Nice Resource Reservations in Linux

Computing systems are becoming more and more complex and powerful every year. It is nowadays not uncommon to run several server applications on the same physical platform. This gives rise to a need for resource reservation techniques, so that administrators may prioritize some applications, or customers, over others. This article gives a brief introduction to the Linux kernel 2.6 task scheduler. The article also presents an implementation of a scheduling mechanism, that in a non-intrusive way introduces CPU bandwidth reservations for a task, or a group of tasks, in the GNU/Linux operating system. The scheduling mechanism is first tested using ded icated load tasks, and then on a setup consisting of two Apache servers

Simulation of Networked Control Systems Using TrueTime

This paper gives a brief introduction to the TrueTime simulator and then gives several examples on how TrueTime can be used to simulate networked control systems. Among the examples are time-triggered and event-based networked control and AODV routing in wireless ad-hoc networks

Holistic Simulation of Mobile Robot and Sensor Network Applications Using TrueTime

The RUNES project defines a complex road tunnel scenario involving multiple mobile robots navigating in sensor network environment. In this paper, a TrueTime simulation model of the tunnel scenario is developed. The TrueTime simulator allows concurrent simulation of the physical robots and their environment, the software in the nodes, the radio communication, the network routing, and the ultra-sound navigation system. The various models are described in detail, and some simulation results obtained from the complete model are presented

Effects on osteoclast and osteoblast activities in cultured mouse calvarial bones by synovial fluids from patients with a loose joint prosthesis and from osteoarthritis patients

Aseptic loosening of a joint prosthesis is associated with remodelling of bone tissue in the vicinity of the prosthesis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of synovial fluid (SF) from patients with a loose prosthetic component and periprosthetic osteolysis on osteoclast and osteoblast activities in vitro and made comparisons with the effects of SF from patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Bone resorption was assessed by the release of calcium 45 ((45)Ca) from cultured calvariae. The mRNA expression in calvarial bones of molecules known to be involved in osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation was assessed using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. SFs from patients with a loose joint prosthesis and patients with OA, but not SFs from healthy subjects, significantly enhanced (45)Ca release, effects associated with increased mRNA expression of calcitonin receptor and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The mRNA expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa-B ligand (rankl) and osteoprotegerin (opg) was enhanced by SFs from both patient categories. The mRNA expressions of nfat2 (nuclear factor of activated T cells 2) and oscar (osteoclast-associated receptor) were enhanced only by SFs from patients with OA, whereas the mRNA expressions of dap12 (DNAX-activating protein 12) and fcrγ (Fc receptor common gamma subunit) were not affected by either of the two SF types. Bone resorption induced by SFs was inhibited by addition of OPG. Antibodies neutralising interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, soluble IL-6 receptor, IL-17, or tumour necrosis factor-α, when added to individual SFs, only occasionally decreased the bone-resorbing activity. The mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin was increased by SFs from patients with OA, whereas only osteocalcin mRNA was increased by SFs from patients with a loose prosthesis. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a factor (or factors) stimulating both osteoclast and osteoblast activities in SFs from patients with a loose joint prosthesis and periprosthetic osteolysis as well as in SFs from patients with OA. SF-induced bone resorption was dependent on activation of the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway. The bone-resorbing activity could not be attributed solely to any of the known pro-inflammatory cytokines, well known to stimulate bone resorption, or to RANKL or prostaglandin E(2 )in SFs. The data indicate that SFs from patients with a loose prosthesis or with OA stimulate bone resorption and that SFs from patients with OA are more prone to enhance bone formation

Research on the strategy of multinational enterprises: Key approaches and new avenues

Over decades, research on multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) strategies has been anchored in internalization theory. Strongly grounded in transaction cost economics to explain foreign market entry, it hardly explains how MNEs can build and sustain a competitive advantage. Thus, this paper aims at understanding how the nature of strategic thinking has influenced the research in the field of MNEs’ strategy. A content analysis of 1116 papers was conducted. The intellectual structure and dynamics of research to date are provided, without losing sight of the key foundations of strategy and strategic management. The links between human capital and knowledge are the factors on which to underpin the explanation of the MNEs’ strategies and support the coevolving theory. This theory is a promising avenue of research under the umbrella of RBV and KBV approaches. The context-dependency of strategy implies that different contexts require different approaches. Accordingly, we provide insights for future research by combining main schools of strategy though

