Shuttle orbiter Ku-band radar/communications system design evaluation

Tasks performed in an examination and critique of a Ku-band radar communications system for the shuttle orbiter are reported. Topics cover: (1) Ku-band high gain antenna/widebeam horn design evaluation; (2) evaluation of the Ku-band SPA and EA-1 LRU software; (3) system test evaluation; (4) critical design review and development test evaluation; (5) Ku-band bent pipe channel performance evaluation; (6) Ku-band LRU interchangeability analysis; and (7) deliverable test equipment evaluation. Where discrepancies were found, modifications and improvements to the Ku-band system and the associated test procedures are suggested

Agent-based Social Psychology: from Neurocognitive Processes to Social Data

Moral Foundation Theory states that groups of different observers may rely on partially dissimilar sets of moral foundations, thereby reaching different moral valuations. The use of functional imaging techniques has revealed a spectrum of cognitive styles with respect to the differential handling of novel or corroborating information that is correlated to political affiliation. Here we characterize the collective behavior of an agent-based model whose inter individual interactions due to information exchange in the form of opinions are in qualitative agreement with experimental neuroscience data. The main conclusion derived connects the existence of diversity in the cognitive strategies and statistics of the sets of moral foundations and suggests that this connection arises from interactions between agents. Thus a simple interacting agent model, whose interactions are in accord with empirical data on conformity and learning processes, presents statistical signatures consistent with moral judgment patterns of conservatives and liberals as obtained by survey studies of social psychology.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 2 C codes, to appear in Advances in Complex System

Infrastructure to Improve Beef Business Outcomes in the Queensland Gulf

There are significant economic and environmental issues impacting on the short and long term viability of family-run breeding enterprises in the Queensland Gulf. Falling cattle prices and increased business costs threaten the social and financial well-being of many beef producers. Set stocking and overgrazing combine to reduce native 3P (productive, palatable and perennial) grass frequency and herd productivity. The Ryan family on Greenhills Station at George-town in the Queensland Gulf embarked on a 5 year water and fencing infrastructure development program aiming to improve pasture utilisation, land condition and long term carrying capacity

Telling Victims from Criminals: Human Trafficking for the Purposes of Criminal Exploitation

[Abstract]: Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims has expressly included the exploitation of criminal activities as one of the possible purposes of this crime. Consequently, not only was the concept of human trafficking broadened but also the difficulties in identifying victims, particularly in this type of exploitation in which many trafficked people are actually treated as criminals. This chapter will examine the wide variety of actions that can amount to human trafficking for criminal exploitation, using facts and cases reported by governmental and non-governmental organizations as key documents. These experiences will highlight the challenges of differentiating between criminals and trafficking victims, and will serve as a basis for suggesting some improvements in order to guarantee victims’ protection

Where do graduates Develop their Enterprise Skills? The Value of the Contribution of Higher Education Institutions’ Context

This study investigates the value of the contribution of HEIs’ context in developing graduates enterprise skills. HEIs are under pressure to develop more enterprising graduates, particularly with the increasing numbers of graduates seeking employment and the growing dissatisfaction of employers. This study explores where graduates develop enterprise skills through investigating the impact of HE and employment contexts on their development. The paper draws on a qualitative study in the social constructionist paradigm within the pharmacy context, where interviews were conducted with pharmacy academics and employers. Results show that ability to demonstrate skills in one context does not necessarily mean ability to demonstrate them in another since the development and demonstration of enterprise skills is impacted by the contexts in which they are developed and demonstrated. The study adds value by highlighting the significant role of both HE and employment contexts in developing enterprise skills, while emphasising that these skills become more transferable through exposure to more contexts

Maternal inflammatory and microbial drivers of low birthweight in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Low birthweight (LBW) is when an infant is born too soon or too small, and it affects one in seven infants in low- and middle-income countries. LBW has a significant impact on short-term morbidity and mortality, and it impairs long-term health and human capital. Antenatal microbial and inflammatory exposure may contribute to LBW. METHODS: Ovid-Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for English-language articles evaluating inflammatory, microbial or infective causes of LBW, small-for-gestational age, intra-uterine growth restriction or prematurity. Inclusion criteria were human studies including published data; conference abstracts and grey literature were excluded. A narrative synthesis of the literature was conducted. RESULTS: Local infections may drive the underlying causes of LBW: for example, vaginitis and placental infection are associated with a greater risk of prematurity. Distal infection and inflammatory pathways are also associated with LBW, with an association between periodontitis and preterm delivery and environmental enteric dysfunction and reduced intra-uterine growth. Systemic maternal infections such as malaria and HIV are associated with LBW, even when infants are exposed to HIV but not infected. This latter association may be driven by chronic inflammation, co-infections and socio-economic confounders. Antimicrobial prophylaxis against other bacteria in pregnancy has shown minimal impact in most trials, though positive effects on birthweight have been found in some settings with a high infectious disease burden. CONCLUSION: Maternal inflammatory and infective processes underlie LBW, and provide treatable pathways for interventions. However, an improved understanding of the mechanisms and pathways underlying LBW is needed, given the impact of LBW on life-course

J-matrix method of scattering in any L2 basis

The restriction imposed on the J-matrix method of using specific L2 bases is lifted without compromising any of the advantages that it offers. This opens the door to a wider range of application of the method to physical problems beyond the restrictive SO(2,1) dynamical symmetry. The numerical scheme developed to achieve this objective projects the J-matrix formalism in terms of the eigenvalues of a finite Hamiltonian matrix and its submatrices in any convenient L2 basis. Numerical stability and convergence of the original analytic J-matrix method is still maintained in the proposed scheme, which can be applied to multi-channel nonrelativistic as well as relativistic scattering problems

Participatory scenario development for environmental management:A methodological framework illustrated with experience from the UK uplands

A methodological framework is proposed for participatory scenario development on the basis of evidence from the literature, and is tested and refined through the development of scenarios for the future of UK uplands. The paper uses a review of previous work to justify a framework based around the following steps: i) define context and establish whether there is a basis for stakeholder engagement in scenario development; ii) systematically identify and represent relevant stakeholders in the process; iii) define clear objectives for scenario development with stakeholders including spatial and temporal boundaries; iv) select relevant participatory methods for scenario development, during initial scenario construction, evaluation and to support decision-making based on scenarios; and v) integrate local and scientific knowledge throughout the process. The application of this framework in case study research suggests that participatory scenario development has the potential to: i) make scenarios more relevant to stakeholder needs and priorities; ii) extend the range of scenarios developed; iii) develop more detailed and precise scenarios through the integration of local and scientific knowledge; and iv) move beyond scenario development to facilitate adaptation to future change. It is argued that participatory scenario development can empower stakeholders and lead to more consistent and robust scenarios that can help people prepare more effectively for future change