In this paper we present a gradient method to iteratively update local controllers of a distributed linear system driven by stochastic disturbances. The control objective is to minimize the sum of the variances of states and inputs in all nodes. We show that the gradients of this objective can be estimated distributively using data from a forward simulation of the system model and a backward simul

Recursive state estimation is considered for discrete time linear systems with mixed process and measurement disturbances that have stochastic and (convex) set-bounded terms. The state estimate is formed as a linear combination of initial guess and measurements, giving an estimation error of the same mixed type (and causing minimal interference between the two kinds of error). An ellipsoidal over-

In this paper our objective is to discuss the manner in which our engagement with applied cultural analysis has spurred us to reassess a number of fundamental underlying concepts and practices of ethnological and anthropological work. The paper opens by explaining how our engagement with applied research (and education) has changed our conceptual framing of ethnography and inspired us to new theor

This paper introduces a new estimate of core inflation. Core inflation is a real time estimate of monetary inflation. Most existing core inflation estimate do not account for persistent relative price changes and are therefore likely to be poor estimates of the underlying monetary inflation rate. The proposed core inflation estimate estimates core inflation by first estimating the inflation signal

We develop a model to analyze the growth of social organizations as a spatially nested mixed-influence diffusion process. Drawing on gravity models and threshold models, we split the social system into social units and model the diffusion process as a system of differential equations. The diffusion of a new organizational form in a social unit is a function of an internal process within the unit a

This paper gives a brief introduction to the TrueTime simulator and then gives several examples on how TrueTime can be used to simulate networked control systems. Among the examples are time-triggered and event-based networked control and AODV routing in wireless ad-hoc networks.

DNA is presently at the centre of a storm. On the one hand, the breathtaking development of DNA related sciences during the last decades led to a technological and medical revolution. Due to the far reaching possibilities connected to this technology, it is the focus of many people’s interest and one source of the hope that one day we will find cures for terrible illnesses. Unsurprisingly, DNA rel

Since ancient times, reeds have been used as a low-tech building material in several construction purposes. Reed is a natural building materials that possess many useful benefits in contemporary building practices. Reeds grow around lakes, swamps and other water canals and have no environmental impact if dismantled after construction as they are biodegradable. Reeds are also easy to cut and handle

Assessment of robustness of structural systems very often involves assessment of the structural response after local damage. In this paper an attempt is made to describe the state of art in this field with focus on methods which can be used in engineering practice. Advanced non-linear and dynamic computer tools are available today which can deal with most of the above mentioned phenomena but they

Land use change has been observed to cause profound impacts on sustainability, particularly when the change is not well planned and co-coordinated. In Kenya the government is promoting diversification of crops to embrace high value crops and drought resistant crop varieties in efforts to reduce poverty in rural areas. Sugar beet is one of the crops considered as an option in this context. Adoption

We propose a simple optimal a posteriori probability (APP) symbol decoding algorithm for linear block codes, which requires one forward recursion in a trellis.