Analysis and implementation of the multiprocessor bandwidth inheritance protocol

The Multiprocessor Bandwidth Inheritance (M-BWI) protocol is an extension of the Bandwidth Inheritance (BWI) protocol for symmetric multiprocessor systems. Similar to Priority Inheritance, M-BWI lets a task that has locked a resource execute in the resource reservations of the blocked tasks, thus reducing their blocking time. The protocol is particularly suitable for open systems where different kinds of tasks dynamically arrive and leave, because it guarantees temporal isolation among independent subsets of tasks without requiring any information on their temporal parameters. Additionally, if the temporal parameters of the interacting tasks are known, it is possible to compute an upper bound to the interference suffered by a task due to other interacting tasks. Thus, it is possible to provide timing guarantees for a subset of interacting hard real-time tasks. Finally, the M-BWI protocol is neutral to the underlying scheduling policy: it can be implemented in global, clustered and semi-partitioned scheduling. After introducing the M-BWI protocol, in this paper we formally prove its isolation properties, and propose an algorithm to compute an upper bound to the interference suffered by a task. Then, we describe our implementation of the protocol for the LITMUS RT real-time testbed, and measure its overhead. Finally, we compare M-BWI against FMLP and OMLP, two other protocols for resource sharing in multiprocessor systems

Photosynthetic characteristics in plant breeding: targets, options and limitations

Přírodovědecká fakult

Understanding the problems affecting the functioning of the J.D. Allen operating theatre

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Anaesthesiology Johannesburg 2016Background: In recent years, waiting periods for surgery have increased dramatically. This may significantly impact patient outcomes from a variety of surgical conditions. Delayed surgical procedures are often a symptom of the dysfunction of one or more of the diverse elements which interact in the work of an operating theatre (OT). Attempts to address the problems have often been limited to addressing single issues in a manner suggestive of a Newtonian linear understanding of cause and effect. Historically, this view has led to short term interventions with limited if not adverse outcomes. There is limited understanding of the systems which are at work in the OT in which doctors, nurses and support staff interact. Aim: The aim of this study was to take the first step towards understanding the nature of problems faced by various stakeholders who are directly involved with patients’ and their transit through the J.D. Allen OT at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). Methods: This study was conducted in the J.D. Allen OT at CHBAH, using a qualitative, contextual, exploratory, descriptive research design. Five focus group discussions were held with purposefully selected nurses, cleaners, porters, anaesthetists and surgeons. Data saturation was achieved and the data was analysed using thematic analysis, ensuring that trustworthiness was established. Results: Three main themes have emerged reflecting: Broken relationships and not owning the workspace - participants highlighted poor communication and social interactions amongst different stakeholders which may result in a failure of teamwork towards the common goal of patient care. This was due to a lack of incentivisation and workplace morale. The battle to get work done - reflects the complex nature of problems experienced including staff and equipment shortages which hinders efficient patient flow. Fatigue and burnout amongst staff is prevalent. A lack of leadership and accountability by management was also highlighted. This exists within the context of the legacy of “Bara” - which highlights that the hospital has a history of being overburdened and is remarkably failing as it functions at the edge of chaos. Problems encountered by the OT team were thus complex in nature. Conclusion: There are many diverse elements which interact with each other and the system in unpredictable ways. The J.D. Allen OT has the features of a complex adaptive system (CAS).MT201

The status of traditional Scottish animal breeds and plant varieties and the implications for biodiversity

The aim of this scoping study was to evaluate the effects on Scottish biodiversity of changes in the use of traditional breeds and varieties. The overall objectives were: a) The evaluation of the importance of genetic loss from the reduction in use of these breeds and varieties, for example, the loss of unusual characteristics that might have been of particular local use. b) An assessment of the impacts of reduction in the ability to conduct further breeding or research on rare and traditional varieties and breeds. c) Identification of the loss of certain farming techniques associated with particular varieties and breeds. d) An assessment of possible losses of biodiversity associated with reduction in the use of these breeds and varieties and the farming systems associated with them

Rethinking rehabilitation: socio-ecology of tanks and water harvesting in Rajasthan, North-west India

In the arid and semi- arid Indian state of Rajasthan, tanks and ponds have been a mainstay of rural communities for centuries. There are over 4600 large minor irrigation tanks, plus numerous johads, bandhs and pals (small water harvesting structures). This paper assesses a strategy proposed for rehabilitating 1200 of the larger tanks. It argues that treating tanks only as flow irrigation systems—which lies at the center of the mainstream thinking on rehabilitating surface irrigation systems is very likely to result in a flawed strategy when applied to tanks. Instead, reviewing the successful experience of NGOs like PRADAN and Tarun Bharat Sangh in reviving and rehabilitating clusters of small traditional water harvesting structures at a watershed level, it posits that Rajasthan's tanks belong more to the watershed development domain than to the irrigation domain and that a strategy that views tanks as multi-use socio-ecological constructs, and which recognizes varied stakeholder groups is more likely to enhance the social value of tanks.

