Synchronizing geospatial-intelligence to the dismounted soldier

Thesis (S.M. in System Design and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010."June 2010." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-126).The Army's Geospatial Enterprise (AGE) has an emerging identity and value proposition arising from the need to synchronize geospatial information activities across the Army in order to deliver value to military decision makers. Recently, there have been significant efforts towards increasing the capability of the enterprise to create value for its diverse stakeholder base, ranging from the warfighter, to early stage research and development. The AGE has many architectural alternatives to consider as it embarks upon geospatial transformation within the Army, each of these alternatives must deliver value through an increasingly wide range of operating environments characterized by the uncertainty of both future technology and the evolution of future operations. This research focuses on understanding how the Army's geospatial foundation data layers propagate through the battlefield and enable well informed tactical decisions. The goal of this investigation is to develop heuristics to guide the transformation efforts currently underway within the Army's Geospatial Enterprise. A set of surveys and informal interviews with individuals in the Army geospatial community inform the "as-is" enterprise architecture. A system dynamics (SD) model is developed to simulate the current state enterprise at the enterprise boundary, where the AGE delivers value to the warfighters at the tactical level. Potential future state architectures are developed, simulated in the SD model, and evaluated against a changing environment using Epoch-Era analysis. The results do not attempt to optimize a desired future architecture for the AGE, but rather inform decision making early in enterprise development to assist the Army geospatial leadership to understand possible transformation trajectories. Several candidate architectures are developed and evaluated within the context of dynamic environmental conditions. Given lower resource availability, the best architectural choice is to focus on capturing the geospatial information obtained by Soldiers as they travel around the area of operations, learning about the terrain from experiences and interactions with local populations. As the level of funding increases, there is a significant jump in geospatial information if a geospatial sensor is deployed while at the same time synchronizing information dissemination and use. Aligning resources appropriately to a coordinated geospatial architectural approach is important to future military operations as new technologies continue to require increased geospatial information quality.by James E. Richards.S.M.in System Design and Managemen

Risk Assessment of E. coli Survival Up to the Grazing Exclusion Period After Dairy Slurry, Cattle Dung, and Biosolids Application to Grassland

peer-reviewedGrassland application of dairy slurry, cattle dung, and biosolids offers an opportunity to recycle valuable nutrients (N, P, and K), which may all introduce pathogens to the soil environment. Herein, a temporal risk assessment of the survival of Escherichia coli (E. coli) up to 40 days in line with the legislated grazing exclusion time points after application was examined across six scenarios: (1) soil and biosolids mixture, (2) biosolids amended soil, (3) dairy slurry application, (4) cattle dung on pasture, (5) comparison of scenario 2, 3, and 4, and (6) maximum legal vs. excess rate of application for scenario 2 and 3. The risk model input parameters were taken or derived from regressions within the literature and an uncertainty analysis (n = 1,000 trials for each scenario) was conducted. Scenario 1 results showed that E. coli survival was higher in the soil/biosolids mixture for higher biosolids portion, resulting in the highest 20 day value of residual E. coli concentration (i.e., C20, log10 CFU g−1 dw) of 1.0 in 100% biosolids or inoculated soil and the lowest C20 of 0.098 in 75/25 soil/biosolids ratio, respectively, in comparison to an average initial value of ~6.4 log10 CFU g−1 dw. The E. coli survival across scenario 2, 3, and 4 showed that the C20 value of biosolids (0.57 log10 CFU g−1 dw) and dairy slurry (0.74 log10 CFU ml−1) was 2.9–3.7 times smaller than that of cattle dung (2.12 log10 CFU g−1 dw). The C20 values of biosolids and dairy slurry associated with legal and excess application rates ranged from 1.14 to 1.71 log10 CFU ha−1, which is a significant reduction from the initial concentration range (12.99 to 14.83 log10 CFU ha−1). The E. coli survival in un-amended soil was linear with a very low decay rate resulting in a higher C20 value than that of biosolids or dairy slurry. The risk assessment and uncertainly analysis showed that the residual concentrations in biosolids/dairy slurry applied soil after 20 days would be 45–57% lower than that of the background soil E. coli concentration. This means the current practice of grazing exclusion times is safe to reduce the risk of E. coli transmission into the soil environment.This publication has emanated from research funded by the EU FP7 Environment theme–Grant no. 265269 Marketable sludge derivatives from a highly integrated wastewater treatment plant (END-O-SLUDG)

