Scalable grid resource allocation for scientific workflows using hybrid metaheuristics

Grid infrastructure is a valuable tool for scientific users, but it is characterized by a high level of complexity which makes it difficult for them to quantify their requirements and allocate resources. In this paper, we show that resource trading is a viable and scalable approach for scientific users to consume resources. We propose the use of Grid resource bundles to specify supply and demand combined with a hybrid metaheuristic method to determine the allocation of resources in a market-based approach. We evaluate this through the application domain of scientific workflow execution on the Grid

Exploring the cytotoxic mechanisms of Pediocin PA-1 towards HeLa and HT29 cells by comparison to known bacteriocins: Microcin E492, enterocin heterodimer and Divercin V41.

The purpose of this study was to explore potential mechanisms of cytotoxicity towards HeLa and HT29 cells displayed by Pediocin PA-1. We did this by carrying out sequence alignments and 3D modelling of related bacteriocins which have been studied in greater detail: Microcin E492, Enterocin AB heterodimer and Divercin V41. Microcin E492 interacts with Toll-Like Receptor 4 in order to activate an apoptosis reaction, sequence alignment showed a high homology between Pediocin PA-1 and Microcin E492 whereas 3D modelling showed Pediocin PA-1 interacting with TLR-4 in a way reminiscent of Microcin E492. Furthermore, Pediocin PA-1 had the highest homology with the Enterocin heterodimer, particularly chain A; Enterocin has also shown to cause an apoptotic response in cancer cells. Based on this we are led to strongly believe Pediocin PA-1 interacts with TLRs in order to cause cell death. If this is the case, it would explain the difference in cytotoxicity towards HeLa over HT29 cells, due to difference in expression of particular TLRs. Overall, we believe Pediocin PA-1 exhibits a dual effect which is dose dependant, like that of Microcin. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to carry out experiments in the lab, and the unavailability of important data meant we were unable to provide and validate out solid conclusions, but rather suggestions. However, bioinformatic analysis is still able to provide information regarding structure and sequence analysis to draw plausible and evidence based conclusions. We have been able to highlight interesting findings and how these could be translated into future research and therapeutics in order to improve the quality of treatment and life of cancer patients

Research Notes : Inheritance of a male-sterile mutant from irradiated Essex soybeans

In 1976, a plant was selected from the M3 generation of some \u27Essex\u27 soybeans that had been irradiated with neutrons and grown at the Eastern Virginia Research Station, Warsaw. The plant had a green stem and reduced seed set. The progeny row grown the following year had all normal appearing plants

Discrimination by Private Clubs

The fierce defense of a private right to discriminate in club membership, exemplified by Justice Douglas\u27 Moose Lodge opinion, is one of the glories and contradictions of our constitutional system; and, as Virginia Woolf deftly observes, exercise of the right even in a seemingly benign form imposes real harm on those excluded. The paradigm case that I will be discussing grows out of the controversy that may occur when a private organization or association, which might loosely be called a club, excludes from membership certain people because of their racial, ethnic, sexual, or religious identity. The legal and human problems presented by such a case involve a conflict between the interest in being treated equally and the interest in being free to choose one\u27s own personal relationships. Converted to a clash of rights, under federal or state law, the paradigm case becomes a collision between a right to be free from discrimination and a right to discriminate stemming from freedom of association

Systematic Controller Design for Dynamic 3D Bipedal Robot Walking.

Virtual constraints and hybrid zero dynamics (HZD) have emerged as a powerful framework for controlling bipedal robot locomotion, as evidenced by the robust, energetically efficient, and natural-looking walking and running gaits achieved by planar robots such as Rabbit, ERNIE, and MABEL. However, the extension to 3D robots is more subtle, as the choice of virtual constraints has a deciding effect on the stability of a periodic orbit. Furthermore, previous methods did not provide a systematic means of designing virtual constraints to ensure stability. This thesis makes both experimental and theoretical contributions to the control of underactuated 3D bipedal robots. On the experimental side, we present the first realization of dynamic 3D walking using virtual constraints. The experimental success is achieved by augmenting a robust planar walking gait with a novel virtual constraint for the lateral swing hip angle. The resulting controller is tested in the laboratory on a human-scale bipedal robot (MARLO) and demonstrated to stabilize the lateral motion for unassisted 3D walking at approximately 1 m/s. MARLO is one of only two known robots to walk in 3D with stilt-like feet. On the theoretical side, we introduce a method to systematically tune a given choice of virtual constraints in order to stabilize a periodic orbit of a hybrid system. We demonstrate the method to stabilize a walking gait for MARLO, and show that the optimized controller leads to improved lateral control compared to the nominal virtual constraints. We also describe several extensions of the basic method, allowing the use of a restricted Poincaré map and the incorporation of disturbance rejection metrics in the optimization. Together, these methods comprise an important contribution to the theory of HZD.PhDElectrical Engineering: SystemsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113370/1/bgbuss_1.pd

NASA/MSFC Large Stretch Press Study

The purpose of this study was to: A. assess and document the advantages/disadvantages of a government agency investment in a large stretch form press on the order of 5000 tons capacity (per jaw); B. develop a procurement specification for the press; and C. provide trade study data that will permit an optimum site location. Tasks were separated into four major elements: cost study, user survey, site selection, and press design/procurement specification

Research notes: A second gene for resistance to peanut mottle virus in soybean

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) was first reported as a natural host of peanut mottle virus (PMV) in 1972 by research workers in Georgia (Kuhn et al., 1972). PMV on soybean has since been reported in Virginia, South Carolina, Australia, and East Africa (Demski and Kuhn, 1977). Boerma and Kuhn (1976) reported resistance to PMV in soybeans to be conditioned by a completely dominant allele at a single locus. The objective of this study was to determine if there are other genes and/or alleles that might condition resistance to PMV

Research Notes: Reaction to peanut mottle virus in plant introductions of Maturity Groups 00 through IV

The results of screening the soybean plant introductions in Maturity Groups II, III, and IV have been reported by Shipe et al. (1979) . The results of evaluating the earlier maturity groups are reported here. Plant introductions that became available after 1976 have not been screened

Research Notes : Observations of polyembryony and polyploidy in ms1 and ms2 male-sterile soybean populations

Several reports of polyembryony and polyploidy in the progeny of ms1 male-sterile soybeans have been made. Kenworthy et al. (1973) found 4% of 3485 seeds contained twin seedlings. Three triploids and one haploid were found among the twins