Run for Cover: Dominating Set via Mobile Agents

Research involving computing with mobile agents is a fast-growing field, given the advancement of technology in automated systems, e.g., robots, drones, self-driving cars, etc. Therefore, it is pressing to focus on solving classical network problems using mobile agents. In this paper, we study one such problem -- finding small dominating sets of a graph $G$ using mobile agents. Dominating set is interesting in the field of mobile agents as it opens up a way for solving various robotic problems, e.g., guarding, covering, facility location, transport routing, etc. In this paper, we first present two algorithms for computing a {\em minimal dominating set}: (i) an $O(m)$ time algorithm if the robots start from a single node (i.e., gathered initially), (ii) an $O(\ell\Delta\log(\lambda)+n\ell+m)$ time algorithm, if the robots start from multiple nodes (i.e., positioned arbitrarily), where $m$ is the number of edges and $\Delta$ is the maximum degree of $G$, $\ell$ is the number of clusters of the robot initially and $\lambda$ is the maximum ID-length of the robots. Then we present a $\ln (\Delta)$ approximation algorithm for the {\em minimum} dominating set which takes $O(n\Delta\log (\lambda))$ rounds

Fault-Tolerant Dispersion of Mobile Robots

We consider the mobile robot dispersion problem in the presence of faulty robots (crash-fault). Mobile robot dispersion consists of $k\leq n$ robots in an $n$-node anonymous graph. The goal is to ensure that regardless of the initial placement of the robots over the nodes, the final configuration consists of having at most one robot at each node. In a crash-fault setting, up to $f \leq k$ robots may fail by crashing arbitrarily and subsequently lose all the information stored at the robots, rendering them unable to communicate. In this paper, we solve the dispersion problem in a crash-fault setting by considering two different initial configurations: i) the rooted configuration, and ii) the arbitrary configuration. In the rooted case, all robots are placed together at a single node at the start. The arbitrary configuration is a general configuration (a.k.a. arbitrary configuration in the literature) where the robots are placed in some $l<k$ clusters arbitrarily across the graph. For the first case, we develop an algorithm solving dispersion in the presence of faulty robots in $O(k^2)$ rounds, which improves over the previous $O(f\cdot\text{min}(m,k\Delta))$-round result by \cite{PS021}. For the arbitrary configuration, we present an algorithm solving dispersion in $O((f+l)\cdot\text{min}(m, k \Delta, k^2))$ rounds, when the number of edges $m$ and the maximum degree $\Delta$ of the graph is known to the robots

Technique for crossing and advancing multiple generations for mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Wilczek (2n=2×=22) is an important grain legume cultivated in South-east Asia, Africa, South America and Australia (Shanmugasundram 2007). About 90% of mungbean production occurs in South Asia, where India is the largest producer. It is consumed in various forms like, seed as a good source of easily digested dietary proteins and amino acids. Young pods and sprouts are consumed as vegetable for vitamin and mineral supplement (Engel 1977). Its plant parts are used as fodder for animal and green manure to improve soil health in rice-wheat cropping system (Sharma et al. 1995; Bhuiyan et al. 2009; Yaqub et al. 2010). It is grown as a sole crop as well as a major component in various cropping systems owing to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, rapid growth, and early maturity. Mungbean being a photo insensitive crop is grown in a wide range of climatic variations (Tiwari and Ramanujam 1976) and ideal for catch, inter and relay cropping in many countries (Ali et al. 2000). Because of wide adoptability at various temperature ranges, this crop is likely to be most suitable under currently rising global temperatur

Fatal familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with perforin gene (PRF1) mutation and EBV-associated T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the thyroid

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a rare fatal autosomal recessive disorder of immune dysregulation. The disease presents most commonly in the first year of life; however, symptomatic presentation throughout childhood and adulthood has also been identified. Biallelic mutation in the perforin gene is present in 20%–50% of all cases of FHL. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in association with hematological malignancies is known; however, whether mutations in HLH-associated genes can be associated with FHL and hematolymphoid neoplasms is not well documented. Also, Epstein–Barr-virus- (EBV) positive systemic T-cell lymphoproliferative disease (SE-LPD) in the setting of FHL is not clearly understood. Here, we present the case of a young boy who presented with typical features of childhood FHL harboring the perforin gene (PRF1) mutation, and had SE-LPD diagnosed on autopsy, along with evidence of recent EBV infection. The patient expired due to progressive disease. Five siblings died in the second or third decade of life with undiagnosed disease. Genetic counseling was provided to the two surviving siblings and parents, but they could not afford genetic testing. One surviving sibling has intermittent fever and is on close follow-up for possible bone marrow transplantation

