Application of high-precision two-way ranging to Galileo Earth-1 encounter navigation

The application of precision two-way ranging to orbit determination with relatively short data arcs is investigated for the Galileo spacecraft's approach to its first Earth encounter (December 8, 1990). Analysis of previous S-band (2.3-GHz) ranging data acquired from Galileo indicated that under good signal conditions submeter precision and 10-m ranging accuracy were achieved. It is shown that ranging data of sufficient accuracy, when acquired from multiple stations, can sense the geocentric angular position of a distant spacecraft. A range data filtering technique, in which explicit modeling of range measurement bias parameters for each station pass is utilized, is shown to largely remove the systematic ground system calibration errors and transmission media effects from the Galileo range measurements, which would otherwise corrupt the angle-finding capabilities of the data. The accuracy of the Galileo orbit solutions obtained with S-band Doppler and precision ranging were found to be consistent with simple theoretical calculations, which predicted that angular accuracies of 0.26-0.34 microrad were achievable. In addition, the navigation accuracy achieved with precision ranging was marginally better than that obtained using delta-differenced one-way range (delta DOR), the principal data type that was previously used to obtain spacecraft angular position measurements operationally

Development of a prototype real-time automated filter for operational deep space navigation

Operational deep space navigation has been in the past, and is currently, performed using systems whose architecture requires constant human supervision and intervention. A prototype for a system which allows relatively automated processing of radio metric data received in near real-time from NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) without any redesign of the existing operational data flow has been developed. This system can allow for more rapid response as well as much reduced staffing to support mission navigation operations

Determination of the effect of collars containing 10% w/w imidacloprid and 4.5% w/w flumethrin (Seresto®) on the incidence of Leishmania and other canine vector-borne pathogen infections in Greece

Background: The objective of this field study was to assess the effect of treating a considerable portion of a dog population naturally exposed to canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBPs) in endemic areas with a 10% w/w imidacloprid/4.5% w/w flumethrin collar (Seresto®) on the transmission of CVBPs and the resulting incidence of infection. Methods: A total of 479 dogs from two sites were enrolled in the study. Collars were placed on all dogs continuously for 21 months, with replacement of the collar every 7 months. All dogs were examined, including body weight and blood/conjunctival swab collections, every 7 months. Serum samples were analysed for the presence of antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. PCR assays were also performed on blood samples and conjunctival swab collected from the dogs for the presence of L. infantum, and on blood samples only for the presence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Sand flies were collected, identified to species level and molecularly tested for L. infantum throughout two vector activity seasons. Results: The results showed that the Seresto collar was safe with continuous use. At study inclusion, 419, 370 and 453 dogs tested negative for L. infantum, Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp., respectively (353 dogs tested negative for any pathogen). Overall, 90.2% of the dogs were protected from L. infantum infection on both sites combined. The entomological survey confirmed the presence of competent vectors of L. infantum at all monitored locations, namely the sand flies Phlebotomus neglectus and Phlebotomus tobbi, both of which are regarded as the most important competent vectors in the Mediterranean basin. All captured sand flies tested negative for L. infantum. Protection against ticks and fleas was high, with only two dogs showing a low number of ticks and seven dogs having low numbers of fleas at single evaluation time points. Across the entire study population, a number of dogs became infected with tick-transmitted pathogens, but prevention of transmission was 93% for E. canis and 87.2% for Anaplasma spp. when all cases from both sites were combined. Conclusions: The Seresto® (10% w/w imidacloprid/4.5% w/w flumethrin) collar significantly reduced the risk of CVBP transmission when compared to previously observed incidences of CVBP infections in two highly endemic areas under field conditions

