diff --git a/DAS/node.py b/DAS/node.py
index 223b0f2..15d29bd 100644
--- a/DAS/node.py
+++ b/DAS/node.py
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ class Node:
         self.received_gossip = defaultdict(list)
 
         # query methods
-        self.exponential_growth = False
-        self.linear_growth = True
+        self.exponential_growth = True
+        self.linear_growth = False
         self.linear_constant_growth = False
         self.hybrid_growth = False
         self.exponential_constant_growth = False
@@ -92,10 +92,10 @@ class Node:
 
         # query results
         self.query_times = []
-        self.query_total_time = 0
+        self.query_total_time = None
         self.all_original_retries = []
-        self.query_results = 'success'
-        self.original_retries_sum = 0
+        self.query_results = None
+        self.original_retries_sum = None
 
         # Cache latency values based on horizon level
         self.latency_cache = {
diff --git a/DAS/results.py b/DAS/results.py
index 4b45377..6db69f0 100644
--- a/DAS/results.py
+++ b/DAS/results.py
@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@ class Result:
         self.restoreColumnCount = [0] * shape.numberNodes
         self.repairedSampleCount = [0] * shape.numberNodes
         
-        self.query_times = [[] for _ in range(shape.numberNodes)]  # List of empty lists
-        self.query_total_time = [None] * shape.numberNodes  # List of None values, or empty lists if needed
-        self.all_original_retries = [[] for _ in range(shape.numberNodes)]  # List of empty lists
-        self.query_results = [''] * shape.numberNodes  # List of empty strings
-        self.original_retries_sum = [None] * shape.numberNodes  # List of None values
+        self.query_times = [[] for _ in range(shape.numberNodes)]
+        self.query_total_time = [None] * shape.numberNodes
+        self.all_original_retries = [[] for _ in range(shape.numberNodes)]
+        self.query_results = [''] * shape.numberNodes
+        self.original_retries_sum = [None] * shape.numberNodes
 
         self.numberNodes = shape.numberNodes
 
diff --git a/DAS/simulator.py b/DAS/simulator.py
index 1773e3b..0db8cbd 100644
--- a/DAS/simulator.py
+++ b/DAS/simulator.py
@@ -395,17 +395,28 @@ class Simulator:
             if not self.validators[i].amIaddedToQueue :
                 malicious_nodes_not_added_count += 1
 
+        valid_rows = set()
+        valid_columns = set()
         for i in range(0,self.shape.numberNodes):
             column_ids = []
             row_ids = []
             for rID in self.validators[i].rowIDs:
                 row_ids.append(rID)
+                if not self.validators[i].amImalicious and not self.validators[i].amIproposer:
+                    valid_rows.add(rID)
             for cID in self.validators[i].columnIDs:
                 column_ids.append(cID)
+                if not self.validators[i].amImalicious and not self.validators[i].amIproposer:
+                    valid_columns.add(cID)
 
             self.logger.debug("List of columnIDs for %d node: %s", i, column_ids, extra=self.format)
             self.logger.debug("List of rowIDs for %d node: %s", i, row_ids, extra=self.format)
 
+        if len(valid_rows) >= self.shape.nbRowsK or len(valid_columns) >= self.shape.nbColsK:
+            self.logger.debug("Block available within the non-malicious nodes.", extra=self.format)
+        else:
+            self.logger.debug("Block not available within the non-malicious nodes.", extra=self.format)
+
         self.logger.debug("Number of malicious nodes not added to the send queue: %d" % malicious_nodes_not_added_count, extra=self.format)
         malicious_nodes_not_added_percentage = (malicious_nodes_not_added_count * 100)/(self.shape.numberNodes)
         self.logger.debug("Percentage of malicious nodes not added to the send queue: %d" % malicious_nodes_not_added_percentage, extra=self.format)
diff --git a/DAS/visualizor.py b/DAS/visualizor.py
index 57ce869..060e740 100644
--- a/DAS/visualizor.py
+++ b/DAS/visualizor.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class Visualizor:
         all_query_times = [time for time in result.query_total_time if time is not None]
         
         plt.boxplot(all_query_times, patch_artist=True, boxprops=dict(facecolor="lightblue"))
-        plt.title(f"Query Times", fontsize=16)
+        plt.title(f"Total Query Time for each node", fontsize=16)
         plt.ylabel("Query Time (seconds)", fontsize=16)
         plt.grid(True, axis='y', color='gray', linestyle='--', linewidth=0.5)
         plt.tick_params(axis='both', which='major', labelsize=16)
diff --git a/smallConf.py b/smallConf.py
index f9e3b13..0b531c5 100644
--- a/smallConf.py
+++ b/smallConf.py
@@ -154,6 +154,29 @@ colsK = range(32, 65, 128)
 rowsK = range(32, 65, 128)
 
 def nextShape():
+    params = {
+        "cols": cols,
+        "colsK": colsK,
+        "rows": rows,
+        "rowsK": rowsK,
+        "runs": runs,
+        "failureModels": failureModels,
+        "failureRates": failureRates,
+        "maliciousNodes": maliciousNodes,
+        "custodyRows": custodyRows,
+        "custodyCols": custodyCols,
+        "minCustodyRows": minCustodyRows,
+        "minCustodyCols": minCustodyCols,
+        "numberNodes": numberNodes,
+        "netDegrees": netDegrees,
+        "bwUplinksProd": bwUplinksProd,
+        "nodeTypesGroup": nodeTypesGroup,
+    }
+    for key, value in params.items():
+        if not value:
+            logging.warning(f"The parameter '{key}' is empty. Please assign a value and start the simulation.")
+            exit(1)
+
     for nbCols, nbColsK, nbRows, nbRowsK, run, fm, fr, mn, chR, chC, minChR, minChC, nn, netDegree, bwUplinkProd, nodeTypes in itertools.product(
         cols, colsK, rows, rowsK, runs, failureModels, failureRates, maliciousNodes,  custodyRows, custodyCols, minCustodyRows, minCustodyCols, numberNodes, netDegrees, bwUplinksProd, nodeTypesGroup):
         # Network Degree has to be an even number