cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Protein-Nanoparticle Interactions in Biotechnology
Creators: name: Dye, Andrew
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: C100 - Biology
C110 - Applied biology

description: Protein adsorption on nanoparticles has become fundamental in a variety of applications including drug delivery, nanoparticle-based biosensors and environmental biotechnology. However, the fundamental principles behind protein adsorption at the solid-liquid interface, especially nanoparticles, is not completely understood. This is due to the wide range of proteins and their subsequent wide range of interactions with different nanomaterials. In this study, the interactions between proteins and gold nanoparticles was investigated with emphasis on optimising a method for protein quantitation, comparing the adsorption of a range of differently sized proteins and investigating the effect of protein adsorption onto gold on enzymatic activity. We showed that the analytical method ICP-AES was highly applicable for protein quantitation with many advantages over more conventional techniques. Similarly, the Bradford assay and Nano Orange fluorescence assay proved capable of accurate protein quantitation and given their simplicity and wide availability are ideal for quick adsorption analysis. We also show that the ability to form Au-S bonds is highly advantageous for protein interactions with gold nanoparticles demonstrated by the adsorption of GST which adsorbed to a much higher extent than the other proteins investigated due to the presence of four thiol groups. Moreover, optimising the adsorption of a particular protein requires specific conditions shown by the inability to measure cytochrome C adsorption at a neutral pH. Finally, we showed that adsorption onto gold has a significant impact on enzymatic activity verified by the decrease in HRP activity upon adsorption onto the surface. Importantly, the activity did not completely deplete suggesting the potential use of enzyme immobilisation on gold nanoparticles.
Intrinsic Mobility Limiting Mechanisms in Lanthanum-doped Strontium Titanate
Creators: name: Verma, Amit
name: Kajdos, Adam P.
name: Cain, Tyler A.
name: Stemmer, Susanne
name: Jena, Debdeep
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The temperature dependent Hall mobility data from La-doped SrTiO3 thin films has been analyzed and modeled considering various electron scattering mechanisms. We find that a ~6 meV transverse optical phonon (TO) deformation potential scattering mechanism is necessary to explain the dependence of transport on temperature between 10-200 K. Also, we find that the low temperature electron mobility in intrinsic (nominally undoped) SrTiO3 is limited by acoustic phonon scattering. Adding the above two scattering mechanisms to longitudinal optical phonon (LO) and ionized impurity scattering mechanisms, excellent quantitative agreement between mobility measurement and model is achieved in the whole temperature range (2-300K) and carrier concentrations ranging over a few orders of magnitude (8x1017 cm-3 - 2x1020 cm-3).
description: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters
The Gamma-count distribution in the analysis of experimental underdispersed data
Creators: name: Zeviani, Walmes Marques
name: Ribeiro, Paulo Justiniano
name: Bonat, Wagner Hugo
name: Shimakura, Silvia Emiko
name: Muniz, Joel Augusti
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2013
Subjects: subject: Applications (stat.AP)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Event counts are response variables with non-negative integer values representing the number of times that an event occurs within a fixed domain such as a time interval, a geographical area or a cell of a contingency table. Analysis of counts by Gaussian regression models ignores the discreteness, asymmetry and heterocedasticity and is inefficient, providing unrealistic standard errors or possibily negative predictions of the expected number of events. The Poisson regression is the standard model for count data with underlying assumptions on the generating process which may be implausible in many applications. Statisticians have long recognized the limitation of imposing equidispersion under the Poisson regression model. A typical situation is when the conditional variance exceeds the conditional mean, in which case models allowing for overdispersion are routinely used. Less reported is the case of underdispersion with fewer modelling alternatives and assessments available in the literature. One of such alternatives, the Gamma-count model, is adopted here in the analysis of an agronomic experiment designed to investigate the effect of levels of defoliation on different phenological states upon the number of cotton bolls. Results show improvements over the Poisson model and the semiparametric quasi-Poisson model in capturing the observed variability in the data. Estimating rather than assuming the underlying variance process lead to important insights into the process.
Composite Higgses
Creators: name: Bellazzini, Brando
name: Csáki, Csaba
name: Serra, Javi
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present an overview of composite Higgs models in light of the discovery of the Higgs boson. The small value of the physical Higgs mass suggests that the Higgs quartic is likely loop generated, thus models with tree-level quartics will generically be more tuned. We classify the various models (including bona fide composite Higgs, little Higgs, holographic composite Higgs, twin Higgs and dilatonic Higgs) based on their predictions for the Higgs potential, review the basic ingredients of each of them, and quantify the amount of tuning needed, which is not negligible in any model. We explain the main ideas for generating flavor structure and the main mechanisms for protecting against large flavor violating effects, and present a summary of the various coset models that can result in realistic pseudo-Goldstone Higgses. We review the current experimental status of such models by discussing the electroweak precision, flavor and direct search bounds, and comment on UV completions and on ways to incorporate dark matter.
description: 58 Pages, 5 Figures, 5 Tables. Invited review article accepted for publication in The European Physical Journal C
An Ideological Criticism of The Green New Deal and Media Responses
Creators: name: Miller, Corynn
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Communication; Environmental Sciences

