by the European Commission, identified these shortcomings as a way to identify potential European grid research priorities for 2010 and beyond. The experts envision grid systems’ information, knowledge, and processing capabilities as a set of utility services.3 Consequently, new grid systems are emerging to materialize these visions. Here, we review emerging grids and classify them to motivate further research and help establish a solid foundation in this rapidly evolving area

Finite-element simulations of hysteretic ac losses in a magnetically coated superconducting tubular wire subject to an oscillating transverse magnetic field

Numerical simulations of hysteretic ac losses in a tubular superconductor/paramagnet heterostructure subject to an oscillating transverse magnetic field are performed within the quasistatic approach, calling upon the COMSOL finite-element software package and exploiting magnetostatic-electrostatic analogues. It is shown that one-sided magnetic shielding of a thin, type-II superconducting tube by a coaxial paramagnetic support results in a slight increase of hysteretic ac losses as compared to those for a vacuum environment, when the support is placed inside; a spectacular shielding effect with a possible reduction of hysteretic ac losses by orders of magnitude, however, ensues, depending on the magnetic permeability and the amplitude of the applied magnetic field, when the support is placed outside.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Developing high performance polymeric nano-composites for tribological applications

Polymers and their composites have been widely applied in different industrial sectors as alternatives to conventional metal-based materials, for the better performance of the system, increasing efficiency and cutting down operational costs. In those applications polymeric materials are sometime subjected to tribological loading conditions where external lubricants are not permissible and polymers’ self-lubricating ability is desirable in such tribo-contacts. In particular, high temperature is often the key factor determining the working conditions of polymers. Hence, high performance polymers (HPPs) have received increasing attention in last decades. In view of above-mentioned facts, the present research investigated the tribological performance of some important engineering polymers and their nanocomposites such as epoxy, PEEK, PPP and PBI. For example, nano-silica (SiO2), nano-rubber (CBTN) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nano-particles have been incorporated in thermosetting epoxy resin and PEEK, respectively, to improve their tribological properties. To explore the effect of harsh environments during sliding wear, pin-on-disk tests of above-mentioned materials were carried out in dry, wet and elevated temperature regimes. Finally, attempts have been made to establish correlations between the basic mechanical properties of HPPs and their sliding wear behaviour. Various wear models to correlate the tribological aspects of HPPs and polymer nanocomposites with associated mechanical properties were examined along with experimental validation. In addition to that, underlying wear mechanisms were taken into account towards model developments. To develop a quantitative solution for wear prediction, the new computer techniques such as artificial neural network (ANN) may be helpful in the area. Accordingly, the ANN was employed to find the general wear trend of materials

Strategi Peningkatan Kinerja dengan Metode Balanced Scorecard di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Kabupaten Ogan Ilir

Pengukuran kinerja adalah penentuan secara periodik efektifitas operasional suatu organisasi, bagan organisasi, dan karyawannya berdasarkan sasaran standar dan kriteria yang telah ditetapkan sebelumnya. Salah satu metode pengukuran kinerja yang mengaitkan strategi didalam penerapannya adalah metode Balanced Scorecard. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kinerja RSUD Kabupaten Ogan Ilir ditinjau berdasarkan empat perspektif dalam metode Balanced Scorecard yaitu perspektif keuangan, pelanggan, proses bisnis internal, serta pembelajaran dan pertumbuhan, serta mengaplikasikan metode Balanced Scorecard pada penyusunan strategi peningkatan kinerja di RSUD Kabupaten Ogan Ilir. Jenis penelitian ini berupa penelitian deskriptif dengan pengkombinasian dua metode (kualitatif dan kuantitatif) dalam satu penelitian. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 46 orang pegawai dan 110 orang pasien sebagai responden penyebaran kuesioner. Hasil penelitian didapatkan kinerja perspektif pelanggan dengan nilai 41,6% termasuk dalam kondisi kurang baik, perspektif keuangan dengan nilai 50% kondisi kurang baik, perspektif proses internal dengan nilai 32,3% kondisi kurang baik, dan perspektif pembelajaran & pertumbuhan dengan nilai 41,6% kondisi kurang baik. Kinerja RSUD Kabupaten Ogan Ilir dengan nilai Total Skor 41,44% termasuk dalam kondisi kurang baik. RSUD Ogan Ilir perlu meningkatkan kinerja dengan sasaran strategis perspektif pelanggan yaitu meningkatkan kepuasan pasien, loyalitas pasien, dan meningkatkan kunjungan pasien. Sasaran strategis perspektif proses bisnis internal; inovasi layanan, meningkatkan mutu proses layanan, meningkatkan kinerja operasional. Sasaran strategis pespektif keuangan; pertumbuhan pendapatan, dan minimalisir biaya. Sasaran strategis perspektif pembelajaran dan pertumbuhan; meningkatkan kepuasan karyawan, komitmen, motivasi dan kapabilitas karyawan

Massive pulmonary embolism in patients with extreme bleeding risk: a case series on the successful use of ultrasound-assisted, catheter directed thrombolysis in a district general hospital

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Massive pulmonary embolism (PE), characterised by profound arterial hypotension, is a life-threatening emergency with a 90-day mortality of over 50%. Systemic thrombolysis can signifcantly reduce the risk of death or cardiovascular collapse in these patients, by around 50%, but these benefts are ofset by a fvefold increased risk of intracranial haemorrhage and major bleeding, which may limit its use in patients at high risk of catastrophic haemorrhage. We describe a case series of 3 patients presenting with massive PE, each with extreme risk of bleeding and contra-indication to systemic thrombolysis, treated successfully with ultrasound-assisted, catheter directed thrombolysis (U-ACDT). Our experience of this novel technique using the EkoSonic Endovascular System (Ekos, BTG, London, UK) on carefully selected patients has demonstrated the potential to improve clinical status in shocked patients, with minimal bleed risk. There have been several clinical studies evaluating the Ekos system. Both the ULTIMA and SEATTLE II studies have shown signifcant reductions in RV/LV ratio by CT scanning when compared to standard anticoagulation in patients with intermediate-risk PE, with minimal bleeding complications. However, there is a pressing need for a randomised trial demonstrating improvement in robust clinical outcomes when comparing U-ACDT to simple anticoagulation. We believe that this case series adds new insight and highlights the potential of catheter directed thrombolysis in this high-risk patient cohort and consideration should be made to its use in cases where systemic thrombolysis is felt to be too high ris

Extension of an automatic building extraction technique to airborne laser scanner data containing damaged buildings

Airborne laser scanning systems generate 3-dimensional point clouds of high density and irregular spacing. These data consist of multiple returns coming from terrain, buildings, and vegetation. The major difficulty is the extraction of object categories, usually buildings. In the field of disaster management, the detection of building damages plays an important role. Therefore, the question arises, if damaged buildings can also be detected by a method developed for the automatic extraction of buildings. Another purpose of this study is to extend and test an automatic building detection method developed initially for first echo laser scanner data on data captured in first and last echo. In order to answer these two questions, two institutes share their data and knowledge: the Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (IPF, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Germany) and the MAP-PAGE team (INSA de Strasbourg, France). The used 3D LIDAR data was captured over an area containing undamaged and damaged buildings. The results achieved for every single processing step by applying the original and the extended algorithm to the data are presented, analysed and compared. It is pointed out which buildings can be extracted by which algorithm and why some buildings remain undetecte