Metalevel programming in robotics: Some issues

Computing in robotics has two important requirements: efficiency and flexibility. Algorithms for robot actions are implemented usually in procedural languages such as VAL and AL. But, since their excessive bindings create inflexible structures of computation, it is proposed that Logic Programming is a more suitable language for robot programming due to its non-determinism, declarative nature, and provision for metalevel programming. Logic Programming, however, results in inefficient computations. As a solution to this problem, researchers discuss a framework in which controls can be described to improve efficiency. They have divided controls into: (1) in-code and (2) metalevel and discussed them with reference to selection of rules and dataflow. Researchers illustrated the merit of Logic Programming by modelling the motion of a robot from one point to another avoiding obstacles

Wahl's conjecture holds in odd characteristics for symplectic and orthogonal Grassmannians

It is shown that the proof by Mehta and Parameswaran of Wahl's conjecture for Grassmannians in positive odd characteristics also works for symplectic and orthogonal Grassmannians

The Weakly Coupled Pfaffian as a Type I Quantum Hall Liquid

The Pfaffian phase of electrons in the proximity of a half-filled Landau level is understood to be a p+ip superconductor of composite fermions. We consider the properties of this paired quantum Hall phase when the pairing scale is small, i.e. in the weak-coupling, BCS, limit, where the coherence length is much larger than the charge screening length. We find that, as in a Type I superconductor, the vortices attract so that, upon varying the magnetic field from its magic value at \nu=5/2, the system exhibits Coulomb frustrated phase separation. We propose that the weakly and strongly coupled Pfaffian states exemplify a general dichotomy between Type I and Type II quantum Hall fluids.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Regulation of FcεRI Signaling in Mast Cells by G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 and its RH Domain

Agonist-induced phosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by GPCR kinases (GRKs) promotes their desensitization and internalization. Here, we sought to determine the role of GRK2 on FcεRI signaling and mediator release in mast cells. The strategies utilized included lentiviral shRNA-mediated GRK2 knockdown, GRK2 gene deletion (GRK2flox/flox/cre recombinase) and overexpression of GRK2 and its regulator of G protein signaling homology (RH) domain (GRK2-RH). We found that silencing GRK2 expression caused ∼50% decrease in antigen-induced Ca2+ mobilization and degranulation but resulted in ablation of cytokine (IL-6 and IL-13) generation. The effect of GRK2 on cytokine generation does not require its catalytic activity but is mediated via the phosphorylation of p38 and Akt. Overexpression of GRK2 or its RH domain (GRK2-RH) enhanced antigen-induced mast cell degranulation and cytokine generation without affecting the expression levels of any of the FcεRI subunits (α, β, and γ). GRK2 or GRK2-RH had no effect on antigen-induced phosphorylation of FcεRIγ or Src but enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk. These data demonstrate that GRK2 modulates FcεRI signaling in mast cells via at leasttwomechanisms. OneinvolvesGRK2-RHand modulates tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk, and the other is mediated via the phosphorylation of p38 and Akt. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc