Optimizing an array of antennas for cellular coverage from a high altitude platform

In a wireless communications network served by a high altitude platform (HAP) the cochannel interference is a function of the antenna beamwidth, angular separation and. sidelobe level. At the millimeter wave frequencies proposed for HAPs, an array of aperture type antennas on the platform is a practicable solution for serving the cells. We present a method for predicting cochannel interference based on curve-fit approximations for radiation patterns of elliptic beams which illuminate cell edges with optimum power, and a means of estimating optimum beamwidths for each cell of a regular hexagonal layout. The method is then applied to a 121 cell architecture. Where sidelobes are modeled As a flat floor at 40-dB below peak directivity, a cell cluster size of four yields carrier-to-interference ratios (CIRs), which vary from 15 dB at cell edges to 27 dB at cell centers. On adopting a cluster size of seven, these figures increase, respectively, to 19 and 30 dB. On reducing the sidelobe level, the. improvement in CIR can be quantified. The method also readily allows for regions of overlapping channel coverage to be shown

P02-07. High Concentrations of Interleukin-15 and Low Concentrations of CCL5 in Breast Milk are Associated with Protection against Postnatal HIV Transmission

Background: Natural variations in IL-15 concentration have not been investigated for an association with an immune-protection against HIV. Given IL-15's central role in anti-HIV immunity, we hypothesized that higher concentrations of IL-15 in breast milk may protect against postnatal mother-to-child HIV transmission. Methods: In a case-control study nested within a clinical trial in Zambia, we compared IL-15 concentrations in breast milk of 22 HIV-infected women who transmitted HIV to their infants through breastfeeding with those of 72 who did not, as well as 18 HIV-uninfected women. Breast milk HIV RNA quantity, sodium, CXCL12, CCL5, and IL-8 concentrations were measured as well as maternal plasma HIV RNA concentrations and CD4 cell count. We used logistic regression modeling to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Higher concentrations of IL-15 in breast milk (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.01 per log10 pg/ml increase, 95% confidence interval [CI]: <0.001 to 0.3) were associated with protection against postnatal HIV transmission in univariate analysis and after adjusting for maternal CD4 cell counts, breast milk HIV RNA, CCL5, CXCL12, and IL-8 concentrations. Breast milk IL-15 concentration correlated with breast milk sodium, the other cytokines and HIV RNA concentration. It was inversely correlated with infant birth weight and tended to be higher in 1 week than in 1 month post-partum samples. Breast milk CCL5 concentrations were associated with increased risk of HIV transmission (AOR: 12.7 95% CI: 1.6 to 102.0) in adjusted analysis. Breast milk CXCL12 and IL-8 concentrations were not independently associated with transmission. Conclusion: High concentration of IL-15 were associated with a protection against breastfeeding HIV transmission after adjusting for other pro-inflammatory cytokines, HIV RNA in breast milk, and maternal CD4 cell count. These results corroborate a protective role of IL-15-mediated cellular immunity against HIV transmission during breastfeeding. They are informative for vaccination studies using IL-15 as an adjuvant

EFFECTIVENESS OF VEGETATION IN EROSION CONTROL FROM FOREST ROAD SIDESLOPES

ABSTRACT. Forest roads have been identified as the major contributor to sediment production from forested lands, accounting for perhaps as much as 90 % of all sediment produced. In recent years, increased concern and societal pressure has focused on the impacts of forest roads and the effectiveness of erosion control measures. In addition, the re–introduction of native species for erosion control has become a priority on many forestlands. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a wood excelsior erosion mat, native species vegetation, and exotic species vegetation treatments in erosion control from forest road sideslopes in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama over a 4–year period. In comparison to bare soil control plots, treatments significantly reduced sediment and runoff yield from the road sideslopes. Mean sediment yield from the native species vegetation, exotic species vegetation, and erosion mat treatments were 1.1, 0.45, and 0.80 g m –2 mm –1, respectively. The native species vegetation was as effective as the exotic species vegetation and erosion mat in reducing sediment yield from the forest road sideslopes

