Defeating network jitter for virtual machines

Virtualization based cloud computing hosts networked applications in virtual machines (VMs), and provides each VM the desired degree of performance isolation using resource isolation mechanisms. Existing isolation solutions address heavily on resource proportionality such as CPU, memory and I/O bandwidth, but seldom focus on resource provisioning rate. Even the VM is allocated with adequate resources, if they can not be provided in a timely manner, problems such as network jitter will be very serious and significantly affect the performance of cloud applications like internet audio/video streaming. This paper systematically analyzes and illustrates the causes of unpredictable network latency in virtualized execution environments. We decouple the design goals of resource proportionality from resource provisioning rate, and adopt divide-and-conquer strategy to defeat network jitter for VMs: (1) in VMM CPU scheduling, we differentiate self-initiated I/O from event-triggered I/O, and individually map them to periodic and aperiodic real-time domains to schedule them together; (2) in network traffic shaping of VMs, we introduce the concept of smooth window to smooth network latency and apply closed-loop feedback control to maintain network resource consumption. We implement our solutions in Xen 4.1.0 and Linux 2.6.32.13. The experimental results with both real-life applications and low-level benchmarks show that our solutions can significantly reduce network jitter, and meanwhile effectively maintain resource proportionality.published_or_final_versionThe 4th IEEE International Conference on Utility and Cloud Computing (UCC 2011), Victoria, NSW, 5-8 December 2011. In Proceedings of the 4th IEEE-UCC, 2011, p. 65-7

Optimizing Virtual Machine I/O Performance in Virtualized Cloud by Differenciated-frequency Scheduling and Functionality Offloading

Many enterprises are increasingly moving their applications to private cloud environments or public cloud platforms. A key technology driving cloud computing is virtualization which can serve multiple VMs in one physical machine hence providing better management flexibility and significant savings in operational costs. However, one important consequence of virtualized hosts in the cloud is the negative impact it has on the I/O performance of the applications running in the VMs

Cinnamtannin B1: a small compound having antidiabetes properties

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that results from defects in insulin secretion and insulin receptor kinase. Investigation of novel small active molecule that can potentiate insulin action or having a similar action as insulin is important in the treatment of diabetes. World ethnobotanical information on medicinal plants reports almost 800 plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, only a small number of them have been studied thoroughly. Recent study conducted on Cinnamomum reported that it has a great activity in activating insulin receptor kinase and inhibiting insulin receptor phosphatase leading to increased insulin sensitivity and function as a mimetic for insulin. Our study was designed to investigate insulin-mimetic activity of cinnamtannin B1 isolated from Cinnamomum zeylanicum on adipocyte cells. The insulin-mimetic activity of cinnamtannin B1 was evaluated by monitoring preadipocytes differentiation, glucose uptake and phosphorylation of insulin receptor β-subunit in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To determine whether cinnamtannin B1 able to promote differentiation of preadipocytes, we cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in the presence of cinnamtannin B1, or combination of cinnamtannin B1 and insulin, and then cell proliferation was measured at several points during the course of growth. Investigation of role of cinnamtannin B1 on tyrosine posphorylation of insulin receptor of 3T3-L1 cells was done by immunoprecipitation of cells lysate with anti-insulin receptor β-subunit antibody and the immunocomplex samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocelluose membranes, and immunoblotted with monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Evaluation of glucose uptake by adipocyte cells after treatment with cinnamtannin B1 was carried out by analyzing of radioactive glucose uptake with liquid scintillation counter. Based on these experiments, it was found that, a mixture cinnamtannin B1 with differentiation cocktail was able to induce differentiation of preadipocytes cells. Cinnamtannin B1 was found to active to stimulate phosphorylation of insulin receptor β-subunit by positively exhibited phosphorylation at 170-kDa. The mixture of cinnamtannin B1 was also able to stimulate glucose uptake from a basal value. The results demonstrated that activity of cinnamtannin B1 on adipocyte cells was found to mimicking insulin action. It acted directly on insulin receptor β-subunit by activation of PI3-kinase that stimulates glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) translocation. Stimulation of GLUT4 translocation therefore stimulates glucose uptake lead to glucose disposal process in adipocytes. Based on the work that has been carried out, it was suggested that cinnamtannin B1 could be one of the Annals of Medicine & Healthcare Research Page 452 potential lead drug compound in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Design revolutions: IASDR 2019 Conference Proceedings. Volume 1: Change, Voices, Open

In September 2019 Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University was honoured to host the bi-annual conference of the International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) under the unifying theme of DESIGN REVOLUTIONS. This was the first time the conference had been held in the UK. Through key research themes across nine conference tracks – Change, Learning, Living, Making, People, Technology, Thinking, Value and Voices – the conference opened up compelling, meaningful and radical dialogue of the role of design in addressing societal and organisational challenges. This Volume 1 includes papers from Change, Voices and Open tracks of the conference

Using foresight futures and systems thinking to evaluate digitally enhanced advanced service concepts for a rolling stock company (ROSCO)

Purpose: This paper reports on a study in conjunction with a UK-based rolling stock leasing company (ROSCO). The aim was to generate and evaluate future operational concepts for digitally enhanced advanced services from the point of view of a ROSCO – one of many stakeholders (or actors) within a future wider mobility ecosystem.Design/Methodology/Approach: The research design followed the Generic Foresight Process Framework (Voros 2003). Desk-based research and horizon scanning analysis revealed technologies, mobility and transport trends, and other predictions towards 2060. A workshop was developed and participants were presented with a series of future scenarios and design fictions for end-to-end intermodal mobility and passenger carbon quotas. A future Mobility Servitization Systems Architecture was developed.Findings: Five future megatrends were identified; Decarbonisation, changing traveller needs, digitisation, mobility ecosystems and new business models in digital ecosystems. The ‘what-if’ activities revealed insights into alternate futures; revealing system of systems (SoS) actors, the role of a ROSCO, integrations, assumptions and operational constraints.Originality/Value: This research contributes to engineering and design methods for digitally enhanced advanced services, particularly for corporate strategic foresight in a dominant design industry. The Mobility Servitization Systems Architecture was seen to be a powerful model for ecosystem understanding.</div

3D-in-2D Displays for ATC.

This paper reports on the efforts and accomplishments of the 3D-in-2D Displays for ATC project at the end of Year 1. We describe the invention of 10 novel 3D/2D visualisations that were mostly implemented in the Augmented Reality ARToolkit. These prototype implementations of visualisation and interaction elements can be viewed on the accompanying video. We have identified six candidate design concepts which we will further research and develop. These designs correspond with the early feasibility studies stage of maturity as defined by the NASA Technology Readiness Level framework. We developed the Combination Display Framework from a review of the literature, and used it for analysing display designs in terms of display technique used and how they are combined. The insights we gained from this framework then guided our inventions and the human-centered innovation process we use to iteratively invent. Our designs are based on an understanding of user work practices. We also developed a simple ATC simulator that we used for rapid experimentation and evaluation of design ideas. We expect that if this project continues, the effort in Year 2 and 3 will be focus on maturing the concepts and employment in a operational laboratory settings