k-RNN: Extending NN-heuristics for the TSP

In this paper we present an extension of existing Nearest-Neighbor heuristics to an algorithm called k-Repetitive-Nearest-Neighbor. The idea is to start with a tour of k nodes and then perform a Nearest-Neighbor search from there on. After doing this for all permutations of k nodes the result gets selected as the shortest tour found. Experimental results show that for 2-RNN the solutions quality remains relatively stable between about 10% to 40% above the optimum

Academics’ experience of copyright : a case study of teaching at the University of Greenwich

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to obtain a snapshot of attitudes and comprehension of the University of Greenwich (UoG) academics towards copyright and the impact of same on their teaching, complementing this with a survey of the experience of academic librarians (ALs) throughout the UK when dealing with faculty and copyright. Design/methodology/approach Two questionnaires were created and circulated to capture information from two sampled groups: the UoG academic staff and UK-wide ALs. A total of 55 responses were received to the questionnaire distributed to the former, and 83 responses were received to the questionnaire distributed to the latter. Findings The majority of the UoG academics believed they possessed a fair, or better than fair, understanding of copyright, with numerous respondents self-taught on the subject. Nevertheless, a significant number thought they might have broken copyright when teaching, while also revealing the belief that copyright was a limitation on their teaching. The AL survey suggested an average comprehension of copyright among academics, while noting that some of the latter felt a degree of antipathy towards copyright. Originality/value Although focused on a single institution, this study implies that copyright instruction for academic staff needs to be substantially improved, and it suggests the need for greater visibility of training programmes

Survey on Reducing Power Consumption in Peer to Peer System

Today, it is very crucial to reduce the consumption of natural resources, such as petroleum. In information system need of reducing electrical power consumption have been raised. There is large scope for reducing power consumption in network based applications. There are many solutions how to reduce the power consumption by servers e.g. by turning off servers which are not required to execute the requests. In this paper, we surveyed how the Round Robin Algorithm and Consumption Laxity Based Algorithm are used to reduce the power consumption of server in peer to peer system and their demerits also

Towards the Development of a Framework for Socially Responsible Software by Analyzing Social Media Big Data on Cloud Through Ontological Engineering

AbstractA socially responsible internet is the need of the hour considering its huge potential and role in educating and transforming the society. Social computing is emerging as an important area as far as development of next generation web is concerned. With the proliferation of social networking applications, vast amount of data is available on cloud, which may be analyzed to gain useful insight into behavioral and linguistic patterns of different cultural and socio-economic groups further classified on the basis of gender and age etc. The idea is to come up with an appropriate framework for socially responsible software artifacts. These artifacts will monitor online social network data and analyze it from the perspective of socially responsible behavior based on ontological engineering concepts. Identification of socially responsible agents is such an example, though based on a different approach. More examples may be taken from literature dealing with microblog analytics, social semantic web, upper ontology for social web, and social-network-sourced big data analytics. In the present work, it is proposed to focus on analysis/monitoring of socially responsible behavior of social media big data and develop an upper level ontology as the framework/tool for such an analytics

Blood stage malaria antigens induce different activation-induced cell death programs in splenic CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T cells

CD4+ T cells respond to antigen immunization through a process of activation, clonal expansion to generate activated effector T cells followed by activation-induced clonal deletion of the responding T cells. While loss of responding T cells in post-activation death by apoptosis is a major factor regulating immune homeostasis, the precise pathways involved in downsizing of Plasmodium falciparum antigen-induced T cell expansions are not well characterized. We report in this study that splenic CD4+ T cells from mice immunized with nonreplicating immunogens like OVA or recombinant blood stage P. falciparum antigens, PfMSP-3 and PfMSP-119 or crude parasite antigen (PfAg) undergo sequential T cell activation, proliferation followed by activation-induced cell death (AICD) in a dose- and time-dependent manner after Ag restimulation. While PfMSP-3 and OVA-induced AICD was mediated through a death receptor-dependent apoptotic program, PfMSP-119 and PfAg-induced AICD was via a mechanism dependent on the activation of mitochondria apoptosis signalling pathway through Bax activation. These results provide insights into the mechanism through which two blood stage merozoite antigens trigger different apoptotic programs of AICD in splenic CD4+ T cells

Two Gallium data sets, spin flavour precession and KamLAND

We reexamine the possibility of a time modulation of the low energy solar neutrino flux which is suggested by the average decrease of the Ga data in line with our previous arguments. We perform two separate fits to the solar neutrino data, one corresponding to 'high' and the other to 'low' Ga data, associated with low and high solar activity respectively. We therefore consider an alternative to the conventional solar+KamLAND fitting, which allows one to explore the much wider range of the $\theta_{12}$ angle permitted by the KamLAND fitting alone. We find a solution with parameters $\Delta m^2_{21}=8.2\times 10^{-5} eV^2, tan^{2}\theta=0.31$ in which the 'high' and the 'low' Ga rates lie far apart and are close to their central values and is of comparable quality to the global best fit, where these rates lie much closer to each other. This is an indication that the best fit in which all solar and KamLAND data are used is not a good measure of the separation of the two Ga data sets, as the information from the low energy neutrino modulation is dissimulated in the wealth of data. Furthermore for the parameter set proposed one obtains an equally good fit to the KamLAND energy spectrum and an even better fit than the 'conventional' LMA one for the reactor antineutrino survival probability as measured by KamLAND.Comment: V2: 15 pages, 3 eps figures, fit improved, final version to appear in Journal of Physics

Worship and trees in India

Trees are significant in many of the world’s mythologies and religions and have been given deep and sacred meanings throughout the ages. In India, large numbers of herbs, shrubs and trees are traditionally worshiped and most of them are known for their uses in worship of several lords. India is a country showing diversity in religion and it is believed, that there are more than 33 million Gods and Goddesses worshiped in various traditional ways throughout the year. The trees and their products are part of Indian rituals and ceremonies and various Gods and Goddesses are associated with different trees. In Indian culture trees are believed to have consciousness similar to humans so they can feel pain as well as happiness like us. Human beings, observing the growth and death of trees and the annual death and revival of their foliage, have often imagined them as powerful symbols of growth, death and rebirth. The people in India believe that life cannot exist without trees. Trees are the main natural sources of solar energy vital for our existence that bring flowers, fruits, wood and medicines. Therefore, tree worship is one of the most widespread forms of popular religion in India. Indians worship offering roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds to God since time immemorial and this is done as a symbol of gratitude because they believe that life cannot exist without trees. Present communication provides botanical names and families of more than 60 angiosperm trees used in worship of various Gods and Goddesses. The trees have been listed and their significance has been considered. Gymnosperms used in worship have also been discussed. Selection of plantation site and day, time, month of worship, list of flowers and plants prohibited in worship and interesting description of trees worshiped as per the zodiac signs have also been given