description: Using an ecofeminist lens, this project aims to analyze the ideologies surrounding the creation and response to the Green New Deal (GND). By completing an ideological analysis of the GND, in addition to examining some news media portrayals of the GND, this thesis analyzes the underlying motivations and ideologies surrounding female politicians, climate change, and climate policies. This thesis examines reads the GND not as a policy that was meant to be passed, but instead as an ideological statement about humans and their relationship to the environment. The news media portrayals exhibit varying coverage of the GNDs effectiveness, varying use of appeals to pathos, and shared use of backgrounding and anthropocentric values. These statements reflect both appeals and challenges to capitalism, patriarchy, and anthropocentrism, which prioritize special interests and money over the safety and well-being of the Earth, plants, animals, and ultimately humans. These counter-hegemonic ideologies present in the GND challenge traditional ways of thinking about the environment. I argue that while AOC proposes a radical reordering of the United States economy, the news media portrayals and parts of the GND still echo hegemonic discourses. Furthermore, I argue that these pervasive hegemonic discourses are manifestations of the problems facing collaborative and holistic climate policy.
Ideal n-body correlations with massive particles
Creators: name: Dall, R. G.
name: Manning, A. G.
name: Hodgman, S. S.
name: RuGway, Wu
name: Kheruntsyan, K. V.
name: Truscott, A. G.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas)
subject: Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: In 1963 Glauber introduced the modern theory of quantum coherence, which extended the concept of first-order (one-body) correlations, describing phase coherence of classical waves, to include higher-order (n-body) quantum correlations characterizing the interference of multiple particles. Whereas the quantum coherence of photons is a mature cornerstone of quantum optics, the quantum coherence properties of massive particles remain largely unexplored. To investigate these properties, here we use a uniquely correlated source of atoms that allows us to observe n-body correlations up to the sixth-order at the ideal theoretical limit (n!). Our measurements constitute a direct demonstration of the validity of one of the most widely used theorems in quantum many-body theory--Wisck's theorem--for a thermal ensemble of massive particles. Measurements involving n-body correlations may play an important role in the understanding of thermalization of isolated quantum systems and the thermodynamics of exotic many-body systems, such as Efimov trimers.
description: 10 pages, 3 figures, plus Supplementary Information
Effect of the pseudogap on T$_c$ in the cuprates and implications for its origin
Creators: name: Mishra, Vivek
name: Chatterjee, U.
name: Campuzano, J. C.
name: Norman, M. R.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con)
subject: Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: One of the most intriguing aspects of cuprates is a large pseudogap coexisting with a high superconducting transition temperature. Here, we study pairing in the cuprates from electron-electron interactions by constructing the pair vertex using spectral functions derived from angle resolved photoemission data for a near optimal doped Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ sample that has a pronounced pseudogap. Assuming that that the pseudogap is {\it not} due to pairing, we find that the superconducting instability is strongly suppressed, in stark contrast to what is actually observed. Using an analytic approximation for the spectral functions, we can trace this suppression to the destruction of the BCS logarithmic singularity from a combination of the pseudogap and lifetime broadening. Our findings strongly support those theories of the cuprates where the pseudogap is instead due to pairing.
Reconstructing the genetic composition of the Grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations across Europe from the Neolithic period to 20th century.
Creators: name: Preston, Francesca
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: C170 - Population biology
C180 - Ecology
C400 - Genetics
D300 - Animal science

