Advanced Solidstate Array Spectroradiometer

During the Summer of 1987, the Advanced Solidstate Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) was installed and flown on the NASA Ames C-130 in support of the First International Field Experiment (FIFE) missions. The study site was over the grassland areas of the Konza Prairie in Kansas. The data collected with ASAS during these flights has been used to produce the first nearly simultaneous multiangular/multispectral images of selected terrestrial study sites. This data will be valuable in the study of surface bidirectional reflectance and albedo. The data will also be useful for the development of data analysis algorithms for future spaceborne instruments such as the Goddard MODIS-T and JPL's HIRIS. The flight data acquired is further analyzed

Delineation of Soil Boundaries Using Image Enhancement and Spectral Signature Classification of Landsat Data

The concept of using satellite data for soils inventories began with the advent of the first ERTS launch in 1972. Landsat data can be useful in a field survey, if it satisfies one or both of two requirements: the products must improve the accuracy of the survey and/or it must expedite the survey. These goals can be achieved by creating products that enhance and delineate soil surface features that would not necessarily identify specific soil types but rather provide a spatial boundary that a field scientist could observe and evaluate. A 250,000 acre tract of semiarid rangeland in east central Utah was selected as the study area. A June 13, 1977 Landsat scene was chosen for analysis. The color composite combined with such ancillary data as geologic maps and topographic quadrangles aided in partitioning the study site in to areas of physiographic homogeneity. A principle components transformation was performed on the data and a uniform contrast stretch was applied to the unaltered spectral bands and the transformed axes. The contrast stretch increased the dynamic tonal range of the data, and created as many as 32 different tonal classes. Various color combinations and a number of density slices were evaluated for their interpretability. A spectral signature classification of the June scene was developed using both supervised and unsupervised classification algorithms. A canonical analysis was then performed on the thematic maps to improve class separability for image enhancement. The more promising image products were geometrically corrected, scaled to 1:24,000, and merged with data digitized from a partially completed soils map. The resulting map allowed comparisons between soil lines drawn by a field soil mapper and the classes defined by computer analysis. Both the enhanced images and the spectral classification maps aided in the delineation of soil boundaries. Enhanced images are inexpensive to generate and, as no subjective class groupings are made, have the added quality of objectivity. The spectral classification maps defined surface characteristics that could be used to help separate soil units. A cost analysis for the individual products and an indepth field evaluation is being completed

Life histories and community structure of the caddisflies (Trichoptera) of two Alaskan subarctic streams

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1985The ecology of Trichoptera was studied in two streams in interior Alaska. Monument Creek and West Fork are characterized by cold water temperatures, low allochthonous input and periphyton biomass, and lengthy ice cover. Nine species were found, Rhyacophila vofixa ? (Rhyacophilidae), Glossosoma verdona, G. alascense (Glossosomatidae), Brachycentrus americanus (Brachycentridae), Hydatophylax variabilis, Ecclisomyia conspersa, Onocosmoecus unicolor, Chyranda centralis and Apatania crymophila (Limnephilidae). There were four shredders, three scrapers, one omnivore, and one predator. Within shredders and scrapers, species had sequentially overlapping life histories, perhaps allowing functionally similar species to use the same food resources. Latitudinal gradients in the North American Trichoptera fauna were investigated using approximately 90 studies from the literature and unpublished Alaskan data. Taxonomic richness showed a weak negative correlation with latitude in light trap studies. Hydropsychoidea showed an inverse correlation, while Limnephiloidea and Limnephilidae showed positive correlations with latitude. Density and biomass were also negatively correlated to latitude.Alaska Cooperative Fisheries Research Uni

Landsat Science: 40 Years of Innovation and Opportunity

Landsat satellites have provided unparalleled Earth-observing data for nearly 40 years, allowing scientists to describe, monitor and model the global environment during a period of time that has seen dramatic changes in population growth, land use, and climate. The success of the Landsat program can be attributed to well-designed instrument specifications, astute engineering, comprehensive global acquisition and calibration strategies, and innovative scientists who have developed analytical techniques and applications to address a wide range of needs at local to global scales (e.g., crop production, water resource management, human health and environmental quality, urbanization, deforestation and biodiversity). Early Landsat contributions included inventories of natural resources and land cover classification maps, which were initially prepared by a visual interpretation of Landsat imagery. Over time, advances in computer technology facilitated the development of sophisticated image processing algorithms and complex ecosystem modeling, enabling scientists to create accurate, reproducible, and more realistic simulations of biogeochemical processes (e.g., plant production and ecosystem dynamics). Today, the Landsat data archive is freely available for download through the USGS, creating new opportunities for scientists to generate global image datasets, develop new change detection algorithms, and provide products in support of operational programs such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD). In particular, the use of dense (approximately annual) time series to characterize both rapid and progressive landscape change has yielded new insights into how the land environment is responding to anthropogenic and natural pressures. The launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) satellite in 2012 will continue to propel innovative Landsat science

