Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2008

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant

Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2007

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant

2GHz MIMO channel model from experimental outdoor data analysis in UMTS

The key objective of this work was to obtain a MIMO model for a line of sight (LOS) channel component as well as the covariance matrix for a non-LOS deployment. A maximum likelihood criteria is applied to obtain a LOS spatial signature vector and a NLOS covariance matrix derived from channel measurements taken in the 2 GHz UMTS spectrum for an urban deployment in Bristol (UK). Different user equipment deployments were considered to represent both LOS and NLOS, as well as static and dynamic (motion) situations. The parameters of interest were estimated from these data and the fitness model was satisfactorily evaluated in all cases. Further, the Kronecker product between transmitter and receiver matrices was evaluated in order to simplify the model, for both, LOS and NLOS cases, including polarization diversity cases.The key objective of this work was to obtain a MIMO model for a line of sight (LOS) channel component as well as the covariance matrix for a non-LOS deployment. A maximum likelihood criteria is applied to obtain a LOS spatial signature vector and a NLOS covariance matrix derived from channel measurements taken in the 2 GHz UMTS spectrum for an urban deployment in Bristol (UK). Different user equipment deployments were considered to represent both LOS and NLOS, as well as static and dynamic (motion) situations. The parameters of interest were estimated from these data and the fitness model was satisfactorily evaluated in all cases. Further, the Kronecker product between transmitter and receiver matrices was evaluated in order to simplify the model, for both, LOS and NLOS cases, including polarization diversity cases

The analysis of reactively loaded microstrip antennas by finite difference time domain modelling

In recent years, much interest has been shown in the use of printed circuit antennas in mobile satellite and communications terminals at microwave frequencies. Although such antennas have many advantages in weight and profile size over more conventional reflector/horn configurations, they do, however, suffer from an inherently narrow bandwidth. A way of optimizing the bandwidth of such antennas by an electronic tuning technique using a loaded probe mounted within the antenna structure is examined, and the resulting far-field radiation patterns are shown. Simulation results from a 2D finite difference time domain (FDTD) model for a rectangular microstrip antenna loaded with shorting pins are given and compared to results obtained with an actual antenna. It is hoped that this work will result in a design package for the analysis of microstrip patch antenna elements

Standard-M mobile satellite terminal employing electronic beam squint tracking

In recent years, extensive experience has been built up at the University of Bristol in the use of the Electronic Beam Squint (EBS) tracking technique, applied to large earth station facilities. The current interest in land mobile satellite terminals, using small tracking antennas, has prompted the investigation of the applicability of the EBS technique to this environment. The development of an L-band mechanically steered vehicle antenna is presented. A description of the antenna is followed by a detailed investigation of the tracking environment and its implications on the error detection capability of the system. Finally, the overall hardware configuration is described along with plans for future work

Chlorine disinfection of recreational water for Cryptosporidium parvum.

We examined the effects of chlorine on oocyst viability, under the conditions of controlled pH and elevated calcium concentrations required for most community swimming pools. We found that fecal material may alter the Ct values (chlorine concentration in mg/L, multiplied by time in minutes) needed to disinfect swimming pools or other recreational water for Cryptosporidium parvum

Assessing Parents' Perception of Children's Risk for Recreational Water Illnesses

Understanding people's risk perceptions and motivations to adopt preventive behavior is important in preventing the spread of recreational water illnesses (RWI) and other emerging infectious diseases. We developed a comprehensive scale measuring parents' perceived risk of their children contracting RWI. Parents (N = 263) completed a self-administered questionnaire with scale items based on 4 constructs of the Protection Motivation Theory: perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy. Exploratory factor analysis identified 7 underlying factors, indicating 7 subscales of perceived risk for RWI. Cronbach α ranged from 0.60 to 0.81. The Precaution Adoption Process Model supported scale construct validity. This study provides the first perceived risk scale for exploring psychosocial factors that may predict or mediate the adoption of behaviors that prevent the spread of infectious diseases contracted by children while swimming. Findings from this study also provide implications for encouraging preventive behavior against other emerging infectious diseases