Short-term prediction of rain attenuation level and volatility in Earth-to-Satellite links at EHF band

This paper shows how nonlinear models originally developed in the finance field can be used to predict rain attenuation level and volatility in Earth-to-Satellite links operating at the Extremely High Frequencies band (EHF, 20–50 GHz). A common approach to solving this problem is to consider that the prediction error corresponds only to scintillations, whose variance is assumed to be constant. Nevertheless, this assumption does not seem to be realistic because of the heteroscedasticity of error time series: the variance of the prediction error is found to be time-varying and has to be modeled. Since rain attenuation time series behave similarly to certain stocks or foreign exchange rates, a switching ARIMA/GARCH model was implemented. The originality of this model is that not only the attenuation level, but also the error conditional distribution are predicted. It allows an accurate upper-bound of the future attenuation to be estimated in real time that minimizes the cost of Fade Mitigation Techniques (FMT) and therefore enables the communication system to reach a high percentage of availability. The performance of the switching ARIMA/GARCH model was estimated using a measurement database of the Olympus satellite 20/30 GHz beacons and this model is shown to outperform significantly other existing models. The model also includes frequency scaling from the downlink frequency to the uplink frequency. The attenuation effects (gases, clouds and rain) are first separated with a neural network and then scaled using specific scaling factors. As to the resulting uplink prediction error, the error contribution of the frequency scaling step is shown to be larger than that of the downlink prediction, indicating that further study should focus on improving the accuracy of the scaling factor

Multifractal analysis of oceanic chlorophyll maps remotely sensed from space

International audiencePhytoplankton patchiness has been investigated with multifractal analysis techniques. We analyzed oceanic chlorophyll maps, measured by the SeaWiFS orbiting sensor, which are considered to be good proxies for phytoplankton. Multifractal properties are observed, from the sub-mesoscale up to the mesoscale, and are found to be consistent with the Corssin-Obukhov scale law of passive scalars. This result indicates that, within this scale range, turbulent mixing would be the dominant effect leading to the observed variability of phytoplankton fields. Finally, it is shown that multifractal patchiness can be responsible for significant biases in the nonlinear source and sink terms involved in biogeochemical numerical models

Imagining Alternatives: The Educational and Public Nature of Assessment

;Assessment and accountability are words that have become synonymous with standardized testing. This view has narrowed the curriculum and limited the na-ture of learning and schooling experiences for children. This narrow focus has also driven educational practices away from ideas found in current learning theory. The following case study illustrates one school’s effort to ex-pand assessment and accountability activities, to bring assessment practices in line with recommendations in the learning and assessment research literature and to encourage dialogue throughout the school community regarding the school’s program and students’ learning. Using a narrative constructed from data from one of the school’s assessment activities, the author, who was also serving as the school principal at the time of the event, discusses the complexities and potential of making stu-dent learning public and involving the public in assess-ment. Creating a public forum to explore ideas and con-ceptions about schooling and learning among adults and children links school accountability to awareness and understanding of school purposes and pedagogy. This democratic aspect of assessment and accountability may hold power to influence school reform and imagine educational alternatives beyond the reliance and accep-tance of standardized testing as the gold standard

Genomics and Ethics: The Case of Cloned and/or Transgenic Animals

The point of the present study is to illustrate and, if possible, promote the existing link between genomics and ethics, taking the example of cloned and transgenic animals. These ‘new animals’ raise theoretical and practical problems that concern applied ethics. We will explore more particularly an original strategy showing that it is possible, starting from philosophical questioning about the nature of identity, to use a genomic approach, based on amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) detection, to provide useful tools to define more rigorously what cloned animals are, by testing their genetic and epigenetic identity. We expect from the future results of this combined approach to stimulate the creativity of the philosophical and ethical reflection about the impact of biotechnology on animals, and to increase scientific involvement in such issues

Object Tracking Through Adaptive Correlation

This paper discusses the use of a correlation based system to track, an object through a series of images based on templates derived from previous image frames. The ability to track is extended to sequences which include multiple objects of interest within the field of view. This is accomplishes by comparing the height and shape of the template autocorrelation to the peaks in the correlation of the template with the next scene. The result is to identify the region in the next scene which best matches the designated target. In addition to correlation plane postprocessing, an adaptive window is used to determine the template size in order to reduce the effects of correlator walk- off. The image sequences used were taken from a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor mounted onboard a DC-3 aircraft. The images contain a T-55 tank and both an M-113 and a TAB-71 armored personnel carrier moving in a columnized formation along a dirt road. The goals of this research were to (1) track targets in the presence of other, and sometimes brighter, targets of similar shape; (2) to maintain small tracking errors; and (3) to reduce the effects of correlator walk-off

