Visualizing characteristics of ocean data collected during the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B experiment

Topographic measurements of sea surface elevation collected by the Surface Contour Radar (SCR) during NASA's Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B) experiment are plotted as three dimensional surface plots to observe wave height variance along the track of a P-3 aircraft. Ocean wave spectra were computed from rotating altimeter measurements acquired by the Radar Ocean Wave Spectrometer (ROWS). Fourier power spectra computed from SIR-B synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the ocean are compared to ROWS surface wave spectra. Fourier inversion of SAR spectra, after subtraction of spectral noise and modeling of wave height modulation, yields topography similar to direct measurements made by SCR. Visual perspectives on the SCR and SAR ocean data are compared. Threshold distinctions between surface elevation and texture modulations of SAR data are considered within the context of a dynamic statistical model of rough surface scattering. The result of these endeavors is insight as to the physical mechanism governing the imaging of ocean waves with SAR

Anisotropic Thermal Conduction in Supernova Remnants: Relevance to Hot Gas Filling Factors in the Magnetized ISM

We explore the importance of anisotropic thermal conduction in the evolution of supernova remnants via numerical simulations. The mean temperature of the bubble of hot gas is decreased by a factor of ~3 compared to simulations without thermal conduction, together with an increase in the mean density of hot gas by a similar factor. Thus, thermal conduction greatly reduces the volume of hot gas produced over the life of the remnant. This underscores the importance of thermal conduction in estimating the hot gas filling fraction and emissivities in high-stage ions in Galactic and proto-galactic ISMs.Comment: Submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letters. 4 pages, 3 figure

PRIOR REGULATION AND POST LIABILITY AS COMPLEMENTS: AN APPLICATION TO PRESCRIBED BURNING LAW IN THE UNITED STATES

Prescribed burning is increasingly being recognized as a useful land management and conservation tool, but with it comes the risk of fire and smoke damage to the property of others. All but two states have codified laws specifying criminal penalties or liability rules for prescribed burning, but the laws in a number of states have changed in recent years or are under review. We develop an economic model of the incentive and welfare effects of prescribed burning and the use of prior regulation and post liability as instruments to address potential external damage from the use of prescribed fire.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

By-Product and Discarded Material Utilization in Highway Construction and Maintenance -- A Literature Review

This report summarizes the findings of an extensive literature search and review conducted to determine current attitudes relative to the use of recyclable and recoverable materials in highway construction and maintenance activities. Specifically, the literature search focused upon the engineering, economic, and performance aspects of using recyclable and recoverable materials in highway construction and maintenance projects. The literature review focused on asphalt and cement concrete pavement recycling, discarded tire recycling, reuse of paint removal wastes, fly ash, glass, alternative fuels, and other miscellaneous recycled and recovered materials as related to construction and maintenance of highways. Additionally, regulatory and policy matters associated with the use of recyclable and recoverable materials in the transportation area were investigated during the review of literature

El endocanibalismo en los rituales funerarios del pueblo yanomamo

El pueblo yanomamo se configura como una sociedad con una rica y compleja cosmovisión, que origina un modo peculiar de entender e interpretar el mundo. Dentro del sistema cultural de este pueblo, los rituales funerarios se articulan como una práctica compleja mediante la cual, la sociedad yanomami establece una conexión entre diversos aspectos relacionados con sus creencias sobre la vida y la muerte. Uno de los elementos centrales de estos rituales funerarios, lo constituye la práctica del endocanibalismo, articulándose ésta como un hecho clave que facilita la comprensión del significado cultural de la muerte en el interior de la sociedad yanomami. La ingesta del "principio vital” presente en el individuo (pei ke mi amo), esencia del ritual funerario durante la ceremonia intercomunitaria (reaho), constituye no sólo la sublimación espiritual del grupo, sino también la génesis de vínculos materiales, alianzas políticas e intercambios comerciales imprescindibles para la propia subsistencia del grupo. Y es precisamente, desde esta nueva perspectiva sociocultural, desde donde realmente cobra especial importancia su significado en los rituales funerarios.The yanomamo people are configured as a society with a rich and complex world view, which causes a peculiar way of understanding and interpreting the world. Within this cultural system, the funeral rituals are articulated as a complex practice whereby the yanomami society, establishes a connection between various aspects of their beliefs on life and death. One of the central elements of these funeral rituals, is the practice of endocannibalism, a key fact which facilitates the understanding of the cultural meaning of death, within the yanomami society. This practice is done during an intercommunity meeting, were various political alliances and trades are conducted. In our work, through the analysis of yanomamo´s endocannibalism, we aimed to address in depth, the study of funeral rituals carried out by this society. The intake of "vital principle" present in the individual (pei ke my amo), which is the essence of the funeral ritual ceremony during intercommunity meeting (reaho), is not only the spiritual sublimation of the group, but also the genesis of material ties, political alliances and trade essential to the very survival of the group. And it is from this new sociocultural perspective, that the meaning of endocannibalism in funeral rituals of the pueblo yanomamo acquires importanc

