An OSPF topology server: design and evaluation

In large scale, operational Internet protocol networks, creating timely, accurate and network-wide views of the intradomain topology is a fundamental problem. Topical network backbones consist of hundreds of routers, which establish routing adjacencies with one another through static configuration and dynamic routing protocols, such as open shortest path first (OSPF). We describe the design of an OSPF topology server which tracks intradomain topology, by passively and safely listening into OSPFs reliable flooding mechanism, or by pushing and pulling information from the routers via the simple network management protocol. We provide a detailed evaluation and comparison of the two approaches in terms of operational issues, reliability and timeliness of information     

Robust Stability of Networked Load Frequency Control Systems with Time-Varying Delays

In deregulated power system scenario coupled with smart grid technology, for networked load frequency control (LFC), an open communication structure, owing to low cost and flexibility, is preferred over dedicated networks in the feedback control loop for transmitting/receiving the data between the geographically displaced power system and the control center. In such a control scheme, closing the feedback loop through an open communication channel, in turn, introduces two additive time-varying delays of dissimilar characteristics in the feedback path. These delays degrade the performance of the closed-loop system, and exert a destabilizing effect on the overall system. In this paper, using Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional approach, a less conservative stability criterion is presented to ascertain delay-dependent stability of such network-controlled LFC systems with two additive time-varying delays in the feedback path in the presence of uncertain load disturbance conditions. Unlike the existing results, which are derived by combining these two delays into one, the proposed result considers the two delays as separate entities thereby imparting more generalization into the stability analysis. The effect of unknown exogenous load disturbance is incorporated by mathematically modeling them as a bounded non-linear time-varying function of current and delayed state vectors.     

Plasma characterization of dry ��-EDM

An attempt was made to characterize the dry microelectric discharge machining (??-EDM) plasma systematically by using optical emission spectroscopy. In order to characterize the plasma and its parameters such as plasma temperature, electron density, Debye length, and gamma parameter, the optical spectra were recorded for different energies and with different diameters of tool electrode. From the recorded spectra, using line pair method and modified Saha equation, plasma temperature and electron density, respectively were calculated. From these two, Debye length and plasma parameter were also calculated. These studies indicate that the plasma produced in dry ??-EDM is ideal. In addition to this, we found that the dry ??-EDM region is below the conventional EDM region in log electron density and log temperature plot. Morphological analysis was carried out on crater produced by different energies on the workpiece using a scanning electron microscope. The crater shape may dependent on the geometry of the tool tip, number of discharges, and energy of discharge.     

Photoaction, temperature and O2 depletion effects in fullerene photoelectrochemical solar cells

It is demonstrated that higher temperature and C₆₀ oxygen depletion increase the photocurrent of fullerene photoelectrochemical solar cells (PEC). Fullerene/iodide electrolyte PEC consisting of intrinsic single crystal C₆₀ in either aqueous 3 M KI, 0.01 M I₂, or 0.1 M tetrabutyl ammonium iodide, 0.3 M LiClO₄ in acetonitrile solution, drive regenerative photoinduced iodide oxidation. The photocurrent is increased by an order of magnitude (to 6.4 μA/cm² under 100 mW/cm² illumination) by an increase of the aqueous cell temperature from 24°C to 82°C. A similar order of magnitude increase in photocurrent is accomplished by O₂ depletion pretreatment (24 h at 400°C in Ar) of the C₆₀ to improve conductivity. However, this latter treatment also irreversibly increases the cell dark current. The spectral action of single crystal C₆₀ is also probed, through the generated photoelectrochemical current in iodide, ferricyanide and sulfuric electrolytes as a function of wavelength. Band edges are observed at 720 nm (1.7 eV) and 560 nm (2.2 eV), and a substantial peak photocurrent response occurs at 395 nm (3.1 eV) and decreases at shorter wavelengths.     

