Improving the Flexibility of the Deficit Table Scheduler

Abstract. A key component for networks with Quality of Service (QoS) support is the egress link scheduler. The table-based schedulers are simple to implement and can offer good latency bounds. Some of the latest proposals of network technologies, like Advanced Switching and Infini-Band, define in their specifications one of these schedulers. However, these schedulers do not work properly with variable packet sizes and face the problem of bounding the bandwidth and latency assignments. We have proposed a new table-based scheduler, the Deficit Table (DTable) scheduler, that works properly with variable packet sizes. Moreover, we have proposed a methodology to configure this table-based scheduler that partially decouples the bandwidth and latency assignments. In this paper we propose a method to improve the flexibility of the decoupling methodology. Moreover, we compare the latency performance of this strategy with two well-known scheduling algorithms: the Self-Clocked Weighted Fair Queuing (SCFQ) and the Deficit Round Robin (DRR) algorithms.

Single-filament Composite MgB2/SUS Ribbons by Powder-In-Tube Process

We report the successful fabrication of single-filament composite MgB2/SUS ribbons, as an ultra-robust conductor type, employing the powder-in-tube (PIT) process, by swaging and cold rolling only. The remarkable transport critical current (Ic) of the non-sintered MgB2/SUS ribbon has observed, as an unexpected result. Transport critical currents Ic ~ 316 A at T = 4.2 K and Ic ~ 82 A at T = 20 K were observed at self-field, for the non-sintered composite MgB2/SUS ribbon. In addition, the persistent current density Jp values, that were estimated by Bean formula, were more than ~ 7  105 A/cm2 at T = 5 K, and ~ 1.2  105 A/cm2 at T = 30 K, for the sintered composite MgB2/SUS ribbon, at H = 0 G.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

The assessment of Shin's method for the prediction of creatinine kinase-MB elevation after percutaneous coronary intervention: an intravascular ultrasound study

Cardiac enzyme release is common after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). At present there is no established relationship between the quantity of necrotic core and dense calcium, as assessed by Shin's method using intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (VH-IVUS), and post-PCI creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) elevation. A total of 112 consecutive patients with unstable angina and a normal pre-PCI CK-MB level were imaged using VH-IVUS. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (CK-MB group, n = 22) or absence (non CK-MB group, n = 90) of a post-PCI CK-MB elevation >1.0 the upper limit of normal (3.6 ng/ml). Using Shin's method contours were drawn around the IVUS catheter (instead of the lumen), and the vessel. Mean area and volume of necrotic core and dense calcium were significantly greater in CK-MB group than in non CK-MB group (1.7 ± 0.9 mm2vs. 0.9 ± 0.6 mm2, P < 0.001; 17.2 ± 8.8 mm3vs. 8.8 ± 5.8 mm3, P < 0.001, and 0.9 ± 0.6 mm2vs. 0.4 ± 0.4 mm2, P = 0.001; 9.1 ± 5.8 mm3vs. 3.9 ± 3.7 mm3, P < 0.001, respectively). Percent necrotic core and dense calcium areas calculated by external elastic membrane (EEM) area were significantly greater in CK-MB group than in non CK-MB group (11.9 ± 5.1 vs. 6.6 ± 4.0%, P < 0.001 and 6.5 ± 4.0 vs. 3.0 ± 2.9%, P 

Hydration kinetics and products of MgO-activated blast furnace slag

Hydration kinetics and products of MgO-activated slag are investigated by employing multiple analytical characterization techniques and thermodynamic modelling. The main hydration products of this cement are a calcium-aluminosilicate hydrate type gel, ettringite, monosulfate, hydrotalcite, brucite, and a third aluminate hydrate, while the extent of reaction and formation of reaction products significantly varied by MgO dosages. Higher dosage of MgO increased the degree of reaction of slag, and led to a higher population of Al in the octahedral region, which can be attributed to greater competition for Al required for the formation of hydrotalcite. The experimental and simulated volume of the solid binder increased as the MgO dosage increased, showing a good correlation with the strength increase of the samples with higher MgO dosage

Stabilized electron emission from silicon coated carbon nanotubes for a high-performance electron source

The authors show that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated with an amorphous silicon layer around their periphery show enhanced and stable electron emission. The CNT-field emitter array was grown on silicon substrate through a resist-assisted patterning process. The CNTs become coated with silicon from the substrate, which is etched and redeposited onto the CNTs. The authors obtained enhanced and stabilized electron emission from the silicon coated CNTs with a turn-on field of 2 V/μm at an emission current density of 1 μA/ cm 2. The structure and electron emission properties of the functionalized emitters are discussed

