Load sharing in cluster service provision

The factors that are driving the development and use of grids and grid computing, such as size, dynamic features, distribution and heterogeneity, are also pushing to the forefront service quality issues. These include performance, reliability and security. Although grid middleware can address some of these issues on a wider scale, it has also become imperative to ensure adequate service provision at local level. Load sharing in clusters can contribute to the provision of a high quality service, by exploiting both static and dynamic information. This paper is concerned with the presentation of a load sharing scheme, that can satisfy grid computing requirements. It follows a proactive, non preemptive and distributed approach. Load information is gathered continuously before it is needed, and a task is allocated to the most appropriate node for execution. Performance and reliability are enhanced by the decentralised nature of the scheme and the symmetric roles of the nodes. In addition, the scheme exhibits transparency characteristics that facilitate integration with the grid.

Advanced occupant behavioural features of the building-EXODUS evacuation model

The purpose of this paper is to describe and demonstrate some of the advanced behavioral features currently being developed for the building-EXODUS evacuation model. These advanced features involve the ability to specify roles for particular individuals during the evacuation. With these enhancements to the Behavioral Sub model of building-EXODUS, it is possible to include a number of procedural and behavioral aspects previously ignored in evacuation simulations. These include the behavioral aspect of group bonding, the procedural aspects involved with the role of the fire warden and rescue operations undertaken by the fire services. The importance of these enhancements are discussed and demonstrated through three simple simulations.

Implementation of a proactive load sharing scheme

This paper presents a proactive approach to load sharing and describes the architecture of a scheme, Concert, based on this approach. A proactive approach is characterized by a shift of emphasis from reacting to load imbalance to avoiding its occurrence. In contrast, in a reactive load sharing scheme, activity is triggered when a processing node is either overloaded or underloaded. The main drawback of this approach is that a load imbalance is allowed to develop before costly corrective action is taken. Concert is a load sharing scheme for loosely-coupled distributed systems. Under this scheme, load and task behaviour information is collected and cached in advance of when it is needed. Concert uses Linux as a platform for development. Implemented partially in kernel space and partially in user space, it achieves transparency to users and applications whilst keeping the extent of kernel modifications to a minimum. Non-preemptive task transfers are used exclusively, motivated by lower complexity, lower overheads and faster transfers. The goal is to minimize the average response-time of tasks. Concert is compared with other schemes by considering the level of transparency it provides with respect to users, tasks and the underlying operating system.

Virtual assignments: breach of covenant against parting with or sharing of possession

Comments on the Chancery Division decision in Clarence House Ltd v National Westminster Bank Plc on whether the alienation covenant in a lease of commercial premises had been breached by the tenant effecting a virtual assignment of it, under which all the economic benefits and burdens of the lease were transferred to a third party without there being any actually assignment of the leasehold interest or change in occupancy.

[Book Review] The role of formal features in second language acquisition - edited by J. Liceras, H. Zobl, and H. Goodluck

Book review of: J. Liceras, H. Zobl, and H. Goodluck (eds.), 2008, The Role of Formal Features in Second Language Acquisition. London/New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 577 pages, ISBN: 0-8058-5354-5.

A study on the cost sharing model for supply lead time reduction with component commonality

This paper studies a two-level supply chain consisting of components supplier and product assembly manufacturer, while the manufacturer shares the investment on shortening supply lead time. The objective of this research is to investigate the benefits of cost sharing strategy and adopting component commonality. The result of numerical analysis demonstrates that using component commonality can help reduce the total cost, especially when the manufacture shares a higher fraction of the cost of investment in shortening supply lead time.

Dynamic evolution in information sharing networks

This study examines the roll-out of a collaborative information repository or 'knowledge-base' in a medium-sized UK professional services firm over a six year period. Data from usage logs provides the basis for analysis of the dynamic evolution of social networks around the depository during this time. The adoption pattern follows an 's-curve' and usage exhibits something of a power law distribution, both attributable to network effects and network opposition is associated with organisational performance on a number of indicators. But periodicity in usage is evident and the usage distribution displays an exponential cut-off. Fourier analysis provides some evidence of mathematical complexity in the periodicity. Some implications of complex patterns in social network data for research and management are discussed.