description: Grey Wolves (Canis lupus) have been subject to extreme bottleneck’s since the last glacial maximum in response to evolutionary, ecological, and anthropogenic pressures. The consequences that are typically theorised to be exhibited from this is that the species will have reduced genetic diversity across the European populations, due to extreme fragmentation. This study will reconstruct the genetic composition of ancient and modern samples using a comparative investigation as well as DNA extraction. Sanger sequencing of mitochondrial DNA will provide the genetic diversity of the modern and ancient samples collected in this study. Three primer pairs consisting of 5 primers, L15 & HW1, LW1 & HW2, H16 & LW1 where used to analyse mitochondrial DNA. The dataset was aligned and manipulated using MEGA. The results showed the modern populations have exhibited a loss in genetic diversity in comparison to the ancient DNA. By using neighbour joining trees and median joining networks we can determine that there is a genetic distinction between western and southern central populations. This suggests a lack of gene glow amongst the populations and agrees with the theory of Italy being a refugia during the last glacial maximum in which the species migrated out from.
Environmental dependence of bulge-dominated galaxy sizes in hierarchical models of galaxy formation. Comparison with the local Universe
Creators: name: Shankar, Francesco
name: Mei, Simona
name: Huertas-Company, Marc
name: Moreno, Jorge
name: Fontanot, Fabio
name: Monaco, Pierluigi
name: Bernardi, Mariangela
name: Cattaneo, Andrea
name: Sheth, Ravi
name: Licitra, Rossella
name: Delaye, Lauriane
name: Raichoor, Anand
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We compare state-of-the-art semi-analytic models of galaxy formation as well as advanced sub-halo abundance matching models with a large sample of early-type galaxies from SDSS at z < 0.3. We focus our attention on the dependence of median sizes of central galaxies on host halo mass. The data do not show any difference in the structural properties of early-type galaxies with environment, at fixed stellar mass. All hierarchical models considered in this work instead tend to predict a moderate to strong environmental dependence, with the median size increasing by a factor of about 1.5-3 when moving from low to high mass host haloes. At face value the discrepancy with the data is highly significant, especially at the cluster scale, for haloes above log Mhalo > 14. The convolution with (correlated) observational errors reduces some of the tension. Despite the observational uncertainties, the data tend to disfavour hierarchical models characterized by a relevant contribution of disc instabilities to the formation of spheroids, strong gas dissipation in (major) mergers, short dynamical friction timescales, and very short quenching timescales in infalling satellites. We also discuss a variety of additional related issues, such as the slope and scatter in the local size-stellar mass relation, the fraction of gas in local early-type galaxies, and the general predictions on satellite galaxies.
description: 27 pages, 14 figures, 2 tables. MNRAS, in press
Holzmeyer_YSF2020.pdf
Creators: name: Holzmeyer, Laura
name: Hauenschild, Frank
name: Mabberley, David
name: Muellner-Riehl, Alexandra
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Botany
subject: 60309 Phylogeny and Comparative Analysis
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Poster for the YSF 2020. "Generic recircumscription of Dysoxylum Blume ex Raspail (Meliaceae)" Holzmeyer et al.
Zero-determinant alliances in multiplayer social dilemmas
Creators: name: Hilbe, Christian
name: Traulsen, Arne
name: Wu, Bin
name: Nowak, Martin A.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE)
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Direct reciprocity and conditional cooperation are important mechanisms to prevent free riding in social dilemmas. But in large groups these mechanisms may become ineffective, because they require single individuals to have a substantial influence on their peers. However, the recent discovery of the powerful class of zero-determinant strategies in the iterated prisoner's dilemma suggests that we may have underestimated the degree of control that a single player can exert. Here, we develop a theory for zero-determinant strategies for multiplayer social dilemmas, with any number of involved players. We distinguish several particularly interesting subclasses of strategies: fair strategies ensure that the own payoff matches the average payoff of the group; extortionate strategies allow a player to perform above average; and generous strategies let a player perform below average. We use this theory to explore how individuals can enhance their strategic options by forming alliances. The effects of an alliance depend on the size of the alliance, the type of the social dilemma, and on the strategy of the allies: fair alliances reduce the inequality within their group; extortionate alliances outperform the remaining group members; but generous alliances increase welfare. Our results highlight the critical interplay of individual control and alliance formation to succeed in large groups.
Mathematics Anxiety in Undergraduate Students: Factor and Differential Analysis
Creators: name: Smith, Jamie
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: G100 - Mathematics
X342 - Academic studies in higher education

