489 research outputs found
Energy Consumption Rate based Stable Election Protocol (ECRSEP) for WSNs
In recent few yearsWireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have seen an increased
interest in various applications like border field security, disaster
management and medical applications. So large number of sensor nodes are
deployed for such applications, which can work autonomously. Due to small power
batteries in WSNs, efficient utilization of battery power is an important
factor. Clustering is an efficient technique to extend life time of sensor
networks by reducing the energy consumption. In this paper, we propose a new
protocol; Energy Consumption Rate based Stable Election Protocol (ECRSEP). Our
CH selection scheme is based on the weighted election probabilities of each
node according to the Energy Consumption Rate (ECR) of each node. We compare
results of our proposed protocol with Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy
(LEACH), Distributed Energy Efficient Clustering (DEEC), Stable Election
Protocol (SEP), and Enhanced SEP(ESEP). Our simulation results show that our
proposed protocol, ECRSEP outperforms all these protocols in terms of network
stability and network lifetime
Uncovering Latent Biases in Text: Method and Application to Peer Review
Quantifying systematic disparities in numerical quantities such as employment
rates and wages between population subgroups provides compelling evidence for
the existence of societal biases. However, biases in the text written for
members of different subgroups (such as in recommendation letters for male and
non-male candidates), though widely reported anecdotally, remain challenging to
quantify. In this work, we introduce a novel framework to quantify bias in text
caused by the visibility of subgroup membership indicators. We develop a
nonparametric estimation and inference procedure to estimate this bias. We then
formalize an identification strategy to causally link the estimated bias to the
visibility of subgroup membership indicators, provided observations from time
periods both before and after an identity-hiding policy change. We identify an
application wherein "ground truth" bias can be inferred to evaluate our
framework, instead of relying on synthetic or secondary data. Specifically, we
apply our framework to quantify biases in the text of peer reviews from a
reputed machine learning conference before and after the conference adopted a
double-blind reviewing policy. We show evidence of biases in the review ratings
that serves as "ground truth", and show that our proposed framework accurately
detects these biases from the review text without having access to the review
ratings
Excess entropy and energy feedback from within cluster cores up to r
We estimate the "non-gravitational" entropy-injection profiles, ,
and the resultant energy feedback profiles, , of the intracluster
medium for 17 clusters using their Planck SZ and ROSAT X-Ray observations,
spanning a large radial range from up to . The feedback
profiles are estimated by comparing the observed entropy, at fixed gas mass
shells, with theoretical entropy profiles predicted from non-radiative
hydrodynamic simulations. We include non-thermal pressure and gas clumping in
our analysis. The inclusion of non-thermal pressure and clumping results in
changing the estimates for and by 10\%-20\%. When
clumpiness is not considered it leads to an under-estimation of keV cm at and keV cm at
. On the other hand, neglecting non-thermal pressure results in an
over-estimation of keV cm at and
under-estimation of keV cm at . For the
estimated feedback energy, we find that ignoring clumping leads to an
under-estimation of energy per particle keV at and
keV at . Similarly, neglect of the non-thermal
pressure results in an over-estimation of keV at
and under-estimation of keV at . We find entropy
floor of keV cm is ruled out at
throughout the entire radial range and keV at more than
3 beyond , strongly constraining ICM pre-heating scenarios. We
also demonstrate robustness of results w.r.t sample selection, X-Ray analysis
procedures, entropy modeling etc.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, 5 tables, Accepted in MNRA
Little evidence for entropy and energy excess beyond - An end to ICM preheating?
Non-gravitational feedback affects the nature of the intra-cluster medium
(ICM). X-ray cooling of the ICM and in situ energy feedback from AGN's and SNe
as well as {\it preheating} of the gas at epochs preceding the formation of
clusters are proposed mechanisms for such feedback. While cooling and AGN
feedbacks are dominant in cluster cores, the signatures of a preheated ICM are
expected to be present even at large radii. To estimate the degree of
preheating, with minimum confusion from AGN feedback/cooling, we study the
excess entropy and non-gravitational energy profiles upto for a
sample of 17 galaxy clusters using joint data sets of {\it Planck} SZ pressure
and {\it ROSAT/PSPC} gas density profiles. The canonical value of preheating
entropy floor of keV cm, needed in order to match cluster
scalings, is ruled out at . We also show that the feedback
energy of 1 keV/particle is ruled out at 5.2 beyond . Our
analysis takes both non-thermal pressure and clumping into account which can be
important in outer regions. Our results based on the direct probe of the ICM in
the outermost regions do not support any significant preheating.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Accepted in MNRAS Letter
Q-LEACH: A New Routing Protocol for WSNs
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) with their dynamic applications gained a
tremendous attention of researchers. Constant monitoring of critical situations
attracted researchers to utilize WSNs at vast platforms. The main focus in WSNs
is to enhance network life-time as much as one could, for efficient and optimal
utilization of resources. Different approaches based upon clustering are
proposed for optimum functionality. Network life-time is always related with
energy of sensor nodes deployed at remote areas for constant and fault tolerant
monitoring. In this work, we propose Quadrature-LEACH (Q-LEACH) for homogenous
networks which enhances stability period, network life-time and throughput
quiet significantly
AGN feedback with the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and implications for cluster physics and cosmology
