Robust clustering analysis for the management of self-monitoring distributed systems

We present a decentralized algorithm for online clustering analysis used for anomaly detection in self-monitoring distributed systems. In particular, we demonstrate the monitoring of a network of printing devices that can perform the analysis without the use of external computing resources (i.e. in-network analysis). We also show how to ensure the robustness of the algorithm, in terms of anomaly detection accuracy, in the face of failures of the network infrastructure on which the algorithm runs. Further, we evaluate the tradeoff in terms of overhead necessary for ensuring this robustness and present a method to reduce this overhead while maintaining the detection accuracy of the algorithm.

Leitlinien zur molekulargenetischen Diagnostik: Fragiles-X und Fragiles-X assoziiertes Tremor/Ataxie Syndrom

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Dispersed information diffusion with level and schema-based coordination in mobile peer to peer networks

Several open ended issues for high resource availability in mobile peer to peer networks have been examined in the recent past. Different approaches were conducted for supporting information distribution and availability, through guided or unguided packet diffusion. The majority of the recently proposed approaches try to benefit from the spatial characteristics of the dynamically varying topologies. In this work a directed information diffusion scheme is examined using a level and schema-based coordination, applied in mobile peer to peer networks. The prioritization degree of any requested advert is modeled and enables directed prioritized diffusions to end mobile users that are traversing a certain geographic region (location based advertisements). The proposed method is robust in disseminating redundant messages to users while maintaining connectivity through Gradual Energy Tree-based (GET) configuration. Simulation is performed for the examination and performance evaluation of the proposed scheme, taking into account the modeled prioritization as well as the diffusion accuracy by using the Hierarchical and Non-hierarchical GET configuration.

Individual variability of behavioural responses by Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) to human disturbance

Sub-Antarctic Marion Island has had a permanent research station for 50 years and the islands Wandering Albatrosses have been intensively studied for 20 years. The reactions of breeding birds to approaches by a human on foot were recorded. Three response variables were calculated: intensity of vocal reaction (IVR), intensity of non-vocal reaction (INR) and overall response index (ORI). At 5 m from the nest, twice as many birds stood and/or vocalised as at 15 m. Nearest neighbour distance, age and gender did not explain individual variability of responses. Study colony birds had higher IVR scores than non-study colony birds; birds at colonies closest to the station had the highest ORI scores. A better breeding record was associated with lower IVR and ORI scores, but a causative relationship remains to be demonstrated. A minimum viewing distance of 25 m is recommended for breeding Wandering Albatrosses.

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Scheduling mixed-parallel applications with advance reservations

This paper investigates the scheduling of mixed-parallel applications, which exhibit both task and data parallelism, in advance reservations settings. Both the problem of minimizing application turn-around time and that of meeting a deadline are studied. For each several scheduling algorithms are proposed, some of which borrow ideas from previously published work in non-reservation settings. Algorithms are compared in simulation over a wide range of application and reservation scenarios. The main finding is that schedules computed using the previously published CPA algorithm can be adapted to advance reservation settings, notably resulting in low resource consumption and thus high efficiency.

Hennigian Phylogenetic Systematics and the ‘Groundplan’ vs. ‘Post-Groundplan’ Approaches: A Reply to Kukalová-Peck

The recent contribution by Jarmila Kukalová-Peck on Hennigian phylogenetics and hexapod limb evolution is critically evaluated.

Metabolic activity interferometer: description and calibration of an interferometric method to measure growth of mycobacteria

An interferometer that measures the refractive index changes due to bacterial metabolism is described. The apparatus permits simultaneous and real time measurement of bacterial growth in several samples of slowly growing mycobacteria. The error sources are discussed and the sensitivity of the apparatus is tested. For the species Mycobacterium bovis BCG and M. smegmatis, a relation between refractive index change and bacterial concentration is determined experimentally and the time constant of bacterial growth is measured.

Causal Explanation of Indonesian Forest Fires: Concepts, Applications, and Research Priorities

Problems with studies, claims, and assumptions that have been made about the causes of fires in Indonesia's tropical moist forests are identified, and the kinds of concepts, methods, prioritizing, and data needed to resolve the problems are discussed. Separate sections are devoted to studying ignitions, studying fire susceptibility and fire behavior, and using the goal of causal explanation to guide interdisciplinary research.