description: Mathematics anxiety is a ”negative emotional reaction to mathematics that is often defined as, a feeling of tension and anxiety that interferes with the solving of mathematical problems” [1]. Prevalence rates for mathematics anxiety are very high and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that 59% of students say that they often worry in maths classes [2].This novel study investigates mathematics anxiety in a specialist sample of undergraduate mathematics and physics students. Structure and differences in mathematics anxiety were explored when controlling for several demographic factors. Many factors were considered including socio-economic status, ethnicity and age however ultimately gender, course of study, and mathematical ability were chosen. Questionnaires were completed by 126 participants (84 male and 42 female), who were completing a first degree in mathematics and/or physics. Factor Analysis was implemented to explore the principal components of mathematics anxiety and non-parametric differential analysis was implemented to explore for differences between independent groups.Factor Analysis yielded a four-factor model, comprised of Evaluation MA (EMA), Learning MA (LMA), Routine MA (RMA) and Social MA (SMA). The results indicate that mathematics anxiety is significantly (p < 0.05) higher for female students than male students for mathematics anxiety and all four component mathematics anxiety scores. On this basis, it is recommended that mathematics and science departments devote time to support their students reducing their levels of mathematics anxiety. Further research is needed to identify other factors that contribute to causing mathematics anxiety and what intervention can be utilised to reduce its effects. The impact of this work will support all undergraduate students by improving their enjoyment, attitude and attainment of mathematics. This is important because it will allow for more interdepartmental work with a greater understanding of why people experience adversity in mathematics. It will primarily support STEM students, however, it will also have applications for students enrolled in all university courses. This thesis has provided the justification for a dedicated mathematics anxiety web page on a university mathematics and statistics help website.
Flux Ropes as Singularities of the Vector Potential
Creators: name: Kleman, M
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: A flux rope is a domain of concentration of the magnetic field $\textbf{B}$. Insofar as $\textbf{B}$ outside such a domain is considered as vanishingly small, a flux rope can be described as the core of a singularity of the outer vector potential $\textbf{A}$, whose topological invariant is the magnetic flux through the rope. By 'topological' it is meant that $\oint_C\textbf{A}\cdot\mathrm d\textbf{s}$ measures along any loop $C$ surrounding the flux rope the same constant flux $Φ$. The electric current intensity is another invariant of the theory, but non-topological. We show that, in this theoretical framework, the linear force-free field (LFFF) Lundquist model and the non-linear (NLFFF) Gold-Hoyle model of a flux rope exhibit stable solutions distributed over quantized strata of increasing energies (an infinite number of strata in the first case, only one stratum in the second case); each stratum is made of a continuous set of stable states. The lowest LFFF stratum and the unique NLFFF stratum come numerically close one to the other, and match with a reasonable accuracy the data collected by spacecrafts travelling across magnetic clouds. The other LFFF strata do not match these data at all. It is not possible at this stage to claim which model fits better the magnetic cloud data. We also analyze in some detail the merging of tubes belonging to the same stratum, with conservation of the magnetic helicity, and the transition of a tube from one stratum to another one, which does not conserve magnetic helicity.
description: 24 pages, 1 figure
The Art of 'Stick to Sports,' Politics, and Sports Media Industry Studies
Creators: name: Nettingham, Shi-Quan
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Broadcast and Video Studies; Journalism Studies

description: This thesis aims at unpacking the discourse of stick to sports, which audiences wield to police social and cultural boundaries and battles involving race, gender, and politics. The melding of sports and politics, primarily through social media platforms, riles up audiences resulting in arguments where larger social issues are deliberated and processed. The stick to sports discourse is used to dictate who can and cant speak and what kinds of discussions are appropriate in relation to sports. The sports network ESPN is a site for understanding how corporations leverage this discourse and use it to claim political neutrality, while disciplining employees for veering too far politically. This research will rely on several sites that will analyze the "stick to sports" discourse through industry practices and articulations of the discourse, utilizing Havens et al.s (2009) critical media industry studies approach. ESPN will be a main source, while outside sports organizations will also be highlighted. Some of the sites include Dan Le Batard's political rant, the sports debate show First Take, gender roles, Clay Travis and the NBA, Deadspin are all analyzed.
Correction of cell-induced optical aberrations in a fluorescence fluctuation microscope
Creators: name: Leroux, Charles-Edouard
name: Grichine, Alexei
name: Wang, Irène
name: Delon, Antoine
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph)
subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We describe the effect of optical aberrations on fluorescence fluctuations microscopy (FFM), when focusing through a single living cell. FFM measurements are performed in an aqueous fluorescent solution and prove to be a highly sensitive tool to assess the optical aberrations introduced by the cell. We demonstrate an adaptive optics (AO) system to remove the aberration-related bias in the FFM measurements. Our data show that AO is not only useful when imaging deep in tissues but also when performing FFM measurements through a single cellular layer. This work paves the way for the application of FFM to complex three-dimensional multicellular samples.
The water electrolysis Hall effect Thruster
Creators: name: Schwertheim, Alexander
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2022

description: This study proposes operating a Hall effect Thruster (HET) on the products of in-situ water electrolysis. Oxygen is supplied to the anode and hydrogen to the cathode to mitigating poisoning. In comparison to other alternative HET propellants water is non-toxic, low cost, highly storable, and allows synergies with chemical propulsion systems. The competitiveness of this concept is experimentally tested by simulating, designing, constructing, and operating a thruster optimised for oxygen: the Water ElecTrolysis Hall Effect Thruster (WET-HET). A zero-dimensional particle-in-cell code is used to optimise the device, resulting in a channel width of 5 mm, outer circumference of 25 mm and depth ranging from 35 mm to 60 mm. Iterative magnetic, thermal, and mechanical modelling finalises the design. A hanging pendulum style thrust balance is used to directly measure WET-HET performance. Safety restrictions require krypton rather than hydrogen be used for the cathode. The WET-HET is tested on discharge powers up to 3200 W and oxygen mass flow rates ranging from 0.99 mg/s to 1.85 mg/s. Three different channel depths are tested: 35 mm, 45 mm and 60 mm. The WET-HET is characterised for a range of different magnetic field strengths and for three distinct magnetic topologies. Two channel wall materials were investigated: alumina and boron nitride. The highest thrust measured was 38.63±0.25 mN, with a maximum specific impulse of 4112±36 s and a maximum anode thrust efficiency of 24.4±5.9%. This optimum was found when the WET-HET was operated at 3200 W discharge power, 0.99 mg/s mass flow rate, 35 mm channel depth and a magnetic field that peaked near 600 Gauss. Boron nitride outperformed alumina by approximately 40%. Contrary to expectation, increasing the axial thickness of the magnetic region had little impact on discharge voltage, but led to a reduction in thrust, specific impulse, and thrust efficiency of the device.
Towards Multi-Modal Data Classification
Creators: name: Ng, Henry
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Computer Sciences