Infrared Ellipsometry Analysis of Heritage Photographic Prints

[EN] Focusing on the photographic archive of Julian Carrillo (Mexico), we study and characterize the photographic processes of a set of 13 photographs dated between 1884 and 1925. By using infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry, we classified a selected set of photographs according to its kind of binder. Thus, we recognized for each photograph, the presence of proteins, and therefore, the particular photographic process. Furthermore, we have identified the presence of baryta layer, the use of plasticizer, and the eventual coating utilized to protect the photograph, whose composition was based in natural organic components, mainly shellac, beeswax, or camphorNieto-Villena, A.; Martinez, JR.; Flores-Camacho, JM.; Lastras-Martinez, A.; De La Cruz-Mendoza, JA.; Ortega-Zarzosa, G.; Valcarcel Andrés, JC.... (2018). Infrared Ellipsometry Analysis of Heritage Photographic Prints. Studies in Conservation. 63(8):466-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2018.1476962S466476638Brambilla, L., Riedo, C., Baraldi, C., Nevin, A., Gamberini, M. C., D’Andrea, C., … Toniolo, L. (2011). Characterization of fresh and aged natural ingredients used in historical ointments by molecular spectroscopic techniques: IR, Raman and fluorescence. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 401(6), 1827-1837. doi:10.1007/s00216-011-5168-zCasoli, A., & Fornaciari, S. (2014). An analytical study on an early twentieth-century Italian photographs collection by means of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Microchemical Journal, 116, 24-30. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2014.04.003Cattaneo, B., Chelazzi, D., Giorgi, R., Serena, T., Merlo, C., & Baglioni, P. (2008). Physico-chemical characterization and conservation issues of photographs dated between 1890 and 1910. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 9(3), 277-284. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2008.01.004Daher, C., Paris, C., Le Hô, A.-S., Bellot-Gurlet, L., & Échard, J.-P. (2010). A joint use of Raman and infrared spectroscopies for the identification of natural organic media used in ancient varnishes. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 41(11), 1494-1499. doi:10.1002/jrs.2693Edwards, H. G. M., Farwell, D. W., & Daffner, L. (1996). Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopic study of natural waxes and resins. I. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 52(12), 1639-1648. doi:10.1016/0584-8539(96)01730-8Fujiwara, H. (2007). Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. doi:10.1002/9780470060193Hendriks, K., & Ross, L. (1988). Chemical Treatments of Discoloured Photographic Prints: Image Manipulation or Legitimate Restoration? The Journal of Photographic Science, 36(3), 132-132. doi:10.1080/00223638.1988.11736990Mallégol, J., Gardette, J.-L., & Lemaire, J. (2000). Long-term behavior of oil-based varnishes and paints. Photo- and thermooxidation of cured linseed oil. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 77(3), 257-263. doi:10.1007/s11746-000-0042-4Nieto-Villena, A., Martínez, J. R., de la Cruz-Mendoza, J. A., Valcárcel-Andrés, J. C., Ortega-Zarzosa, G., Solbes-García, Á., & Vázquez-Martínez, E. (2018). Atomic force microscopy as a tool for binder identification in ancient photographic processes. Surface and Interface Analysis, 50(4), 496-505. doi:10.1002/sia.6408Ostroff, Eugene. 1966. “Restoration of Photographs by Neutron Activation.” Science 154 (3745): 119–123. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/154/3745/119.Othmer, Kirk, ed. 2005. Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Vol. 17, 5th ed. New York: Wiley.Ricci, C., Bloxham, S., & Kazarian, S. G. (2007). ATR-FTIR imaging of albumen photographic prints. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 8(4), 387-395. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2007.07.002Sifontes, Á. B., Cañizales, E., Toro-Mendoza, J., Ávila, E., Hernández, P., Delgado, B. A., … Cruz-Barrios, E. (2015). Obtaining Highly Crystalline Barium Sulphate Nanoparticles via Chemical Precipitation and Quenching in Absence of Polymer Stabilizers. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2015, 1-8. doi:10.1155/2015/510376Stulik, Dusan, Herant Khanjian, Alberto de Tagle, and Alexandra M. Botelho. 2002. “Investigation of Jean-Louis-Marie-Eugene Durieu’s Toning and Varnishing Experiments: A Non-Destructive Approach.” ICOM Committee for Conservation 13th Triennial Meeting, Río de Janeiro, 658–663.Price, Beth A., and Boris Pretzel, eds. 2009. Infrared and Raman Users Group Spectral Database. 2007 ed. Vol. 1 & 2. Philadelphia: IRUG. Accessed June 20, 2014. http://www.irug.org/.Vila, A., & Centeno, S. A. (2013). FTIR, Raman and XRF identification of the image materials in turn of the 20th century pigment-based photographs. Microchemical Journal, 106, 255-262. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2012.07.01

Prevalence and incidence of vector-borne pathogens in unprotected dogs in two Brazilian regions

Background: Various vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) affect dogs worldwide, with their diversity and force of infection being usually higher in the tropics. Cross-sectional studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence of VBPs in dogs, but data from longitudinal studies are scarce. Herein, we assessed the prevalence and the year-crude incidence (YCI) of Leishmania spp. and other VBPs in privately-owned dogs from two geographical regions of Brazil. Methods: A total of 823 dogs were initially screened for Leishmania spp. by both serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From the negatives, 307 (103 from São Joaquim de Bicas, Minas Gerais, and 204 from Goiana, Pernambuco) were randomly selected for the longitudinal study. These dogs were tested for various VBPs at baseline, after 8 and 12 months. Results: Out of 823 dogs initially screened, 131 (15.9%) were positive for Leishmania spp. Out of the 307 dogs enrolled in the longitudinal study, 120 (39.1%) were lost for different reasons (e.g. animal death, owner decision, and lost to follow-up). In São Joaquim de Bicas, the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 16.5% and 7.1% for Anaplasma spp.; 81.6% and 100% for Babesia spp.; 0% and 1.3% (only one faint positive) for Dirofilaria immitis; 37.9% and 22.9% for Ehrlichia spp.; 19.5% and 43.8% for Leishmania spp. In Goiana, the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 45.1% and 38.3% for Anaplasma spp.; 79.9% and 96.0% for Babesia spp.; 36.3% and 39.8% for D. immitis; 64.7% and 58.5% for Ehrlichia spp.; 14.7% and 19.6% for Leishmania spp. Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were not detected in any of the samples tested herein. The prevalence and YCI of Anaplasma spp., D. immitis and Ehrlichia spp. were significantly higher in Goiana. In contrast, the YCI of Leishmania spp. infection was significantly higher in São Joaquim de Bicas. Conclusions: We confirmed a high prevalence and YCI of various VBPs among privately-owned dogs in two geographical regions of Brazil. Our data also indicate that the risk of infection varies significantly for individual VBPs and between the regions, which may be related to several factors that are still poorly understood.[Figure not available: see fulltext.