Space Launch and Reentry Operations Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Concept

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Organization manages the National Airspace System (NAS) for all users. Demand for this airspace is growing as space launch and reentry (L/R) operations increase in number, vehicle and mission types, and locations. Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) is a well-established practice for resolving airspace demand issues among multiple NAS users as it considers multiple stakeholders’ perspectives to make informed decisions. The MITRE Corporation is conducting research on how CDM principles can be applied to L/R operations and has developed an initial Space CDM concept. Our paper describes this concept, including high-level operational elements and supporting technology capabilities. In the concept, collaboration and data exchange inform decision-making during preliminary mission planning, airspace scheduling, airspace management, and real-time operations. Post-operations analysis is performed and feedback provided to improve decision making. This gives L/R operators information on airspace congestion as they consider options for launch and reentry locations and times. Airspace management planning to address airspace congestion considers mission flexibilities and constraints provided by operators. Real-time air traffic management is more dynamic due to increased certainty provided by L/R operational status updates. Through CDM participation, L/R operators have a voice in how airspace demand is managed and in prioritizing processes, information sharing, and capabilities to improve operations. NAS users experience less uncertainty and more predictability of access and schedules through new information exchanges and collaborative processes. This research began in fiscal year (FY) 2018 and continues in FY19 with concept socialization, feedback, expansion, and refinement

Infective endocarditis, 1983–1988: Echocardiographic findings and factors influencing morbidity and mortality

The echocardiograms and clinical records of 70 patients with infective endocarditis seen between 1983 and 1988 were examined to evaluate the role of two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis and identify risk factors for morbidity and mortality. A blinded observer reviewed the echocardiograms for the presence and size of vegetations and the severity of the valvular regurgitation. Vegetations were identified in 54 (78%) of 69 technically satisfactory echocardiograms. In 38 patients whose heart was examined at surgery or autopsy, all vegetations diagnosed by echocardiography were confirmed, but six additional vegetations were found.Abnormal (≥2+) valvular regurgitation was present in 88% of patients. No patient with ≤1+ regurgitation (n = 8) died or required valve surgery for heart failure, but three of the eight patients did undergo surgery for mycotic aneurysm, recurrent embolism or paravalvular abscess. In patients without embolism before echocardiography, there was a trend toward a greater incidence of subsequent embolism in those with vegetations >10 mm in size (26% [8 of 31] compared with 11% [2 of 18] with vegetations ≤10 mm) (p = 0.19). By multivariate analysis, risk factors for in-hospital death (n = 7) were an infected prosthetic valve (p < 0.007), systemic embolism (p < 0.02) and infection with Staphylococcus aureus(p = 0.05).It is concluded that 1) if valvular regurgitation is ≤1+, the risk of in-hospital death is low, and progression to cardiac surgery for hemodynamic instability is unlikely; 2) there is a trend toward a higher risk of embolization in patients with vegetations >10 mm in size; 3) early mortality now relates to infected prosthetic heart valves, embolism and Staphylococcus aureus; and 4) when a paravalvular abscess or prosthetic valve endocarditis is suspected, transthoracic echocardiographic findings are often equivocal and transesophageal echocardiography may be of benefit

EVALUATING EXTENSIVE SHEEP FARMING SYSTEMS

Data from each of 5 commercial, extensive sheep farms in Cumbria, UK were used as parameters in a linear program (LP) representing labour and grazing management in such farming systems. The LP maximised ewe enterprise gross margin subject to constraints dictated by the labour availability and land types on each farm. Under the assumptions used, labour availability and price restricted ewe numbers well below those observed in practice on 2 farms i.e. land resources were adequate for the farming system practiced. On two other farms stocking levels and hence returns were limited by the availability of forage and hence feed input prices relative to output. On one farm, greater grassland productivity was the key determinant of system performance. It was concluded that a holistic systems approach was needed to properly evaluate these farming systems in terms of their potential contribution to animal welfare, land use, profit and hence their sustainabilityLivestock Production/Industries, Extensive, Sheep, Economics, LP,

