A WOA-based optimization approach for task scheduling in cloud Computing systems

Task scheduling in cloud computing can directly affect the resource usage and operational cost of a system. To improve the efficiency of task executions in a cloud, various metaheuristic algorithms, as well as their variations, have been proposed to optimize the scheduling. In this work, for the first time, we apply the latest metaheuristics WOA (the whale optimization algorithm) for cloud task scheduling with a multiobjective optimization model, aiming at improving the performance of a cloud system with given computing resources. On that basis, we propose an advanced approach called IWC (Improved WOA for Cloud task scheduling) to further improve the optimal solution search capability of the WOA-based method. We present the detailed implementation of IWC and our simulation-based experiments show that the proposed IWC has better convergence speed and accuracy in searching for the optimal task scheduling plans, compared to the current metaheuristic algorithms. Moreover, it can also achieve better performance on system resource utilization, in the presence of both small and large-scale tasks

Chrome tanning process and the leather properties under microwave irradiation

Content: In leather making processes, the thermal and non-thermal effect of microwave, especially non-thermal effect, strengthen the combination between collagen and chemicals. Although tanning under microwave makes the leather have better thermal stability, the tanning process and leather properties have not been studied in detail. For illustrating the influence of microwave on chrome tanning process, pickled skin was tanned for 6h as penetration procedure and then basified for another 4h as fixation procedure. The tanning under microwave heating (MW) was experimental sample and under water bath heating was control. UVVis, ICP-OES and pH meter were used to measure the changes of tanning effluent during tanning, and Shrinkage temperature meter, DSC, TG, FT-IR, SEM, XRD and XPS were applied to determine the differences between MW and WB in aspect of leather property and structure. The results indicated microwave accelerated chrome tanning agent penetration and had better promotion effect on chromium complex hydrolysis and olation. The leather tanned with microwave assisting had special effect on improve tanning effect which led better thermal stability and resistance of leather, but the collagen structure, including triple helix structure, stayed as WB and the combination mechanism between collagen and chromium was also same with conventional. In sum, microwave had positive effect on accelerating tanning rate and resulting in better leather without any negative effect on leather structure. Therefore, microwave would be a potential for achieving clean and sustainable chrome tanning by making tanning much faster and more efficiency. Take-Away: Microwave promotes chrome tanning agent penetration and combination Microwave has positive effect on tanning effect further as the leather tanned by microwave assisting has higher thermal stability. Although microwave promotes chrome tanning process, the collagen structure and tanning mechanism remained as normal

A Novel Collagen Extraction Method Based on Microwave Irradiation

Content: Microwave was used as a thermal source to extract collagen acid from the cattle hide in the present work. The effects of microwave on collagen extraction yields were studied under different microwave temperatures, time and hide-liquid ratio. The optimal extraction process was obtained by an orthogonal experiment, and the composition, structure and properties of the extracted collagen were characterized by amino acid analysis, SDS-PAGE, FTIR, UV-Vis, CD, FL, and VP-DSC. The results showed that the extraction rate of collagen was positively correlated with temperature, time and hide-liquid ratio. Under the condition of 35 °C, 6 h and 1:30 of solid-liquid ratio, the extraction proportion of collagen extracted under microwave was the highest, reaching to 13.40 %. The extracted collagen was identified as type I collagen by Amino acid analysis, and the graphic pattern of SDS-PAGE, FTIR and UV-Vis showed that the extracted collagen was similar to the standard type I collagen. Also, the results suggest that the triple helical structure exists still in the extracted collagen. The transition from triple helix to random coil of the extracted collagen was 41 ℃. These results provide a scientific basis for microwave technology for the extraction of collagen. Take-Away: The results showed that the extraction rate of collagen was positively correlated with temperature, time and hide-liquid ratio. Under the condition of 35 °C, 6 h and 1:30 of solid-liquid ratio, the extraction proportion of collagen extracted under microwave was the highest, reaching to 13.40 %. The extracted collagen was identified as type I collagen by Amino acid analysis, and the graphic pattern of SDS-PAGE, FTIR and UV-Vis showed that the extracted collagen was similar to the standard type I collagen. Also, the results suggest that the triple helical structure exists still in the extracted collagen. The transition from triple helix to random coil of the extracted collagen was 41 ℃. These results provide a scientific basis for microwave technology for the extraction of collagen

