Comparison of Cloud vs. Tape Backup Performance and Costs with Oracle Database

Current practice of backing up data is based on using backup tapes and remote locations for storing data. Nowadays, with the advent of cloud computing a new concept of database backup emerges. The paper presents the possibility of making backup copies of data in the cloud. We are mainly focused on performance and economic issues of making backups in the cloud in comparison to traditional backups. We tested the performance and overall costs of making backup copies of data in Oracle database using Amazon S3 and EC2 cloud services. The costs estimation was performed on the basis of the prices published on Amazon S3 and Amazon EC2 sites

What is Nutrigenomics?

Uspjehom projekta sekvencioniranja ljudskog genoma, povećalo se razumijevanje uzroka, a time i prevencije različitih bolesti u ljudi. Spoznalo se da mijenjajući prehrambene navike možemo spriječiti pojavu nekih bolesti. Tako se na području istraživanja prehrane razvija nova disciplina, nutrigenomika. Taj novi smjer molekularne prehrane omogućuje upoznavanje pozadine interakcije hrane koju konzumiramo i našeg genetičkog profi la, a time nam daje i mogućnost razvoja novih načina liječenja i prevencije bolesti. U ovom radu opisani su osnovni ciljevi i metode nutrigenomike te njena praktična primjena u razvoju koncepta individualne prehraneThe success of sequencing the human genome has led to the increasing understanding of causes and thus the prevention of various human illnesses. It is understood that by adjusting ones dieting habits one can prevent disease appearance. Such knowledge has made way for a new discipline in the fi eld of nutrition research, nutrigenomics. This novel direction of molecular nutrition provides insight into the interaction of the food we consume and our genetic profi le, and therefore grants the possibility to develop new methods of treatment and disease prevention. This article encloses the description of the primary objective and the methods of nutrigenomics as well as its practical implementation in the development of an individual diet concept

Effect of ultraviolet C radiation on biological samples

Aim To examine the influence of ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation on blood, saliva, semen, and naked DNA samples for preventing DNA cross-contamination on working surfaces in laboratories. Methods Blood, saliva, semen, and DNA isolated from buccal swab samples were obtained from a single male donor and applied to the laboratory working surfaces. UVC radiation was applied to these diluted and undiluted samples with or without previous decontamination of the working surfaces with 10% sodium hypochlorite and 20% ethanol. Genomic DNA was extracted using Chelex. After quantification, DNA was amplified using the AmpFlSTR® NGM™ PCR Amplification Kit. We tested and statistically analyzed DNA concentration, UVC dose, sample volume, radiation time, the number of correctly detected alleles on genetic loci, and the number of correctly detected alleles in four groups in which 16 loci were divided. Results When working surfaces were not decontaminated and were treated only with UVC radiation in the laboratory, the genetic profile for naked DNA could not be obtained after 2 minutes of UVC radiation and for saliva after 54 hours. For blood and semen, a partial genetic profile was obtained even after 250 hours of UVC radiation in the laminar. When working surfaces were decontaminated with 10% sodium hypochlorite and 20% ethanol, genetic profile could not be obtained for naked DNA after 2 minutes, for saliva after 4 hours, for blood after 16 hours, and for semen after 8 hours of UVC radiation in the laboratory. Conclusion It is recommended to carefully and thoroughly clean working surfaces with 10% sodium hypochlorite and 20% ethanol followed by minimal 16-hour UVC exposure (dose approximately 4380 mJ/cm2) for complete and successful decontamination

Decision model for information system development process adaptation to individual needs of the projects

This dissertation presents formal definition of the decision model for information systems development process adaptation to individual needs of the projects. The ability of the software process to adapt to project specific needs, presents one of the most important factors for assuring methodology suitability and acceptance among software engineers in particular organizational system. The idea of adaptation of information systems development methodology is not new. Inability of traditional methodologies to adapt to particular situational needs, their rigidness and technical unsuitability led to development of special scientific field, called method engineering. The field of method engineering is very complex, because it focuses mainly on theoretical point of view of methodology construction and adaptation, and it uses very complex mathematical formalisms. That is also the main reason why method engineering has never been widely acknowledged or practiced by software engineers. Method engineering also doesn't deal with social suitability and acceptance of the methodology among its users. That has been another reason why the field hasn't been accepted among the engineers. With the emergence of the new approach, also called "agile approach", the idea of systems development methodology adaptation seems to become more attractive, as this time the initiative comes from practioners. The idea of agile approaches is very similar to the idea of method engineering, only that agile approaches are not so complex. In contrast to method engineering the focus in agile methodologies is on the adaptation of the process. Moreover, agile methodologies seem to give more attention to sociological aspects of the methodology, which have been rather ignored in method engineering. The key to successful introduction of systems development methodologies into organizations, their later use and acceptance, lies in the ability of its prescribed software process to be adaptable to project specific needs. The methodology has to define flexible software process, capable of adapting to specific situations, in which new projects emerge. The process adaptation has to be supported by software tool which automates the adaptation procedure and facilitates the work of method engineer. The aim of this dissertation is to combine theoretical knowledge from method engineering and practical knowledge from organizations for software development. On this basis we formally define decision model for information systems development process adaptation to individual needs of the projects. The decision model serves as a basis for definition of the specification for software tool prototype. The approach to process adaptation presented in this dissertation is based upon selecting the most suitable path through the given process, used in the organization. The information system development process used in the organization is defined as a base process. The approach extends the idea of choosing one of the possible paths through the given methodology, defined in situational method engineering field. Our extension of the approach suggests abolition of predefined paths. The construction of adapted instance of a base process is directed by decision model, on the basis of decision rules. For every process element, the decision model has to give an answer about its inclusion in adapted instance of the base software process. Decision rules are used for construction of adapted instances, assuring integrity of instances and definition of dependencies among project characteristics. In this dissertation we present decision rule metamodel and structure of proposed decision rules. Project characteristics are used to describe projects. Beside technological characteristics, we have also defined sociological characteristics and customer requirements in this dissertation. Multiple types of characteristics ensure, that the adapted instance of the base process meets various technological and sociological needs of the project. Formal definition of the decision model along with decision rules establish theoretical basis for the software tool prototype specification. The software tool is intended to help method engineer at his work. We used use cases to describe expected functionality of the software tool. The tool defined in the dissertation represents complete solution for process adaptation to project specific needs, because it considers technological and sociological point of view about base methodology use, used in the particular organization

