Estimating the Benefits of a Faith-Based Correctional Program

A recent outcome evaluation of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (InnerChange), a faith-based prisoner reentry program that has operated within Minnesota's prison system since 2002, showed the program is effective in lowering recidivism. This study extends research on InnerChange by conducting a cost-benefit analysis of the program. Because InnerChange relies heavily on volunteers and program costs are privately funded, the program exacts no additional costs to the State of Minnesota. As a result, this study focused on estimating the program's benefits by examining recidivism and post-release employment. The findings showed that during its first six years of operation in Minnesota, InnerChange produced an estimated benefit of $3 million, which amounts to nearly$8,300 per participant. Much of this benefit stems from costs avoided as a result of the program's impact on reoffending

POLOCALC: a Novel Method to Measure the Absolute Polarization Orientation of the Cosmic Microwave Background

We describe a novel method to measure the absolute orientation of the polarization plane of the CMB with arcsecond accuracy, enabling unprecedented measurements for cosmology and fundamental physics. Existing and planned CMB polarization instruments looking for primordial B-mode signals need an independent, experimental method for systematics control on the absolute polarization orientation. The lack of such a method limits the accuracy of the detection of inflationary gravitational waves, the constraining power on the neutrino sector through measurements of gravitational lensing of the CMB, the possibility of detecting Cosmic Birefringence, and the ability to measure primordial magnetic fields. Sky signals used for calibration and direct measurements of the detector orientation cannot provide an accuracy better than 1 deg. Self-calibration methods provide better accuracy, but may be affected by foreground signals and rely heavily on model assumptions. The POLarization Orientation CALibrator for Cosmology, POLOCALC, will dramatically improve instrumental accuracy by means of an artificial calibration source flying on balloons and aerial drones. A balloon-borne calibrator will provide far-field source for larger telescopes, while a drone will be used for tests and smaller polarimeters. POLOCALC will also allow a unique method to measure the telescopes' polarized beam. It will use microwave emitters between 40 and 150 GHz coupled to precise polarizing filters. The orientation of the source polarization plane will be registered to sky coordinates by star cameras and gyroscopes with arcsecond accuracy. This project can become a rung in the calibration ladder for the field: any existing or future CMB polarization experiment observing our polarization calibrator will enable measurements of the polarization angle for each detector with respect to absolute sky coordinates.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, Accepted by Journal of Astronomical Instrumentatio

PNNL - Using Matrix and Tensor Factorization for Analyzing Radiation Transport Data

The Disruptive Technologies Group in the National Security Directorate of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory teamed up with students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on a research project that aims to develop quantitative methods for characterizing features in radiation transport simulation data and comparing features across different computational approaches. Understanding how radiation particles are transported throughout a system and interact with shielding is extremely computationally expensive. Reduced order models (ROMs) can be used to significantly increase the speed of these calculations. This project focuses on analysis of the simulated radiation transport for Cobalt-60, Cesium-137, and Technetium-99. A ROM may be developed from several formalisms and then analyzing the feature vectors of each. The methods considered here include principal component analysis (PCA), non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF), and CP tensor decomposition (CPT). By comparing the signal from fitted Lorentzian profiles to spectral features, we evaluate whether each ROM is capable of accurately displaying the radiation signal traces in the data

Spatially Resolved Images of Dust Belt(s) Around the Planet-hosting Subgiant Kappa CrB

We present Herschel spatially resolved images of the debris disc orbiting the subgiant Kappa CrB. Not only are these the first resolved images of a debris disc orbiting a subgiant, but Kappa CrB is a rare example of an intermediate mass star where a detailed study of the structure of the planetary system can be made, including both planets and planetesimal belt(s). The only way to discover planets around such stars using the radial velocity technique is to observe 'retired' A stars, which are cooler and slower rotators compared to their main-sequence counterparts. A planetary companion has already been detected orbiting the subgiant Kappa CrB, with revised parameters of m sin i = 2.1MJ and apl = 2.8AU (Johnson et al. 2008a). We present additional Keck I HIRES radial velocity measurements that provide evidence for a second planetary companion, alongside Keck II AO imaging that places an upper limit on the mass of this companion. Modelling of our Herschel images shows that the dust is broadly distributed, but cannot distinguish between a single wide belt (from 20 to 220AU) or two narrow dust belts (at around 40 and 165AU). Given the existence of a second planetary companion beyond approximately 3AU it is possible that the absence of dust within approximately 20AU is caused by dynamical depletion, although the observations are not inconsistent with depletion of these regions by collisional erosion, which occurs at higher rates closer to the star.Comment: Updated abstrac

Space Station Freedom data management system growth and evolution report

The Information Sciences Division at the NASA Ames Research Center has completed a 6-month study of portions of the Space Station Freedom Data Management System (DMS). This study looked at the present capabilities and future growth potential of the DMS, and the results are documented in this report. Issues have been raised that were discussed with the appropriate Johnson Space Center (JSC) management and Work Package-2 contractor organizations. Areas requiring additional study have been identified and suggestions for long-term upgrades have been proposed. This activity has allowed the Ames personnel to develop a rapport with the JSC civil service and contractor teams that does permit an independent check and balance technique for the DMS

Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland between 1996 and 2006

Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice records over an 11 year period provide evidence of changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data, collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms over the past decade. Reductions for both species have been particularly marked since 2001 when more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the database and these show a growing trend towards the use of the in feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the salmon production cycle. However, this trend to wards single product use has not been sustained in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. There is some evidence of region to region variation within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing higher levels of infestation. However, compared to the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation, with the overall pattern showing a particular reduction in the second and third quarters of the second year of production