Effect of Nitrogen and Irrigation on Sugarbeet Production in Southern Idaho

Most of the nitrogen fertilizer is applied to sugarbeet fields in southern Idaho before planting. During the early stages of plant growth the soil and fertilizer N is subject to leaching because the NO?-N concentrations in the soil usually are higher than later in the season. The rate of N uptake in this area, under conditions where N does not limit plant growth, increases rapidly beginning early in June, reaches a peak early in July, and begins to decrease in late July. If inadequate N is available to meet crop needs then the addition of N fertilizer just prior to the period when the demand rate increases should increase the efficiency of sucrose production and N fertilizer use. The practice of supplemental, midseason application of N in irrigation water is increasing in southern Idaho. It is not known whether this practice is resulting in more efficient use of N fertilizer, increasing yields, or whether or not midseason applications have an adverse net effect on sucrose production. The objective of this study was to evaluate current N fertilizer practices and the effect of irrigation management on root and sucrose yields. Major emphasis was placed on the effects of N and irrigation management on petiole NO?-N concentrations to refine the use of petiole analysis as a diagnostic tool in managing N fertilizer

An Altered Immune Response, but Not Individual Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides, Is Associated with the Oral Attenuation of Ara4N-Deficient Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium in Mice

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) uses two-component regulatory systems (TCRS) to respond to stimuli in the local microenvironment. Upon infection, the Salmonella TCRSs PhoP-PhoQ (PhoPQ) and PmrA-PmrB (PmrAB) are activated by environmental signals in the intestinal lumen and within host cells. TCRS-mediated gene expression results in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modification and cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance. The PmrA-regulated pmrHFIJKLM operon mediates 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (Ara4N) production and attachment to the lipid A of LPS. A ΔpmrF S. Typhimurium strain cannot produce Ara4N, exhibits increased sensitivity to cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP)-mediated killing, and attenuated virulence in mice upon oral infection. CAMPs are predicted to play a role in elimination of Salmonella, and may activate PhoPQ and PmrAB in vivo, which could increase bacterial resistance to host defenses. Competition experiments between wild type (WT) and ΔpmrF mutant strains of S. Typhimurium indicated that selection against this mutant first occurs within the intestinal lumen early during infection. However, CRAMP and active cryptdins alone are not responsible for elimination of Ara4N-deficient bacteria in vivo. Investigation into the early immune response to ΔpmrF showed that it differed slightly from the early immune response to WT S. Typhimurium. Further investigation into the early immune response to infection of Peyer's patches suggests a role for IL-13 in the attenution of the ΔpmrF mutant strain. Thus, prominent CAMPs present in the mouse intestine are not responsible for the selection against the ΔpmrF strain in this location, but limited alterations in innate immune induction were observed that affect bacterial survival and virulence

Identifying transcriptional profiles and evaluating prognostic biomarkers of HIV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from Malawi

Lymphoma incidence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasing due to HIV and population aging. Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common lymphoma in SSA and worldwide, is highly associated with HIV, but molecular studies of HIV-associated DLBCL are scarce globally. We describe profiling of DLBCL from Malawi, aiming to elucidate tumor biology and identify clinically meaningful biomarkers specifically for SSA. Between June 1, 2013 and June 1, 2016, 59 cases of DLBCL (32 HIV+/27 HIV−) enrolled in the Kamuzu Central Hospital Lymphoma Study were characterized, of which 54 (92%) were negative for Epstein–Barr virus. Gene expression profiling (GEP) by whole transcriptome sequencing was performed on the first 36 cases (22 HIV+/14 HIV−). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and GEP results were compared with published data and correlated to clinical outcome and pathologic features. Unsupervised clustering strongly segregated DLBCL by HIV status (p = 0.0003, Chi-squared test), indicating a marked contribution of HIV to expression phenotype. Pathway analysis identified that HIV-associated tumors were enriched in hypoxia, oxidative stress, and metabolism related gene expression patterns. Cell-of-origin subtype, determined by sequencing and IHC, did not associate with differences in overall survival (OS), while Ki-67 proliferation index ≥80% was associated with inferior OS in HIV+ DLBCL only (p = 0.03) and cMYC/BCL2 co-expression by IHC was negatively prognostic across the entire cohort (p = 0.01). This study provides among the first molecular characterizations of DLBCL from SSA, demonstrates marked gene expression differences by HIV status, and identifies genomic and immunophenotypic characteristics that can inform future basic and clinical investigations

