Users guide for guidance and control Launch and Abort Simulation for Spacecraft (LASS), volume 1

The mathematical models and computer program which are used to implement LASS are described. The computer program provides for a simulation of boost to orbit and abort capability from boost trajectories to a prescribed target. The abort target provides a decision point for engine shutdown from which the vehicle coasts to the vicinity of the selected abort recovery site. The simulation is a six degree of freedom simulation describing a rigid body. The vehicle is influenced by forces and moments from nondistributed aerodynamics. An adaptive autopilot is provided to control vehicle attitudes during powered and unpowered flight. A conventional autopilot is provided for study of vehicle during powered flight

Finnes det en medieeffekt på det norske markedet? : en undersøkelse av hvorvidt medieeksponering påvirker aksjekursene på Oslo Børs

Oppgaven tar for seg selskapene på Oslo Børs i perioden 2008-2012 og undersøker hvorvidt det eksisterer en medieeffekt på det norske markedet. Medieeffekten defineres som målbar differanseavkastning mellom selskaper som har henholdsvis høy og lav eksponering i media og er uavhengig av nyhetens relevans, retning og alder. Medieeksponering måles som antall treff i norske papir- og nettaviser. Vi danner lang-kort porteføljer hvor vi kjøper aksjer med høy mediedekning og selger aksjer med lav mediedekning. Videre finner vi at høy mediedekningsgruppe har signifikant høyere avkastning enn lav mediedekningsgruppe i samme måned, og at denne avkastningen ser ut til å reversere i perioden etter målt medieeksponering. Nærmere undersøkelser viser at den positive porteføljeavkastningen ikke kan forklares av markeds- eller størrelsesfaktoren. I undersøkelsen av Oslo Børs kan vi likevel ikke entydig konkludere med at en medieeffekt alene kan forklare den positive porteføljeavkastningen. Oslo Børs er preget av få store selskaper. Disse selskapene hadde en god avkastning i perioden for vår analyse og mye tyder på at den observerte effekten i stor grad også kan tilskrives størrelseseffekt. Når vi foretar undersøkelser på Oslo Børs hvor de 25 største selskapene representert ved OBX-indeksen ekskluderes, øker derimot lang-kort porteføljens avkastning. Dette taler for at observert effekt i det minste delvis skyldes medieeffekt. Signifikansen øker også betraktelig. Det må nevnes at det kan være flere risikofaktorer enn de vi tar hensyn til i oppgaven som kan være med på å forklare porteføljens positive og signifikante avkastning

The health care experiences of adult survivors of child sexual abuse : a systematic review of evidence on sensitive practice [abstract]

This poster presentation was on display for the entire conference.Abstract of a poster presented at the 2008 Body Project conference at the University of Missouri-Columbia.I propose to present a poster representing findings from my article, just published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Trauma, Violence, and Abuse entitled, "The health care experiences of adult survivors of child sexual abuse: A systematic review of evidence on sensitive practice". This study was inspired by my work with adult survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) as a practicing social worker/therapist. The women I worked with spoke of the impact that abuse has had on their physical health, health care utilization, perceptions about their bodies and health, and experiences with health care providers. They spoke of avoiding care because of trauma triggers related to being touched, disrobing, and being placed in vulnerable physical positioning by providers during the health care encounter. They spoke of having to explain repeatedly about extensive cervical scarring resulting from years of sexual abuse and fighting to avoid invasive tests requested by providers to "explain" these anomalies. They spoke of being dismissed by providers as they sought help for chronic pain not easily categorized or "cured"

Vitamin D-binding protein and its potential role as a biomarker in psoriasis and related conditions

