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Energy-latency-aware microservice orchestration in edge computing via node ranking matrix and proportional routing
No full textThe deployment of the microservice architecture in edge networks presents new opportunities for supporting latency-sensitive network services. However, most such services are both computation-intensive and energy-consuming, posing significant challenges for edge nodes with constrained computing resources and energy supply. Therefore, designing efficient microservice orchestration strategies to reduce service latency and network energy consumption is essential but highly challenging. Due to frequent communication among microservices, service deployment and request routing are tightly coupled, which lead to a complex joint optimization problem. This complexity further increases when considering large-scale microservices under multi-instance modeling and fine-grained analysis. Nevertheless, previous work has failed to address these challenges and largely overlooked the balance between latency and energy consumption. To overcome these issues, this paper proposes an energy-latency balanced microservice orchestration method to jointly minimize service latency and energy usage. First, we adopt multi-instance modeling to enable precise end-to-end latency analysis, and integrate an energy model to quantify overall network consumption. Then, we design the Node Ranking Matrix-based Microservice Orchestration Algorithm (NRMA), which dynamically selects high-ranking nodes based on centrality and energy metrics, thereby balancing latency and energy in the deployment stage. Moreover, we use the proportional routing strategy that distributes user request traffic according to the number of deployed instances, preventing node overload and reducing cross-node communication. Experimental results show that the proposed method is significantly better than the baseline algorithms in terms of latency and energy consumption, and achieves significant results
Insider ownership and investment efficiency
No full textThis study examines the relationship between insider ownership and investment efficiency in Indian publicly listed firms, utilising panel data spanning 2001 to 2015. It explores how agency conflicts contribute to suboptimal capital investment decisions. Our analysis reveals that increased insider ownership is associated with reduced investment efficiency, primarily due to tendencies towards overinvestment rather than underinvestment. This pattern suggests that insiders may favour personal or empire-building interests over shareholder value maximisation. Notably, the presence of independent directors on the board serves as a significant counterbalance, mitigating these inefficiencies. These findings hold when tested with different metrics for capital investment and investment opportunities. This research contributes to the literature by detailing the complex influence of ownership structure on investment behaviour and underscores the critical role of governance mechanisms, particularly board independence, in aligning investments with value creation. The insights are especially pertinent for developing economies with similar investor protection frameworks.<br/
Large model at edge: an optimal mobile edge generation (MEG) design
No full textA novel mobile edge generation (MEG) framework is proposed to efficiently operate large models at edge networks for low-latency image generation. The generation of large-scale image content is split into two parts, namely primary and secondary regions, with an adjustable generation splitting ratio. The primary region is generated by a large generative model (LGM) at the edge cloud and then transmitted to the mobile device, whereas the remaining secondary regions is created by a tiny generative model (TinyGM) at the mobile device, thus reducing transmission and computation overheads. Both single-user and multi-user cases are considered to characterize the tradeoff between mobile energy consumption and generation delay. For the single-user case, a multi-objective programming (MOP) is formulated for the joint optimization of generation splitting and mobile power control, which simultaneously minimizes the generation delay and mobile energy consumption. This MOP is transferred into single-objective optimization using the ϵ-constraint method. The closed-form optimal solution is derived to obtain Pareto-optimal energy-delay (E-D) region. It is revealed that MEG achieves significant performance gains then conventional fully edge generation (FEG) when signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or mobile generative cost is low. For the multi-user case, a joint generation splitting and resource allocation problem is formulated, which minimizes the maximum generation delay subject to ϵ-bounded mobile energy consumption and resource constraints. An McCormick-relaxation branch-and-bound (M-BnB) algorithm is proposed to obtain the globally optimal solution. Simulation results demonstrate the Pareto-optimal E-D region in single-user and multi-user cases. Furthermore, MEG flexibly reduces delay compared to conventional FEG and model split schemes while maintaining generative quality
Modeling and beamforming optimization for pinching-antenna systems
