10,719 research outputs found
Queueing analysis of a canonical model of real-time multiprocessors
A logical classification of multiprocessor structures from the point of view of control applications is presented. A computation of the response time distribution for a canonical model of a real time multiprocessor is presented. The multiprocessor is approximated by a blocking model. Two separate models are derived: one created from the system's point of view, and the other from the point of view of an incoming task
Characterization of real-time computers
A real-time system consists of a computer controller and controlled processes. Despite the synergistic relationship between these two components, they have been traditionally designed and analyzed independently of and separately from each other; namely, computer controllers by computer scientists/engineers and controlled processes by control scientists. As a remedy for this problem, in this report real-time computers are characterized by performance measures based on computer controller response time that are: (1) congruent to the real-time applications, (2) able to offer an objective comparison of rival computer systems, and (3) experimentally measurable/determinable. These measures, unlike others, provide the real-time computer controller with a natural link to controlled processes. In order to demonstrate their utility and power, these measures are first determined for example controlled processes on the basis of control performance functionals. They are then used for two important real-time multiprocessor design applications - the number-power tradeoff and fault-masking and synchronization
Structure and function of negative feedback loops at the interface of genetic and metabolic networks
The molecular network in an organism consists of transcription/translation
regulation, protein-protein interactions/modifications and a metabolic network,
together forming a system that allows the cell to respond sensibly to the
multiple signal molecules that exist in its environment. A key part of this
overall system of molecular regulation is therefore the interface between the
genetic and the metabolic network. A motif that occurs very often at this
interface is a negative feedback loop used to regulate the level of the signal
molecules. In this work we use mathematical models to investigate the steady
state and dynamical behaviour of different negative feedback loops. We show, in
particular, that feedback loops where the signal molecule does not cause the
dissociation of the transcription factor from the DNA respond faster than loops
where the molecule acts by sequestering transcription factors off the DNA. We
use three examples, the bet, mer and lac systems in E. coli, to illustrate the
behaviour of such feedback loops.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Synchronization and fault-masking in redundant real-time systems
A real time computer may fail because of massive component failures or not responding quickly enough to satisfy real time requirements. An increase in redundancy - a conventional means of improving reliability - can improve the former but can - in some cases - degrade the latter considerably due to the overhead associated with redundancy management, namely the time delay resulting from synchronization and voting/interactive consistency techniques. The implications of synchronization and voting/interactive consistency algorithms in N-modular clusters on reliability are considered. All these studies were carried out in the context of real time applications. As a demonstrative example, we have analyzed results from experiments conducted at the NASA Airlab on the Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT) computer. This analysis has indeed indicated that in most real time applications, it is better to employ hardware synchronization instead of software synchronization and not allow reconfiguration
Jet stability, dynamics and energy transport
Relativistic jets carry energy and particles from compact to very large
scales compared with their initial radius. This is possible due to their
remarkable collimation despite their intrinsic unstable nature. In this
contribution, I review the state-of-the-art of our knowledge on instabilities
growing in those jets and several stabilising mechanisms that may give an
answer to the question of the stability of jets. In particular, during the last
years we have learned that the limit imposed by the speed of light sets a
maximum amplitude to the instabilities, contrary to the case of classical jets.
On top of this stabilising mechanism, the fast growth of unstable modes with
small wavelengths prevents the total disruption and entrainment of jets. I also
review several non-linear processes that can have an effect on the collimation
of extragalactic and microquasar jets. Within those, I remark possible causes
for the decollimation and decelleration of FRI jets, as opposed to the
collimated FRII's. Finally, I give a summary of the main reasons why jets can
propagate through such long distances.Comment: For the proceedings of High Energy Phenomena in Relativistic Outflows
III (HEPRO III, IJMPD, accepted). 12 page
Does Corporate Performance Improve After Mergers?
We examine the post-acquisition operating performance of merged firms using a sample of the 50 largest mergers between U.S. public industrial firms completed in the period 1979 to 1983. The results indicate that merged firms have significant improvement in asset productivity relative to their industries after the merger, leading to higher post-merger operating cash flow returns. Sample firms maintain their capital expenditure and R&D rates relative to their industries after the merger, indicating that merged firms do not reduce their long-term investments. There is a strong positive relation between postmerger increases in operating cash flows and abnormal stock returns at merger announcements, indicating that expectations of economic improvements underlie the equity revaluations of the merging firms.
Evaluation of different plant oils against Lasioderma serricorne Fab. on fennel
A laboratory experiment was conducted during 2007-2008 at SKN Agricultural University, Jobner on evaluation of different plant oils viz., neem, karanj, mustard, groundnut, lemongrass and citronella oils (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 ml/100g seeds) and one chemical, malathion (0.025, 0.050 and 0.075 per cent) against Lasioderma serricorne on fennel seeds. The malathion at all concentrations was found to be most lethal, causing cent per cent mortality of adults. Neem oil was found to be most effective in increasing the developmental period (78.23 days) and reducing adult emergence (19.02 per cent), longevity of adult (male: 11.1 days and female: 12.0 days), seed damage (5.10 per cent), weight loss (2.60 per cent) followed by karanj and lemongrass oils at 1.0 ml/100g
Moving boundary and photoelastic coupling in GaAs optomechanical resonators
Chip-based cavity optomechanical systems are being considered for
applications in sensing, metrology, and quantum information science. Critical
to their development is an understanding of how the optical and mechanical
modes interact, quantified by the coupling rate . Here, we develop GaAs
optomechanical resonators and investigate the moving dielectric boundary and
photoelastic contributions to . First, we consider coupling between the
fundamental radial breathing mechanical mode and a 1550 nm band optical
whispering gallery mode in microdisks. For decreasing disk radius from
m to m, simulations and measurements show that changes
from being dominated by the moving boundary contribution to having an equal
photoelastic contribution. Next, we design and demonstrate nanobeam
optomechanical crystals in which a GHz mechanical breathing mode couples
to a 1550 nm optical mode predominantly through the photoelastic effect. We
show a significant (30 ) dependence of on the device's in-plane
orientation, resulting from the difference in GaAs photoelastic coefficients
along different crystalline axes, with fabricated devices exhibiting
as high as 1.1 MHz for orientation along the [110] axis.
GaAs nanobeam optomechanical crystals are a promising system which can combine
the demonstrated large optomechanical coupling strength with additional
functionality, such as piezoelectric actuation and incorporation of optical
gain media
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