1 Abstract1.1 Introduction Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease linked to other medical conditions such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Recently, higher levels of vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) have been reported among psoriasis patients. Moreover, DBP has been found higher among psoriasis patients reporting arthropathy. Given the current lack of a reliable biomarker for psoriasis and PsA, these findings are particularly interesting. This master thesis seeks to explore the potential association between DBP levels and psoriasis severity, PsA/joint pain and total serum 25(OH)D levels in a cohort of psoriasis patients. 1.2 Method The study utilized raw data from a previous RCT conducted at the University Hospital of North Norway. It included 115 participants with mild active plaque psoriasis and low serum 25(OH)D levels. Participants were randomized to receive cholecalciferol or placebo for 4 months. Psoriasis severity was measured using Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Data included self-reported arthropathy, current joint pain, serum 25(OH)D levels, and serum DBP levels. Potential relationships between measures were explored using linear regression. The analyses were not predefined in the RCT protocol and should be considered explorative. 1.3 Results At baseline, a significant positive correlation was found between PASI score and DBP levels, but the direction of this relationship reversed and became non-significant after 4 months. There was no correlation between DBP levels and self-reported arthropathy, current joint pain, nor serum 25(OH)D levels. Moreover, we found no statistically significant difference in the change of DBP levels between the intervention groups. 1.4 Conclusion This explorative analysis found no reliable relationship between DBP levels and psoriasis severity, PsA, self-reported joint pain nor total serum 25(OH)D levels. Additionally, four months of oral supplement of vitamin D gave no statistically significant change in DBP levels. Further studies are warranted to investigate the relationship between DBP and psoriasis

Silica Dissolution and Precipitation in Galciated Volcanic Environments and Implications for Mars

The surface of Mars exhibits strong evidence for a widespread and long-lived cryosphere. Observations of the surface have identified phases produced by water-rock interactions, but the contribution of glaciers to the observed alteration mineralogy is unclear. To characterize the chemical alteration expected on an icy early Mars, we collected water and rock samples from terrestrial glaciated volcanics. We related geochemical measurements of meltwater to the mineralogy and chemistry of proglacial rock coatings. In these terrains, water is dominated by dissolved silica relative to other dissolved cations, particularly at mafic sites. Rock coatings associated with glacial striations on mafic boulders include a silica-rich component, indicating that silica precipitation is occurring in the subglacial environment. We propose that glacial alteration of volcanic bedrock is dominated by a combination of high rates of silica dissolution and precipitation of opaline silica. On Mars, cryosphere-driven chemical weathering could be the origin of observed silica-enriched phases

Differentiating Hydrothermal, Pedogenic, and Glacial Weathering in a Cold Volcanic Mars-Analog Environment

Although the current cold, dry environment of Mars extends back through much of its history, its earliest periods experienced significant water- related surface activity. Both geomorphic features (e.g., paleolakes, deltas, and river valleys) and hydrous mineral detections (e.g., clays and salts) have historically been interpreted to imply a "warm and wet" early Mars climate. More recently, atmospheric modeling studies have struggled to produce early climate conditions with temperatures above 0degC, leading some studies to propose a "cold and icy" early Mars dominated by widespread glaciation with transient melting. However, the alteration mineralogy produced in subglacial environments is not well understood, so the extent to which cold climate glacial weathering can produce the diverse alteration mineralogy observed on Mars is unknown. This summer, we will be conducting a field campaign in a glacial weathering environment in the Cascade Range, OR in order to determine the types of minerals that these environments produce. However, we must first disentangle the effects of glacial weathering from other significant alteration processes. Here we attempt a first understanding of glacial weathering by differentiating rocks and sediments weathered by hydrothermal, pedogenic, and glacial weathering processes in the Cascades volcanic range

Promoting Environmental Justice Research and Practice for Social Workers in a Rural State: Methodology and Findings of a Pilot Qualitative Study

Environmental justice work is an emerging field of practice that recognizes the interrelationship between social, economic, racial, gender, and environmental injustice and the impact social workers can have for policy and practice. Despite inclusion of environmental justice knowledge and practice as critical elements of ethical social work, little research exists on the topic in the professional knowledge base. Additionally, little research exists to date that specifically examines environmental justice knowledge and practice in a rural area. This pilot study examines awareness and knowledge of environmental justice issues and practice amongst licensed social workers in a rural western state using focus group methodology. Findings of this pilot study are discussed, with implications for social work practice, education, policy work, and research rooted in rural settings. A second of the two-fold purpose of this article is to present the qualitative methodology utilized in hopes of building more pathways for the development of environmental justice knowledge through social work research

