Cooperative Localization and Tracking in Distributed Robot-Sensor Networks

This paper addresses the problem of real-time position and orientation estimation of networked mobile robots in two-dimensional Euclidean space with simultaneous tracking of a rigid unknown object based on exteroceptive sensory information extracted from distributed vision systems. The sufficient and necessary conditions for team localization are proposed. A localization and object tracking approach based on statistical operators and graph searching algorithms is presented for a team of robots localized with heterogeneous sensors. The approach was implemented in an experimental platform consisting of car-like mobile robots equipped with omnidirectional video cameras and IEEE 802.1 lb wireless networking. The experimental results validate the approach.     

From East to West- Has the Twain Met? Linkages Between Context Sensitivity and Soft Systems Methodology

This paper links context sensitivity of Indians to mode 2 of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) bringing out the similarities between Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft and the primary mode and secondary mode of behaviour of context sensitivity respectively. Both SSM and context sensitivity consider the totality of environment before selecting the most appropriate behaviour. In the Indian context, the three dimensions of context sensitivity—person (patra), time (kal) and ecology (the pattern of relationships people have with their social and physical surrounding) (desh) are the three coordinates along which SSM’s standard of facts and values change. The unbundling of the changing standard of SSM along the three dimensions of person, time and ecology and across the two polarities of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft provides a model which is used to explain the recent economic rise of India.An earlier and shorter version of this paper titled ‘Context sensitivity: An Indian version of soft systems’ has been presented at the ALARPM Congress 2006.     

The Actions of Mahabharat (an Indian Epic): An Analysis from Action Science Perspective

This paper analyses the actions of Mahabharat from the point of view of action science. From the point of view of action science, the source of the problem of Mahabharat is the undiscussable issue of who should be the king of Hastinapur. The paper then analyses the actions of different actors of this epic. It concludes that Yudhishthir displays the Model I governing value of ‘minimize generating or expressing negative feelings’. Duryodhan displays the Model I governing value of ‘maximize winning and minimize losing’. Vidur, Bhishm and Dronacharya display the Model I governing value of ‘be rational’. Together these actors create the ‘limited learning system’ of Model O-I. The primary inhibitory loops created by this limited learning system finally lead to secondary inhibitory loop of polarisation of different actors into two groups and the emergence of win-lose group dynamics in the form of war as the only action which can settle the original undiscussable issue of who should be the king of Hastinapur.     

EFFECTS OF PROCESSING OPERATIONS ON ZETA POTENTIAL AND CATIONIC DEMAND OF PULPS

Thc zeta potential and cationic demands of various kraft pulps - unbleached, bleached and beaten to different freeness levels were determined in the laboratory. The zeta potential of pulp where the final stage was a lignin degrading and dissolving treatment such as alkaline extraction or hypochlorite was lower than the unbleached pulp. The cationic demand of unbleached pulp was higher compared to that of bleached pulp. Beaten pulps showed larger cationic demands than the unbeaten pulps, which can be attributed to the larger specific surface area of pulp components. Fibres become increasingly electronegative when beaten and therefore cationic demand of pulps increases with beating. When the zeta potential method is used with furnishes of different freeness,the linear relationship is observed. However, the slope is decreasing with the decrease in freeness of the pulp.     

Effects of Sr2+ substitution on the structural,dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of PZT-PMN ceramics

This study described the structural, dielectric, and piezoelectric behavior of Pb_1?x Sr _x [(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)_0.95(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.05]O₃ ceramics (PSZT-PMN, x = 0, 0.025, 0.050, and 0.075), prepared by a semi-wet route. X-ray diffraction, dielectric, and piezoelectric investigations were carried out to analyze the crystal structure. The relative dielectric constant and dielectric loss were both calculated as the functions of temperature. The room-temperature dielectric constant reaches a maximum for a Sr²⁺-modified PZT-PMN ceramic with an x value of 0.050, which corresponds to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Raman spectroscopy studies also confirm the existence of this MPB for x = 0.050. The piezoelectric strain coefficients (d ₃₃) value shows a maximum response for this composition. In addition, the phase transition temperature decreases significantly when the Sr²⁺ concentration increases in the PZT-PMN ceramics.     

Cobalt doped ZrO2 decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube: A promising nanocatalyst for photodegradation of indigo carmine and eosin Y dyes

This paper reports the degradation of indigo carmine and eosin Y dyes in water, catalyzed by cobalt and multiwalled carbon nanotube modified zirconium oxide nanocomposite(Co-ZrO_2-MWCNTs) under simulated visible light. The bare ZrO_2,ZrO_2-MWCNTs, Co-ZrO_2 and Co-ZrO_2-MWCNTs with different percentage compositions of cobalt were synthesized by homogeneous co-precipitation method. Characterization of the prepared nanocomposites was carried out using X-Ray powder Diffraction(XRD), Fourier Transformer Infrared(FTIR) Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM), Raman Spectroscopy,(UV–Vis)-Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(EDS) for their structure, formation,morphology, size and elemental analysis. The experimental results indicated that all the cobalt and MWCNTs modified nanocomposites demonstrated higher photocatalytic activities compared to the bare ZrO_2. The most efficient catalyst(0.5% Co-ZrO_2-MWCNTs) with the band gap and Ka values of 5.21 e V and 16.86*10~(-3) min~(-1) respectively exhibited 98% degradation efficiency toward indigo carmine and 87% toward eosin Y in 180 min.     

Fuzzy Sets and Rough Sets: a Comparison through an Extension of Obtulowicz's Category

<正>This paper is a purely mathematical one dealing with a common possible foundation of Fuzzy Set Theory and Rough Set Theory.It begins with a generalization of Obtulowicz's paper,rough sets and Heyting algebra valued sets,published in Bull.Polish Acad Sc.(math),198.In this paper Obtulowicz proposes a special subcategory of     

Five new species of Homalotylus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) − from India with a key to Indian species

Five new species of Homalotylus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) – H. noyesi sp. nov., H. biharensis sp. nov., H. varicolorus sp. nov. (from Bihar province), H. montanus sp. nov. (from Tamil Nadu province) and H. insularis sp. nov. (from Andaman and Nicobar Island) – are described from India. A revised key to the Indian species of Homalotylus is provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9209CC16-7A20-49BF-B4C6-95EF0F5567DF     

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 blocks mitosis in human melanoma cells

Hypermethylation of SOCS genes is associated with many human cancers, suggesting a role as tumor suppressors. As adaptor molecules for ubiquitin ligases, SOCS proteins modulate turnover of numerous target proteins. Few SOCS targets identified so far have a direct role in cell cycle progression; the mechanism by which SOCS regulate the cell cycle thus remains largely unknown. Here we show that SOCS1 overexpression inhibits in vitro and in vivo expansion of human melanoma cells, and that SOCS1 associates specifically with Cdh1, triggering its degradation by the proteasome. Cells therefore show a G1/S transition defect, as well as a secondary blockade in mitosis and accumulation of cells in metaphase. SOCS1 expression correlated with a reduction in cyclin D/E levels and an increase in the tumor suppressor p19, as well as the CDK inhibitor p53, explaining the G1/S transition defect. As a result of Cdh1 degradation, SOCS1-expressing cells accumulated cyclin B1 and securin, as well as apparently inactive Cdc20, in mitosis. Levels of the late mitotic Cdh1 substrate Aurora A did not change. These observations comprise a hitherto unreported mechanism of SOCS1 tumor suppression, suggesting this molecule as a candidate for the design of new therapeutic strategies for human melanoma.