description: A feature fusion multi-modal neural network (MMN) is a network that combines different modalities at the feature level to perform a specific task. In this paper, we study the problem of training the fusion procedure for MMN. A recent study has found that training a multi-modal network that incorporates late fusion produces a network that has not learned the proper parameters for feature extraction. These late fusion models perform very well during training but fall short to its single modality counterpart when testing. We hypothesize that jointly trained MMN have weight space that is too large for effective training. To remedy this problem, we design a set of procedures that systematically narrow the search space so that the optimizer would only consider weights that are known to generalize well. As part of our systematic narrowing procedure, we enforce a weight constraint on the weights between the pre-fusion and fusion layers. Due to our given constraints on the network, modern methods cannot optimize our network without breaking our conditions. To remedy the problem, we create a simplex projection module that will be used after applying modern training frameworks. Our module will re-optimize our network such that the weight constraints are enforced. This new framework, which we call Projection Feature Mixture Model outperforms its single modality model as well as standard jointly trained MMN. In this paper, we provide a theoretical analysis to show advantages of utilizing MMN.
Beyond Maidens and Mothers: A Study of Till We Have Faces
Creators: name: Peterson, Tamar
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Arts and Humanities; English Language and Literature; Modern Literature; Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures

description: This study examines how C.S. Lewis final novel, Till We Have Faces, demonstrates a significant diversion from the author's typical writing habits, especially regarding his depictions of women. Progressing through the novel chronologically, this thesis studies sixteen notable scenes that demonstrate this diversion. It tracks the development and depiction of women characters who exemplify a more realistic, complex, egalitarian writing styleone that allows women to wield legitimate power, excel in military combat, operate as conduits to the Divine, and enjoy their sexuality in affirming ways.
This thesis begins with an introduction to Lewis' position as a lay theologian and popular influence on conservative Christian communities and discusses Lewis long-held support of gender hierarchy. This leads to a briefing on Lewis tendency toward problematic depictions of women, especially in his more popular works (e.g. The Space Trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia).
Then the thesis continues on to the chronological study of the novel itself, Till We Have Faces. While tracking the novels unusually egalitarian and nuanced depictions of women, I demonstrate Lewis diversion from the writing habits he is often remembered for. I compare charactersincluding Orual, Psyche, Ungit, and Redivalto other women featured in Lewis fictional works. Among these characters are Jane Studdock and Tinidril from The Space Trilogy; and Lucy and Susan Pevensie, Jill Pole, the White Witch, and the Lady of the Green Kirtle from The Chronicles of Narnia. There is also mention of Lewis nonfiction essay against the ordination of womenPriestesses in the Church?to illustrate his resistance to the idea of women in leadership, prior to his subversion of such sentiments in Till We Have Faces.
This thesis concludes with a discussion on the academic and popular merits of the novel and encourages further study on the possible influences that led Lewis to depict Till We Have Faces characters in a more complex, egalitarian way.
Substrate integrated waveguide power divider, circulator and coupler in [10-15] GHz band
Creators: name: Feham, Bouchra Rahali Mohammed
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Other Computer Science (cs.OH)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: The Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) technology is an attractive approach for the design of high performance microwave and millimeter wave components, as it combines the advantages of planar technology, such as low fabrication costs, with the low loss inherent to the waveguide solution. In this study, a substrate integrated waveguide power divider, circulator and coupler are conceived and optimized in [10-15] GHz band by Ansoft HFSS code. Thus, results of this modeling are presented, discussed and allow to integrate these devices in planar circuits.
Acoustic Sonolysis of Antibiotics in Water
Creators: name: Pinon, Natalie
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering

