Online Dynamic Power Management with Hard Real-Time Guarantees

We consider the problem of online dynamic power management that provides hard real-time guarantees for multi-processor systems. In this problem, a set of jobs, each associated with an arrival time, a deadline, and an execution time, arrives to the system in an online fashion. The objective is to compute a non-migrative preemptive schedule of the jobs and a sequence of power on/off operations of the processors so as to minimize the total energy consumption while ensuring that all the deadlines of the jobs are met. We assume that we can use as many processors as necessary. In this paper we examine the complexity of this problem and provide online strategies that lead to practical energy-efficient solutions for real-time multi-processor systems. First, we consider the case for which we know in advance that the set of jobs can be scheduled feasibly on a single processor. We show that, even in this case, the competitive factor of any online algorithm is at least 2.06. On the other hand, we give a 4-competitive online algorithm that uses at most two processors. For jobs with unit execution times, the competitive factor of this algorithm improves to 3.59. Second, we relax our assumption by considering as input multiple streams of jobs, each of which can be scheduled feasibly on a single processor. We present a trade-off between the energy-efficiency of the schedule and the number of processors to be used. More specifically, for k given job streams and h processors with h>k, we give a scheduling strategy such that the energy usage is at most 4.k/(h-k) times that used by any schedule which schedules each of the k streams on a separate processor. Finally, we drop the assumptions on the input set of jobs. We show that the competitive factor of any online algorithm is at least 2.28, even for the case of unit job execution times for which we further derive an O(1)-competitive algorithm

Spin dynamics simulations of the magnetic dynamics of RbMnF3_3 and direct comparison with experiment

Spin-dynamics techniques have been used to perform large-scale simulations of the dynamic behavior of the classical Heisenberg antiferromagnet in simple cubic lattices with linear sizes $L\leq 60$. This system is widely recognized as an appropriate model for the magnetic properties of RbMnF$_3$. Time-evolutions of spin configurations were determined numerically from coupled equations of motion for individual spins using a new algorithm implemented by Krech {\it etal}, which is based on fourth-order Suzuki-Trotter decompositions of exponential operators. The dynamic structure factor was calculated from the space- and time-displaced spin-spin correlation function. The crossover from hydrodynamic to critical behavior of the dispersion curve and spin-wave half-width was studied as the temperature was increased towards the critical temperature. The dynamic critical exponent was estimated to be $z=(1.43\pm 0.03)$, which is slightly lower than the dynamic scaling prediction, but in good agreement with a recent experimental value. Direct, quantitative comparisons of both the dispersion curve and the lineshapes obtained from our simulations with very recent experimental results for RbMnF$_3$ are presented.Comment: 30 pages, RevTex, 9 figures, to appear in PR

Experimental analysis of a window air conditioner with a R-22 and R32/R125/R134a mixture

Much experimental and theoretical analysis of potential R-22 replacements has been accomplished. However, published information about the experimental analysis of any off-the-shelf air conditioner with a potential R-22 replacement at realistic, operating conditions is still rare. This type of work could be useful because it provides baseline data for comparing the performance of R-22 and its potential replacement at drop-in conditions. In this study, an off-the-shelf window air conditioner was tested at Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI)-rated indoor conditions and at different ambient temperatures, including the ARI-rated outdoor condition, with R-22 and with its potential replacement, a ternary mixture of R-32(30%)/R-125(10%)/R-134a(60%) (the ternary mixture). A test rig was built that provided for baseline operation and for the option of operating the system with a flooded evaporator by means of liquid over-feeding (LOF). The test results indicated the cooling capacity of the ternary mixture was 7.7% less than that of R-22 at 95{degrees}F ambient for baseline operation. The cooling capacity for both refrigerants improved when a flooded evaporator, or LOF, was used. For LOF operation, the cooling capacity of the ternary mixture was only 1.1% less than that of R-22. The ternary mixture had slightly higher compressor discharge pressure, a lower compressor discharge temperature, slightly lower compressor power consumption, and a higher compressor high/low pressure ratio

Spillover of a tobamovirus from the Australian indigenous flora to invasive weeds

The tobamovirus yellow tailflower mild mottle virus (YTMMV) was previously reported in wild plants of Anthocercis species (family Solanaceae) and other solanaceous indigenous species growing in natural habitats in Western Australia. Here, we undertook a survey of two introduced solanaceous weeds, namely Solanum nigrum (black nightshade) and Physalis peruviana (cape gooseberry) in the Perth metropolitan area and surrounds to determine if YTMMV has spread naturally to these species. At a remnant natural bushland site where both solanaceous weeds and indigenous Anthocercis hosts grew adjacent to one another, a proportion of S. nigrum and P. peruviana plants were asymptomatically-infected with YTMMV, confirming spillover had occurred. Populations of S. nigrum also grow as weeds in parts of the city isolated from remnant bushland and indigenous sources of YTMMV, and some of these populations were also infected with YTMMV. Fruit was harvested from virus-infected wild S. nigrum plants and the seed germinated under controlled conditions. Up to 80% of resultant seedlings derived from infected parent plants were infected with YTMMV, confirming that the virus is vertically-transmitted in S. nigrum, and therefore infection appears to be self-sustaining in this species. This is the first report of spillover of YTMMV to exotic weeds, and of vertical transmission of this tobamovirus. We discuss the roles of vertical and horizontal transmission in this spillover event, and its implications for biosecurity

Hyperbolic phase and squeeze-parameter estimation

We define a new representation, the hyperbolic phase representation, which enables optimal estimation of a squeeze parameter in the sense of quantum estimation theory. We compare the signal-to-noise ratio for such measurements, with conventional measurement based on photon counting and homodyne detection. The signal-to-noise ratio for hyperbolic phase measurements is shown to increase quadratically with the squeezing parameter for fixed input power