Emergy Basis of Forest Systems

A major question in natural resource management is how to integrate economic-use activities with the supporting ecosystems to maximize performance of the ecological-economic system. In this dissertation, the natural wealth of forested systems of three different sizes was evaluated with emergy: two watersheds of the Southern Appalachians, Macon County (N.C.), and North Carolina. Emergy is the total amount of energy of one form that was required directly and indirectly to make another form of energy. Values are reported as emdollars (Em$) which represent the economic activity resulting from resource use. Benefits provided by forested watersheds were quantified based on emergy required to develop and maintain each service or product. Total wealth contributed by the multiple-use Wine Spring Creek (WSC) watershed was 4300 Em$/ha/y, and was divided among scientific research (3450 Em$/ha/y), water yield (2060 Em$/ha/y), recreation (1880 Em$/ha), and timber (1440 Em$/ha/y). In the 1990's, timber accounted for 3% of world emergy use, 1% in the United States, 9% in North Carolina, 14% in Macon County, and 8% in the WSC watershed. Forest ecosystems captured 53% of environmental emergy in North Carolina, 81% in Macon County, and 100% in the WSC watershed. The importance of forest ecosystems to the U.S. economy were evaluated based on emergy flows of the U.S. forest products industry and international trade of forest products in North America. In 1993, the U.S. had an annual trade surplus in forest products worth 63 billion Em$. Simple models were developed to explore the temporal and spatial dynamics of emergy and transformity in forested watersheds. Transformity is the ratio of emergy to energy; it measures position in the energy hierarchy of energy forms. Temporally, transformity and emergy lagged energy levels in reaching steady-state. Spatially, emergy from mountain uplands converged to the stream network, making water and its carved basin locations of high empower density. A model, MULTIBEN, evaluated forest empower of multiple benefits given various combinations of economic investment in recreation and timbering. Maximum empower was found at an intermediate level of economic investment, suggesting that an optimum intensity of forest development exists.US Forest Service, Coweeta Hydrologic La

Substitution, delegation or addition? Implications of workforce skill mix on efficiency and interruptions in computed tomography

Objectives: This study evaluated multiple computed tomography (CT) workforce models to identify any implications on efficiency (length of stay, scan frequency and workforce cost) and scanning radiographer interruptions through substituting or supplementing with a trained CT assistant. Methods: The study was conducted in a CT unit of a tertiary Queensland hospital and prospectively compared four workforce models, including usual practice: Model 1 used an administrative assistant (AA) and one radiographer Model 2 substituted a medical imaging assistant (MIA) for the AA Model 3 was usual practice, consisting of two radiographers and Model 4 included two radiographers, with a supplemented MIA. Observational data were collected over 7 days per model and were cross-checked against electronic records. Data for interruption type and frequency, as well as scan type and duration, were collected. Annual workforce costs were calculated as measures of efficiency. Results: Similar scan frequency and parameters (complexity) occurred across all models, averaging 164 scans (interquartile range 160-172 scans) each. The median times from patient arrival to examination completion in Models 1-4 were 47, 35, 46 and 33 min respectively. There were between 34 and 104 interruptions per day across all models, with the 'assistant role' fielding the largest proportion. Model 4 demonstrated the highest workforce cost, and Model 2 the lowest. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that assistant models offer similar patient throughput to usual practice at a reduced cost. Model 2 was the most efficient of all two-staff models (Models 1-3), offering the cheapest workforce, slightly higher throughput and faster examination times. Not surprisingly, the additional staff model (Model 4) offered greater overall examination times and throughput, with fewer interruptions, although workforce cost and possible role ambiguity were both limitations of this model. These findings may assist decision makers in selecting the optimal workforce design for their own individual contexts. What is known about the topic?: Innovative solutions are required to address ongoing health workforce sustainability concerns. Workforce substitution models using trained assistants have demonstrated numerous benefits internationally, with translation to the Australian allied health setting showing promise. What does this paper add?: Building on existing research, this study provides clinical workforce alternatives that maintain patient throughput while offering cost efficiencies. This study also quantified the many daily interruptions that occur within the CT setting, highlighting a potential clinical risk. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to empirically test the use of allied health assistants within CT. What are the implications for practitioners?: Role substitution in CT may offer solutions to skills shortages, increasing expenditure and service demand. Incorporating appropriate assistant workforce models can maintain throughput while demonstrating implications for efficiency and interruptions, potentially affecting staff stress and burnout. In addition, the assistant's scope and accepted level of interruptions should be considerations when choosing the most appropriate model