The Far-Infrared Properties of Spatially Resolved AKARI Observations

We present the spatially resolved observations of IRAS sources from the Japanese infrared astronomy satellite AKARI All-Sky Survey during the performance verification (PV) phase of the mission. We extracted reliable point sources matched with IRAS point source catalogue. By comparing IRAS and AKARI fluxes, we found that the flux measurements of some IRAS sources could have been over or underestimated and affected by the local background rather than the global background. We also found possible candidates for new AKARI sources and confirmed that AKARI observations resolved IRAS sources into multiple sources. All-Sky Survey observations are expected to verify the accuracies of IRAS flux measurements and to find new extragalactic point sources.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted publication in PASJ AKARI special issu

Loss of endothelial endoglin promotes high-output heart failure through peripheral arteriovenous shunting driven by VEGF signaling

Rationale: ENG (endoglin) is a coreceptor for BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) 9/10 and is strongly expressed in endothelial cells. Mutations in ENG lead to the inherited vascular disorder hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia characterized by local telangiectases and larger arteriovenous malformations (AVMs); but how ENG functions to regulate the adult vasculature is not understood. Objective: The goal of the work was to determine how ENG maintains vessel caliber in adult life to prevent AVM formation and thereby protect heart function. Methods and Results: Genetic depletion of endothelial Eng in adult mice led to a significant reduction in mean aortic blood pressure. There was no evidence of hemorrhage, anemia, or AVMs in major organs to explain the reduced aortic pressure. However, large AVMs developed in the peripheral vasculature intimately associated with the pelvic cartilaginous symphysis—a noncapsulated cartilage with a naturally high endogenous expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). The increased blood flow through these peripheral AVMs explained the drop in aortic blood pressure and led to increased cardiac preload, and high stroke volumes, ultimately resulting in high-output heart failure. Development of pelvic AVMs in this region of high VEGF expression occurred because loss of ENG in endothelial cells leads to increased sensitivity to VEGF and a hyperproliferative response. Development of AVMs and associated progression to high-output heart failure in the absence of endothelial ENG was attenuated by targeting VEGF signaling with an anti-VEGFR2 (VEGF receptor 2) antibody. Conclusions: ENG promotes the normal balance of VEGF signaling in quiescent endothelial cells to maintain vessel caliber—an essential function in conditions of increased VEGF expression such as local hypoxia or inflammation. In the absence of endothelial ENG, increased sensitivity to VEGF drives abnormal endothelial proliferation in local regions of high VEGF expression, leading to AVM formation and a rapid injurious impact on heart function

Further analysis of the quantum critical point of Ce1−x_{1-x}Lax_{x}Ru2_{2}Si2_{2}

New data on the spin dynamics and the magnetic order of Ce$_{1-x}$La$_{x}$Ru$_{2}$Si$_{2}$ are presented. The importance of the Kondo effect at the quantum critical point of this system is emphasized from the behaviour of the relaxation rate at high temperature and from the variation of the ordered moment with respect to the one of the N\'eel temperature for various $x$.Comment: Contribution for the Festschrift on the occasion of Hilbert von Loehneysen 60 th birthday. To be published as a special issue in the Journal of Low Temperature Physic

A Statistical Study on Photospheric Magnetic Nonpotentiality of Active Regions and Its Relationship with Flares during Solar Cycles 22-23

A statistical study is carried out on the photospheric magnetic nonpotentiality in solar active regions and its relationship with associated flares. We select 2173 photospheric vector magnetograms from 1106 active regions observed by the Solar Magnetic Field Telescope at Huairou Solar Observing Station, National Astronomical Observatories of China, in the period of 1988-2008, which covers most of the 22nd and 23rd solar cycles. We have computed the mean planar magnetic shear angle (\bar{\Delta\phi}), mean shear angle of the vector magnetic field (\bar{\Delta\psi}), mean absolute vertical current density (\bar{|J_{z}|}), mean absolute current helicity density (\bar{|h_{c}|}), absolute twist parameter (|\alpha_{av}|), mean free magnetic energy density (\bar{\rho_{free}}), effective distance of the longitudinal magnetic field (d_{E}), and modified effective distance (d_{Em}) of each photospheric vector magnetogram. Parameters \bar{|h_{c}|}, \bar{\rho_{free}}, and d_{Em} show higher correlation with the evolution of the solar cycle. The Pearson linear correlation coefficients between these three parameters and the yearly mean sunspot number are all larger than 0.59. Parameters \bar{\Delta\phi}, \bar{\Delta\psi}, \bar{|J_{z}|}, |\alpha_{av}|, and d_{E} show only weak correlations with the solar cycle, though the nonpotentiality and the complexity of active regions are greater in the activity maximum periods than in the minimum periods. All of the eight parameters show positive correlations with the flare productivity of active regions, and the combination of different nonpotentiality parameters may be effective in predicting the flaring probability of active regions.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in Solar Physic