Cost-aware multi data-center bulk transfers in the cloud from a customer-side perspective

Many cloud applications (e.g., data backup and replication, video distribution) require dissemination of large volumes of data from a source data-center to multiple geographically distributed data-centers. Given the high costs of wide-area bandwidth, the overall cost of inter-data-center communication is a major concern in such scenarios. While previous works have focused on optimizing the costs of bulk transfer, most of them use the charging models of Internet service providers, typically based on the 95th percentile of bandwidth consumption. However, public Cloud Service Providers (CSP) follow very different models to charge their customers. First, the cost for transmission is flat and depends on the location of the source and receiver data-centers. Second, CSPs offer discounts once customer transfers exceed certain volume thresholds per data-center. We present a systematic framework, CloudMPcast, that exploits these two aspects of cloud pricing schemes. CloudMPcast constructs overlay distribution trees for bulk-data transfer that both optimizes dollar costs of distribution, and ensures end-to-end data transfer times are not affected. CloudMPCast monitors TCP throughputs between data-centers and only proposes alternative trees that respect original transfer times. After an extensive measurement study, the cost savings range from 10 to 60 percent for both Azure and EC2 infrastructures, which potentially translates to millions of dollars a year assuming realistic demandsThis material is based upon work supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Award No.1162333, . J. L. Garc ıa-Dorado is thankful for the financial support of the Jos e Castillejo Program (CAS12/00057

Comparative Synthesis: Learning Near-Optimal Network Designs by Query

When managing wide-area networks, network architects must decide how to balance multiple conflicting metrics, and ensure fair allocations to competing traffic while prioritizing critical traffic. The state of practice poses challenges since architects must precisely encode their intent into formal optimization models using abstract notions such as utility functions, and ad-hoc manually tuned knobs. In this paper, we present the first effort to synthesize optimal network designs with indeterminate objectives using an interactive program-synthesis-based approach. We make three contributions. First, we present comparative synthesis, an interactive synthesis framework which produces near-optimal programs (network designs) through two kinds of queries (Propose and Compare), without an objective explicitly given. Second, we develop the first learning algorithm for comparative synthesis in which a voting-guided learner picks the most informative query in each iteration. We present theoretical analysis of the convergence rate of the algorithm. Third, we implemented Net10Q, a system based on our approach, and demonstrate its effectiveness on four real-world network case studies using black-box oracles and simulation experiments, as well as a pilot user study comprising network researchers and practitioners. Both theoretical and experimental results show the promise of our approach

Free Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Beams

Free vibration analysis of functionally graded beams is carried out for various classical boundary conditions. Two separate finite element formulations, one based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and other based on Timoshenko beam theory are developed. Principle of virtual work is used to obtain the finite element system of equations. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the effect of transverse shear on the natural frequencies and mode shapes for different length-to-thickness ratios and volume fraction exponents of functionally graded material (FGM) beams for the boundary conditions considered. It was observed that transverse shear significantly affects the fundamental frequency and mode shape for lower length to thickness ratios of FGM beams. Further, the effect was observed to be more prominent at higher modes for all the volume fraction exponents of FGM beam.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(3), pp.139-146, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.132

Thermal Buckling and Free Vibration Analysis of Heated Functionally Graded Material Beams

The effect of temperature dependency of material properties on thermal buckling and free vibration of functionally graded material (FGM) beams is studied. The FGM beam is assumed to be at a uniform through thickness temperature, above the ambient temperature. Finite element system of equations based on the first order shear deformation theory is developed. FGM beam with axially immovable ends having the classical boundary conditions is analysed. An exhaustive set of numerical results, in terms of buckling temperatures and frequencies, is presented, considering the temperature independent and temperature dependent material properties. The buckling temperature and fundamental frequency obtained using the temperature independent material properties is higher than that obtained by using the temperature dependent material properties, for all the material distributions, geometrical parameters in terms of length to thickness ratios and the boundary conditions considered. It is also observed that the frequencies of the FGM beam will reduce with the increase in temperature. This observation is applicable for the higher modes of vibration also. The necessity of considering the temperature dependency of material properties in determining thermal buckling and vibration characteristics of FGM beams is clearly demonstrated.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(3), pp.315-322, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.237

Solar Panel Technology in Highway

solar energy has been the subject of great development in the past years, which led to the concept of Solar Roads. The solar roadway is a series of the structurally engineered solar panel that is driven upon. Solar roadway means the use of solar panel in road pavement. It also means replace current petroleum based asphalt road with a solar panel. A Solar roadway is a road surface that generates electricity by solar power using Photovoltaic and includes solar panels and LED signage, that can be drive on. Solar is a renewable source

Respostas ecofisiológicas e morfológicas do pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) aos diferentes níveis de sombreamento, em condição de viveiro.

Publicado também em: Boletim da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias do Pará, Belém, PA, n. 30, p. 119-132, jul./dez. 1998

Can fingernail quality predict bone damage in Type 2 diabetes mellitus? a pilot study

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) adversely affects the normal functioning, intrinsic material properties, and structural integrity of many tissues, including bone. It is well known that the clinical utility of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) is limited to assess bone strength in individuals with T2DM. Therefore, there is a need to explore new diagnostic techniques that can better assist and improve the accuracy of assessment of bone tissue quality. The present study investigated the link between bone and fingernail material/compositional properties in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). For that, femoral head and fingernail samples were obtained from twenty-five adult female patients (with/without T2DM) with fragility femoral neck fractures undergoing hemi/total hip arthroplasty. Cylindrical cores of trabecular bone were subjected to micro-CT, and lower bone volume fraction was observed in the diabetic group than the non-diabetic group due to fewer and thinner trabeculae in individuals with T2DM. The material and compositional properties of bone/fingernail were estimated using nanoindentation and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, respectively. Both bone/fingernails in T2DM had lower reduced modulus (Er), hardness (H), lower Amide I and Amide II area ratio (protein content), higher sugar-to-matrix ratio, and relatively high carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) content compared with non-diabetic patients. Sugar-to-matrix ratio and relative CML content were strongly and positively correlated with HbA1c for both bone/fingernail. There was a positive correlation between bone and fingernail glycation content. Our findings provide evidence that the degradation pattern of bone and fingernail properties go hand-in-hand in individuals with T2DM. Hence, the fingernail compositional/material properties might serve as a non-invasive surrogate marker of bone quality in T2DM; however, further large-scale studies need to be undertaken

Abnormal ECG Findings in Athletes: Clinical Evaluation and Considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation with electrocardiography is normal practice for most sporting bodies. Awareness about sudden cardiac death in athletes and recognizing how screening can help identify vulnerable athletes have empowered different sporting disciplines to invest in the wellbeing of their athletes. RECENT FINDINGS: Discerning physiological electrical alterations due to athletic training from those representing cardiac pathology may be challenging. The mode of investigation of affected athletes is dependent on the electrical anomaly and the disease(s) in question. This review will highlight specific pathological ECG patterns that warrant assessment and surveillance, together with an in-depth review of the recommended algorithm for evaluation