A Performance Analysis of Distributed Algorithms in JavaSpaces, CORBA Services and Web Services

Implementation of distributed parallel algorithms on networked computers has always been very difficult until the introduction of service-oriented architectures (SOA) like JavaSpaces service, CORBA services and Web Services. Algorithms of the type Master/Worker pattern are implemented with relative ease using the SOAs. This project analyzes the performance of such algorithms on three contemporary SOAs namely JavaSpaces service, CORBA services and Web Services. These architectures make the implementations of distributed algorithms reasonably fault tolerant and highly and dynamically scalable. Also, the systems built on these architectures are generally loosely coupled and operate asynchronously. In this project we measure and analyze the latency, speed-up and efficiency metrics of an insertion sort of 0 (n^2) complexity on all the three SOAs. We then draw conclusions of overall performance and scalability on all the three architectures

Selection of Contractors for a Housing Development Project in India by using an Integrated Model

The Indian construction industry forms an integral part of the economy and a conduit for a substantial part of its development investment, is poised for growth on account of urbanization, economic development and peoples rising expectations for improved quality of living. Housing construction is usually executed or coordinated by contractors who specialize in one type of construction such as residential or commercial building. The completion of housing projects within the projected time span has always been the most challenging task for the construction organizations and it is found that many construction projects have been unsuccessful in delivering the projects at time, cost and quality which the clients and their consultants had perceived before the starting of the project and thus, it is important for the management to efficiently design a plan of action to achieve the goals and requirements. To accomplish the requirements of construction planning, identifying and selection of an appropriate contractor for housing development is a crucial decision making process. The study presented a method for solving a contractor selection problem in an Indian housing development project using combination of analytic hierarchy process and zeros one integer linear programming for allocating housing construction works to contractors. The proposed integrated model will provide an encouraging result to select a contractor for a particular type of housing construction to fulfil the quality requirements and completion of project on time

Selection of safety officers in an indian construction organization by using grey relational analysis

Stakeholders are responsible for implementing the occupational health and safety provisions in an organization. Irrespective of organization, the role of safety department is purely advisory as it coordinates with all the departments, and this is crucial to improve the performance. Selection of safety officer is vital job for any organization; it should not only be based on qualifications of the applicant, the incumbent should also have sufficient exposure in implementing proactive measures. The process of selection is complex and choosing the right safety professional is a vital decision. The safety performance of an organization relies on the systems being implemented by the safety officer. Application of multi criteria decision-making tools is helpful as a selection process. The present study proposes the grey relational analysis(GRA) for selection of the safety officers in an Indian construction organization. This selection method considers fourteen criteria appropriate to the organization and has ranked the results. The data was also analyzed by using technique for order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal solution (TOPSIS) and results of both the methods are strongly correlate

Origin of modulated phases and magnetic hysteresis in TmB_4

We investigate the low temperature magnetic phases in TmB_4, a metallic quantum magnet on the geometrically frustrated Shastry-Sutherland lattice, using co-ordinated experimental and theoretical studies. Our results provide an explanation for the appearance of the intriguing fractional plateau in TmB_4 and accompanying magnetic hysteresis. Together with observation of the bump in the half-plateau, our results support the picture that the magnetization plateau structure in TmB_4 is strongly influenced by the zero-field modulated phases. We present a phenomenological model to explain the appearance of the modulated phases and a microscopic Hamiltonian that captures the complete magnetic behavior of TmB_4.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Connecting dots between natural and artificial photosynthesis : magnetic resonance studies on light harvesting and the water oxidation reaction centre

Decentralized plug and play systems for energy production are the future picture of our society. Artificial photosynthetic systems are used for this purpose. These systems are inspired by natural photosynthesis.Chapter 2 illustrates the detailed construction of a three-flash flow cell to study light induced biological reactions, specifically the water oxidation reaction of Photosystem II. This instrument is capable of producing the S2+, S3+ and S0n intermediate states of the Kok cycle. I confirmed these by EPR experiments.In chapter 3, I study the mechanism of the major LHC II involved in conformational switching from light harvesting to the photoprotective state, in which excess light is dissipated as heat. I use MAS NMR as a non-invasive method to understand the structure and environment around Arg residues in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii LHC II. In this approach the Arg amino acid is selectively labeled with 13C isotopesChapter 4 studies the structure of self-aggregated semi synthetic Zn 31 amino chlorin that forms syn-anti parallel stacks according to the solid state NMR data. The small change of removing 33 methyl group of Zn 31 aminomethyl chlorin has significant effect on self-assembly. Finally, chapter 5 provides an outlook on future research.Solid state NMR/Biophysical Organic Chemistr

