Towards the optimization of a parallel streaming engine for telco applications

Parallel and distributed computing is becoming essential to process in real time the increasingly massive volume of data collected by telecommunications companies. Existing computational paradigms such as MapReduce (and its popular open-source implementation Hadoop) provide a scalable, fault tolerant mechanism for large scale batch computations. However, many applications in the telco ecosystem require a real time, incremental streaming approach to process data in real time and enable proactive care. Storm is a scalable, fault tolerant framework for the analysis of real time streaming data. In this paper we provide a motivation for the use of real time streaming analytics in the telco ecosystem. We perform an experimental investigation into the performance of Storm, focusing in particular on the impact of parameter configuration. This investigation reveals that optimal parameter choice is highly non-trivial and we use this as motivation to create a parameter configuration engine. As first steps towards the creation of this engine we provide a deep analysis of the inner workings of Storm and provide a set of models describing data flow cost, central processing unit (CPU) cost, and system management cost. ©2014 Alcatel-Lucent

An Overview of The VERITAS Prototype Telescope And Camera

VERITAS (the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) is the next generation ground-based gamma-ray observatory that is being built in southern Arizona by a collaboration of ten institutions in Canada, Ireland, the U.K. and the U.S.A. VERITAS is designed to operate in the range from 50 GeV to 50 TeV with optimal sensitivity near 200 GeV; it will effectively overlap with the next generation of space-based gamma-ray telescopes. The first phase of VERITAS, consisting of four telescopes of 12 m aperture, will be operational by the time of the GLAST launch in 2007. Eventually the array will be expanded to include the full array of seven telescopes on a filled hexagonal grid of side 80 m. A prototype VERITAS telescope with a reduced number of mirrors and signal channels has been built. Its design and performance is described here. The prototype is scheduled to be upgraded to a full 499 pixel camera with 350 mirrors during the autumn of 2004.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings of the Conference "The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Sources", to appear in the journal Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Molecular characterisation and genetic mapping of candidate genes for qualitative disease resistance in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Qualitative pathogen resistance in both dicotyledenous and monocotyledonous plants has been attributed to the action of resistance (R) genes, including those encoding nucleotide binding site – leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) proteins and receptor-like kinase enzymes. This study describes the large-scale isolation and characterisation of candidate R genes from perennial ryegrass. The analysis was based on the availability of an expressed sequence tag (EST) resource and a functionally-integrated bioinformatics database.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Amplification of R gene sequences was performed using template EST data and information from orthologous candidate using a degenerate consensus PCR approach. A total of 102 unique partial R genes were cloned, sequenced and functionally annotated. Analysis of motif structure and R gene phylogeny demonstrated that <it>Lolium </it>R genes cluster with putative ortholoci, and evolved from common ancestral origins. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predicted through resequencing of amplicons from the parental genotypes of a genetic mapping family were validated, and 26 distinct R gene loci were assigned to multiple genetic maps. Clusters of largely non-related NBS-LRR genes were located at multiple distinct genomic locations and were commonly found in close proximity to previously mapped defence response (DR) genes. A comparative genomics analysis revealed the co-location of several candidate R genes with disease resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study is the most comprehensive analysis to date of qualitative disease resistance candidate genes in perennial ryegrass. SNPs identified within candidate genes provide a valuable resource for mapping in various ryegrass pair cross-derived populations and further germplasm analysis using association genetics. In parallel with the use of specific pathogen virulence races, such resources provide the means to identify gene-for-gene mechanisms for multiple host pathogen-interactions and ultimately to obtain durable field-based resistance.</p

Decorin reduces intraocular pressure and retinal ganglion cell loss in rodents through fibrolysis of the scarred trabecular meshwork

Purpose. To investigate whether Decorin, a matrikine that regulates extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, can reverse established trabecular meshwork (TM) fibrosis, lower IOP, and reduce progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in a novel rodent model of TM fibrosis. Methods. Adult rats had intracameral (IC) injections of human recombinant (hr) TGF-β over 30 days (30d; to induce TM fibrosis, raise IOP, and initiate RGC death by 17d) or PBS (controls) and visually evoked potentials (VEP) were measured at 30d to evaluate resultant visual pathway dysfunction. In some animals TGF-β injections were stopped at 17d when TM fibrosis and IOP were consistently raised and either hrDecorin or PBS IC injections were administered between 21d and 30d. Intraocular pressure was measured biweekly and eyes were processed for immunohistochemical analysis of ECM deposition to assess TM fibrosis and levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP) to assess fibrolysis. The effect of hrDecorin treatment on RGC survival was also assessed. Results. Transforming growth factor–β injections caused sustained increases in ECM deposition in the TM and raised IOP by 17d, responses that were associated with 42% RGC loss and a significant decrease in VEP amplitude measured at 30d. Decorin treatment from 17d reduced TGF-β–induced TM fibrosis, increased levels of MMP2 and MMP9 and lowered TIMP2 levels, and lowered IOP, preventing progressive RGC loss. Conclusions. Human recombinant Decorin reversed established TM fibrosis and lowered IOP, thereby rescuing RGC from progressive death. These data provide evidence for the candidacy of hrDecorin as a treatment for open-angle glaucoma

Getting It on Record: Issues and Strategies for Ethnographic Practice in Recording Studios

The recording studio has been somewhat neglected as a site for ethnographic fieldwork in the field of ethno-musicology and, moreover, the majority of published studies tend to overlook the specific concerns faced by the researcher within these contexts. Music recording studios can be places of creativity, artistry, and collaboration, but they often also involve challenging, intimidating, and fractious relations. Given that recording studios are, first and foremost, concerned with documenting musicians’ performances, we discuss the concerns of getting studio interactions “on record” in terms of access, social relations, and methods of data collection. This article reflects on some of the issues we faced when conducting our fieldwork within British music recording facilities and makes suggestions based on strategies that we employed to address these issues