In real-Time task scheduling on multiprocessor systems, partitioning approach has received the attention of many researchers because of its higher least upper bound utilization of safe systems. Semi-partitioning allows some tasks to be split into subtasks and each subtask to be assigned to a different processor. Though task splitting improves the performance of systems, by counting each subtask as a separate task, it increases the effective number of tasks to be scheduled, which in turn, raises the execution overhead. This research is on semi-partitioning of tasks and assigning each partition to a separate processor to be scheduled by the well-known scheduler Rate-Monotonic (RM). Using our algorithm, we do not need to define release Time for subtasks of a task to assure their nonconcurrent execution and the number of effective tasks, in turn, is reduced. It is theoretically proven that with the proposed semi-partitioning and RM scheduling algorithm, all processors may safely run their tasks according to their deadlines. Further, experimental results on 3000 randomly generated task-sets indicates that not only is utilization factor boosted, but the number of broken tasks also is decreased.

Objective: The aim of this study was to screen the potential of human embryos to develop into expanding blastocysts following in vitro embryo splitting and then assess the quality of the generated blastocysts based on chromosomal characteristics and using morphokinetics. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a total of 82 good quality cleavage-stage donated embryos (8-14 cells) were used (24 embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage as controls and 58 embryos underwent in vitro splitting). After in vitro splitting, the blastomere donor and blastomere recipient embryos were named twin A and twin B, respectively. Morphokinetics and morphological parameters were evaluated using a Time-lapse system in the blastocysts developed from twin embryos. Aneuploidy of chromosomes 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y were analyzed in the twin blastocysts. Results: Following in vitro splitting, of the 116 resulting twin embryos, 80 (69%) developed to the expanded blastocyst (EBL) stage compared to 21 (87. 5%) embryos in the control group (P>0. 05). The morphokinetics analysis suggested that the developmental Time-points were influenced by the in vitro splitting. Moreover, the blastocysts developed from A and B twins had impaired morphology compared to controls. Regarding chromosome abnormalities, there was no significant difference in the rate of aneuploidy or mosaicism between the different groups. Conclusion: This study showed that while no chromosomal abnormalities were seen, in vitro embryo splitting may affect the embryo morphokinetics.

One of the main components in combined cycles is the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) which is responsible for energy recovery from gas turbine exhaust stream and produce superheated steam. In this paper, driving force plot and exergy analysis is used to study the behavior of heat exchangers of an HRSG in base case and off design conditions. The results indicated that performance of high pressure super heaters is far from their ideal operation. Based on this conclusion, a new configuration for the HRSG is proposed to boost its performance. This new configuration is based on split concept where it splits the hot flue gas to bypass the high pressure superheats. Therefore more energy is delivered to the high pressure evaporator and consequently steam production rate increases. Another advantage of this configuration is that it reduces start up Time of the HRSG and consequently decreases start up Time of the plant which results in higher flexibility of the system. To examine the applicability of the proposed approach, it is used to improve start up Time in an existing combined cycle power plant. The results indicate that pressure and mass flow rate of HP stream reaches to its design point almost 20 minutes sooner. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed on the effect of split ratio on the power production. The results show that there is an optimum value for split ratio in which power production of steam turbine is maximized.