Landsat Data Continuity Mission - Launch Fever

The year 2013 will be an exciting period for those that study the Earth land surface from space, particularly those that observe and characterize land cover, land use, and the change of cover and use over time. Two new satellite observatories will be launched next year that will enhance capabilities for observing the global land surface. The United States plans to launch the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) in January. That event will be followed later in the year by the European Space Agency (ESA) launch of the first Sentinel 2 satellite. Considered together, the two satellites will increase the frequency of opportunities for viewing the land surface at a scale where human impact and influence can be differentiated from natural change. Data from the two satellites will provide images for similar spectral bands and for comparable spatial resolutions with rigorous attention to calibration that will facilitate cross comparisons. This presentation will provide an overview of the LDCM satellite system and report its readiness for the January launch

Exploring the impact of a Compassion Focused Therapy training course on Healthcare Educators

Background: Stress and particularly burnout, is a major problem among healthcare workers and can lead to high staff turnover and low patient/client satisfaction. Objective: To explore the impact of three-day Compassion Focused Therapy training on those delivering education to healthcare students. The underpinning premise was that the training course could potentially be replicated through the participants’ work with students embarking on a career within the helping professions. Design: Mixed methods study, with the qualitative findings being presented in this paper. Setting: Training course was delivered in one higher education institution in England. Methods: In total 44 healthcare lecturers attended the course, with 6 taking part in a reflective focus group. Findings: The analysis highlighted four main themes: reassurance and increased knowledge; increased compassion others; self-compassion and empathy; and blocks to compassion. Conclusion: Findings add to previous quantitative research findings showing that participants who undertook training were able to engage with their compassionate self and consider the importance of showing compassion towards the self and others in healthcare education

Prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus in beef bulls slaughtered at two abattoirs in northern Australia

Bovine trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoal parasite Tritrichomonas foetus, is a highly contagious venereal disease characterised by early pregnancy loss, abortion and pyometra. Persistently infected bulls and cows are the primary reservoirs of infection in infected herds. This research investigated the prevalence of T. foetus infection in bulls from properties located across northern Australia and New South Wales. Preputial samples were collected from 606 bulls at slaughter and tested for T. foetus using the VetMAX-Gold Trich Detection Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The apparent prevalence of T. foetus infection varied between regions, with northern regions in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia showing a prevalence of 15.4%, 13.8% and 11.4%, respectively. There was some evidence of an association between infection and postcode (P = 0.06) and increasing bull age (P = 0.054). This study confirms that T. foetus infection is likely to be present in many beef breeding herds and contributing to lower than expected reproductive performance, particularly across northern Australia

The diurnal cycle of shallow cumulus clouds over land: A single-column model intercomparison study

An intercomparison study for single-column models (SCMs) of the diurnal cycle of shallow cumulus convection is reported. The case, based on measurements at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program Southern Great Plains site on 21 June 1997, has been used in a large-eddy simulation intercomparison study before. Results of the SCMs reveal the following general deficiencies: too large values of cloud cover and Cloud liquid water, unrealistic thermodynamic profiles, and high amounts of numerical noise. Results are also strongly dependent on vertical resolution.These results are analysed in terms of the behaviour of the different parametrization schemes involved: the convection scheme, the turbulence scheme, and the cloud scheme. In general the behaviour of the SCMs can be grouped in two different classes: one class with too strong mixing by the turbulence scheme, the other class with too strong activity by the convection scheme. The coupling between (subcloud) turbulence and the convection scheme plays a crucial role. Finally, (in part) motivated by these results several models have been successfully updated with new parametrization schemes and/or their present schemes have been successfully modifie

A systematic review on the effects of group singing on persistent pain in people with long‐term health conditions

Singing can have a range of health benefits; this paper reviews the evidence of the effects of group singing for chronic pain in people with long‐term health conditions. We searched for published peer‐reviewed singing studies reporting pain measures (intensity, interference and depression) using major electronic databases (last search date 31 July 2018). After screening 123 full texts, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria: five randomized controlled trials (RCTs), seven non‐RCTs and one qualitative study. Included studies were appraised using Downs and Black and the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme quality assessments. Included studies reported differences in the type of singing intervention, long‐term condition and pain measures. Due to the high heterogeneity, we conducted a narrative review. Singing interventions were found to reduce pain intensity in most studies, but there was more equivocal support for reducing pain interference and depression. Additionally, qualitative data synthesis identified three key linked and complementary themes: physical, psychological and social benefits. Group singing appears to have the potential to reduce pain intensity, pain interference and depression; however, we conclude that there is only partial support for singing on some pain outcomes based on the limited available evidence of varied quality. Given the positive findings of qualitative studies, this review recommends that practitioners are encouraged to continue this work. More studies of better quality are needed. Future studies should adopt more robust methodology and report their singing intervention in details. Group singing may be an effective and safe approach for reducing persistent pain and depression in people with long‐term health conditions.Health and Social Care Research Centr