This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. How impressive is that share of 25 percent of Internet traffic for searches, web apps and video headed to and from Google’s servers each day? Craig Labovitz, Deepfield CEO, discussed the results of its study in his blog on Monday, with the message that “Sometime over the last month, Google quietly broke an Internet record.” Based on measurements of end device and user audience share, he added, Google is now bigger than Facebook, Netflix and Twitter combined.That’s a very full glass. Labovitz called the Google traffic rise “astounding.” He added that 60 percent of all Internet end devices/users exchange traffic with Google servers during the course of an average day. The analysis included not only computers and mobile device but varieties of game consoles, home media appliances, and other embedded devices The firm said that Google’s device share is even much larger if only taking computers and mobile devices into account. Especially interesting are comparative figures. There was a significant traffic surge in the past several years. In 2010, Google’s services accounted for about 6 percent of Internet traffic. Google Glass distribution begins this week The stats are in. According to Deepfield, an Internet analytics business, Google serves 25 percent of North American Internet traffic. The question becomes, glass half empty or full and overflowing? A number of Google watchers outside Deepfield offered their ideas about why Google won 25 percent. The rise in online video has affected network data traffic and it is well known that Google acquired YouTube in 2006. Another reason offered is the increase in mobile device users who embrace an always-on, always Internet-connected lifestyle, and having many choices in form factors from smartphones to notebooks to tablets.Nonetheless, to headline a story that Google is big in 2013 would be laughable, like telling people that it snows in Buffalo. The Deepfield exercise, though, is not laughable as the blog comments on Monday are helpful toward understanding the extent of Google’s presence in the Web infrastructure, which Deerfield said has significant implications on network design and evolution. © 2013 Phys.org
More information: www.deepfield.net/2013/07/goog … -new-internet-record Citation: Google sits on Internet-traffic throne, says report (2013, July 23) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2013-07-google-internet-traffic-throne.html While all eyes have been on the data center buildouts, said Labovitz, “Google has been placing servers in strategic locations outside of their traditional data centers.” Google has expanded from building data centers to generating a presence of Google servers embedded everywhere in the network as part of infrastructure. Labovitz thought that by far the most striking change in Google’s presence is in deploying thousands of Google servers in Internet providers around the world. Google, he said, has deployed Google Global Cache (GGC) servers in the majority of US Internet providers. That is a notable step because in 2010 Deepfield saw GGC deployments mostly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Google explains its GGC program as designed to let network operators and Internet service providers deploy a small number of Google servers inside their network to serve popular Google content. Google’s traffic management system directs users to the node that will provide the best performance for the user. Targeted deployment can reduce the number of route-miles traveled on an operator’s network to serve Google traffic, further increasing cost savings for the operator. Explore further
Citation: Taekwondo simulator may kick it to UK athletes ahead of Olympics (2013, September 1) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2013-09-taekwondo-simulator-uk-athletes-olympics.html Virtual reality simulators could help to push more British athletes to the winner’s circle in major world events. BAE Systems, known more for products and services for defense, aerospace and security, not sports teams, is working on technology to help athletes perfect their game. As part of the plan, BAE’s engineers are applying what they know for the so-called Road to Rio, helping athletes to prepare for the 2016 games in Brazil. BAE is collaborating with UK Sport and this month the firm said it will continue as UK Sport’s research partner in the run-up to the next Olympic Games in Brazil. The move will give summer and winter sports athletes access to cutting-edge technology. UK Sport announced the two were partnering and leveraging the smarts of 18,000 engineers for technology that can improve medal-winning chances both at future Olympics and Paralympics. © 2013 Phys.org Explore further More information: www.theguardian.com/football/2 … and-penalty-shootout
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Beetroot juice properties found to boost athletes’ stamina One center of BAE input is a simulator, involving technologies such as depth-sensing cameras, motion sensors and eye-gaze trackers to produce the virtual foes that can battle against real athletes in the Taekwondo Olympic team, for training purposes. The Taekwondo athletes by working out with their virtual opponents could develop new skills while reducing the risk of injury through repetitive impact. Different types of display for simulator training sessions are being considered. One of those would be a full holodeck in which the user is surrounded by projected imagery. The real fighter’s every move will be captured and recorded for post-training analysis. Beyond Taekwondo, BAE Systems has applied knowledge of aerospace technology to help create a “revolutionary” racing wheel for UK Paralympic wheelchair-racing athletes. The goal has been to improve the UK racers’ acceleration capabilities The new racing wheel can improve acceleration by up to 20 per cent. The new wheel was developed at BAE Systems’ research center in Bristol. The wheelchairs are expected to be ready for use in competition next year, the researchers said.Commenting on BAE Systems, Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said, “The difference between success and failure in sport can often come down to the smallest of margins. The cutting edge technology from BAE Systems contributed to British athletes’ incredible success in the run-up to and during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I am pleased that BAE Systems’ partnership with UK Sport will continue to support our best athletes, with Sochi and Rio on the horizon.”
