Learned navigation in unknown terrains: A retraction method

The problem of learned navigation of a circular robot R, of radius delta (is greater than or equal to 0), through a terrain whose model is not a-priori known is considered. Two-dimensional finite-sized terrains populated by an unknown (but, finite) number of simple polygonal obstacles are also considered. The number and locations of the vertices of each obstacle are unknown to R. R is equipped with a sensor system that detects all vertices and edges that are visible from its present location. In this context two problems are covered. In the visit problem, the robot is required to visit a sequence of destination points, and in the terrain model acquisition problem, the robot is required to acquire the complete model of the terrain. An algorithmic framework is presented for solving these two problems using a retraction of the freespace onto the Voronoi diagram of the terrain. Algorithms are then presented to solve the visit problem and the terrain model acquisition problem

Fault Diagnosis of Hybrid Computing Systems Using Chaotic-Map Method

Computing systems are becoming increasingly complex with nodes consisting of a combination of multi-core central processing units (CPUs), many integrated core (MIC) and graphics processing unit (GPU) accelerators. These computing units and their interconnections are subject to different classes of hardware and software faults, which should be detected to support mitigation measures. We present the chaotic-map method that uses the exponential divergence and wide Fourier properties of the trajectories, combined with memory allocations and assignments to diagnose component-level faults in these hybrid computing systems. We propose lightweight codes that utilize highly parallel chaotic-map computations tailored to isolate faults in arithmetic units, memory elements and interconnects. The diagnosis module on a node utilizes pthreads to place chaotic-map threads on CPU and MIC cores, and CUDA C and OpenCL kernels on GPU blocks. We present experimental diagnosis results on five multi-core CPUs; one MIC; and, seven GPUs with typical diagnosis run-times under a minute

An Algorithmic Framework for Robot Navigation in Unknown Terrains.

The problem of navigating a robot body through a terrain whose model is a priori known is well-solved problem in many cases. Comparatively, a lesser number of research results have been reported about the navigation problem in unknown terrains i.e., the terrains whose model are not a priori known. The focus of our work is to obtain an algorithmic framework that yields algorithms to solve certain navigational problems in unknown terrains. We consider a finite-sized two-dimensional terrain populated by a finite set of obstacles $O$ = \{O\sb1,O\sb2,\...,O\sb{n}\} where O\sb{i} is a simple polygon with a finite number of vertices. Consider a circular body R, of diameter $\delta\geq$ O, capable of translational and rotational motions. R houses a computational device with storage capability. Additionally, R is equipped with a sensor system capable of detecting all visible vertices and edges. We consider two generic problems of navigation in unknown terrains: the Visit Problem, VP, and the Terrain model acquisition Problem, TP. In the visit problem, R is required to visit a sequence of destination points d\sb1,d\sb2,\...,d\sb{M} in the specified order. In the terrain model acquisition problem, R is required to acquire the model of the terrain so that it can navigate to any destination without using sensors and by using only the path planning algorithms of known terrains. We present a unified algorithmic framework that yields correct algorithms to solve both VP and TP. In this framework, R \u27simulates\u27 a graph exploration algorithm on an incrementally-constructible graph structure, called the navigation course, that satisfies the properties of finiteness, connectivity, terrain-visibility and local-constructibility. Additionally, we incorporate the incidental learning feature in our solution to VP so as to enhance the performance. We consider solutions to VP and TP using navigation courses based two geometric structures, namely the visibility graph and the Voronoi diagram. In all the cases, we analyze the performance of the algorithms for VP and TP in terms of the number of scan operations, the distance traversed and the computational complexity

The effect of magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant to 0.5% bupivacaine on motor and sensory supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade

Background: Magnesium is a physiologic cation that blocks neuromuscular transmission and does not allow the nerve to be stimulated. This study investigates the effect of adding magnesium sulfate to 0.5% bupivacaine to extend the duration of sensory and motor blocks of the supraclavicular brachial plexus in orthopedic surgeries of the upper extremities.Methods: This controlled randomized double-blind study was performed on patients who were candidates for orthopedic surgery of the upper extremities. A total of 60 patients between 18 and 60 years with ASA Class 1 or 2 participated in the study. One Group M received 0.5% bupivacaine (1.5 mg/kg) with magnesium sulfate 20% (3 ml) as the case group, while the second Group P received 0.5% bupivacaine (1.5 mg/kg) with normal saline (3 ml) as a placebo to block the supraclavicular brachial plexus using nerve locator. The duration of the sensory and motor block of the supraclavicular brachial plexus was monitored and evaluated using the pinprick and modified Bromage scale.Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the study with 30 patients having received 0.5% bupivacaine plus magnesium and the other 30 patients having received 0.5% bupivacaine plus normal saline. The mean sensory block duration in the case Group M was 249±9.36 and in control Group P was 160±5.62 (p<0.39). The mean motor block duration in the case Group M was 232±9.64 and in control Group P was 147±26.52 (both p<0.32). The mean onset of sensory block in case Group M was 15.5±2.16 and the onset block in control Group P was 12.73±1.18 (p<0.49; statistically not significant). The mean onset of motor block in case Group M was 23.5±1.1 and the onset block in control Group P was 41±3 (p<0.53; statistically not significant).Conclusions: The addition of magnesium sulfate to 0.5% bupivacaine increased the duration of motor and sensory supraclavicular brachial block in the upper extremities during surgeries when compared to the use of 0.5% bupivacaine alone, though statistically not significant, but definitely in clinically significant proportions

