Multi-Tenant Virtual GPUs for Optimising Performance of a Financial Risk Application

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are becoming popular accelerators in modern High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters. Installing GPUs on each node of the cluster is not efficient resulting in high costs and power consumption as well as underutilisation of the accelerator. The research reported in this paper is motivated towards the use of few physical GPUs by providing cluster nodes access to remote GPUs on-demand for a financial risk application. We hypothesise that sharing GPUs between several nodes, referred to as multi-tenancy, reduces the execution time and energy consumed by an application. Two data transfer modes between the CPU and the GPUs, namely concurrent and sequential, are explored. The key result from the experiments is that multi-tenancy with few physical GPUs using sequential data transfers lowers the execution time and the energy consumed, thereby improving the overall performance of the application.Comment: Accepted to the Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing (JPDC), 10 June 201

Acceleration-as-a-Service: Exploiting Virtualised GPUs for a Financial Application

'How can GPU acceleration be obtained as a service in a cluster?' This question has become increasingly significant due to the inefficiency of installing GPUs on all nodes of a cluster. The research reported in this paper is motivated to address the above question by employing rCUDA (remote CUDA), a framework that facilitates Acceleration-as-a-Service (AaaS), such that the nodes of a cluster can request the acceleration of a set of remote GPUs on demand. The rCUDA framework exploits virtualisation and ensures that multiple nodes can share the same GPU. In this paper we test the feasibility of the rCUDA framework on a real-world application employed in the financial risk industry that can benefit from AaaS in the production setting. The results confirm the feasibility of rCUDA and highlight that rCUDA achieves similar performance compared to CUDA, provides consistent results, and more importantly, allows for a single application to benefit from all the GPUs available in the cluster without loosing efficiency.Comment: 11th IEEE International Conference on eScience (IEEE eScience) - Munich, Germany, 201

Metafísicas caníbales. Líneas de Antropología Posestructural. Eduardo Viveiros de Castro. Katz Editores. Madrid. 2010. En: Avá, nº 20

¿Puede leerse la obra de un estructuralista como Claude LéviStrauss a partir del posestructuralismo de Gilles Deleuze? ¿Cuánto le debe el primero, y su formulación del estructuralismo, al pensamiento amerindio? No sólo en datos, sino en la propia formulación teórica. Estas son algunas de las preguntas capitales que se hace Eduardo Viveiros de Castro en el primero de sus libros traducidos al español, denominado Metafísicas Caníbales, un libro que reelabora y desarrolla artículos anteriormente publicados por el autor. Etnólogo y amazonista brasileño, su influencia teórica se ha acentuado al proponer el concepto de perspectivismo amazónico

Valuing guaranteed annuity options using the principle of equivalent utility

This thesis considers the valuation of guaranteed annuity options using an equivalent utility principle from the point of view of the policyholder. In this model I give an explicit form to the value functions involved in the indifference valuation. Also I offer a numerical implementation. For instance, in a setting where interest rates are constant, I find an explicit solution for the indifference problem, where the individual is described by a power (instantaneous) utility function. In this setting, I compare two strategies at the time of conversion, and two strategies at the moment when the policy is purchased. In the former, I assume that if the annuitant does not exercise the option, first she withdraws her policy's accumulated funds, and then seeks to solve a standard Merton's problem, under an infinite time horizon setting. In the latter strategy, I compare the agent's expected utility associated to a policy that embeds a guaranteed annuity option, and a policy that does not embed such an option. In order to accumulate the retirement funds, I assume in both cases a pure premium paid at a constant continuous stream. Regarding the optimal strategy, I am able to derive explicit solutions for a class of problems where finite horizon, bequest motive and power consumption utility are jointly considered. The present research has as a primary objective to elaborate an utility indifference valuation model for guaranteed annuity options. The literature available until now considers both financial and actuarial approaches that have been used to evaluate and describe the nature of such options. On the contrary, the approach I present is able to embed the theory of the optimal asset allocation toward the end of the life cycle in the valuation of guaranteed annuity options. To my knowledge, the indifference approach I propose, is new and never developed before. The main results show that the option's indifference value, both at the time when the policy is purchased and at the conversion time, depends on the difference between the guaranteed conversion rate $h$ and the market interest rate $r$. In line with the literature, at the time of conversion the agent will in general find advantageous to exercise the option. The dependency on $h$ and $r$ of the equivalent valuation also reveals that in periods characterized by high market interest rates, the value of the g.a.o. turns out to be very small. This model remains coherent if we compare the policyholder's point of view and the insurer's point of view, under an economic setting characterized by high interest rates. The present model can be extended in order to consider a richer setting, concerning both the accumulation and the decumulation period. These ideas are suggested and described in the course of chapters that follow. J.E.L. classification. D91; G11; J26

Automatic Genre Classification of Latin Music Using Ensemble of Classifiers

This paper presents a novel approach to the task of automatic music genre classification which is based on ensemble learning. Feature vectors are extracted from three 30-second music segments from the beginning, middle and end of each music piece. Individual classifiers are trained to account for each music segment. During classification, the output provided by each classifier is combined with the aim of improving music genre classification accuracy. Experiments carried out on a dataset containing 600 music samples from two Latin genres (Tango and Salsa) have shown that for the task of automatic music genre classification, the features extracted from the middle and end music segments provide better results than using the beginning music segment. Furthermore, the proposed ensemble method provides better accuracy than using single classifiers and any individual segment

