Laboratory spectroscopy in support of atmospheric measurements

Optical measurements of trace species in the atmosphere require precise, accurate spectroscopic data for the molecules under study. This laboratory exits to provide high quality spectroscopic data for the interpretation of data from existing satellite, balloon, ground, and aircraft instruments, as well as to provide sufficient data to assess the feasibility of new instruments

Ground-based lidar measurements of stratospheric ozone. The NASA/GSFC stratospheric ozone lidar trailer experiment STROZ LITE

The major research objective is the measurement of high precision vertical profiles of ozone between 20-40 kilometers. The precision is such that the instrument should be capable of detecting a small trend (on the order of less that 1 percent per year) over a 5-10 year period. Temperature was measured between 30 and 365 km. The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) mobile lidar was installed at Table Mountain and a comparison between it and the permanent Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) lidar was made over the course of about 3 weeks. The lidars agreed very well between 20 and 40 km, and under certain conditions up to 45-47 km. There were several anomalies that both lidars followed very well. Agreement with Rocket Ozonesonde (ROCOZ) and electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) sondes was also very good

Exploiting SCADA system data for wind turbine performance monitoring.

This paper presents the results of a short study into utilising wind farm supervisory control and data acqui- sition (SCADA) system data for performance monitoring of large utility-scale wind turbines. The general approach taken is to model the turbine power output of each turbine during fault-free operation and to subsequently use the trained model to identify performance degradation by analysing the residual between the predicted and observed power values for each turbine. Historical data from a large wind farm is used to train and test the turbine models. The trained models are then tested on historical turbine failure examples. The results suggest that the data collected by wind farm SCADA systems, which are typically installed as standard on most modern wind farms, can be exploited for gaining an insight into wind turbine performance and maintenance condition

Visual-Vestibular Integration During Self-Motion Perception in Younger and Older Adults

Younger adults integrate visual and vestibular cues to self-motion in a manner consistent with optimal integration; however, little is currently known about whether this process changes with older age. Our objective was to determine whether older adults, like younger adults, display evidence of optimal visual-vestibular integration, including reductions in bimodal variance (visual-vestibular) compared with unimodal variance (visual or vestibular alone), and reliability-based cue weighting. We used a motion simulator and a head-mounted display to introduce a 2-interval forced-choice heading estimation task. Older (65+ years) and younger adults (18–35 years) judged which of two movements was more rightward. Movements consisted of vestibular cues (passive movement in darkness), visual cues (optic flow), or both cues combined. The combined condition contained either congruent cues or incongruent cues (either a subtle 5° or larger 20° conflict). Results demonstrated that older adults had less reliable visual heading estimates than younger adults but comparable vestibular heading estimates. During combined, congruent conditions, both age groups exhibited reductions in combined variance, consistent with predicted optimal integration. During subtle cue conflicts, only younger adults exhibited combined variance consistent with predicted optimal integration, but both age groups displayed reliability-based cue weighting. During larger spatial conflicts, neither group demonstrated optimal reductions in variance. Younger adults displayed reliability-based cue weighting but older adults’ heading estimates were biased toward the less reliable visual estimate. Older adults’ tendency to incorporate spatially conflicting and unreliable visual cues into their self-motion percept may affect their performance on mobility-related tasks like walking and driving

Implementation of an Adaptive Controller System from Concept to Flight Test

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center (Edwards, California) is conducting ongoing flight research using adaptive controller algorithms. A highly modified McDonnell-Douglas NF-15B airplane called the F-15 Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS) was used for these algorithms. This airplane has been modified by the addition of canards and by changing the flight control systems to interface a single-string research controller processor for neural network algorithms. Research goals included demonstration of revolutionary control approaches that can efficiently optimize aircraft performance for both normal and failure conditions, and to advance neural-network-based flight control technology for new aerospace systems designs. Before the NF-15B IFCS airplane was certified for flight test, however, certain processes needed to be completed. This paper presents an overview of these processes, including a description of the initial adaptive controller concepts followed by a discussion of modeling formulation and performance testing. Upon design finalization, the next steps are: integration with the system interfaces, verification of the software, validation of the hardware to the requirements, design of failure detection, development of safety limiters to minimize the effect of erroneous neural network commands, and creation of flight test control room displays to maximize human situational awareness

SPIRIT Checklist, Myopia Outcome Study of Atropine in Children (MOSAIC): Design and Methodology

Purpose The Myopia Outcome Study of Atropine in Children (MOSAIC) aims to explore the efficacy, safety, acceptability and mechanisms of action of 0.01% atropine for myopia control in a European population. Methods MOSAIC is an investigator-led, double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial (RCT) investigating the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action of 0.01% atropine in myopia progression management. During Phase 1 of the trial, 250 children aged 6-16 years with progressive myopia apply eye drops once nightly in both eyes from randomisation to month 24. No treatment is given during Phase 2 from month 24 to 36 (washout period) for those participants initially randomised to the intervention arm (n=167), during which any potential rebound effects on termination of treatment will be monitored. All participants initially assigned to the placebo (n=83) crossover to the intervention arm of the study for Phase 2, and from month 24 to 36, instil 0.01% atropine eye drops once nightly. Further treatment and monitoring beyond 36 months is planned (Phase 3) and will be designed dependent on the outcomes of Phase 1. Results The primary outcome measure is spherical equivalent refractive error progression at 24 months. Secondary outcome measures include axial length change as well as the rebound, safety and acceptability profile of 0.01% atropine. Additional analyses will include the mechanisms of action of 0.01% atropine for myopia control. Conclusion The generalisability of results from previous clinical trials investigating atropine for myopia control is limited by the ethnic make-up of the study populations, which were predominantly Asian. MOSAIC is the first RCT to explore the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action of unpreserved 0.01% atropine in a predominantly white population

Investing in Human Capital in Difficult Times: Maine’s Competitive Skills Scholarship Program

The authors describe how the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, administered by the Maine Department of Labor, aims both to meet the needs of Maine employers through improved access to a skilled labor force and to improve job prospects for low-income Mainers by providing access to educa­tion, training, and support. They note that many currently unemployed workers do not have the skills or experience to take advantage of the new job opportunities that are likely to arise, and that there is a demonstrated correlation between higher levels of education and training and both higher income and reduced unemployment. Preliminary data suggest a high level of satisfaction by program participants and that graduates are finding positions in high-growth, high-wage occupations