Payload crew interface design criteria and techniques. Task 1: Inflight operations and training for payloads

Guidelines are developed for use in control and display panel design for payload operations performed on the aft flight deck of the orbiter. Preliminary payload procedures are defined. Crew operational concepts are developed. Payloads selected for operational simulations were the shuttle UV optical telescope (SUOT), the deep sky UV survey telescope (DUST), and the shuttle UV stellar spectrograph (SUSS). The advanced technology laboratory payload consisting of 11 experiments was selected for a detailed evaluation because of the availability of operational data and its operational complexity

Payload crew activity planning integration. Task 2: Inflight operations and training for payloads

The primary objectives of the Payload Crew Activity Planning Integration task were to: (1) Determine feasible, cost-effective payload crew activity planning integration methods. (2) Develop an implementation plan and guidelines for payload crew activity plan (CAP) integration between the JSC Orbiter planners and the Payload Centers. Subtask objectives and study activities were defined as: (1) Determine Crew Activity Planning Interfaces. (2) Determine Crew Activity Plan Type and Content. (3) Evaluate Automated Scheduling Tools. (4) Develop a draft Implementation Plan for Crew Activity Planning Integration. The basic guidelines were to develop a plan applicable to the Shuttle operations timeframe, utilize existing center resources and expertise as much as possible, and minimize unnecessary data exchange not directly productive in the development of the end-product timelines

The DIY Data Collecting Computer Project: Integrating the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and Scholarship of Community Engagement

This poster highlights an innovative STEM project focused on two goals: (1) reducing the cost of computer-based measuring devices, and (2) the implementation of these devices in middle school classrooms. The first phase of the project -- creating the DIY Data Collecting Computer -- was a collaborative effort between computer science and science teacher education faculty and their students. Single-board computers, including the Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno, were used as the basis for the data collecting computer. In the second phase, the university team worked with middle school teachers and administrators to implement a multi-day unit in which eighth grade students built the computer in a technology elective class. Once created, these computers were used by the students as measuring devices in their physical science class. Multi-level collaborative effort was involved throughout, with cross-departmental university collaboration, university and middle school collaboration, and finally, cross-subject middle school collaboration

Symmetry-breaking in chiral polymerisation

We propose a model for chiral polymerisation and investigate its symmetric and asymmetric solutions. The model has a source species which decays into left- and right-handed types of monomer, each of which can polymerise to form homochiral chains; these chains are susceptible to `poisoning' by the opposite handed monomer. Homochiral polymers are assumed to influence the proportion of each type of monomer formed from the precursor. We show that for certain parameter values a positive feedback mechanism makes the symmetric steady-state solution unstable. The kinetics of polymer formation are then analysed in the case where the system starts from zero concentrations of monomer and chains. We show that following a long induction time, extremely large concentrations of polymers are formed for a short time, during this time an asymmetry introduced into the system by a random external perturbation may be massively amplified. The system then approaches one of the steady-state solutions described above.Comment: 26pages, 6 Figure

The support model for people with legally modified abilities according to United Nations

Este artículo se basa en una investigación social sobre el sistema de protección jurídica de las personas con algún tipo de discapacidad o en situación de dependencia que se encuentran sometidas a las figuras de tutela o curatela, en aplicación de lo previsto y establecido en el Código Civil Español, en sus artículos 199 y 200, así como en la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil. La investigación se plantea como un estudio comparado entre diferentes países de la Unión Europea para ver su adecuación a lo establecido en el artículo 12 de la Convención de Naciones Unidas sobre derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (en adelante, CDPD) en los procedimientos de incapacitación. Los resultados se analizan sobre la base de modelos técnico-sociales de intervención, los análisis jurídicos y la experiencia adquirida por las Fundación Tutelares de Castilla y León. Se proponen y diseñan algunas alternativas y servicios que pueden mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas adultas incapacitadas judicialmente y el tipo de apoyos que se les puede prestar, de acuerdo a lo establecido en la Convención de Naciones Unidas.This article is based on social research into the system of legal protection for persons with disabilities or in a situation of dependence who are subject to the figures of guardianship or conservatorship pursuant to the provisions in the Spanish Civil Code, sections 199 and 200, as well as the Code of Civil Procedure. The research is presented as a comparative study between different countries of the European Union regarding the adaptation to the provisions of Article 12 of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter CRPD) Incapacitation procedures. The results are analyzed on the basis of technical-social intervention models, legal analysis and the experience of Guardianship Foundations of Castilla y León. Some alternatives and services are proposed and designed that can improve the quality of life of legally incapacitated persons and the type of support that can be provided to them in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention

Homochirality and the need of energy

The mechanisms for explaining how a stable asymmetric chemical system can be formed from a symmetric chemical system, in the absence of any asymmetric influence other than statistical fluctuations, have been developed during the last decades, focusing on the non-linear kinetic aspects. Besides the absolute necessity of self-amplification processes, the importance of energetic aspects is often underestimated. Going down to the most fundamental aspects, the distinction between a single object -- that can be intrinsically asymmetric -- and a collection of objects -- whose racemic state is the more stable one -- must be emphasized. A system of strongly interacting objects can be described as one single object retaining its individuality and a single asymmetry; weakly or non-interacting objects keep their own individuality, and are prone to racemize towards the equilibrium state. In the presence of energy fluxes, systems can be maintained in an asymmetric non-equilibrium steady-state. Such dynamical systems can retain their asymmetry for times longer than their racemization time.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Origins of Life and Evolution of Biosphere

Historic characteristics and mortality of patients in the Swiss Amyloidosis Registry

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Systemic amyloidoses are rare protein-folding diseases with heterogeneous, often nonspecific clinical presentations. To better understand systemic amyloidoses and to apply state-of-the-art diagnostic pathways and treatment, the interdisciplinary Amyloidosis Network was founded in 2013 at University Hospital Zurich. In this respect, a registry was implemented to study the characteristics and life expectancy of patients with amyloidosis within the area covered by the network. Patient data were collected retrospectively for the period 2005–2014 and prospectively from 2015 onwards. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or older diagnosed with any subtype of systemic amyloidosis were eligible for inclusion if they were treated in one of the four referring centres (Zurich, Chur, St Gallen, Bellinzona). Baseline data were captured at the time of diagnosis. Follow-up data were assessed half-yearly for the first two years, then annually. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and March 2020, 247 patients were screened, and 155 patients with confirmed systemic amyloidosis were included in the present analysis. The most common amyloidosis type was light-chain (49.7%, n = 77), followed by transthyretin amyloidosis (40%, n = 62) and amyloid A amyloidosis (5.2%, n = 8). Most patients (61.9%, n = 96) presented with multiorgan involvement. Nevertheless, single organ involvement was seen in all types of amyloidosis, most commonly in amyloid A amyloidosis (75%, n = 6). The median observation time of the surviving patients was calculated by the reverse Kaplan-Meier method and was 3.29 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.33–4.87); it was 4.87 years (95% CI 3.14–7.22) in light-chain amyloidosis patients and 1.85 years (95% CI 1.48–3.66) in transthyretin amyloidosis patients, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 87.0% (95% CI 79.4–95.3%), 68.5% (95% CI 57.4–81.7%) and 66.0% (95% CI 54.6–79.9%) respectively for light-chain amyloidosis patients and 91.2% (95% CI 83.2–99.8%), 77.0% (95% CI 63.4–93.7%) and 50.6% (95% CI 31.8–80.3%) respectively for transthyretin amyloidosis patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.81). CONCLUSION: During registry set-up, a more comprehensive work-up of our patients suffering mainly from light-chain amyloidosis and transthyretin amyloidosis was implemented. Survival rates were remarkably high and similar between light-chain amyloidosis and transthyretin amyloidosis, a finding which was noted in similar historic registries of international centres. However, further studies are needed to depict morbidity and mortality as the amyloidosis landscape is changing rapidly

High Current, High frequency ECRIS development program for LHC heavy ion beam application

A research program with the aim of producing pulsed currents with hitherto unequalled intensity of Pb27+, with length and repetition ratecompatible with those desired by CERN (1 mAe / 400 ms / 10 Hz in the context of future heavy ion collisions at LHC) is organised in acollaboration between CERN/GSI/CEA-Grenoble and IN2P3-ISNG.Two main experimental programs will be carried out : (i) tests with the LNS-Catania team on the SERSE superconducting source with a 28 GHzgyrotron, (ii) tests on a non-superconducting source (new source at Grenoble) with a 28 GHz gyrotron. For this purpose CEA/DRFMC hasborrowed from CEA a 28 GHz - 10 kW gyrotron transmitter.The project includes also the construction of a source body, by ISNG, with conventional coils and permanent magnets for working at the frequencyof about 28 GHz and biased up to 60 kV. This source called PHOENIX will run on a test bench at ISN. PHOENIX is an improvement of thepresent ECR4-14.5 GHz/CERN source, having a mirror ratio R=2 at 14.5 GHz, and R=1.7 at 28 GHz (possibly reaching 2.1 T on the axis of thesource), and with a plasma volume up to 2.5 larger.Experiments at 28 GHz will be performed on the SERSE source in Catania at INFN/LNS where both the axial and the hexapolar fields will bevaried so that the mirror ratio is continuously varied up to R=1.6 ; the SERSE source will be also operated at lower magnetic fields such as thosewhich can be produced by conventional magnets (less than 2 T axial field at injection - far from the 28 GHz High-B mode)