The VINEYARD Approach: Versatile, Integrated, Accelerator-Based, Heterogeneous Data Centres.

Emerging web applications like cloud computing, Big Data and social networks have created the need for powerful centres hosting hundreds of thousands of servers. Currently, the data centres are based on general purpose processors that provide high flexibility buts lack the energy efficiency of customized accelerators. VINEYARD aims to develop an integrated platform for energy-efficient data centres based on new servers with novel, coarse-grain and fine-grain, programmable hardware accelerators. It will, also, build a high-level programming framework for allowing end-users to seamlessly utilize these accelerators in heterogeneous computing systems by employing typical data-centre programming frameworks (e.g. MapReduce, Storm, Spark, etc.). This programming framework will, further, allow the hardware accelerators to be swapped in and out of the heterogeneous infrastructure so as to offer high flexibility and energy efficiency. VINEYARD will foster the expansion of the soft-IP core industry, currently limited in the embedded systems, to the data-centre market. VINEYARD plans to demonstrate the advantages of its approach in three real use-cases (a) a bio-informatics application for high-accuracy brain modeling, (b) two critical financial applications, and (c) a big-data analysis application

Multifractal Scaling, Geometrical Diversity, and Hierarchical Structure in the Cool Interstellar Medium

Multifractal scaling (MFS) refers to structures that can be described as a collection of interwoven fractal subsets which exhibit power-law spatial scaling behavior with a range of scaling exponents (concentration, or singularity, strengths) and dimensions. The existence of MFS implies an underlying multiplicative (or hierarchical, or cascade) process. Panoramic column density images of several nearby star- forming cloud complexes, constructed from IRAS data and justified in an appendix, are shown to exhibit such multifractal scaling, which we interpret as indirect but quantitative evidence for nested hierarchical structure. The relation between the dimensions of the subsets and their concentration strengths (the "multifractal spectrum'') appears to satisfactorily order the observed regions in terms of the mixture of geometries present: strong point-like concentrations, line- like filaments or fronts, and space-filling diffuse structures. This multifractal spectrum is a global property of the regions studied, and does not rely on any operational definition of "clouds.'' The range of forms of the multifractal spectrum among the regions studied implies that the column density structures do not form a universality class, in contrast to indications for velocity and passive scalar fields in incompressible turbulence, providing another indication that the physics of highly compressible interstellar gas dynamics differs fundamentally from incompressible turbulence. (Abstract truncated)Comment: 27 pages, (LaTeX), 13 figures, 1 table, submitted to Astrophysical Journa

Impact of logistics on readiness and life cycle cost : a life cycle management approach

MBA Professional ReportOperational commanders are concerned with maintaining an optimal operational availability (Ao) for their weapons systems while balancing with readiness risk (probability of not achieving a threshold Ao), and cost. Operational availability has been integrated in the acquisition process (Department of Defense, 2009), affecting decision making to a great extent. In the early phase of an acquisition, an initial Ao threshold is created to support mission requirements. The initial Ao threshold is used in performancebased contracts in order to reduce the buyers' risk and the total life cycle cost (TLCC). Utilizing logistics modeling, cost analysis, a test platform, which is the Light Armored Vehicle equipped with a 25mm Gun System (LAV-25) currently employed by the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the authors will determine the effects of logistics on Ao and the TLCC utilizing specific critical factors, such as mean time between maintenance (MTBM), mean down time (MDT), and operational tempo. The authors' research will show which of the Ao's synthetic parameters are more sensitive to maintaining specific levels of Ao and readiness risk in conjunction with the cost, and the authors will suggest alternatives to achieve Ao and readiness risk thresholds under specific cost constraints.http://archive.org/details/impactoflogistic109451051

Goal-orientated knowledge management

Knowledge Management (KM) is a mystifying and multidimensional concept. Although recognised as a discipline since the mid 1990's, KM continues to produce controversial debate amongst academics and practitioners from a variety of backgrounds. The competing schools of thought in the KM field stimulate fragmentation, which has led to the development of a wide variety of KM strategies and approaches. The literature review reveals that the majority of organisations consider KM to be strategically important, yet at the same time the majority of KM initiatives fail. One of the most fundamental reasons for the high failure rate in KM initiatives seems to be a distinct lack of focus and direction. There isn't enough attention paid to the specific objectives that each organisation is trying to deliver with the support of KM. It is often assumed, mistakenly, that managing knowledge simply pays off in the long term. These observations provide strong indication of the need for goal-oriented thinking in KM. This notion is reinforced by lessons learnt from a pilot KM initiative that follows conventional KM thinking and, ultimately, fails. In response, the Goal-Oriented Knowledge Management (GOKM) methodology is proposed, which focuses on organisational goals and combines various KM approaches according to context and objectives. GOKM is applied, evaluated and refined via three case studies at the Danwood Group, HSBC Bank and HBOS Bank. An overall evaluation of GOKM is presented, based on five key criteria (bottom-line results, added value, flexibility, usability and durability). In addition, the impact of GOKM in each participating organisation is measured against specific criteria that are set by senior management. The research has shown that GOKM has significant potential to be applicable in a wider context and this thesis makes a sizable contribution to the development of goal-oriented KM theory