Distributed pursuit-evasion without mapping or global localization via local frontiers

This paper addresses a visibility-based pursuit-evasion problem in which a team of mobile robots with limited sensing and communication capabilities must coordinate to detect any evaders in an unknown, multiply-connected planar environment. Our distributed algorithm to guarantee evader detection is built around maintaining complete coverage of the frontier between cleared and contaminated regions while expanding the cleared region. We detail a novel distributed method for storing and updating this frontier without building a map of the environment or requiring global localization. We demonstrate the functionality of the algorithm through simulations in realistic environments and through hardware experiments. We also compare Monte Carlo results for our algorithm to the theoretical optimum area cleared as a function of the number of robots available.     

Membranes as pretreatment to desalination in wastewater reuse

This article looks at the benefits of wastewater reuse for industrial and municipal applications. It demonstrates how continuous microfiltration pretreatment to reverse osmosis can reduce capital and operating costs of reverse osmosis systems, improve their efficiency and enable reliable operation on a wider variety of water sources. This information is supported by operational data from a number of continuous microfiltration/reverse osmosis installations worldwide on difficult-to-treat feed waters.     

So what are master's-level psychology practitioners doing? Surveys of employers and recent graduates in North Carolina.

In response to questions regarding the marketability of master's-level psychology practitioners, 2 surveys were conducted: 1 of prospective employers of master's-level psychologists and 1 of recent graduates of the University of North Carolina system's master's in psychology programs with clinical emphases. Results indicate that graduates face a healthy job market in the public sector and have a good reputation for value in the marketplace. Graduates reported finding desirable work shortly after graduation, primarily in the public sector. Few described any difficulties with the state-mandated supervision requirement or managed-care reimbursement, perhaps because most public-sector settings provided for both. The data represent the collaborative effort of 1 state's university-system's psychology master's programs to assess employment experiences and marketplace trends. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of low sulfated ash,phosphorus and sulfur oils on camshaft/tappet tribocouples with various diamond‐like‐carbon coated tappets in motored and fired engines

This work was conducted as part of an EU FP‐7 project ‘Tailoring of Tribological Interfaces for Clean and Energy‐Efficient Diesel and Gasoline Powertrains’. The primary goal of this work is to reduce fuel consumption in internal combustion engines by the use of bespoke surface coatings and lubricants. Earlier work within the project had defined a series of oils and coatings to be evaluated in the final stage of the project. The results reported in this paper have used the OM646LA engine to evaluate wear and a motored cylinder head manufactured from the same engine type to evaluate the friction performance of coating/oil combinations. The coatings were applied to the tappets in the valvetrain and tested against uncoated camshafts. It will be shown that diamond‐like‐carbons can offer frictional benefits over an all‐steel system and that the choice of lubricant can incrementally reduce friction further. It will also be shown that while some diamond‐like‐carbon coatings are durable enough to survive the fired engine test intact, others are completely removed; interestingly, in all cases, the wear on the counter‐surface, the cam lobes, was in the order of a magnitude lower than for the standard all‐steel system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computer Control of the Gilford Model 252-1 Spectrophotometer Modernization System

ABSTRACT

The construction of an interfacing device between a Gilford Model 252-1 Spectrophotometer Modernization System and a Commodore PET microcomputer is described. Modifications to the Gilford automatic cuvette positioner to allow computer control are also described. The program for operation of the modified system is listed. A comparison between computer and manually obtained rates is included.