Sílla: A Personal Brand Portfolio

The Culminating Experience (CE) project will illustrate the creative/innovative abilities of the Master student, Melissa Silla, whose moniker is Sílla, as a versatile artist in music and technology. Through the creation of original sound design, graphic design, and computer/mobile application design, this project is in the form of an extended play (EP) and an online sound design portfolio website. To construct the EP, original recordings, varying from vocal sounds to nature/outdoor sounds have been used, utilizing new software and synthesizers. For the online portfolio, a user friendly/simplistic interface design has been constructed that will serve as a virtual portfolio, where users will be able to locate the artist’s music/video projects, contact information, and other creative projects. It is with aspiration that this project will aid in cultivating the artist’s personal brand and will serve as their music/technology portfolio.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-production-technology/1215/thumbnail.jp

What Goes Around Comes Around – Or Does It? A Case Study of Circular Business Models in Finnish Fashion Industry

Fashion is an integral part of people's lives today. It is a way to keep us warm but also a way to express and distinguish ourselves from others. However, the fashion industry is not without challenges and the increasing awareness of the industry's environmental and social concerns have made the industry explore new ways to do business. The circular economy is seen as one solution for the industry to overcome these challenges and become more sustainable. Among academics, the circular economy has started to raise interest and in particular, circular business models are increasingly being researched from various perspectives. However, holistic research addressing circular business models in the fashion industry is lacking. Further, there is no previous research focusing on the factors influencing the adoption of circular business models in the fashion context. This study fills this gap by researching six Finnish clothing and accessories companies. This research is a qualitative, multiple case study of different types of fashion companies. The sample consists of different-sized companies with varying approaches to the circular economy in order to find what type of circular business models can be found in the Finnish fashion industry. Each of the case companies was interviewed once with a semi-structured approach. Additionally, secondary data from online sources were utilised for further information. To identify the drivers and barriers for adopting circular business models a thematic analysis was used. The study found that circular business models at the beginning of the loop are easier to adopt. These business models include design for longevity, choosing high-quality materials and efficiency in production. Business models that require increased engagement from the consumers’ side, such as second-hand stores, repair and rental services, are currently less present. Interestingly, there were no major differences between the adopted circular business models among the companies. Further, this research found nine factors influencing the adoption of the business models: 1) environment, 2) economic, 3) customer, 4) society, 5) regulations, 6) supply chain and technology, 7) product, 8) organisation and, 9) fashion industry itself. Based on the findings, not all of these factors influence at equal weight. With economic, product quality, regulatory, and supply chain and technological factors, the companies need to further consider if adopting the model is applicable for the company

The Latin Music Database

In this paper we present the Latin Music Database, a novel database of Latin musical recordings which has been developed for automatic music genre classification, but can also be used in other music information retrieval tasks. The method for assigning genres to the musical recordings is based on human expert perception and therefore capture their tacit knowledge in the genre labeling process. We also present the ethnomusicology of the genres available in the database as it might provide important information for the analysis of the results of any experiment that employs the database

Effect of priming injections of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on spermiation and ovulation in Gϋnther's Toadlet, Pseudophryne guentheri

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the majority of vertebrates, gametogenesis and gamete-release depend on the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) from the hypothalamus. Studies attempting to artificially stimulate ovulation and spermiation may benefit from mimicking the naturally episodic secretion of LHRH by administering priming injections of a synthetic analogue (LHRHa). This study investigated the impact of low-dose priming injections of LHRHa on gamete-release in the Australian toadlet <it>Pseudophryne guentheri</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Toadlets were administered a single dose of two micrograms per. gram LHRHa without a priming injection (no priming), or preceded by one (one priming) or two (two priming) injections of 0.4 micrograms per. gram LHRHa. Spermiation responses were evaluated at 3, 7 and 12 hrs post hormone administration (PA), and sperm number and viability were quantified using fluorescent microscopy. Oocyte yields were evaluated by stripping females at 10-11 hrs PA. A sub-sample of twenty eggs per female was then fertilised (with sperm obtained from testis macerates) and fertilisation success determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No priming induced the release of the highest number of spermatozoa, with a step-wise decrease in the number of spermatozoa released in the one and two priming treatments respectively. Peak sperm-release occurred at 12 hrs PA for all priming treatments and there was no significant difference in sperm viability. Females in the control treatment failed to release oocytes, while those administered an ovulatory dose without priming exhibited a poor ovulatory response. The remaining two priming treatments (one and two priming) successfully induced 100% of females to expel an entire clutch. Oocytes obtained from the no, or two priming treatments all failed to fertilise, however oocytes obtained from the one priming treatment displayed an average fertilisation success of 97%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Spermiation was most effectively induced in male <it>P. guentheri </it>by administering a single injection of LHRHa without priming. In contrast, female <it>P. guentheri </it>failed to ovulate without priming. A single priming injection induced the release of oocytes of high viability compared to oocytes obtained from females in the two priming treatment which underwent a process of over-ripening.</p