Numerical study on bending response of precast segmental concrete beams externally prestressed with FRP tendons

This study numerically investigates the bending response of dry key-jointed precast segmental concrete girders/beams (PSCBs) prestressed with external fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tendons by using commercial finite element analysis (FEA) software Abaqus/CAE. The experimentally-validated model was used to conduct an intensive parametric analysis with a focus on the second-order effect. There has not been a similar numerical study of PSCBs with external FRP tendons in the published literature yet. The results showed that due to the rectilinear rigid-body bending shape, the behavior of PSCBs with external tendons was similar to that with internal tendons only if placing the deviators next to the opening joints. The second-order effect on the beam's behavior and the harping effect on the tendon stress at deviators became more obvious when the deviators were located away from the opening joints. Both the second-order and harping effect were proportionate to the beam's displacement. Therefore, using a high reinforcing index (ω) or a low span-to-depth ratio (L/dp) could mitigate the second-order and harping effect at the ultimate stage because the ultimate displacement of the beam decreased when increasing ω or reducing L/dp. Commonly-used CFRP tendons (Young's modulus Ep = 145 GPa) were found to be the optimum to replace steel tendons in PSCBs with external tendons because they offered the PSCBs similar strength and ductility compared to steel tendons. The use of high-modulus CFRP tendons (e.g. Ep = 200 GPa) improved the stiffness and strength of PSCBs but greatly reduced the beam's ductility. Lastly, the analytical analyses showed that the existing models yielded unconservative estimations of the effective depth (dpu) and stress (fpu) of external FRP tendons at the ultimate stage in PSCBs

Quasi-normal modes of warped black holes and warped AdS/CFT correspondence

We analytically calculate the quasi-normal modes of various perturbations of spacelike stretched and null warped $AdS_3$ black holes. From AdS/CFT correspondence, these quasi-normal modes are expected to appear as the poles in momentum space of retarded Green functions of dual operators in CFT at finite temperature. We find that this is indeed the case, after taking into account of the subtle identification of quantum numbers. The subtlety comes from the fact that only after appropriate coordinate transformation the asymptotic geometries of warped black holes are the same as the ones of warped $AdS_3$ spacetimes. We show that in general the quasi-normal modes are in good agreement with the prediction of the warped AdS/CFT correspondence, up to a constant factor. As a byproduct, we compute the conformal dimensions of boundary operators dual to the perturbations. Our result gives strong support to the conjectured warped AdS/CFT correspondence.Comment: 26 pages; typos corrected, references added; more clarifications, match the version to appear in JHE

Relativistic Two-stream Instability

We study the (local) propagation of plane waves in a relativistic, non-dissipative, two-fluid system, allowing for a relative velocity in the "background" configuration. The main aim is to analyze relativistic two-stream instability. This instability requires a relative flow -- either across an interface or when two or more fluids interpenetrate -- and can be triggered, for example, when one-dimensional plane-waves appear to be left-moving with respect to one fluid, but right-moving with respect to another. The dispersion relation of the two-fluid system is studied for different two-fluid equations of state: (i) the "free" (where there is no direct coupling between the fluid densities), (ii) coupled, and (iii) entrained (where the fluid momenta are linear combinations of the velocities) cases are considered in a frame-independent fashion (eg. no restriction to the rest-frame of either fluid). As a by-product of our analysis we determine the necessary conditions for a two-fluid system to be causal and absolutely stable and establish a new constraint on the entrainment.Comment: 15 pages, 2 eps-figure

Light‐limited photosynthesis under energy‐saving film decreases eggplant yield

Glasshouse films with adjustable light transmittance and energy‐efficient designs have the potential to reduce (up to 80%) the high energy cost for greenhouse horticulture operations. Whether these films compromise the quantity and quality of light transmission for photosynthesis and crop yield remains unclear. A “Smart Glass” film ULR‐80 (SG) was applied to a high‐tech greenhouse horticulture facility, and two experimental trials were conducted by growing eggplant (Solanum melongena) using commercial vertical cultivation and management practices. SG blocked 85% of ultraviolet (UV), 58% of far‐red, and 26% of red light, leading to an overall reduction of 19% in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 380–699 nm) and a 25% reduction in total season fruit yield. There was a 53% (season mean) reduction in net short‐wave radiation (radiometer range, 385–2,105 nm upward; 295–2,685 nm downward) that generated a net reduction of 8% in heat load and reduced water and nutrient consumption by 18%, leading to improved energy and resource use efficiency. Eggplant adjusted to the altered SG light environment via decreased maximum light‐saturated photosynthetic rates (Amax) and lower xanthophyll de‐epoxidation state. The shift in light characteristics under SG led to reduced photosynthesis, which may have reduced source (leaf) to sink (fruit) carbon distribution, increased fruit abortion and decreased fruit yield, but did not affect nutritional quality. We conclude that SG increases energy and resource use efficiency, without affecting fruit quality, but the reduction in photosynthesis and eggplant yield is high. The solution is to re‐engineer the SG to increase penetration of UV and PAR, while maintaining blockage of glasshouse heat gain

Helium in superstrong magnetic fields

We investigate the helium atom embedded in a superstrong magnetic field gamma=100-10000 au. All effects due to the finite nuclear mass for vanishing pseudomomentum are taken into account. The influence and the magnitude of the different finite mass effects are analyzed and discussed. Within our full configuration interaction approach calculations are performed for the magnetic quantum numbers M=0,-1,-2,-3, singlet and triplet states, as well as positive and negative z parities. Up to six excited states for each symmetry are studied. With increasing field strength the number of bound states decreases rapidly and we remain with a comparatively small number of bound states for gamma=10^4 au within the symmetries investigated here.Comment: 16 pages, including 14 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.