Statistical Delay Bound for WirelessHART Networks

In this paper we provide a performance analysis framework for wireless industrial networks by deriving a service curve and a bound on the delay violation probability. For this purpose we use the (min,x) stochastic network calculus as well as a recently presented recursive formula for an end-to-end delay bound of wireless heterogeneous networks. The derived results are mapped to WirelessHART networks used in process automation and were validated via simulations. In addition to WirelessHART, our results can be applied to any wireless network whose physical layer conforms the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, while its MAC protocol incorporates TDMA and channel hopping, like e.g. ISA100.11a or TSCH-based networks. The provided delay analysis is especially useful during the network design phase, offering further research potential towards optimal routing and power management in QoS-constrained wireless industrial networks.Comment: Accepted at PE-WASUN 201

Multi & fast: the secret for a protein production facility@elettra

Expression, purification and structure determination of recombinant proteins is a fundamental requirement for a variety of biological applications, from exploratory research to pharmaceutical drug discovery. Exploiting the expertise and the strategic location of the laboratories of Elettra Synchrotron of Trieste, we have invested to create a dedicated center for protein production and characterization in the newly renovated structural biology lab of Elettra. The PROTEO project aims to offer a specialized support to research groups that need to obtain pure recombinant proteins for functional or structural studies. The core protein production unit is equipped to express/purify proteins with high efficiency in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems and is setting up HT protocols. Currently, ten different projects are running in the lab. For each project, constructs design followed by fast multi-cloning approach has been performed leading to the combined evaluation of a number of different expression data: most adequate expression systems were chosen and the purification protocols were optimized to obtain correctly folded, functional and stable proteins for structural studies. In this paper we present the organization of the PROTEO protein production platform and a number of studies ongoing

Critical Parenting’s Role in Asthma Severity: How Does A Child\u27s Emotional Adjustment Matter?

OBJECTIVE: Research shows that children with asthma are at risk for behavioral maladjustment, particularly internalizing symptoms (McQuaid et al., 2001), and that negative parenting behavior compromises child mental and physical health (Lim et al., 2011). However, pathways of effect are not clear. This study examined the relation between critical/harsh parenting and child asthma severity. A model was tested to assess whether children’s internalizing symptoms mediate the relation between maternal rejection/harshness and asthma severity. METHODS: 215 children with asthma (ages 5-12) and their families participated. Mothers reported child internalizing symptoms (CBCL) and functional asthma severity (CHAS); a Pediatric Pulmonologist reported lung function via spirometry results. Maternal criticism was observed in a 15-minute family activity; harsh/critical behavior was coded on a 1-5 scale. RESULTS: We conducted bootstrapping analyses, with 5000 samples, to examine the indirect effect of maternal rejection/criticism on pulmonary functioning via child internalizing symptoms, while controlling for child age, SES, and adherence, using the PROCESS SPSS Macro (Hayes, 2013). The estimate of the indirect effect between maternal rejection/criticism and objective lung functioning was supported, with a point estimate of -.03 (SE = .02; 95% CI = -.0846 to -.0007). However, the estimate of the indirect effect between maternal rejection/criticism and subjective/parent-reported lung functioning was not supported. CONCLUSION: Results support a theorized pathway, in which critical parenting indirectly affects a child’s lung functioning by increasing his/her internalizing symptoms (Wood et al., 2007). These findings only apply to objective physiological measures of asthma severity, perhaps suggesting a unique way that internalizing symptoms may impact lung functioning. Proposed psychological interventions include helping families understand connections between emotional and physical well-being, reducing critical parenting behavior, and treating child internalizing symptoms.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1004/thumbnail.jp

A regulation-based classification system for marine protected areas: A response to Dudley et al. [9]

Dudley et al. [9] commented on our paper [11], arguing that the current IUCN objective-based categorization of protected areas, which is also used in marine protected areas (MPAs), should not be abandoned and replaced by the new regulation-based classification system [11]. Here we clarify that we do not advocate replacing the current IUCN categories, but highlight the benefits of using both the objective-based IUCN categories and the new regulation-based classification when applied to MPAs. With an increasing number of MPA types being implemented, most of them multiple-use areas zoned for various purposes, assessing ecological and socio-economic benefits is key for advancing conservation targets and policy objectives. Although the IUCN categories can be used both in terrestrial and marine systems, they were not designed to follow a gradient of impacts and there is often a mismatch between stated objectives and implemented regulations. The new regulation-based classification system addresses these problems by linking impacts of activities in marine systems with MPA and zone classes in a simple and globally applicable way. Applying both the IUCN categories and the regulation based classes will increase transparency when assessing marine conservation goals.ERA-Net BiodivERsA project "BUFFER Partially protected areas as buffers to increase the linked social ecological resilience"; national funders ANR (France); FCT (Portugal); FOR-MAS (Sweden); SEPA (Sweden); RCN (Norway); project BUFFER; Fernand Braudel IFER fellowship (Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme); Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) [UID/MAR/04292/2013

Spontaneous and stimulated emission tuning characteristics of a Josephson junction in a microcavity

We have investigated theoretically the tuning characteristics of a Josephson junction within a microcavity for one-photon spontaneous emission and for one-photon and two-photon stimulated emission. For spontaneous emission, we have established the linear relationship between the magnetic induction and the voltage needed to tune the system to emit at resonant frequencies. For stimulated emission, we have found an oscillatory dependence of the emission rate on the initial Cooper pair phase difference and the phase of the applied field. Under specific conditions, we have also calculated the values of the applied radiation amplitude for the first few emission maxima of the system and for the first five junction-cavity resonances for each process. Since the emission of photons can be controlled, it may be possible to use such a system to produce photons on demand. Such sources will have applications in the fields of quantum cryptography, communications and computation

Exchange Interactions and High-Energy Spin States in Mn_12-acetate

We perform inelastic neutron scattering measurements on the molecular nanomagnet Mn_12-acetate to measure the excitation spectrum up to 45meV (500K). We isolate magnetic excitations in two groups at 5-6.5meV (60-75K) and 8-10.5meV (95-120K), with higher levels appearing only at 27meV (310K) and 31meV (360K). From a detailed characterization of the transition peaks we show that all of the low-energy modes appear to be separate S = 9 excitations above the S = 10 ground state, with the peak at 27meV (310K) corresponding to the first S = 11 excitation. We consider a general model for the four exchange interaction parameters of the molecule. The static susceptibility is computed by high-temperature series expansion and the energy spectrum, matrix elements and ground-state spin configuration by exact diagonalization. The theoretical results are matched with experimental observation by inclusion of cluster anisotropy parameters, revealing strong constraints on possible parameter sets. We conclude that only a model with dominant exchange couplings J_1 ~ J_2 ~ 5.5meV (65K) and small couplings J_3 ~ J_4 ~ 0.6meV (7K) is consistent with the experimental data.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure