A Monitoring System for the BaBar INFN Computing Cluster

Monitoring large clusters is a challenging problem. It is necessary to observe a large quantity of devices with a reasonably short delay between consecutive observations. The set of monitored devices may include PCs, network switches, tape libraries and other equipments. The monitoring activity should not impact the performances of the system. In this paper we present PerfMC, a monitoring system for large clusters. PerfMC is driven by an XML configuration file, and uses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for data collection. SNMP is a standard protocol implemented by many networked equipments, so the tool can be used to monitor a wide range of devices. System administrators can display informations on the status of each device by connecting to a WEB server embedded in PerfMC. The WEB server can produce graphs showing the value of different monitored quantities as a function of time; it can also produce arbitrary XML pages by applying XSL Transformations to an internal XML representation of the cluster's status. XSL Transformations may be used to produce HTML pages which can be displayed by ordinary WEB browsers. PerfMC aims at being relatively easy to configure and operate, and highly efficient. It is currently being used to monitor the Italian Reprocessing farm for the BaBar experiment, which is made of about 200 dual-CPU Linux machines.Comment: Talk from the 2003 Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP03), La Jolla, Ca, USA, March 2003, 10 pages, LaTeX, 4 eps figures. PSN MOET00

Reconfigurable photonic integrated mode (de)multiplexer for SDM fiber transmission

A photonic integrated circuit for mode multiplexing and demultiplexing in a few-mode fiber is presented and demonstrated. Two 10 Gbit/s channels at the same wavelength and polarization are simultaneously transmitted over modes LP01 and LP11a of a few-mode fiber exploiting the integrated mode MUX and DEMUX. The proposed Indium-Phosphide-based circuits have a good coupling efficiency with fiber modes with mode-dependant loss smaller than 1 dB. Measured mode excitation cross-talk is as low as -20 dB and a channel cross-talk after propagation and demultiplexing of -15 dB is achieved. An operational bandwidth of the full transmission system of at least 10 nm is demonstrated. Both mode MUX and DEMUX are fully reconfigurable and allow a dynamic switch of channel routing in the transmission system

Meditation increases the depth of information processing

During meditation, practitioners are required to center their attention on a specific object for extended periods of time. When their thoughts get diverted, they learn to quickly disengage from the distracter. We hypothesized that learning to respond to the dual demand of engaging attention on specific objects and disengaging quickly from distracters enhances the efficiency by which meditation practitioners can allocate attention. We tested this hypothesis in a global-to-local task while measuring electroencephalographic activity from a group of eight highly trained Buddhist monks and nuns and a group of eight age and education matched controls with no previous meditation experience. Specifically, we investigated the effect of attentional training on the global precedence effect, i.e., faster detection of targets on a global than on a local level. We expected to find a reduced global precedence effect in meditation practitioners but not in controls, reflecting that meditators can more quickly disengage their attention from the dominant global level. Analysis of reaction times confirmed this prediction. To investigate the underlying changes in brain activity and their time course, we analyzed event-related potentials. Meditators showed an enhanced ability to select the respective target level, as reflected by enhanced processing of target level information. In contrast with control group, which showed a local target selection effect only in the P1 and a global target selection effect in the P3 component, meditators showed effects of local information processing in the P1, N2, and P3 and of global processing for the N1, N2, and P3. Thus, meditators seem to display enhanced depth of processing. In addition, meditation altered the uptake of information such that meditators selected target level information earlier in the processing sequence than controls. In a longitudinal experiment, we could replicate the behavioral effects, suggesting that meditation modulates attention already after a 4-day meditation retreat. Together, these results suggest that practicing meditation enhances the speed with which attention can be allocated and relocated, thus increasing the depth of information processing and reducing response latency

Un sito web per i pagamenti interbiblioteche

A web site for interlibrary payments. After an overview on some fiscal implication of the payments of library services (Doc Delivery and Interlibrary loan), and on the possible enlargement of the interchange between academic and public libraries The mechanism of a web site (www.asford.it) for the exchange of virtual voucher between libraries as payment of that services, is revised

Electron-transfer-induced reductive dealkoxylation of alkyl aryl ethers. III. Reductive cleavage of methoxy-substituted <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylanilines (<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylanisidines)

The reactivity of the three isomeric methoxy-substituted N,N-dimethylanilines (N,N-dimethylanisidines) and of N,N-dimethyl-2,6-dimethoxyaniline in the reduction with alkali metals in aprotic solvents was investigated. N,N-Dimethyl-p-methoxyaniline was found to be unreactive, while the other substrates underwent exclusive cleavage of carbon-oxygen bond(s), with the following order of reactivity: 2,6-dimethoxy > o-methoxy > m-methoxy > p-methoxy. Both the relative reactivity and the regioselectivity of cleavage (demethoxylation vs. demethylation) was found to parallel closely that of the corresponding di- and trimethoxysubstituted substrates. These results suggest that intermediates with different electron distribution or even different intermediates are involved in the reductive cleavage of aryl-oxygen and arylnitrogen bonds

Antropização da zona de amortecimento da reserva biológica serra dos toledos (Itajubá-MG) e seu efeito na qualidade do solo.

Areas that comprise “damping zones” are important in minimizing the effects of impacts on the environment as they can affect the conservation unit, and in helping to maintain its natural resources. However, they are not protected and many are handled improperly, compromising the sustainability of the conservation units they should protect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of human disturbance in the damping zone on the soil quality inside the Biological Reserve Serra dos Toledos,Itajubá-MG. For this, there were selected three areas under different activities in the damping zone (pasture, agriculture, and native forest) and three areas sided to those, within the Reserve. They were characterized according to various physical, chemical,microbiological, and visual soil quality procedures. Areas that had the worst physical, visual, and microbiological conditions were those located in the damping zone under agriculture and pasture. The microbiological attributes were sensitive to the different areas, due to the direct relation between negative impact of agriculture practiced in the damping zone and the soil quality within the Biological Reserve studied

En torno al uso de la televisión en la enseñanza del español como lengua extranjera

El presente trabajo pretende ofrecer elementos de reflexión sobre formas de comunicación Y mecanismos de funcionamiento del medio televisivo, y su aplicación en el sector glotodidáctico. Se indican, por tanto, criterios para la selección y el uso del corpus, así como para su adecuación pedagógica. Se ejemplifica a continuación un itinerario de lectura de un programa televisivo de divulgación, por fases y niveles de análisis. Para concluir, se subraya que la capacidad de interpretar mensajes visual-icónicos, gestuales y Sonoros, adquirida mediante el medio televisivo, permite al estudiante no sólo comprender mejor aspectos de la cultura del país del que estudia la lengua, sino también alcanzar una competencia comunicativa más satisfactoria