UNDERSTANDING BITCOIN AND ITS UTILITY FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES

In just over 12 years, Bitcoin rose from an obscure idea posted to a cryptographer’s mailing list to a globally-recognized asset class with market cap of over $1 trillion. This paper examines Bitcoin and the blockchain technology on which it is based from two distinct angles: 1) its long-term viability as money or a durable unit of exchange, and 2) its potential applications within U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to enhance operational effectiveness. As a unit of exchange, Bitcoin contains the fundamental properties of money—durability, portability, divisibility, uniformity, and limited supply—but lacks one important characteristic: acceptability. Bitcoin’s odds of reaching this final milestone are threatened by the basic psychology of power, fear, and sovereign nations’ ability to exert control over its money supply. Within USSOCOM, early adoption of Bitcoin can provide a suite of tactical tools and options to counter Chinese expansion, enable human intelligence operations, and modernize frontline payment methods with the use of digital tokens and e-wallets.Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Expression of the murine cytomegalovirus glycoprotein H by recombinant vaccinia virus

The sequence of the gene encoding glycoprotein H (gH) of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) strain Smith was determined and compared with the sequence of the gH of MCMV strain K181. Transcriptional analysis showed that gH is encoded by a large mRNA of 5.0 kb, which is synthesized late in infection. A recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the MCMV gH open reading frame was constructed (Vac-gH). Anti-MCMV serum precipitated a protein of 87K from Vac-gH-infected cells. Reactivity with a monoclonal antibody showed the identity of the MCMV gH with a 87K envelope glycoprotein described previously by Loh and Qualtiere. Immunization of mice with the Vac-gH recombinant gave rise to an anti-gH serum, which neutralized MCMV without complement in vitro

water pvt collectors performance comparison

Abstract Flat plate PVT water based technology presents many advantages in terms of overall performance and space saving than the PV modules and the solar thermal collectors installed separately. However, the electrical and the thermal performances of the PVT technologies are more deeply related to different influences factors, among which: the presence or absence of the air gap formed by the transparent frontal cover, the absorber configuration and the adopted PV technology. For that reasons, the proposed research is aimed to assess, under the energy point of view, a comparison between a covered and an uncovered PVT water collectors, realized with different PV cells coupled to two aluminium roll-bond absorbers characterized also by different channel arrangements. The performance analysis is based on energy simulations carried out with two mathematical models validated on experimental data at the Test Facility of the Politecnico di Milano

BeppoSAX observations of Mrk 841 and Mrk335

We present and discuss BeppoSAX observations of Mrk841 and Mrk335, two Seyfert 1 galaxies in which previous observations have established the presence of soft excesses. We confirm the soft excess in both sources, even if for Mrk~841 a warm absorber provides a fit almost as good as the one with a true excess. As far as the hard X-ray continuum is concerned, a Comptonization model provides a fit as good as a power law and a physically sound solution for Mrk841. For Mrk335, the Comptonization model gives a result which is somewhat better on statistical ground, but rather problematic on physical ground. The most interesting results regard the reprocessing components. For Mrk841 we find a very large reflection continuum but an almost normal iron line equivalent width even if, within the errors, a solution in which both components are a factor ~2 larger than expected for an accretion disc is still marginally acceptable. If this is the case, an anisotropy of the primary emission seems the best explanation. On the contrary, in Mrk335 we find a very large iron line EW but a reflection component not accordingly large. In this case, the best solution seems to be in terms of reflection from an ionized disc.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Long-term reliability of photovoltaic c-Si modules - A detailed assessment based on the first Italian BIPV project

Assessing the long-term reliability of PV systems is important for understanding their energy and cost efficiency. Typically, estimates and predictions are based on indoor tests and accelerated ageing. However, fluctuating and differently interacting outdoor factors such as solar radiation, dust, and shadowing in real environment can impact the actual performance. This paper examines alterations related to ageing of c-Si PV modules, firstly by classifying the main factors that affect aged c-Si PV modules and then assessing the impact on their performance degradation by analysing a pilot BIPV system at Politecnico di Milano after 20 years of actual operation. Such system, which is highly representative since is the first public BIPV plant funded in Italy, was carefully and continuously monitored during its operating life. In particular, according to the visual/IR inspection carried out after the 20th year of operation, the main observed alteration in the modules were discoloration of the encapsulant, delamination, and chalking of the backsheet. The I-V characterization shown that all sampled modules had an overall degradation rate of less than 20 %, which is within the warranty limit, although in many cases the degradation rate over time shows a non-linear trend. Only one module experienced a severe fault that caused the complete loss of functionality. Obtained results confirm the reliability of c-Si technology, stressing the importance of a careful monitoring especially after the 15th year, when an increase of the degradation rate might occur

Overheating Risks and Adaptation Strategies of Energy Retrofitted Historic Buildings under the Impact of Climate Change: Case Studies in Alpine Region

