A fair and optimal mechanism is required for allocating bandwidth to virtual machine migration in a WAN environment. In this thesis, we propose a dynamic resource allocation algorithm running in either centralized or distributed environments. The centralized version of our algorithm collects information from individual users and dynamically allocates bandwidth according to their demands. The distributed version of our algorithm is running on the internal nodes (e.g. routers) in the network. In the distributed case, we show that even when the routers and the users do not exchange allocation information, the allocation is still stable and optimal if the users are elastic users. Another interesting problem we solved is emergency handling, which is also critical in virtual machine live migration.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Abdulaziz M. AlNowiser, for the Master of Science degree in Computer Science, presented on November 1, 2013, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: TOWARD ENERGY-EFFICIENT SCHEDULING USING WEIGHTED ROUND- ROBIN AND VM REUSE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Michelle M. Zhu In recent years, the rapid evolving Cloud Computing technologies multiply challenges such as minimizing power consumption and meeting Quality-of-Services (QoS) requirements in the presence of heavy workloads from a large number of users using shared computing resources. Powering a middle-sized data center normally consumes 80,000kW power every year and computer servers consume around .5% of the global power [1]. Statistics for 5000 production servers over a six-month period show that only 10-50% of the total capacity has been effectively used, and a large portion of the resources is actually wasted. In order to address the skyrocket energy cost from the high level resource management aspect, we propose an energy efficient job scheduling approach based on a modified version of Weighted Round Robin scheduler that incorporates VMs reuse and live VM migration without compromising the Service Level Agreement (SLA). The Weighted Round Robin scheduler can monitor the running VMs status for possible VM sharing for job consolidation or migration. In addition, the VMs utilization rate is observed to start live migration from the over-utilizing Processing Element (PE) to under-utilized PEs or to the hibernated PEs by sending WOL (Wake-On-LAN) signal to activate them. The simulation experiments are conducted under the CloudReports environment based on open source CloudSim simulator. The comparisons with other similar scheduling algorithms demonstrate that our enhanced Weighted Round Robin algorithm (EWRR) can achieve considerable better performance in terms of energy consumption and resource utilization rate.

There has been a lot of work that has been done on timing predictability of real-time tasks on embedded systems. The main assumption in these studies has been that the timing behavior has been based on single processor systems. The scenario has changed entirely when the single core systems have been replaced with the new Multicore systems. The timing predictability is controlled by the migrating tasks, the network topology connecting the cores and the number of cores on the system. In this thesis we come up with a feasibility analysis which depends on the characteristics of the tasks viz. number of cache lines, time of migration, available bandwith, number of tasks etc. We also test this analysis on novel mechanisms of migration which have been proposed recently and present its results.

abstract: In software testing, components are tested individually to make sure each performs as expected. The next step is to confirm that two or more components are able to work together. This stage of testing is often difficult because there can be numerous configurations between just two components. Covering arrays are one way to ensure a set of tests will cover every possible configuration at least once. However, on systems with many settings, it is computationally intensive to run every possible test. Test prioritization methods can identify tests of greater importance. This concept of test prioritization can help determine which tests can be removed with minimal impact to the overall testing of the system. This thesis presents three algorithms that generate covering arrays that test the interaction of every two components at least twice. These algorithms extend the functionality of an established greedy test prioritization method to ensure important components are selected in earlier tests. The algorithms are tested on various inputs and the results reveal that on average, the resulting covering arrays are two-fifths to one-half times smaller than a covering array generated through brute force. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Computer Science 2015

Weighted clones Azza Gaysin January 3, 2018 Abstract In this thesis we fully describe the structure of all binary parts of weighted clones over the Boolean clones generated by one of the semilattice operations and one or two of the constant operations. We also give a complete description of all atomic and maximal weighted clones over these clones. Keywords: Relational clones, VCSP, Weighted clones 1

Network theory is finding applications in the life and social sciences for ecology, epidemiology, finance and social-ecological systems. While there are methods to generate specific types of networks, the broad literature is focused on generating unweighted networks. In this paper, we present a framework for generating weighted networks that satisfy user- defined criteria. Each criterion hierarchically defines a feature of the network and, in doing so, complements existing algorithms in the literature. We use a general example of ecological species dispersal to illustrate the method and provide open- source code for academic purposes.