Impacts of labour on interactions between economics and animal welfare in extensive sheep farms

This study quantified interactions between animal welfare and farm profitability in British extensive sheep farming systems. Qualitative welfare assessment methodology was used to assess welfare from the animal's perspective in 20 commercial extensive sheep farms and to estimate labour demand for welfare, based on the assessed welfare scores using data collected from farm inventories. The estimated labour demand was then used as a coefficient in a linear program based model to establish the gross margin maximising farm management strategy for given farm situations, subject to constraints that reflected current resource limitations including labour supply. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the qualitative welfare assessment scores and labour supply on the inventoried farms but there was no significant relationship between current gross margin and assessed welfare scores. However, to meet the labour demand of the best welfare score, a reduction in flock size and in the average maximum farm gross margin was often required. These findings supported the hypothesis that trade-offs between animal welfare and farm profitability are necessary in providing maximum animal welfare via on-farm labour and sustainable British extensive sheep farming systems.Sheep, Labour, Animal Welfare, Linear Programme, Livestock Production/Industries, C6, Q10, Q19, Q57,

Carbonate Assimilation at Merapi Volcano, Java, Indonesia: Insights from Crystal Isotope Stratigraphy

Recent basaltic andesite lavas from Merapi volcano contain abundant, complexly zoned, plagioclase phenocrysts, analysed here for their petrographic textures, major element composition and Sr isotope composition. Anorthite (An) content in individual crystals can vary by as much as 55 mol% (An40-95) across internal resorption surfaces with a negative correlation between high An mol% (>70), MgO wt% and FeO wt%. In situ Sr isotope analyses of zoned plagioclase phenocrysts show that the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of individual zones range from 0·70568 to 0·70627. The upper end of this range is notably more radiogenic than the host basaltic andesite whole-rocks (< 0·70574). Crystal zones with the highest An content have the highest 87Sr/86Sr values, requiring a source or melt with elevated radiogenic Sr, rich in Ca and with lower Mg and Fe. Recent Merapi eruptive rocks contain abundant xenoliths, including metamorphosed volcanoclastic sediment and carbonate country rock (calc-silicate skarns) analysed here for petrographic textures, mineralogy, major element composition and Sr isotope composition. The xenoliths contain extremely calcic plagioclase (up to An100) and have whole-rock 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0·70584 to 0·70786. The presence of these xenoliths and their mineralogy and geochemistry, coupled with the 87Sr/86Sr ratios observed in different zones of individual phenocrysts, indicate that magma-crust interaction at Merapi is potentially more significant than previously thought, as numerous crystal cores in the phenocrysts appear to be inherited from a metamorphosed sedimentary crustal source. This has potentially significant consequences for geochemical mass-balance calculations, volatile saturation and flux and eruptive behaviour at Merapi and similar island arc volcanic systems elsewher

