Liquid-liquid transition in supercooled silicon determined by first-principles simulation

First principles molecular dynamics simulations reveal a liquid-liquid phase transition in supercooled elemental silicon. Two phases coexist below $T_c\approx 1232K$. The low density phase is nearly tetra-coordinated, with a pseudogap at the Fermi surface, while the high density phase is more highly coordinated and metallic in nature. The transition is observed through the formation of van der Waals loops in pressure-volume isotherms below $T_c$.Comment: 9 pages 4 figure

Timely-Throughput Optimal Coded Computing over Cloud Networks

In modern distributed computing systems, unpredictable and unreliable infrastructures result in high variability of computing resources. Meanwhile, there is significantly increasing demand for timely and event-driven services with deadline constraints. Motivated by measurements over Amazon EC2 clusters, we consider a two-state Markov model for variability of computing speed in cloud networks. In this model, each worker can be either in a good state or a bad state in terms of the computation speed, and the transition between these states is modeled as a Markov chain which is unknown to the scheduler. We then consider a Coded Computing framework, in which the data is possibly encoded and stored at the worker nodes in order to provide robustness against nodes that may be in a bad state. With timely computation requests submitted to the system with computation deadlines, our goal is to design the optimal computation-load allocation scheme and the optimal data encoding scheme that maximize the timely computation throughput (i.e, the average number of computation tasks that are accomplished before their deadline). Our main result is the development of a dynamic computation strategy called Lagrange Estimate-and Allocate (LEA) strategy, which achieves the optimal timely computation throughput. It is shown that compared to the static allocation strategy, LEA increases the timely computation throughput by 1.4X - 17.5X in various scenarios via simulations and by 1.27X - 6.5X in experiments over Amazon EC2 clustersComment: to appear in MobiHoc 201

The dyad gene is required for progression through female meiosis in Arabidopsis

In higher plants the gametophyte consists of a gamete in association with a small number of haploid cells, specialized for sexual reproduction. The female gametophyte or embryo sac, is contained within the ovule and develops from a single cell, the megaspore which is formed by meiosis of the megaspore mother cell. The dyad mutant of Arabidopsis, described herein, represents a novel class among female sterile mutants in plants, dyad ovules contain two large cells in place of an embryo sac. The two cells represent the products of a single division of the megaspore mother cell followed by an arrest in further development of the megaspore. We addressed the question of whether the division of the megaspore mother cell in the mutant was meiotic or mitotic by examining the expression of two markers that are normally expressed in the megaspore mother cell during meiosis. Our observations indicate that in dyad the megaspore mother cell enters but fails to complete meiosis, arresting at the end of meiosis 1 in the majority of ovules, This was corroborated by a direct observation of chromosome segregation during division of the megaspore mother cell, showing that the division is a reductional and not an equational one. In a minority of dqad ovules, the megaspore mother cell does not divide. Pollen development and male fertility in the mutant is normal, as is the rest of the ovule that surrounds the female gametophyte. The embryo sac is also shown to have an influence on the nucellus in wild type. The dyad mutation therefore specifically affects a function that is required in the female germ cell precursor for meiosis. The identification and analysis of mutants specifically affecting female meiosis is an initial step in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying early events in the pathway of female reproductive development

Simulation Model for Assessing Transient Performance of Capacitive Voltage Transformers

In determining the correct operation of relays of a protection scheme, proper representation of instrument transformers and their behavior in conditions where there can be transient is very critical. This paper presents a simulation model for assessing the transient performance of capacitive voltage transformers (CVTs). In order to test the validity of the developed model, four CVT operational conditions are considered using field data collected from one of the Nigerian electric utility 330/132/33 kV substations. The model simulation results revealed various configuration performance responses that could affect relay protection schemes to different degrees. As expected, the CVT responses showed that faults initiated at zero voltage crossing, which is the worst transient condition, produced transient voltage magnitude up to 40% of the nominal voltage while faults initiated at the crest produced minimum transient voltage magnitude. It is shown that the model developed for the selected instrument transformer yielded satisfactory results

Comparison of PSO and GA for K-Node Set Reliability Optimization of a Distributed System

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), as a novel evolutionary computing technique, has succeeded in many continuous problems, but quite a little research on discrete problem especially combinatorial optimization problem has been reported. In this paper, a discrete PSO algorithm is proposed to solve a typical combinatorial optimization problem: K-Node Set Reliability (KNR) optimization of a distributed computing system (DCS) which is a well-known NP-hard problem is presented. It computes the reliability of a subset of network nodes of a DCS such that the reliability is maximized and specified capacity constraint is satisfied. The feasibility of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on 8 nodes 11 links DCS topology. The test results are compared with those obtained by the genetic algorithm (GA) method in terms of solution quality and convergence characteristics. Experimental study shows that the proposed PSO algorithm can achieve good results

Beneficiation studies on Copper ore samples from Rajasthan

COPPER is an essential metal in modern industry.It is one of the metals in which India is deficient,with an annual production of only about 10000 tonnes against her estimated requirement of 124000 tonnes at the end of the fourth plan period. Because of the severe import restri-ctions and increased growth of copper consuming indus-tries, it has become an absolute necessity to produce this vital metal from the available deposits in India and intensive efforts are being made to raise the output to about 50000 tonnes by the end of the Fourth Plan

Mechanism and Function of the Outer Membrane Channel TolC in Multidrug Resistance and Physiology of Enterobacteria

TolC is an archetypal member of the outer membrane efflux protein (OEP) family. These proteins are involved in export of small molecules and toxins across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Genomes of some bacteria such as Pseudomonas species contain multiple copies of OEPs. In contrast, enterobacteria contain a single tolC gene, the product of which functions with multiple transporters. Inactivation of tolC has a major impact on enterobacterial physiology and virulence. Recent studies suggest that the role of TolC in physiology of enterobacteria is very broad and affects almost all aspects of cell adaptation to adverse environments. We review the current state of understanding TolC structure and present an integrated view of TolC function in enterobacteria. We propose that seemingly unrelated phenotypes of tolC mutants are linked together by a single most common condition – an oxidative damage to membranes

Vibration Control of Flexible Spacecraft Using Adaptive Controller

The aim is to develop vibration control of flexible spacecraft by adaptive controller. A case study will be carried out which simulates planar motion of flexible spacecraft as a coupled hybrid dynamics of rigid body motion and the flexible arm vibration. The notch filter and adaptive vibration controller, which updates filter and controller parameters continuously from the sensor measurement, are implemented in the real time control. The least mean square algorithm using the adaptive notch filter is applied to the flexible spacecraft. This study will show that the adaptive vibration controller successfully stabilizes the uncertain and it will accurately control the vibration of flexible spacecraft. The Least mean square  algorithm is applied in flexible spacecraft to attenuate the vibration. The simulation studies are carried out in a Matlab/Simulink environment