Energy-Aware Lease Scheduling in Virtualized Data Centers

Energy efficiency has become an important measurement of scheduling algorithms in virtualized data centers. One of the challenges of energy-efficient scheduling algorithms, however, is the trade-off between minimizing energy consumption and satisfying quality of service (e.g. performance, resource availability on time for reservation requests). We consider resource needs in the context of virtualized data centers of a private cloud system, which provides resource leases in terms of virtual machines (VMs) for user applications. In this paper, we propose heuristics for scheduling VMs that address the above challenge. On performance evaluation, simulated results have shown a significant reduction on total energy consumption of our proposed algorithms compared with an existing First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) scheduling algorithm with the same fulfillment of performance requirements. We also discuss the improvement of energy saving when additionally using migration policies to the above mentioned algorithms.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on High Performance Scientific Computing, March 5-9, 2012, Hanoi, Vietna

A Multivariate Surface-Based Analysis of the Putamen in Premature Newborns: Regional Differences within the Ventral Striatum

Many children born preterm exhibit frontal executive dysfunction, behavioral problems including attentional deficit/hyperactivity disorder and attention related learning disabilities. Anomalies in regional specificity of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits may underlie deficits in these disorders. Nonspecific volumetric deficits of striatal structures have been documented in these subjects, but little is known about surface deformation in these structures. For the first time, here we found regional surface morphological differences in the preterm neonatal ventral striatum. We performed regional group comparisons of the surface anatomy of the striatum (putamen and globus pallidus) between 17 preterm and 19 term-born neonates at term-equivalent age. We reconstructed striatal surfaces from manually segmented brain magnetic resonance images and analyzed them using our in-house conformal mapping program. All surfaces were registered to a template with a new surface fluid registration method. Vertex-based statistical comparisons between the two groups were performed via four methods: univariate and multivariate tensor-based morphometry, the commonly used medial axis distance, and a combination of the last two statistics. We found statistically significant differences in regional morphology between the two groups that are consistent across statistics, but more extensive for multivariate measures. Differences were localized to the ventral aspect of the striatum. In particular, we found abnormalities in the preterm anterior/inferior putamen, which is interconnected with the medial orbital/prefrontal cortex and the midline thalamic nuclei including the medial dorsal nucleus and pulvinar. These findings support the hypothesis that the ventral striatum is vulnerable, within the cortico-stiato-thalamo-cortical neural circuitry, which may underlie the risk for long-term development of frontal executive dysfunction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention-related learning disabilities in preterm neonates. © 2013 Shi et al

EVALUATION OF ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF CUCUMIS CALLOSUS AGAINST EHRLICH'S ASCITES CARCINOMA BEARING MICE

Objective: Our previous research isolated Cucurbitacin B (CuB) and ebenone leucopentaacetate (ELP) from methanolic fruit extract of Cucumis callosus (MFCC). The fruits of C. callosus (Rottl.) Cogn. (Family: Cucurbitaceae) plant have been traditionally used for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic actions. The objective of this research was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo anticancer effect of MFCC on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell lines.Methods: In vitro anticancer assay of MFCC and standard drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was evaluated using Trypan blue and 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide methods. In vivo anticancer activity of MFCC and 5-FU was also performed after 24h of EAC cells (2×106cells/ mouse) inoculation based on toxicity study for 9 consecutive days. The activity of the extract was assessed by the study of tumor volume, tumor weight, viable and non-viable cell count, hematological parameters, and biochemical estimations.Results: The MFCC showed the direct antitumor effect on EAC cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IG50 value of 0.61 mg/ml. Furthermore, MFCC (350 mg/kg) exhibited significant (p<0.01) decrease in tumor volume, tumor weight, and viable cell count of EAC-treated mice. Hematological profile, biochemical estimation assay significantly (p<0.01) reverted to normal level in MFCC, and 5-FU treated mice.Conclusion: The anticancer activity of fruits of C callosus is may be either due to the presence of CuB or/and ELP as phytoconstituent and the activity is comparable to standard drug 5-FU

USE OF HIGH RESOLUTION REMOTE SENSING DATA FOR GENERATING SITE- SPECIFIC SOIL MANGEMENT PLAN

This present study explores the use high-resolution multi-spectral remote sensing data for generating within-field soil variability map as an inputs required for site-specific management of agriculture. The study was conducted for an experimental plot in Central Potato Research Station of Jalandhar, India. Thirty-five soil samples were collected from the field at regular intervals. The samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and soil texture. Various soil-related indices were calculated from IKONOS multispectral data, which included Brightness Index (BNI), Hue Index (HI), Saturation Index (SI), Coloration Index (CI), Redness Index (RI) and three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3). Variability of soil and spectral parameters were analyzed by estimating coefficient of variation (CV). The correlation analysis was carried out to study the relationship between soil and spectral parameters. Multiple regression models were generated, using stepwise regression technique, to estimate soil properties from RS data. The results showed that, CV of soil parameters was highest for available P (29.9%), followed by silt percentage (20.8%). Among the spectral parameters the CV was highest for PC3 (161.9%), followed PC2 (101.4%) and PC1 (84.0%). The soil organic carbon, available N and silt content were significantly correlated with spectral indices. The multiple regression equation between OC and spectral indices was significant with R = 0.733 and F = 6.277. Available N, silt and sand also formed significant multiple regression equations with spectral parameters. These empirical equations were used to generate soil fertility variability plans. 1

Combining request scheduling with web caching

We extend the classic paging model by allowing reordering of requests under the constraint that a request is delayed by no longer than a predetermined number of time steps. We first give a dynamic programming algorithm to solve the offline case. Then we give tight bounds on competitive ratios for the online case. For caches of size k, we obtain bounds of k + O(1) for deterministic algorithms and Theta(log k) for randomized algorithms. We also give bounds for the case where either the online or the offline algorithm can reorder the requests, but not both. Finally, we extend our analysis to the case where pages have different sizes