Citation: Best of Last Week – Possible signal from dark matter, a robo-cook and a switchboard in our brains (2014, August 18) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2014-08-week-dark-robo-cook-switchboard-brains.html Explore further It was a pretty good week for new technology development, too—a restaurant in China began deploying robots able to cook and deliver food to customers. While their skills are still somewhat limited, they do seem to offer a pretty clear picture of what is coming. Also collaboration between universities in Japan led to development of the world’s fastest camera—it has a frame interval of 4.4 trillion frames per second.Biology was in the news last week as well as a team of researchers found evidence that suggests gut bacteria may be ruling our minds—the little microbes may be what’s behind both mood swings and cravings, food for thought? Along completely different lines, a team of researchers used nanoparticles of gold to kill tumor cells in a patient’s brain. More research will be needed, but thus far, it appears the technique works to treat one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.And finally, a team of researchers has found a small part of a mouse’s brain that appears to operate as a switchboard of sorts, allowing the brain to switch between focusing on external stuff and internal musings. If it exists in humans, the team surmises, it might be used to study the ability to move between the two states, such as daydreaming during a meeting versus paying attention—a skill that could perhaps be honed to prevent embarrassment when in the wrong state at the wrong time. A robot carries food to customers in a restaurant in Kunshan on August 13, 2014 The big news in physics last week was the discovery of a faint line of gas elements in x-ray data that came from studying the space between galaxies—it didn’t correspond to any known element. The team believes it’s possible that it’s a signal from dark matter. If proved true, it would be a major breakthrough. In other space news, another team discovered van der Waal forces were at play with a near-Earth asteroid—a finding, the team reports, that could have implications for developing a means for protecting our planet from collisions. And yet another team has found that seven tiny grains captured by the Stardust spacecraft are likely visitors from outside of our solar system, which would make them the first actual samples ever collected of interstellar dust.
© 2014 Phys.org A possible signal from dark matter? This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
A trio of researchers from the University of Alberta, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Saskatchewan has conducted a study of population trends for Caribou in the Northwest Territories (NWT) in Canada and has found evidence suggesting population declines are not due to indigenous hunting. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, Brenda Parlee, John Sandlos and David Natcher outline their research results and suggest population declines are actually due to mineral exploration. This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. © 2018 Phys.org More information: Brenda L. Parlee et al. Undermining subsistence: Barren-ground caribou in a “tragedy of open access”, Science Advances (2018). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1701611AbstractSustaining arctic/subarctic ecosystems and the livelihoods of northern Indigenous peoples is an immense challenge amid increasing resource development. The paper describes a “tragedy of open access” occurring in Canada’s north as governments open up new areas of sensitive barren-ground caribou habitat to mineral resource development. Once numbering in the millions, barren-ground caribou populations (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus/Rangifer tarandus granti) have declined over 70% in northern Canada over the last two decades in a cycle well understood by northern Indigenous peoples and scientists. However, as some herds reach critically low population levels, the impacts of human disturbance have become a major focus of debate in the north and elsewhere. A growing body of science and traditional knowledge research points to the adverse impacts of resource development; however, management efforts have been almost exclusively focused on controlling the subsistence harvest of northern Indigenous peoples. These efforts to control Indigenous harvesting parallel management practices during previous periods of caribou population decline (for example, 1950s) during which time governments also lacked evidence and appeared motivated by other values and interests in northern lands and resources. As mineral resource development advances in northern Canada and elsewhere, addressing this “science-policy gap” problem is critical to the sustainability of both caribou and people. Caribou have been living in herds in northern Canada and Alaska for many years—and indigenous people living in the same areas have been hunting them for much of their history. But within the past few decades, the numbers of caribou have declined sharply. Prior research has shown that as recently as 30 years ago, the Bathurst herd alone had a population of approximately 500,000—today that number is down to approximately 20,000. Biologists and officials with NWT have blamed the decline on hunting, and therefore banned hunting by non-indigenous people in 2010 and indigenous groups in 2014. In this new effort, the researchers suggest the decline is not due to hunting, but to mineral exploration, which they claim results in noise, dust in the air, roads and seismic lines. Taken together, they suggest changes to the environment have made life more difficult for the caribou.To reach this conclusion, the researchers looked at harvest data for the years 1985 to 2000, and compared it with population levels for the four major herds that live in the NWT. They found that as the population levels naturally changed, so did the numbers killed. When populations dropped, hunters killed less, when they rose, they killed more. They noted that even as population levels rose, hunters still held back, making it possible for the herds to rebound to previous population levels. They further note that mineral exploration began in earnest in the region in the early 1990s, and as it picked up steam, caribou populations began to drop. They conclude that the culprit is not the indigenous hunters, but mineral companies. They suggest that if land management officials are serious about protecting the caribou, they need to take a closer look at the habitat changes that have occurred. Canada caribou herds, habitat continue to decline: report