No full textThe Pinching-Antenna SyStem (PASS) is a revolutionary flexible antenna technology designed to enhance wireless communication by establishing strong line-of-sight (LoS) links, reducing free-space path loss and enabling antenna array reconfigurability. PASS uses dielectric waveguides with low propagation loss for signal transmission, radiating via a passive pinching antenna, which is a small dielectric element applied to the waveguide. This paper first proposes a physics-based hardware model for PASS, where the pinching antenna is modeled as an open-ended directional coupler, and the electromagnetic field behavior is analyzed using coupled-mode theory. A simplified signal model characterizes the coupling effect between multiple antennas on the same waveguide. Based on this, two power models are proposed: equal power and proportional power models. Additionally, a transmit power minimization problem is formulated/studied for the joint optimization of transmit and pinching beamforming under both continuous and discrete pinching antenna activations. Two algorithms are proposed to solve this multimodal optimization problem: the penalty-based alternating optimization algorithm and a low-complexity zero-forcing (ZF)-based algorithm. Numerical results show that 1) the ZF-based low-complexity algorithm performs similarly to the penalty-based algorithm, 2) PASS reduces transmit power by over 95% compared to conventional and massive MIMO, 3) discrete activation causes minimal performance loss but requires a dense antenna set to match continuous activation, and 4) the proportional power model yields performance comparable to the equal power model
Re-collections of acts and enactors of resistance: Challenging discourses of intellectual marginality and academic freedom within Indian universities
No full textSocial marginality and injustice often intersect in hegemonic perceptions of intellectual authority. To learn about alternative worldmaking within conditions of socio-political change, 46 academics from within 30 institutions participated in a study to archive their life histories. Each contributed to addressing social injustice, at various points from 1963-2024, and were some of the ‘first’ to enter the academic profession in India of their social groupings. Data generation included recorded oral discussions with Dr Dhawan (Women’s Studies), and photo-talk discussions with Prof Belluigi (Critical University Studies). These engendered self-criticality about their positionality, ethico-political frames, and relationships within and beyond the institutional murus. Creative storytellers and visual artists then offered intergenerational interpretations. The paper explores (in)sights into the constructions of these transformative intellectual authorities as im/perfect enactors, and individual and collective acts of resistance against injustice as de/idealisations of academic freedom, which de-centre dominant tropes of leadership
Cultural models within general practice training: a scoping review
No full textBACKGROUND: Doctors training to become general practitioners (GPs) are increasingly working in cross cultural consultations. Cultural models have been developed as frameworks to better equip medical professionals towards more culturally appropriate health care, with potential to improve equity in healthcare systems.AIM: To map evidence on models of cultural competence, cultural safety, cultural humility and transcultural care within GP training worldwide.DESIGN & SETTING: Scoping review using Arksey and O'Malley's framework.METHOD: Searches were conducted across three databases, extending to grey literature such as curricula. Articles were extracted, reviewed and analysed according to inclusion criteria.RESULTS: Nineteen articles met inclusion criteria. Publications ranged from 2008-2024, with 10 articles from Australia, 5 from USA, 2 Sweden, 1 Canada and 1 the Netherlands. Three themes were generated: Unlearning, Informal Learning, and Informed Learning. The literature illustrates that there are gaps in knowledge of what the models are and how best to practise and teach them within GP education.CONCLUSION: Cultural models advocate for cultural awareness, examine power imbalances, and encourage self-reflexivity and learning. Integrating cultural models into healthcare can better serve all patients, with potential to reduce health inequities. There also needs to be an adaptation to learning in traditional GP consultations with a focus on how our own biases impact the care that we provide, and a more formal learning of cultural models best delivered by GP trainers in partnership with cultural mentors.</p
The influence of menopause symptoms on workplace mental health among Irish women: a preliminary study
No full textIntroductionWomen's experiences of menopause are shaped not only by biological changes but also by the social contexts in which they occur, such as the workplace. This study examines how psychological, somatic and urogenital menopause symptoms affect occupational self-efficacy, work ability, perceived health and work quality, and perceived workplace support among Irish women.MethodsA total of 121 participants (Mage = 49.9, SD = 4.9, Range = 37–62) experiencing perimenopausal or postmenopausal symptoms participated in an online survey. Participants completed validated measures assessing menopause symptom severity, occupational self-efficacy, work ability, health and work quality, perceived workplace support, and menopause-related absenteeism.ResultsPsychological symptoms were significantly associated with lower occupational self-efficacy and work ability, whilst somatic and urogenital symptoms were not. Higher psychological, somatic and urogenital symptoms were correlated with multiple health and work quality measures. Organisational support was significantly associated with lower symptom severity. No significant relationships were found between symptom severity and absenteeism or reduced working hours.ConclusionPsychological menopause symptoms impact key workplace outcomes, while organisational support appears protective. These findings underscore the importance of menopause-informed policies in promoting the well-being, confidence, and retention of the workforce.<br/