Altered structural and functional connectivity in late preterm preadolescence: An anatomic seed-based study of resting state networks related to the posteromedial and lateral parietal cortex

Objective: Late preterm birth confers increased risk of developmental delay, academic difficulties and social deficits. The late third trimester may represent a critical period of development of neural networks including the default mode network (DMN), which is essential to normal cognition. Our objective is to identify functional and structural connectivity differences in the posteromedial cortex related to late preterm birth. Methods: Thirty-eight preadolescents (ages 9-13; 19 born in the late preterm period (≥32 weeks gestational age) and 19 at term) without access to advanced neonatal care were recruited from a low socioeconomic status community in Brazil. Participants underwent neurocognitive testing, 3-dimensional T1-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging and resting state functional MRI (RS-fMRI). Seed-based probabilistic diffusion tractography and RS-fMRI analyses were performed using unilateral seeds within the posterior DMN (posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus) and lateral parietal DMN (superior marginal and angular gyri). Results: Late preterm children demonstrated increased functional connectivity within the posterior default mode networks and increased anti-correlation with the central-executive network when seeded from the posteromedial cortex (PMC). Key differences were demonstrated between PMC components with increased anti-correlation with the salience network seen only with posterior cingulate cortex seeding but not with precuneus seeding. Probabilistic tractography showed increased streamlines within the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus within late preterm children while decreased intrahemispheric streamlines were also observed. No significant differences in neurocognitive testing were demonstrated between groups. Conclusion: Late preterm preadolescence is associated with altered functional connectivity from the PMC and lateral parietal cortex to known distributed functional cortical networks despite no significant executive neurocognitive differences. Selective increased structural connectivity was observed in the setting of decreased posterior interhemispheric connections. Future work is needed to determine if these findings represent a compensatory adaptation employing alternate neural circuitry or could reflect subtle pathology resulting in emotional processing deficits not seen with neurocognitive testing. Copyright

Defects induced ferromagnetism in Mn doped ZnO

Single phase Mn doped (2 at %) ZnO samples have been synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. Before the final sintering at 500 C, the mixed powders have been milled for different milling periods (6, 24, 48 and 96 hours). The grain sizes of the samples are very close to each other (~ 32 \pm 4 nm). However, the defective state of the samples is different from each other as manifested from the variation of magnetic properties and electrical resistivity with milling time. All the samples have been found to be ferromagnetic with clear hysteresis loops at room temperature. The maximum value for saturation magnetization (0.11 {\mu}_B / Mn atom) was achieved for 96 hours milled sample. Electrical resistivity has been found to increase with increasing milling time. The most resistive sample bears the largest saturation magnetization. Variation of average positron lifetime with milling time bears a close similarity with that of the saturation magnetization. This indicates the key role played by open volume vacancy defects, presumably zinc vacancies near grain surfaces, in inducing ferromagnetic order in Mn doped ZnO. To attain optimum defect configuration favorable for ferromagnetism in this kind of samples proper choice of milling period and annealing conditions is required.Comment: Accepted in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Material

Design of 2df imc controller

The Internal model control (IMC) relies on the mathematical model of the process to be controlled. In IMC we can achieve accurate control only if the control systems contain (either implicitly or explicitly) some mathematical representation of the process to be controlled. In this report we analyze about automatic process control, basic principle behind imc, and design 2df imc controller. The 1df imc controller is good for set point tracking. But in case of disturbance rejection the time to settle is too high. In this case we use 2df imc controller. One controller is used for set point tracking and another is used for disturbance rejection. Two degree of freedom imc controller is always not use full. 2df imc controller is not use full for Process having frequency response initially low and then high. So before designing the controller for the process, we have to check and compare with the 1df output and then we should design controller for the process. In case of 1df controller, we design filter parameter as our requirement to track the set point. Set point Controller is designed in such a way that it cancels out poles and zeroes of the process. So the controller is very good for set point tracking. But for the process having disturbance lag it is not useful. If we design the 1df controller for disturbance rejection it is not good for set point tracking. So we have to use another degree of freedom. In our study we analyze different principle of designing the 2df imc controller and advantage of this over 1df controller

Second-Trimester Placental and Thyroid Hormones Are Associated With Cognitive Development From Ages 1 to 3 Years

Adequate maternal thyroid hormone (TH) is necessary for fetal brain development. The role of placental human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in ensuring the production of TH is less well understood. The objective of the study was to evaluate 1) associations of placental hCG and its subunits, and maternal TH in the second trimester, and 2) the single and joint effects of TH and placental hormones on cognitive development and communication at ages 1 and 3 years. Fifty individuals (5%) were selected from the CANDLE (Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Early Learning) pregnancy cohort in Memphis, Tennessee, with recruitment from 2006 to 2011, to equally represent male and female fetuses. Participants were 68% Black and 32% White. Hormones measured were maternal thyroid (thyrotropin [TSH] and free thyroxine [FT4]) and placental hormones (hCG, its hyperglycosylated form [hCG-h], and free alpha- [hCG alpha] and beta-subunits [hCG beta]) in maternal serum (17-28 weeks). The primary outcome measurement was the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. All forms of hCG were negatively associated with FT4 and not associated with TSH. hCG alpha was associated with cognitive development at age 1 year and jointly interacted with TSH to predict cognitive development at age 3 years. This pilot study added insight into the thyrotropic actions of hCG in the second trimester, and into the significance of this mechanism for brain development. More research is warranted to elucidate differences between hCG alpha, hCG beta, and hCG-h in relation to TH regulation and child brain function.Peer reviewe