10,255 research outputs found
Approximately Truthful Multi-Agent Optimization Using Cloud-Enforced Joint Differential Privacy
Multi-agent coordination problems often require agents to exchange state
information in order to reach some collective goal, such as agreement on a
final state value. In some cases, it is feasible that opportunistic agents may
deceptively report false state values for their own benefit, e.g., to claim a
larger portion of shared resources. Motivated by such cases, this paper
presents a multi-agent coordination framework which disincentivizes
opportunistic misreporting of state information. This paper focuses on
multi-agent coordination problems that can be stated as nonlinear programs,
with non-separable constraints coupling the agents. In this setting, an
opportunistic agent may be tempted to skew the problem's constraints in its
favor to reduce its local cost, and this is exactly the behavior we seek to
disincentivize. The framework presented uses a primal-dual approach wherein the
agents compute primal updates and a centralized cloud computer computes dual
updates. All computations performed by the cloud are carried out in a way that
enforces joint differential privacy, which adds noise in order to dilute any
agent's influence upon the value of its cost function in the problem. We show
that this dilution deters agents from intentionally misreporting their states
to the cloud, and present bounds on the possible cost reduction an agent can
attain through misreporting its state. This work extends our earlier work on
incorporating ordinary differential privacy into multi-agent optimization, and
we show that this work can be modified to provide a disincentivize for
misreporting states to the cloud. Numerical results are presented to
demonstrate convergence of the optimization algorithm under joint differential
privacy.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure
On the computation of the term of the series defining the center manifold for a scalar delay differential equation
In computing the third order terms of the series of powers of the center
manifold at an equilibrium point of a scalar delay differential equation, with
a single constant delay some problems occur at the term
More precisely, in order to determine the values at 0,
respectively of the function an algebraic system of
equations must be solved. We show that the two equations are dependent, hence
the system has an infinity of solutions. Then we show how we can overcome this
lack of uniqueness and provide a formula for Comment: Presented at the Conference on Applied and Industrial Mathematics-
CAIM 2011, Iasi, Romania, 22-25 September, 2011. Preprin
Conformal Maps to Multiply-Slit Domains and Applications
By exploiting conformal maps to vertically slit regions in the complex plane, a recently developed rational spectral method [Tee and Trefethen, 2006] is able to solve PDEs with interior layer-like behaviour using significantly fewer collocation points than traditional spectral methods. The conformal maps are chosen to 'enlarge the region of analyticity' in the solution: an idea which can be extended to other numerical methods based upon global polynomial interpolation. Here we show how such maps can be rapidly computed in both periodic and nonperiodic geometries, and apply them to some challenging differential equations
Survey of Vapor Phase Chemical Agents for Combustion Suppression
Literature survey of vapor phase chemical agents for combustion suppressio
Cloud-Based Centralized/Decentralized Multi-Agent Optimization with Communication Delays
We present and analyze a computational hybrid architecture for performing
multi-agent optimization. The optimization problems under consideration have
convex objective and constraint functions with mild smoothness conditions
imposed on them. For such problems, we provide a primal-dual algorithm
implemented in the hybrid architecture, which consists of a decentralized
network of agents into which centralized information is occasionally injected,
and we establish its convergence properties. To accomplish this, a central
cloud computer aggregates global information, carries out computations of the
dual variables based on this information, and then distributes the updated dual
variables to the agents. The agents update their (primal) state variables and
also communicate among themselves with each agent sharing and receiving state
information with some number of its neighbors. Throughout, communications with
the cloud are not assumed to be synchronous or instantaneous, and communication
delays are explicitly accounted for in the modeling and analysis of the system.
Experimental results are presented to support the theoretical developments
made.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Perceptions of physiotherapists towards research: a mixed methods study
OBJECTIVES: To explore the perceptions of physiotherapists towards the use of and participation in research.
DESIGN: Concurrent mixed methods research, combining in-depth interviews with three questionnaires (demographics, Edmonton Research Orientation Survey, visual analogue scales for confidence and motivation to participate in research).
SETTING: One physiotherapy department in a rehabilitation hospital, consisting of seven specialised areas.
PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five subjects {four men and 21 women, mean age 38 [standard deviation (SD) 11] years} who had been registered as a physiotherapist for a mean period of 15 (SD 10) years participated in this study. They were registered with the New Zealand Board of Physiotherapy, held a current practising certificate, and were working as a physiotherapist or physiotherapy/allied health manager at the hospital.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome measure was in-depth interviews and the secondary outcome measures were the three questionnaires.
RESULTS: Physiotherapists were generally positive towards research, but struggled with the concept of research, the available literature and the time to commit to research. Individual confidence and orientation towards research seemed to influence how these barriers were perceived.
CONCLUSION: This study showed that physiotherapists struggle to implement research in their daily practice and become involved in research. Changing physiotherapists' conceptions of research, making it more accessible and providing dedicated research time could facilitate increased involvement in the physiotherapy profession
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