Byzantine Vector Consensus in Complete Graphs

Consider a network of n processes each of which has a d-dimensional vector of reals as its input. Each process can communicate directly with all the processes in the system; thus the communication network is a complete graph. All the communication channels are reliable and FIFO (first-in-first-out). The problem of Byzantine vector consensus (BVC) requires agreement on a d-dimensional vector that is in the convex hull of the d-dimensional input vectors at the non-faulty processes. We obtain the following results for Byzantine vector consensus in complete graphs while tolerating up to f Byzantine failures: * We prove that in a synchronous system, n >= max(3f+1, (d+1)f+1) is necessary and sufficient for achieving Byzantine vector consensus. * In an asynchronous system, it is known that exact consensus is impossible in presence of faulty processes. For an asynchronous system, we prove that n >= (d+2)f+1 is necessary and sufficient to achieve approximate Byzantine vector consensus. Our sufficiency proofs are constructive. We show sufficiency by providing explicit algorithms that solve exact BVC in synchronous systems, and approximate BVC in asynchronous systems. We also obtain tight bounds on the number of processes for achieving BVC using algorithms that are restricted to a simpler communication pattern

Transformational Leadership Potential At A University Of Technology

In South Africa as elsewhere in the world, higher education institutions have been criticised for a lack of transformation. This apparent lack of transformation called into question the capability of the leaders within these institutions to effectively lead change and transform the higher education institutional landscape. The aim of this study was to explore the transformational leadership competency potential amongst managers in a university of technology in South Africa.  The measures of potential used are eight competency factors known as the ‘Great Eight’ (Bartram, 2005) derived from Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32) scale scores. The OPQ32r was administered to 111 managers within a university of technology.  The majority of respondents had a balanced mix of styles between a transformational and transactional focus. These leaders not only exhibit less transformational competencies but also an insufficient strong transactional focus. These findings have severe implications for the transformation of

Effect of pairing correlations on incompressibility and symmetry energy in nuclear matter and finite nuclei

The role of superfluidity in the incompressibility and in the symmetry energy is studied in nuclear matter and finite nuclei. Several pairing interactions are used: surface, mixed and isovector dependent. Pairing has a small effect on the nuclear matter incompressibility at saturation density, but the effects are significant at lower densities. The pairing effect on the centroid energy of the isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (GMR) is also evaluated for Pb and Sn isotopes by using a microscopic constrained-HFB approach, and found to change at most by 10% the nucleus incompressibility $K_A$. It is shown by using the Local Density Approximation (LDA) that most of the pairing effect on the GMR centroid come from the low-density nuclear surface.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

The high-pressure behavior of CaMoO4

We report a high-pressure study of tetragonal scheelite-type CaMoO4 up to 29 GPa. In order to characterize its high-pressure behavior, we have combined Raman and optical-absorption measurements with density-functional theory calculations. We have found evidence of a pressure-induced phase transition near 15 GPa. Experiments and calculations agree in assigning the high-pressure phase to a monoclinic fergusonite-type structure. The reported results are consistent with previous powder x-ray-diffraction experiments, but are in contradiction with the conclusions obtained from earlier Raman measurements, which support the existence of more than one phase transition in the pressure range covered by our studies. The observed scheelite-fergusonite transition induces significant changes in the electronic band gap and phonon spectrum of CaMoO4. We have determined the pressure evolution of the band gap for the low- and high-pressure phases as well as the frequencies and pressure dependences of the Raman-active and infrared-active modes. In addition, based upon calculations of the phonon dispersion of the scheelite phase, carried out at a pressure higher than the transition pressure, we propose a possible mechanism for the reported phase transition. Furthermore, from the calculations we determined the pressure dependence of the unit-cell parameters and atomic positions of the different phases and their room-temperature equations of state. These results are compared with previous experiments showing a very good agreement. Finally, information on bond compressibility is reported and correlated with the macroscopic compressibility of CaMoO4. The reported results are of interest for the many technological applications of this oxide.Comment: 36 pages, 10 figures, 8 table

BNIP3 supports melanoma cell migration and vasculogenic mimicry by orchestrating the actin cytoskeleton

