Sow Reproductive Stayability and Lifetime Traits

Sow longevity can be improved by selection, but genetic evaluations are challenged for implementation due to the long time interval required to collect complete lifetime data and low reliability of early indicator traits. Present study evaluated genetic parameters for several sow reproductive, stayability and longevity traits. Heritabilities for sow reproductive and longevity traits were estimated from 0.03 to 0.09. Heritabilities of the binary stayability traits were estimated from 0.00 to 0.14. Common litter effect had largest impact in early recorded traits. The results show that fitting the binary stayability traits to normal variance function give the lowest heritability estimates and the binomial variance function with logit function resulted in the highest estimates

New Results and Lessons Learned from the MOVE-II and MOVE-IIb CubeSats

This paper covers the operations and lessons learned for the MOVE-II and MOVE-IIb satellites. Both are 1U CubeSats, with their purpose being hands-on education for students of all technical fields related to aerospace. The hardware of the spacecraft consists of a commercial on-board computer and an electrical power system, while all other systems, including the software, were designed by the student team. The MOVE-II CubeSat was successfully launched on December 3rd, 2018 and remains active in orbit to this day with almost daily commanding. The operations were full of surprises that pre-launch simulations did not foresee. With on-orbit data, we were able to correlate thermal, electrical and attitude dynamics simulations, thus uncovering flaws in former assumptions. We present the evolution of key properties of the spacecraft over its lifetime, such as the internal battery resistance, temperature and hardware defects. Compared to the expected 23°C average temperature, the satellite is quite cold at 3°C average. Furthermore, it shows a tendency to spin up uncontrollably due to a current loop in the solar cell wiring. To replicate the real behavior with simulations, a thermal model and a solar cell wiring current loop were added to the model. We also corrected the internal resistance of the battery in the model from 0.42 Ω to 1.26 Ω and added a temperature dependency to the internal resistance. The tendency to spin up, combined with a tight power budget, has remained a problem since the beginning of on-orbit operations. Although the anomaly shows non-deterministic behavior, regular detumbling maneuvers keep the spacecraft at tumbling rates between 2.5°s−1 and 200°s−1. At low turn rates, we downloaded a significant amount of data from the attitude determination and control system, enabling us to calibrate the magnetometer on ground with data recorded and downlinked over a span of several months. Additionally, we were also able to conduct payload measurements. The MOVE-IIb CubeSat, which launched on July 5th 2019 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, is a copy of MOVE-II with minor improvements to correct the flaws of its predecessor. Unfortunately, a signal strength of 15 dB less than MOVE-II hindered any practical operations but it has been confirmed as alive in space. As possible causes we analyzed our initial guesses of a faulty deployment of the solar panels and antennae but also a malfunction of the transmitter. With the lessons learned from the MOVE-II/IIb missions, critical mistakes can be avoided for future CubeSat missions. As part of these lessons learned, the most useful and most hindering features of the spacecraft and its ground infrastructure are discussed. Furthermore, the training routine for the Mission Control team and its changes over time are described. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on spacecraft operations is also discussed, including lessons learned for future missions. This paper takes a look at the evolution of this mission since 2018. It discusses new findings, degradation of the spacecraft, lessons-learned and operations of the CubeSats

The obesity epidemic in 32,936 youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the German/Austrian DPV and US T1D Exchange (T1DX) registries

Objective To examine the current extent of the obesity problem in 2 large pediatric clinical registries in the US and Europe and to examine the hypotheses that increased body mass index (BMI) z-scores (BMIz) are associated with greater hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and increased frequency of severe hypoglycemia in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Study design International (World Health Organization) and national (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents) BMI references were used to calculate BMIz in participants (age 2-<18 years and ≥1 year duration of T1D) enrolled in the T1D Exchange (n = 11 435) and the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up (n = 21 501). Associations between BMIz and HbA1c and severe hypoglycemia were assessed. Results Participants in both registries had median BMI values that were greater than international and their respective national reference values. BMIz was significantly greater in the T1D Exchange vs the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up (P < .001). After stratification by age-group, no differences in BMI between registries existed for children 2-5 years, but differences were confirmed for 6- to 9-, 10- to 13-, and 14- to 17-year age groups (all P < .001). Greater BMIz were significantly related to greater HbA1c levels and more frequent occurrence of severe hypoglycemia across the registries, although these associations may not be clinically relevant. Conclusions Excessive weight is a common problem in children with T1D in Germany and Austria and, especially, in the US. Our data suggest that obesity contributes to the challenges in achieving optimal glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D

