Initial Orbit Determination Results from the University of Luxembourg using Spire GNSS Tracking Data

CubeSats constellations using commercial off-the-shelf components have been studied for different applications, such as GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO). Furthermore, precise orbit determination of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) CubeSats based on multiple GNSS constellations would open new opportunities for scientific applications such as Earth’s gravity field measurements. In GNSS kinematic orbit determination, which is the common method used for small sats, the derived orbits are affected by noise, data gaps, outliers, measurement errors as well as poor geometry of the observations. Our work seeks to mitigate these issues and we present two areas of research: 1) GNSS network processing of GPS and Galileo constellations and 2) kinematic orbit determination of a set of Spire CubeSats that host a GNSS-RO payload. An initial architecture of kinematic orbit processing for the Spire GNSS-RO CubeSats constellation is obtained and the details on validations and limitations are discussed in more details. In addition, we showcase the agreement between the GNSS orbit products produced at the University of Luxembourg (UL) with those of the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE). Finally, the Spire kinematic orbits based on the raw observation approach are derived and compared to the L1B Spire orbit products

Survival outcomes and mobilization during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective cohort study

IntroductionVenovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) can be considered in critically ill patient in severe pulmonary failure. However, the mobilization of patients on V-V ECMO can be challenging due to logistic and safety concerns. This study aimed to investigate whether 30 days survival was improved in patients who were mobilized during V-V ECMO support.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort all-comer study that included all patients cannulated for V-V ECMO at a single center. Patients with a V-V ECMO duration below 24 h were excluded from the analysis. The patients were grouped based on the ICU mobility scale documented during V-V ECMO support. The primary endpoint was 30 days survival, and secondary endpoints included weaning from ECMO and mechanical ventilation, as well as hospital survival.ResultsA total of 343 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 56 years and 32% were female. Among them, 28% had chronic lung disease. The ICU mobilization scale ≥2 during ECMO was documented in 62/343 (18%) patients. There were no significant differences in age, gender and preexisting lung disease. Duration of ICU stay (13.1 vs. 15.6 days), time on ECMO (186 vs. 190 h) and mechanical ventilation (11.2 vs. 13.6 days) were slightly shorter in patients with ICU mobility scale <2 compared to those with ≥2 (all p = 0.0001). However, patients with ICU mobilization scale ≥2 showed significantly better 30 days survival (71.0 vs. 48.0%, OR 2.6 (1.5 to 4.8), p = 0.0012) compared to those with <2. In the ≥2 mobility scale group, a significantly higher number of patients were successfully weaned from the ventilator (61.3 vs. 46.6%, OR 1.8 (1.0 to 3.2), p = 0.049). A stronger correlation was observed between more intense mobilizations, such as being in a standing position (OR 5.0 (1.7 to 14.0), p = 0.0038), and higher 30 days survival.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that active mobilization during V-V ECMO support is associated with improved 30 days survival and successful weaning from the respirator. Incorporating mobilization as part of the therapeutic approach during ECMO support may offer potential benefits for critically ill patients

Clean Coal Technology for the 21st Century RTD Strategy in the European Union

The Maastricht Treaty will be providing a new political and institutional context to the European integration process. All European Union (EU) policies and activities are given a new impetus with the aim of setting up the basis for an economic, monetary and eventually a political union. Research and Technological Development (RID) policy is not an exception

National and transnational family and friendship networks and their role for subjective well-being of older migrants compared to non-migrants in Luxembourg

Creating new bonds in the receiving country constitutes an important developmental task for migrants. Nonetheless, migrants often have smaller social networks in the receiving countries compared to non-migrants, while they stay connected with left behind family members in their countries of origin. The role of transnational ties can thereby be twofold – on the one hand, transnational relations might provide support for migrants from a distance, on the other hand feelings of loneliness might arise when network partners are living far away. The present study is part of the project PAN-VAL on active ageing in Luxembourg, financed by the Ministry of Family and Integration, which focusses on social embeddedness vs. social isolation of migrants and non-migrants living in the multicultural context of Luxembourg. A national sample of N=1000 migrants and non-migrants 50+ living in Luxembourg were asked about their family and friendship networks, their satisfaction with family, friends and life as a whole as well as their feelings of loneliness. Further, N = 20 qualitative interviews with older migrants and non-migrants in four selected municipalities were carried out to explore social networks in more depth. First analyses revealed smaller national family and friendship networks of migrants compared to non-migrants and people with double nationality, whereas migrants reported more transnational bonds. Migrants also reported a lower satisfaction with family and friendship networks compared to non-migrants and people with double nationality, whereas no differences were found between migrants and non-migrants with regard to feelings of loneliness. However, people with double nationality felt less lonely compared to both other groups. Results will be discussed in a life-span perspective, considering the role of national family and friendship networks to create a sense belonging as a fundamental need of human beings