A human factors approach to range scheduling for satellite control

Range scheduling for satellite control presents a classical problem: supervisory control of a large-scale dynamic system, with unwieldy amounts of interrelated data used as inputs to the decision process. Increased automation of the task, with the appropriate human-computer interface, is highly desirable. The development and user evaluation of a semi-automated network range scheduling system is described. The system incorporates a synergistic human-computer interface consisting of a large screen color display, voice input/output, a 'sonic pen' pointing device, a touchscreen color CRT, and a standard keyboard. From a human factors standpoint, this development represents the first major improvement in almost 30 years to the satellite control network scheduling task

Paper Session II-C - Astro: A Computer-Aided Scheduling Tool for Operational Satellite Control

Range scheduling for satellite control presents a classical problem of a data intensive task with a very small allowance for human error. On any given day, interrelated information depicting 600-1000 entries of satellite visibilities and scheduled range support must be interpreted and used to make decisions that can be critical to the survival of valuable orbital assets. Given an environment which must account for unexpected equipment outages and satellite anomalies, the scheduling task can exceed acceptable workload levels. Thus, range scheduling for satellite control can benefit greatly from computer assistance and a human factors approach to the task. This paper describes the development, user evaluation, and operational activation of a semi-automated network range scheduling system incorporating a synergistic humancomputer interface consisting of a large screen color display, voice input/output, a sonic penn pointing device, a touchscreen color CRT, and a standard keyboard. The development and operational use of ASTRO represent the first major improvement in almost 30 years to the range scheduling task

A Precambrian odyssey in East Antarctica: more pieces, more tectonic stages and less puzzle?

East Antarctica is the least understood piece of continental crust on Earth. With an extension comparable to the conterminous United States of America, it contains cryptic clues into the origin, evolution and demise of three supercontinents, and it forms the lithospheric cradle for the largest ice sheet remaining on our planet. While rock exposures and provenance studies provide glimpses into up to 3 billion years of its geological history, extensive ice sheet cover and the lack of drilling, restricts our knowledge of Precambrian geology and crustal architecture in its interior. Consequently, many different aspects regarding the geodynamic processes that were responsible for the growth and amalgamation of East Antarctica during the Precambrian still remain elusive and controversial. This adds uncertainty to our knowledge of how East Antarctica linked up with major Precambrian domains of Australia, India, Africa and Laurentia, further hampering our ability to unravel Earth\u2019s early supercontinental cycle, in particular from the assembly and demise of the Nuna supercontinent to its successor Rodinia. To enhance our understanding of parts of the Precambrian evolution of East Antarctica, we present new interpretations derived from the recent ADMAP 2.0 magnetic compilation and satellite magnetic views, combined with the AntGG gravity compilation, and the latest satellite gravity gradient GOCE datasets; we also include selected insights from new aerogeophysical imaging over the Recovery and South Pole regions. We then combine Antarctic geophysical and geological data with global magnetic, gravity and geological, geochronological and paleomagnetic datasets in a plate tectonic reconstruction framework. Our main goal is to develop new interpretations and reconstructions that re-address the key stages of East Antarctic tectonic evolution between ca 1800 and ca 1300 Ma, in particular as part of long-lived and predominantly accretionary phases in Nuna\u2019s supercontinental history. We show that our interpretations provide new views into several key crustal elements in interior East Antarctica, including a proposed Archean ribbon microcontinent, an inverted Paleoproterozoic rift system, and a Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic continental margin arc, and two inferred Mesoproterozoic intra-oceanic accretionary belts. We suggest that these proposed crustal elements were affected by four major Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic tectonic stages, which we link with key tectonic and magmatic events recognised in the Gawler Craton, the Mt Isa Province, and the Coompana Block and Madura Province in Australia. Our geophysical reconstructions of East Antarctica and Laurentia also enable tantalising new perspectives into the so called proto-SWEAT hypothesis, which links these two key components of Nuna in Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic times

Peri- and postnatal effects of prenatal adenoviral VEGF gene therapy in growth-restricted sheep

Supported by Wellcome Trust project grant 088208 to A.L.D., J.M.W., D.M.P., I.C.Z., and J.F.M. Wellbeing of Women research training fellowship 318 to D.J.C., Scottish Government work package 4.2 to J.M.W., J.S.M., and R.P.A., as well as funding from the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre A.L.D. and D.M.P., the British Heart Foundation to I.C.Z., and Ark Therapeutics Oy, Kuopio, Finland, which supplied adenovirus vectors free of charge.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Consensus Statement on Public Involvement and Engagement with Data-Intensive Health Research.

This consensus statement reflects the deliberations of an international group of stakeholders with a range of expertise in public involvement and engagement (PI&E) relating to data-intensive health research. It sets out eight key principles to establish a secure role for PI&E in and with the research community internationally and ensure best practice in its execution. Our aim is to promote culture change and societal benefits through ensuring a socially responsible trajectory for innovations in this field.Peer reviewe

Book reviews

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46102/1/168_2005_Article_BF01287326.pd

Study on Quality of Public Finances in Support of Growth in the Mediterranean Partner Countries of the EU

Until the early 1990s, the discussions on fiscal policy primarily centered on the functions of economic stabilization, income redistribution and resource allocation. Long-term growth was not usually viewed as an end itself, and fiscal policy was often not sufficiently tailored to the different circumstances and priorities of countries at different stages of development. It is only relatively recently that the discussion has gradually focused on the links between different dimensions of quality of public finances and economic growth. Based on the conceptual framework for linking the quality of public finances and economic growth that has been developed by the European Commission and applied to the EU Member States, this study examines the conditions under which the budgetary policy, and more specifically expenditure, revenue and financing design would be supportive of growth in the Mediterranean partner countries of the European Union. The study also highlights some of the interlinkages between fiscal policy and growth and summarises empirical findings found in the literature with particular focus on Mediterranean partner countries of the European Union. The main findings of the study are similar to those that apply to the EU Member States and can be summarised as follows: * The way government expenditures are financed matters. Deficit and debt financing clearly undermines growth performance. * The composition of expenditure does matter however the efficiency of the expenditure undertaken is even more important for growth. For countries with good governance indicators the positive impact of the productive expenditures on growth was enhanced. The analysis was applied to the efficiency of education and health expenditures with basically similar results. * Notwithstanding the importance of 'fair' income distribution, when tax policy relies heavily on income taxation to do so, the analysis suggests a likely negative effect on growth. Specifically, consumption taxes were found to depress growth by up to four times less than income taxes. The study concludes by highlighting possible areas in the planning and execution of fiscal policy and governance where growth enhancing interventions can be applied

Vaginally Administered PEGylated LIF Antagonist Blocked Embryo Implantation and Eliminated Non-Target Effects on Bone in Mice

Female-controlled contraception/HIV prevention is critical to address health issues associated with gender inequality. Therefore, a contraceptive which can be administered in tandem with a microbicide to inhibit sexually transmitted infections, is desirable. Uterine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is obligatory for blastocyst implantation in mice and associated with infertility in women. We aimed to determine whether a PEGylated LIF inhibitor (PEGLA) was an effective contraceptive following vaginal delivery and to identify non-uterine targets of PEGLA in mice

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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