description: Antibiotic resistance is a prominent issue in the world today. It is said by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it is one of the major public health challenges we face today. Predominantly, antibiotic resistance is growing because conventional wastewater treatment processes are not able to completely break down antibiotics. As bacteria are exposed to such antibiotics, which dont kill them due to selective pressure, they become immune and develop resistance which is a huge health concern. To prevent this from occurring, antibiotics need to be removed from hospital wastewater. Sonication is a promising technology that can be used to degrade organic matter such as antibiotics in water.
The objective of this research is to study the parameters that influence antibiotics degradation in water via sonolysis. During sonication this was accomplished by varying three parameters: the concentration of H2O2, amplitude, and irradiation method (i.e., pulse or continuous soundwaves). The investigated antibiotics were sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, tetracycline, azithromycin, lincomycin, and clarithromycin. Batch experiments were conducted with a mixture of antibiotics (each individual antibiotic at an initial concentration of approximately 20 ppb) in a jacketed beaker using the QSonica Sonicator, Q500. An attempt was made to keep the temperature constant (30±5 °C) with the use of a chiller and ethylene glycol.
During the sonication process, there were minimal hydroxyl radicals produced. Under pulsing conditions, azithromycin and clarithromycin, which are slightly hydrophobic, were expected to have improved removal efficiency when compared to continuous irradiation. Pulse irradiation was expected to increase their accumulation at the bubble interface, causing more degradation during bubble collapse but it did not. Potentially, the presence of the remaining 4-four antibiotics sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, tetracycline, and lincomycin) could have prevented azithromycin and clarithromycin from migrating towards the bubble interface zone. The most efficient amplitude for antibiotic removal was 75% (approximately 85 W). Further increasing the amplitude to 100% (approximately 120 W) did not result in increased percent removal. Overall, the most efficiently removed antibiotic was tetracycline with over 90% removal, and the least efficiently removed was trimethoprim (12%). To maximize the removal of antibiotics under the tested conditions, it is recommended to sonicate water at 75% amplitude at constant irradiation for at least 30 minutes.
Virtually Invincible: The Impact of Social Media Presentation on Rock Climbing
Creators: name: Posner, Lilly
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Broadcast and Video Studies; Journalism Studies

description: Rock climbing, a distinguished and culturally relevant extreme sport, has experienced a remarkable increase in popularity and media attention. Sparse research has been conducted on the impact of social media presentation and how it may inspire athletes to intensify risks. This element introduces a paradox in the evolving nature of extreme sports that warrants a deeper examination; Can the authenticity of a private, individualized sport be retained in a social space dedicated to public spectacle? By method of documentary and inspired by a descriptive phenomenological approach, this research explores the meanings, motivations and risk perceptions of rock climbers to discover if the presence of a camera and the digital presentation of spectacular climbing achievements have propelled a significant shift in the relationship practitioners have with their sport.
This non-traditional thesis is divided into four segments; a literature review, phenomenology as an objective approach, documentary as a creative thesis method and a conclusion revealing the findings of the documentary. In-depth interviews conducted with rock climbers of different ethnicities, genders, generations and levels of expertise along with scholars from the fields of sports psychology, sociology and anthropology contributed to a comprehensive conversation about the impact media has had on the sport. Climbers acknowledge and embrace that the digital presentation of climbing has become a legitimate and necessary feature in the culture of climbing and are mostly welcoming of how media inspires climbers to push boundaries and has directly impacted the democratization of the sport. While some find an ease in sharing the joy of their experiences, others find it unnatural, but necessary, transcending the burdensome minutia and negativity with the aspects of media they do enjoy.
Syriac Medicine
Creators: name: Kessel, Grigory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: syriac studies
syriac christiniaty
syriac medicine
ancient medicine
medieval medicine
history of medicine

description: The field of Syriac medicine is perhaps one of the least investigated and explored domains within the Christian Syriac intellectual culture. Yet owing to its decisive role during the late antique period for the transfer of Greek medical knowledge to the Islamic world, it should occupy a very special position and the results of its study are appealing to both Classicists and historians of Greek and Islamic medicine. The study of Syriac medicine predominantly deals with medical literature, but also theories and practice as they evolved over centuries within changing social and historical contexts. The essay surveys the development of medicine within the Syriac Christianity, highlights the very special role it occupied and presents the close connections of Syriac medicine both with the western and eastern cultures and traditions.
Abiotic, Biotic, and Bio-Enhanced Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium, Chloroform and Co-Contaminants Using Nano-Scale Zero Valent Iron in Highly Contaminated Groundwater
Creators: name: Robleto Martinez, Eduardo
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Environmental Engineering; Environmental Sciences

