Elastic neural network method for load prediction in cloud computing grid

Cloud computing still has no standard definition, yet it is concerned with Internet or network on-demand delivery of resources and services. It has gained much popularity in last few years due to rapid growth in technology and the Internet. Many issues yet to be tackled within cloud computing technical challenges, such as Virtual Machine migration, server association, fault tolerance, scalability, and availability. The most we are concerned with in this research is balancing servers load; the way of spreading the load between various nodes exists in any distributed systems that help to utilize resource and job response time, enhance scalability, and user satisfaction. Load rebalancing algorithm with dynamic resource allocation is presented to adapt with changing needs of a cloud environment. This research presents a modified elastic adaptive neural network (EANN) with modified adaptive smoothing errors, to build an evolving system to predict Virtual Machine load. To evaluate the proposed balancing method, we conducted a series of simulation studies using cloud simulator and made comparisons with previously suggested approaches in the previous work. The experimental results show that suggested method betters present approaches significantly and all these approaches

Evaluation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new modified cast and laser-melted AA7075 alloy

The mechanical properties and microstructure of as-cast and homogenized AA7075 were investigated. This alloy was modified by adding transition elements 0.3%Sc + 0.5%Zr, 1%Ti + 0.2%B, and 1%Fe + 1%Ni for use in additive manufacturing applications. After adding Ti + B and Sc + Zr, the structure became uniform and finer with the formation of the Al3(Sc, Zr) and TiB2 phases. Coarse structures were obtained with the formation of an extremely unfavorable morphology, close to a needle-like structure when Fe + Ni was added. The mechanical properties of the modified alloys were increased compared to those of the standard alloy, where the best ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength (YS) were obtained in the AA7075-TiB alloy compared to the standard alloy in as-cast and homogenized conditions, and the highest hardness value was provided by Fe + Ni additives. The effect of the laser melting process on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. Single laser melts were performed on these alloys using 330 V and a scanning speed of 8 mm/s. During the laser melting, the liquation of the alloying elements occurred due to non-equilibrium solidification. A change in the microstructures was observed within the melt zone and heat-affected zone (HAZ). The hardness of the laser-melted zone (LMZ) after adding the modification elements was increased in comparison with that of the standard alloy. Corrosion testing was performed using a solution of 100 mL distilled water, 3.1 g NaCl, and 1 mL HCl over 5, 10, and 30 min and 1 and 2 h. The corrosion resistance of the alloy modified with FeNi was low because of the non-uniform elemental distribution along the LMZ, but in the case of modification with ScZr and TiB, the corrosion resistance was better compared to that of the standard alloy. © 2019 by the authors.Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian FederationThe author (Asmaa M. Khalil) gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in the framework of Increase Competitiveness Program of MISiS (Support project for young research engineers)

The level of aflatoxin M1 in raw and pasteurized milk produced in alborz province, Iran

Background: Aflatoxins are agroupof very toxiccompoundsproducedby a fungal speciesandare foundin food products. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a type found in dairy products and resistant to pasteurization. AFM1 can adversely affect hepatocytes in human and leading to various liver diseases. Thus, it is essential to examine raw milk for the presence of AFM1. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the levels of AFM1 in raw and pasteurized milk produced in Alborz province, Iran. Materials and Methods: Ninety seven samples of rawmilk and 20 samples of pasteurized milk were collected from milk collecting centers and different supermarkets, respectively. Samples were analyzed to determine AFM1 level by immunoaffinity column chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C18 column with fluorescence detector. Mobile phase was water-acetonitrile-methanol (6:2:2 V/V/V) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/minute. Results: AFM1 was detected in all samples with various concentration levels ranging from 0.0024 to 0.231 μg/kg, the mean concentration = 0.027±0.018 μg/kg. Conclusions: According to the results of the current study, 9.27 of the rawmilk and 5 of the pasteurized milk samples had higher levels of AFM1 than the maximum recommended limit (0.05 μg/kg) by food and agriculture organization (FAO). © 2016, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Indoor environment propagation review

A survey of indoor propagation characteristics is presented, including different models for path loss, shadowing and fast fading mechanisms, different channel parameters including signal strength, power delay, coherence bandwidth, Doppler spread and angle of arrival. The concepts of MIMO channels are also covered. The study also explores many types of deterministic channel modelling, such as Finite Difference Time Domain, Finite Integration Method, Ray tracing and the Dominant path model. Electromagnetic properties of building materials, including frequency dependence, are also investigated and several models for propagation through buildings are reviewed

