A Nondeterministic Extension over Finitely Recursive Process Model

This paper extends the Finitely Recursive Process framework introduced by Inan and Varaiya for modelling Discrete Event Systems to encompass nondeterministic processes. Nondeterminism has been captured as a set of possible deterministic futures instead of using the standard failure model of Communicating Sequential Processes. In the beginning a general structure of finitely recursive process space is provided with some important modifications. Next, the nondeterministic process space has been introduced as a special case of the general algebraic process space. A collection of operators has been defined over this nondeterministic process space that enables its characterisation in a finitely recursive manner. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed model vis-a-vis other nondeterministic models of discrete event systems are discussed.     

Study of transition metal ion doped mullite by positron annihilation techniques

Mullite, an extremely useful ceramic material, is doped with transition metal ions. The changes in the electronic properties of these doped materials have been studied by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy as well as Doppler broadened line shape analysis. The results on the positron annihilation parameters are characteristic of ionic size, oxidation state and the d-electron configuration of the respective transition metals doped in the parent lattice of the mullite. These results, along with the resistivity measurements are suggestive of transition of the parent mullite from an insulator to a semimetal in the modified structure.     

A Novel Moisture‐Insensitive and Low‐Corrosivity Ionic Liquid Electrolyte for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) are extensively developed due to their cost‐effectiveness, eco‐friendliness, and low flammability and the earth abundance of their electrode materials. However, the commonly used RAB ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte is highly moisture‐sensitive and corrosive. To address these problems, a 4‐ethylpyridine/AlCl₃ IL is proposed. The effects of the AlCl₃ to 4‐ethylpyridine molar ratio on the electrode charge–discharge properties are systematically examined. A maximum graphite capacity of 95 mAh g^?1 is obtained at 25 mA g^?1. After 1000 charge–discharge cycles, ≈85% of the initial capacity can be retained. In situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction is employed to examine the electrode reaction mechanism. In addition, low corrosion rates of Al, Cu, Ni, and carbon‐fiber paper electrodes are confirmed in the 4‐ethylpyridine/AlCl₃ IL. When opened to the ambient atmosphere, the measured capacity of the graphite cathode is only slightly lower than that found in a N₂‐filled glove box; moreover, the capacity retention upon 100 cycles is as high as 75%. The results clearly indicate the great potential of this electrolyte for practical RAB applications.     

New control allocation algorithms in fixed point framework for overactuated systems with actuator saturation

In this paper, two control allocation algorithms have been proposed for overactuated systems. The algorithms are developed by formulating constrained control allocation problem into an equivalent fixed point framework. The first algorithm follows sequential solving method while the other one involves a zero finding technique by the Newton method. In order to consider limiting constraints, the saturation function has been taken into account that leads to a nonsmooth zero finding problem and the proposed method guarantees superlinear convergence. The second algorithm is easy to implement and faster than the algorithm developed based on the sequential solving technique. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, a detail simulation study has been carried out, in which one example considers both the actuator rate and amplitude constraints.     

Efficient One-Sided Adaptively Secure Computation

Adaptive security is a strong security notion that captures additional security threats that are not addressed by static corruptions. For instance, it captures real-world scenarios where “hackers” actively break into computers, possibly while they are executing secure protocols. Studying this setting is interesting from both theoretical and practical points of view. A primary building block in designing adaptively secure protocols is a non-committing encryption (NCE) that implements secure communication channels in the presence of adaptive corruptions. Current constructions require a number of public key operations that grow linearly with the length of the message. Furthermore, general two-party protocols require a number of NCE calls that dependent both on the circuit size and on the security parameter. In this paper, we study the two-party setting in which at most one of the parties is adaptively corrupted, and demonstrate the feasibility of (1) NCE with constant number of public key operations for large message spaces, (2) oblivious transfer with constant number of public key operations for large sender’s input spaces, and (3) constant round secure computation protocols with an overall number of public key operations that is linear in the circuit size. Our study demonstrates that such primitives indeed exist in the presence of single corruptions without erasures, while this is not known for fully adaptive security under standard assumptions (where both parties may get corrupted). Our results are shown in the UC setting with a CRS setup.     

