Search Results (7)

Diskless computing nodes in cluster supercomputers require massive deployment procedure of operating systems software for their booting. Most previous studies for massive deployment of large files focus on developing flexible and scalable mechanisms in hidden or changeable network topologies, but the topology-optimal deployment has been rarely investigated in fixed open network topologies. In this article, we investigate the topology-optimal deployment method designed for a specific cluster supercomputer with the fat-tree topology. We examine possible deployment approaches and propose the optimal peer-to-peer deployment method. The proposed deployment method minimizes the number of peer-to-peer transmission steps by fully utilizing resources of the fat-tree topology and avoids contention between peer-to-peer communications. Simulation results show that the proposed method completes deployment at least nine times faster than the baseline method. Full article

In flight tests, to meet the requirements of consistent acquisition and storage of multiple targets, multiple systems, and multiple data types, various data types are processed into Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) data streams using PCM encoding for storage. Aiming at the requirement of real-time storage of high-bit-rate PCM data streams, a large-capacity storage system based on Serial Advanced Technology Attachment 3.0 (SATA3.0) is designed. The system uses the Kintex 7 series Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) as the control core, receives PCM data streams through the Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) low-voltage differential interface, stores the received PCM data streams into the mSATA disk via the SATA3.0 transmission bus, and transmits the stored data back to the host computer through the USB3.0 interface for analysis. Meanwhile, to solve the problem of complex data export, the storage system constructs a FAT32 file system through the MicroBlaze soft core to optimize the management and operation of the large-capacity storage system. Test results show that the storage system can perform stable high-rate storage at −40 °C~80 °C. Full article

Palatability is a critical determinant of pet food performance, directly influencing voluntary intake, nutrient utilization, and therapeutic efficacy. In this systematic review, we examine peer-reviewed research publications, patent filings, and commercial product data pertaining to palatant technologies in dry and wet pet food from 2014 to 2024. Major palatant classes—including fats, proteins, yeast extracts, and novel plant-derived or insect-based hydrolysates—are evaluated for their physicochemical properties, flavor-release mechanisms, and stability during processing. We analyze formulation techniques such as microencapsulation, Maillard-reaction enhancement, and multilayer coating systems, focusing on their impact on aromatic compound retention and palatability consistency. Patent landscape assessment identifies over 15 key innovations in delivery systems, life-stage-specific palatant modulation, and dual-phase release architectures. Dual-phase release architectures are defined as systems that deliver active compounds in two sequential phases, such as immediate and sustained release. Sensory evaluation methodologies—ranging from multivariate preference mapping to descriptive analysis—are critically appraised to correlate human-panel metrics with canine and feline feeding behavior. We also discuss strategic integration of palatants at different processing stages (pre-conditioning, extrusion, and post-extrusion) and the challenges of balancing taste masking with nutritional requirements, particularly in formulations containing alternative proteins for sustainability. Despite rapid market growth in functional palatant-infused products, peer-reviewed literature remains relatively limited, suggesting opportunities for further research on species-specific flavor drivers, synbiotic flavor–nutrient interactions, and novel delivery platforms. This comprehensive overview of palatant science, patent innovations, and market evolution provides evidence-based guidance for researchers, formulators, and veterinarians seeking to optimize organoleptic properties and consumer acceptance of next-generation pet foods. Full article

Temperature, depth, conductivity, and turbulence are fundamental parameters of marine dynamics in the field of ocean science. These closely correlated parameters require time-synchronized observations to provide feedback on marine environmental problems, which requires using sensors with synchronized power supply, multi-path data solving, recording, and storage performances. To address this challenge, this work proposes a hardware system capable of synchronously processing temperature, depth, conductivity, and turbulence data on marine dynamics collected by sensors. The proposed system uses constant voltage sources to excite temperature and turbulence sensors, a constant current source to drive a depth sensor, and an alternating current (AC) constant voltage source to drive a conductivity sensor. In addition, the proposed system uses a high-precision analog-digital converter to acquire the direct current (DC) signals from temperature, depth, and turbulence sensors, as well as the AC signals from conductivity sensors. Since the sampling frequency of turbulence sensors is different from that of the other sensors, the proposed system stores the generated data at different storage rates as multiple-files. Further, the proposed hardware system manages these files through a file system (file allocation tab) to reduce the data parsing difficulty. The proposed sensing and hardware logic system is verified and compared with the standard conductivity-temperature-depth measurement system in the National Center of Ocean Standards and Metrology. The results indicate that the proposed system achieved National Verification Level II Standard. In addition, the proposed system has a temperature indication error smaller than 0.02 °C, a conductivity error less than 0.073 mS/cm, and a pressure error lower than 0.8‰ FS. The turbulence sensor shows good response and consistency. Therefore, for observation methods based on a single point, single line, and single profile, it is necessary to study multi-parameter data synchronous acquisition and processing in the time and spatial domains to collect fundamental physical quantities of temperature, salt, depth, and turbulence. The four basic physical parameters collected by the proposed system are beneficial to the in-depth research on physical ocean motion, heat transfer, energy transfer, mass transfer, and heat-energy-mass coupling and can help to realize accurate simulation, inversion, and prediction of ocean phenomena. Full article