description: Investigations of groundwater in a former industrial perchlorate manufacturing site have shown high contamination with perchlorate, chlorate, nitrate, hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), and chloroform (CF) with levels greater than 3,000, 30,000, 300, 100, and 4 mg/L, respectively. Remediation efforts using biological reduction to desired contaminant levels at this site has been challenging due to high contaminant concentrations, and high total dissolved solids (TDS). Furthermore, removal of Cr(VI) and CF in the presence of nitrate, chlorate, and perchlorate has not been examined at the contaminated site. Nano-scale Zero-Valent-Iron (NZVI) has been effective at reducing groundwater contamination both with and without bacterial augmentation. The objective of this research was to investigate the removal of CF, Cr(VI) and co-contaminants in contaminated industrial groundwater using NZVI alone or in combination with biological reduction (bio-enhancement). The effectiveness of abiotic reduction using NZVI, biotic reduction using a 1ml bacterial sludge inoculum enriched with 20 ml/L of molasses and additional nutrients, and bio-enhanced reduction using both NZVI and bacteria was evaluated in this study. Bench-scale reactors were monitored for Cr(VI), CF, nitrate, chlorate, and perchlorate removal over 8 weeks. The use of NZVI resulted in 100% reduction of Cr(VI) in only 4 hours with doses of 5,000 mg Fe^0/L. As 100% reduction of Cr(VI) occurred at a much faster rate in abiotic treatments than biotic treatments, bio-enhancement for Cr(VI reduction relies more on NZVI reduction. For CF, removal showed 15%-40% greater results under bio-enhancement conditions than abiotic treatments. However, a bio-enhanced NZVI dose of at least 8,500 mg Fe^0/L is needed to achieve higher removal than biotic treatments alone. A bio-enhanced NZVI dose of 17,000 mg Fe^0/L resulted in 100% CF removal in 7 days. Bio-enhancement also achieved greater nitrate and chlorate removal, showing 100% removal at NZVI doses of 17,000 and 5,000 mg Fe^0/L, respectively. No abiotic perchlorate reduction was observed using NZVI. Perchlorate showed 25-50% removal only in biotic and bio-enhanced conditions. Bio-enhancement showed greater and more consistent removal for all the examined contaminants. This endorses bio-enhancement as the best treatment for groundwater from the examined site.
Depressive Symptoms as a Moderator of Diurnal Trends in Reward Seeking
Creators: name: Rogers, Erick Albert William
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Mental and Social Health; Psychology

description: Anhedonia, a cardinal symptom of a major depressive episode, is the decreased motivation to seek rewards. Individuals with depressive symptoms tend to report reduced positive affect, a distal measure of reward motivation, and engage in less reward-motivated behavior (i.e., reward seeking). However, diurnal rhythms may also influence reward-seeking. Both self-reported positive affect and behavioral measures of reward-seeking increase from the morning to the afternoon and then decreased in the evening. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether reward-seeking varied across time of day and whether anhedonia moderated variation. Overall, reward-seeking did not vary across time of day. Diurnal trends in reward seeking may require within-subjects designs to detect individual variation over time. Additionally, anhedonia and depressive symptoms were not associated with reward seeking, nor moderated the relationship between reward seeking and the time of task completion. Risk taking may be too distal to reward seeking and anhedonias influence may be specific to rewards without salient risks. Exploratory results found cubic trends in certain measures of reward-seeking that may be a result of fatigue evoked by the study design.
A comprehensive analysis of the geometry of TDOA maps in localisation problems
Creators: name: Compagnoni, Marco
name: Notari, Roberto
name: Antonacci, Fabio
name: Sarti, Augusto
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Mathematical Physics (math-ph)
subject: Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science (cs.CE)
subject: Sound (cs.SD)
subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: Commutative Algebra (math.AC)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: In this manuscript we consider the well-established problem of TDOA-based source localization and propose a comprehensive analysis of its solutions for arbitrary sensor measurements and placements. More specifically, we define the TDOA map from the physical space of source locations to the space of range measurements (TDOAs), in the specific case of three receivers in 2D space. We then study the identifiability of the model, giving a complete analytical characterization of the image of this map and its invertibility. This analysis has been conducted in a completely mathematical fashion, using many different tools which make it valid for every sensor configuration. These results are the first step towards the solution of more general problems involving, for example, a larger number of sensors, uncertainty in their placement, or lack of synchronization.
description: 51 pages (3 appendices of 12 pages), 12 figures
The Influence of Motivational and Attentional Focus Factors on Throwing Accuracy in Elite Softball Athletes
Creators: name: Sertic, Jacquelyn
Publisher: name: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year: 2020
Subjects: Kinesiology