‘One brother would carry another’: emotions, political imprisonment, and the prison memoirs of the ‘blanketmen’
No full textThis article critically examines how the emotive experience of political imprisonment is represented in prison memoirs. Using the memoirs of former Irish Republican Army (IRA) members who were involved in prison-related protest in the 1970s and 80s as an empirical basis, it goes beyond surface level cultural reproductions (i.e. murals, songs, and posters) to explore how lived experience of political imprisonment is defined by a complex interplay between loyalty and guilt. The article identifies how the memoirists’ competing roles as IRA volunteers, comrades, sons, husbands, and brothers shaped their lived experience of political imprisonment. Establishing that loyalty and guilt are multi-faceted emotions that emerge out of different relationships, in different contexts and for different reasons, the article argues that nuanced conceptual differences must be acknowledged within, as well as between, these emotions. The article identifies how, for political prisoners at least, loyalty means dedication to collective action, the relegation of self-interest, and fidelity to dead comrades, whereas guilt manifest itself as feelings of benefiting from the sacrifice of dead comrades, recognising their capacity to hurt others, and attempts to belatedly repair past hurt. These insights are instructive in understanding both the historical legacy of political imprisonment and its contemporaneous impact in a global climate of increasing political polarisation and violent unrest.<br/
No evidence of BoHV-1 exposure and low levels of pestivirus exposure in sera from 116 opportunistically sampled wild deer in Northern Ireland
No full textBovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV), Border Disease Virus (BDV), and Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1, the cause of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, IBR), are economically important endemic viruses in ruminant livestock in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Deer could undermine control efforts in livestock by contributing to virus transmission and maintenance, but information on the presence of these viruses in the wild deer population is lacking. Blood samples from wild fallow and sika deer culled in Northern Ireland were collected opportunistically in the 2022–23 hunting season and tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of antibodies to these viruses (n = 116). No antibodies against BoHV-1 were detected. Antibodies against pestivirus were detected in three samples (2.6%), all from sika deer, and constitute the first report in this species in Europe. Virus strain differentiation by virus neutralization test (VNT) was inconclusive. Results therefore indicate no evidence of exposure to BoHV-1 and very low levels of pestivirus exposure in these deer populations. Based on these results there are currently no grounds to implicate deer as significant wildlife reservoirs of these viruses.<br/
Early organic carbon and nitrogen accumulation in a Pyrenean site: From rock to peat across the Late Glacial–Early Holocene transition
No full textUnderstanding carbon-climate feedbacks during past climate transitions is critical to projecting long-term Earth system responses. Peatlands, though covering only 3–4 % of the terrestrial surface, play a disproportionate role in the global carbon cycle. Yet, Late Glacial peatlands in southern Europe remain understudied due to their rarity and fragmented records. This study provides a sub-centennial, multi-proxy reconstruction (15–10 cal kyr BP) from the Bassa Nera peat bog in the Central Pyrenees, combining total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), carbon accumulation rates (CAR), stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N), diatom assemblages, and charcoal influx. During the Oldest Dryas (GS-2 stadial), low TOC and TN suggest limited microbial activity under dry conditions. Despite climatic variability during the Bølling/Allerød (GI-1 interstadial), organic and isotopic signals remained damped. The Younger Dryas (GS-1 stadial) marks a shift, with abrupt peaks in TOC and TN (∼12.8 cal kyr BP), signaling the onset of organic accumulation. Sustained peat development begins around 12.3 cal kyr BP, accelerating in the Early Holocene with increased C/N ratios, charcoal influx, and isotopic changes, indicating higher terrestrial productivity and wetter conditions. Principal Component Analysis reveals evolving organic matter sources linked to regional vegetation dynamics. Bassa Nera is among the earliest peat-forming systems in the mountains of southern Europe, offering novel insights into long-term carbon accumulation patterns in montane settings. These findings highlight the role of early postglacial peatlands in shaping regional carbon dynamics and emphasize the need to incorporate underrepresented southern systems into global carbon and climate assessments.</p