A Novel Workload Allocation Strategy for Batch Jobs

The distribution of computational tasks across a diverse set of geographically distributed heterogeneous resources is a critical issue in the realisation of true computational grids. Conventionally, workload allocation algorithms are divided into static and dynamic approaches. Whilst dynamic approaches frequently outperform static schemes, they usually require the collection and processing of detailed system information at frequent intervals - a task that can be both time consuming and unreliable in the real-world. This paper introduces a novel workload allocation algorithm for optimally distributing the workload produced by the arrival of batches of jobs. Results show that, for the arrival of batches of jobs, this workload allocation algorithm outperforms other commonly used algorithms in the static case. A hybrid scheduling approach (using this workload allocation algorithm), where information about the speed of computational resources is inferred from previously completed jobs, is then introduced and the efficiency of this approach demonstrated using a real world computational grid. These results are compared to the same workload allocation algorithm used in the static case and it can be seen that this hybrid approach comprehensively outperforms the static approach

Integrated financial supervision : lessons of Northern European experience

Drawing on Northern European experience - where three Scandinavian countries have practiced integrated supervision for the past 10 years - the authors address three policy-related issues associated with the integrated model: a) Under what conditions should (or should not) a country consider moving toward an integrated model of financial supervision? Clearly, for a small transition or developing economy, or an economy with a small financial sector, the economies of scale from establishing an integrated agency outweigh the costs of moving to such a model. A strong case can also be made for an integrated approach in a financial sector dominated by banks, with little role for capital markets or a highly integrated financial sector. b) How should an integrated agency be structured, organized, and managed? There is no single obviously correct organizational structure, and existing agencies are experimenting with a variety of forms. An institutionally based structure has the virtue of simplicity and can be implemented fairly quickly, but tends to preserve the cultures and identities of the predecessor agencies more than is optimal. Whatever the structure, integrated supervision requires active management to secure the potential benefits that the approach offers. C) How should the integration process be implemented? While the decision to move to an integrated agency must be carefully thought through in the context of the country concerned, the more difficult part is implementation, which must be sensitively managed. Once the decision has been made, implementation should take place as quickly as possible. A well-conceived"change management"process should aim to overcome the cultural barriers associated with the previous fragmented structure. The authors'review of Northern European experience with integration of financial supervision raises a range of questions relevant to developing and transition economies, which they discuss.Financial Intermediation,Banks&Banking Reform,Insurance&Risk Mitigation,Environmental Economics&Policies,National Governance

The Latvian banking crisis : lessons learned

In the spring of 1995, Latvia experienced the largest banking crisis in the Former Soviet Union to date, involving the loss of about 40 percent of the banking system's assets and liabilities. The authors outline the Latvian authorities'strategy for developing the banking system and identify how and why it unraveled. They discuss the World Bank's role and the lessons to be learned from the crisis, including the following: 1) banking systems are exposed to stress in several major ways. Enterprises - the main borrowers - are subject to hard budget constraints and are privatized. Inflation declines so enterprises can't rely on rapidly increasing revenues to service bank debts. Economic reform tends to produce banking systems that are mainly privately owned - making them vulnerable to withdrawals, as the public does not assume that failing banks will be bailed out; 2) the government must protect against this vulnerability by establishing a proper legal framework for banking, developing effective bank supervision and regulation, and implementing solid accounting, disclosure, and auditing standards. It must also develop effective ways to handle problem banks and to close insolvent banks promptly; 3) for banks in the state sector to be a source of strength to the banking system, they must have strong effective management and be relatively free from political influence; 4)"outlier"banks - those expanding assets very quickly or offering particularly high deposit rates - should be subject to intense supervision; and 5) four things must be done to prevent fraud, incompetent management and excessive risk taking: 1) careful screen thosewho want to get into banking; 2) subject all banks to thorough, frequent onsite examinations and assign the best examiners to the largest banks; 3) require annual audits of all banks by reputable auditing firms; and 4) act decisively when fraud or bank difficulties are detected or suspected.Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Banks&Banking Reform,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring,Financial Intermediation,Labor Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Financial Intermediation,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring,Municipal Financial Management,Settlement of Investment Disputes

Feeding back to feed forward:formative assessment as a platform for effective learning