Energy retrofits can enhance the liveability and efficiency of historic buildings while preserving their historic and aesthetic values. However, measures like improved insulation and airtightness may increase their vulnerability to overheating and climate change may further worsen their performance in the future. This paper investigates indoor overheating risks brought by climate change in retrofitted historic buildings and proposes effective adaptation strategies. Firstly, local weather conditions are analysed to identify homogenous climatic zones. For each climatic zone, "a business-as-usual" emissions scenario is adopted, and most representative regional climate models are selected to obtain hourly output of future climate projection. A comparative study is adopted where typical alpine residential buildings, "Portici house", are simulated with regard to future energy use and indoor thermal state using the dynamic model in EnergyPlus. Energy use and indoor thermal conditions are compared before and after energy retrofit, as well as under present and future climate conditions. The results demonstrate that retrofit interventions could significantly improve energy efficiency of historic buildings in both present and future scenarios. A change in climate together with retrofit interventions will, however, result in higher risk of indoor overheating in South Tyrol. Potential negative side effects of energy retrofit could be controlled by adopting adequate shading and ventilation approaches that minimise, or eliminate, the risk of overheating during high temperature periods while optimising historic buildings' energy performance

Towards Sustainability Assessment of the Built Environment: A Classification of the Existing Challenges

The application of sustainability assessment in a decision context is associated with various challenges that explain why the transition to action-oriented knowledge still needs to be fulfilled. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the associated challenges in sustainability assessment in the decision context of the built environment. Several publications are reviewed to provide a systemic understanding of the associated complexities. The challenges in sustainability assessment in the built environment are categorized at different levels, from understanding to measurement and implementation. The challenges are further categorized into definition, context, interpretation, data, measurement methods, uncertainties, indicators and indices, results, coordination, conflicts, and action-oriented knowledge. Moreover, according to the nature of each challenge, they are classified into epistemological, methodological, and procedural challenges. The novelty of this review is that it reviews and reports almost all fragmentedly reported challenges in sustainability assessment of the built environment in the literature within a holistic framework that provides a clear understanding of the state of the art and second discusses them within an integrated framework (the Sustainability Assessment Network) including the position of active-role players to resolve them, including strategists, scientist, and stakeholders

Urocortin-like immunoreactivity in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Urocortin (UCN) is a 40 aminoacid peptide which belongs to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. This family of peptides stimulates the secretion of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), β-endorphin and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the pituitary gland. In the present study, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, the distribution of UCN in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck was investigated at different ages. In the cloacal burse and thymus, Western blot demonstrated the presence of a peptide having a molecular weight compatible with that of the mammalian UCN. In the cloacal burse, immunoreactivity was located in the medullary epithelial cells and in the follicular associated and corticomedullary epithelium. In the thymus, immunoreactivity was located in single epithelial cells. Double labelling immunofluorescence studies showed that UCN immunoreactivity completely colocalised with cytokeratin immunoreactivity in both the thymus and cloacal burse. Statistically significant differences in the percentage of UCN immunoreactivity were observed between different age periods in the cloacal burse. The results suggest that, in birds, urocortin has an important role in regulating the function of the immune system

Urocortin-like immunoreactivity in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck. (Anas platyrhynchos).

Urocortin (UCN) is a 40 aminoacid peptide which belongs to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. This family of peptides stimulates the secretion of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), b-endorphin and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the pituitary gland. In the present study, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, the distribution of UCN in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck was investigated at different ages. In the cloacal burse and thymus, Western blot demonstrated the presence of a peptide having a molecular weight compatible with that of the mammalian UCN. In the cloacal burse, immunoreactivity was located in the medullary epithelial cells and in the follicular associated and cortico-medullary epithelium. In the thymus, immunoreactivity was located in single epithelial cells. Double labelling immunofluorescence studies showed that UCN immunoreactivity completely colocalised with cytokeratin immunoreactivity in both the thymus and cloacal burse. Statistically significant differences in the percentage of UCN immunoreactivity were observed between different age periods in the cloacal burse. The results suggest that, in birds, urocortin has an important role in regulating the function of the immune system

Effect of colostrum and milk on small intestine expression of AQP4 and AQP5 in newborn buffalo calves.

Functional studies indicate differences in newborn gastrointestinal morphology and physiology after a meal. Both water and solutes transfer across the intestinal epithelial membrane appear to occur via aquaporins (AQPs). Given that the physiological roles of AQP4 and AQP5 in the developing intestine have not been fully established, the objective of this investigation was to determine their distribution, expression and respective mRNA in the small intestine of colostrums-suckling buffalo calves by using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis. Results showed different tissue distribution between AQP4 and AQP5 with the presence of the former along the enteric neurons and the latter in the endocrine cells. Moreover, their expression levels were high in the ileum of colostrum-suckling buffalo calves. The data present a link between feeding, intestinal development and water homeostasis, suggesting the involvement of these channel proteins in intestinal permeability and fluid secretion/absorption during this stage of development after birth