Improving Storage Performance Through Layout Optimizations

Disk drives are the bottleneck in the processing of large amounts of data used in almost all common applications. File systems attempt to reduce this by storing data sequentially on the disk drives, thereby reducing the access latencies. Although this strategy is useful when data is retrieved sequentially, the access patterns in real world workloads is not necessarily sequential and this mismatch results in storage I/O performance degradation. This thesis demonstrates that one way to improve the storage performance is to reorganize data on disk drives in the same way in which it is mostly accessed. We identify two classes of accesses: static, where access patterns do not change over the lifetime of the data and dynamic, where access patterns frequently change over short durations of time, and propose, implement and evaluate layout strategies for each of these. Our strategies are implemented in a way that they can be seamlessly integrated or removed from the system as desired. We evaluate our layout strategies for static policies using tree-structured XML data where accesses to the storage device are mostly of two kinds - parent-tochild or child-to-sibling. Our results show that for a specific class of deep-focused queries, the existing file system layout policy performs better by 5-54X. For the non-deep-focused queries, our native layout mechanism shows an improvement of 3-127X. To improve performance of the dynamic access patterns, we implement a self-optimizing storage system that performs rearranges popular block accesses on a dedicated partition based on the observed workload characteristics. Our evaluation shows an improvement of over 80% in the disk busy times over a range of workloads. These results show that applying the knowledge of data access patterns for allocation decisions can substantially improve the I/O performance.

Kinetic performance : a study in portable architecture

The purpose of this research was to explore a new way of experiencing a performance space using the portability and flexibility of a cargo container. Since the 17th century there has been a split between theater, as a written work, and architecture. Theater has lost its founding essence becoming more about the structure and less about the performance. Contemporary theater designs came through the development of street performances, which developed into theater types such as the Black Box and lately video and projection screening. With the exploration of kinetic uses in architecture and defragmentation of a cargo container there is a new step on the development of theater design. Using a cargo container gave me a familiar object with specific dimensions to start my exploration as well as the possibility of having the theater transported to many sites. The findings demonstrate that there are many unexplored possibilities to create a performance space outside the conventional theater that can promote new types of performances as well as the use of new technologies of video and projection.

Vertical profiles of environmental parameters measured from physical, optical and imaging sensors during station TARA_055 of the Tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013

The Tara Oceans Expedition (2009-2013) sampled the world oceans on board a 36 m long schooner, collecting environmental data and organisms from viruses to planktonic metazoans for later analyses using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Tara Oceans Data are particularly suited to study the genetic, morphological and functional diversity of plankton. The present data set includes properties of seawater, particulate matter and dissolved matter from physical, optical and imaging sensors mounted on a vertical sampling system (Rosette) used during the 2009-2013 tara Oceans Expedition. It comprised 2 pairs of conductivity and temperature sensors (SEABIRD components), and a complete set of WEtLabs optical sensors, including chrorophyll and CDOM fluorometers, a 25 cm transmissiometer, and a one-wavelength backscatter meter. In addition, a SATLANTIC ISUS nitrate sensor and a Hydroptic Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP) were mounted on the rosette. In the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Seas (2013), a second oxygen sensor (SBE43) and a four frequency Aquascat acoustic profiler were added. The system was powered on specific Li-Ion batteries and data were self-recorded at 24HZ. Sensors have all been factory calibrated before, during and after the four year program. Oxygen was validated using climatologies (WOA09). Nitrate and Fluorescence data were adjusted with discrete measurements from Niskin bottles mounted on the Rosette, and optical darks were performed monthly on board. A total of 839 quality checked vertical profiles were made during the tara Oceans expedition 2009-2013.

Data compilation on the biological response to ocean acidification: environmental and experimental context of data sets and related literature

The exponential growth of studies on the biological response to ocean acidification over the last few decades has generated a large amount of data. To facilitate data comparison, a data compilation hosted at the data publisher PANGAEA was initiated in 2008 and is updated on a regular basis (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.149999). By January 2015, a total of 581 data sets (over 4 000 000 data points) from 539 papers had been archived. Here we present the developments of this data compilation five years since its first description by Nisumaa et al. (2010). Most of study sites from which data archived are still in the Northern Hemisphere and the number of archived data from studies from the Southern Hemisphere and polar oceans are still relatively low. Data from 60 studies that investigated the response of a mix of organisms or natural communities were all added after 2010, indicating a welcomed shift from the study of individual organisms to communities and ecosystems. The initial imbalance of considerably more data archived on calcification and primary production than on other processes has improved. There is also a clear tendency towards more data archived from multifactorial studies after 2010. For easier and more effective access to ocean acidification data, the ocean acidification community is strongly encouraged to contribute to the data archiving effort, and help develop standard vocabularies describing the variables and define best practices for archiving ocean acidification data.

Getting to the point: The influence of communicative intent on the kinematics of pointing gestures

Postprint

Left to right: Sharon Ewe and Calvin Liu applying Florida Bay sediments to dwarf mangrove forest as part of a fertilization experiment, Taylor Slough

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. This image is made available for non-commercial or educational use only.