Determinants of Carry Trades in Central and Eastern Europe

In this paper, I analyze determinants of carry trade returns in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). I show that carry trades to CEE were lucrative due to interest rate spreads between the funding and investment currency from 2004 to 2006. They became unprofitable when liquidity risk and exchange rate volatility increased after 2007. The analysis suggests that the exchange rate regime of the CEE economy matters for carry trade returns. Overall, exchange rate stabilization, particularly via managed floats, seems to allow for the highest profit opportunities

Introduction to Surface Avatar: the First Heterogeneous Robotic Team to be Commanded with Scalable Autonomy from the ISS

Robotics is vital to the continued development toward Lunar and Martian exploration, in-situ resource utilization, and surface infrastructure construction. Large-scale extra-terrestrial missions will require teams of robots with different, complementary capabilities, together with a powerful, intuitive user interface for effective commanding. We introduce Surface Avatar, the newest ISS-to-Earth telerobotic experiment series, to be conducted in 2022-2024. Spearheaded by DLR, together with ESA, Surface Avatar builds on expertise on commanding robots with different levels of autonomy from our past telerobotic experiments: Kontur-2, Haptics, Interact, SUPVIS Justin, and Analog-1. A team of four heterogeneous robots in a multi-site analog environment at DLR are at the command of a crew member on the ISS. The team has a humanoid robot for dexterous object handling, construction and maintenance; a rover for long traverses and sample acquisition; a quadrupedal robot for scouting and exploring difficult terrains; and a lander with robotic arm for component delivery and sample stowage. The crew's command terminal is multimodal, with an intuitive graphical user interface, 3-DOF joystick, and 7-DOF input device with force-feedback. The autonomy of any robot can be scaled up and down depending on the task and the astronaut's preference: acting as an avatar of the crew in haptically-coupled telepresence, or receiving task-level commands like an intelligent co-worker. Through crew performing collaborative tasks in exploration and construction scenarios, we hope to gain insight into how to optimally command robots in a future space mission. This paper presents findings from the first preliminary session in June 2022, and discusses the way forward in the planned experiment sessions

Fiscal Divergence, Current Account and TARGET2 Imbalances in the EMU

The paper scrutinizes the reasons for the European debt crisis, the implications for TARGET2 imbalances and options for surplus liquidity absorption within an asymmetric EMU. It is argued that starting from the turn of the millennium diverging fiscal policy paths and diverging unit labour costs were the driving force of rising intra-European current account imbalances within the euro area, which were enhanced by post-2001 low interest rate policies and changing financing conditions for the German banking sector. The paper shows how since the outbreak of the crisis the adjustment of intra-EMU current account imbalances is postponed by a rising divergence of TARGET2 balances, as the repatriation of private international credit and deposit flight from the crisis economies is substituted by central bank credit. Given that this process has brought Deutsche Bundesbank into a debtor position to the domestic financial system, we discuss options for liquidity absorption by Deutsche Bundesbank to forestall asset price bubbles in Germany

