Smart Containers Research Articles

The PEPPHER composition tool: performance-aware composition for GPU-based systems

The PEPPHER (EU FP7 project) component model defines the notion of component, interface and meta-data for homogeneous and heterogeneous parallel systems. In this paper, we describe and evaluate the PEPPHER composition tool, which explores the application's components and their implementation variants, generates the necessary low-level code that interacts with the runtime system, and coordinates the native compilation and linking of the various code units to compose the overall application code to optimize performance. We discuss the concept of smart containers and its benefits for reducing dispatch overhead, exploiting implicit parallelism across component invocations and runtime optimization of data transfers. In an experimental evaluation with several applications, we demonstrate that the composition tool provides a high-level programming front-end while effectively utilizing the task-based PEPPHER runtime system (StarPU) underneath for different usage scenarios on GPU-based systems.

One‐step Preparation of Macroporous Polymer Particles with Multiple Interconnected Chambers: A Candidate for Trapping Biomacromolecules

Taking advantage of photothermal conversion, the surface pores of water-dispersible single-walled carbon nanotubes assembled on polymer particles were rapidly closed by NIR irradiation to produce macroporous polymeric microspheres with multiple interconnected chambers. These particles can act as smart containers to encapsulate and hold DNA molecules.

PluralisMAC: a generic multi-MAC framework for heterogeneous, multiservice wireless networks, applied to smart containers

Developing energy-efficient MAC protocols for lightweight wireless systems has been a challenging task for decades because of the specific requirements of various applications and the varying environments in which wireless systems are deployed. Many MAC protocols for wireless networks have been proposed, often custom-made for a specific application. It is clear that one MAC does not fit all the requirements. So, how should a MAC layer deal with an application that has several modes (each with different requirements) or with the deployment of another application during the lifetime of the system? Especially in a mobile wireless system, like Smart Monitoring of Containers, we cannot know in advance the application state (empty container versus stuffed container). Dynamic switching between different energy-efficient MAC strategies is needed. Our architecture, called PluralisMAC, contains a generic multi-MAC framework and a generic neighbour monitoring and filtering framework. To validate the real-world feasibility of our architecture, we have implemented it in TinyOS and have done experiments on the TMote Sky nodes in the w-iLab.t testbed. Experimental results show that dynamic switching between MAC strategies is possible with minimal receive chain overhead, while meeting the various application requirements (reliability and low-energy consumption).

Smart containers and the public goods approach to supply chain security

This paper will review the state of technology related to smart containers; discuss their role in the drive to securing global supply chains; and use the economics of public goods to help explain the strategic decisions faced by government, shippers and carriers. The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has offered to give ‘green lane’ treatment to any smart container arriving at a US port of entry. Promised benefits would be no inspection and immediate release at the port. The problem is that there is no smart container currently in use; nor is the nature of a smart container yet agreed to by industry and government. The economics of public goods, as developed in this paper, help to clarify the role of the importer, the carrier, the foreign vendor and the US regulatory agencies. Essentially, the issue is how to manage the trade-off between efficient trade flows and security across international supply chains. It will be shown that some of these players have incentives to under-provide expenditures devoted to such security. But this creates a further opportunity for smart containers to mitigate that situation.

Collagen containing microcapsules: Smart containers for disease controlled therapy

The protein collagen is the major component of connective tissue and it is involved in many biological functions. Its degradation is at the basis of different pathological processes. The up-regulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases and the down-regulated expression of their inhibitors are the causes for such degradation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility to fabricate collagen based containers for drug encapsulation and release by cellular demand by the action of matrix metalloproteinases. In present work collagen type I based microcapsules were fabricated by means of the layer-by-layer assembly of oppositely charged collagen and poly (stirene sulfonate) onto colloidal particles, followed by removal of the cores to obtain hollow microcapsules. The process of shell growth on planar supports was monitored by quartz crystal microbalance. X-ray reflectivity measurements were carried out at the solid/water interface to study the interaction of matrix metalloproteinase 1 with LbL films of collagen. The morphology of hollow capsules was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and compared to that of capsules exposed to the matrix metalloproteinase 1. Finally the matrix metalloproteinase 1 mediated permeability of capsules variation was studied by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. The results demonstrated the possibility to fabricate a drug delivery system where the release of the drug is dependent on the biochemistry of the pathological state.

An Integrated Systems Architecture to Provide Maritime Domain Protection

The focus of this research is to address the criticality and vulnerability of commercial shipping in the Straits of Mallacca by designing and evaluating competing systems architectures that could provide sufficient maritime domain protection. The category of primary concern was the introduction of a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) in a cargo container. The Maritime Domain Protection (MDP) physical architecture alternatives combined five separate systems: 1) a land-based cargo inspection system, 2) a sensor system, 3) a C3I (command and control, communications, and intelligence) system, 4) a force response system, and 5) a sea-based cargo inspection system. Individual models for each system were developed and combined into an overarching integrated architecture model to evaluate overall performance. Study results based on current technology showed that while solutions were found to effectively reduce risk in the WMD threat scenario, effective suppression came at great expense and included the participation of commercial shipping companies. A range of alternative cost-effective solutions were also found, but with limited performance. Future work involves using the developed architecture as a test bed for evaluating the overall impact and effectiveness of new technologies and research (such as “smart containers”) on MDP and homeland security.