Self-Configuration and Self-Administration of Wireless Grids

A Wireless Grid is an augmentation of a wired grid that facilitates the exchange of information and the interaction between heterogeneous wireless devices. The ability of various grid layouts to handle interactions among the grid constituencies is contingent upon the efficient resolution of multiple technical challenges of the grid. These challenges arise due the added complexities of the wireless grid such as the limited power of the mobile devices, the limited bandwidth (including partial connectivity), and the increased dynamic nature of the interactions involved. This paper focuses on the configuration and administration issues of the wireless grid. The proposed grid topology and naming protocol can allow self-configuration and self-administration of various possible wireless grid layout

Blox: A Modular Toolkit for Deep Learning Schedulers

Deep Learning (DL) workloads have rapidly increased in popularity in enterprise clusters and several new cluster schedulers have been proposed in recent years to support these workloads. With rapidly evolving DL workloads, it is challenging to quickly prototype and compare scheduling policies across workloads. Further, as prior systems target different aspects of scheduling (resource allocation, placement, elasticity etc.), it is also challenging to combine these techniques and understand the overall benefits. To address these challenges we propose Blox, a modular toolkit which allows developers to compose individual components and realize diverse scheduling frameworks. We identify a set of core abstractions for DL scheduling, implement several existing schedulers using these abstractions, and verify the fidelity of these implementations by reproducing results from prior research. We also highlight how we can evaluate and compare existing schedulers in new settings: different workload traces, higher cluster load, change in DNN workloads and deployment characteristics. Finally, we showcase Blox's extensibility by composing policies from different schedulers, and implementing novel policies with minimal code changes. Blox is available at \url{https://github.com/msr-fiddle/blox}.Comment: To be presented at Eurosys'2

WIRELESS GRIDS: APPROACHES, ARCHITECTURES, AND TECHNICAL CHALLENGES

Grid computing and grid topologies are attracting a growing amount of attention. Originating as a concept for sharing computing resources among wired participants, the grid concept is gradually been extended into the wireless world. A Wireless Grid is an augmentation of a wired grid that facilitates the exchange of information and the interaction between heterogeneous wireless devices. While similar to the wired grid in terms of its distributed nature, the requirement for standards and protocols, and the need for adequate Quality of Service; a Wireless Grid has to deal with the added complexities of the limited power of the mobile devices, the limited bandwidth, and the increased dynamic nature of the interactions involved. Depending on the nature of the interactions among the constituencies served by the wireless grid, various layouts can be envisaged. The ability of these models to address needs at the enterprise, partner, and service levels is contingent upon the efficient resolution of multiple technical challenges of the gri

Effect of Unilateral Congenital Ptosis on Ocular Higher Order Aberrations in Children

To analyse the effect of congenital unilateral ptosis on the ocular higher order aberrations (HOA) and to compare these eyes with normal fellow eyes this study has been performed. In this observational comparative case series, 16 eyes of 16 patients less than 15 years old with congenital unilateral upper eyelid ptosis were included. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal topography, ocular HOA’s with Zywave workstation was recorded. The amount of ptosis was measured from marginal reflex distance (MRD1). The ocular HOA’s were compared between the ptosis and the normal fellow eyes after making necessary corrections to avoid errors due to enantiomeric midline symmetry. The mean age was 12.5±2.7years (range7-15years). The mean MRD1 was -0.9±1.8mm in the ptosis eyes. There was significant difference noted in the mean 6mm Zernicke coefficients Z3−3 (p=0.002), Z4−2 (p=0.034), Z42 (p=0.008), Z5−5 (p=0.044), Z51 (p=0.039), Z53 (p=0.036), Z55 (p=0.044) between the ptosis and the fellow eyes. The mean Z3−3 was -0.17±0.15 and 0.07±0.12 in the ptosis and the normal eyes respectively. There was a significant difference (p=0.023) in total RMS (root mean square) between the ptosis and the normal eyes. Total coma aberration correlated with CDVA (p=0.004) and MRD (p=0.030) in the ptosis eyes. There was no correlation (p=0.815) between the age (duration of ptosis) and total RMS. In conclusion, Eyes with congenital ptosis differed from their normal fellow eyes in the higher order aberrations. None of the HOA’s which differed between the two groups affected the visual acuity in the ptosis eyes

Fibrin Glue Assisted Trans-Scleral Fixation of an Endocapsular Device for Sutureless Trans-Scleral Capsular Bag Fixation in Traumatic Subluxations: The Glued Endocapsular Ring/Segment

