Predicted Adoption Rates of Contact Tracing App Configurations - Insights from a choice-based conjoint study with a representative sample of the UK population

Widespread adoption of a contact tracing app by the UK public is an important part of safely easing or lifting the lockdown. In this context, it is essential to understand how adoption rates are influenced by different configurations of a proposed contact tracing app. There are many implementation options that can impact app adoption. For example, which institution should be responsible for and have oversight of the app? What type of data is collected? Does it matter how long it is stored? This whitepaper provides data-driven insights into these and other questions to guide app implementation choices

Mutual coupling of printed elements on a cylindrically layered structure using closed-form Green's functions

A hybrid method to calculate mutual coupling of electric or magnetic current elements on a cylindrically layered structure using closed-form Green's functions is presented. When rho = rho' and phi is not very close to phi', closed-form Green's functions are employed in the calculation of MoM matrix entries. When both rho = rho' and phi = phi', series representation of the spectral domain Green's functions do not converge, therefore closed-form Green's functions can not be employed. In that case MoM matrix entries are evaluated using the proposed hybrid method. The technique is applied to both printed dipoles and slots placed on a layered cylindrical structures. The computational efficiency of the analysis of mutual coupling of printed elements on cylindrically layered geometries is increased with the use of proposed hybrid method which employs closed-form Green's functions

Effect of industrial wastewater ontotal protein and the peroxidase activity in plants

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of industrial wastewaters on protein and the peroxidase activity in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Capsicum annuum L., Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Vicia faba L. Industrial wastewaters were taken from Dardanel Fisheries Company, Tekel alcoholicdrinks companies’ wastewater treatment plants and from one station which is located in the middle of the Sarýçay River. Wastewaters were applied to 6 weeks old plants with directly irrigation water. Physiological changes in the plants were observed by the means of measuring the protein and enzyme activity. The largest increase in protein was observed as 190.9 and 136.3% in V. faba treated with Sarýçay River water and Tekel wastewater, respectively. In P. vulgaris which was treated with Dardanelwastewater, the total protein amount increased by 84% compared to control plants. After the wastewater treatment, the peroxidase activity decreased in all plants. The largest peroxidase decrease was 80% in L. esculentum treated with Tekel wastewater. In P. vulgaris, peroxidase decreased by 59 and 51% when treated with Dardanel wastewater and Sarýçay River water, respectively. It was concluded that the increase in total protein amount and the decrease in peroxidase activity demonstrated theindustrial wastewater’s blocking effects on plants defense systems

Homomorphic encryption and some black box attacks

This paper is a compressed summary of some principal definitions and concepts in the approach to the black box algebra being developed by the authors. We suggest that black box algebra could be useful in cryptanalysis of homomorphic encryption schemes, and that homomorphic encryption is an area of research where cryptography and black box algebra may benefit from exchange of ideas

Scaffolding as a Tool for Environmental Education in Early Childhood

This paper describes the process of “scaffolding” as a teaching strategy in early childhood education, and demonstrates how scaffolding can promote children’s learning about the natural environment. Examples of scaffolding are provided from seventy-four running record observations made over a two-year period in a nature-based preschool program. Qualitative analysis examined the extent to which scaffolding was used to support children’s learning about nature; the types of scaffolding strategies used by teachers; whether high- and low-support strategies were used in specific types of situations; the effectiveness of scaffolding; and what children learned when teachers engaged them in scaffolding. Examples illustrate specific pedagogical strategies used in scaffolding. Scaffolding was used relatively frequently within the program (21% of events analyzed), and inferential questioning was the most frequently used strategy. Analysis did not reveal a pattern of high- or low-support strategies used in specific types of situations, but teachers flexibly used a variety of scaffolding strategies to support children’s learning about the natural environment. Preparation of physical and social environments for effective scaffolding is discussed, as well as the role of scaffolding in socializing children to engage in a culture of inquiry

mESAdb: microRNA expression and sequence analysis database

Cataloged from PDF version of article.microRNA expression and sequence analysis database (http://konulab.fen.bilkent.edu.tr/mirna/) (mESAdb) is a regularly updated database for the multivariate analysis of sequences and expression of microRNAs from multiple taxa. mESAdb is modular and has a user interface implemented in PHP and JavaScript and coupled with statistical analysis and visualization packages written for the R language. The database primarily comprises mature microRNA sequences and their target data, along with selected human, mouse and zebrafish expression data sets. mESAdb analysis modules allow (i) mining of microRNA expression data sets for subsets of microRNAs selected manually or by motif; (ii) pair-wise multivariate analysis of expression data sets within and between taxa; and (iii) association of microRNA subsets with annotation databases, HUGE Navigator, KEGG and GO. The use of existing and customized R packages facilitates future addition of data sets and analysis tools. Furthermore, the ability to upload and analyze user-specified data sets makes mESAdb an interactive and expandable analysis tool for microRNA sequence and expression data