Preparation and First Operations Experience of the Life Support Rack at Col-CC

Over the last years, the focus of the Columbus Control Centre (Col-CC) and the Columbus module was to support ESA science activities in different fields on the International Space Station ISS. In 2019, the first steps from ESA venturing into a crew habitat were taken in the US Lab with the installation of the Life Support Rack (LSR). With the Life Support Rack or Advanced Closed Loop System (ACLS), designed by Airbus, the field of environmental control responsibility at Col-CC was reaching a new level. Until now, only the air circulation in the Columbus module was handled by Col-CC not the atmospheric control, which was managed by NASA. LSR can, amongst other things, regenerate oxygen and water in a closed loop, which means almost no outside resources are needed. Responsibilities to operate the rack are shared between Airbus Friedrichshafen, Col-CC and NASA. The position that Col-CC is responsible for is Columbus Operations Mission Execution Timeline Engineer (COMET). The operation includes resource coordination with counterparts and commanding which, so far, are not part of the COMET responsibilities. Therefore, training for the operators has been designed, which includes not only theoretical training but also practical simulations. In parallel with this, a new set up on console was designed and implemented. During the Horizon Mission in October 2019, ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst installed LSR. During the first weeks of operation unexpected issues were encountered, which were solved by updating processes and implementing improvements on both the hardware and software side that ensured system modes were functional. In 2021, however, a required software update caused a pause in operations leading to a new software version that was installed in early 2022 allowing the operation to re-start, with the goal to have a fully functional rack. This paper will focus on the preparation done before the first activities with LSR as well as the first experiences with the operation of the rack at Col-CC. The training for the COMET team will also be discussed, the problems and solutions during the early days will be analysed and finally an insight into the future will be given

Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire for Adults and the Elderly

International audienceCette recherche a pour objectif l'étude des qualités psychométriques d'une version française du Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) (Troyer et Rich, 2002). Le MMQ a été élaboré pour être utilisé à la fois dans une perspective clinique et dans une perspective de recherche. Il évalue le fonctionnement mnésique subjectif (c'est-à-dire les affects relatifs aux aptitudes de mémoire, l'occurrence de problèmes survenant dans différentes situations et l'utilisation de stratégies dans la vie quotidienne). Le questionnaire a été administré à 294 sujets adulte s et âgé s (de 46 à 94 ans). Le s résultats permettent de conclure que notre version présente de bonnes qualités psychométriques. En effet, ils ont montré la fiabilité du questionnaire (les coefficients α de Cronbach varient de 0,79 à 0,88 pour les différentes sous-échelles) et des corrélations significatives dans le sens attendu avec d'autres constructs (les coefficients de corrélation varient e ntre-0,34 e t 0,39). La validité convergente de s scores au MMQ a été mise en évidence par des corrélations significatives positives avec plusieurs sous-échelles du Metamemory in Adulthood (MIA), à savoir les sous-échelles anxiété, changement, capacité et stratégie. Cependant, la solution à trois facteurs obtenue avec la version originale n'a pas été validée dans notre étude. Une analyse factorielle exploratoire a montré qu'une solution à quatre facteurs permet une interprétation plus adéquate des scores. Deux des dimensions proposées par Troyer et Rich (2002) ont été répliquées : les dimensions satisfaction et problèmes. La troisième sous-échelle (stratégies) a été subdivisée en deux facteurs : stratégies internes et stratégies externes. ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a French version of the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) (Troyer & Rich, 2002). The MMQ, which is suited to clinical and research purposes, evaluates subjective memory functioning (i.e., affect related to memory abilities, frequency of problems remembering in different situations, and strategy use in everyday life). The questionnaire was administered to 294 French adult or elderly subjects (46–94 years old). The results allowed us to conclude that the French version of th is scale is psychometrically sound. Indeed, the scores proved to be highly reliable (Cronbach's α for the subscales ranged from 0.79 to 0.88) and correlated in the expected directions with measures of other constructs (correlation coefficients ranged from-0.34 to 0.39). Convergent validity evidence for MMQ scores was provided by their statistically significant positive correlations (from 0.56 to 0.73) with several dimensions of the Metamemory in Adulthood scale (MIA) (i.e., the anxiety, change, capacity , and strategy dimensions). However, the three-factor model found in the original version was not validated here. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that a four-factor solution offered the most interpretable pattern for the factor scores. Two of the dimensions proposed by Troyer and Rich (2002) were replicated: ability and contentment. The third subscale (strategy) was divided into two factors: internal strategies and external strategies. Manuscript received: / manuscrit reçu : 06/11/03 Manuscript accepted: / manuscrit accepté : 07 /09/ 0