An analysis of accident trends and modeling of safety indices in an Indian construction organization

Construction industry has been recognized as a hazardous industry in many countries due to distinct nature of execution of works.The accident rate in construction sector is high all over the world due to dynamic nature of work activities. Occurrence of accidents and its severity in construction industry is several times higher than the manufacturing industries. The study was limited to a major construction organization in India to examine the trends in construction accidents for the period 2008-2014. In India, safety performance is gauged basing on safety indices; frequency, severity and incidence rates. It is not practicable to take decisions or to implement safety strategies on the basis of indices. The data used for this study was collected from a leading construction organization involved in execution of major construction activities all over India and abroad. The multiple regression method was adopted to model the pattern of safety indices wise .The pattern showed that significant relationships exist between the three safety indices and the related independent variables.

Hysteretic magnetoresistance and unconventional anomalous Hall effect in the frustrated magnet TmB_4

We study TmB_4, a frustrated magnet on the Archimedean Shastry-Sutherland lattice, through magnetization and transport experiments. The lack of anisotropy in resistivity shows that TmB_4 is an electronically three-dimensional system. The magnetoresistance (MR) is hysteretic at low-temperature even though a corresponding hysteresis in magnetization is absent. The Hall resistivity shows unconventional anomalous Hall effect (AHE) and is linear above saturation despite a large MR. We propose that complex structures at magnetic domain walls may be responsible for the hysteretic MR and may also lead to the AHE

Twisted bilayer graphene probed with nano-optics

The discovery of strongly correlated electronic phases in twisted bilayer graphene has led to an enormous interest in twisted van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. While twisting vdW layers provides a new control knob and never before seen functionalities, it also leads to large spatial variations in the electronic properties. Scanning probe experiments are therefore necessary to fully understand the properties of twisted vdW heterostructures. In this thesis, we studied twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) with two scanning probe techniques at two twist angle regimes. At small twist angles, our nano-infrared images resolved the spatial variations of the electronic structure occurring within a Moiré unit cell and uncovered a quantum photonic crystal. Meanwhile, with nano-photocurrent experiments, we resolved DC Seebeck coefficient changes occurring in domain walls on nanometer length scales. At larger twist angles, we mapped the twist angle variations naturally occurring in our device with a combination of nano-photocurrent and nano-infrared imaging. Finally, we also investigated different materials for use as nano-optics compatible top gates in future experiments on TBG. Our results demonstrate the power of nano-optics techniques in uncovering the rich, spatially inhomogeneous physics of twisted vdW heterostructures

Does Experimental Anterior Knee Pain Alter Effects of Running on Femoral Articular Cartilage Thickness and Volume? A Pilot Study

Anterior knee pain is a common problem for runners that often alters running biomechanics. It is unclear how/if changes in running biomechanics due to anterior knee pain affect knee articular cartilage health. PURPOSE: To determine if experimental anterior knee pain during running acutely alters deformation in femoral articular cartilage due to running. METHODS: 10 runners completed three sessions that each in- volved a 60-min treadmill run: a control, sham, and pain session. Experimental anterior knee pain was in- duced during the pain session via a continuous infusion of hypertonic saline into the infrapatellar fat pad. The sham and control sessions involved a continuous infusion of physiological saline and no infusion, re- spectively. Before and after running, magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify femoral articular cartilage thickness and volume. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate effects of running with experimental anterior knee pain on perceived knee pain and femoral articular cartilage deformation (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Perceived anterior knee pain was significantly greater during the pain session relative to the control and sham sessions (p p = 0.05), and more due to the pain session run (-57.7 ± 157.4 mm3) than the control session run (p = 0.09). No significant effects of session were observed for medial or lateral thickness or lateral volume. CONCLUSION: Articular cartilage response to running (medial femoral volume) was different for the pain and sham sessions relative to the control session. The physiological and hypertonic saline infusions appeared to alter medial knee articular cartilage response to running. These changes might be due to altered biomechanics due to the infusions. Additional research is needed to clarify the cause of the altered response to running