The gut microbiota has been demonstrated to play a critical role in maintaining cognitive function via the gut-brain axis, which may be related to the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). However, the exact mechanism remains to be determined. We investigated that patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could exhibit an altered gut microbiota through the suppression of the PNS, compared to the healthy individuals, using the combined gut microbiota data from previous human studies. The hypothesis was validated in rats to suppress the PNS by scopolamine injections. The human fecal bacterial FASTA/Q files were selected and combined from four different AD studies (n = 410). All rats had a high-fat diet and treatments for six weeks. The MD rats had memory impairment by scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg body weight; MD, Control) or no memory impairment by saline injection. The scopolamine-injected rats had a donepezil intake as the positive group. In the optimal model generated from the XGboost analysis, Blautia luti, Pseudomonas mucidoiens, Escherichia marmotae, and Gemmiger formicillis showed a positive correlation with MCI while Escherichia fergusonii, Mycobacterium neglectum, and Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus were positively correlated with AD in the participants with enterotype Bacteroides (ET-B, n = 369). The predominant bacteria in the AD group were negatively associated in the networking analysis with the bacteria in the healthy group of ET-B participants. From the animal study, the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Bilophilia was lower, and that of Escherichia, Blautia, and Clostridium was higher in the scopolamine-induced memory deficit (MD) group than in the normal group. These results suggest that MCI was associated with the PNS suppression and could progress to AD by exacerbating the gut dysbiosis. MCI increased Clostridium and Blautia, and its progression to AD elevated Escherichia and Pseudomonas. Therefore, the modulation of the PNS might be linked to an altered gut microbiota and brain function, potentially through the gut-brain axis. Full article

Research has been conducted to efficiently transfer blocks and reduce network costs when decoding and recovering data from an erasure coding-based distributed file system. Technologies using software-defined network (SDN) controllers can collect and more efficiently manage network data. However, the bandwidth depends dynamically on the number of data transmitted on the network, and the data transfer time is inefficient owing to the longer latency of existing routing paths when nodes and switches fail. We propose deep Q-network erasure coding (DQN-EC) to solve routing problems by converging erasure coding with DQN to learn dynamically changing network elements. Using the SDN controller, DQN-EC collects the status, number, and block size of nodes possessing stored blocks during erasure coding. The fat-tree network topology used for experimental evaluation collects elements of typical network packets, the bandwidth of the nodes and switches, and other information. The data collected undergo deep reinforcement learning to avoid node and switch failures and provide optimized routing paths by selecting switches that efficiently conduct block transfers. DQN-EC achieves a 2.5-times-faster block transmission time and 0.4-times-higher network throughput than open shortest path first (OSPF) routing algorithms. The bottleneck bandwidth and transmission link cost can be reduced, improving the recovery time approximately twofold. Full article

In this article, we propose a creation order reconstruction method of deleted files for the FAT32 file system with Windows operating systems. Creation order of files is established using a correlation between storage locations of the files and their directory entry locations. This method can be utilized to derive the creation-time bound of files recovered without the creation-time information. In this article, we first examine the file allocation behavior of Windows FAT32 file system. Next, based on the examined behavior, we propose a novel method that finds the creation order of deleted files after being recovered without the creation-time information. Due to complex behaviors of Windows FAT32 file system, the method may find multiple creation orders although the actual creation order is unique. In experiments with a commercial device, we confirm that the actual creation order of each recovered file belongs to one of the creation orders found by the method. Full article