A hop-count and node energy based manet routing protocol

Mobile ad hoc network is a self-configuring network in which all participating nodes are mobile and consist of limited channel bandwidth and energy. Mobile devices are battery operated, and energy efficiency is a major issue for battery-operated devices in mobile ad hoc networks. Routing data packets from source to destination is the challenging task in mobile ad hoc networks due to node mobility and dynamic topology change in the network. Link failure or node energy depletion causes re-routing and establishing a new route from the source node to destination node which consumes extra node energy, reduces connectivity of the network and early partition of the network. Energy-related parameters consideration in routing is an important solution to enhance network lifetime. Several better performing routing schemes are presented and implemented for MANETs. Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol is one which performs well among similar routing protocols for MANET. AODV route selection base on either lowest hop-count or fresh sequence number. Many enhancements to AODV are proposed, which represents a better performance in comparison with original protocol. However, in a large network different paths to the destination could be found with the same hop-count. When efficiency is deliberated for those paths in quickly data transmission, each path performance varies in terms of throughput, end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio due to the mobility of the nodes in the network. AODV routing protocol and enhancements suggested by other researchers do not give attention to such cases, and this paper proposes Hop-count and Node Energy based Routing Protocol (HNERP) which uses a multi-function routing strategy that incorporates with hop-count and node energy while making the routing decision. The proposed protocol is simulated by using NS2 and results show that HNERP performs better in term of packet delivery ratio and throughput, moreover it increases network lifetime and reduces end-to-end delay

Assessment of Lockdown Effect in Some States and Overall India: A Predictive Mathematical Study on COVID-19 Outbreak

In the absence of neither an effective treatment or vaccine and with an incomplete understanding of the epidemiological cycle, Govt. has implemented a nationwide lockdown to reduce COVID-19 transmission in India. To study the effect of social distancing measure, we considered a new mathematical model on COVID-19 that incorporates lockdown effect. By validating our model to the data on notified cases from five different states and overall India, we estimated several epidemiologically important parameters as well as the basic reproduction number ($R_{0}$). Combining the mechanistic mathematical model with different statistical forecast models, we projected notified cases in the six locations for the period May 17, 2020, till May 31, 2020. A global sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the correlation of two epidemiologically measurable parameters on the lockdown effect and also on $R_{0}$. Our result suggests that lockdown will be effective in those locations where a higher percentage of symptomatic infection exists in the population. Furthermore, a large scale COVID-19 mass testing is required to reduce community infection. Ensemble model forecast suggested a high rise in the COVID-19 notified cases in most of the locations in the coming days. Furthermore, the trend of the effective reproduction number ($R_{t}$) during the projection period indicates if the lockdown measures are completely removed after May 17, 2020, a high spike in notified cases may be seen in those locations. Finally, combining our results, we provided an effective lockdown policy to reduce future COVID-19 transmission in India.Comment: 43 pages, 17 figure

A Nexus Approach for the MENA Region—From Concept to Knowledge to Action

There is wide agreement that a nexus or integrated approach to managing and governing natural resources such as land, water, and energy can improve environmental, climate, human, and political security. However, few if any countries in the MENA region have made progress in implementing such an approach. There appear to be several constraints inhibiting the development and adoption of nexus approaches. These constraints include strong sectoral silos, insufficient incentives for integrated planning and policy making at all levels, and limited vision, knowledge, and practical experience to guide successful implementation. In turn, the limited implementation and hence lack of empirical evidence of a nexus approach, which could demonstrate its benefits, does little to strengthen political will for the development of adequate incentives, structures, and procedures. Against this backdrop, this paper presents five case studies which take an integrated approach, in three MENA countries, namely Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. Based on an analytical framework developed here, the paper analyses and compares the success factors for nexus implementation, and also for transfer and upscaling. The analysis emphasizes the need for appropriate framework conditions, targeted investments and pioneering actors, to make integrated approaches across sectors and levels work. With the evidence presented, the paper aims to set in motion a positive or virtuous cycle of generating more nexus evidence, improved framework conditions, further nexus implementation on the ground, and from that even more nexus evidence. Finally, the paper contributes to overcoming the repeated requests for better definition and conceptualization of the nexus, which often has slowed down adoption of the concept

Recent advances in mobile touch screen security authentication methods: a systematic literature review

