Patch effect in drag-free satelites

To compensate for the non–gravitational orbital disturbances drag free satellites monitor and control their position with respect to a reference body enclosed inside their structure. The body, shielded from the environment, follows a free fall trajectory when its motion can be ideally considered decoupled from that of the spacecraft. Lessons learned from Gravity Probe B and the design of the Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle experiment strongly motivate the study of the force and torque between the reference body and the spacecraft due to uneven distributions of electrostatic potentials. Additional interest to that comes also from prospective space experiments as Microscope and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

The Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Mungbean (Vigna radiata) Determined by High-throughput Pyrosequencing: Structural Organization and Phylogenetic Relationships

Mungbean is an economically important crop which is grown principally for its protein-rich dry seeds. However, genomic research of mungbean has lagged behind other species in the Fabaceae family. Here, we reported the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of mungbean obtained by the 454 pyrosequencing technology. The mungbean cp genome is 151 271 bp in length which includes a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26 474 bp separated by a small single-copy region of 17 427 bp and a large single-copy region of 80 896 bp. The genome contains 108 unique genes and 19 of these genes are duplicated in the IR. Of these, 75 are predicted protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes and 29 tRNA genes. Relative to other plant cp genomes, we observed two distinct rearrangements: a 50-kb inversion between accD/rps16 and rbcL/trnK-UUU, and a 78-kb rearrangement between trnH/rpl14 and rps19/rps8. We detected sequence length polymorphism in the cp homopolymeric regions at the intra- and inter-specific levels in the Vigna species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between Vigna and Phaseolus in the phaseolinae subtribe and provided a strong support for a monophyletic group of the eurosid I

A longitudinal investigation of psychological morbidity in patients with ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer patients may experience psychological disorders due to the aggressive nature of the illness and treatment. We investigated the presence of psychological disorders longitudinally in women with a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and the factors that predicted development and maintenance of these disorders. Patients were assessed in a prospective longitudinal study at the beginning of chemotherapy treatment, mid-treatment, end of treatment and 3 months follow-up for depression, anxiety, perceived social support, neuroticism and cognitive strategies to control unwanted thoughts. A total of 121 patients were recruited and 85 patients were assessed at all four time points. Three different longitudinal profiles of anxiety and depression caseness were found: non-cases (never cases), occasional cases (cases on at least one but not all four occasions) and stable cases (cases on all four occasions). Most of the women were occasional cases of anxiety (52%, 44), whereas for depression, the majority of women were non-cases (55%, 47). A subset of patients were stable cases of anxiety (22%, 19). Neuroticism and marital status were significant independent predictors of anxiety caseness profile. Neuroticism and use of anti-depressants were independent predictors of depression caseness profile. Social support was not related to psychological morbidity

Learning to learn: improving attainment, closing the gap at Key Stage 3

In 2010, a comprehensive secondary school in the south of England implemented a whole-school approach to ‘learning to learn’ (L2L). Drawing on a range of evidence-based practices, a team of teachers worked collaboratively to design and deliver a taught L2L curriculum to all students throughout Key Stage 3. In total, the first cohort of students (n = 118) received more than 400 taught lessons throughout years 7–9. The impact of L2L on student attainment at Sea View was evaluated over those 3 years, using the pre-L2L cohort as a matched control group (n = 148). By the end of year 9, a significantly higher proportion of L2L students were either hitting or exceeding their target grades, compared with the control group. There was also a significant closing of the attainment gap between students eligible for the pupil premium and their peers (2%, vs. 25% in the control group). Key features of the L2L approach at Sea View are considered in terms of similarities and differences with other L2L approaches. Conclusions are drawn that the success of this approach lies in the combination of multiple effective practices. Recommendations for further research and development of the field are proposed

Environmental Dashboards: Fostering Pro-environmental and Pro-community Thought and Action Through Feedback

Early humans experienced intimate and continuous feedback from the natural world that informed and constrained decision-making and helped individuals see themselves as part of larger wholes. This experience and perspective has been undermined by cultural, economic and ecological transformation. Characterization of universities as “ivory towers” reflects a parallel separation and alienation—a perceived disconnect between knowledge generation and practical application to solve societal challenges. This paper reviews how “environmental dashboard” is being used as a novel form of “ecofeedback” to engage educational institutions with the ecological and social communities in which they are embedded. The dashboard technology and approach incorporate three scales of feedback: (1) “building dashboards” dynamically display water and electricity consumption in individual buildings; (2) “citywide dashboards” animate whole community resource flows; (3) “community voices” combine images and words drawn from interviews to celebrate local thought and action that advance sustainability in diverse communities. A pilot implementation in Oberlin, Ohio displays all three components on digital signs in public spaces including schools, storefronts, community organizations and the Oberlin College campus. We use this as a case study to explore how students and faculty have employed an educational model emphasizing civic engagement to develop and manage the technology and co-produce knowledge and content with the larger community. Research indicates that this technology enhances systems thinking, promotes energy and water conservation and stimulates content retention. The technology and findings are widely applicable to other communities that are now implementing environmental dashboard