An Extended CCSD Model Including Triple Excitations for Core-Ionization Energies

A model for calculation of core-ionization energies is developed within the equations-of-motion coupled cluster framework with application of the CVS approximation. The model deviates from EOM-CCSD by inclusion of triple projection manifold and triple excitation operators, as well as triple excitation amplitudes. However, the triple projection manifold is restricted to only include states involving a specific core excitation, namely an excitation to a super-diffuse orbital. As the super-diffuse orbital does not interact with the molecule orbitals, the model produces core-ionization energies. The truncation level of the cluster operator remains as in EOM-CCSD, but a trivial zero triple cluster operator is added. There are still some minor errors present in the pilot code, but it is expected that the model produces results at an accuracy level close to EOM-CCSDT. The computational cost, however, is reduced to n^7 compared to EOM-CCSDT, which scales as n^8, and could be further reduced to n^6, n denoting the number of basis functions. Since the proposed model is the theoretical equivalent to the experimental procedure XPS, it is named XPS-CCSD. Theoretical spectra may be constructed by core-ionization energies obtained by the XPS-CCSD model, where these are helpful in the interpretation of their experimental counterpart

Cervical screening and the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse: are clinical staff trained to recognise and manage the effect this has on their patients?

Aims and objectives: To evaluate the training needs and awareness of childhood sexual abuse amongst clinical staff taking cervical screening samples in one inner city primary care trust. Background Studies exploring sexual abuse and nonparticipation in cervical screening have demonstrated that women can experience re-traumatisation if care during examinations is insensitive to their particular needs. Design: This was a mixed methods, service evaluation in three phases. Methods: A literature review, a questionnaire to cervical screening staff in an inner city primary care trust and a focus group of four staff drawn from questionnaire respondents to explore themes raised in the questionnaire data. Results: Data analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data showed that clinical staff underestimated the frequency of childhood sexual abuse although they were aware of the difficulties and reluctance some women experience undergoing gynaecological examinations. When women did disclose childhood sexual abuse or when staff suspected a history of childhood sexual abuse, staff reported feeling unsure of how they should proceed. There was no support or clinical supervision, and unmet training needs were identified. Conclusions: Nurses expressed anxiety around the potential of the screening test to cause more harm than good and at their inability to provide more help than listening. Staff wanted support and further training after completing their cervical screening training course to assist in their provision of sensitive care to patients who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Relevance to clinical practice: Whilst our results cannot be generalised to a wider population, they may be meaningful for the community of cervical screening takers. We argue that screening staff require further training and professional support (clinical supervision) to increase their confidence when providing safe and sensitive practice for childhood sexual abuse survivors. If staff feel more confident and competent when responding to disclosure of childhood sexual abuse in screening situations, women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse might participate in the screening programme more readily

Months-Long Spike in Aqueous Arsenic Following Domestic Well Installation and Disinfection: Short- and Long-Term Drinking Water Quality Implications

Exposure to high concentration geogenic arsenic via groundwater is a worldwide health concern. Well installation introduces oxic drilling fluids and hypochlorite (a strong oxidant) for disinfection, thus inducing geochemical disequilibrium. Well installation causes changes in geochemistry lasting 12 + months, as illustrated in a recent study of 250 new domestic wells in Minnesota, north-central United States. One study well had extremely high initial arsenic (1550 µg/L) that substantially decreased after 15 months (5.2 µg/L). The drilling and development of the study well were typical and ordinary; nothing observable indicated the very high initial arsenic concentration. We hypothesized that oxidation of arsenic-containing sulfides (which lowers pH) combined with low pH dissolution of arsenic-bearing Fe (oxyhydr)oxides caused the very high arsenic concentration. Geochemical equilibrium considerations and modeling supported our hypothesis. Groundwater equilibrium redox conditions are poised at the Fe(III)(s)/Fe(II)(aq) stability boundary, indicating arsenic-bearing Fe (oxyhydr)oxide mineral sensitivity to pH and redox changes. Changing groundwater geochemistry can have negative implications for home water treatment (e.g., reduced arsenic removal efficiency, iron fouling), which can lead to ongoing but unrecognized hazard of arsenic exposure from domestic well water. Our results may inform arsenic mobilization processes and geochemical sensitivity in similarly complex aquifers in Southeast Asia and elsewhere