Testing and extension of the simulator for multiagent heterogeneous robotic systems

SubCULTron projekt razvija najveće jato robota na svijetu, do njih 150. Unutar jata su tri različite vrste agenata. Amussel agenti ili školjke, afish agenti ili ribe i apad agenti ili lopoči. Svaki od tih agenata će imati ključnu ulogu u istraživanju podmorja. Svrha ovakvoga projekta je razvititi tehnologiju sa kojom će biti moguće istraživati po- dvodni svijet i skljupljati razne uzorke, tj proučavati cijelokupni pomorski ekosustav, te na kraju skupiti što više bitnih informacija o podmorskom svijetu i pokušati smanjiti negativne utjecaje ljudi na njega.SubCULTron project is developing the largest swarm of robots in the world, to 150. Within the swarm there are three different types of agents. Amussel agents or shellfish, afish agents or fish and apad agents or lilies. Each of these agents will have a key role in exploring the underwater world. The purpose of this project is to develop technology with which it will be possible to explore the underwater world and collect various samples from it, ie a complete study of the marine ecosystem and on the out- skirts gather as much relevant information about the underwater world to try reducing negative impacts of people on it

Effect of UVC radiation on biological samples

Forenzična genetika bavi se utvrđivanjem DNA profila dobivenih DNA analizom tragova biološkog podrijetla. DNA profili identificirani umnažanjem 15 kratkih uzastopno ponavljajućih polimorfnih lokusa (engl. Short Tandem Repeat, STR) i spolnog biljega amelogenina imaju visoku snagu diskriminacije. U forenzičnim laboratorijima, koriste se komercijalna sredstva za čišćenje i UVC lampe za sprječavanje kontaminacije radnih površina prilikom analize uzoraka biološkog podrijetla. UVC zračenje uzrokuje nastanak ciklobutanskih pirimidinskih dimera (CPD), pirimidin 6-4 pirimidon fotoprodukata (6-4 PP), jednolančanih te dvolančanih lomova DNA. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitati utjecaj UVC zračenja na uzorke i kontrole izolirane DNA te razrijeđene i nerazrijeđene uzorke i kontrole krvi, sline i sperme, kao i odrediti dozu UVC zračenja pri kojoj nije moguće identificirati DNA profil ispitanika, uslijed degradacije DNA.Forensic genetics deals with determining DNA profiles obtained by DNA analysis of traces of biological origin. DNA profiles identified by amplifying 15 Short Tandem Repeats (STR) loci and a sex marker amelogenin have high discrimination power. In forensic laboratories, commercial cleaning agents and UVC lamps are used for the prevention of contamination of work surfaces during the analysis of samples of biological origin. UVC radiation causes formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD), pyrimidine 6-4 pirimidone photoproducts (6-4 PP) and single and double stranded DNA brakes. The goal of this research is to examine the effects of UVC radiation on isolated DNA samples and controls, disolved as well as non-dissolved samples and control blood, saliva and sperm samples and to determine the dose of UVC radiation at which identification of the DNA profile of the donor is not possible due to DNA degradation

COMPLIENCE CONTROL OF SMART METERS THRUE THEIR EXPECTED LIFE TIME

Diplomsko delo obravnava najustreznejši sistem nadzora pametnih števcev električne energije, ki izhaja iz zakonodaje, standardizacije in je povzet iz dobre tuje ter domače prakse. Celovit nadzor skozi celotno življenjsko dobo posameznega števca ali družine števcev bo omogočal napovedovanje oz. predvidevanje pravilnega delovanja ali nedelovanja tekom celotnega življenjskega obdobja. Na podlagi pridobljenih izkušenj se bo vzpostavil sistem, ki bo omogočal analize in napovedi z realnimi podatki s preskušanj v laboratoriju in na terenu.This dissertation discusses the optimal control system of smart electricity meters, based on legislation, standardization and the adaptation of the best foreign and domestic practice. Complete control over the entire lifespan of an individual meter or the life spans of family meters allow us to predict or anticipate weather a certain meter will function correctly or become inactive during its lifespan. Based on experience a system will be established enabling further analysis and prognosis on the basis of real data acquired through various testing in the laboratory and on the field