I. Collisional evolution and reddening of asteroid surfaces: The problem of conflicting timescales and the role of size-dependent effects

Space weathering is the generic term used for processes that modify the optical properties of surfaces of atmosphereless rocky bodies under exposure to the space environment. The general agreement about the relevance of the effects of space weathering on the spectral properties of S-complex asteroids fails when some basic quantitative estimates are attempted. In particular, there is severe disagreement regarding the typical timescales for significant spectral reddening to occur, ranging from 1 Myr to 1 Gyr. Generally speaking, the spectral reddening of an individual object can be considered as the sum of three terms, one (which is relevant for statistical analyses) depending on the exposure of the object to space weathering during its lifetime, a second one due to the original surface composition, and a third one (a "noise" term) due to the combination of poorly constrained effects (e.g., structure and texture of the surface). The surface of an asteroid is usually covered by regolith, and its presence and properties presumably play a critical role in the weathering processes. In this paper we discuss the role played by collisional evolution in affecting the spectral properties of asteroids and refreshing the surfaces due to the formation of ejecta, and the necessity of a simultaneous modeling of collisions and weathering processes. We introduce a new idea, based on the possibility of a sort of saturation of the refreshing process whenever a massive reaccumulation of the impact ejecta takes place. In this case, a dependence of the overall reddening on the asteroid size should naturally come out. We show that this conclusion is indeed supported by available main belt asteroid spectroscopic data.Comment: Accepted by MNRA

The effect of feedback and information on children's pedometer step counts at school

This study examined whether feedback or feedback plus physical activity information could increase the number of pedometer steps taken during 1 school week. One hundred seventy-seven students (mean age 9.124 ± 1.11 years) in three elementary schools participated. Schools were randomly assigned to control (CON), feedback (FB), or feedback plus information (FB+I) groups. Children wore pedometers during school time for 5 consecutive weekdays. The total steps of the groups were recorded at the end of each school day, with students in the FB and FB+I groups free to view their step counts. In addition, the FB+I group received information and ideas about how they could increase their daily steps. The CON group received no step-count feedback or information. Students in the FB+I group achieved significantly more steps per minute (17.17 ± 4.87) than those in the FB (13.77 ± 4.06, p = 0.003) and CON (12.41 ± 3.12, p = 0.0001) groups. Information, as well as step-count feedback, increased elementary students’ school-based physical activity (number of steps) in the short term. A longer intervention period is necessary to assess the sustained impact of this type of approach

THE CHANGING INFORMATION NEEDS OF FARMERS IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE

Both policy and market forces are causing unprecedented changes in agricultural structure and management in both the United States and in Europe. These changes will have profound impacts on the role of universities and extension services who provide information and education to farmers. This paper discusses some of the emerging and anticipated changes in information content and delivery in both the US and the EU. Some of the primary issues US agricultural producers will need to address as a result of the changes in the agricultural industry and policy include: strategic positioning, transferring management capabilities, frequent performance monitoring, evaluating new technology, monitoring external factors, managing information, and accountability. The information needs of farmers in Europe are closely linked to the evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union. The general agricultural policy framework is briefly presented in the paper. Price reduction, agri-environmental measures enhancement, and rural development policy are the most important elements of CAP reform. European agriculture is in the midst of major changes, mostly started in 1992, but destined to continue and increase in the near future. Different approaches to manage the agricultural sector involve the need for a different information system for farmers. It means not only new content in information, but also new ways to inform and do technical assistance. The primary information needs out are: farm management, risk management, EU programs and measures, quality production, low input and organic farming, marketing and advertising management, new technology introduction, structural adjustment funds management, investment decisions, rural tourism and recreational activities management. European agriculture is on the path to large and challenging changes. There is no way for farmers alone to manage these changes, and remain competitive in the market. Providing information has become the most important part of the extension activity. Information must include training sessions, demonstrations in the field, and assessment, together with the farmers, of the activities and the results obtained. There are many similarities in the farm management information needs of farmers in the US and EU. A critical factor for the Extension Services in the future is to adjust rapidly to the changes, and quickly develop new content and delivery plans for farmers' training. The challenge for universities and extension services to respond to the information needs will strain their resources. Collaborative efforts between our institutions may prove more valuable as faculty attempt to develop research and educational programs relevant to the emerging information needs. In addition, cooperation with the growing private sector agricultural education programs will probably be essential if public education and information delivery systems are to remain relevant.Farm Management,

