Extracting scene feature vectors through modeling, volume 3

The remote estimation of the leaf area index of winter wheat at Finney County, Kansas was studied. The procedure developed consists of three activities: (1) field measurements; (2) model simulations; and (3) response classifications. The first activity is designed to identify model input parameters and develop a model evaluation data set. A stochastic plant canopy reflectance model is employed to simulate reflectance in the LANDSAT bands as a function of leaf area index for two phenological stages. An atmospheric model is used to translate these surface reflectances into simulated satellite radiance. A divergence classifier determines the relative similarity between model derived spectral responses and those of areas with unknown leaf area index. The unknown areas are assigned the index associated with the closest model response. This research demonstrated that the SRVC canopy reflectance model is appropriate for wheat scenes and that broad categories of leaf area index can be inferred from the procedure developed

Analysis of longitudinal pilot-induced oscillation tendencies of YF-12 aircraft

Aircraft flight and ground tests and simulator studies were conducted to explore pilot-induced oscillation tendencies. Linear and nonlinear calculations of the integrated flight control system's characteristics were made to analyze and predict the system's performance and stability. The investigations showed that the small-amplitude PIO tendency was caused by the interaction of the pilot with a combination of the aircraft's short-period poles and the structural first bending mode zeros. It was found that the large-amplitude PIO's were triggered by abrupt corrective control actions by the pilot, which caused the stability augmentation system servo to position and rate limit. The saturation in turn caused additional phase lag, further increasing the tendency of the overall system to sustain a PIO

Signature extension for sun angle, volume 1

The author has identified the following significant results. Within a restricted zenith sun angle range of 35 - 50 degrees, it was empirically observed that canopy reflectance is mainly Lambertian. Reflectance changes with crop stage were simple shifts in scale in the sun angle range. It was noted that sun angle variations depend on canopy characteristics. Effects of the vegetative canopy were most pronounced at the larger solar zenith angles (20 %). The linear sun angle correction coefficients demonstrate a dependency on both crop stage (15-20 %) and crop type (10-20 %). The use of canopy reflectance modeling allowed for the generation of a simulated data set over an extremely broad envelope of sun angles

Signature extension for spectral variation in soils, volume 4

The reduced 1975-1976 field data at Garden City, Kansas are presented. These data are being used to evaluate the SRVC model predictions, to compare the ERIM-SUITS model with both the SRVC results and field data, and finally, to provide a data base for reviewing multitemporal trajectories. In particular, the applicability of the tasselled cap transformation is reviewed. The first detailed verification of this approach utilizing actual field measured data from the LACIE field measurement program, rather than LANDSAT data, is given

Identifying studies for systematic reviews - An example from medical imaging

Objectives: To determine if published figures on the proportion of articles included in systematic reviews and identified in electronic databases are applicable to an example from medical imaging. Methods: A systematic review was performed. Additionally, sensitivity and precision of a MEDLINE search were compared with values from three published searches, each customized for a specific field. Results: All articles included in the systematic review were in electronic databases. The MEDLINE search had low precision compared with searches in other fields. Conclusions: in a specific area of medical imaging, electronic databases, including MEDLINE, are reliable sources of articles

Happiness as stable extraversion : internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire among undergraduate students

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) was developed by Hills and Argyle (2002) to provide a more accessible equivalent measure of the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). The aim of the present study was to examine the internal consistency reliability, and construct validity of this new instrument alongside the Eysenckian dimensional model of personality. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was completed by a sample of 131 undergraduate students together with the abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The data demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (alpha = .92) and good construct validity in terms of positive association with extraversion (r = .38 p < .001) and negative association with neuroticism (r = −.57 p < .001). The kind of happiness measured by the OHQ is clearly associated with stable extraversion

Theoretical derivation of 1/f noise in quantum chaos

It was recently conjectured that 1/f noise is a fundamental characteristic of spectral fluctuations in chaotic quantum systems. This conjecture is based on the behavior of the power spectrum of the excitation energy fluctuations, which is different for chaotic and integrable systems. Using random matrix theory we derive theoretical expressions that explain the power spectrum behavior at all frequencies. These expressions reproduce to a good approximation the power laws of type 1/f (1/f^2) characteristics of chaotic (integrable) systems, observed in almost the whole frequency domain. Although we use random matrix theory to derive these results, they are also valid for semiclassical systems.Comment: 5 pages (Latex), 3 figure

Anonymity or transparency in reporting of medial error: a community-based survey in South Australia

The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Objectives: To seek public opinion on the reporting of medical errors and the anonymity of healthcare workers who report medical errors. Design and participants: A random, representative survey of 2005 South Australians in April 2002, using telephone interviews based on a vignette provided. Main outcome measures: When a medical error occurs (i) whether the incident should be reported, and (ii) whether the report should disclose the healthcare worker’s identity. Results: (i) Most respondents (94.2%; 95% CI, 93.0%–95.2%) believed healthcare workers should report medical errors. (ii) 68.0% (95% CI, 65.5%–70.5%) of those in favour of reporting believed the healthcare worker should be identified on the report, while 29.2% (95% CI, 26.7%–31.7%) favoured anonymous reporting. Conclusions: Most respondents believed that, when a healthcare worker makes an error, an incident report should be written and the individual should be identified on the report. Respondents were reluctant to accept healthcare worker anonymity, even though this may encourage reporting.Sue M Evans, Jesia G Berry, Brian J Smith and Adrian J Esterma

Attitudes of doctors and nurses towards incident reporting: a qualitative analysis

The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Objectives: (i) To examine attitudes of medical and nursing staff towards reporting incidents (adverse events and near-misses), and (ii) to identify measures to facilitate incident reporting. Design: Qualitative study. In March 2002, semistructured questions were administered to five focus groups — one each for consultants, registrars, resident medical officers, senior nurses, and junior nurses. Participants and setting: 14 medical and 19 nursing staff recruited using purposive sampling from three metropolitan public hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia. Main outcome measures: Attitudes and barriers to incident reporting; differences in reporting behaviour between disciplines; how to facilitate incident reporting. Results: Cultural differences between doctors and nurses, identified using Triandis’ theory of social behaviour, were found to underpin attitudes to incident reporting. Nurses reported more habitually than doctors due to a culture which provided directives, protocols and the notion of security, whereas the medical culture was less transparent, favoured dealing with incidents “in-house” and was less reliant on directives. Common barriers to reporting incidents included time constraints, unsatisfactory processes, deficiencies in knowledge, cultural norms, inadequate feedback, beliefs about risk, and a perceived lack of value in the process. Conclusions: Strategies to improve incident reporting must address cultural issues.Marilyn J Kingston, Sue M Evans, Brian J Smith and Jesia G Berr