Optimal Control of Superconducting N-level quantum systems

We consider a current-biased dc SQUID in the presence of an applied time-dependent bias current or magnetic flux. The phase dynamics of such a Josephson device is equivalent to that of a quantum particle trapped in a $1-$D anharmonic potential, subject to external time-dependent control fields, {\it i.e.} a driven multilevel quantum system. The problem of finding the required time-dependent control field that will steer the system from a given initial state to a desired final state at a specified final time is formulated in the framework of optimal control theory. Using the spectral filter technique, we show that the selected optimal field which induces a coherent population transfer between quantum states is represented by a carrier signal having a constant frequency but which is time-varied both in amplitude and phase. The sensitivity of the optimal solution to parameter perturbations is also addressed

Histone deacetylase 1 and 2 are essential for murine neural crest proliferation, pharyngeal arch development and craniofacial morphogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Craniofacial anomalies involve defective pharyngeal arch development and neural crest function. Copy number variation at 1p35, containing histone deacetylase 1 (Hdac1), or 6q21-22, containing Hdac2, are implicated in patients with craniofacial defects, suggesting an important role in guiding neural crest development. However, the roles of Hdac1 and Hdac2 within neural crest cells remain unknown. RESULTS: The neural crest and its derivatives express both Hdac1 and Hdac2 during early murine development. Ablation of Hdac1 and Hdac2 within murine neural crest progenitor cells cause severe hemorrhage, atrophic pharyngeal arches, defective head morphogenesis, and complete embryonic lethality. Embryos lacking Hdac1 and Hdac2 in the neural crest exhibit decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis in both the neural tube and the first pharyngeal arch. Mechanistically, loss of Hdac1 and Hdac2 upregulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors Cdkn1a, Cdkn1b, Cdkn1c, Cdkn2b, Cdkn2c, and Tp53 within the first pharyngeal arch. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Hdac1 and Hdac2 function redundantly within the neural crest to regulate proliferation and the development of the pharyngeal arches via repression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Faktor – Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Kualitas Audit Pada Inspektorat Provinsi Sulawesi Utara

The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of the competence, experience, independence, objectivity, integrity and motivation auditor in North Sulawesi Provincial Inspectorate to audit quality. The study population was all auditors in Inspectorate of North Sulawesi province with a total sample of 60 auditors working in the Inspectorate of North Sulawesi province. The sampling technique used purposive approach / judgment sampling. The results of multiple regression analysis explains that the quality of the audit which is owned by the Inspectorate of North Sulawesi associated positively or direction of the competence, experience, independence, objectivity, integrity and motivation. the results of the study to simultaneously show that variables, Competence, experience, independence, objectivity, integrity and motivation together significantly influence the variable quality of the audit. While in partial competence, experience and independence not significant effect on audit quality otherwise variable objectivity, integrity and motivation have a significant effect on audit quality. The correlation coefficient (R) of 0.803 indicates that the relationship between competence, experience, independence, objectivity, integrity and motivation have a relationship (correlation) is very strong on audit quality, as it approaches a value of 1. The value of adjusted R2 as the coefficient of determination is 0.605, which means improvement of audit quality by 60.5% influenced by competence, experience, independence, objectivity, integrity and motivation, while the remaining 39.5% is influenced by other factors outside the research or explained by other variables not included in this study

Implications of Electronics Constraints for Solid-State Quantum Error Correction and Quantum Circuit Failure Probability

In this paper we present the impact of classical electronics constraints on a solid-state quantum dot logical qubit architecture. Constraints due to routing density, bandwidth allocation, signal timing, and thermally aware placement of classical supporting electronics significantly affect the quantum error correction circuit's error rate. We analyze one level of a quantum error correction circuit using nine data qubits in a Bacon-Shor code configured as a quantum memory. A hypothetical silicon double quantum dot quantum bit (qubit) is used as the fundamental element. A pessimistic estimate of the error probability of the quantum circuit is calculated using the total number of gates and idle time using a provably optimal schedule for the circuit operations obtained with an integer program methodology. The micro-architecture analysis provides insight about the different ways the electronics impact the circuit performance (e.g., extra idle time in the schedule), which can significantly limit the ultimate performance of any quantum circuit and therefore is a critical foundation for any future larger scale architecture analysis.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 3 table