AGN feedback is regarded as an important non-gravitational process in galaxy
clusters, providing useful constraints on large-scale structure formation. It
modifies the structure and energetics of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) and
hence its understanding is crucially needed in order to use clusters as high
precision cosmological probes. In this context, particularly keeping in mind
the upcoming high quality radio data expected from radio surveys like SKA with
its higher sensitivity, high spatial and spectral resolutions, we review our
current understanding of AGN feedback, its cosmological implications and the
impact that SKA can have in revolutionizing our understanding of AGN feedback
in large-scale structures. Recent developments regarding the AGN outbursts and
its possible contribution to excess entropy in the hot atmospheres of groups
and clusters, its correlation with the feedback energy in ICM, quenching of
cooling flows and the possible connection between cool core clusters and radio
mini-halos, are discussed. We describe current major issues regarding modeling
of AGN feedback and its impact on the surrounding medium. With regard to the
future of AGN feedback studies, we examine the possible breakthroughs that can
be expected from SKA observations. In the context of cluster cosmology, for
example, we point out the importance of SKA observations for cluster mass
calibration by noting that most of clusters discovered by eROSITA X-ray
mission can be expected to be followed up through a 1000 hour SKA-1 mid
programme. Moreover, approximately radio mini halos and
radio halos at can be potentially detected by SKA1 and SKA2 and used as
tracers of galaxy clusters and determination of cluster selection function.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, Review article accepted in Journal of
Astrophysics and Astronomy (JOAA
Floods and flood management and its socio-economic impact on Pakistan: A review of the empirical literature
Flood is one of the most damaging natural disasters as the recent floods have shown their serious impact on Pakistan. Flood control and regulation policies are essential to reduce the risks of economic downturn, a threat to human existence, and to sustain the ecology. The severity of flood catastrophe activities represents a constant and severe issue in the world. Floods are rising year by year in severity and duration, causing negative impacts on the social and economic conditions of the nation concerned. While the frequency of floods cannot be avoided, their adverse impacts can be considerably reduced by adopting careful planning and efficient training. This paper reviews the socioeconomic impact of floods, and the existing condition of flood control policies outlines the flood protection problems and discusses opportunities for successful and efficient flood control in Pakistan. The paper also intends to propose several suggestions for efficient and sustainable flood control in Pakistan
Collisionless shock acceleration of narrow energy spread ion beams from mixed species plasmas using 1 m lasers
Collisionless shock acceleration of protons and C ions has been
achieved by the interaction of a 10 W/cm, 1 m laser with a
near-critical density plasma. Ablation of the initially solid density target by
a secondary laser allowed for systematic control of the plasma profile. This
enabled the production of beams with peaked spectra with energies of 10-18
MeV/a.m.u. and energy spreads of 10-20 with up to 3x10 particles within
these narrow spectral features. The narrow energy spread and similar velocity
of ion species with different charge-to-mass ratio are consistent with
acceleration by the moving potential of a shock wave. Particle-in-cell
simulations show shock accelerated beams of protons and C ions with
energy distributions consistent with the experiments. Simulations further
indicate the plasma profile determines the trade-off between the beam charge
and energy and that with additional target optimization narrow energy spread
beams exceeding 100 MeV/a.m.u. can be produced using the same laser conditions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Accelerators and Beam
Age and site of Colonic Neoplastic Lesions: Implications of screening in South Asia.
Objective : To evaluate the Age of patients and the site of Colonic Neoplastic Lesions (CNL) and to determine the appropriate screening strategy for Colorectal Carcinoma (CRC) (sigmoidoscopy versus colonoscopy) in our population.
Methods : This is a cross sectional study. Data of all patients more than 16 years of age who underwent full colonoscopic examination at the Aga Khan University hospital between January 2011 till December 2013 and were diagnosed to have CRC or advanced adenomas (defined as polyp more than 1 cm and/or having villous morphology on histology) was recorded. Lesions found distal to the splenic flexure were characterized as distal lesions and while lesions found between the splenic flexure and the cecum were characterized as proximal lesions. RESULTS: During the study period colonic neoplastic lesions were found in 217 patients; 186 (85.7%) patients had CRC and 31(14.3%) patients had advanced adenomatous polyps. Mean age was 55.8±14 years and amongst them 72 (33.2%) patients were less than 50 years of age while 145 (66.8%) were more than 50 years. In 144 (66.4%) patients lesions were located in the distal colon, 65 (30%) had lesions in the proximal colon while in 8 (3.7%) patients the neoplastic lesions were found both in the proximal and distal colon. The predominant symptoms were bleeding per rectum in 39.6% of patients followed by weight loss in 31.8% of patients. Only 3 patients had familial syndromes with multiple polyps. When patients younger than 50 years of age were compared with patients more than 50 years there was no statistically significant difference between the site of neoplastic lesion as well as the presenting symptoms. (p value 0.85). CONCLUSION: Colonic Neoplastic Lesions presented at younger age in our study population and one third of the lesions were found in the right sided colon. Hence screening for CNLs should be implied at an earlier age preferably with colonoscopy. More population based data is required to further validate our results
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