An Assessment on the Use of Stationary Vehicles as a Support to Cooperative Positioning

In this paper, we consider the use of stationary vehicles as tools to enhance the localisation capabilities of moving vehicles in a VANET. We examine the idea in terms of its potential benefits, technical requirements, algorithmic design and experimental evaluation. Simulation results are given to illustrate the efficacy of the technique.Comment: This version of the paper is an updated version of the initial submission, where some initial comments of reviewers have been taken into accoun

Adaptive Tuning of Drop-Tail Buffers for Reducing Queueing Delays.

Internet router buffers are used to accommodate packets that arrive in bursts and to maintain high utilization of the egress link. Such buffers can lead to large queueing delays. We propose a simple algorithm, Active Drop-Tail (ADT), which regulates the queue size, based on prevailing traffic conditions, to a minimum size that still allows for a desired (high) level of utilization. Packet level ns2 simulations are provided to show that Adaptive Drop-Tail achieves significantly smaller queues than current approaches at the expense of 1-2% of the link utilization

On AIMD Congestion Control in Multiple Bottleneck Networks.

We consider a linear algebraic model of the Additive-Increase Multiplicative-Decrease congestion control algorithm and present results on average fairness and convergence for multiple bottleneck networks. Results are presented for networks of both long-lived and short-lived flows

A Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov-type lemma for systems with certain state-dependent constraints

In this note, a result is presented that may be considered an extension of the classical Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov (KYP) lemma. Motivated by problems in the design of switched systems, we wish to infer the existence of a quadratic Lyapunov function (QLF) for a nonlinear system in the case where a matrix defining one system is a rank-1 perturbation of the other and where switching between the systems is orchestrated according to a conic partitioning of the state space IRn. We show that a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a QLF reduces to checking a single constraint on a sum of transfer functions irrespective of problem dimension. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our conditions reduce to the classical KYP lemma when the conic partition of the state space is IRn, with the transfer function condition reducing to the condition of Strict Positive Realness

The effects of shoe temperature on the kinetics and kinematics of running

The aim of the current investigation was to examine the effects of cooled footwear on the kinetics and kinematics of running in comparison to footwear at normal temperature. Twelve participants ran at 4.0 m/s ± 5% in both cooled and normal temperature footwear conditions over a force platform. Two identical footwear were worn, one of which was cooled for 30 min. Lower extremity kinematics were obtained using a motion capture system and tibial accelerations were measured using a triaxial accelerometer. Differences between cooled and normal footwear temperatures were contrasted using paired samples t-tests. The results showed that midsole temperature (cooled = 4.21 °C and normal = 23.25 °C) and maximal midsole deformation during stance (cooled = 12.85 mm and normal = 14.52 mm) were significantly reduced in the cooled footwear. In addition, instantaneous loading rate (cooled = 186.21 B.W/s and normal = 167.08 B W/s), peak tibial acceleration (cooled = 12.75 g and normal = 10.70 g) and tibial acceleration slope (cooled = 478.69 g/s and normal = 327.48 g/s) were significantly greater in the cooled footwear. Finally, peak eversion (cooled = −10.57 ° and normal = −7.83°) and tibial internal rotation (cooled = 10.67 ° and normal = 7.77°) were also shown to be significantly larger in the cooled footwear condition. This study indicates that running in cooled footwear may place runners at increased risk from the biomechanical parameters linked to the aetiology of injuries

Genetic variation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from a London outbreak associated with isoniazid resistance.

BACKGROUND: The largest outbreak of isoniazid-resistant (INH-R) Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Western Europe is centred in North London, with over 400 cases diagnosed since 1995. In the current study, we evaluated the genetic variation in a subset of clinical samples from the outbreak with the hypothesis that these isolates have unique biological characteristics that have served to prolong the outbreak. METHODS: Fitness assays, mutation rate estimation, and whole-genome sequencing were performed to test for selective advantage and compensatory mutations. RESULTS: This detailed analysis of the genetic variation of these INH-R samples suggests that this outbreak consists of successful, closely related, circulating strains with heterogeneous resistance profiles and little or no associated fitness cost or impact on their mutation rate. CONCLUSIONS: Specific deletions and SNPs could be a peculiar feature of these INH-R M. tuberculosis isolates, and could potentially explain their persistence over the years