BNIP3 is an atypical BH3-only member of the BCL-2 family of proteins with reported pro-death as well as pro-autophagic and cytoprotective functions, depending on the type of stress and cellular context. In line with this, the role of BNIP3 in cancer is highly controversial and increased BNIP3 levels in cancer patients have been linked with both good as well as poor prognosis. In this study, using small hairpin RNA (shRNA) lentiviral transduction to stably knockdown BNIP3 (BNIP3-shRNA) expression levels in melanoma cells, we show that BNIP3 supports cancer cell survival and long-term clonogenic growth. Although BNIP3-shRNA increased mitochondrial mass and baseline levels of reactive oxygen species production, which are features associated with aggressive cancer cell behavior, it also prevented cell migration and completely abolished the ability to form a tubular-like network on matrigel, a hallmark of vasculogenic mimicry (VM). We found that this attenuated aggressive behavior of these melanoma cells was underscored by severe changes in cell morphology and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton associated with loss of BNIP3. Indeed, BNIP3-silenced melanoma cells displayed enhanced formation of actin stress fibers and membrane ruffles, while lamellopodial protrusions and filopodia, tight junctions and adherens junctions were reduced. Moreover, loss of BNIP3 resulted in re-organization of focal adhesion sites associated with increased levels of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase. Remarkably, BNIP3 silencing led to a drop of the protein levels of the integrin-associated protein CD47 and its downstream signaling effectors Rac1 and Cdc42. These observations underscore that BNIP3 is required to maintain steady-state levels of intracellular complexes orchestrating the plasticity of the actin cytoskeleton, which is integral to cell migration and other vital processes stimulating cancer progression. All together these results unveil an unprecedented pro-tumorigenic role of BNIP3 driving melanoma cell's aggressive features, like migration and VM

Agricultural water management interventions for enhancing water resources availability, cropping, intensity and various ecosystem services in Bundelkhand region of Central India

Bundelkhand region of Central India is hot spot of water scarcity, land degradation, low cropping intensity, poor crop and livestock productivity and poor socio-economic status. Nearly 70% of the population of Bundelkhand is dependent on agriculture and allied sectors for its livelihood. A National Sample Survey report of 2017 shows that the per capita income in Bundelkhand is nearly ₹25,000, far below the national average (₹103,000) and those of Uttar Pradesh (₹43,800) and neighboring Madhya Pradesh (₹56,200) and Rajasthan (₹76,900). Given that strategies that focus on transforming agricultural and allied sectors are key to improving livelihoods of rural populations, the Government of India laid the pathway for doubling farmer’s incomes by 2022

Quantum Nucleation in a Ferromagnetic Film Placed in a Magnetic Field at an Arbitrary Angle

We study the quantum nucleation in a thin ferromagnetic film placed in a magnetic field at an arbitrary angle. The dependence of the quantum nucleation and the temperature of the crossover from thermal to quantum regime on the direction and the strength of the applied field are presented. It is found that the maximal value of the rate and that of the crossover temperature are obtained at a some angle with the magnetic field, not in the direction of the applied field opposite to the initial easy axis.Comment: 15 pages, RevTex, 3 PostScript figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Iodization status of common salt in districts of western Uttar Pradesh

Research Problem: What is the amount of iodine in common salt samples. Objective: To estimate theamountof iodine in common salt samples. Study Design: Population based cross - sectional study. Setting: Randomly selected six districts of western U.P. Sample: Two salt samples randomly collected from house holds of each block area of the district. Sample Size: 152 salt samples. Study Variables: Iodine content in salt samples. Statistical Analysis: By chi - square test. Result: Unsatisfactory level of iodine was found in 52% of the salt samples. Crystal salt samples were more poorly iodized (70.9%) than powder salt samples (41.2%). Recommendations: Strict enforcement of ban on the sale of non-iodised salt

Identification of Non-unitary triplet pairing in a heavy Fermion superconductor UPt_3

A NMR experiment recently done by Tou et al. on a heavy Fermion superconductor UPt$_3$ is interpreted in terms of a non-unitary spin-triplet pairing state which we have been advocating. The proposed state successfully explains various aspects of the seemingly complicated Knight shift behaviors probed for major orientations, including a remarkable d-vector rotation under weak fields. This entitles UPt$_3$ as the first example that a charged many body system forms a spin-triplet odd-par ity pairing at low temperatures and demonstrates unambiguously that the putative spin-orbit coupling in UPt$_3$ is weak.Comment: 4 pages, 2 eps figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 67 (1998) No.