9,189 research outputs found
Distributed Maximum Likelihood Sensor Network Localization
We propose a class of convex relaxations to solve the sensor network
localization problem, based on a maximum likelihood (ML) formulation. This
class, as well as the tightness of the relaxations, depends on the noise
probability density function (PDF) of the collected measurements. We derive a
computational efficient edge-based version of this ML convex relaxation class
and we design a distributed algorithm that enables the sensor nodes to solve
these edge-based convex programs locally by communicating only with their close
neighbors. This algorithm relies on the alternating direction method of
multipliers (ADMM), it converges to the centralized solution, it can run
asynchronously, and it is computation error-resilient. Finally, we compare our
proposed distributed scheme with other available methods, both analytically and
numerically, and we argue the added value of ADMM, especially for large-scale
networks
Primal Recovery from Consensus-Based Dual Decomposition for Distributed Convex Optimization
Dual decomposition has been successfully employed in a variety of distributed
convex optimization problems solved by a network of computing and communicating
nodes. Often, when the cost function is separable but the constraints are
coupled, the dual decomposition scheme involves local parallel subgradient
calculations and a global subgradient update performed by a master node. In
this paper, we propose a consensus-based dual decomposition to remove the need
for such a master node and still enable the computing nodes to generate an
approximate dual solution for the underlying convex optimization problem. In
addition, we provide a primal recovery mechanism to allow the nodes to have
access to approximate near-optimal primal solutions. Our scheme is based on a
constant stepsize choice and the dual and primal objective convergence are
achieved up to a bounded error floor dependent on the stepsize and on the
number of consensus steps among the nodes
The introduction of mandatory inter-municipal cooperation in small municipalities: preliminary lessons from Italy
PurposeThis article studies effects of mandatory inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) in small Italian municipalities. Data from 280 small Italian municipalities on effects of IMC in terms of higher efficiency, better effectiveness of local public services, and greater institutional legitimacy of the small municipalities participating in IMC have been investigated against four variables: size; geographical area; type of inter-municipal integration and IMC membership (the presence in the IMC of a bigger municipality, the so-called big brother).Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from a mail survey that was sent to a random sample of 1,360 chief financial officers acting in municipalities of under 5,000 inhabitants, stratified by size (0–1,000 and 1,001–5,000) and geographic area (North, Center, and South) criteria. To analyze dependency relationships between the three potential effects of participating in IMC and possible explanatory variables, we used a logistic regression model as the benefits were binarily categorized (presence or absence of benefits).FindingsFindings show that in more than two-thirds of the municipalities participating in IMC there were benefits in terms of costs reduction and better public services, whereas
greater institutional legitimacy was detected in about half of the cases. Our statistical analysis with logistic regression highlighted that IMC type is particularly critical for
explaining successful IMC. In particular, positive effects of IMC were mainly detected in those small municipalities that promoted a service delivery organization rather than participating in service delivery agreements or opting for mixed arrangements of joint public services delivery.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on small municipalities where studies are usually scant. Our analysis highlighted that the organizational setting is particularly critical for explaining successful IMC
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