Thermal infrared spectroscopy of Europa and Callisto

The trailing hemispheres of Europa and Callisto were observed at 9–13 μm, and a spectrum of Europa with better spectral resolution and a better signal-to-noise ratio than was previously possible has been derived. The ratio spectrum of the two satellites has a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 30 for a spectral resolving power of approximately 50. The disk-integrated, effective color temperature ratio for the two satellites is consistent with broadband, thermal infrared photometry from previous ground-based studies and from the Galileo photopolarimeter radiometer. The ratio spectrum was combined with the average Voyager 1 spectrum of Callisto to obtain a 9–13 μm spectrum of Europa with a signal-to-noise ratio that is a factor of 10 better than that in the average Voyager spectrum of Europa. After convolving the measured spectrum to the expected width of water ice emissivity features, ∼1 μm, no spectral features that could be attributed to water ice on the surface of Europa are apparent at the 0.6–0.7% level. The absence of spectral features attributable to water ice is consistent with the proposal that the equatorial region of Europa that was observed may be composed primarily of a heavily hydrated mineral. The absence of water ice features may also be the result of a large fractional abundance of fine particles, such as that found on the surface of the Moon

Linking Cellular Mechanisms to Behavior: Entorhinal Persistent Spiking and Membrane Potential Oscillations May Underlie Path Integration, Grid Cell Firing, and Episodic Memory

The entorhinal cortex plays an important role in spatial memory and episodic memory functions. These functions may result from cellular mechanisms for integration of the afferent input to entorhinal cortex. This article reviews physiological data on persistent spiking and membrane potential oscillations in entorhinal cortex then presents models showing how both these cellular mechanisms could contribute to properties observed during unit recording, including grid cell firing, and how they could underlie behavioural functions including path integration. The interaction of oscillations and persistent firing could contribute to encoding and retrieval of trajectories through space and time as a mechanism relevant to episodic memory.Silvio O. Conte Center (NIMH MH71702, MH60450); National Institute of Mental Health Research (MH60013, MH61492); National Science Foundation (SLC SBE 0354378); National Institute of Drug Abuse (DA16454)

Reality-monitoring characteristics in confirmed and doubtful allegations of abuse

According to reality-monitoring theory, memories of experienced and imagined events are qualitatively different, and can be distinguished by children from the age of 3. Across three studies, a total of 119 allegations of sexual abuse by younger (aged 3-8) and older (aged 9-16) children were analyzed for developmental differences in the presence of reality-monitoring criteria, which should characterise descriptions of experienced events. Statements were deemed likely or unlikely to be descriptions of actual incidents using independent case information (e.g., medical evidence). Accounts by older children consistently contained more reality-monitoring criteria than those provided by younger children, and age differences were particularly strong when the cases were deemed doubtful (Studies 1 and 2)

Experiences with and interpretation of standard test methods of building energy analysis tools

The authors separately apply ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2001 to the simulation program TRNSYS, comparing not only their results but the differences in their simulation assumptions and in their interpretations of the Standard's test cases. Results of the application are presented for all three authors, showing that there is a significant amount of leeway within a complex simulation tool such asTRNSYS for users of different backgrounds to apply their own common simulating practices and still fall comfortably within the range of acceptability specified by such Standards. Included in the application results are results of sensitivity tests that demonstrate the relative importance of assumption differences

The differing magnitude distributions of the two Jupiter Trojan color populations

The Jupiter Trojans are a significant population of minor bodies in the middle Solar System that have garnered substantial interest in recent years. Several spectroscopic studies of these objects have revealed notable bimodalities with respect to near-infrared spectra, infrared albedo, and color, which suggest the existence of two distinct groups among the Trojan population. In this paper, we analyze the magnitude distributions of these two groups, which we refer to as the red and less red color populations. By compiling spectral and photometric data from several previous works, we show that the observed bimodalities are self-consistent and categorize 221 of the 842 Trojans with absolute magnitudes in the range H<12.3 into the two color populations. We demonstrate that the magnitude distributions of the two color populations are distinct to a high confidence level (>95%) and fit them individually to a broken power law, with special attention given to evaluating and correcting for incompleteness in the Trojan catalog as well as incompleteness in our categorization of objects. A comparison of the best-fit curves shows that the faint-end power-law slopes are markedly different for the two color populations, which indicates that the red and less red Trojans likely formed in different locations. We propose a few hypotheses for the origin and evolution of the Trojan population based on the analyzed data.Comment: Published in AJ; 26 pages, 7 figure

Converging on a recommended set of interpretations and assumptions in applying standard tests to energy analysis tools

The authors, having individually applied ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2001 to the simulation program TRNSYS in a previous project, compare their results, simulation assumptions, and interpretations of the Standard's test cases to arrive at a conformed set of recommended practices. Sensitivities to individual assumptions are investigated and results of applying the conformed set of assumptions are presented

A Spatial Analysis of Farm Payment Recipients Using the FSA 1614 Dataset

We report results from preliminary analysis of the recently constructed dataset from the Farm Service Agency, FSA 1614. FSA 1614 provides the location of the farm and the farm payment recipient for all Title I payments. This makes it possible to analyze the spatial dispersion between landowner and farm more precisely than previously possible. A discussion of what research questions could be informed through the use of this data is provided. We find that a significant percentage of payments are sent to individuals that are likely to be absentee landowners, although this value is much smaller when looking at the total value of payments. These national results are compared to four corn belt states.Agricultural Finance,

Are economic forecasts rational?

This paper discusses at an undergraduate level how forecast rationality can be tested. It explains that forecasters should correctly use any relevant information they knew in making their predictions. It shows that forecast rationality can be tested by determining whether the forecasters' prediction errors are predictable. After addressing what data and methods can be used for testing rationality, the paper presents tests of the price-forecast rationality of individual professional forecasters. Unlike results of previous studies, the test results show that those forecasters' price predictions appear to be rational.Forecasting ; Rational expectations (Economic theory)

PROJECTED COSTS AND RETURNS - SUGARCANE, LOUISIANA, 1997

This report presents estimates of costs and returns associated with sugarcane production practices in Louisiana for 1997. It is part of a continuing effort to provide farmers, researchers, extension personnel, lending agencies and others working in agriculture and/or agribusiness timely planning information.Farm Management,

Combining different validation techniques for continuous software improvement - Implications in the development of TRNSYS 16

Validation using published, high quality test suites can serve to identify different problems in simulation software: modeling and coding errors, missing features, frequent sources of user confusion. This paper discusses the application of different published validation procedures during the development of a new TRNSYS version: BESTEST/ASHRAE 140 (Building envelope), HVAC BESTEST (mechanical systems) and IEA ECBCS Annex 21 / SHC Task 12 empirical validation (performance of a test cell with a very simple mechanical system). It is shown that each validation suite has allowed to identify different types of problems. Those validation tools were also used to diagnose and fix some of the identified problems, and to assess the influence of code modifications. The paper also discusses some limitations of the selected validation tools