Citation: Study suggests indigenous hunters mistakenly blamed for caribou population decline in northern Canada (2018, March 1) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2018-03-indigenous-hunters-mistakenly-blamed-caribou.html Journal information: Science Advances Credit: CC0 Public Domain Explore further
Other countries could take a cue from India and follow the manner in which vociferous protests against violence on women have turned into a movement, said Eve Ensler, founder of the One Billion Rising Campaign, during her visit to the Capital.‘I don’t think of any country or any time when people have protested in such a manner against crime against women. Why are not people in the US doing what people in Delhi are doing? It is just mind blowing,’ Ensler said. Also Read – ‘Playing Jojo was emotionally exhausting’Citing the recent Delhi gangrape, she recalled an incident in the US recently when a group of men gang-raped a woman and urinated over her.The One Billion Rising Campaign aims to unite people across the globe in fighting violence against women.Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Ensler said: ‘The way Indian men have collaborated in this movement has moved me.’ Ensler, also a playwright whose The Vagina Monologues has been widely acclaimed, pointed out that flesh trade in the world will flourish better than the trade in drugs as women are considered ‘reusable’.‘Capitalism is creating an atmosphere for perpetuating brutality on women,’ she said. Also Read – Leslie doing new comedy special with NetflixThe American feminist was joined by social activists. Activist Aruna Roy stressed the need to look at the root causes of violence, and asserted that chemical castration of those convicted of rape would not solve the problem.‘Women have become a commodity because of new economic designs. She is seen (in advertisements) selling liquor. By becoming a commodity, she lures men into becoming beasts,’ Roy said.‘Over a million women, children and men from across south Asia and many other countries will participate in the One Billion Rising Campaign on 14 February,’ Kamla Bhasin, South Asia coordinator for the campaign, said.
The Siddharth Anand-directorial’s collection stands at Rs.154.68 crore nett (approximately Rs.221 crore gross) and the total worldwide collection soars to Rs.290.97 crore gross, read a statement that talked BO figures. Released 2 October, Bang Bang! collected $11.3 million (Rs.70 crore) in 11 days in the overseas market.If the Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif-starrer enthralled massy film lovers in home country, it also managed to perform well in the Middle East, Britain, US, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.The film, that has been produced by Fox Star Studios, was made in the budget of Rs.140 crore.
Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is all set to become the first Indian Mountain Railway to introduce air-conditioned rakes.Incidentally, the DHR, along with the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) and the Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR), have been accorded the World Heritage status and have been jointly labelled the Mountain Railways of India.A successful trial run of the AC rake took place on Thursday, with a diesel locomotive hauling 2 AC carriages and a non-AC carriage from New Jalpaiguri station to Tindharia and back. Also Read – Heavy rain hits traffic, flights”We are technically ready to introduce the AC carriages. We are just awaiting the fare confirmation from Delhi. As soon as the fares are confirmed, we will introduce the AC fares in the Passenger Reservation System and start the AC services,” stated Partha Pratim Roy, additional divisional railway manager (ADRM), NJP.Sources state that the AC coaches would be introduced in the next 7 to 10 days. “We have just added the fuel cost to the first class fare. The cost of AC tickets from NJP to Darjeeling should be around Rs 1,600” added the ADRM. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killedAt present, the cost for a first class ticket is Rs 1,295. The AC coaches can also be available for chartered rides.The Railways had indigenously converted two first classes coaches at the Siliguri Railway Yard, with the help of the DHR workshop at Tindharia. The cost for the conversion stood at Rs 43 lakh.The AC coaches have a 15-seat capacity each. The glass coaches also boast of a music-cum-public address system.In the year 1879, work started on the DHR, then called the Darjeeling Steam Tramways. The stretch from Siliguri to Kurseong was opened on August 23, 1880. The Siliguri to Darjeeling track was inaugurated on July 4, 1881. The name of the rail company was then changed to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Company. At present, it covers a 88 km stretch from Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri. Both steam and diesel locomotives are used. The DHR was inscribed as a World Heritage site on December 2, 1999.
