Heavy-traffic limits for waiting times in many-server queues with abandonment

We establish heavy-traffic stochastic-process limits for waiting times in many-server queues with customer abandonment. If the system is asymptotically critically loaded, as in the quality-and-efficiency-driven (QED) regime, then a bounding argument shows that the abandonment does not affect waiting-time processes. If instead the system is overloaded, as in the efficiency-driven (ED) regime, following Mandelbaum et al. [Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control and Computing (1999) 1095--1104], we treat customer abandonment by studying the limiting behavior of the queueing models with arrivals turned off at some time $t$. Then, the waiting time of an infinitely patient customer arriving at time $t$ is the additional time it takes for the queue to empty. To prove stochastic-process limits for virtual waiting times, we establish a two-parameter version of Puhalskii's invariance principle for first passage times. That, in turn, involves proving that two-parameter versions of the composition and inverse mappings appropriately preserve convergence.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-AAP606 the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Distribution-valued heavy-traffic limits for the G/GI/∞G/\mathit{GI}/\infty queue

We study the $G/\mathit{GI}/\infty$ queue in heavy-traffic using tempered distribution-valued processes which track the age and residual service time of each customer in the system. In both cases, we use the continuous mapping theorem together with functional central limit theorem results in order to obtain fluid and diffusion limits for these processes in the space of tempered distribution-valued processes. We find that our diffusion limits are tempered distribution-valued Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/14-AAP1027 in the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Martingale proofs of many-server heavy-traffic limits for Markovian queues

This is an expository review paper illustrating the ``martingale method'' for proving many-server heavy-traffic stochastic-process limits for queueing models, supporting diffusion-process approximations. Careful treatment is given to an elementary model -- the classical infinite-server model $M/M/\infty$, but models with finitely many servers and customer abandonment are also treated. The Markovian stochastic process representing the number of customers in the system is constructed in terms of rate-1 Poisson processes in two ways: (i) through random time changes and (ii) through random thinnings. Associated martingale representations are obtained for these constructions by applying, respectively: (i) optional stopping theorems where the random time changes are the stopping times and (ii) the integration theorem associated with random thinning of a counting process. Convergence to the diffusion process limit for the appropriate sequence of scaled queueing processes is obtained by applying the continuous mapping theorem. A key FCLT and a key FWLLN in this framework are established both with and without applying martingales.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/06-PS091 the Probability Surveys (http://www.i-journals.org/ps/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Biometrics-as-a-Service: A Framework to Promote Innovative Biometric Recognition in the Cloud

Biometric recognition, or simply biometrics, is the use of biological attributes such as face, fingerprints or iris in order to recognize an individual in an automated manner. A key application of biometrics is authentication; i.e., using said biological attributes to provide access by verifying the claimed identity of an individual. This paper presents a framework for Biometrics-as-a-Service (BaaS) that performs biometric matching operations in the cloud, while relying on simple and ubiquitous consumer devices such as smartphones. Further, the framework promotes innovation by providing interfaces for a plurality of software developers to upload their matching algorithms to the cloud. When a biometric authentication request is submitted, the system uses a criteria to automatically select an appropriate matching algorithm. Every time a particular algorithm is selected, the corresponding developer is rendered a micropayment. This creates an innovative and competitive ecosystem that benefits both software developers and the consumers. As a case study, we have implemented the following: (a) an ocular recognition system using a mobile web interface providing user access to a biometric authentication service, and (b) a Linux-based virtual machine environment used by software developers for algorithm development and submission

Monetary Policy & the Behavior of Foreign Exchange Reserves of India

This paper sheds light on the actual impact of monetary policy on Foreign Exchange Reserves and thereby addresses its role as a determinant of commonality in liquidity. To capture e?ects of change in CRR, SLR, Repo rate and Reverse Repo rate on Foreign Exchange reserves, we applied Regression Analysis. Our results suggest that an increase in CRR and Repo Rate will lead to increase in Total Reserves and Increase in SLR will lead to decrease in Total Reserves. These ?ndings are related during the period of April 2006- March 2013. Keywords: Cash Reserve Ratio, Statutory Liquidity Ratio, Repurchase Rate, Reverse Repurchase Rate, Foreign Exchange Reserve.

Screening of Crude Extract of Flavonoids of Moringa oleifera against Bacteria and Fungal Pathogen

Crude extracts were prepared from the flowers and callus of Moringa oleifera using ethanol extract and screened for their antimicrobial activity against some bacteria andfungal pathogen by paper disc method. The tested gram positive bacterial strains were Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, gram negative bacterial strains were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Although flavonoids are present in all parts of Moringa oleifera, maximum amount was observed in flowers. Hence soxhlet extract of 5 grams of powdered flowers and unorganized tissues of M. oleifera were screened for their antimicrobial activity. Among the flowers and unorganized tissue tested, the ethanol extract of callus exhibited higher antimicrobial activity when compared to the floral extract.Key words: Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Moringa oleifera, Soxhlet extract, Ethanol extractTamanna Talreja. Screening of Crude Extract of Flavonoids of Moringa oleifera against Bacteria and Fungal Pathogen. J Phytol 2/11 (2010) 31-3

Women Entrepreneurship and Work Life Balance

Some women are encouraged to establish entrepreneurial business by factors which are similar to male counterparts unlike majority of men many women opts entrepreneurship to manage both the domestic and business chores simultaneously along with earning capability with family commitment Despite of the increasing number of women obligations little attention has been paid towards the actual expectations and true picture of entrepreneurship along with the extent to which entrepreneurship offers an improved work life balance So the present paper endeavors on the journey of 80 women entrepreneurs as to how they maintain a balance between the household and entrepreneurial work through the questionnaire and offers the reality of their experience

Low Cost Waist Line Circumference Health Management Belt

One third of the American population is obese or near obese, and $150 billion is spent in weight management. Current devices to monitor weight are expensive, and niche products are designed for health enthusiasts. This project investigates user needs, development and commercialization steps for a low cost health management belt