SPHERE： a scalable multicast framework in overlay networks

This paper presents Sphere, a scalable multicast framework in overlay network. Sphere is a highly efficient, serf-organizing and robust multicast protocol overlayed on the Internet. The main contrihutions of this paper are twofold. First, Sphere organizes the control topology of overlay network in two directions： horizontal and vertical. The horizontal meshes are used to locate and organize hosts in tracks, and the vertical meshes are. used to manage the data paths between tracks. Second, Sphere balances stress and stretch of the overlay network by assigning hosts into different tracks and clusters. This structure distributes stress on the muhicast trees uniformly, and meantime makes path stretch as small as possible. Simulations results show that Sphere can support multicast with large group size and has good performance on organizing meshes and building data delivery trees.     

A theoretical framework of tracer methods for marine sediment dynamics

A new theoretical framework of tracer methods is proposed in the present contribution, on the basis of mass conservation. This modet is applicable for both artificial and natural tracers. It can be used to calculate the spatial distribution patterns of sediment transport rate, thus providing independent information and verification for the results derived from empirical formulae. For the procedures of the calculation, first, the tracer concentration and topographic maps of two times are obtained. Then, the spatial and temporal changes in the concentration and seabed etevation are calculated, and the boundary conditions required are determined by fietd observations (such as flow and bedform migration measurements). Finally, based upon eqs. (1) and (13), the transport rate is calculated and expressed as a function of the position over the study area. Further, appropriate modifications to the modet may allow the tracer to have different densities and grain size distributions from the bulk sediment.     

Can sequencing shed light on cell cycling?

Every organism must have cells that can replicate indefinitely. Can the draft human genome sequence tell us how the cell cycle works and how it evolved? We studied two protein families--the cyclins and their partners the cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks)--and a conserved regulatory circuit, the spindle checkpoint. Disappointingly, we discovered a few novel cyclins and no new Cdks or components of the spindle checkpoint, and could shed little light on the organization of the cell cycle.