Web-based technologies to support carers of people living with dementia:a protocol for a mixed methods stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Informal carers play a significant role in supporting people living with dementia; however, carers in rural areas are often isolated, with limited access to support services. Although dementia-friendly communities provide valued support for carers, access to them is limited as they are few and geographically dispersed. OBJECTIVE: This study’s aim was to increase support and services for rural informal carers of people living with dementia by using information and communication technologies accessed through an integrated website and mobile app—the Verily Connect app. The objective of this protocol is to detail the research design used in a complex study that was situated in a challenging real-world setting integrating web-based and on-ground technology and communication. Therefore, it is anticipated that this protocol will strengthen the research of others exploring similar complex concepts. METHODS: A stepped-wedge, open-cohort cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to implement Verily Connect across 12 rural Australian communities. The Verily Connect intervention delivered web-based, curated information about dementia, a localized directory of dementia services and support, group and individual chat forums, and peer support through videoconference. During the implementation phase of 32 weeks, Verily Connect was progressively implemented in four 8-weekly waves of 3 communities per wave. Usual care, used as a comparator, was available to carers throughout the study period. Participants and researchers were unblinded to the intervention. There were 3 cohorts of participants: carers, volunteers, and staff; participants were recruited from their communities. The primary outcome measure was perceived carer social support measured using the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. Volunteers and staff provided feedback on their participation in Verily Connect as qualitative data. Qualitative data were collected from all cohorts of participants through interviews and focus groups. Process evaluation data were collected through interviews and memos written by research staff. Data on the costs of implementing Verily Connect were collected by the research team members and evaluated by a health economist. RESULTS: Between August 2018 and September 2019, a total of 113 participants were recruited. There were 37 (32.7%) carers, 39 (34.5%) volunteers, and 37 (32.7%) health service staff. The study was complex because of the involvement of multiple and varied communities of carers, volunteers, health service staff, and research team members originating from 5 universities. Web-based technologies were used as intervention strategies to support carers and facilitate the process of undertaking the study. CONCLUSIONS: The Verily Connect trial enabled the testing and further development of a web-based approach to increasing support for carers of people living with dementia across a diverse rural landscape in Australia. This protocol provides an example of how to conduct a pragmatic evaluation of a complex and co-designed intervention involving multiple stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001213235; https://tinyurl.com/4rjvrasf INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/3302

Quantification of phosphorus loss from soil to water.

End of Project ReportThe methods, results and discussion of the project are in five separate sections, 4.1) Phosphorus (P) export from agricultural grassland with overland flow and drainage water (Johnstown Castle); 4.2) Phosphorus export from farm in Dripsey catchment, Co. Cork (NMP); 4.3) Hydrometeorological aspects of farm in Dripsey Catchment (NMP); 4.4) Phosphorus desorption from Irish soils; 4.5) National phosphorus model. Most of the field and laboratory studies were carried out at Johnstown Castle, at UCC and the field site in the Dripsey catchment. The main aim of the project was to quantify the loss of P from soil to water where point source contributions from farmyards were not high. This involved the construction of hydrologically isolated field sites where the quantity of overland flow and the P concentrations for different runoff events from the fields could be measured. In addition, 90 soil samples representative of Irish soils were collected and analysed for the different factors influencing soil adsorption and desorption of P. These results, in addition to catchment data, were used as a first attempt at developing a model that could be used to help predict P loss from soil to water at a catchment scale. The study in the Dripsey was on a farm where water flow and P levels at two points in a stream were measured. The hydrometeorology at this site was also studied. At Johnstown Castle, three overland flow sites, of the order of one hectare each, and one subsurface flow site were studied for P loss to water.Environmental Protection Agency

Developing a model of short-term integrated palliative and supportive care for frail older people in community settings: perspectives of older people, carers and other key stakeholders

Background: Understanding how best to provide palliative care for frail older people with non-malignant conditions is an international priority. We aimed to develop a community-based episodic model of short-term integrated palliative and supportive care (SIPS) based on the views of service users and other key stakeholders in the United Kingdom. Method: Transparent expert consultations with health professionals, voluntary sector and carer representatives including a consensus survey; and focus groups with older people and carers were used to generate recommendations for the SIPS model. Discussions focused on three key components of the model: potential benefit of SIPS; timing of delivery; and processes of integrated working between specialist palliative care and generalist practitioners. Content and descriptive analysis was employed and findings integrated across the data sources. Findings: We conducted two expert consultations (n=63), a consensus survey (n=42) and three focus groups (n=17). Potential benefits of SIPS included holistic assessment, opportunity for end of life discussion, symptom management, and carer reassurance. Older people and carers advocated early access to SIPS, while other stakeholders proposed delivery based on complex symptom burden. A priority for integrated working was the assignment of a key worker to coordinate care, but the assignment criteria remain uncertain. Interpretation: Key stakeholders agree that a model of SIPS for frail older people with non-malignant conditions has potential benefits within community settings, but differ in opinion on the optimal timing and indications for this service. Our findings highlight the importance of consulting all key stakeholders in model development prior to feasibility evaluation