Assessment of the nutritional quality of fish cultured in Samdihi,an open cast coalpit at the Raniganj Coal Field areas,West Bengal,India

The present study assessed the nutritional quality of four major teleostean fishes (Catla catla; Labeo rohita; Notopterus notopterus and Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in the Samdihi, an opencast coalpit (OCP). The physicochemical parameters were within the pisciculture standard limits, and the heavy metal contents of the fish were within safe concentrations and below the target hazard quotient (THQ) level (<1). The zooplankton abundance and density were sufficient as food item for the fish faunas. Ash and moisture contents confirmed the good quality of the fish as food. The results of the other analysed nutritional parameters indicated the total protein content was highest in the herbivorous fish Labeo rohita (85.32 ± 0.61 mg/g), compared to Catla catla, Notopterus notopterus and Oreochromis niloticus (50.34 ± 0.43, 71.32 ± 0.49 and 75.14 ± 0.53 mg/g, respectively). The order of decreasing lipid content was Notopterus notopterus > Catla catla > Labeo rohita > Oreochromis niloticus (7.04 ± 1.02 > 6.01 ± 0.01 > 1.83 ± 0.03 > 1.46 ± 0.04%). The percentage of carbohydrates was highest in the omnivorous Oreochromis niloticus (18.2 ± 0.8), followed by Notopterus notopterus, Catla catla and Labeo rohita (15.1 ± 0.7, 13.9 ± 0.5 and 9.4 ± 0.4, respectively). The sodium content was higher in the column feeders Labeo rohita (82.06 ± 0.61 mg/g) and Notopterus notopterus (81.87 ± 0.61 mg/g) than in the surface feeders Catla catla (69.16 ± 0.55 mg/g) and Oreochromis niloticus (79.33 ± 0.60 mg/g). The potassium content exhibited similar trends, being higher in the column feeders Notopterus notopterus (204.8 ± 1.52 mg/g) and Labeo rohita (199.5 ± 1.81 mg/g) than in the surface feeders Oreochromis niloticus (190.8 ± 1.13 mg/g) and Catla catla (183.2 ± 1.3) mg/g). The trend in iron content was in the order of Oreochromis niloticus > Labeo rohita > Notopterus notopterus > Catla catla (5.60 ± 0.01 > 4.806 ± 0.01 > 4.25 ± 0.01 > 1.303 ± 0.01 mg/g, respectively). The results of the present study highlight the potential and feasibility of conducting pisciculture in the abandoned OCP as a means increasing the economic livelihoods of the core group of people in and around the mining areas of RCF regions. The estimated fish nutritional index (EFNI) analysis also revealed the fish cultured in this OCP exhibited a good nutritional quality standard.     

Influence of straw mulching on fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency,moisture conservation and herb and essential oil yield in Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.)

In a field study, the influence of organic mulches viz. paddy straw and citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) distillation waste on herb and essential oil yield and fertilizer N use efficiency in Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) were examined for two years. Herb yield (dry weight) increased by 17 and 31% with paddy straw and citronella distillation waste, respectively over the use of no mulch. Essential oil yield also significantly increased due to mulching. A significant response to N was observed with 200 kg N ha^–1 in unmulched plots as against 150 kg N ha^–1 in mulched plots. Mulched soils have been observed to contain 2 to 4% higher moisture as compared to unmulched soils. Nitrogen uptake by plants increased by 18 and 25% over no mulch with using paddy straw and citronella distillation waste, respectively.     

[Cp2TiCl2] Catalyzed polymerization in water: polymerization of methylmethacrylate to a high molecular weight polymer

An early transition metal metallocene compound, Cp₂TiCl₂, has been used as a catalyst in aqueous emulsion polymerization of methylmethacrylate to high molecular weight polymer with an anionic surfactant, sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as emulsifier. The added surfactant has been found to play the dual role of stabilizer of the cation as well as an emulsifying agent for the monomer. Reactions with cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) emulsifiers were not successful under the conditions examined.     

An advisory system for the analysis and design of deformable beam-type multi-body systems

Multi-body systems can be used to model mechanisms, robots and many other mechanical assemblies. When these devices are subjected to high-speed and high accuracy requirements, their elastic behavior will merit thorough investigation. The finite element analysis and design of deformable multi-body systems is a very complex, iterative process requiring a high level of expertise and engineering intuition. This paper presents an advisory system developed to help a designer with the key parameters through the analysis, design, and validation processes. The related knowledge such as to determine the optimum parameters for mesh, time step, type of analysis, type of element, the numerical integration scheme and the corresponding parameters, and the design considerations such as material selection method, and geometric synthesis algorithm are also documented.