Local Testing for Membership in Lattices

Motivated by the structural analogies between point lattices and linear error-correcting codes, and by the mature theory on locally testable codes, we initiate a systematic study of local testing for membership in lattices. Testing membership in lattices is also motivated in practice, by applications to integer programming, error detection in lattice-based communication, and cryptography. Apart from establishing the conceptual foundations of lattice testing, our results include the following: 1. We demonstrate upper and lower bounds on the query complexity of local testing for the well-known family of code formula lattices. Furthermore, we instantiate our results with code formula lattices constructed from Reed-Muller codes, and obtain nearly-tight bounds. 2. We show that in order to achieve low query complexity, it is sufficient to design one-sided non-adaptive canonical tests. This result is akin to, and based on an analogous result for error-correcting codes due to Ben-Sasson et al. (SIAM J. Computing 35(1) pp1-21)

Disease mapping using mixture distribution

Background & objectives: Data on infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB) have been analyzed in the past without giving adequate attention to spatial variations. Earlier studies also attempted to display disease status of sub regions, usually census tracts, by categorizing them into quartiles, that helps the authorities to identify high- or low-risk areas. This approach is based mainly on binomial and Poisson models for disease data, and the recent attempts focus on using mixture models of Poisson distribution. We carried out this study to find wards of Madurai Corporation having high risks for TB disease, to develop a model of mixture of Poisson distributions for the number of cases and to classify each ward to one of many risk groups for TB disease, and to represent spatial distribution of TB incidence in Madurai city. Methods: Mixture models were used in finding the number of risk groups which might have produced the observed counts of TB patients in 72 wards of Madurai Corporation. The number of risk groups and the Poisson parameters of each group were found by maximum likelihood approach using the computer package C.A.MAN (Computer Assisted Mixture ANalysis). Bayesian methods were used to associate each ward to a particular risk group. The results were geographically presented in maps by using ArcView mapping software. Results: Using binomial model, 26 wards were categorized as high risk wards, and with mixture model approach 15 wards showed standardized morbility ratio (SMR) >1. The wards along river Vaigai and densely populated wards had high risk. Interpretation & conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the usefulness of the mixture models for disease data with geographical variations

Synergic antibacterial effect of Curcuma aromatica Salisb and Ocimumtenuiflorum Linn herbal extract combinations on treated cotton knitted fabrics against selective bacterial strains

Synergic antibacterial properties of wild turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salisb, WT) and holy basil (Ocimum TenuiflorumLinn, HB) and their combination (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100) on cotton knitted fabric against Staphylococcusaureus (S.aureus) and Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacterial strains have been studied. The effect of aqueous and methanolextract of WT, HB and their combination has also been studied separately. It is observed that the methanol extract of 50:50proportion yields minimum inhibitory concentration value against S.aureus and E.coli bacterial strains. The gaschromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) test results reveal that the active components which contribute to theantibacterial performance are present both in individual and 50:50 proportion of herbal extracts. In 50:50 (WT:HB)proportion, besides the active components of wild turmeric and holy basil, new compounds are also identified. Pre-treatedsingle jersey cotton knitted fabrics have been finished with the herbal extracts combination by maintaining the commonprocess parameters. The AATCC 100 test results reveal that the 50:50 (WT: HB) combination exhibits good antibacterialactivity against S.aureus and E.coli bacterial strains and the results correlate with the MIC test results and GC-MS analysis.The test results explore a new combination of herbal based antibacterial finishing agent for the development of antibacterialtextile products

Advances in Cloud and Ubiquitous Computing

Cloud computing provides on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable and dynamically reallocated computing resources typically located in third-party data centers. Ubiquitous computing aims at providing computing resources anytime and everywhere by using any device, in any location, and in any format. This special issue, Advances in Cloud and Ubiquitous Computing (ACUC), aims at addressing the challenges and reporting the latest research findings in the fields of Cloud computing and Ubiquitous Computing respectively, and how new technologies of Cloud Computing and Ubiquitous Computing complete each other

Harmonic Distortion Reduction using Seven level H-Bridge VSI Topology based Dynamic Voltage Restorer

This paper demos the model, the control and simulation of H-Bridge VSI topology based Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR). The structure and the operating principle of the Cascaded H-Bridge Seven level Inverter is realized. The phase shifted SPWM was adapted to reduce the lower order harmonics of the output voltage. The controller was based on the dqo transformation. The performance of the proposed method was ascertained in PSCAD. The simulation results are appraised and discussed. The controller was able to manage the zero-sequence voltage during unbalance fault period. The phase shift SPWM was incorporated with low frequency and subsequently, the switching loss was low. The Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) with the designed DVR was significantly was low in comparison to other traditional models and was within the IEEE Standards 519-2014. The envisioned controller algorithm provides excellent voltage improvements

Metathesis: a "Change-Your-Partners" dance - chemistry Nobel Prize - 2005

On 5th October 2005, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2005 jointly to Yves Chauvin, Institute of French Petroleum, France, Robert H Grubbs, California Institute of Technology, USA and Richard R Schrock, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis. This increasingly important organic process allows researchers to synthesize certain kinds of complex molecules that were previously difficult and inefficient to make. Their research has opened the door to faster and more efficient methods for developing new drugs and polymers. Imagination will soon be the only limit to what molecules can be built in the laboratory!

Evaluating performance characteristics of different fusible intertinings

An attempt has been made to evaluate the performance characteristics of three different fusible interlinings used in apparel industries with sheep nappa leathers in terms of bending, softness, bond strength, shrinkage, tensile strength and double hole stitch tear strength. Of all aspects of performance investigated, it is found that among the three interlinings, the fusible interlining which is warp knitted with a combination of strong nylon yarn woven with the cotton yarn performs well as compared to the other two interlining materials. The results not only facilitate the basic understanding of the fusing behavior of interlining materials with nappa leathers but also are useful for apparel design and construction