Demonstration of linked UAV observations and atmospheric model predictions in chem/bio attack response

Both the faculty and staff from the Departments of Meteorology and Aeronautics evaluated the integration of components for a near-real time decision aid designed to enable small units to respond in a focused way to a ChemBio attack. This effort included the field-testing of an atmospheric dispersion prediction model, an instrumented UAV for collecting meteorological data, and the means for linking the UAV data to real-time dispersion prediction. The primary modeling effort focused on an adaptation of the 'Wind On Constant Streamline Surfaces' (WOCSS) model developed to run on a small computer with input from an external mesoscale model (MM5). The combined models were run for approximately one month for the region surrounding Camp Roberts, CA. In situ meteorological data were collected at the Camp Roberts airfield from 2 October to 5 November 2002 to validate the model predictions. The model results showed promise in capturing the diurnal evolution of near-surface temperatures that drive the local circulations in the warm season. Linking WOCSS with the atmospheric mesoscale model forecasts showed no significant improvement in wind forecasts when compared to the mesoscale model wind forecasts alone. Linking WOCSS to the trajectory visualization code revealed that vertical wind component estimates needed to be improved. The linked model/UAV demonstration of 7-9 October 2002 tested the synthesis of UAV measurements and dispersion model predictions. Although a UAV mishap occurred soon after the demonstration began, the instrumented UAV performance during this early period and in preliminary flight tests indicate that the hardware/software architecture for UAV data collection and its linkage with real-time dispersion prediction will be successful. Overall, the demonstration proved the feasibility of linking a coarse grid mesoscale model to a fine-scale diagnostic wind model for producing fine resolution forward and backward trajectories.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

An Estimate of the Soil Fertility Status of Graves and Todd Counties in Kentucky

Some concern has developed during recent years that fertilizer is being used by farmers on fields with residual levels of P and K high enough that such use is not justified as a means of increasing crop yields. This has been due to increased average soil test values for samples routinely submitted to college soil test laboratories. For this reason, studies were conducted in Graves and Todd Counties in Kentucky during the period September, 1978 to September, 1980, to determine if soil samples routinely submitted to college test laboratories do or do not accurately reflect the average soil fertility status of a county

Atmospheric marine boundary layer measurements in the vicinity of San Nicolas Island during CEWCOM-78

This is a report on the boundary layer aspects of the NPS participation in CEWCOM-78. The primary purpose of the experiment was to determine how representative San Nicolas Island is of an open ocean marine boundary layer and to examine the validity of boundary layer measurements at the NRL tower on the NW tip of the island. Under favorable wind conditions (NW) the turbulence and profile structure of the boundary layer near SNI was characteristic of typical marine conditions. A comparison of simultaneous measurements at the NRL tower and the R/V ACANIA indicated considerable shoreline influence on the velocity fluctuations (U* or epsilon) and the mean wind speed (U) but essentially no influence on temperature fluctuations (CT2). Using the bulk method to calculate T* and xi from the ACANIA data, the actual measurements of CT2 could be predicted to within about a factor of twoNaval Air Systems Command (AIR 3706) Washington, DC and Naval Ocean Systems Center (EOMET).http://archive.org/details/atmosphericmarin00fairN00019-78-WR-81002, N66001-78-WR-00156NAApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Scaling Near-surface Atmospheric and Surface Wave Influences On Radar Propagation Over the Sea

N0001498R3014

Economic analysis of endovascular repair versus surveillance for patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms

BackgroundThe Positive Impact of EndoVascular Options for Treating Aneurysms Early (PIVOTAL) trial enrolled individuals with small (4.0- to 5.0-cm diameter) abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and reported no difference in rupture or aneurysm-related death for patients who received early endovascular repair (EVAR) vs surveillance with serial imaging studies. We evaluated resource use, medical cost, and quality of life outcomes associated with the PIVOTAL treatment strategies.MethodsThis prospective economic and quality of life study was conducted within a randomized trial, with PIVOTAL sites participating in the quality of life (n = 67) and economic (n = 63) studies. The PIVOTAL trial randomized 728 patients (366 early EVAR and 362 surveillance). We used information from 701 quality of life (351 early EVAR and 350 surveillance) and 614 economic (314 early EVAR and 300 surveillance) study participants enrolled in the PIVOTAL trial. The main outcome measures were total medical costs and the aneurysm repair rate at 48 months.ResultsAfter 6 months, the rate of aneurysm repair was 96 vs 10 per 100 patients in the early EVAR and surveillance groups, respectively (difference, 86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 82-90; P < .0001), and total medical costs were greater in the early EVAR group ($33,471 vs$5520; difference, $27,951; 95$25,156-$30,746; P < .0001). In months 7 through 48, however, the rate of aneurysm repair was 54 per 100 patients in the surveillance group, and total medical costs were higher for patients in the surveillance vs the early EVAR group ($40,592 vs $15,197; difference,$25,394; 95% CI, $15,184-$35,605; P < .0001). At 48 months' follow-up, early EVAR patients had greater cumulative use of AAA repair (97 vs 64 per 100 patients; difference, 34; 95% CI, 21-46; P < .0001), but there was no difference in total medical costs ($48,669 vs$46,112; difference, $2557; 95$8043 to $13,156; P = .64). After discounting at 3$47,765 vs $43,532; difference, 4232; 95$5561 to $14,025; P = .40). There were no treatment-related differences in quality of life at 24 months.ConclusionsA treatment strategy involving early repair of smaller AAA with EVAR is associated with no difference in total medical costs at 48 months vs surveillance with serial imaging studies. Longer follow-up is required to determine whether the late medical cost increases observed for surveillance will persist beyond 48 months

Socially Disorganized Rural Communities

The article talks about the social disorganization of rural communities in the U.S. It is stated that family farming has been on the decline for decades, with the numbers of farmers dropping by 16 million since 1950 and farms decreasing by over 4 million during the past century. It is inferred that a part of a community\u27s history and way of life are being forfeited when local business are closing. According to the author, the theory of social disorganization emphasizes social integration and stability as necessary conditions for community. It offers some of the disadvantages of disorganized communities, such as the lack of collective efficacy