Women, men and coronary heart disease: a review of the qualitative literature

Aim. This paper presents a review of the qualitative literature which examines the experiences of patients with coronary heart disease. The paper also assesses whether the experiences of both female and male patients are reflected in the literature and summarizes key themes. Background. Understanding patients' experiences of their illness is important for coronary heart disease prevention and education. Qualitative methods are particularly suited to eliciting patients' detailed understandings and perceptions of illness. As much previous research has been 'gender neutral', this review pays particular attention to gender. Methods. Published papers from 60 qualitative studies were identified for the review through searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PREMEDLINE, PsychINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index and Web of Science using keywords related to coronary heart disease. Findings. Early qualitative studies of patients with coronary heart disease were conducted almost exclusively with men, and tended to generalize from 'male' experience to 'human' experience. By the late 1990s this pattern had changed, with the majority of studies including women and many being conducted with solely female samples. However, many studies that include both male and female coronary heart disease patients still do not have a specific gender focus. Key themes in the literature include interpreting symptoms and seeking help, belief about coronary 'candidates' and relationships with health professionals. The influence of social roles is important: many female patients have difficulties reconciling family responsibilities and medical advice, while male patients worry about being absent from work. Conclusions. There is a need for studies that compare the experiences of men and women. There is also an urgent need for work that takes masculinity and gender roles into account when exploring the experiences of men with coronary heart disease

Grassland Phosphorus and Nitrogen Fertiliser Replacement value of Dairy Processing Dewatered Sludge

peer reviewdDairy processing sludge is currently a bio-based fertiliser being spread to grassland without knowledge pertaining to its phosphorus (P) or nitrogen (N) fertiliser replacement value. This creates uncertainty of desired crop yield achievement and unproductive nutrient recycling and also poses a great challenge to the dairy milk processing industry in promoting their food processing by-product as valuable recyclable fertiliser. Therefore four representative samples, i.e. two activated sludge (aluminium-precipitated (Al-sludge) and iron-precipitated (Fe-sludge)), and two lime-stabilised calcium-precipitated sludge (Ca1- and Ca2-sludge), were examined at field scale to assess P and N availability for crop yield and uptake in comparison to reference mineral fertilisers over one seasonal year. The field plots were set-up on a light textured clay loam soil within the optimum plant available P (Morgan's soil P index 3, i.e. medium / adequate soil P level) in two separate adjoining areas consisting of P and N availability experiments. Each experiment consisted of 40 plots (each 8×2 m2) of 10 treatments with 4 replications arranged in a randomised complete block design. All dairy sludge (40 kg-P ha−1) and mineral P treatments (rates 0–50 kg-P ha−1) produced similar yields and uptake, and crop P was not affected by sludge applications despite the presence of high Al, Ca and Fe. During the experiment there was no significant change in P index (stayed at index 3) indicating that no treatment caused a decline in P into index 2 (i.e. low soil P level), therefore replacing P removed by the crop. The only change in Morgan's P was observed in the Ca-sludge treatments, but this was due to Morgan's reagent overestimating plant available P in high Ca conditions. From N trial plots a significantly higher grass yield and N uptake was observed for Fe and both Ca-type sludge applied plots than the control (zero N) plot during the 1st harvest, while no statistical difference observed in the subsequent harvests (up to 4th harvesting). The N fertiliser replacement value (derived from mineral N response) of sludge samples was observed to be in the order of Fe (54%)>Ca2 (25%)>Ca1 (22%)>Al (8%) with greater promise of N fertiliser efficiency of Fe and Ca types. Overall these bio-based sludges show promise in recycling P and N for grassland application but longer term trials in other soil types considering other environmental aspects (losses to soil, water and air) can further optimize the management of dairy sludge as an alternative to chemical fertiliser

Solutions to enteric methane abatement in Ireland

peer-reviewedThe efficiency of Ireland’s grass-based livestock systems can be attributed to high outputs, low production costs and a low carbon footprint relative to housed systems. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) of which enteric fermentation from livestock production is a key source, being directly responsible for 57% of Irish agricultural GHG emissions. There are a number of strategies including dietary manipulation and breeding initiatives that have shown promising results as potential mitigation solutions for ruminant livestock production. However, the majority of international research has predominantly been conducted on confined systems. Given the economic viability of Irish livestock systems, it is vital that any mitigation methods are assessed at pasture. Such research cannot be completed without access to suitable equipment for measuring CH4 emissions at grazing. This review documents the current knowledge capacity in Ireland (publications and projects) and includes an inventory of equipment currently available to conduct research. A number of strategic research avenues are identified herein that warrant further investigation including breeding initiatives and dietary manipulation. It was notable that enteric CH4 research seems to be lacking in Ireland as it constituted 14% of Irish agricultural GHG research publications from 2016 to 2021. A number of key infrastructural deficits were identified including respiration chambers (there are none currently operational in the Republic of Ireland) and an urgent need for more pasture-based GreenFeed™ systems. These deficits will need to be addressed to enable inventory refinement, research progression and the development of effective solutions to enteric CH4 abatement in Ireland