Kolkata: Iconic film maker Ritwik Ghatak’s wife Suroma Ghatak died at a state-run hospital in the city following protracted illness, her family said. She was 91 and was suffering from old age problems for the past few years.She had been admitted to the state-run M R Bangur Hospital ten days ago and had spent the past few days in its intensive care unit.She breathed her last at around 12.30 am at the hospital, they said.She is survived by her son Ritaban. Her two daughters had predeceased her. Also Read – Heavy rain hits traffic, flightsCondoling the death West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a tweet, “Deeply saddened with the passing away of Surama Ghatak, wife of the legendary film maker Ritwik Ghatak. My condolences to the bereaved family and friends.” Director Kamaleswar Mukhopadhyay, a close friend of the family and maker of a film loosely based on Ritwik Ghatak’s life, said, “Suroma Ghatak’s life was a life of battle. Her Bengali memoirs, which had been published earlier, will be of immense help to film students to know the period of the ’60s and ’70s (when Ghatak made his films)” Suroma Ghatak had been a pillar of support to her mercurial film maker husband Ritwik Ghatak (1925-1976) who had made classics like ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’, ‘Subarnarekha’ and ‘Ajantrik’ to name a few.Her family and friends including Kamaleswar Mukhopadhyay were present at the cremation.
Kolkata: The state government has set up a high powered committee headed by Chief Secretary, Malay De, to immediately evolve a foolproof mechanism to bring an end to the menace of carcass meat sale. After the discussion in this connection in the central level administrative review meeting held at Nabanna Sabhaghar on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: “A nine member high powered committee has been formed to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future.” Also Read – Heavy rain hits traffic, flightsThe other eight members of the committee are Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya, Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha, Commissioner of Kolkata Police Rajeev Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Panchayats and Rural Development Department and Principal Secretaries of Health department, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs department, Food and Supplies department and Animal Resources Development (ARD) department.Banerjee further said in this connection that people are now apprehensive to eat chicken and meat and many have even stopped consuming it. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killed”We want people to eat what they like and enjoy. Once the mechanism is devised, we will tell people that they can have their meat items without any fear,” Chief Minister said adding that the carcass meat case was not limited within Bengal and it was spread outside the state as well. The police have done a good job as those involved in the racket have been arrested. The problem with chicken has also been resolved. Sources said that there was discussion on the developments related to carcass meat scam in the administrative review meeting and she had enquired about it from Principal Secretary of ARD department, BP Gopalika. It is also learnt that the Chief Minister spoke to the officials from the Consumer Affairs department to know about the other related matters.Meanwhile, raids against the use of fungal-infected frozen chicken and carcass meat in eateries continued on Tuesday with officials visiting food stalls at Dum Dum and Chinar Park area.In another important development in this connection, the police have come to know that the kingpin of the racket that used to sale carcass meat, Biswanath Ghorui, also used to supply a good quantity of the same to a businessman in New Market. The businessman is at large at present. The police have freezed two bank accounts of Ghorui which has around Rs 94 lakh.
Kolkata: Refuelling stations will remain closed on June 18, as the West Bengal Petroleum Dealers’ Association has called for a strike, protesting against the alarming hike in petrol and diesel prices. They also demanded petrol and diesel to be brought under the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST).In the past nine days, petrol and diesel prices have increased almost every day. In this time period, the price of petrol has gone up from Rs 77.50 to Rs 79.53. Similarly, the price of Diesel has gone up from Rs 68.68 to Rs 70.63. Also Read – Heavy rain hits traffic, flightsWith the abrupt increase in the price of petrol and diesel, the sale of the same has gone down significantly. So, owners of refueling stations, who are members of the association, have decided to go for a strike on June 18.They will be submitting a deputation to senior officials of the oil companies in the state. Besides raising the issue of the drop in sales due to abrupt hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, they will also protest against the alleged short supply of fuel in tankers. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killedTushar Kanti Sen, president of the association, said: “Since we have come to know that some taxi owners’ associations have also called for a strike protesting against the same on June 18, we have decided to go for the strike on the same day.””Initially, we will go for a strike for one day and the agitation will be intensified if the prices of petrol and diesel do not come down,” he said.It is being apprehended that the abrupt hike in the prices of petrol and diesel is also going to leave an impact on the prices of essential goods. A section of bus owners have also started demanding a hike in fare and they would also go for an agitation over the issue. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed concern in this connection on Sunday and tweeted: “We are very concerned about the rising prices of petrol and diesel. This will certainly affect prices all around. Common people, farmers and many others will suffer.”The prices of essential goods would also go up, as the transportation cost will increase. The truck owners would also start asking for more fare to transport goods and it will directly leave an effect on the prices of essential commodities. It may be mentioned that Trinamool Congress workers had also staged a protest in connection to the same issue on Monday.