Measuring Image Navigation and Registration Performance at the 3-Sigma Level Using Platinum Quality Landmarks

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Image Navigation and Registration (INR) performance is specified at the 3- level, meaning that 99.7% of a collection of individual measurements must comply with specification thresholds. Landmarks are measured by the Replacement Product Monitor (RPM), part of the operational GOES ground system, to assess INR performance and to close the INR loop. The RPM automatically discriminates between valid and invalid measurements enabling it to run without human supervision. In general, this screening is reliable, but a small population of invalid measurements will be falsely identified as valid. Even a small population of invalid measurements can create problems when assessing performance at the 3-sigma level. This paper describes an additional layer of quality control whereby landmarks of the highest quality ("platinum") are identified by their self-consistency. The platinum screening criteria are not simple statistical outlier tests against sigma values in populations of INR errors. In-orbit INR performance metrics for GOES-12 and GOES-13 are presented using the platinum landmark methodology

Stakeholder-driven multi-attribute analysis for energy project selection under uncertainty

In practice, selecting an energy project for development requires balancing criteria and competing stakeholder priorities to identify the best alternative. Energy source selection can be modeled as multi-criteria decision-maker problems to provide quantitative support to reconcile technical, economic, environmental, social, and political factors with respect to the stakeholders' interests. Decision making among these complex interactions should also account for the uncertainty present in the input data. In response, this work develops a stochastic decision analysis framework to evaluate alternatives by involving stakeholders to identify both quantitative and qualitative selection criteria and performance metrics which carry uncertainties. The developed framework is illustrated using a case study from Fairbanks, Alaska, where decision makers and residents must decide on a new source of energy for heating and electricity. We approach this problem in a five step methodology: (1) engaging experts (role players) to develop criteria of project performance; (2) collecting a range of quantitative and qualitative input information to determine the performance of each proposed solution according to the selected criteria; (3) performing a Monte-Carlo analysis to capture uncertainties given in the inputs; (4) applying multi-criteria decision-making, social choice (voting), and fallback bargaining methods to account for three different levels of cooperation among the stakeholders; and (5) computing an aggregate performance index (API) score for each alternative based on its performance across criteria and cooperation levels. API scores communicate relative performance between alternatives. In this way, our methodology maps uncertainty from the input data to reflect risk in the decision and incorporates varying degrees of cooperation into the analysis to identify an optimal and practical alternative

Impact of soft handover and pilot pollution on video telephony in a commercial network

Soft handover (SHO) provides better support for user mobility. The quality of service (QoS) to the mobile wireless subscribers can also grant benefits from SHO. To analyze the impact of SHO on the circuit switched (CS) video telephony (VT); real-time measurements have been conducted on a commercial WCDMA mobile network in the CBD of Sydney, Australia. Live measurement provides a practical approach to evaluate performance of commercial network. The obtained SHO gain implies that better QoS can be achieved. Furthermore, the negative impact of pilot pollution on radio link quality has been demonstrated in this paper. ©2010 IEEE

Vulnerability analysis of satellite-based synchronized smart grids monitoring systems

The large-scale deployment of wide-area monitoring systems could play a strategic role in supporting the evolution of traditional power systems toward smarter and self-healing grids. The correct operation of these synchronized monitoring systems requires a common and accurate timing reference usually provided by a satellite-based global positioning system. Although these satellites signals provide timing accuracy that easily exceeds the needs of the power industry, they are extremely vulnerable to radio frequency interference. Consequently, a comprehensive analysis aimed at identifying their potential vulnerabilities is of paramount importance for correct and safe wide-area monitoring system operation. Armed with such a vision, this article presents and discusses the results of an experimental analysis aimed at characterizing the vulnerability of global positioning system based wide-area monitoring systems to external interferences. The article outlines the potential strategies that could be adopted to protect global positioning system receivers from external cyber-attacks and proposes decentralized defense strategies based on self-organizing sensor networks aimed at assuring correct time synchronization in the presence of external attacks

Benzylic fluorination induced by a charge-transfer complex with a solvent-dependent selectivity switch

We present a divergent strategy for the fluorination of phenylacetic acid derivatives that is induced by a charge-transfer complex between Selectfluor and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine. A comprehensive investigation of the conditions revealed a critical role of the solvent on the reaction outcome. In the presence of water, decarboxylative fluorination through a single-electron oxidation is dominant. Non-aqueous conditions result in the clean formation of α-fluoro-α-arylcarboxylic acids

Benzylic fluorination induced by N–F bond activation of Selectfluor^® with a solvent-dependent selectivity switch

We present a divergent radical strategy for the fluorination of phenylacetic acid derivatives through N–F bond activation of Selectfluor® with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine. Comprehensive reaction investigation revealed the critical role of reaction media on selectivity. In presence of water, decarboxylative fluorination through a single electron oxidation is dominant. Non-aqueous conditions result in the clean formation of α-fluoro-α-arylcarboxylic acids through hydrogen atom transfer

Using genetic data to predict the vulnerability of a native predator to a toxic invader

Australia has no native toad species, and as a consequence, many Australian predators lack resistance to the toxins of the invasive cane toad Rhinella marina, and die if they ingest one of these toads. Resistance is conferred by a small and consistent genetic change, so genetic data can provide a rapid, non-invasive way to clarify the vulnerability of as-yet-unstudied taxa. To evaluate the hypothesis that a recent decline of ghost bat Macroderma gigas populations in tropical Australia is due to ingestion of cane toads, we sequenced the H1-H2 extracellular domain of the sodium-potassium-ATPase. Two anuran-eating Asian relatives of the Australian species possess the genes that confer bufotoxin resistance, but the ghost bat does not. Like varanid lizards (major victims of the toad invasion), Australian ghost bats appear to have lost their physiological resistance to toad toxins but retained generalist foraging behaviours, potentially including a readiness to attack toads as well as frogs. Our genetic data suggest that cane toads may imperil populations of this iconic predator, and detailed behavioural and ecological studies are warranted.Richard Shine, Supen Wang, George Madani, Kyle N. Armstrong, Libiao Zhang, Yi-Ming L

