Parallel Quantum Solutions (United States)

This project for a utility in the southeastern region of the United States that utilizes three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetry survey to collect high resolution imagery for the replacement of a corroded three-way switch to be retrofitted on an existing steel lattice tower. The motor operated switch required replacement since it continuously failed to operate correctly due to the corrosion as a result of the structure’s location. The structure was located within the perimeter of a wastewater quality treatment center which required transmission and distribution service. Due to the limited information regarding the existing structure including connection details, member sizes, and existing switch components attaching to the existing lattice tower, the 3D photogrammetric survey for this scope was collected to develop a structural model for an engineering analysis. In addition to using 3D photogrammetry techniques for an engineering analysis, a detailed condition assessment and inspection report was performed to document damage or degradation of the asset that could impact the structure’s load carrying capacity for existing and proposed design configurations.

While the O-RAN Alliance is gaining momentum in democratizing RAN innovation through multi-vendor interoperability, there remains a gap in empirical performance evaluation of O-RAN applications deployed with future-proof security measures on carrier-grade components. Furthermore, how implementing an advanced security measure impacts the overall O-RAN performance is largely understudied in true cloud-native deployments. This paper presents a comprehensive integration of an O-RAN-specific testbed that utilizes a quantum-safe security technology, an industry-leading O-RAN test emulator, and a carrier-grade Near-Real-Time (near-RT) RIC platform hosting our custom AI-driven Traffic Steering (TS) xApp. Our threefold contribution includes developing an innovative TS xApp for efficient RAN load-balancing on the fly, empirically measuring RAN key performance indicators (KPIs), and assessing the security solution's impact on overall system performance. Results demonstrate that our TS xApp enhances the downlink throughput by 3.88% and improves the median user QoS scores by 2.52%. In particular, the quantum-safe security measure implemented to secure the O-RAN E2 interface in the multi-vendor deployment, adds only 0.818 milliseconds of average latency which remains well below one second, the maximum acceptable threshold for near-RT RIC control loop response time.

Abstract Potassium (K) loss in runoff represents a potential financial concern since fertilizer‐K is routinely applied to sustain optimal crop K nutrition and yield potential. Our research objectives were to quantify and characterize the soluble‐K loss in runoff from fields used for continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production while determining if the time of the year (growing season vs. nongrowing season), type of hydrological event (irrigation vs. rainfall), and cover crops influence K loss in runoff. Field‐scale, edge‐of‐field monitoring of runoff water and its soluble‐K concentration was performed on 10 site years in southeastern Arkansas across three production seasons. The mean K loss in surface runoff per event was 0.98 kg ha−1 across all sites and events (n = 304). The relationship between loss of K mass to runoff volume was positive and significantly correlated (p < 0.0001) when both variables were transformed by the natural logarithm. K loss during the growing season was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the cotton growing season whereas K loss resulting from runoff events generated by either irrigation or rainfall was not significant. Additionally, losses from fields with cover crops were significantly larger (p < −0.05) than from fields without covers. Cumulative annual‐K loss, between annual fertilizer‐K applications, averaged 32.2 kg K ha−1 across all site years representing a significant economic loss to replace the lost K with fertilizer. This study illustrates the increased risk of K losses on poorly drained soils in the Southeastern United States. Runoff‐K loss represents a significant amount of K that requires additional research on how to mitigate these losses.

El presente estudio analiza el clima motivacional tras la implementación de dos Unidades Didácticas de baloncesto en Educación Secundaria, una a través del modelo Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) y otra mediante un planteamiento metodológico tradicional, ambas aplicadas en 3º ESO en la asignatura de Educación Física. Las personas participantes del estudio fueron un total de 73 (36 alumnas). De ellas 39 conformaron el grupo experimental y 34 el grupo control. Se empleó un diseño cuasi-experimental con grupos control (modelo tradicional) y experimental (TGfU). Para analizar las variables del clima motivacional se utilizó Cuestionario del clima motivacional percibido en el deporte-2 (PMCSQ-2), que se pasó antes y después del desarrollo de las Unidades Didácticas. Dada la distribución no normal de los datos se aplicaron las pruebas no paramétricas U de Mann-Whitney para comparar muestras independientes y Wilconxon para hacer lo propio con muestras relacionadas. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas en el clima motivacional percibido de forma positiva en el grupo experimental entre el antes y el después, mientras que para el grupo control no existen diferencias significativas. Además, el grupo experimental reafirma los resultados en las distintas variables que conforman el cuestionario. Así pues, el estudio sugiere que la utilización de modelo pedagógico basado en el TGfU puede favorecer la motivación del alumnado hacia las clases de Educación Física. Abstract. The present study analyzes the motivational climate variable after the implementation of two Teaching Units of basketball in Secondary Education, one through the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) model and the other through a traditional model, both applied in 3rd ESO in the subject of Physical Education. A total of 73 (36 female students) students participated in the study. Of these, 39 were in the experimental group and 34 in the control group. A quasi-experimental design with control (traditional model) and experimental (TGfU) groups was used. To analyze the motivational climate variables, the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2) was used, which was administered before and after the development of the Teaching Units. Given the non-normal distribution of the data, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare independent samples, and Wilconxon tests were used to compare related samples. The results show significant differences in the motivational climate perceived positively in the experimental group between before and after, while for the control group there are no significant differences. In addition, the experimental group reaffirms the results in the different variables that make up the questionnaire. Thus, the study suggests that the use of a pedagogical model based on the TGfU can favor student motivation in Physical Education classes.

Perovskite Quantum Dots have excellent optical properties but low stability under high flux irradiation. In this work, a method to synthesize perovskite QDs‐polymer composite will be presented to overcome the high flux stability problem. As compared to pristine perovskite QDs, the perovskite QDs‐polymer composite shows higher stability under high flux condition in a long term.

A dual mechanism for direct benzene catalytic hydroxylation is described. Experimental studies and DFT calculations have provided a mechanistic explanation for the acid-free, Tp x Cu-catalyzed hydroxylation of benzene with hydrogen peroxide (Tp x = hydrotrispyrazolylborate ligand). In contrast with other catalytic systems that promote this transformation through Fenton-like pathways, this system operates through a copper-oxyl intermediate that may interact with the arene ring following two different, competitive routes: (a) electrophilic aromatic substitution, with the copper-oxyl species acting as the formal electrophile, and (b) the so-called rebound mechanism, in which the hydrogen is abstracted by the Cu-O moiety prior to the C-O bond formation. Both pathways contribute to the global transformation albeit to different extents, the electrophilic substitution route seeming to be largely favoured.

Recent results from Preuss et al. (J Comput Chem 2004, 25, 112) on DNA base molecules, obtained by plane wave density functional calculations using ultrasoft pseudopotentials, are compared with calculations using Gaussian basis sets. Bond lengths and angles agree closely, but dihedral angles and vibrational frequencies show significant differences. The Gaussian basis calculations are at least an order of magnitude more efficient than the plane wave/ultrasoft pseudopotential calculations at a similar level of accuracy; the advantage is even larger if the Fourier Transform Coulomb method is used. To obtain definite benchmark values, the geometries of the four DNA bases were optimized at the MP2 level with large basis sets, up to cc-pVQZ and aug-cc-pVTZ.