The security of the smartphone touch screen has attracted considerable attention from academics as well as industry and security experts. The maximum security of the mobile phone touch screen is necessary to protect the user’s stored information in the event of loss. Previous reviews in this research domain have focused primarily on biometrics and graphical passwords while leaving out PIN, gesture/pattern and others. In this paper, we present a comprehensive literature review of the recent advances made in mobile touch screen authentication techniques covering PIN, pattern/gesture, biometrics, graphical password and others. A new comprehensive taxonomy of the various multiple class authentication techniques is presented in order to expand the existing taxonomies on single class authentication techniques. The review reveals that the most recent studies that propose new techniques for providing maximum security to smartphone touch screen reveal multi-objective optimization problems. In addition, open research problems and promising future research directions are presented in the paper. Expert researchers can benefit from the review by gaining new insights into touch screen cyber security, and novice researchers may use this paper as a starting point of their inquir

Global, regional, and national incidence and mortality for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria during 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

BACKGROUND: The Millennium Declaration in 2000 brought special global attention to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria through the formulation of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6. The Global Burden of Disease 2013 study provides a consistent and comprehensive approach to disease estimation for between 1990 and 2013, and an opportunity to assess whether accelerated progress has occured since the Millennium Declaration. METHODS: To estimate incidence and mortality for HIV, we used the UNAIDS Spectrum model appropriately modified based on a systematic review of available studies of mortality with and without antiretroviral therapy (ART). For concentrated epidemics, we calibrated Spectrum models to fit vital registration data corrected for misclassification of HIV deaths. In generalised epidemics, we minimised a loss function to select epidemic curves most consistent with prevalence data and demographic data for all-cause mortality. We analysed counterfactual scenarios for HIV to assess years of life saved through prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and ART. For tuberculosis, we analysed vital registration and verbal autopsy data to estimate mortality using cause of death ensemble modelling. We analysed data for corrected case-notifications, expert opinions on the case-detection rate, prevalence surveys, and estimated cause-specific mortality using Bayesian meta-regression to generate consistent trends in all parameters. We analysed malaria mortality and incidence using an updated cause of death database, a systematic analysis of verbal autopsy validation studies for malaria, and recent studies (2010-13) of incidence, drug resistance, and coverage of insecticide-treated bednets. FINDINGS: Globally in 2013, there were 1·8 million new HIV infections (95% uncertainty interval 1·7 million to 2·1 million), 29·2 million prevalent HIV cases (28·1 to 31·7), and 1·3 million HIV deaths (1·3 to 1·5). At the peak of the epidemic in 2005, HIV caused 1·7 million deaths (1·6 million to 1·9 million). Concentrated epidemics in Latin America and eastern Europe are substantially smaller than previously estimated. Through interventions including PMTCT and ART, 19·1 million life-years (16·6 million to 21·5 million) have been saved, 70·3% (65·4 to 76·1) in developing countries. From 2000 to 2011, the ratio of development assistance for health for HIV to years of life saved through intervention was US$4498 in developing countries. Including in HIV-positive individuals, all-form tuberculosis incidence was 7·5 million (7·4 million to 7·7 million), prevalence was 11·9 million (11·6 million to 12·2 million), and number of deaths was 1·4 million (1·3 million to 1·5 million) in 2013. In the same year and in only individuals who were HIV-negative, all-form tuberculosis incidence was 7·1 million (6·9 million to 7·3 million), prevalence was 11·2 million (10·8 million to 11·6 million), and number of deaths was 1·3 million (1·2 million to 1·4 million). Annualised rates of change (ARC) for incidence, prevalence, and death became negative after 2000. Tuberculosis in HIV-negative individuals disproportionately occurs in men and boys (versus women and girls); 64·0% of cases (63·6 to 64·3) and 64·7% of deaths (60·8 to 70·3). Globally, malaria cases and deaths grew rapidly from 1990 reaching a peak of 232 million cases (143 million to 387 million) in 2003 and 1·2 million deaths (1·1 million to 1·4 million) in 2004. Since 2004, child deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa have decreased by 31·5% (15·7 to 44·1). Outside of Africa, malaria mortality has been steadily decreasing since 1990. INTERPRETATION: Our estimates of the number of people living with HIV are 18·7% smaller than UNAIDS's estimates in 2012. The number of people living with malaria is larger than estimated by WHO. The number of people living with HIV, tuberculosis, or malaria have all decreased since 2000. At the global level, upward trends for malaria and HIV deaths have been reversed and declines in tuberculosis deaths have accelerated. 101 countries (74 of which are developing) still have increasing HIV incidence. Substantial progress since the Millennium Declaration is an encouraging sign of the effect of global action. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Detection of multiple waves for COVID-19 and its optimal control through media awareness and vaccination: study based on some Indian states

COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, and in very recent times, it has shown a massive impact throughout the globe. Several countries faced the COVID-19 infection waves multiple times. These later waves are more aggressive than the first wave and drastically impact social and economic factors. We developed a mechanistic model with imperfect lockdown effect, reinfection, transmission variability between symptomatic & asymptomatic, and media awareness to focus on the early detection of multiple waves and their control measures. Using daily COVID-19 cases data from six states of India, we estimated several important model parameters. Moreover, we estimated the home quarantine, community, and basic reproduction numbers. We developed an algorithm to carry out global sensitivity analysis (Sobol) of the parameters that influence the number of COVID-19 waves ( ) and the average number of COVID-19 cases in a wave ( ). We have identified some critical controlling parameters that mainly influenced and . Our study also revealed the best COVID-19 control strategy/strategies among vaccination, media awareness, and their combination using an optimal cost-effective study. The detailed analysis suggests that the severity of asymptomatic transmission is around 10% to 29% of that of symptomatic transmission in all six locations. About 1% to 4% of the total population under lockdown may contribute to new COVID-19 infection in all six locations. Optimal cost-effective analysis based on interventions, namely only vaccination (VA), only media awareness (ME), and a combination of vaccination & media (VA+ME), are projected for the period March 14, 2020, to August 31, 2021, for all the six locations. We have found that a large percentage of the population (26% to 45%) must be vaccinated from February 13 to August 31, 2021, to avert an optimal number of COVID-19 cases in these six locations

Challenges of post-war policy reforms in Lebanon’s water sector – lessons learned

Lebanon has not been able to properly develop and benefit from its water sources. A confessional system of governance has hindered development of the sector. Laws and regulations have been developed erratically with many superseding others without the superseded laws being erased from the registry. This created a chaotic regulatory and legal environment with overlapping jurisdictions and no clear accountability mechanisms. The period before the onset of the civil war in 1975 witnessed significant progress of both infrastructure and laws and regulations related to the management of the water sector. The civil war destroyed the water sector infrastructure and emptied all regulatory control of the resources. The period of reconstruction between 1990 and 1999 witnessed the promulgation of ambitious reconstruction plans for the water sector with funding reliant on borrowing from local and external debtors. Post 1999, government reforms started creeping into the system but were often donor driven and still suffered from the same mistakes of laws overlain on top of existing laws without erasing the older material. Critically, the management of the sector is not inclusive and the beneficiaries of water services are often not heard and ignored. HIGHLIGHTS What can we learn from the Lebanese example?; What is the situation 30 years after the end of war in Lebanon?; Many countries of the region are either in a state of war of have just ended a war. What can we expect for these countries?; Introducing new Water laws is always the case when policy reforms are engaged. What are their impact on the ground?; Lebanon is also a case of legal pluralism. What can we learn?

A cloud-based conceptual framework for multi-objective virtual machine scheduling using whale optimization algorithm

Virtual machine scheduling in the cloud is considered one of the major issue to solve optimal resource allocation problem on the heterogeneous datacenters. With respect to that, the key concern is to map the virtual machines (VMs) with physical machines (PMs) in a way that maximum resource utilization can be achieved with minimum cost. Due to the fact that scheduling is an NP-hard problem, a metaheuristic approach is proven to achieve a better optimal solution to solve this problem. In a rapid changing heterogeneous environment, where millions of resources can be allocated and deallocate in a fraction of the time, modern metaheuristic algorithms perform well due to its immense power to solve the multidimensional problem with fast convergence speed. This paper presents a conceptual framework for solving multi-objective VM scheduling problem using novel metaheuristic Whale optimization algorithm (WOA). Further, we present the problem formulation for the framework to achieve multi-objective functions

Whale optimization algorithm: a systematic review of contemporary applications, modifications and developments

Whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is a recently developed swarm-based meta-heuristic algorithm that is based on the bubble-net hunting maneuver technique—of humpback whales—for solving the complex optimization problems. It has been widely accepted swarm intelligence technique in various engineering fields due to its simple structure, less required operator, fast convergence speed and better balancing capability between exploration and exploitation phases. Owing to its optimal performance and efficiency, the applications of the algorithm have extensively been utilized in multidisciplinary fields in the recent past. This paper investigates further into WOA of its applications, modifications, and hybridizations across various fields of engineering. The description of the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to support future research are also explored. The Systematic Literature Review is opted as a method to disseminate the findings and gap from the existing literature. The authors select eighty-two (82) articles as a primary studies out of nine hundred and thirty-nine (939) articles between 2016 and 2020. As per our result, WOA-based techniques are applied in 5 fields and 17 subfields of various engineering domains. 61% work has been found on modification, 27% on hybridization and 12% on multi-objective variants of WOA techniques. The growing research trend on WOA is expected to continue into the future. The review presented in the paper has the potential to motivate expert researchers to propose more novel WOA-based algorithms, and it can serve as an initial reading material for a novice researcher