A blockchain-based approach for a multi-echelon sustainable supply chain

Blockchain technology is destined to revolutionise supply chain processes. At the same time, governmental and regulatory policies are forcing firms to adjust their supply chains in response to environmental concerns. The objective of this study is therefore to develop a distributed ledger-based blockchain approach for monitoring supply chain performance and optimising both emission levels and operational costs in a synchronised fashion, producing a better outcome for the supply chain. We propose the blockchain approach for different production allocation problems within a multi-echelon supply chain (MESC) under a carbon taxation policy. As such, we couple recent advances in digitalisation of operations with increasingly stringent regulatory environmental policies. Specifically, with lead time considerations under emission rate constraints (imposed by a carbon taxation policy), we simultaneously consider the production, distribution and inventory control decisions in a production allocation-based MESC problem. The problem is then formulated as a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) model. We show that the distributed ledger-based blockchain approach minimises both total cost and carbon emissions. We then validate the feasibility of the proposed approach by comparing the results with a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The findings provide support for policymakers and supply chain executives alike.     

Transaction models for Web accessibility

The Web has evolved into a dominant digital medium for conducting many types of online transactions such as shopping, paying bills, making travel plans, etc. Such transactions typically involve a number of steps spanning several Web pages. For sighted users these steps are relatively straightforward to do with graphical Web browsers. But they pose tremendous challenges for visually impaired individuals. This is because screen readers, the dominant assistive technology used by visually impaired users, function by speaking out the screen’s content serially. Consequently, using them for conducting transactions can cause considerable information overload. But usually one needs to browse only a small fragment of a Web page to do a step of a transaction (e.g., choosing an item from a search results list). Based on this observation this paper presents a model-directed transaction framework to identify, extract and aurally render only the “relevant” page fragments in each step of a transaction. The framework uses a process model to encode the state of the transaction and a concept model to identify the page fragments relevant for the transaction in that state. We also present algorithms to mine such models from click stream data generated by transactions and experimental evidence of the practical effectiveness of our models in improving user experience when conducting online transactions with non-visual modalities.     

Comparison of dicarboxylic acids as complexing agents for abrasive-free chemical mechanical planarization of copper

Abrasive particles used in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of copper often agglomerate and cause scratches on the finished surface. Abrasive-free CMP offers a feasible solution to this problem, and our present work examines four dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic, succinic and glutaric, with increasing carbon chain lengths) as possible complexing agents for such a chemically dominated CMP process. At pH 3.0-4.0, oxalic and malonic acids are most effective for abrasive-free Cu removal. The rates of Cu dissolution and polish (with or without abrasives) are correlated with pH dependent distributions of mono-anionic (for oxalic and malonic) and neutral (for succinic and glutaric) acid species. The surface morphologies of a Cu wafers obtained by abrasive-free CMP in these acids also are more defect free and flat compared to those obtained using abrasives.     

Data envelopment analysis for weight derivation and aggregation in the analytic hierarchy process

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed in this paper to generate local weights of alternatives from pair-wise comparison judgment matrices used in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The underlying assumption behind the approach is explained, and some salient features are explored. It is proved that DEA correctly estimates the true weights when applied to a consistent matrix formed using a known set of weights. DEA is further proposed to aggregate the local weights of alternatives in terms of different criteria to compute final weights. It is proved further that the proposed approach, called DEAHP in this paper, does not suffer from rank reversal when an irrelevant alternative(s) is added or removed.     

Regulation of adherence and virulence by the Entamoeba histolytica lectin cytoplasmic domain, which contains a beta2 integrin motif

Killing of human cells by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica requires adherence via an amebic cell surface lectin. Lectin activity in the parasite is regulated by inside-out signaling. The lectin cytoplasmic domain has sequence identity with a region of the beta2 integrin cytoplasmic tail implicated in regulation of integrin-mediated adhesion. Intracellular expression of a fusion protein containing the cytoplasmic domain of the lectin has a dominant negative effect on extracellular lectin-mediated cell adherence. Mutation of the integrin-like sequence abrogates the dominant negative effect. Amebae expressing the dominant negative mutant are less virulent in an animal model of amebiasis. These results suggest that inside-out signaling via the lectin cytoplasmic domain may control the extracellular adhesive activity of the amebic lectin and provide in vivo demonstration of the lectin's role in virulence.