Data Recovery from SCATHA Satellite

This document gives a brief description of the SCATHA (P78-2) satellite and consolidates into one location information relevant to the generation of the SCATHA Summary Data parameters for the European Space Agency (ESA), under ESTEC Contract No. 11006/94/NL/CC, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), under Grant No. NAGW-414 1. Included are descriptions of the instruments from which the Summary Data parameters are generated, their derivation, and archival. Any questions pertaining to the Summary Data parameters should be directed to Dr. Joseph Fennell

Additional Thoughts on Rigor in Wildlife Science: Unappreciated Impediments

Traditionally, most scientists accepted reductionist and mechanistic approaches as the rigorous way to do science. Sells et al. (2018) recently raised the argument about reliability in wildlife science. Chamberlin (1890), Platt (1964), Romesburg (1981, 1991, 2009), and Williams (1997) were rightly referenced as very influential papers. My intention in this letter is not to refute the essence of the Sells et al. (2018) commentary but to add seldom addressed but important aspects that influence the attainment of rigor and certainty in wildlife studies. The elements of a rigorous approach (i.e., strong inference) as described by Platt (1964) included devising alternative hypotheses, devising ≥1 crucial experiments that will exclude ≥1 of the hypotheses, and carrying out the experiment to get a clean result. The process was then repeated using logical inductive trees (i.e., a continually bifurcated statement hypotheses approach) to obtain the essential cause for the effect. Platt (1964) agreed with Popper (1959) that science advanced only by disproof. He argued that this was a hard doctrine and leads to disputations between scientists, but that Chamberlin\u27s (1890) method of multiple working hypotheses helped to remove that difficulty. Platt (1964) emphasized inductive inference and crucial and critical experiments whereby alternate hypotheses are refuted. Romesburg (1981) explained that in wildlife biology, induction (reliable associations) and retroduction (developing hypotheses) were the basis for almost all wildlife research but were not sufficient. He proposed the hypothetical‐deductive (H‐D) method as a more reliable approach. Citing Harvey (1969), and Popper (1962), Romesburg (1981:294) explained that “Starting with the research hypothesis, usually obtained by retroduction, predictions are made about other classes of facts that should be true if the research hypothesis is actually true.” The hypothesis is then tested indirectly by using logic to deduce one or more test consequences (Romesburg 2014). Data are then collected in a statistical framework. Romesburg (1981) distinguished between a research hypothesis (i.e., a conjecture about some process) versus a statistical hypothesis (i.e., a conjecture about classes of facts encompassed by the process). Williams (1997) clearly explained the differences between necessary and sufficient causation and gave examples of the coherent logic both entailed. He summarized that the science endeavor included theory, hypotheses, predictions, observations, and comparison of predictions against data, and argued that inductive and deductive logic were required for testing hypotheses. Importantly, Williams (1997:1014) recognized that wildlife biology often involves simultaneous complementary explanatory factors, requiring “the framing of many scientifically interesting issues about cause and effect in terms of the relative contribution of multiple causal factors.” Over the years, many others have addressed the issue of rigor and reliability in the Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM) and the Wildlife Society Bulletin (WSB) either directly (McNab 1983, Eberhardt 1988, Anderson 2001) or indirectly (Steidl et al. 1997, Guthery et al. 2001). This is not a complete list and is limited primarily to JWM and WSB but gives an idea of the wide interest in achieving reliable results from wildlife studies

Convergence of dynamic vegetation net productivity responses to precipitation variability from 10 years of MODIS EVI

According to Global Climate Models (GCMs) the occurrence of extreme events of precipitation will be more frequent in the future. Therefore, important challenges arise regarding climate variability, which are mainly related to the understanding of ecosystem responses to changes in precipitation patterns. Previous studies have found that Above-ground Net Primary Productivity (ANPP) was positively related to increases in annual precipitation and this relation may converge across biomes during dry years. One challenge in studying this ecosystem response at the continental scale is the lack of ANPP field measurements over extended areas. In this study, the MODIS EVI was utilized as a surrogate for ANPP and combined with precipitation datasets from twelve different experimental sites across the United States over a 10-year period. Results from this analysis confirmed that integrated-EVI for different biomes converged toward common precipitation use efficiency during water-limited periods and may be a viable surrogate for ANPP measurements for further ecological research

A study to assess changes in myocardial perfusion after treatment with spinal cord stimulation and percutaneous myocardial laser revascularisation; data from a randomised trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and percutaneous myocardial laser revascularisation (PMR) are treatment modalities used to treat refractory angina pectoris, with the major aim of such treatment being the relief of disabling symptoms. This study compared the change in myocardial perfusion following SCS and PMR treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class 3/4 angina and reversible perfusion defects as assessed by single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were randomised to SCS (34) or PMR (34). 28 subjects in each group underwent repeat myocardial perfusion imaging 12 months post intervention. Visual scoring of perfusion images was performed using a 20-segment model and a scale of 0 to 4.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean (standard deviation) baseline summed rest score (SRS) and stress scores (SSS) were 4.6 (5.7) and 13.6 (9.0) in the PMR group and 6.1 (7.4) and 16.8 (11.6) in the SCS group. At 12 months, SRS was 5.5 (6.0) and SSS 15.3 (11.3) in the PMR group and 6.9 (8.2) and 15.1 (10.9) in the SCS group. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups adjusted for baseline (p = 1.0 for SRS, p = 0.29 for SSS).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was no significant difference in myocardial perfusion one year post treatment with SCS or PMR.</p

The “minimal boundary curve for endothermy” as a predictor of heterothermy in mammals and birds: a review