Influence of Adding Modifying Elements and Homogenization Annealing on Laser Melting Process of the Modified Alznmgcu with 4%si Alloys

AlZnMgCu, the high-strength aluminum alloy, is unsuitable for laser melting applications due to its high hot cracking sensitivity and large solidification temperature range. Adapting this alloy for laser melting processing is a high-demand research issue for extending its use. Thus, this paper investigates the effect of adding 4%Si, 4%Si-Sc + Zr, 4%Si-Ti + B, and homogenization annealing on the laser melting process (LMP) of AlZnMgCu alloy. Homogenization annealing at 500◦ C for 6.5 h was selected to dissolve most of the low melting temperature phases into the grain matrix and perform stable alloys for the LMP. The pulsed laser melting process (PLM) was performed on the as-casted and the homogenized samples. The microstructures of the as-casted, the homogenized alloys, and after the LMP were evaluated. In addition, the hardness of the base metal (BM) and laser melted zone (LMZ) were measured. The results revealed that the microstructure was enhanced and refined in the as-cast state by adding the modifiers due to the increasing nucleation potency of solidification sites and the formation of primary Al3 (Ti, Zr, Sc) phases. The average grain size was decreased by 15.6 times when adding 4%Si + 0.4%Zr + 0.29%Sc, while it decreased by 10.2 times when adding 4%Si + 1%Ti + 0.2%B. The LMZ of the as-casted samples exhibited a non-uniform distribution of the grains and the elements after the LMP. This was attributed to the evaporation of Zn, Mg during the high laser power process besides the non-uniform distribution of elements and phases in samples during casting. After the laser treating of the homogenized samples with 4%Si-Sc + Zr, uniform columnar grains were formed in the direction of the laser. The presence of Ti and B changed the crystallization nature, resulting in the LMZ with very fine and equiaxed grains due to forming many nucleation centers during solidification. The hardness values have positively increased due to Si addition and adding a combination of Ti + B and Sc + Zr. The maximum hardness was 153.9 ± 5 HV achieved in the LMZ of the homogenized samples of 4%Si + 1%Ti + 0.2%B. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Funding: This research was partially funded by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) with project number 19-38-60037

Factors influencing delayed clearance of high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult oncology patients

PurposeTo identify modifiable risk factors associated with prolonged clearance of methotrexate in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) oncology patients receiving high dose methotrexate (HDMTX).Design/MethodA single institution, retrospective chart review of patients receiving HDMTX between 2010-2017. Patients had a diagnosis of either leukemia or osteosarcoma. Data included demographics, concurrent intravenous (IV) medications, IV fluids (IVF) administered, urine output (UO), and rises in serum creatinine (RSC) reflective of renal toxicity (RT). Outcome measures included 1) delayed targeted MTX clearance (DC), 2) actual time to clearance (TTC) and 3) length of stay (LOS).ResultsData from 447 HDMTX administrations were analyzed. The sample consisted of 241 (54%) osteosarcoma encounters, and 206 (46%) leukemia encounters, with an average patient age of 12.7 years. Multivariate analysis showed that DC was associated with the diagnosis of leukemia (OR 7.64, p <.0001), and less UO on day 1 (OR 0.76, p=0.005). Increased TTC was associated with increasing age (RR 1.02, p<0.0001), higher 24-hour MTX levels (RR 1.001, p=0.012) and 48-hour MTX levels (RR 1.02, p<0.0001), RT (RR 1.004, p<0.0001), use of IV lorazepam (RR 1.08, p=0.001) and IV metoclopramide (RR 1.08, p<0.001) both on day 3. Like TTC, LOS was affected by MTX levels at 24 (RR 1.001, p=0.025) and 48 hours (RR 1.03, p<0.0001), RT (RR 1.006, p<0.0001), total IV medications on day 3 (RR 1.042, p<0.0001), and the use of leucovorin on day 2 (RR 0.93, p=0.002).ConclusionMultiple modifiable risk factors were identified which can be leveraged to improve HDMTX clearance. Subsequent efforts will assess whether acting on such risk factors can improve MTX clearance and shorten LOS

Tribological evaluation of solid lubricant enriched in modified Jatropha-Based Oil as Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) oil for composite material

