Distributed Storage Codes With Repair-by-Transfer and Nonachievability of Interior Points on the Storage-Bandwidth Tradeoff

Regenerating codes are a class of recently developed codes for distributed storage that, like Reed-Solomon codes, permit data recovery from any subset of k nodes within the n-node network. However, regenerating codes possess in addition, the ability to repair a failed node by connecting to an arbitrary subset of d nodes. It has been shown that for the case of functional repair, there is a tradeoff between the amount of data stored per node and the bandwidth required to repair a failed node. A special case of functional repair is exact repair where the replacement node is required to store data identical to that in the failed node. Exact repair is of interest as it greatly simplifies system implementation. The first result of this paper is an explicit, exact-repair code for the point on the storage-bandwidth tradeoff corresponding to the minimum possible repair bandwidth, for the case when d = n-1. This code has a particularly simple graphical description, and most interestingly has the ability to carry out exact repair without any need to perform arithmetic operations. We term this ability of the code to perform repair through mere transfer of data as repair by transfer. The second result of this paper shows that the interior points on the storage-bandwidth tradeoff cannot be achieved under exact repair, thus pointing to the existence of a separate tradeoff under exact repair. Specifically, we identify a set of scenarios which we term as ``helper node pooling,'' and show that it is the necessity to satisfy such scenarios that overconstrains the system.

Optimal placement of Distributed Generation for a projected load increase using Relative Electrical Distance approach

There is a lot of pressure on all the developed and second world countries to produce low emission power and distributed generation (DG) is found to be one of the most viable ways to achieve this. DG generally makes use of renewable energy sources like wind, micro turbines, photovoltaic, etc., which produce power with minimum green house gas emissions. While installing a DG it is important to define its size and optimal location enabling minimum network expansion and line losses. In this paper, a methodology to locate the optimal site for a DG installation, with the objective to minimize the net transmission losses, is presented. The methodology is based on the concept of relative electrical distance (RED) between the DG and the load points. This approach will help to identify the new DG location(s), without the necessity to conduct repeated power flows. To validate this methodology case studies are carried out on a 20 node, 66kV system, a part of Karnataka Transco and results are presented.

Guided Wave based Damage Detection in a Composite T-joint using 3D Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer

Composite T-joints are commonly used in modern composite airframe, pressure vessels and piping structures, mainly to increase the bending strength of the joint and prevents buckling of plates and shells, and in multi-cell thin-walled structures. Here we report a detailed study on the propagation of guided ultrasonic wave modes in a composite T-joint and their interactions with delamination in the co-cured co-bonded flange. A well designed guiding path is employed wherein the waves undergo a two step mode conversion process, one is due to the web and joint filler on the back face of the flange and the other is due to the delamination edges close to underneath the accessible surface of the flange. A 3D Laser Doppler Vibrometer is used to obtain the three components of surface displacements/velocities of the accessible face of the flange of the T-joint. The waves are launched by a piezo ceramic wafer bonded on to the back surface of the flange. What is novel in the proposed method is that the location of any change in material/geometric properties can be traced by computing a frequency domain power flow along a scan line. The scan line can be chosen over a grid either during scan or during post-processing of the scan data off-line. The proposed technique eliminates the necessity of baseline data and disassembly of structure for structural interrogation.

Flux density calibration in diffuse optical tomographic systems

The solution of the forward equation that models the transport of light through a highly scattering tissue material in diffuse optical tomography (DOT) using the finite element method gives flux density (Phi) at the nodal points of the mesh. The experimentally measured flux (U-measured) on the boundary over a finite surface area in a DOT system has to be corrected to account for the system transfer functions (R) of various building blocks of the measurement system. We present two methods to compensate for the perturbations caused by R and estimate true flux density (Phi) from U-measured(cal). In the first approach, the measurement data with a homogeneous phantom (U-measured(homo)) is used to calibrate the measurement system. The second scheme estimates the homogeneous phantom measurement using only the measurement from a heterogeneous phantom, thereby eliminating the necessity of a homogeneous phantom. This is done by statistically averaging the data (U-measured(hetero)) and redistributing it to the corresponding detector positions. The experiments carried out on tissue mimicking phantom with single and multiple inhomogeneities, human hand, and a pork tissue phantom demonstrate the robustness of the approach. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.18.2.026023]

A POSSIBLE EVOLUTIONARY SCENARIO OF HIGHLY MAGNETIZED SUPER-CHANDRASEKHAR WHITE DWARFS: PROGENITORS OF PECULIAR TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

Several recently discovered peculiar Type Ia supernovae seem to demand an altogether new formation theory that might help explain the puzzling dissimilarities between them and the standard Type Ia supernovae. The most striking aspect of the observational analysis is the necessity of invoking super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs having masses similar to 2.1-2.8 M-circle dot, M-circle dot being the mass of Sun, as their most probable progenitors. Strongly magnetized white dwarfs having super-Chandrasekhar masses have already been established as potential candidates for the progenitors of peculiar Type Ia supernovae. Owing to the Landau quantization of the underlying electron degenerate gas, theoretical results yielded the observationally inferred mass range. Here, we sketch a possible evolutionary scenario by which super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs could be formed by accretion on to a commonly observed magnetized white dwarf, invoking the phenomenon of flux freezing. This opens multiple possible evolution scenarios ending in supernova explosions of super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs having masses within the range stated above. We point out that our proposal has observational support, such as the recent discovery of a large number of magnetized white dwarfs by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