According to the concept of the “minimal boundary curve for endothermy”, mammals and birds with a basal metabolic rate (BMR) that falls below the curve are obligate heterotherms and must enter torpor. We examined the reliability of the boundary curve (on a double log plot transformed to a line) for predicting torpor as a function of body mass and BMR for birds and several groups of mammals. The boundary line correctly predicted heterothermy in 87.5% of marsupials (n = 64), 94% of bats (n = 85) and 82.3% of rodents (n = 157). Our analysis shows that the boundary line is not a reliable predictor for use of torpor. A discriminate analysis using body mass and BMR had a similar predictive power as the boundary line. However, there are sufficient exceptions to both methods of analysis to suggest that the relationship between body mass, BMR and heterothermy is not a causal one. Some homeothermic birds (e.g. silvereyes) and rodents (e.g. hopping mice) fall below the boundary line, and there are many examples of heterothermic species that fall above the boundary line. For marsupials and bats, but not for rodents, there was a highly significant phylogenetic pattern for heterothermy, suggesting that taxonomic affiliation is the biggest determinant of heterothermy for these mammalian groups. For rodents, heterothermic species had lower BMRs than homeothermic species. Low BMR and use of torpor both contribute to reducing energy expenditure and both physiological traits appear to be a response to the same selective pressure of fluctuating food supply, increasing fitness in endothermic species that are constrained by limited energy availability. Both the minimal boundary line and discriminate analysis were of little value for predicting the use of daily torpor or hibernation in heterotherms, presumably as both daily torpor and hibernation are precisely controlled processes, not an inability to thermoregulate

Observation of two new Ξb−\Xi_b^- baryon resonances

Two structures are observed close to the kinematic threshold in the $\Xi_b^0 \pi^-$ mass spectrum in a sample of proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. In the quark model, two baryonic resonances with quark content $bds$ are expected in this mass region: the spin-parity $J^P = \frac{1}{2}^+$ and $J^P=\frac{3}{2}^+$ states, denoted $\Xi_b^{\prime -}$ and $\Xi_b^{*-}$. Interpreting the structures as these resonances, we measure the mass differences and the width of the heavier state to be $m(\Xi_b^{\prime -}) - m(\Xi_b^0) - m(\pi^{-}) = 3.653 \pm 0.018 \pm 0.006$ MeV$/c^2$, $m(\Xi_b^{*-}) - m(\Xi_b^0) - m(\pi^{-}) = 23.96 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.06$ MeV$/c^2$, $\Gamma(\Xi_b^{*-}) = 1.65 \pm 0.31 \pm 0.10$ MeV, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The width of the lighter state is consistent with zero, and we place an upper limit of $\Gamma(\Xi_b^{\prime -}) < 0.08$ MeV at 95% confidence level. Relative production rates of these states are also reported.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure

Measurement of the CKM angle γ from a combination of B±→Dh± analyses

A combination of three LHCb measurements of the CKM angle γ is presented. The decays B±→D K± and B±→Dπ± are used, where D denotes an admixture of D0 and D0 mesons, decaying into K+K−, π+π−, K±π∓, K±π∓π±π∓, K0Sπ+π−, or K0S K+K− final states. All measurements use a dataset corresponding to 1.0 fb−1 of integrated luminosity. Combining results from B±→D K± decays alone a best-fit value of γ =72.0◦ is found, and confidence intervals are set γ ∈ [56.4,86.7]◦ at 68% CL, γ ∈ [42.6,99.6]◦ at 95% CL. The best-fit value of γ found from a combination of results from B±→Dπ± decays alone, is γ =18.9◦, and the confidence intervals γ ∈ [7.4,99.2]◦ ∪ [167.9,176.4]◦ at 68% CL are set, without constraint at 95% CL. The combination of results from B± → D K± and B± → Dπ± decays gives a best-fit value of γ =72.6◦ and the confidence intervals γ ∈ [55.4,82.3]◦ at 68% CL, γ ∈ [40.2,92.7]◦ at 95% CL are set. All values are expressed modulo 180◦, and are obtained taking into account the effect of D0–D0 mixing

Measurement of the relative rate of prompt χc0, χc1 and χc2 production at √s=7TeV

Prompt production of charmonium χc0, χc1 and χc2 mesons is studied using proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of √s=7TeV. The χc mesons are identified through their decay to J/ψγ, with J/ψ→μ+mu− using photons that converted in the detector. A data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0fb−1 collected by the LHCb detector, is used to measure the relative prompt production rate of χc1 and χc2 in the rapidity range 2.0<y<4.5 as a function of the J/ψ transverse momentum from 3 to 20 GeV/c. First evidence for χc0 meson production at a hadron collider is also presented

Differential branching fraction and angular analysis of the decay B0→K∗0μ+μ−

The angular distribution and differential branching fraction of the decay B 0→ K ∗0 μ + μ − are studied using a data sample, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1. Several angular observables are measured in bins of the dimuon invariant mass squared, q 2. A first measurement of the zero-crossing point of the forward-backward asymmetry of the dimuon system is also presented. The zero-crossing point is measured to be q20=4.9±0.9GeV2/c4 , where the uncertainty is the sum of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions

Hyperfine resolved spectrum of the molecular dication DCl

We have obtained hyperfine-resolved infrared spectra of a PQ23(N) branch line in the v = 2-1 band of the X 3Σ- state of the molecular dication D35Cl2+. Analysis of the hyperfine structure allows us to estimate the magnitude of the Fermi contact interaction for the chlorine nucleus; bF(Cl) = 167 (25) MHz