Analysis of selective chopper radiometer data

Data from SCR-B on Nimbus 5 have been processed to yield global, orbital temperatures at 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.4 mb for the period January 1977 through April 1978 under the current task. In addition gridded values at 10 deg latitude by 20 deg longitude were prepared by space-time interpolation for the period January 1975 through April 1978. Temperature retrieval was based on regression of radiances against Meteorological Rocket Network data, with regressions recomputed at approximately six-month intervals. This data now completes a consistent time series from April 1970 to April 1978 for all available radiance data from SCR A and SCR B on Nimbus 4 and 5. The processing details for the current period are discussed, but is also applicable to the previous data periods. The accuracy of the temperature retrievals for each 6-month period for the entire eight years is given in the Appendices

Compliance error compensation technique for parallel robots composed of non-perfect serial chains

The paper presents the compliance errors compensation technique for over-constrained parallel manipulators under external and internal loadings. This technique is based on the non-linear stiffness modeling which is able to take into account the influence of non-perfect geometry of serial chains caused by manufacturing errors. Within the developed technique, the deviation compensation reduces to an adjustment of a target trajectory that is modified in the off-line mode. The advantages and practical significance of the proposed technique are illustrated by an example that deals with groove milling by the Orthoglide manipulator that considers different locations of the workpiece. It is also demonstrated that the impact of the compliance errors and the errors caused by inaccuracy in serial chains cannot be taken into account using the superposition principle.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1204.175

Kaolin as a possible treatment against lepidopteran larvae and mites in organic fruit production

Few control methods are available in Norwegian organic fruit production that can prevent damage by early and late larvae. Also phytophagous mites are difficult to control without harming the beneficial mites. Proc-essed kaolin function by coating trees and thus creating a physical barrier to infestation, impeding move-ment, feeding and egg-laying. Kaolin may reduce feeding and movement of over-wintering tortricide larvae and other larvae that hatch early in spring and have a repellent effect against egg-laying tortricide females in summer. Kaolin may also have a control effect against mites as it clings to the body and reduce feeding. Tri-als with kaolin were conducted in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in plum and apple orchards. Results show that kaolin reduces the population of rust mite, however it also affected the number of beneficial mites. The effect against early and late larvae was more variable. Treatments with kaolin resulted in a small reduction in early larvae and damage in some fields and years, however no clear effect against late larvae was found. The ef-fect of kaolin will be discussed in relation to population size and number of treatments

Pilot field studies on insect pathogenic fungi to control mirid pests of apples in Norway

In a pilot field study conducted in an apple orchard in Hardanger (Western Norway) in two succesive years both Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were applied to apple trees just after hatching of mirid nymphs in spring. Both predatory, omnivorous and principally plant-pathogenic species of mirids were collected, and all groups of species were infected by B. bassiana or M. ansiopliae in treated plots. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were also found on some individuals in non treated control plots the second year. M. anisopliae was more predominant in 2006, B. bassiana in 2007. Mirids were also observed for natural occurrence of parasitoids, and parasitoids were found both years

A survey of natural parasitism of mirid bugs by parasitoids on apples and pears in Norway

Mirid bugs are important pests in both integrated and organic fruit production. In a survey in 2006 the proportion of mirids parasitized by parasitoids was investigated in 18 Norwegian orchards. More than 50 beating samples were collected from apple and pear orchards under integrated and organic management in different areas of Norway. About 30% of nymphs of the most abundant mirid bug species, Lygocoris pabulinus, Ortholylus marginalis and Psallus ambiguus, were parasitized. Important factors for enhancing biological control in organic fruit production are discussed

A Multimodal Analgesic Virtual Reality Program to Reduce Opioid Exposure

The opioid crisis continues to be a public health concern. Traditionally, an opioid-centric approach treats postoperative pain. The following PICOT question guided this project: Will initiating a multimodal analgesic virtual reality quality improvement program (I) compared to current practice (C) decrease opioid requirements (O) in robotic hysterectomy patients (P) during the postoperative period (T)? Several articles promote non-opioid analgesia and non-pharmacological interventions, such as multimodal analgesia and virtual reality (VR) for pain management. This project reviewed pre- and post-implementation data after implementing new evidence-based multimodal analgesia and VR protocols. The project captured a total of 64 patients in the pre-implementation group. A total of 22 patients received both multimodal analgesia and VR in the post-implementation group. There was no statistically significant difference in total opioid consumption converted as morphine milligram equivalents (MME) between the pre-implementation and post-implementation groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in multimodal analgesia administered in Pre-op between the pre-implementation and post-implementation groups. In conclusion, the execution of the multimodal analgesic VR program allowed for nursing adoption of novel evidence-based practices (EBP) and promoted the use of non-opioid and non-pharmacological interventions. Although the combination of multimodal analgesia and VR did not reduce opioid consumption, the practice of incorporating multimodal analgesia as a standard workflow improved