The Social Aspects of Fishing Effort

While economic literature inspired by the “tragedy of the commons” has emphasised people’s tendency to increase fishing effort beyond desirable levels, sociologists and anthropologists who have studied the social aspects of fishing have often emphasised the capacity of these factors to restrict fishing effort. The article addresses the influence of social norms and communication on fishing effort in an empirical study of the Atlantic blue whiting fishery. The data were generated at a time when this fishery had yet to see efficient quota regulations, and had been subject to a rapid growth in fishing effort, making it the largest fishery in the Atlantic. The article argues that social norms and communication patterns in the fishing fleet create a synergic effect of co-operation and competition on fishing effort. The article questions the view that social norms and communication necessarily represent a solution to the tragedy of the commons.

Gridcast—a next generation broadcast infrastructure?

Gridcast is an R&D project investigating grid ideas and technologies in the broadcasting technical infrastructure. In this paper I discuss the business and technical issues in building infrastructures to support broadcasters and outline the structure of the Gridcast grid-based service oriented architecture for broadcasting playout support.

Is it a revolution?

Jablonka and Lamb's claim that evolutionary biology is undergoing a ‘revolution’ is queried. But the very concept of revolutionary change has uncertain application to a field organized in the manner of contemporary biology. The explanatory primacy of sequence properties is also discussed.

Compositional reasoning of performance in component-based distributed systems

Rapid prototyping of distributed systems can be achieved by integrating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. With components as the building blocks, it is important to predict the performance of the system based on the performance of individual components. In this paper, performance prediction of a system consisting of a small number of components is investigated under different inter-component communication patterns, and the number of threads provided by components. Based on the experimental results, it can be inferred that the proposed composition rules provide a reasonably accurate prediction of the performance of a system made out of these components.

Hierarchical analysis of piecewise affine models of gene regulatory networks

A key point in the analysis of dynamical models of biological systems is to handle systems of relatively high dimensions. In the present paper we propose a method to hierarchically organize a certain type of piecewise affine (PWA) differential systems. This specific class of systems has been extensively studied for the past few years, as it provides a good framework to model gene regulatory networks. The method, shown on several examples, allows a qualitative analysis of the asymptotic behavior of a PWA system, decomposing it into several smaller subsystems. This technique, based on the well-known strongly connected components decomposition, is not new. However, its adaptation to the non-smooth PWA differential equations turns out to be quite relevant because of the strong discrete structure underlying these equations. Its biological relevance is shown on a 7-dimensional PWA system modeling the gene network responsible for the carbon starvation response in Escherichia coli.

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Rethinking of risk communication: lessons from the decision sciences

Risk communication involves three primary elements: process, content and intent. Much has been written about the first two. Much is known, for example, about the guiding principles that should be considered during the design of a risk communication. Likewise, many studies have been conducted about how best to establish the technical and informational content of a risk communication. Very little attention, by contrast, has been devoted to the intent of risk communication, which is to inform decision making for risk management. While appropriate information upon which to base risk management decisions is important, so to is an understanding of how people instinctively approach decision making under conditions of risk. Work in the decision sciences provides this often-missing perspective for many risk communication efforts and is, therefore, the focus of this paper.

On the use of meta-heuristics to increase the efficiency of online grid workflow scheduling algorithms

The competitiveness of online algorithms is measured based on the correctness of the results produced and processing time efficiency. Traditionally evolutionary algorithms are not favored in online paradigms because of the large number of iterations involved in the algorithm which translates directly into processing time overhead. In this paper we describe MARS (Management Architecture for Resource Services) online scheduling algorithm which uses Simulated Annealing and concepts from Tabu Search to drastically decrease the processing time of the algorithm. The paper outlines the concepts behind MARS, the components involved and scheduling methodology used. In addition we also identify the time consuming bottlenecks in the performance of the system and how evolutionary algorithms help us soar past them.

Threatened species and the spatial concentration of humans

Public policies that encourage high-density human living arrangements have been predicated explicitly on the assumption that certain spatial distributions of a fixed-size human population are less environmentally damaging than others. We examine the empirical validity of this assumption across 127 countries by analyzing whether the concentration of human presence in each country is related statistically to the percentage of species that were on the IUCN Red List in 2004. Our findings indicate that concentration of the human population is associated with reduced imperilment among amphibians but increased imperilment among reptiles, and birds.