Heat conduction mechanisms in nanofluids and suspensions

Nanofluids, liquids containing suspensions of nanoparticles, have been reported by some groups to exhibit substantially higher thermal conductivity than that of their corresponding base fluids that cannot be explained by existing theories. However, the reported high thermal conductivity sometimes cannot be reproduced by others. Potential mechanisms leading to this enhancement are still under scrutiny. In this paper, we first take a critical review of heat conduction mechanisms proposed in literature, and then summarize our work. Our experimental studies demonstrate that nanoparticle clustering is the key contributor to the thermal conductivity enhancement. Guided by this insight, we use graphite flakes as additives and develop a method to prepare stable graphite suspensions with large thermal conductivity enhancement in water and oil. We also observe thermal percolation phenomenon and explained the phenomenon based on combined optical and AC impedance spectroscopy studies. We demonstrate temperature regulation of electrical and thermal properties of graphite suspensions through solid–liquid phase change, which may potentially be useful in energy systems in the future.United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR FA9550-11-1-0174)China. Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitie

Ti (III)-tannin combination tanning technology based on microwave irradiation

Content: Microwave is a fast, efficient and energy-saving thermal resource, hence an attempt has been made for applying this technology in the combination tanning using titanium (III) and tannin extracts. In this work, the microwave effects on the complex reaction of Ti (III) with tannin extracts and leather products properties were investigated. The precipitation condition was used to characterize the complexation degree between Ti (III) and tannin extracts. And the shrinkage temperature, tear strength, SEM, DSC, TG, FT-IR, and histological structure were used to characterize the changes in the physical and chemical properties of the combined tanned leather. Take-Away: The results showed that microwave irradiation can accelerate the complex reaction of Ti (III) with tannin extracts. At the room temperature, the mixture of tannin and titanous sulphate kept stable at pH 3-4. In addition, microwave could increase the shrinkage temperature, tear strength, thermal stability, and fibrage of Ti (III)-tannin tanned leather, and it would not change the combination mode of the skins with tanning agents as well as the hierarchical structure of collagen. Therefore, these results inferred that microwave could promote the reaction between Ti (III) and tannins and the combination of tannins with collagen, which may provide a theoretical basis for the application of microwave in Ti (III)-tannin combination tanning technology

Cytological and proteomic analyses of horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) spore germination

Spermatophyte pollen tubes and root hairs have been used as single-cell-type model systems to understand the molecular processes underlying polar growth of plant cells. Horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) is a perennial herb species in Equisetopsida, which creates separately growing spring and summer stems in its life cycle. The mature chlorophyllous spores produced from spring stems can germinate without dormancy. Here we report the cellular features and protein expression patterns in five stages of horsetail spore germination (mature spores, rehydrated spores, double-celled spores, germinated spores, and spores with protonemal cells). Using 2-DE combined with mass spectrometry, 80 proteins were found to be abundance changed upon spore germination. Among them, proteins involved in photosynthesis, protein turnover, and energy supply were over-represented. Thirteen proteins appeared as proteoforms on the gels, indicating the potential importance of post-translational modification. In addition, the dynamic changes of ascorbate peroxidase, peroxiredoxin, and dehydroascorbate reductase implied that reactive oxygen species homeostasis is critical in regulating cell division and tip-growth. The diverse expression patterns of proteins in photosynthesis, energy supply, lipid and amino acid metabolism indicated that heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism were necessary in light-dependent germination of the spores. Twenty-six proteins were involved in protein synthesis and fate, indicating that protein turnover is vital to spore germination. Furthermore, the altered abundance of small G protein Ran, 14-3-3 protein, actin, and Caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase revealed that signaling transduction, vesicle trafficking, cytoskeleton dynamics, and cell wall modulation were critical to cell division and polar growth. These findings lay a foundation toward understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying fern spore asymmetric division and rhizoid polar growth