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides important information about structural and biochemical changes in organs. MRI is also an effective imaging method for the evaluation of spinal disorders. However, many of its potential applications - particularly diffusion imaging - have not yet been thoroughly explored. The purpose of this study was to determine the MRI-detectable changes in the intervertebral disc after trauma and to test the feasibility of diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the intervertebral discs. A minipig model was used in the experimental study to determine the MRI changes in the intervertebral disc after peripheral annular lesions in different time frames. Three of eight discs with experimental annular lesions had a normal annular appearance in MRI. Annular lesions, when detectable, were manifested as a bulging of the disc or as a high-intensity zone (HIZ) inside the annulus. Either the signal intensity or the area of bright signal intensity in the nucleus had nearly always decreased after one month, but they were still detectable even in cases where no signs of annular trauma could be seen in the MR images. The histology of HIZ is presented for the first time: clusters of nuclear cells and disorganized granulation tissue with capillaries were detected in the HIZ area. Fourteen patients 8 to 21 years of age with histories of vertebral fracture at least one year previously and 14 asymptomatic healthy control subjects 8 to 22 years of age were studied by MRI. In these young people a vertebral fracture, especially with end-plate injury, proved to be a notable risk factor for initiating disc degeneration. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the thoracolumbar intervertebral discs were determined in three orthogonal directions in 18 healthy young volunteers aged 8-22 years. The ADCs were also determined in 10 young patients with previous vertebral fractures, and clear decreases were found in the ADCx and ADCy directions, but in the ADCz direction values had not changed significantly as compared to the values in the controls. The most marked changes were observed in the degenerated discs, followed by those in the discs with a normal signal intensity adjacent to the primary trauma area. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging affords a useful tool for evaluating disc diseases in the early phases. Additionally, 37 adult volunteers without back symptoms were studied by MRI and by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and it was found that the status of the lumbar arteries significantly explained the diffusion values in the lumbar intervertebral discs. The correlation between disc degeneration and diffusion was mostly linear, but not significant.

By sensitising the magnetic resonance signal to the diffusion of water molecules in tissue, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging provides a means of assessing tumour microstructure non-invasively. Such measurements have the potential to provide important information about tumour development and the response of tumours to treatment, but the way in which different tissue properties affect the diffusion-weighted signal remains unclear. Through simulations, in vivo studies and phantom experiments, this thesis investigates the relationship between the diffusion-weighted signal, the pulse sequence parameters used for acquisition, and microstructural properties of tumours. The use of oscillating gradient pulse sequences on a clinical scanner was investigated initially, with theoretical and practical considerations leading subsequent work to focus on pulsed gradient sequences. The forward problem of predicting the diffusion-weighted signal for given combinations of tissue properties and sequence parameters was addressed numerically through Monte Carlo simulations, focussing on how tumour cell size, intracellular volume fraction and membrane permeability affect the signal. These simulations allowed the sensitivity of the signal to changes in these tissue properties to be investigated, revealing how sensitivity depends on sequence parameters as well as the specific microstructural configuration. By repeating the simulations using the specific sequence parameters used in a clinical and preclinical study, the sensitivity of the implemented protocols was assessed, and linked to the experimental findings. The preclinical study illustrated the importance of the diffusion time in determining the sensitivity to treatment-induced changes in tumours, with larger post-treatment signal changes observed at longer diffusion times. These trends were qualitatively reflected in the sensitivity analysis derived from the simulations. Finally, the inverse problem of estimating microstructural properties from the diffusion-weighted signal was addressed using a physical phantom designed as a simple mimic of tumour tissue. By fitting a biophysical model to the diffusion data, the size and volume fraction of the approximately spherical 'cells' were estimated. The radius was slightly underestimated compared with that determined from independent measurements, the fitted volume fraction was plausible, and parameters were found to be estimated with reasonably good precision.

The development of fluent reading requires coordinated development of key fiber pathways. While several fiber pathways have been implicated in reading, including the recently re-identified vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), arcuate fasciculus and its 3 components, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), whether these fiber pathways support reading in young children with little to no exposure to print remains poorly understood. Consequently, over the course of three studies, the current dissertation aimed to narrow this research gap by addressing the following research questions: 1) Which fiber pathways support early literacy skill in young children 5-10 years old? 2) Are microstructural properties of these tracts predictive of age-related changes in reading across an interval of two years? 3) Do different components of the recently identified VOF differentially support reading? To answer these questions, we used diffusion-weighted imaging to measure white-matter development and to relate the microstructural properties of each fiber pathway to early literacy and literacy development. We report several novel findings that contribute to our growing understanding of the white matter connections supporting early literacy and literacy. For the first time, these studies revealed that the re-identified VOF can be reliably tracked in young children, bilaterally and is composed of three main components, which project from occipital temporal sulcus to angular, and middle and superior occipital gyri. We also found that the left AF, bilateral ILF, and particular components of the VOF play a role in early literacy and literacy development. Implications for contemporary models of reading development are discussed.

Phthalates, chemicals found in a variety of consumer goods and personal care products, may adversely affect fetal neurodevelopment. Women are exposed to a mixture of phthalates during pregnancy because of the common presence of these chemicals in consumer goods. The aim of this study is to investigate potential associations between phthalate exposure during the first trimester of gestation and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores of 3-year old children.