Integrating testing techniques through process programming

Integration of multiple testing techniques is required to demonstrate high quality of software. Technique integration has three basic goals: incremental testing capabilities, extensive error detection, and cost-effective application. We are experimenting with the use of process programming as a mechanism of integrating testing techniques. Having set out to integrate DATA FLOW testing and RELAY, we proposed synergistic use of these techniques to achieve all three goals. We developed a testing process program much as we would develop a software product from requirements through design to implementation and evaluation. We found process programming to be effective for explicitly integrating the techniques and achieving the desired synergism. Used in this way, process programming also mitigates many of the other problems that plague testing in the software development process

The integration of on-line monitoring and reconfiguration functions using IEEE1149.4 into a safety critical automotive electronic control unit.

This paper presents an innovative application of IEEE 1149.4 and the integrated diagnostic reconfiguration (IDR) as tools for the implementation of an embedded test solution for an automotive electronic control unit, implemented as a fully integrated mixed signal system. The paper describes how the test architecture can be used for fault avoidance with results from a hardware prototype presented. The paper concludes that fault avoidance can be integrated into mixed signal electronic systems to handle key failure modes

Triage and Ongoing Care for Critically Ill Patients in the Emergency Department: Results from a National Survey of Emergency Physicians

Introduction: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to elicit emergency physician (EP) perceptions regarding intensive care unit (ICU) triage decisions and ongoing management for boarding of ICU patients in the emergency department (ED). We assessed factors influencing the disposition decision for critically ill patients in the ED to characterize EPs’ perceptions about ongoing critical care delivery in the ED while awaiting ICU admission.Methods: Through content expert review and pilot testing, we iteratively developed a 25-item written survey targeted to EPs, eliciting current ICU triage structure, opinions on factors influencing ICU admission decisions, and views on caring for critically ill patients “boarding” in the ED for >4-6 hours.Results: We approached 732 EPs at a large, national emergency medicine conference, achieving 93.6% response and completion rate, with 54% academic and 46% community participants. One-fifth reported having formal ICU admission criteria, although only 36.6% reported adherence. Common factors influencing EPs’ ICU triage decisions were illness severity (91.1%), ICU interventions needed (87.6%), and diagnosis (68.2%), while ICU bed availability (13.5%) and presence of other critically ill patients in ED (10.2%) were less or not important. While 72.1% reported frequently caring for ICU boarders, respondents identified high patient volume (61.3%) and inadequate support staffing (48.6%) as the most common challenges in caring for boarding ICU patients.Conclusion: Patient factors (eg, diagnosis, illness severity) were seen as more important than system factors (eg, bed availability) in triaging ED patients to the ICU. Boarding ICU patients is a common challenge for more than two-thirds of EPs, exacerbated by ED volume and staffing constraints

An assessment of the risk arising from electrical effects associated with carbon fibers released from commercial aircraft fires

The risks associated with electrical effects arising from carbon fibers released from commercial aviation aircraft fires were estimated for 1993. The expected annual losses were estimated to be about $470 (1977 dollars) in 1993. The chances of total losses from electrical effects exceeding$100,000 (1977 dollars) in 1993 were established to be about one in ten thousand

Climate change at the ecosystem scale: a 50-year record in New Hampshire

Observing the full range of climate change impacts at the local scale is difficult. Predicted rates of change are often small relative to interannual variability, and few locations have sufficiently comprehensive long-term records of environmental variables to enable researchers to observe the fine-scale patterns that may be important to understanding the influence of climate change on biological systems at the taxon, community, and ecosystem levels. We examined a 50-year meteorological and hydrological record from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) in New Hampshire, an intensively monitored Long-Term Ecological Research site. Of the examined climate metrics, trends in temperature were the most significant (ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 °C increase over 40–50 year records at 4 temperature stations), while analysis of precipitation and hydrologic data yielded mixed results. Regional records show generally similar trends over the same time period, though longer-term (70–102 year) trends are less dramatic. Taken together, the results from HBEF and the regional records indicate that the climate has warmed detectably over 50 years, with important consequences for hydrological processes. Understanding effects on ecosystems will require a diversity of metrics and concurrent ecological observations at a range of sites, as well as a recognition that ecosystems have existed in a directionally changing climate for decades, and are not necessarily in equilibrium with the current climate