The use of lubricant during the machining process plays an important role to reduce friction and wear. Mineral-based oil is the most widely used lubricant that provided high-quality lubrication properties. However, mineral-based oil has poor biodegradability and causes long-term pollution to the environment and harmful to human. Implementation of environmental-friendly lubricant was encouraged to achieve sustainable manufacturing practices. The inherent biodegradability of vegetable-based oil with solid particle offers greater benefit to the environment and lubrication performance. The study aims to evaluate the influence of green solid particle (hexagonal boron nitride, hBN) enriched in the modified jatropha oil (MJO) through tribology testing using four-ball tribotestermachine. hBN particlewas added inMJOat various concentration ratio; 0.05wt% and 0.5wt%. TheMJOsamples were compared with the crude jatropha oil and commercial synthetic ester. The tribology testing was conducted according to ASTM D4712. The value of coefficient of friction, wear scar diameter, worn surface analysis and surface roughness were evaluated. The lowest concentration of hBN particles in MJO (MJO + 0.05 wt% hBN) has reduced the coefficient of friction with smaller wear scar diameter and better surface roughness quality. The worn surface analysis from the ball lubricate byMJO + 0.05 wt% hBN had light and shallow grooves. The study proved that MJO + 0.05 wt% hBN exhibits better lubrication ability and suitable as an alternative for the environmental-friendly lubricant especially for minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) oil

Bim and Bmf synergize to induce apoptosis in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection

Abstract: Bcl-2 family proteins including the pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins are central regulators of apoptotic cell death. Here we show by a focused siRNA miniscreen that the synergistic action of the BH3-only proteins Bim and Bmf is required for apoptosis induced by infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo). While Bim and Bmf were associated with the cytoskeleton of healthy cells, they both were released upon Ngo infection. Loss of Bim and Bmf from the cytoskeleton fraction required the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase-1 (JNK-1), which in turn depended on Rac-1. Depletion and inhibition of Rac-1, JNK-1, Bim, or Bmf prevented the activation of Bak and Bax and the subsequent activation of caspases. Apoptosis could be reconstituted in Bim-depleted and Bmf-depleted cells by additional silencing of antiapoptotic Mcl-1 and Bcl-XL, respectively. Our data indicate a synergistic role for both cytoskeletal-associated BH3-only proteins, Bim, and Bmf, in an apoptotic pathway leading to the clearance of Ngo-infected cells. Author Summary: A variety of physiological death signals, as well as pathological insults, trigger apoptosis, a genetically programmed form of cell death. Pathogens often induce host cell apoptosis to establish a successful infection. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo), the etiological agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea, is a highly adapted obligate human-specific pathogen and has been shown to induce apoptosis in infected cells. Here we unveil the molecular mechanisms leading to apoptosis of infected cells. We show that Ngo-mediated apoptosis requires a special subset of proapoptotic proteins from the group of BH3-only proteins. BH3-only proteins act as stress sensors to translate toxic environmental signals to the initiation of apoptosis. In a siRNA-based miniscreen, we found Bim and Bmf, BH3-only proteins associated with the cytoskeleton, necessary to induce host cell apoptosis upon infection. Bim and Bmf inactivated different inhibitors of apoptosis and thereby induced cell death in response to infection. Our data unveil a novel pathway of infection-induced apoptosis that enhances our understanding of the mechanism by which BH3-only proteins control apoptotic cell death

CANDELS: The progenitors of compact quiescent galaxies at z~2

We combine high-resolution HST/WFC3 images with multi-wavelength photometry to track the evolution of structure and activity of massive (log(M*) > 10) galaxies at redshifts z = 1.4 - 3 in two fields of the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS). We detect compact, star-forming galaxies (cSFGs) whose number densities, masses, sizes, and star formation rates qualify them as likely progenitors of compact, quiescent, massive galaxies (cQGs) at z = 1.5 - 3. At z > 2 most cSFGs have specific star-formation rates (sSFR = 10^-9 yr^-1) half that of typical, massive SFGs at the same epoch, and host X-ray luminous AGN 30 times (~30%) more frequently. These properties suggest that cSFGs are formed by gas-rich processes (mergers or disk-instabilities) that induce a compact starburst and feed an AGN, which, in turn, quench the star formation on dynamical timescales (few 10^8 yr). The cSFGs are continuously being formed at z = 2 - 3 and fade to cQGs by z = 1.5. After this epoch, cSFGs are rare, thereby truncating the formation of new cQGs. Meanwhile, down to z = 1, existing cQGs continue to enlarge to match local QGs in size, while less-gas-rich mergers and other secular mechanisms shepherd (larger) SFGs as later arrivals to the red sequence. In summary, we propose two evolutionary scenarios of QG formation: an early (z > 2), fast-formation path of rapidly-quenched cSFGs that evolve into cQGs that later enlarge within the quiescent phase, and a slow, late-arrival (z < 2) path for SFGs to form QGs without passing through a compact state.Comment: Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Letters, 6 pages, 4 figure