A versatile trigger and synchronization module with IEEE1588 capabilities and EPICS support.

Event timing and synchronization are two key aspects to improve in the implementation of distributed data acquisition (dDAQ) systems such as the ones used in fusion experiments. It is also of great importance the integration of dDAQ in control and measurement networks. This paper analyzes the applicability of the IEEE1588 and EPICS standards to solve these problems, and presents a hardware module implementation based in both of them that allow adding these functionalities to any DAQ. The IEEE1588 standard facilitates the integration of event timing and synchronization mechanisms in distributed data acquisition systems based on IEEE 803.3 (Ethernet). An optimal implementation of such system requires the use of network interface devices which include specific hardware resources devoted to the IEE1588 functionalities. Unfortunately, this is not the approach followed in most of the large number of applications available nowadays. Therefore, most solutions are based in software and use standard hardware network interfaces. This paper presents the development of a hardware module (GI2E) with IEEE1588 capabilities which includes USB, RS232, RS485 and CAN interfaces. This permits to integrate any DAQ element that uses these interfaces in dDAQ systems in an efficient and simple way. The module has been developed with Motorola's Coldfire MCF5234 processor and National Semiconductors's PHY DP83640T, providing it with the possibility to implement the PTP protocol of IEEE1588 by hardware, and therefore increasing its performance over other implementations based in software. To facilitate the integration of the dDAQ system in control and measurement networks the module includes a basic Input/Output Controller (IOC) functionality of the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) architecture. The paper discusses the implementation details of this module and presents its applications in advanced dDAQ applications in the fusion community

Specific lid-base contacts in the 26s proteasome control the conformational switching required for substrate degradation.

The 26S proteasome is essential for proteostasis and the regulation of vital processes through ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitinated substrates. To accomplish the multi-step degradation process, the proteasomes regulatory particle, consisting of lid and base subcomplexes, undergoes major conformational changes whose origin is unknown. Investigating the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteasome, we found that peripheral interactions between the lid subunit Rpn5 and the base AAA+ ATPase ring are important for stabilizing the substrate-engagement-competent state and coordinating the conformational switch to processing states upon substrate engagement. Disrupting these interactions perturbs the conformational equilibrium and interferes with degradation initiation, while later processing steps remain unaffected. Similar defects in early degradation steps are observed when eliminating hydrolysis in the ATPase subunit Rpt6, whose nucleotide state seems to control proteasome conformational transitions. These results provide important insight into interaction networks that coordinate conformational changes with various stages of degradation, and how modulators of conformational equilibria may influence substrate turnover

The fortified metallurgical settlement from the Middle-Late Chalcolithic in Puente de Santa Bárbara (Huércal-Overa, Almería)

El poblado fortificado calcolítico de Puente de Santa Bárbara (Huércal-Overa, Almería), de 1,5 ha, está situado a 3 km de las minas de cobre de Cerro Minado, explotadas al menos durante el Calcolítico Final, y presenta mineral en bruto, escorias parcialmente procesadas y nodulillos de cobre. Un 4% de todos los fragmentos cerámicos corresponde a fragmentos de vasijas de reducción y crisoles, distribuidos espacialmente por los tres sectores excavados del yacimiento y sugieren la generalización de la metalurgia dentro del hábitat. El porcentaje de evidencias metalúrgicas solo podría equipararse en el sudeste de la Península Ibérica a los poblados calcolíticos de Parazuelos (Lorca, Murcia) y Agua Amarga (Lorca, Murcia), otro pequeño poblado de 0,25 ha. Estos datos permiten plantear la hipótesis de si ya en el Calcolítico Final pudieron surgir en el sudeste de la Península Ibérica pequeños asentamientos especializados en la producción de útiles o pequeños lingotes metálicos elaborados en crisoles rectangularesThe fortified chalcolithic settlement in Puente de Santa Bárbara (Huércal-Overa, Almería), with 1.5 ha, located 3 km away from the Cerro Minado copper mines, and exploited at least during the Late Chalcolithic, presents copper ores, crucible smelting and melting debris such as slags, casting prills, reduction vessels and crucibles. 4% of all the ceramic fragments correspond to reduction vessel and crucible fragments, spatially distributed in the three excavated sectors and suggest the generalization of the metallurgy within the habitat. The percentage of metallurgical evidences could only be compared in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula to the Copper Age settlements of Parazuelos (Lorca, Murcia) and Agua Amarga (Lorca, Murcia), another minor site of 0.25 ha. These data suggest the hypothesis of small settlements specialized in the production of tools or small metallic ingots made in rectangular crucibles during the Late Chalcolithic in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsul

Frequency and causes of kangaroo-vehicle collisions on an Australian outback highway