Linear and Non-Linear Preprocessing of Wavefront Sensor Slope Measurements for Improved Adaptive Optics Performance

New methods for preprocessing wavefront sensor (WFS) slope measurements are presented. Methods are developed to improve the accuracy of WFS slope measurements, as well as estimating key atmospheric and system parameters from the slope signals. Both statistical and artificial neural network solutions are investigated. Also, new atmospheric models for generating slope and phase data with the proper spatial and temporal statistics are developed. The experiments in improving the accuracy of WFS slope measurements include reducing the WFS slope measurement error and compensating for adaptive optics system time delay through temporal slope prediction. The experiments in key parameter estimation include estimating the Fried coherence length, r0, the wind speed profile, the strengths of the atmospheric turbulence layers, and the WFS mean square slope estimation error. Results of the experiments are used to make generalized conclusions in several key areas: first, the types of useful information that can be extracted from the WFS slope measurements; second, a comparison of linear or non linear methods; and third, the possibility of methods that can be developed which operate over useful ranges of seeing conditions. Overall, we find that the WFS slope measurements do contain useful information which can be extracted through various techniques. Simple transformations (either by neural network or statistical solution) on slope measurements can yield significant improvements is system accuracy without major changes to the adaptive optics system

Consensus communication strategies to improve doctor-patient relationship in paediatric severe asthma

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that is very common among youth worldwide. The burden of this illness is very high not only considering financial costs but also on emotional and social functioning. Guidelines and many researches recommend to develop a good communication between physicians and children/caregiver and their parents. Nevertheless, a previous Italian project showed some criticalities in paediatric severe asthma management. The consensus gathered together experts in paediatric asthma management, experts in narrative medicine and patient associations with the aim of identify simple recommendation to improve communication strategies. Methods: Participants to the consensus received the results of the project and a selection of narratives two weeks before the meeting. The meeting was structured in plenary session and in three working groups discussing respectively about communication strategies with children, adolescents and parents. The task of each working group was to identify the most effective (DO) and least effective practices (DON' T) for 5 phases of the visit: welcome, comprehension of the context, emotions management, duration and end of the visit and endurance of the relationship. Results: Participants agreed that good relationships translate into positive outcomes and reached consensus on communication strategies to implement in the different phase of relationships. Conclusions: The future challenges identified by the participants are the dissemination of this Consensus document and the implementation of effective communication strategies to improve the management of pediatric asthma

Paper Session II-A - Potential Use of Smaller Satellites for Military Space Operations

This paper describes potentially attractive uses of smaller satellites for complementing current Air Force space systems. By mission area, the applications of smaller satellites as enhancements to current systems are shown for three operational scenarios: (1) to provide dedicated support to tactical war-fighting users, (2) to provide a quick-response surge to augment current systems in a crisis, and (3) in the case of the failure or loss of a satellite, to provide responsive back-up systems for use until new primary systems can be deployed. Preliminary results show that in every space mission area, smaller satellites can potentially provide a useful enhancement to the current systems. The enhancements in most cases are improvements in coverage, capacity, and data timelines which are required from time to time by certain user segments. Enhancements in some cases simultaneously improve the robustness and resiliency of the space mission area. The smaller satellites probably cannot realistically replace current systems, which have evolved to their current configuration through years of optimization of cost, mission capability, and survivability. The results show that using current technolgy and design practices, the 500-1000 pound weight class of satellite is what is being referred to as smaller, but useful

Reaching the SDGs by 2030: at what point is Italy? Evidence from firms at the regional clusters’ level

Framing of the research. The implementation of the SDGs, one of the most urgent and current challenges, requires adaptation to sub-national contexts and the involvement of many actors, including firms. Purpose of the paper. The paper examines the Italian situation regarding the achievement of the SDGs through the lens of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda by firms from different Italian regions. Methodology. The research involved 30 Italian listed companies from Northern and Central-Southern Italy, selected from the CONSOB’s list of firms providing a non-financial declaration. An integral reading of the documents with subsequent interpretation was performed. Results. Regional localization does not affect the overall contribution to the SDGs, which is limited for all firms. Instead, the geographic localization of firms at the regional scale differentiates the prioritized SDGs: Northern firms are more oriented towards social and economic SDGs, while Central-Southern firms focus more on environmental ones. Research limitations. The paper represents a preliminary exploration of Italian firms’ advancements towards the SDGs over a regional space. Future research developments could focus on sample enlargement and the exploration of sub-national specificities in other countries around the world. Managerial implications. Italian firms should enhance their commitment to the 2030 Agenda in all its ambitions by incorporating the sustainable goals within their corporate culture and strategic posture. Originality of the paper. The study responds to the need to consider sub-national specificities in the literature on sustainable development by capturing the connections between firms, their territory of operation, and the SDGs