Crafts and gear used for marine fishing along the Andhra Pradesh coast

Until the middle of nineteen sixties fishing for marine finfishes and shellfishes along the Andhra Pradesh coast used to be carried out employing indigenous non-mechanised crafts. Subsequently trawlers and later mechanised vessels operating gillnets came into use which resulted in the increased fish production. Use of outboard engine on indigenous crafts for reaching fishing grounds is a recent feature of near the coast fishing. The different kinds of non-mechanised and mechanised crafts and gear employed in the region are dealt with in this article

Use of Geotextiles in Low Volume Roads — A Case Study

The application of geotextiles has been well accepted as a construction material in Civil engineering works. However, in India, the utility of geotextiles is very limited to particular areas of application in Civil Engineering such as highways, railways and irrigation projects etc. On an experimental basis, these fabrics have been used as an intermediate layer between subgrade and subbase to serve as a separation and drainage layer in a road constructed on soft subgrade soil. The main objective of field trials was to study the need, relevance and the relative efficacy of the use of geotextiles as compared to the use of conventional techniques in the construction and maintenance of road pavements on soft subgrades. The surface characteristics of different test sections were evaluated in terms of riding quality, rut depth and transverse/longitudinal slope variance. The structural adequacy of different specifications were determined using Benklemen Beam deflection tests. Based on the detailed data analysis, it is concluded that the geosynthetics are an effective substitute for conventional blanket courses as a separator with the added benefit that they ensure more effective subsurface drainage of the pavement compared to conventional blanket courses

Influence of Exogenous Glycinebetaine on Hot Pepper under Water Stress

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of exogenous application of glycinebetaine (GB) on physiological response in hot-pepper (Capsicum annuum L. vs. Arka Lohit and Pusa Jwala) under water stress. Glycinebetaine was applied to seeds as well as plants through foliar applications. Water stress affected considerably the morphophysiological parameters in both the cultivars. However, in glycinebetaine (GB) treated plants, plant height, leaf area (LA), flower and fruit number and total dry matter (TDM) were greater compared to the untreated stress plants (T4) under water stress. Glycinebetaine application enhanced the photosynthesis (PN) in water deficit experiencing plants, mostly due to a greater stomatal conductance (gs) and carboxylation efficiency of CO2&nbsp;assimilation. In both the cultivars after 12 day of stress, the PN&nbsp;decreased from 10.1 to 1.0-1.3 μ mol m-2&nbsp;s-1&nbsp;in untreated stressed plants (T4), while in the treated stressed plants PNhad reduced to 2.0 - 3.0 μ mol m-2&nbsp;s-1&nbsp;(T1 - T3). The application of GB increased the WUE in both the cultivars. The better WUE in treated plants of hot-pepper under stress was attributed to the improved PN. The higher per plant yield in the GB applied plants under stress in both the cultivars associated with higher PNrate, gs and WUE in treated plants. Though there was an increase in PN&nbsp;rate, WUE and plant yield in the treated plants (T1 - T3), the better results were found in the plants (T2) where seeds were treated and foliar application was given at the time of imposing stress

CHEETAH: Circuit-Switched High-Speed End-to-End Transport Architecture Testbed

We propose a circuit-switched high-speed end-to-end transport architecture (CHEETAH) as a networking solution to provide high-speed end-to-end circuit connectivity to end hosts on a dynamic call-by-call basis. Not only is it envisioned as a complementary service to the basic connectionless service provided by today’s Internet; it also relies on and leverages the presence of this service. Noting the dominance of Ethernet in LANs and SONET/SDH in WANs, CHEETAH circuits will consist of Ethernet segments at the ends and Ethernet-over-SONET segments in the wide area. In this article we explain the CHEETAH concept and describe a wide-area experimental network testbed we have deployed based on this concept. The network testbed currently extends between Raleigh, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and uses off-the-shelf switches. We have created CHEETAH software to run on end hosts to enable automated use of this network by applications. Our first users of this network testbed and software will be the Terascale Supernova Initiative (TSI) project researchers, who plan to use this network for large file transfers and remote visualizations

Sorghum

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L]. Moench) is a crop indigenous to Africa, where it appears to have been domesticated in Ethiopia about 5000 years ago. It is now widely cultivated in dry areas of Africa, Asia, the America, Europea and Australia between latitudes of up to 50 degree Nothe in North America and Russia and 40 degree South in Argentine. Sweet sorghum is a variety closely related to grain sorghum; it differs mainly in that its stalks are taller and juicier with higher sugar content than the grain sroghum type. Sorghum is the firft most important cereal in the world after wheat, rice maize and barley. In Africa it comes second after maize in terms of production. Sorghum is well adapted to tropical climates with several traits making it a drought-tolerant crop that survices under adverse climatic conditions, and thus is often relegated to poor soils and low-input management. It is extensively grown under rainfed conditins for grain and forage production. High productin may be achieved when sufficient water and nutrients are applied especially at critical stages of crop growth