Sobre o Desenvolvimento do Talento no Desporto: Um Contributo dos Modelos Teóricos do Desenvolvimento Desportivo

ABSTRACT: With this article, we aim to offer a conceptual synthesis of some of the most important developments in past decades on the subject of talent in sport, while also helping sports stakeholders, particularly managers and coaches, to recognize and apply these conclusions in their practices. The article starts with a brief historical review, which explores how there has been a shift from a talent detection perspective to a talent development perspective and to a holistic vision of athletes and their background context. Secondly, the article presents an overview of the main theoretical models put forward in literature on sport psychology, including career-transition-based models and talent-and-expertise-based models. Finally, as the conceptual model most widely referred to in literature, a detailed analysis of the Development Model of Sports Participation (Côté, Baker & Abernethy, 2007), is made, especially with regard to development processes relating to standards of practice (e.g. diversification and specialization) and psychosocial influences, aspects that form the basis of all-round athlete development.

Determination of 210Po content of vietnamese tobacco samples

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death. In recent years, numerous countries have initiated the prohibition of smoking in restaurants, workplaces and public spaces. The Vietnamese government intends to follow the precautions against public smoking as well. Over and above the number of some hazardous chemical components found in tobacco, ²¹⁰Po isotope content could enhance the probability of the development of lung cancer. In this study 14 Vietnamese tobacco products (commercial cigarettes and pipe tobacco) ²¹⁰Po activity concentration were determined using PIPS semiconductor alpha spectrometry. The results showed that the 210Po activity concentration of the investigated samples varied between 7.40 ± 1.09 - 128.64 ± 11.22 mBq g^-1. The average ²¹⁰Po content of commercial cigarettes was 15.5 mBq g^-1, whilst the average of pipe tobacco was 20.4 mBq g^-1. To estimate the risk of inhalation of ²¹⁰Po isotopes originating as a result of smoking, dose estimations were carried out. © Versita Sp. z o.o.

Mercado de Trabalho em Serviço Social no Sector Público em Portugal nos Anos 90

A investigação que a seguir se apresenta integra-se no âmbito do VI Curso de Mestrado em Serviço Social, da Escola Superior de Altos Estudos do Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, centrando-se a análise no “Mercado de Trabalho em Serviço Social no Sector Público em Portugal, nos anos 90. Análise a Partir da Abertura de Concursos Públicos.” Neste sentido procedeu-se a uma análise das ofertas de emprego em Serviço Social para a Administração Pública Central e para a Administração Pública Local, partindo do levantamento de concursos públicos, para Técnicos Superiores de Serviço Social, publicados em Diário da República, entre o dia 16 do mês de Agosto 1991 (data da publicação do Dec. -Lei nº 296/91 que veio criar e regulamentar a carreira de Técnico Superior de Serviço Social) até ao mês de Dezembro de 1999. Abordam-se as principais transformações no mundo do trabalho e suas repercussões no Serviço Social, considerando algumas questões da crise capitalista, globalização e implementação de políticas neo liberais. Analisam-se também, algumas das principais directrizes subjacentes aos programas do XI, XII e XIII Governos Constitucionais, existentes nos anos 90 em Portugal, e correspondentes políticas sociais que deste modo, contribuíram para o crescimento do mercado de trabalho dos Assistentes Sociais. Procedeu-se a uma abordagem sobre o estado da formação em Serviço Social e o reconhecimento da atribuição do grau de licenciatura em 1989, assim como a criação e regulamentação da carreira Técnica Superior de Serviço Social no sector público em 1991, e as principais alterações que a partir de então se fizeram sentir ao nível de mercado de trabalho. Pretende-se assim com este estudo, contribuir para um conhecimento mais aprofundado do mercado de trabalho no sector público na década de 90, dos Assistentes Sociais, dando a conhecer o número de concursos públicos (691) e número de vagas (1478) distribuídos pela Administração Pública Central (436 concursos e 1132 vagas) e pela Administração Pública Local (255 concursos e 346 vagas), apresentando as entidades que mais profissionais admitiram para os seus serviços. Apresentam-se também os tipos de concursos publicados (internos e externos), as categorias profissionais e a distribuição por distrito, correlacionando respectivamente, com o número de concursos e número de vagas.

Tecnología de la información y la comunicación

El artículo expone con amplitud el valor que tiene la utilización de las modernas Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC), detalla los principales instrumentos utilizados, y recomienda el seguimiento de reglas prácticas aplicadas concretamente a las personas con síndrome de Down.

Salud ósea en el Síndrome de Down

Se ha descrito que los adultos con Síndrome de Down presentan mayor propensión a desarrollar osteoporosis que el resto de la población. El artículo describe la problemática que plantea la osteoporosis sobre la calidad de vida de las personas. Muestra un estudio recién realizado en 76 adultos con Síndrome de Down (18- 65 años) en la Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria (España), que durante años han seguido normas adecuadas (ejercicio, alimentación, exposición solar) para prevenirla. Los resultados demuestran valores normales en la densidad ósea y otros parámetros relacionados con el metabolismo óseo y mineralización de los huesos.

El Síndrome de Down en perspectiva 2016

Los progresos realizados en la atención, cuidados e investigación sobre el síndrome de Down han permitido avanzar considerablemente en la realidad vital de las personas. La visión optimista y esperanzadora que razonablemente nos captura, no debe ocultar los problemas que aún se plantean: la persistente visión negativa y excluyente que la sociedad continúa manteniendo; las diferencias en salud, habilidades, conducta, atención entre un individuo y otro; la problemática que plantea la irrupción de fármacos que pretenden mejorar las funciones cognitivas.