Students construct meaning through relevant learning activities (Biggs, 2003) which are largely determined by the type, amount, and timing of feedback (Carless, 2006). The aim of the present study was to develop a greater awareness and understanding of formative assessment and feedback practices and their relationship with learning. During 2011 five focus group discussions were undertaken with students and academic staff involved with a range of modules and degree pathways at a UK University. Three of the focus groups were with undergraduate students (one at each level of study), and one was with taught postgraduate students. Discussions focussed on integration of formative assessment and feedback into modules, as well as an exploration of the effectiveness of feedback on future learning. The findings revealed that in order to emphasise continuous learning – feeding back to feed forward (Rushton, 2005) – and to encourage self-regulated learning (Nicol & Macfarlane-Dick, 2006), students need to have opportunities to make mistakes and to learn from them prior to summative assessment (through formative assessment and feedback). There was also firm evidence of different approaches to learning, emphasising in particular the transitional importance of the first year of study as the foundation upon which future achievement is built

The Baltics - Banking crises observed

The authors compare the banking crises experienced in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, examining the causes, effects, and policy responses. Estonia and Lithuania reconstituted the specialized Soviet banks as national state banks and began to privatize them. Latvia, by contrast, reconstituted the savings bank, then privatized branches of the remaining banks. In the early stages the three private banking systems were similar and grew rapidly. All three have had liberal policies toward licensing new commercial banks, believing that more banks would generate the competition needed to drive down deposit and lending rates, and provide the capital needed to support the emerging private sector. Little though was given at first to the implications of this policy for banking safety and supervision. The following conclusions, drawn by the authors, may have implications for banking reform in other former Soviet republics, especially the smaller ones: 1) some banking distress is inevitable; 2) banking distress may be desirable; 3) banking crises die down relatively quickly; 4) when crises arise, authorities should respond firmly and promptly; 5) corruption and weakness should never be rewarded; 6) banking crises should be prepared for; and 7) supervisors should send strong signals to bankers about appropriate banking behavior.Banks&Banking Reform,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring,Financial Intermediation,Banking Law,Banking Law,Municipal Financial Management,Banks&Banking Reform,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring,Financial Intermediation

Multi-objective evolutionary design of robust controllers on the grid

Coupling conventional controller design methods, model based controller synthesis and simulation, and multi-objective evolutionary optimisation methods frequently results in an extremely computationally expensive design process. However, the emerging paradigm of grid computing provides a powerful platform for the solution of such problems by providing transparent access to large-scale distributed high-performance compute resources. As well as substantially speeding up the time taken to find a single controller design satisfying a set of performance requirements this grid-enabled design process allows a designer to effectively explore the solution space of potential candidate solutions. An example of this is in the multi-objective evolutionary design of robust controllers, where each candidate controller design has to be synthesised and the resulting performance of the compensated system evaluated by computer simulation. This paper introduces a grid-enabled framework for the multi-objective optimisation of computationally expensive problems which will then be demonstrated using and example of the multi-objective evolutionary design of a robust lateral stability controller for a real-world aircraft using H ∞ loop shaping

Statistical analysis of skulls of Triassic proterosuchids (Reptilia, Archosauromorpha) from South Africa

Size-related differences have previously been considered to be important in distinguishing the four proterosuchian archosauromorph species described from South Africa. Previous authors hypothesized that these differences were due to allometric growth. In this study, a statistical analysis of 85 parameters measured in 12 skulls, including all the type specimens, has been carried out. The results show that all the specimens can be fitted into a growth series, supporting a hypothesis expressed by Cruickshank (1972). Variation in the growth rate of parts of the proterosuchid skull and the possible functional significance of such allometric growth patterns are investigated. On the basis of specimens measured in this study and assuming that they all belong to a single species, it would appear that the South African proterosuchids did not display a strong degree of sexual dimorphism

Natural stream restoration and enhancement

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311.Biosystems and Agricultural Engineerin

Optimisation of maintenance scheduling strategies on the grid

The emerging paradigm of Grid Computing provides a powerful platform for the optimisation of complex computer models, such as those used to simulate real-world logistics and supply chain operations. This paper introduces a Grid-based optimisation framework that provides a powerful tool for the optimisation of such computationally intensive objective functions. This framework is then used in the optimisation of maintenance scheduling strategies for fleets of aero-engines, a computationally intensive problem with a high-degree of stochastic noise, achieving substantial improvements in the execution time of the algorithm

Optimisation of maintenance scheduling strategies on the grid

The emerging paradigm of Grid Computing provides a powerful platform for the optimisation of complex computer models, such as those used to simulate real-world logistics and supply chain operations. This paper introduces a grid-based optimisation framework that provides a powerful tool for the optimisation of such computationally intensive objective functions. This framework is then used in the optimisation of maintenance scheduling strategies for fleets of aero-engines, a computationally intensive problem with a high-degree of stochastic noise