Predicting Intermediate Storage Performance for Workflow Applications

Configuring a storage system to better serve an application is a challenging task complicated by a multidimensional, discrete configuration space and the high cost of space exploration (e.g., by running the application with different storage configurations). To enable selecting the best configuration in a reasonable time, we design an end-to-end performance prediction mechanism that estimates the turn-around time of an application using storage system under a given configuration. This approach focuses on a generic object-based storage system design, supports exploring the impact of optimizations targeting workflow applications (e.g., various data placement schemes) in addition to other, more traditional, configuration knobs (e.g., stripe size or replication level), and models the system operation at data-chunk and control message level. This paper presents our experience to date with designing and using this prediction mechanism. We evaluate this mechanism using micro- as well as synthetic benchmarks mimicking real workflow applications, and a real application.. A preliminary evaluation shows that we are on a good track to meet our objectives: it can scale to model a workflow application run on an entire cluster while offering an over 200x speedup factor (normalized by resource) compared to running the actual application, and can achieve, in the limited number of scenarios we study, a prediction accuracy that enables identifying the best storage system configuration

Symmetry analysis for steady boundary-layer stagnation-point flow of Rivlin–Ericksen fluid of second grade subject to suction

An analysis for the steady two-dimensional boundary-layer stagnation-point flow of Rivlin–Ericksen fluid of second grade with a uniform suction is carried out via symmetry analysis. By employing Lie-group method to the given system of nonlinear partial differential equations, the symmetries of the equations are determined. Using these symmetries, the solution of the given equations is found. The effect of the viscoelastic parameter k and the suction parameter R on the tangential and normal velocities, temperature profiles, heat transfer coefficient and the wall shear stress, have been studied. Also, the effect of the Prandtl number Pr on the temperature and the heat transfer coefficient has been studied

Transition from Knudsen to molecular diffusion in activity of absorbing irregular interfaces

We investigate through molecular dynamics the transition from Knudsen to molecular diffusion transport towards 2d absorbing interfaces with irregular geometry. Our results indicate that the length of the active zone decreases continuously with density from the Knudsen to the molecular diffusion regime. In the limit where molecular diffusion dominates, we find that this length approaches a constant value of the order of the system size, in agreement with theoretical predictions for Laplacian transport in irregular geometries. Finally, we show that all these features can be qualitatively described in terms of a simple random-walk model of the diffusion process.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

How does interpretive tour guiding promote tourists’ pro-environmental behaviour? Evidence from Tanzania

Tour guides play a central role in the implementation of sustainable tourism practices through maximizing tourists’ appreciation and enjoyment of the destination and minimizing their negative impacts. Utilizing Stimulus–Organism–Response framework, this study aims to examine how tour guide performance directly and indirectly predicts tourists’ pro-environmental behaviour. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling were used to test a pro-environmental behaviour model using a sample of 396 tourists who visited Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire national parks and Ngorongoro conservation area in northern Tanzania. The results indicated that tour guides positively and significantly influenced tourists’ experience, satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviours. Further, tourists’ experience is found to positively mediate the relation between tour guide and pro-environmental behaviour. The study presents managerial implications, limitations and future research directions in light of the results

The Potential Clinical and Economic Value of Primary Tumour Identification in Metastatic Cancer of Unknown Primary Tumour: A Population-Based Retrospective Matched Cohort Study.

PurposeSeveral genomic tests have recently been developed to identify the primary tumour in cancer of unknown primary tumour (CUP). However, the value of identifying the primary tumour in clinical practice for CUP patients remains questionable and difficult to prove in randomized trials.ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the clinical and economic value of primary tumour identification in CUP using a retrospective matched cohort study.MethodsWe used the Manitoba Cancer Registry to identify all patients initially diagnosed with metastatic cancer between 2002 and 2011. We defined patients as having CUP if their primary tumour was found 6 months or more after initial diagnosis or never found during the course of disease. Otherwise, we considered patients to have metastatic cancer from a known primary tumour (CKP). We linked all patients with Manitoba Health databases to estimate their direct healthcare costs using a phase-of-care approach. We used the propensity score matching technique to match each CUP patient with a CKP patient on clinicopathologic characteristics. We compared treatment patterns, overall survival (OS) and phase-specific healthcare costs between the two patient groups and assessed association with OS using Cox regression adjustment.ResultsOf 5839 patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer, 395 had CUP (6.8%); 1:1 matching created a matched group of 395 CKP patients. CUP patients were less likely to receive surgery, radiation, hormonal and targeted therapy and more likely to receive cytotoxic empiric chemotherapeutic agents. Having CUP was associated with reduced OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31; 95% confidence interval 1.1-1.58), but this lost statistical significance with adjustment for treatment differences. CUP patients had a significant increase in the mean net cost of initial diagnostic workup before diagnosis and a significant reduction in the mean net cost of continuing cancer care.ConclusionIdentifying the primary tumour in CUP patients might enable the use of more effective therapies, improve OS and allow more efficient allocation of healthcare resources

Group theoretic approach for solving the problem of diffusion of a drug through a thin membrane

AbstractThe transformation group theoretic approach is applied to study the diffusion process of a drug through a skin-like membrane which tends to partially absorb the drug. Two cases are considered for the diffusion coefficient. The application of one parameter group reduces the number of independent variables by one, and consequently the partial differential equation governing the diffusion process with the boundary and initial conditions is transformed into an ordinary differential equation with the corresponding conditions. The obtained differential equation is solved numerically using the shooting method, and the results are illustrated graphically and in tables

Modeling Bangladesh's gross domestic product using regression approach

This study finds the factors that affect Bangladesh’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through regression approach. Stepwise and Ridge regression techniques have been applied to build the suitable regression model. Model adequacy also has been checked and multicollinearity problem is addressed for a plausible model using appropriate remedial measures for each of the model one after another that yields stepwise regression. The multicollinearity problem has also been tried to combat by ridge regression. Finally, the model which is adequate and free from multicollinearity problem after applying the ridge regression has been considered as the credible model for predicting the GDP of Bangladesh. The final model shows that the factors population, imports of goods and services, agriculture value added, manufacturing value added and labor force are positively affecting the GDP of Bangladesh

Optimal Operation of Micro-grids Considering the Uncertainties of Demand and Renewable Energy Resources Generation

Nowadays, due to technical and economic reasons, the distributed generation (DG) units are widely connected to the low and medium voltage network and created a new structure called micro-grid. Renewable energies (especially wind and solar) based DGs are one of the most important generations units among DG units. Because of stochastic behavior of these resources, the optimum and safe management and operation of micro-grids has become one of the research priorities for researchers. So, in this study, the optimal operation of a typical micro-grid is investigated in order to maximize the penetration of renewable energy sources with the lowest operation cost with respect to the limitations for the load supply and the distributed generation resources. The understudy micro-grid consists of diesel generator, battery, wind turbines and photovoltaic panels. The objective function comprises of fuel cost, start-up cost, spinning reserve cost, power purchasing cost from the upstream grid and the sales revenue of the power to the upstream grid. In this paper, the uncertainties of demand, wind speed and solar radiation are considered and the optimization will be made by using the GAMS software and mixed integer planning method (MIP).Article History: Received May 21, 2016; Received in revised form July 11, 2016; Accepted October 15, 2016; Available onlineHow to Cite This Article: Jasemi, M., Adabi, F., Mozafari, B., and Salahi, S. (2016) Optimal Operation of Micro-grids Considering the Uncertainties of Demand and Renewable Energy Resources Generation, Int. Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 5(3),233-248.http://dx.doi.org/10.14710/ijred.5.3.233-24