Collaborative Data Distribution with BitTorrent for Computational Desktop Grids

Data-centric applications are still a challenging issue for Large Scale Distributed Computing Systems. The emergence of new protocols and softwares for collaborative content distribution over Internet offers a new opportunity for efficient and fast delivery of high volume of data. This paper presents an evaluation of the BitTorrent protocol for Computational Desktop Grids. We first present a prototype of a generic subsystem dedicated to data management and designed to serve as a building block for any Desktop Grid System. Based on this prototype we conduct experimentations to evaluate the potential of BitTorrent compared to a classical approach based on FTP data server. The preliminary results obtained with a 65-nodes cluster measure the basic characteristics of BitTorrent in terms of latency and bandwidth and evaluate the scalability of BitTorrent for the delivery of large input files. Moreover, we show that BitTorrent has a considerable latency overhead compared to FTP but clearly outperforms FTP when distributing large files or files to a high number of nodes. Tests on a synthetic application show that BitTorrent significantly increases the communication/computation ratio of the applications eligible to run on a Desktop Grid System

ANN-Based Adaptive PI Control for Wind Turbine with Doubly Fed Induction Generator

This paper focuses on developing a novel algorithm which dynamically optimizes the controllers of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) driven by a wind turbine (WT) to increase DFIG transient performance in all wind speed conditions. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed to optimize parameters of PI controllers of DFIG’s rotor side/grid side converters (RSC/GSC) at different wind speeds in order to maximize the damping ratios of the system eigenvalues in small signal stability analysis. Based on the optimal values and the wind speed data set, an artificial neural network (ANN) is designed, trained, and it has the ability to quickly forecast the optimal values of parameters. Adaptive PI controllers (including ANN) are designed which dynamically change PI gain values according to different wind speeds. Simulation is done via PSCAD software for a single machine connected to an infinite bus (SMIB) system. The results show that the DFIG of ANN based adaptive PI control could significantly contribute in the transient performance improvement in a wide wind speed range

Methyl 2-[4-(4-chloro­benzo­yl)phen­oxy]-2-methyl­propano­ate

In the title compound, C18H17ClO4, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the benzene rings is 53.4 (1)°. Weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions are observed

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnTe Hierarchical Nanostructures

Single-crystalline ZnTe hierarchical nanostructures have been successfully synthesized by a simple thermal evaporation technology. The as-prepared products were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and photoluminescence spectrum (PL). These results showed that the ZnTe hierarchical nanostructures consisted of nanowires and nanolumps. The room temperature PL spectrum exhibited a pure green luminescence centered at 545nm. The growth mechanism of hierarchical nanostructure was also discussed

Population genetics of foxtail millet and its wild ancestor

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Foxtail millet (<it>Setaria italica </it>(L.) P. Beauv.), one of the most ancient domesticated crops, is becoming a model system for studying biofuel crops and comparative genomics in the grasses. However, knowledge on the level of genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) is very limited in this crop and its wild ancestor, green foxtail (<it>Setaria viridis </it>(L.) P. Beauv.). Such information would help us to understand the domestication process of cultivated species and will allow further research in these species, including association mapping and identification of agricultural significant genes involved in domestication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we surveyed DNA sequence for nine loci across 50 accessions of cultivated foxtail millet and 34 of its wild progenitor. We found a low level of genetic diversity in wild green foxtail (θ = 0.0059), θ means Watterson's estimator of θ. Despite of a 55% loss of its wild diversity, foxtail millet still harbored a considerable level of diversity (θ = 0.0027) when compared to rice and sorghum (θ = 0.0024 and 0.0034, respectively). The level of LD in the domesticated foxtail millet extends to 1 kb, while it decayed rapidly to a negligible level within 150 bp in wild green foxtail. Using coalescent simulation, we estimated the bottleneck severity at k = 0.6095 when ρ/θ = 1. These results indicated that the domestication bottleneck of foxtail millet was more severe than that of maize but slightly less pronounced than that of rice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results in this study establish a general framework for the domestication history of foxtail millet. The low level of genetic diversity and the increased level of LD in foxtail millet are mainly caused by a population bottleneck, although gene flow from foxtail millet to green foxtail is another factor that may have shaped the pattern of genetic diversity of these two related gene pools. The knowledge provided in this study will benefit future population based studies in foxtail millet.</p