Numerical analysis of the combined aging and fillet effect of the adhesive on the mechanical behavior of a single lap joint of type Aluminum/Aluminum

Bonded joints have proven their performance against conventional joining processes such as welding, riveting and bolting. The single-lap joint is the most widely used to characterize adhesive joints in tensile-shear loadings. However, the high stress concentrations in the adhesive joint due to the non-linearity of the applied loads generate a bending moment in the joint, resulting in high stresses at the adhesive edges. Geometric optimization of the bonded joint to reduce this high stress concentration prompted various researchers to perform geometric modifications of the adhesive and adherends at their free edges. Modifying both edges of the adhesive (spew) and the adherends (bevel) has proven to be an effective solution to reduce stresses at both edges and improve stress transfer at the inner part of the adhesive layer. The majority of research aimed at improving the geometry of the plate and adhesive edges has not considered the effect of temperature and water absorption in evaluating the strength of the joint. The objective of this work is to analyze, by the finite element method, the stress distribution in an adhesive joint between two 2024-T3 aluminum plates. The effects of the adhesive fillet and adherend bevel on the bonded joint stresses were taken into account. On the other hand, degradation of the mechanical properties of the adhesive following its exposure to moisture and temperature was found. The results clearly showed that the modification of the edges of the adhesive and of the bonding agent have an important role in the durability of the bond. Although the modification of the adhesive and bonding edges significantly improves the joint strength, the simultaneous exposure of the joint to temperature and moisture generates high stress concentrations in the adhesive joint that, in most cases, can easily reach the failure point of the material even at low applied stresses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Typologie des eaux de surface du bassin du Sebou par multi-approche : corrélation entre indice biologique global des réseaux de contrôle et de surveillance (IBG-RCS) et l’approche physicochimique et microbiologique

L’étude consiste en l’utilisation de la démarche biologique, particulièrement les indices IBGN et IBG-RCS, pour montrer l’évolution de la qualité biologique des eaux de surface du bassin du Sebou dans la période 2009-2011. La caractérisation physicochimique/microbiologique de la qualité des eaux de surface et la caractérisation biologique moyennant l’indice biocénotique IBG-RCS de l’an 2011ont fait l’objet d’un traitement statistique. Les résultats obtenus montrent une certaine amélioration dans la qualité des eaux de surface du bassin d’étude. L’analyse statistique a montré la formation de deux groupes corrélés négativement, le premier composé de l’oxygène dissous et l’indice IBG-RCS alors que le deuxième est formé des paramètres révélateurs de pollution organique (DBO5, DCO, NH4+, Phosphate Total PT et coliformes fécaux : CF).Mots-clés : Bassin Hydraulique du Sebou, indice IBG-RCS, qualité - biologique, macro-invertébrés, qualité physicochimique.Sebou’s water surface multi-approaches typology: correlation between the global biological index of control and surveillance networks (IBG-RCS) and the physicochemical/microbiological approachThe study consists of using the biological approach, especially the IBGN and the IBG-RCS indexes, to show the evolution of the biological surface waters quality of the Sebou basin in the period of 2009-2011. The physicochemical/microbiological surface waters quality characterization and the biological characterization (IBG-RCS index) of the year 2011 were the subject of a statistical processing. The results showed some improvement in surface waters quality. The statistical analysis showed the formation of two negatively correlated groups, the first consisting of dissolved oxygen and the IBG-RCS index while the second consists of the parameters indicative of pollution (BOD5, COD, NH4+, PT and CF).Keywords : hydraulic basin of Sebou, IBG-RCS index, biological quality, macroinvertebrates, physicochimical quality

Managing Forest Conflicts: Perspectives of Indonesia's Forest Management Unit Directors

Recent expansion of the forestry and plantation sectors in Indonesia has intensified agrarian and natural resource conflicts, and created increased awareness of the social, economic and environmental impacts of these disputes. Addressing these disputes is a critical issue in advancing Indonesia's commitment to sustainable forest management. The Forest Management Units (Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan, or KPH), have become the pivotal structural element for managing all state forests at the local level, with responsibility for conventional forest management and policy implementation (establishing management boundaries, conducting forest inventory, and developing forest management plans), as well as the legal mandate to communicate and work with indigenous people and local communities. This paper presents the results of a national survey of all currently functioning KPH units, the first of its kind ever conducted with KPH leadership, to obtain a system-wide perspective of the KPHs' role, mandate, and capacity for serving as effective intermediaries in managing forest conflicts in Indonesia. The survey results show that the KPHs are still in a very initial stage of development, and are struggling with a complex and rapidly evolving policy and institutional framework. The most common conflicts noted by respondents included forest encroachment, tenure disputes, boundary conflicts, and illegal logging and land clearing. KPH leadership views conflict resolution as among their primary duties and functions, and underscored the importance of more proactive and collaborative approaches for addressing conflict, many seeing themselves as capable facilitators and mediators. Overall, these results juxtapose a generally constructive view by KPH leadership over their role and responsibility in addressing forest management conflicts, with an extremely challenging social, institutional, and political setting. The KPHs can certainly play an important role as local intermediaries, and in some cases, as facilitative mediators in resolving local conflicts, but only with a more concerted effort from central and provincial government authorities to provide greater consistency in policies and regulations, improved policy communication, and a sustained commitment to strengthening the capacity of individual KPHs