A Tale of Two Data-Intensive Paradigms: Applications, Abstractions, and Architectures

Scientific problems that depend on processing large amounts of data require overcoming challenges in multiple areas: managing large-scale data distribution, co-placement and scheduling of data with compute resources, and storing and transferring large volumes of data. We analyze the ecosystems of the two prominent paradigms for data-intensive applications, hereafter referred to as the high-performance computing and the Apache-Hadoop paradigm. We propose a basis, common terminology and functional factors upon which to analyze the two approaches of both paradigms. We discuss the concept of "Big Data Ogres" and their facets as means of understanding and characterizing the most common application workloads found across the two paradigms. We then discuss the salient features of the two paradigms, and compare and contrast the two approaches. Specifically, we examine common implementation/approaches of these paradigms, shed light upon the reasons for their current "architecture" and discuss some typical workloads that utilize them. In spite of the significant software distinctions, we believe there is architectural similarity. We discuss the potential integration of different implementations, across the different levels and components. Our comparison progresses from a fully qualitative examination of the two paradigms, to a semi-quantitative methodology. We use a simple and broadly used Ogre (K-means clustering), characterize its performance on a range of representative platforms, covering several implementations from both paradigms. Our experiments provide an insight into the relative strengths of the two paradigms. We propose that the set of Ogres will serve as a benchmark to evaluate the two paradigms along different dimensions.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Smart RISUG: A potential new contraceptive and its magnetic field-mediated sperm interaction

The rationale and technique underlying a novel concept of noninvasive fertility control by a new Cuproferrogel contraceptive drug, iron oxide–copper–styrene maleic anhydride–dimethyl sulphoxide (Fe3O4–Cu–SMA–DMSO) composite named ‘Smart RISUG’ (smart reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance) in presence of pulsed magnetic field (PMF; 1 mT to 800 mT) is explained. It was synthesized by dispersing iron oxide particles and copper particles into SMA-DMSO (male contraceptive RISUG) and characterized for particle distribution, particle size measurement and transmittance peaks, etc. Interaction of the RISUG particles as well as Smart RISUG particles with Albino rat sperm cell was studied in presence as well as absence of PMF. To find an explanation to increased reaching of the Smart RISUG drug into sperm under influence of magnetic field, the transport properties were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Smart RISUG could be mobilized into sperm cell membrane at the PMF, 760 mT in about 50 seconds. Adoption of novel drug Smart RISUG involving new technique may open the pathway for non surgical control of drug distribution, detection and restoration of the normal fertility after removal of the contraceptive from the male/female reproductive tube in presence of electromagnetic field

MAINTAINING A SEAMLESS SUPPLY CHAIN OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES [A COMBINATION OF VARIOUS CONCEPTS CONVERGING INTO A NOVEL P 3 SYSTEM]

ABSTRACT The prime objective of production system and inventory management system is to maintain optimum stock of raw material and finished goods or both which is a source of subsequent operations. The production process and inventory management system need to operate in coordination to provide an active collaboration between vendor, supply chain, and all buyers. In case of essential medicines, it is highly necessary to maintain the total integrity of the system. Widely accepted systems like KANBAN, VMI, and CPFR etc, have been mostly proved successful under a specific set of conditions only. Extracting salient features from different systems and carefully considering all practical aspects and business norms, we have designed a new system--P 3 system (Planning, Production, and Procurement). The P 3 system, has inherited all the salient features of KANBAN, VMI, and Consignment inventory model. It takes care of major objectives of ECR in favor of buyers by tracking sales -record and establishing agencies, taking customers care and follow-up. This P 3 system, having special features, is likely to demonstrate better results in all segments under consideration

A micro bacteriological culture assessment of the histopathological alterations in liver and bile in gallstone disease