Towards the understanding of formation of micro/nano holes of Ge/GeO2 through phase mapping

Here, we report for the first time a simple thermal oxidation strategy for the large area synthesis of Ge/GeO2 nanoholes from Ge and studied the luminescence of Ge/GeO2 and hole formation mechanism through phase and luminescence mapping. Photoluminescence mapping reveals that the emission in the visible range is only from the hole region, which provokes the necessity of the nanoholes. Such materials can also be used to convert ultraviolet to visible radiation for detection by conventional phototubes and to coat blue or ultraviolet diodes to obtain white light.

Quick recovery in transactional flash

Maintaining metadata consistency is a critical issue in designing a filesystem. Although satisfactory solutions are available for filesystems residing on magnetic disks, these solutions may not give adequate performance for filesystems residing on flash devices. Prabhakaran et al. have designed a metadata consistency mechanism specifically for flash chips, called Transactional Flash1]. It uses cyclic commit mechanism to provide transactional abstractions. Although significant improvement over usual journaling techniques, this mechanism has certain drawbacks such as complex protocol and necessity to read whole flash during recovery, which slows down recovery process. In this paper we propose addition of thin journaling layer on top of Transactional Flash to simplify the protocol and speed up the recovery process. The simplified protocol named Quick Recovery Cyclic Commit (QRCC) uses journal stored on NOR flash for recovery. Our evaluations on actual raw flash card show that journal writes add negligible penalty compared to original Transactional Flash's write performance, while quick recovery is facilitated by journal in case of failures.

On Uniform Approximate Solutions in Bending of Symmetric Laminated Plates

A layer-wise theory with the analysis of face ply independent of lamination is used in the bending of symmetric laminates with anisotropic plies. More realistic and practical edge conditions as in Kirchhoff's theory are considered. An iterative procedure based on point-wise equilibrium equations is adapted. The necessity of a solution of an auxiliary problem in the interior plies is explained and used in the generation of proper sequence of two dimensional problems. Displacements are expanded in terms of polynomials in thickness coordinate such that continuity of transverse stresses across interfaces is assured. Solution of a fourth order system of a supplementary problem in the face ply is necessary to ensure the continuity of in-plane displacements across interfaces and to rectify inadequacies of these polynomial expansions in the interior distribution of approximate solutions. Vertical deflection does not play any role in obtaining all six stress components and two in-plane displacements. In overcoming lacuna in Kirchhoff's theory, widely used first order shear deformation theory and other sixth and higher order theories based on energy principles at laminate level in smeared laminate theories and at ply level in layer-wise theories are not useful in the generation of a proper sequence of 2-D problems converging to 3-D problems. Relevance of present analysis is demonstrated through solutions in a simple text book problem of simply supported square plate under doubly sinusoidal load.

MRT Letter: Light Sheet Based Imaging Flow Cytometry on a Microfluidic Platform

We propose a light sheet based imaging flow cytometry technique for simultaneous counting and imaging of cells on a microfluidic platform. Light sheet covers the entire microfluidic channel and thus omits the necessity of flow focusing and point scanning based technology. Another advantage lies in the orthogonal detection geometry that totally cuts-off the incident light, thereby substantially reducing the background in the detection. Compared to the existing state-of-art techniques the proposed technique shows marked improvement. Using fluorescently-coated Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells we have recorded cell counting with throughput as high as 2,090 cells/min in the low flow rate regime and were able to image the individual cells on-the-go. Overall, the proposed system is cost-effective and simple in channel geometry with the advantage of efficient counting in operational regime of low laminar flow. This technique may advance the emerging field of microfluidic based cytometry for applications in nanomedicine and point of care diagnostics. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:1101-1107, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Synthesis, characterisation and application of an exfoliated graphite-diamond composite electrode in the electrochemical degradation of trichloroethylene

A composite electrode made up of exfoliated graphite (EG) and diamond was prepared for the electrochemical oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE). The SEM images of the EG-diamond material showed that diamond powders were dispersed on the surface of EG materials. The N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherm of EG-diamond material resulted in a poor adsorption capability due to the insertion of diamond powders into the porous matrix of EG. Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of characteristic sp(3) bands of diamond confirming good interaction of diamond with EG. Electrochemical characterisation of EG-diamond in 0.1 M Na2SO4 resulted in an enhanced working potential window. The EG-diamond electrode was employed for the electrochemical oxidation of trichloroethylene (0.2 mM) in a Na2SO4 supporting electrolyte. The EG-diamond, in comparison to the pristine EG electrode, exhibited a higher removal efficiency of 94% (EG was 57%) and faster degradation kinetics of 25.3 x 10(-3) min(-1) showing pseudo first order kinetic behaviour. Under the optimised conditions, 73% total organic content (TOC) removal was achieved after 4 h of electrolysis. The degradation of TCE was also monitored with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) was identified as a major intermediate product during the electrochemical oxidation of TCE. The electrochemical degradation of TCE at the EG-diamond electrode represents a cost effective method due to the ease of preparation of EG-diamond composite material without the necessity of diamond activation which is normally achieved through doping.