Satellite laser ranging work at the Goddard Space Flight Center

Laser ranging systems, their range and accuracy capabilities, and planned improvements for future systems are discussed, the systems include one fixed and two mobile lasers ranging systems. They have demonstrated better than 10 cm accuracy both on a carefully surveyed ground range and in regular satellite ranging operations. They are capable of ranging to all currently launched retroreflector equipped satellites with the exception of Timation III. A third mobile system is discussed which will be accurate to better than 5 cm and will be capable of ranging to distant satellites such as Timation III and LAGEOS

Embedding effective depression care: using theory for primary care organisational and systems change

Background: depression and related disorders represent a significant part of general practitioners (GPs) daily work. Implementing the evidence about what works for depression care into routine practice presents a challenge for researchers and service designers. The emerging consensus is that the transfer of efficacious interventions into routine practice is strongly linked to how well the interventions are based upon theory and take into account the contextual factors of the setting into which they are to be transferred. We set out to develop a conceptual framework to guide change and the implementation of best practice depression care in the primary care setting.Methods: we used a mixed method, observational approach to gather data about routine depression care in a range of primary care settings via: audit of electronic health records; observation of routine clinical care; and structured, facilitated whole of organisation meetings. Audit data were summarised using simple descriptive statistics. Observational data were collected using field notes. Organisational meetings were audio taped and transcribed. All the data sets were grouped, by organisation, and considered as a whole case. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) was identified as an analytical theory to guide the conceptual framework development.Results: five privately owned primary care organisations (general practices) and one community health centre took part over the course of 18 months. We successfully developed a conceptual framework for implementing an effective model of depression care based on the four constructs of NPT: coherence, which proposes that depression work requires the conceptualisation of boundaries of who is depressed and who is not depressed and techniques for dealing with diffuseness; cognitive participation, which proposes that depression work requires engagement with a shared set of techniques that deal with depression as a health problem; collective action, which proposes that agreement is reached about how care is organised; and reflexive monitoring, which proposes that depression work requires agreement about how depression work will be monitored at the patient and practice level. We describe how these constructs can be used to guide the design and implementation of effective depression care in a way that can take account of contextual differences.Conclusions: ideas about what is required for an effective model and system of depression care in primary care need to be accompanied by theoretically informed frameworks that consider how these can be implemented. The conceptual framework we have presented can be used to guide organisational and system change to develop common language around each construct between policy makers, service users, professionals, and researchers. This shared understanding across groups is fundamental to the effective implementation of change in primary care for depressio

Real-Time Monitoring of Aluminum Oxidation Through Wide Band Gap MgF2 Layers for Protection of Space Mirrors

Because of its extraordinary and broad reflectivity, aluminum is the only logical candidate for advanced space mirrors that operate deep into the UV. However, aluminum oxidizes rapidly in the air, and even a small amount of oxide (as little as a nanometer) can have a noticeable, detrimental impact on its reflectivity at short wavelengths. Thin films of wide band gap materials like MgF2 have previously been used to protect aluminum surfaces. Here we report the first real-time, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) study of aluminum oxidation as a function of MgF2 over layer thickness, which ranged from 0 – 6 nm. SE data analysis was performed vis-à-vis a multilayer optical model that included a thick silicon nitride layer. The optical constants for evaporated aluminum were initially determined using a multi-sample analysis (MSA) of SE data from MgF2 protected and bare Al surfaces. Two models were then considered for analyzing the real-time data obtained from Al/MgF2 stacks. The first used the optical constants of aluminum obtained in the MSA with two adjustable parameters: the thicknesses of the aluminum and aluminum oxide layers. The thicknesses obtained from this model showed the expected trends (increasing Al2O3 layer thickness and decreasing Al layer thickness with time), but some of the Al2O3 thicknesses were unphysical (negative). Because the optical constants of very thin metals films depend strongly on their structures and deposition conditions, a second, more advanced model was employed that fit the optical constants for Al, and also the Al and Al2O3 thicknesses, for each data set. In particular, the Al and Al2O3 thicknesses and optical constants of Al were determined in an MSA for each of 50 evenly spaced analyses in each four-hour dynamic run performed. The resulting optical constants for Al were then fixed for that sample and the thicknesses of the Al and Al2O3 layers were determined. While the first and second models yielded similar Al and Al2O3 thickness vs. time trends, the film thicknesses obtained in this manner were more physically reasonable. Thicker MgF2 layers slow the oxidation rate of aluminum. The results from this work should prove useful in protecting space mirrors prior to launch

Sleeping time is associated with functional limitations in a national sample of older Americans

Background: Engaging in healthy behaviors may help to preserve function during aging; however, it is not well understood how sleeping time is associated with functional capacity in older adults. Aims: We sought to determine the association of sleeping time on functional limitation in a national sample of older Americans. Methods: The analytical sample included 6,020 adults aged at least 65 years who participated in the 2007-2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Respondents indicated their hours of sleep/week night and were categorized as \u3c5, 5-6.5, 7-8, 8.5-9, and \u3e9 hours of sleep/week night. Ability to complete 19 functional tasks including basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure and social activities, lower extremity mobility activities, and general physical activities were also self-reported. A covariate-adjusted logistic model analyzed the associations between each sleeping time category and functional limitation. Results: Relative to those reporting 7-8 hours of sleep/week night, older Americans reporting \u3c5, 5-6.5, 8.5-9, and \u3e9 hours of sleep/week night had 2.02 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 3.21), 1.25 (CI: 1.02, 1.53), 1.60 (CI: 1.21, 2.12), and 3.21 (CI: 2.12, 4.87) greater odds for functional limitation, respectively. Discussion: Sleep should be recognized as a health factor that may reflect functional capacity in older adults. Healthcare providers should discuss the importance of optimal sleep with their older patients and older adults should practice healthy sleeping behaviors for preserving function. Conclusions: Not meeting optimal sleep recommendations is associated with functional limitations in older Americans