Generating Test Cases for Marine Safety and Security Scenarios: A Composition Framework

In this paper we address the problem of testing complex computer models forinfrastructure protection and emergency response based on detailed and realisticapplication scenarios using advanced computational methods and tools. Specifically,we focus here on testing situation analysis decision support models for marine safety& security operations as a sample application domain. Arguably, methodicalapproaches for analyzing and validating situation analysis methods, decision supportmodels, and information fusion algorithms require realistic vignettes that describe ingreat detail how a situation unfolds over time depending on initial configurations,dynamic environmental conditions and uncertain operational aspects. Meaningfulresults from simulation runs require appropriate test cases, the production of whichis in itself a complex activity. To simplify this task, we introduce here the conceptualdesign of a Vignette Generator that has been developed and tested in an industrialresearch project. We also propose a framework for composing vignettes fromreusable vignette elements together with a formal representation for vignettes usingthe Abstract State Machine method and illustrate the approach by means of variouspractical examples

Junior Recital: Zachary Opitz

A junior recital featuring Zachary Opitz, Tyrone Jackson, Piper Johnson, and Josh Baffour.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2416/thumbnail.jp

Safe Kids Car

The main goal of this project is to retrofit toy vehicles, such as Powerwheels cars, with safety systems that can protect the driver and those around the driver. Such systems will include lights, including headlights and taillights, and an automatic braking system, which will activate in the face of an inevitable collision. The system will also work with the driver to prevent collisions, providing warnings of impending danger. Keywords: toy vehicles, collision detection, collision avoidance, automatic braking system, DC motors, automatic headlights

Band edge evolution of transparent Zn M2III O4 (MIII=Co, Rh, Ir) spinels

ZnMIII 2 O4 (MIII = Co, Rh, Ir) spinels have been recently identified as promising p-type semiconductors for transparent electronics. However, discrepancies exist in the literature regarding their fundamental optoelectronic properties. In this paper, the electronic structures of these spinels are directly investigated using soft/hard x-ray photoelectron and x-ray absorption spectroscopies in conjunction with density functional theory calculations. In contrast to previous results, ZnCo2O4 is found to have a small electronic band gap with forbidden optical transitions between the true band edges, allowing for both bipolar doping and high optical transparency. Furthermore, increased d-d splitting combined with a concomitant lowering of Zn s/p conduction states is found to result in a ZnCo2O4 (ZCO) < ZnRh2O4 (ZRO) ≈ ZnIr2O4 (ZIO) band gap trend, finally resolving long-standing discrepancies in the literature

Bringing numerous methods for expression and promoter analysis to a public cloud computing service

Every year, a large number of novel algorithms are introduced to the scientific community for a myriad of applications, but using these across different research groups is often troublesome, due to suboptimal implementations and specific dependency requirements. This does not have to be the case, as public cloud computing services can easily house tractable implementations within self-contained dependency environments, making the methods easily accessible to a wider public. We have taken 14 popular methods, the majority related to expression data or promoter analysis, developed these up to a good implementation standard and housed the tools in isolated Docker containers which we integrated into the CyVerse Discovery Environment, making these easily usable for a wide community as part of the CyVerse UK project

COPI mediates recycling of an exocytic SNARE by recognition of a ubiquitin sorting signal

The COPI coat forms transport vesicles from the Golgi complex and plays a poorly defined role in endocytic trafficking. Here we show that COPI binds K63-linked polyubiquitin and this interaction is crucial for trafficking of a ubiquitinated yeast SNARE (Snc1). Snc1 is a v-SNARE that drives fusion of exocytic vesicles with the plasma membrane, and then recycles through the endocytic pathway to the Golgi for reuse in exocytosis. Removal of ubiquitin from Snc1, or deletion of a β’-COP subunit propeller domain that binds K63-linked polyubiquitin, disrupts Snc1 recycling causing aberrant accumulation in internal compartments. Moreover, replacement of the β’-COP propeller domain with unrelated ubiquitin-binding domains restores Snc1 recycling. These results indicate that ubiquitination, a modification well known to target membrane proteins to the lysosome or vacuole for degradation, can also function as recycling signal to sort a SNARE into COPI vesicles in a non-degradative pathway

Severe zinc depletion of escherichia coli: roles for high affinity zinc binding by ZinT, zinc transport and zinc-independent proteins

Zinc ions play indispensable roles in biological chemistry. However, bacteria have an impressive ability to acquire Zn2+ from the environment, making it exceptionally difficult to achieve Zn2+ deficiency, and so a comprehensive understanding of the importance of Zn2+ has not been attained. Reduction of the Zn2+ content of Escherichia coli growth medium to 60 nM or less is reported here for the first time, without recourse to chelators of poor specificity. Cells grown in Zn2+-deficient medium had a reduced growth rate and contained up to five times less cellular Zn2+. To understand global responses to Zn2+ deficiency, microarray analysis was conducted of cells grown under Zn2+-replete and Zn2+-depleted conditions in chemostat cultures. Nine genes were up-regulated more than 2-fold (p<0.05) in cells from Zn2+-deficient chemostats, including zinT (yodA). zinT is shown to be regulated by Zur ( zinc uptake regulator). A mutant lacking zinT displayed a growth defect and a 3-fold lowered cellular Zn2+ level under Zn2+ limitation. The purified ZinT protein possessed a single, high affinity metal-binding site that can accommodate Zn2+ or Cd2+. A further up-regulated gene, ykgM, is believed to encode a non-Zn2+ finger-containing paralogue of the Zn2+ finger ribosomal protein L31. The gene encoding the periplasmic Zn2+- binding protein znuA showed increased expression. During both batch and chemostat growth, cells "found" more Zn2+ than was originally added to the culture, presumably because of leaching from the culture vessel. Zn2+ elimination is shown to be a more precise method of depleting Zn2+ than by using the chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine

‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence

One-third of UK police employees drink to at-risk levels, with both at-risk drinking and abstinence being associated with poor mental health. This research aimed to qualitatively explore police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol use or abstinence, their motivations for drinking/abstaining, and the organizational culture of drinking. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 UK serving police employees (12 at-risk drinkers, four abstainers) were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified. Participants described the ‘organizational culture of drinking and changes over time’, outlining a cultural shift. Motivations for drinking were reflected across two themes, ‘alcohol as a coping mechanism’ and ‘alcohol and socializing’, with an additional theme representing ‘motivations for abstinence/cutting down’. The final theme highlighted the ‘contrasting perceptions of available support’. Though the drinking culture is no longer as prominent, using alcohol socially and to cope, is normalized. The implications and recommendations for practice are outlined