Observations of trace gases and aerosols over the Indian Ocean during the monsoon transition period

Characteristics of trace gases (O3, CO, CO2, CH4 and N2O) and aerosols (particle size of 2.5 micron) were studied over the Arabian Sea, equatorial Indian Ocean and southwest part of the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon transition period (October-November, 2004). Flow of pollutants is expected from south and southeast Asia during the monsoonal transition period due to the patterns of wind flow which are different from the monsoon period. This is the first detailed report on aerosols and trace gases during the sampled period as the earlier Bay of Bengal Experiment (BOBMEX), Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX) and Indian Ocean Experiments (INDOEX) were during monsoon seasons. The significant observations during the transition period include: (i) low ozone concentration of the order of 5 ppbv around the equator, (ii) high concentrations of CO2, CH4 and N2O and (iii) variations in PM2.5 of 5-20&#956;g/m3

Packages of Care for Alcohol Use Disorders in Low- And Middle-Income Countries

In the fourth in a series of six articles on packages of care for mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries, Vivek Benegal and colleagues discuss the treatment of alcohol use disorders

Student designed CANBus simulator used as teaching aid in autotronics course

1. Why did we do this project ? 2. Small video of Project 3. An overview many Networking Protocols in Vehicles 4. CAN Bus System 5. Our Project Overview 6. Student Feedbac

Tribology of maleic anhydride modified rice-husk filled polyvinylchloride.

Rice husk is an agricultural waste produced in bulk quantity as a part of rice milling. It is generally used as a fuel for heating which results in the production of rice husk ash, safe disposal of which is again an environmental issue. The high ash content due to combustion of rice husk leads to poor efficiency of carbon conversion. However, rice husk has proved to be efficient filler for developing polymer-based composites provided there is a good compatibility between rice husk and base polymer matrix. In the present work, a good interfacial interaction between rice husk and polyvinylchloride has been achieved by modifying the surface of the former using maleic anhydride as a compatibilizing agent. The positive effect of rice husk reinforcement as well as surface treatment has been reflected in the improved tribological and mechanical properties of the resulting PVC-based composite. Low filler concentration of rice husk, i.e. 10 wt% is proved to be the optimum concentration to achieve maximum strength as well as tribological properties. Scanning electron microscopy has been used to understand the wear mechanisms of MAH modified rice husk filled polyvinylchloride composites

Mitigating nitrogen oxides exhaust emissions from petrol vehicles by application of a fuel additive

This research has been commissioned by Eco Fuel Global Limited, a New Zealand-based company, to further evaluate the effects of their fuel-additive product on the tail-pipe exhaust emissions of petrol cars. At the time this research was conducted (end of 2018), the product was still in development and had not been released to the market. Prior to the testing in this research, an initial pilot test was done for the same product on a single car (Nissan Pulsar 1998), which showed favourable results, with a reduction in hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen at the tail pipe by more than 70%. The current research included five test cars, all running on RON 95 fuel, with the years of manufacture ranging between 1994 and 2006, and the odometer readings between 112,004 km and 264,001 km. The effects of the fuel-additive product were assessed by comparing the emissions from a car running on standard fuel with the emissions from the same car after it completed a road run (250±20 km) on the additive-treated fuel. The exhaust emissions were measured using the AVL series 4000 Emission Tester, which analyses five components: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), hydrocarbons (HC) and oxygen (O2). The most noticeable outcome of using the fuel-additive product was the reduction in the concentration of oxides of nitrogen in the tailpipe exhaust (by up to 27.7%), when compared with the same cars running on standard fuel. In addition, the results showed a decrease in residual oxygen concentration, which normally indicates more complete utilisation of O2 as an oxidising agent. The changes for other emission parameters were either relatively small (below 1%) or were not statistically significant. The application of such fuel-additive products could be beneficial for mitigating nitrogen oxides exhaust emissions from petrol vehicles in countries with ageing car fleets. These include New Zealand, which has a relatively high proportion of old cars in use, with no government-run scrappage scheme, and without a mandatory objective emissions testing

Mobilising future-focused work-based learning in automotive engineering

Targeted review of the qualification New qualifications ITP Consortium Old national qualifications Holistic vs atomistic On-line portfolio type assessments Why Google Classroom Challenges Benefits Google Classroom course menu Learner portfolio sample First year delivery reflection Future focussed Where to from here