An Indicative Medium Term Plan for ILRI

One of four documents submitted to the CGIAR at ICW94 by the Rockefeller Foundation, as convener of the ILRI Strategic Planning Task Force. This document sets out the preliminary objectives, strategies, and resource requirements of ILRI's first four years of operations. Earlier versions were shared with TAC, directors of other centers, a broad range of administrators and experts, members of an ILRI Implementing Advisory Group, and revisions made in the light of comments. The plan was considered "indicative" pending more interaction with other centers and national systems and consideration by the Director General and Board of ILRI following the formal opening of the new center in January 1995.The main headings were: animal health, animal genetics, integrated production systems, ecoregional research in mixed livestock production systems (in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and West Asia and North Africa), socioeconomics and livestock policy, institution building and technology transfer, management, administration and operations.Agenda document at TAC 64 and CGIAR International Centers Week, October 1994

Theorems of Information Literacy

The paper recognises that the universe of discourse on Information Literacy (IL) has to be stratified into different layers. The proposed stratification can be of use both for a theoretical systematisation of the issue and for identifying a sequence of measures aimed at an effective propagation of a Culture of Information. The paper presents a mathematical-like approach, which starts proposing the definitions of some basic concepts and then proceeds with 10 propositions or theses, each supported by a number of argumentations. The proposed theses are generated by the following perspectives of analysis of the Information Literacy phenomenon, and accordingly grouped: a) DISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE: analysis of Information Literacy as Culture of Information and as a form of study of information; b) SOCIAL/POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE: analysis of Information Literacy as an educational policy goal; c) COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE: analysis of Information Literacy as a form of personal competence. As a consequence of the proposed theses, the following foci of the Information Literacy discourse are identified: • Information Literacy rationale (theses 1,2,3); • Policy awareness (theses 4,5,6); • Planning and implementation (theses 7,8,9); • Individual development (thesis 10). Against this background, the paper will explore how the distinction between different stratifications – by trying to give an order to the reasoning about the issues concerning literacy in information – can facilitate the identification of a set of variables to be taken into account in defining a coherent strategy towards making Information Literacy legitimate within the European Higher Education context

Proceedings of the COST SUSVAR/ECO-PB Workshop on organic plant breeding strategies and the use of molecular markers

In many countries,national projects are in progress to investigate the sustainable low-input approach.In the present COST network,these projects are coordinated by means of exchange of materials,establishing common methods for assessment and statistical analyses and by combining national experimental results.The common framework is cereal production in low-input sustainable systems with emphasis on crop diversity.The network is organised into six Working Groups,five focusing on specific research areas and one focusing on the practical application of the research results for variety testing:1)plant genetics and plant breeding,2)biostatistics,3)plant nutrition and soil microbiology,4)weed biology and plant competition,5)plant pathology and plant disease resistance biology and 6)variety testing and certification.It is essential that scientists from many disciplines work together to investigate the complex interactions between the crop and its environment,in order to be able to exploit the natural regulatory mechanisms of different agricultural systems for stabilising and increasing yield and quality.The results of this cooperation will contribute to commercial plant breeding as well as official variety testing,when participants from these areas disperse the knowledge achieved through the EU COST Action

JSONYA/FN: Functional Computation in JSON

Functional programming has a lot to offer to the developers of global Internet-centric applications, but is often applicable only to a small part of the system or requires major architectural changes. The data model used for functional computation is often simply considered a consequence of the chosen programming style, although inappropriate choice of such model can make integration with imperative parts much harder. In this paper we do the opposite: we start from a data model based on JSON and then derive the functional approach from it. We outline the identified principles and present Jsonya/fn — a low-level functional language that is defined in and operates with the selected data model. We use several Jsonya/fn implementations and the architecture of a recently developed application to show that our approach can improve interoperability and can achieve additional reuse of representations and operations at relatively low cost. ACM Computing Classification System (1998): D.3.2, D.3.4

An approach to display layout of dynamic windows

The development of windows based user interface has introduced a new dimension to the field of human computer interaction. Now a user is able to perform multiple tasks at a time, often switching from one task to another. However windows environment also imposes the burden of manual windows management on the user. Several studies have suggested that manual window management is an unproductive chore often resulting in clutter and confusion on the display screen. Therefore we need a automatic windows layout generator to free the user to perform other useful tasks. This thesis introduces SPORDAC {Shadow Propagation for Overlap Removal and Display Area Compaction) algorithm. This algorithm aims to remove overlap from the display layout and encapsulate the layout in the finite display area. The SPORDAC prototype integrates the SPORDAC algorithm with simulated annealing to optimise the display area usage. The usefulness and applicability of the SPORDAC approach are illustrated with the implementation of a prototype, samples of generated layouts and analysis of the collected dat