Background: The present investigation aims to evaluate both the intensity and occurrence of hepatic impairment in patients afflicted with gallstone disease, examining the involvement of bacteria in the progression of these alterations. Methods: This prospective observational investigation was carried out on 189 patients scheduled for open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy at IGIMS in Patna, Bihar, India. In all the patients, laboratory and radiological investigations were performed. A healthy section of the liver border near the gallbladder fossa was chosen and grasped with non-traumatic forceps. Approximately 1 cm of the liver edge was excised using scissors and forwarded for histopathological analysis. Results: An examination of 189 liver biopsy specimens revealed that 87 (46%) patients showed no abnormalities, while 102 patients (54%) exhibited one or more changes. Upon analysing the liver biopsy samples from the control cohort (41 patients) during autopsy, 37% of the cases were identified to display hepatic lipidosis, while 48% of the cases showed lymphocytic invasion. Importantly, no cases of acute inflammatory changes were detected in the control cohort. Microbiological analysis was conducted on 96 patients, of which 33 (34%) showed positive cultures, with one or more microorganisms isolated from either the biliary tract or liver. Among these, 74% (24 cases) originated from the bile or gallbladder, while 26% (9 cases) were isolated from the liver. Conclusions: Gallstone disease induces significant liver histological changes, notably more prevalent in patients with prolonged symptoms. The present study clearly identifies this and underscores the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention for the effective management of this disease

Performance Evaluation of Bluetooth Low Energy Communication

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth Smart is the new power efficient version of Bluetooth. With the massive increase in the use of IoT devices, their compatibility and suitability for use with BLE, it has become an important protocol for communication. The performance of the protocol in terms of throughput, however, remains untested. Several parameters like connection interval, packet size per connection interval, data length extension and others constitute the implementation of the BLE protocol on a device. These parameters directly or indirectly effect the throughput of devices communicating over BLE. In this paper, we evaluated BLE performance by performing experiments to calculate throughput with varying values of connection interval and MTU size of application payload. We provide experimental values of throughput and compare it with the theoretically expected results and discuss the pattern and aberration found

In-vitro selection of drought tolerant doubled haploid rice lines using polyethylene glycol (PEG)

The present study was conducted to determine the response of 55 double haploid (DH) rice lines developed for drought tolerance from the cross Swarna × IR159B in polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced drought stress under in-vitro conditions (DH lines named as double haploid rice lines-DRL). Drought stress was created using PEG-6000 at different level of external water potential. Analyzed seedling traits of DRLs showed significant differences in response to different PEG concentrations. A decrement in plant growth at seedling stage with the increase in PEG concentration was observed as expected. Among 55DRLs, 14 DRLs were found to be drought tolerant sustaining the stress level till -7.5 bar as of the tolerant checks. Further, Drought linked SSRs were also evaluated in developed rice lines. Out of 8 SSRs, RM55 (R2 value- 13.5%) and RM259 (R2 value- 13.9%) found to be exhibiting significant association with the shoot/root ratio at - 7.5 bar stress level. Out of 14 DRLs, 9 DRLs were found to be showing drought tolerant in phenotypic and genotypic screening. Hence, PEG induced stress screening method used in this study will serve as the baseline for screening of rice lines for drought tolerance at very early stage without exploitation of much resource

Selaginella bryopteris

The effective long-term cryopreservation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an essential prerequisite step and represents a critical approach for their sustained supply in basic research, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering applications. Therefore, attempts have been made in the present investigation to formulate a freezing solution consisting of a combination of Selaginella bryopteris water-soluble extract with and without dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) for the efficient long-term storage of human umbilical cord blood- (hUCB-) derived MSCs. The cryopreservation experiment using the formulated freezing solution was further performed with hUCB MSCs in a controlled rate freezer. A significant increase in postthaw cell viability and cell attachment of MSCs was achieved with freezing medium containing Selaginella bryopteris water extract along with 10% Me2SO as compared to the freezing medium containing Me2SO (10% v/v) alone. Furthermore, the decreasing apoptotic events and reactive oxygen species production along with increasing expression of heat shock proteins also confirmed the beneficial effect of Selaginella bryopteris water extract. The beneficial effect of Selaginella bryopteris water extract was validated by its ability to render postpreservation high cell viability. In conclusion, the formulated freezing solution has been demonstrated to be effective for the standardization of cryopreservation protocol for hMSCs