Parameterized computational complexity of control problems in voting systems

Voting systems are common tools in a variety of areas. This paper studies parameterized computational complexity of control of Plurality, Condorcet and Approval voting systems, respectively. The types of controls considered include adding or deleting candidates or voters, under constructive or destructive setting. We obtain the following results: (1) constructive control by adding candidates in Plurality voting is W[2]-hard with respect to the parameter “number of added candidates”, (2) destructive control by adding candidates in Plurality voting is W[2]-hard with respect to the parameter “number of added candidates”, (3) constructive control by adding voters in Condorcet voting is W[1]-hard with respect to the parameter “number of added voters”, (4) constructive control by deleting voters in Condorcet voting is W[1]-hard with respect to the parameter “number of deleted voters”, (5) constructive control by adding voters in Approval voting is W[1]-hard with respect to the parameter “number of added voters”, and (6) constructive control by deleting voters in Approval voting is W[2]-hard with respect to the parameter “number of deleted voters”.     

Image compression-encryption scheme combining 2D compressive sensing with discrete fractional random transform

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Most of the existing image encryption algorithms based on compressive sensing are too complex to operate. An image compression-encryption scheme with simple...     

Dynamic behaviour of a magnetically actuated floating liquid marble

This paper reports the dynamic behaviour of a magnetically actuated floating liquid marble by analysing the oscillation of the marble. A liquid marble is a liquid droplet coated with hydrophobic powder. Magnetite particles inside the marble make it magnetic. The marble floats on a carrier liquid that contains aqueous glycerol of various concentrations. A permanent magnet located under the carrier liquid drives the floating marble with the initial velocity. Stopping the magnet abruptly causes the marble to oscillate around its final position for a few seconds. The oscillation was recorded and analysed using customised image processing and evaluation software. The damped harmonic motion model was then applied to the data and tested. Subsequently, critical parameters of the system such as the initial displacement, friction correction factor, the apparent frequency and the spring constant were determined and discussed. The simple experimental set-up and convenient theoretical approach allow us to characterise the marble motion under the influence of a magnet with good accuracy.     

Inviting Strangers to Participate in Collaborative Consumption through Mobile App

ABSTRACT

Mobile technology has facilitated an emerging form of consumption practices called collaborative consumption. In this study, we investigate one such manifestation whereby merchants send group discount coupons to nearby consumers and encourage them to invite surrounding people to enjoy the discount together. We are interested to know if timing (morning vs. afternoon) and message framing (active vs. passive mutual helping tone) would increase the chance of an individual deciding to invite strangers (and invite a higher proportion of strangers if they did) to participate in the collaborative consumption. Facilitating the participation among strangers can help elevate the reach and influence of collaborative consumption, allowing its potential to be better exploited. Our field experiment findings show that in general people are more likely to invite strangers (and also a higher proportion of strangers in all their invitations) in the morning than in the afternoon. In addition, a message framed to ask the focal individual to actively help others enjoy the deal (active tone) is more effective than a message framed passively, i.e., to let others help him/her (passive tone) in the morning. However, passive tone framing can induce individuals to invite a higher proportion of strangers in the afternoon if they did invite others. These findings have important implications to merchants and app providers on how to more fully tap into the potential of collaborative consumption via mobile technology.     

采用碳足迹分析的产品低碳优化设计

为了给低碳产品开发提供辅助支持,采用模块化思想和生命周期分析方法建立了基于产品结构的碳足迹分析模型;基于敏感性分析方法研究关键低碳设计参数变化与碳排放变化之间的映射关系,在对分析结果进行处理的基础上,以各低碳设计参数改进引起的碳足迹最小为优化目标,构建关键模块单元低碳设计改进的多约束目标优化模型,并采用回溯算法和遗传算法对优化模型进行求解.最后以洗碗机为例,验证了文中方法的可行性和有效性.     

基于Internet的中间层应用服务器

阐述了在Ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ环境下应用服务器产生的必然性,以及目前应用服务器的分类,并举出了应用服务器的代表性产品,最后指出应用服务器的发展方向。     

高速公路联网系统车道收费软件的设计与实现

通过对当前常用的车道收费软件的分析对比,提出了一种基于Mini Server战术的车道收费软件的体系结构,并就其实现技术及性能特点进行了详细的论述,还对Mini Server控制下多Agent通信策略等方面进行了较深入的描述。     

Triangular element partition method with consideration of crack tip

In fracture simulation,how to model the pre-existing cracks and simulate their propagation without remeshing is an important topic.The newly developed triangular element partition method(TEPM)provides an efficient approach to this problem.It firstly meshes the cracked body regardless of the geometry integrity of the interesting object with triangular elements.After the meshing procedure is completed,some elements are intersected by cracks.For the element intersected by a crack,the TEPM takes the element partition technique to incorporate the discontinuity into the numerical model without any interpolation enrichment.By this approach,the TEPM can simulate fracture without mesh modification.In the TEPM,all the cracked elements are treated as the usual partitioned elements in which the crack runs through.The virtual node pairs(the intersection points of crack faces and elements)at the opposite faces of the crack move independently.Their displacements are respectively determined by their neighbor real nodes(nodes formatted in the original mesh scheme)at the same side of the crack.However,among these cracked elements,the element containing a crack tip,referred to as the crack tip element thereafter,behaves differently from those cut through by the crack.Its influence on the singular field at the vicinity of the fracture tip becomes increasingly significant with the element size increasing.In the crack tip element,the virtual node pair at the crack tip move consistently before fracture occurs while the virtual node pair separate and each virtual node moves independently after the fracture propagates.Accordingly,the crack tip element is automatically transformed into the usual partitioned element.In the present paper,the crack tip element is introduced into the TEPM to account for the effect of the crack tip.Validation examples indicate that the present method is almost free from the element size effect.It can reach the same precision as the conventional finite element method under the same meshing scheme.But the TEPM is much more efficient and convenient than the conventional finite element method because the TEPM avoids the troubles that the conventional finite element method suffers,e.g.,the meshing problem of cracked body,modification of mesh scheme,etc.Though the extended finite element method can also avoid these troubles,it introduces extra degrees of freedom due to node interpolation enrichment.Due to the simplicity of the present TEPM,it is believed that its perspective should be highly inspiring.