Ring opening of activated cyclopropanes with NIS/NaN3: synthesis of C-1 linked pseudodisaccharides

NIS/NaN3 mediated ring opening of various donor-acceptor cyclopropanes has been investigated. The study shows the necessity of the donor oxygen lone pair in such ring opening reactions. This methodology has been utilized in the synthesis of C-1 linked pseudodisaccharides through the use of click chemistry. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Guided-wave-based damage detection in a composite T-joint using 3D scanning laser Doppler vibrometer

Composite T-joints are commonly used in modern composite airframe, pressure vessels and piping structures, mainly to increase the bending strength of the joint and prevents buckling of plates and shells, and in multi-cell thin-walled structures. Here we report a detailed study on the propagation of guided ultrasonic wave modes in a composite T-joint and their interactions with delamination in the co-cured co-bonded flange. A well designed guiding path is employed wherein the waves undergo a two step mode conversion process, one is due to the web and joint filler on the back face of the flange and the other is due to the delamination edges close to underneath the accessible surface of the flange. A 3D Laser Doppler Vibrometer is used to obtain the three components of surface displacements/velocities of the accessible face of the flange of the T-joint. The waves are launched by a piezo ceramic wafer bonded on to the back surface of the flange. What is novel in the proposed method is that the location of any change in material/geometric properties can be traced by computing a frequency domain power flow along a scan line. The scan line can be chosen over a grid either during scan or during post-processing of the scan data off-line. The proposed technique eliminates the necessity of baseline data and disassembly of structure for structural interrogation.

Evaluating competing theories of street entrepreneurship

Conventionally, street entrepreneurs were either seen as a residue from a pre-modern era that is gradually disappearing (modernisation theory), or an endeavour into which marginalised populations are driven out of necessity in the absence of alternative ways of securing a livelihood (structuralist theory). In recent years, however, participa-tioninstreetentrepreneurshiphas beenre-read eitherasa rationaleconomicchoice(neo-liberal theory) or as conducted for cultural reasons (post-modern theory). The aim of this paper is to evaluate critically these competing explanations for participation in street entrepreneurship. To do this, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 871 street entrepreneurs in the Indian city of Bangalore during 2010 concerning their reasons for participation in street entrepreneurship. The finding is that no one explanation suffices. Some 12 % explain their participation in street entrepreneurship as necessity-driven, 15 % as traditional ancestral activity, 56 % as a rational economic choice and 17 % as pursued for social or lifestyle reasons. The outcome is a call to combine these previously rival explanations in order to develop a richer and more nuanced theorisation of the multifarious motives for street entrepreneurship in emerging market economies.

THE KNICKKOPF DOMON DOMAIN IS ESSENTIAL FOR CUTICLE DIFFERENTIATION IN Drosophila melanogaster

The dopamine monoxygenase N-terminal (DOMON) domain is found in extracellular proteins across several eukaryotic and prokaryotic taxa. It has been proposed that this domain binds to heme or sugar moieties. Here, we have analyzed the role of four highly conserved amino acids in the DOMON domain of the Drosophila melanogaster Knickkopf protein that is inserted into the apical plasma membrane and assists extracellular chitin organization. In principal, we generated Knickkopf versions with exchanged residues tryptophan(299,) methionine(333), arginine(401), or histidine(437), and scored for the ability of the respective engineered protein to normalize the knickkopf mutant phenotype. Our results confirm the absolute necessity of tryptophan(299,) methionine(333), and histidine(437) for Knickkopf function and stability, the latter two being predicted to be critical for heme binding. In contrast, arginine(401) is required for full efficiency of Knickkopf activity. Taken together, our genetic data support the prediction of these residues to mediate the function of Knickkopf during cuticle differentiation in insects. Hence, the DOMON domain is apparently an essential factor contributing to the construction of polysaccharide-based extracellular matrices.

NON-GLYCINE RESIDUES IN THE DISALLOWED REGIONS OF THE RAMACHANDRAN MAP AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PREFERENCES

The allowed and the ``disallowed'' regions in the celebrated Ramachandran map (phi-psi] map) was elegantly deduced by Ramachandran, Ramakrishnan and Sasisekharan even before the protein crystal structures became available. This powerful map was derived based on rigid geometry of the peptide group and later several investigations on protein crystal structures reported the occurrence of a small fraction of the phi-psi] torsion angles in the disallowed region. The question is what factors make these residues adopt disallowed conformations? Is it driven by the necessity to maintain the overall topology or is it associated with function or is it just that the disallowed conformations are extreme limits of the allowed conformations? Today, with the availability of a large number of high resolution crystal structures, we have revisited this problem. Apart from validating some of the earlier findings such as residue propensities, preferred location in the secondary structure, we have explored their spatial neighborhood preferences using the protein structure network PSN] approach developed in our lab. Finally, the structural and functional implications of the disallowed conformations are examined.