A Comparative Study on the Schedulability of the EDZL Scheduling Algorithm on Multiprocessors

As multiprocessor (or multicore) real-time systems become popular, there has been much research on multiprocessor real-time scheduling algorithms. This work evaluates EDZL (Earliest Deadline until Zero Laxity), a scheduling algorithm for real-time multiprocessor systems. First, we compare the performance of EDZL schedulability tests. We measure and compare the ratio of task sets admitted by each test. We also investigate the dominance between EDZL schedulability tests and discover that the union of the demand-based test and the utilization-based test is an effective combination. Second, we compare the schedulability of EDZL and EDF(k). We prove that the union of the EDZL schedulability tests dominates the EDF(k) schedulability test, i.e., the union of the EDZL schedulability tests can admit all task sets admitted by the EDF(k) schedulability test. We also compare the schedulability of EDZL and EDF(k) through scheduling simulation by measuring the ratio of successfully scheduled task sets. EDZL can successfully schedule 7.0% more task sets than EDF(k)

Sangchul Ahn, Donghoon Kang, Hyoung-gon Kim and Heedong Ko 122 Ubiquitous Smart Interaction Space

Abstract—The context aware systems are often designed and implemented based on a specific scenario with predefined resources. In this paper, we describe a ubiquitous interactin space that supports rapid context-aware applications reflecting the smart interaction space with dynamic resources and provides a programmable interface in integrated development environment (IDE) in.NET framework

NOx Emissions from Euro 5 and Euro 6 Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles under Real Driving Conditions

Despite the strengthening of vehicle emissions standards and test methods, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from on-road mobile sources are not being notably reduced. The introduction of real driving emission (RDE) regulations is expected to reduce the discrepancy between emission regulations and actual air pollution. To analyze the effects of RDE regulations on heavy-duty diesel vehicles, pollutants emitted while driving were measured using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) for Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles, which were produced before and after RDE regulations, respectively. NOx emissions were compared as a function of emissions allowance standards, gross vehicle weight (GVW), average vehicle speed, and ambient temperature. NOx emissions from Euro 6 vehicles were found to be low, regardless of GVW; emissions from both vehicular categories increased with a decline in the average speed. To reflect real road driving characteristics more broadly in the RDE test method for heavy-duty vehicles, it is necessary to consider engine power, which is a criterion for classifying effective sections, in the moving average window (MAW) analysis method, as well as including cold start conditions

Kinome-Wide RNA Interference Screening Identifies Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases and Phosphatidylinositol Metabolism as Key Factors for Rabies Virus Infection

International audienceThroughout the rabies virus (RABV) infectious cycle, host-virus interactions define its capacity to replicate, escape the immune response, and spread. As phosphorylation is a key regulatory mechanism involved in most cellular processes, kinases represent a target of choice to identify host factors required for viral replication. A kinase and phosphatase small interfering RNA (siRNA) high-content screening was performed on a fluorescent protein-recombinant field isolate (Tha RABV). We identified 57 high-confidence key host factors important for RABV replication with a readout set at 18 h postinfection and 73 with a readout set at 36 h postinfection, including 24 common factors at all stages of the infection. Amongst them, gene clusters of the most prominent pathways were determined. Up to 15 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and effectors, including MKK7 (associated with Jun N-terminal protein kinase [JNK] signalization) and DUSP5, as well as 17 phosphatidylinositol (PI)-related proteins, including PIP5K1C and MTM1, were found to be involved in the later stage of RABV infection. The importance of these pathways was further validated, as small molecules Ro 31-8820 and PD 198306 inhibited RABV replication in human neurons.IMPORTANCE Rabies virus relies on cellular machinery for its replication while simultaneously evading the host immune response. Despite their importance, little is known about the key host factors required for rabies virus infection. Here, we focused on the human kinome, at the core of many cellular pathways, to unveil a new understanding of the rabies virus infectious cycle and to discover new potential therapeutic targets in a small interfering RNA screening. The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and phosphatidylinositol metabolism were identified as prominent factors involved in rabies virus infection, and those findings were further confirmed in human neurons. While bringing a new insight into rabies virus biology, we also provide a new list of host factors involved in rabies virus infection

Pharmacological perturbation of thiamine metabolism sensitizes Pseudomonas aeruginosa to multiple antibacterial agents

New therapeutic concepts are critically needed for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen particularly recalcitrant to antibiotics. The screening of around 230,000 small molecules yielded a very low hit rate of 0.002% after triaging for known antibiotics. The only novel hit that stood out was the antimetabolite oxythiamine. Oxythiamine is a known transketolase inhibitor in eukaryotic cells, but its antibacterial potency has not been reported. Metabolic and transcriptomic analyses indicated that oxythiamine is intracellularly converted to oxythiamine pyrophosphate and subsequently inhibits several vitamin-B1-dependent enzymes, sensitizing the bacteria to several antibiotic and non-antibiotic drugs such as tetracyclines, 5-fluorouracil, and auranofin. The positive interaction between 5-fluorouracil and oxythiamine was confirmed in a murine ocular infection model, indicating relevance during infection. Together, this study revealed a system-level significance of thiamine metabolism perturbation that sensitizes P. aeruginosa to multiple small molecules, a property that could inform on the development of a rational drug combination.Ministry of Education (MOE)National Research Foundation (NRF)Submitted/Accepted versionThis work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF-2014K1A4A7A01074645, 2017M3A9G6068246, and 2019M3E5D5064653 to S.J.), by the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 2 (grant MOE2017-T2-1-063 to K.P.), and by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, under its Investigatorship Program (NRF-NRFI06-2020-0004 to K.P.)

Bifunctional Sensing Characteristics of Chemical Vapor Deposition Synthesized Atomic-Layered MoS₂

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) atomic layers have a strong potential to be adopted for 2D electronic components due to extraordinary and novel properties not available in their bulk foams. Unique properties of the MoS₂, including quasi-2D crystallinity, ultrahigh surface-to-volume, and a high absorption coefficient, have enabled high-performance sensor applications. However, implementation of only a single-functional sensor presents a limitation for various advanced multifunctional sensor applications within a single device. Here, we demonstrate the charge-transfer-based sensitive (detection of 120 ppb of NO₂) and selective gas-sensing capability of the chemical vapor deposition synthesized MoS₂ and good photosensing characteristics, including moderate photoresponsivity (∼71 mA/W), reliable photoresponse, and rapid photoswitching (<500 ms). A bifunctional sensor within a single MoS₂ device to detect photons and gas molecules in sequence is finally demonstrated, paving a way toward a versatile sensing platform for a futuristic multifunctional sensor