Exploiting the Synergy Between Gossiping and Structured Overlays

In this position paper we argue for exploiting the synergy between gossip-based algorithms and structured overlay networks (SON). These two strands of research have both aimed at building fault-tolerant, dynamic, self-managing, and large-scale distributed systems. Despite the common goals, the two areas have, however, been relatively isolated. We focus on three problem domains where there is an untapped potential of using gossiping combined with SONs. We argue for applying gossip-based membership for ring-based SONs---such as Chord and Bamboo---to make them handle partition mergers and loopy networks. We argue that small world SONs---such as Accordion and Mercury---are specifically well-suited for gossip-based membership management. The benefits would be better graph-theoretic properties. Finally, we argue that gossip-based algorithms could use the overlay constructed by SONs. For example, many unreliable broadcast algorithms for SONs could be augmented with anti-entropy protocols. Similarly, gossip-based aggregation could be used in SONs for network size estimation and load-balancing purposes

Simulation of the Hydraulic Performance of Parallel Pivot Weirs with Different Angles

Pivot weirs are one of the most important structures for regulating the water level in rivers and canals. These weirs are constructed with one or more gates in a row in the waterways. Changing the angle of each gate is done individually with an independent system. Based on available information, the hydraulic performance of this type of weirs (especially in several gates and different angles) in different operational conditions has not been investigated. In present study, pivot weirs with two gates are simulated using Ansys CFX software with the angles of 27.8 to 90 degree and the discharges between 40 to 130 L/s. Further, the importance of the open space between the two adjacent weirs with different angles (lack of retail wall) and its hydraulic behavior have been studied. The model was calibrated based on valid laboratory data and using the K-ϵ turbulence model.  Therefore, the weirs with equal angles were studied in the first step. In this case, the effective discharge angle coefficient was studied and its maximum value compared to the vertical angle was obtained 1.076 for the angle of 52°. Furthermore, relationships for discharge coefficient versus upstream water depth were developed. In the next step, the effective length of the crest was found to be increases by 30% under unequal angles operation and the discharge coefficient raised by 1.3 to 2.4 times. Also, it was recognized that, in case of two weirs with unequal angles, about 26% to 69% of the flow passes through the distance between the two weirs. Therefore, the performance of unequal angles operation seems to be more effective in controlling the water level and discharge in different conditions and especially in flood events

New Attractors, Entropy Function and Black Hole Partition Function

By making use of the entropy function formalism we study the generalized attractor equations in the four dimensional N=2 supergravity in presence of higher order corrections. This result might be used to understand a possible ensemble one could associate to an extremal black hole.Comment: 20 pages, latex file, V2: minor corrections, typos corrected, Refs added, V3: the version appeared in JHE

Caustic avoidance in Horava-Lifshitz gravity

There are at least four versions of Horava-Lishitz gravity in the literature. We consider the version without the detailed balance condition with the projectability condition and address one aspect of the theory: avoidance of caustics for constant time hypersurfaces. We show that there is no caustic with plane symmetry in the absence of matter source if \lambda\ne 1. If \lambda=1 is a stable IR fixed point of the renormalization group flow then \lambda is expected to deviate from 1 near would-be caustics, where the extrinsic curvature increases and high-energy corrections become important. Therefore, the absence of caustics with \lambda\ne 1 implies that caustics cannot form with this symmetry in the absence of matter source. We argue that inclusion of matter source will not change the conclusion. We also argue that caustics with codimension higher than one will not form because of repulsive gravity generated by nonlinear higher curvature terms. These arguments support our conjecture that there is no caustic for constant time hypersurfaces. Finally, we discuss implications to the recently proposed scenario of ``dark matter as integration constant''.Comment: 19 pages; extended to general z \geq 3, typos corrected (v2); version accepted for publication in JCAP (v3

