Commercial potential of remote sensing data from the Earth observing system

The purpose was to assess the market potential of remote sensing value-added products from the Earth Observing System (EOS) platform. Sensors on the EOS platform were evaluated to determine which qualities and capabilities could be useful to the commercial user. The approach was to investigate past and future satellite data distribution programs. A questionnaire was developed for use in a telephone survey. Based on the results of the survey of companies that add value to remotely sensed data, conversations with the principal investigators in charge of each EOS sensor, a study of past commercial satellite data ventures, and reading from the commercial remote sensing industry literature, three recommendations were developed: develop a strategic plan for commercialization of EOS data, define a procedure for commercial users within the EOS data stream, and develop an Earth Observations Commercial Applications Program-like demonstration program within NASA using EOS simulated data

Steel Safeguards and the Welfare of U.S. Steel Firms and Downstream Consumers of Steel: A Shareholder Wealth Perspective

This paper analyzes the steel safeguards implemented and subsequently removed during 2001-2003. Our results reveal that for shareholders of U.S. steel companies, safeguards generated positive “abnormal” returns of approximately 6%; and the cancellation of the safeguards resulted in wealth gains of about 5%. Steel shareholders experienced negative abnormal returns of -5% in response to the WTO ruling that the U.S. violated WTO law. The results here are consistent with the neoclassical view that producers gain at the expense of consumers. Downstream consumers in transportation equipment and electrical equipment showed the clearest negative reaction to the safeguards. Moreover, steel firms that received larger cash disbursements under the Byrd amendment received additional wealth gains when the safeguard duties were imposed. Finally, empirical results indicate that U.S. downstreamconsuming firms that diversify production in NAFTA countries avert some trade policy risk associated with the initiation of the safeguard investigation and the imposition of the safeguard duties.Antidumping Policy; Welfare

Low temperature ignition properties of n-butanol: key uncertainties and constraints

A recent kinetic mechanism (Sarathy et al., 2012) describing the low temperature oxidation of n-butanol was investigated using both local and global sensitivity/uncertainty analysis methods with ignition delays as predictive targets over temperature ranges of 678-898 K and equivalence ratios ranging from 0.5-2.0 at 15 bar. The study incorporates the effects of uncertainties in forward rate constants on the predicted outputs, providing information on the robustness of the mechanism over a range of operating conditions. A global sampling technique was employed for the determination of predictive error bars, and a high dimensional model representation (HDMR) method was further utilised for the calculation of global sensitivity indices following the application of a linear screening method. Predicted ignition delay distributions spanning up to an order of magnitude indicate the need for better quantification of the most dominant reaction rate parameters. The calculated first-order sensitivities from the HDMR study show the main fuel hydrogen abstraction pathways via OH as the major contributors to the predicted uncertainties. Sensitivities indicate that no individual rate constant dominates uncertainties under any of the conditions studied, but that strong constraints on the branching ratio for H abstraction by OH at the α and γ sites are provided by the measurements

Reflection in Home Visiting: The What, Why, and a Beginning Step Toward How

The work of home visitors in early childhood fields may include addressing many challenges to achieving curricular outcomes, including issues such as maintaining boundaries and managing one’s own reactions to children, parents, and overall family situations. Increasingly, reflective supervision and consultation are recognized as a way for workers in home visiting early intervention and early care fields to address these personal and professional challenges and build competence (Watson, Gatti, Cox, Harrison, & Hennes, 2014). The features of home visiting that make reflective supervision/consultation essential are discussed. Next, results of a pilot project in which a sample of Part C early intervention providers respond to a vignette portraying a challenging parent-child interaction are briefly presented and discussed. Despite often stating the importance of relationships, participants did not identify concrete methods of supporting relationship or demonstrate recognition of parallel process. In addition, providers seldom endorsed the use of reflective skills, such as observing, listening, wondering, or reflecting (Weatherston, 2013) and no providers discussed a need for reflective supervision/consultation. We suggest that these findings illustrate some of the areas in which early intervention home visitors could benefit from participation in reflective supervision/consultation to move from identifying reflective skills as important to actually being able to use such skills in their work with families

Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health and Collaborative Partnerships: Beyond the NICU

The NICU experience impacts all family dynamics not just during the intensive care unit stay but in the months and years afterwards. For each family, the first experiences with their baby, whether in the home or the intensive care unit, can set the trajectory for the long-term parent–child relationship and the parent's perspective of their parent roles. These difficult experiences have the potential to be addressed through infant and early childhood mental health (I/ECMH) methods. In this article we review the need for a wide range of social and emotional supports that present in intensive care and continue as families and infants transition to home and community. The potential for addressing these ongoing issues by a variety of providers within many different settings using Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (I/ECMH) approaches is discussed and examples of successful programs are provided. Finally, we make recommendations for infusing I/ECMH across programs that serve intensive care unit graduates and their families, from the hospital to the home, with primary care providers and other community support programs