‘Ripple’ Effect on Infant zBMI Trajectory of an Internet-based Weight Loss Program for Low-income Postpartum Women

Background: Weight loss interventions can have positive ‘ripple’ effects on untreated partners in the home, but ripple effects on infants are unknown. Objective: To examine whether a 12-month internet-based weight loss intervention for postpartum mothers had a positive ripple effect on participants’ infants. Methods: A 12-month cluster randomized, assessor-blind, clinical trial enrolling 371 postpartum women at 12 Women, Infants, Children clinics in CA. Clinics were randomized to standardWomen, Infants, Children or an internet-based weight loss intervention for mothers. Results: A total of 333 of the 371 (89.8%) mothers assented for infant participation. Infants were 5.3 ± 3.2 months; 75.9% were Hispanic and 64% were breastfeeding. Infant retention was 272/333 (82.7%) at 6 months post enrollment and 251/333 (75.3%) at 12 months post enrollment. In intent-to-treat analysis, a significant interaction between group and time was observed (p = 0.008) with the offspring of intervention mothers exhibiting lower zBMI change from study entry through 6 months (0.23 [CI, 0.03, 0.44] vs. 0.65 [0.50, 0.79] zBMI change, respectively; p = 0.001) but was not significant through 12 months (p = 0.16). Regardless of group, maternal reports at the final assessment indicated that infants (aged =17.2 ± 3.4 months) consumed sweetened beverages (0.93 ± 1.5/week), juice (2.0 ± 1.4/day), ‘junk food’ (7.8 ± 5.4/week) and fast food (2/month), and 46.7% of the infants had a TV in their bedroom. Conclusions: An internet-based weight loss program for low-income, postpartum mothers had a positive ‘ripple’ effect on the zBMI of infants in the home during the first 6 months of treatment

Healthy aging and disease: role for telomere biology?

Aging is a biological process that affects most cells, organisms and species. Human aging is associated with increased susceptibility to a variety of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, neurological diseases and cancer. Despite the remarkable progress made during the last two decades, our understanding of the biology of aging remains incomplete. Telomere biology has recently emerged as an important player in the aging and disease process

Inferred Allelic Variants of Immunoglobulin Receptor Genes: a system for their evaluation, documentation, and naming

Immunoglobulins or antibodies are the main effector molecules of the B-cell lineage and are encoded by hundreds of variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) germline genes, which recombine to generate enormous IG diversity. Recently, high-throughput adaptive immune receptor repertoire sequencing (AIRR-seq) of recombined V-(D)-J genes has offered unprecedented insights into the dynamics of IG repertoires in health and disease. Faithful biological interpretation of AIRR-seq studies depends upon the annotation of raw AIRR-seq data, using reference germline gene databases to identify the germline genes within each rearrangement. Existing reference databases are incomplete, as shown by recent AIRR-seq studies that have inferred the existence of many previously unreported polymorphisms. Completing the documentation of genetic variation in germline gene databases is therefore of crucial importance. Lymphocyte receptor genes and alleles are currently assigned by the Immunoglobulins, T cell Receptors and Major Histocompatibility Nomenclature Subcommittee of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) and managed in IMGT®, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system® (IMGT). In 2017, the IMGT Group reached agreement with a group of AIRR-seq researchers on the principles of a streamlined process for identifying and naming inferred allelic sequences, for their incorporation into IMGT®. These researchers represented the AIRR Community, a network of over 300 researchers whose objective is to promote all aspects of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor repertoire studies, including the standardization of experimental and computational aspects of AIRR-seq data generation and analysis. The Inferred Allele Review Committee (IARC) was established by the AIRR Community to devise policies, criteria, and procedures to perform this function. Formalized evaluations of novel inferred sequences have now begun and submissions are invited via a new dedicated portal (https://ogrdb.airr-community.org). Here, we summarize recommendations developed by the IARC—focusing, to begin with, on human IGHV genes—with the goal of facilitating the acceptance of inferred allelic variants of germline IGHV genes. We believe that this initiative will improve the quality of AIRR-seq studies by facilitating the description of human IG germline gene variation, and that in time, it will expand to the documentation of TR and IG genes in many vertebrate species