Entropy Function for Non-extremal D1D5 and D2D6NS5-branes

We apply the entropy function formalism to non-extremal D1D5 and D2D6NS5-branes whose throat approximation is given by the Schwarzschild black hole in AdS_3\times S^3\times T^4 and AdS_3\times S^2\times S^1\times T^4, respectively. We find the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy and the (alpha')^3R^4 corrections from the value of the entropy function at its saddle point. While the higher derivative terms have no effect on the temperature, they decrease the value of the entropy.Comment: 17 Pages, Latex file; Minor additions, version published in JHE

Entropy function and attractors for AdS black holes

We apply Sen's entropy formalism to the study of the near horizon geometry and the entropy of asymptotically AdS black holes in gauged supergravities. In particular, we consider non-supersymmetric electrically charged black holes with AdS_2 xS^{d-2} horizons in U(1)^4 and U(1)^3 gauged supergravities in d=4 and d=5 dimensions, respectively. We study several cases including static/rotating, BPS and non-BPS black holes in Einstein as well as in Gauss-Bonnet gravity. In all examples, the near horizon geometry and black hole entropy are derived by extremizing the entropy function and are given entirely in terms of the gauge coupling, the electric charges and the angular momentum of the black hole.Comment: 27 pages, no figures, references adde

The alpha-prime stretched horizon in the Heterotic string

The linear alpha-prime corrections and the field redefinition ambiguities are studied for half-BPS singular backgrounds representing a wrapped fundamental string. It is showed that there exist schemes in which the inclusion of all the linear alpha-prime corrections converts these singular solutions to black holes with a regular horizon for which the modified Hawking-Bekenstein entropy is in agreement with the statistical entropy.Comment: 22 pages JHEP; new discussions and more details added to section

The Black Hole and Cosmological Solutions in IR modified Horava Gravity

Recently Horava proposed a renormalizable gravity theory in four dimensions which reduces to Einstein gravity with a non-vanishing cosmological constant in IR but with improved UV behaviors. Here, I study an IR modification which breaks "softly" the detailed balance condition in Horava model and allows the asymptotically flat limit as well. I obtain the black hole and cosmological solutions for "arbitrary" cosmological constant that represent the analogs of the standard Schwartzschild-(A)dS solutions which can be asymptotically (A)dS as well as flat and I discuss some thermodynamical properties. I also obtain solutions for FRW metric with an arbitrary cosmological constant. I study its implication to the dark energy and find that it seems to be consistent with current observational data.Comment: Footnote 5 about the the very meaning of the horizons and Hawking temperature is added; Accepted in JHE

Two-charge small black hole entropy: String-loops and multi-strings

We investigate the inclusion of 10-dimensional string loop corrections to the entropy function of two-charge extremal small black holes of the heterotic string theory compactified on S^1 x T^5 and show that the entropy is given by \pi\sqrt{a q_1 q_2+b q_1} where q_1 and q_2 are the charges with q_1 >> q_2 >> 1 and a and b are constants. Incorporating certain multi-string states into the microstate counting, we show that the new statistical entropy is consistent with the macroscopic scaling for one and two units of momentum (winding) and large winding (momentum). We discuss our scaling from the point of view of related AdS_3 central charge and counting of chiral primaries in superconformal quantum mechanics as well.Comment: 18 page

Play dough as an educational tool for visualization of complicated cerebral aneurysm anatomy

BACKGROUND: Imagination of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of cerebral vascular lesions using two-dimensional (2D) angiograms is one of the skills that neurosurgical residents should achieve during their training. Although ongoing progress in computer software and digital imaging systems has facilitated viewing and interpretation of cerebral angiograms enormously, these facilities are not always available. METHODS: We have presented the use of play dough as an adjunct to the teaching armamentarium for training in visualization of cerebral aneurysms in some cases. RESULTS: The advantages of play dough are low cost, availability and simplicity of use, being more efficient and realistic in training the less experienced resident in comparison with the simple drawings and even angiographic views from different angles without the need for computers and similar equipment. The disadvantages include the psychological resistance of residents to the use of something in surgical training that usually is considered to be a toy, and not being as clean as drawings or computerized images. CONCLUSION: Although technology and computerized software using the patients' own imaging data seems likely to become more advanced in the future, use of play dough in some complicated cerebral aneurysm cases may be helpful in 3D reconstruction of the real situation