description: According to the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (Wulf & Lewthwaite, 2016), autonomy support (AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), and external focus (EF) of attention are key to effective motor performance and learning. AS allows individuals to exercise control, EE
provides performers with an increased sense of confidence, and EF directs attention to the intended movement effects. Previous research indicates that these factors individually and collectively can improve motor performance and learning in novices and experienced performers. Few studies have used elite performers as participants. Purpose: To determine whether skilled throwing performance can be enhanced by a successive implementation of AS, EE, and EF. Methods: Twenty-four healthy, elite female softball players (21.36 ± 1.58 yrs, 14.44 ± 2.75 yrs of softball experience) threw softballs at a bullseye target (10m). Athletes were randomly assigned to two groups: 1) an experimental group provided with all three OPTIMAL factors and 2) a control group. Specifically, the optimized group was given choice of softballs (AS), was given a liberal definition of success (EE), and was instructed to focus on the bullseye (EF). Throwing accuracy was assessed during five 12-throw blocks: a baseline block; the three middle blocks with factor introduction; a transfer test block (12m). Results: No significant group difference in throwing accuracy were seen for baseline, p = 0.551, blocks 2-4, p = 0.798, or transfer test, p = 0.557. No significant group difference was seen in self-efficacy scores for baseline, p = 0.145, blocks 2-4, p = 0.472, or transfer test, p = 0.392. Conclusion: Throwing performance, as well as reported self-efficacy scores, did not change across the blocks with the successive implementation of the OPTIMAL factors. Possible reasons for the lack of group differences include: Both groups preferred to throw with the same ball (AS), participants met the criterion for success more than 75% of the time (EE), and the participants could have already been focusing externally (EF). Furthermore, a single practice session might not be long enough to improve throwing performance, likely as a result of years of repetitions under the same motor patterns. These highly skilled athletes might already have a high level of self-efficacy preexisting from their softball careers, and that self-efficacy might not easily change from a single practice session. Highly skilled athletes take years to improve their skills and might benefit from the addition of appropriate PTIMAL factor manipulations over a longer time period (e.g., an entire sporting season).
Impact of climate change on hydrologic regimes of Western Ghat catchments
Creators: name: Mudbhatkal, Amogh
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: F800 - Physical geographical sciences
F840 - Physical geography
H200 - Civil engineering

description: The Western Ghats is an environmental and climate sensitive region of India. Livelihood of the population in this region is mainly dependent on agriculture and therefore highly vulnerable to rainfall variability and climate change. For an investigation of the impact of a possible climate change on surface hydrology in the region, the forecasted meteorological parameters through a Regional Climate Model (PRECIS) has been used with a conceptual rainfall-runoff model namely ARNO, to account for soil-atmosphere feedback mechanisms. In order to evaluate the impact of climate change, two river basins in Western Ghats representing two different climatic regimes, i.e., humid and sub-humid are selected, namely, Netravathi river basin in humid climate and the Malaprabha basin under sub-humid climate. This study is carried out with the following objectives viz., (i) to assess the trends in the observed rainfall over the selected river basins; (ii) analyse the variability of evaporation in the forecasted period; (iii) to identify the suitable evapotranspiration method for the region; and (iv) to assess the impact of climate change on hydrological responses from the selected basins. The rainfall, temperature and the evapotranspiration are the intrinsic parameters of the hydrologic cycle. Consequently, these are also the major driving factors of climate change. These parameters have been studied for their shift in regime and trend over the decades in this study.For the assessment of impact of observed changes in rainfall pattern and the evaporation dynamics on the streamflow responses, a conceptual rainfall-runoff model, the ARNO model, is used. The ARNO rainfall-runoff model has been calibrated using the observed data for a period of 1975 to 2000 and validated with the data from 2001-2005. After the validation of the model, simulation of the hydrological response of these basins has been done for two time slices of 30-years: 2011-2040 and 2041-2070. The simulated hydrological responses for these two basins for the period from 2011 to 2070 indicates that, (i) the peak flows have been shifted from the months of July–August to April-May; (ii) the post monsoon flows have significantly decreased and (iii) the months such as March to May receive a good rainfall and there by contributing to the streamflow. However, the discharge predicted to be below the normal flow in most of the years during 2011-2070. For the selected scenario and time slices, the changing signal in precipitation, as well as surface hydrological variables lies with few exceptions, within the range of inter-annual variability, whereas temperature shows a clear increase.
A Novel Real-Time Video and Data Capture of Vehicular Accident in Intelligent Transportation Systems
Creators: name: Abduljalil, Fekri M.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Networking and Internet Architecture (cs.NI)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: In this paper, a novel real-time video and data capture of vehicle accident is proposed in Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). The proposed scheme solves the problem of huge storage needed for recording vehicle accident in the smart vehicle and in the remote ITS server. It works efficiently with small amount of storage size and guarantee saving accident video in secondary storage. It enables user to capture real-time video and data of running vehicle. It enables user to get vehicle accident video and data anytime anywhere. The scheme is implemented using testbed and its performance is evaluated. The results show that the proposed scheme guarantees record the vehicle accident in the ITS server. The proposed scheme has better results in comparison with full time video recording scheme.