Subluxated cataracts secondary to blunt injury are a challenge to treat from the construction of rhexis to IOL insertion. For that reason, we designed a new glued endocapsular ring (ECR)/ segment (ECS) for subluxated cataracts and IOLs for sutureless fibrin glue assisted trans-scleral fixation of the capsular bag. The glued ECR/segment stabilizes the capsular bag intra and post-operatively, allowing for sutureless fibrin glue assisted trans-scleral fixation. The segment gives vertical, horizontal and rotational stability as well as forniceal expansion. The advantages to this approach include easier implementation; faster surgery; easy adjustability; sturdier scleral fixation; fewer chances of segment drop into vitreous and lack of suture-related complications. Our hypothesis is that a glued versus sutured ECR/ECS will be more viable and stable on the sclera in the long term. Less pseudophakodonesis will also lead to a more stable capsule-bag complex and reduce the risk of posterior segment complications such as retinal detachment and cystoid macular edema. The nature of the device also makes its removal, if required, much more straightforward than the sutured rings/segments. This device can be used in patients with subluxated cataracts, colobomatous lens or subluxated IOLs

Lingunite-a high-pressure plagioclase polymorph at mineral interfaces in doleritic rock of the Lockne impact structure (Sweden)

Lingunite nanocrystals and amorphous plagioclase (maskelynite) are identified at the contacts between augite and labradorite wedge-shaped interfaces in the doleritic rocks of the Lockne impact structure in Sweden. The occurrence of lingunite suggests that the local pressure was above 19 GPa and the local temperature overwhelmed 1000 °C. These values are up to 10 times higher than previous values estimated numerically for bulk pressure and temperature. High shock-induced temperatures are manifested by maskelynite injections into microfractures in augite located next to the wedges. We discuss a possible model of shock heterogeneity at mineral interfaces, which may lead to longer duration of the same shock pressure and a concentration of high temperature thus triggering the kinetics of labradorite transformation into lingunite and maskelynite

Identification and characterization of miRNAome in root, stem, leaf and tuber developmental stages of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by high-throughput sequencing

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ubiquitous components of endogenous plant transcriptome. miRNAs are small, single-stranded and ~21 nt long RNAs which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and are known to play essential roles in various aspects of plant development and growth. Previously, a number of miRNAs have been identified in potato through in silico analysis and deep sequencing approach. However, identification of miRNAs through deep sequencing approach was limited to a few tissue types and developmental stages. This study reports the identification and characterization of potato miRNAs in three different vegetative tissues and four stages of tuber development by high throughput sequencing. RESULTS: Small RNA libraries were constructed from leaf, stem, root and four early developmental stages of tuberization and subjected to deep sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis. A total of 89 conserved miRNAs (belonging to 33 families), 147 potato-specific miRNAs (with star sequence) and 112 candidate potato-specific miRNAs (without star sequence) were identified. The digital expression profiling based on TPM (Transcripts Per Million) and qRT-PCR analysis of conserved and potato-specific miRNAs revealed that some of the miRNAs showed tissue specific expression (leaf, stem and root) while a few demonstrated tuberization stage-specific expressions. Targets were predicted for identified conserved and potato-specific miRNAs, and predicted targets of four conserved miRNAs, miR160, miR164, miR172 and miR171, which are ARF16 (Auxin Response Factor 16), NAM (NO APICAL MERISTEM), RAP1 (Relative to APETALA2 1) and HAM (HAIRY MERISTEM) respectively, were experimentally validated using 5′ RLM-RACE (RNA ligase mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends). Gene ontology (GO) analysis for potato-specific miRNAs was also performed to predict their potential biological functions. CONCLUSIONS: We report a comprehensive study of potato miRNAs at genome-wide level by high-throughput sequencing and demonstrate that these miRNAs have tissue and/or developmental stage-specific expression profile. Also, predicted targets of conserved miRNAs were experimentally confirmed for the first time in potato. Our findings indicate the existence of extensive and complex small RNA population in this crop and suggest their important role in pathways involved in diverse biological processes, including tuber development

On the potential of GLI to further women’s economic and social empowerment : an assessment of women-focused enterprises in South East Asia and East Africa

The report presents insights from interviews with women-focused enterprises, and their 150 women employees, partners and customers; conducted across India, Indonesia, Kenya and Rwanda. The study assesses the impact of such enterprises on the economic and social empowerment of women, and helps enhance the case for Gender Lens Investing (GLI) in their support. Enterprises that integrate women as employees and partners have a significant positive impact due to the livelihoods they create. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reduced economic benefits for almost 64% of the women employees/ partners of the enterprises interviewed