Kangaroo-vehicle collisions are frequent on Australian highways. Despite high economic costs, detrimental effects on animal welfare, and potential impacts on population viability, little research has been done to investigate the impact of road mortality on kangaroo populations, where and why accidents occur, and how the collisions can be mitigated. We therefore collected data on species (Macropus rufus, M. giganteus, M. fuliginosus, M. robustus), sex and age of kangaroos killed on a 21.2-km bitumenised section of outback highway over 6 months in far western New South Wales, Australia. The spatial and temporal distribution of road-killed kangaroos was investigated in relation to the cover and quality of road-side vegetation, road characteristics, the density of kangaroos along the road, climatic variables and traffic volume. A total of 125 kangaroos were found killed on the road at a rate of 0.03 deaths km-1 day-1. Grey kangaroos of two species (M. giganteus, M. fuliginosus) were under-represented in the road-kill sample in comparison with their proportion in the source population estimated during the day. No bias towards either sex was found. The age structure of road-killed kangaroos was similar to age structures typical of source kangaroo populations. Road-kills mainly occurred in open plains country. In road sections with curves or stock races, road-kill frequencies were higher than expected. Greater cover and greenness of roadside vegetation at the verge probably attracted kangaroos to the road and variation in this vegetation affected the spatial distribution of road-kills. The temporal distribution of road-kills was positively correlated with the volume of night-time traffic. The probability of a kangaroo-vehicle collision increased exponentially with traffic volume. Results are discussed in relation to the potential for mitigation of kangaroo-vehicle collisions. © CSIRO 2006

The Bridge Plan for Academic Validation: A Case Study at Central High School

Abstract Title of Document: The Bridge Plan for Academic Validation: A Case Study at Central High School Brein Bashore Doctor of Philosophy, 2011 Directed By:Dr. Jing Lin, Department of Education Leadership, Higher Education and International Education University of Maryland, College Park Across the nation, we continue to see an achievement gap between African American and Hispanic students and White and Asian students. This achievement gap is demonstrated by lower test scores among African American and Hispanic students as well as a lower number of these students graduating high school. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), as its name suggests, attempts to ensure that all students are able to achieve on standardized tests by 2014. However, under NCLB, what was required of students was left to the discretion of each individual state. Maryland's testing requirements went into effect for students who began high school in 2005 or later. With thousands of students yet to meet these requirements at the start of their senior year (2008-2009 school year), Maryland decided to create an alternate pathway for students to meet these testing requirements. This program, called The Bridge Plan for Academic Validation, allows students who are unable to pass the High School Assessment exams to complete one or more projects in order to meet the state testing requirements. Central High School is currently one of the worst performing high schools in New Town Public Schools in New Town, Maryland and has consistently been one of the schools with the greatest participation in the Bridge Plan in the state of Maryland. Throughout my research, I explored the following three questions. First, I wanted to better understand why The Bridge Plan for Academic Validation was developed as an alternative to statewide testing requirements. Second, I wanted to understand how Bridge was implemented at Central High School. Finally, I wanted to analyze the impact of Bridge on students, particularly at Central High School. I conducted a qualitative case study using document analysis, interview and observation. I used political and symbolic frameworks, as well as a critical perspective to frame my research. The findings from this study support the research on disparity in test scores among students as a result of differences in race, economic status, social capital and cultural capital

Maternal mercury exposure, season of conception and adverse birth outcomes in an urban immigrant community in New York City

Adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB: < 37 weeks gestation) and low birthweight (LBW: <2500g) result in severe infant morbidity and mortality. In the United States, there are racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of preterm birth and low birth weight. The focus of this study is to examine the association between frequency of maternal fish consumption during pregnancy, prenatal mercury exposure, and season of conception with preterm birth and low birth weight in a population of African-American, Caribbean and West Indian women in an urban immigrant community in New York City. The proportion of preterm births and low birth rates in this cohort of women was higher than reported in other studies of African-American and Caribbean births in New York City. There was no association between maternal urinary mercury or infant cord blood concentrations and either LBW or preterm birth. Infants conceived in winter (December, January, February) were at increased odds of low birthweight

Service-Learning as a Practical Approach to Teaching Auditing

Business pedagogy can be more effective for students and business through a hands-on, practical approach rather than traditional lectures. The Pathways Commission of the AICPA and AAA recommended we “develop curriculum models, engaging learning resources, and mechanisms for easily sharing them as well as enhancing faculty development opportunities in support of sustaining a robust curriculum” (American Accounting Association 2012 p. 12; Hawawini 2005). In this article, we present a method to teach auditing. We identify a few articles integrating service-learning opportunities into a business school environment (Tonge and Willett 2012; Govekar and Rishi 2007). Our student teams performed agreed-upon procedures at three small churches. Qualitative data from both students and church personnel support this pedagogy. We develop practical implications for upper-level undergraduate business courses