Rubble pile asteroids are forever.

Rubble piles asteroids consist of reassembled fragments from shattered monolithic asteroids and are much more abundant than previously thought in the solar system. Although monolithic asteroids that are a kilometer in diameter have been predicted to have a lifespan of few 100 million years, it is currently not known how durable rubble pile asteroids are. Here, we show that rubble pile asteroids can survive ambient solar system bombardment processes for extremely long periods and potentially 10 times longer than their monolith counterparts. We studied three regolith dust particles recovered by the Hayabusa space probe from the rubble pile asteroid 25143 Itokawa using electron backscatter diffraction, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, atom probe tomography, and 40Ar/39Ar dating techniques. Our results show that the particles have only been affected by shock pressure of ca. 5 to 15 GPa. Two particles have 40Ar/39Ar ages of 4,219 ± 35 and 4,149 ± 41 My and when combined with thermal and diffusion models; these results constrain the formation age of the rubble pile structure to ≥4.2 billion years ago. Such a long survival time for an asteroid is attributed to the shock-absorbent nature of rubble pile material and suggests that rubble piles are hard to destroy once they are created. Our results suggest that rubble piles are probably more abundant in the asteroid belt than previously thought and provide constrain to help develop mitigation strategies to prevent asteroid collisions with Earth.

High abundance of solar wind-derived water in lunar soils from the middle latitude.

Remote sensing data revealed that the presence of water (OH/H2O) on the Moon is latitude-dependent and probably time-of-day variation, suggesting a solar wind (SW)-originated water with a high degassing loss rate on the lunar surface. However, it is unknown whether or not the SW-derived water in lunar soil grains can be preserved beneath the surface. We report ion microprobe analyses of hydrogen abundances, and deuterium/hydrogen ratios of the lunar soil grains returned by the Chang'e-5 mission from a higher latitude than previous missions. Most of the grain rims (topmost ~100 nm) show high abundances of hydrogen (1,116 to 2,516 ppm) with extremely low δD values (-908 to -992‰), implying nearly exclusively a SW origin. The hydrogen-content depth distribution in the grain rims is phase-dependent, either bell-shaped for glass or monotonic decrease for mineral grains. This reveals the dynamic equilibrium between implantation and outgassing of SW-hydrogen in soil grains on the lunar surface. Heating experiments on a subset of the grains further demonstrate that the SW-implanted hydrogen could be preserved after burial. By comparing with the Apollo data, both observations and simulations provide constraints on the governing role of temperature (latitude) on hydrogen implantation/migration in lunar soils. We predict an even higher abundance of hydrogen in the grain rims in the lunar polar regions (average ~9,500 ppm), which corresponds to an estimation of the bulk water content of ~560 ppm in the polar soils assuming the same grain size distribution as Apollo soils, consistent with the orbit remote sensing result.

Growth of Community Outpatient Care in the Veterans Affairs System After the MISSION Act.

BACKGROUND: The Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 authorized a major expansion of purchased care in the community for Veterans experiencing access barriers in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. OBJECTIVE: To estimate changes in primary care, mental health, and emergency/urgent care visits in the VA and community fiscal years (FY) 2018-2021 and differences between rural and urban clinics. DESIGN: A national, longitudinal study of VA clinics and outpatient utilization. Clinic-level analysis was conducted to estimate changes in number and proportion of clinic visits provided in the community associated with the MISSION Act adjusting for clinic characteristics and underlying time trends. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 1050 VA clinics and 6.6 million Veterans assigned to primary care. MAIN MEASURES: Number of primary care, mental health, and emergency/urgent care visits provided in the VA and community and the proportion provided in the community. KEY RESULTS: Nationally, community primary care visits increased by 107% (50,611 to 104,923), community mental health visits increased by 167% (100,701 to 268,976), and community emergency/urgent care visits increased by 129% (142,262 to 325,407) from the first quarter of 2018 to last quarter of 2021. In adjusted analysis, after MISSION Act implementation, there was an increase in community visits as a proportion of total clinic visits for emergency/urgent care and mental health but not primary care. Rural clinics had larger increases in the proportion of community visits for primary care and emergency/urgent care than urban clinics. CONCLUSIONS: After the MISSION Act, more outpatient care shifted to the community for emergency/urgent care and mental health care but not primary care. Community care utilization increased more in rural compared to urban clinics for primary care and emergency/urgent care. These findings highlight the challenges and importance of maintaining provider networks in rural areas to ensure access to care.

The NHS Low-Calorie Diet Digital Programme: Fidelity of behaviour change technique delivery.

AIMS: NHS England commissioned independent service providers to deliver the NHS Low-Calorie Diet Programme pilot. Previous research has illustrated a drift in the fidelity of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) during the delivery of the programme provided through face-to-face group or one-to-one behavioural support. The aim of this study was to assess the delivery fidelity of the BCT content in the digital delivery of the programme. METHODS: Online, app chat and phone call support content was coded using The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy. BCTs delivered by each service provider (N = 2) were calculated and compared to the BCTs specified in the NHS service specification and those specified in the providers' programme plans. RESULTS: Between 78% and 83% of the BCTs identified in the NHS service specification were delivered by the service providers. The fidelity of BCT delivery to those specified in providers' programme plans was 60%-65% for provider A, and 82% for provider B. CONCLUSIONS: The BCT content of the digital model used in the NHS-LCD programme adhered well to the NHS service specification and providers' plans. It surpassed what has been previously observed in face-to-face services provided through group or one-on-one behavioural support models.

Costs and Productivity Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act Scribes Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To improve access, the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 mandated a 2-year study of medical scribes in Veterans Health Administration specialty clinics and emergency departments. Medical scribes are employed in clinical settings with the goals of increasing provider productivity and satisfaction by minimizing physicians' documentation burden. Our objective is to quantify the economic outcomes of the MISSION Act scribes trial. METHODS: A cluster-randomized trial was designed with 12 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers randomized into the intervention. We estimated the total cost of the trial, cost per scribe-year, and projected cost of hiring additional physicians to achieve the observed scribe productivity benefits in relative value units and visits per full-time-equivalent over the 2-year intervention period (June 30, 2020 to July 1, 2022). RESULTS: The estimated cost of the trial was $4.6 million, below the Congressional Budget Office estimate of $5 million. A full-time scribe-year cost approximately $74 600 through contracting and $62 900 through VA hiring. Randomization into the trial led to an approximate 30% increase in productivity in cardiology and 20% in orthopedics. The projected incremental cost of using additional physicians instead of scribes to achieve the same productivity benefits was nearly $1.7 million more, or 75% higher, than the observed cost of scribes in cardiology and orthopedics. CONCLUSIONS: As the largest randomized trial of scribes to date, the MISSION Act scribes trial provides important evidence on the costs and benefits of scribes. Improving productivity enhances access and scribes may give VA a new tool to improve productivity in specialty care at a lower cost than hiring additional providers.

Harmonizing the Tripartite Mission in Academic Family Medicine: A Longitudinal Case Example.

Academic practices and departments are defined by a tripartite mission of care, education, and research, conceived as being mutually reinforcing. But in practice, academic faculty have often experienced these 3 missions as competing rather than complementary priorities. This siloed approach has interfered with innovation as a learning health system in which the tripartite missions reinforce each other in practical ways. This paper presents a longitudinal case example of harmonizing academic missions in a large family medicine department so that missions and people interact in mutually beneficial ways to create value for patients, learners, and faculty. We describe specific experiences, implementation, and examples of harmonizing missions as a feasible strategy and culture. "Harmonized" means that no one mission subordinates or drives out the others; each mission informs and strengthens the others (quickly in practice) while faculty experience the triparate mission as a coherent whole faculty job. Because an academic department is a complex system of work and relationships, concepts for leading a complex adaptive system were employed: (1) a "good enough" vision, (2) frequent and productive interactions, and (3) a few simple rules. These helped people harmonize their work without telling them exactly what to do, when, and how. Our goal here is to highlight concrete examples of harmonizing missions as a feasible operating method, suggesting ways it builds a foundation for a learning health system and potentially improving faculty well-being.

How the EU Soil Observatory contributes to a stronger soil erosion community.

New policy developments have emerged in relation to soil conservation after 2020. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027, the proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law and the mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe' have shaped a new policy framework at EU level, which requires updated assessments on soil erosion and land degradation. The EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) successfully organised a scientific workshop on 'Soil erosion for the EU' in June 2022. The event has seen the participation of more than 330 people from 63 countries, addressing important topics such as (i) management practices, (ii) large scale modelling, (iii) the importance of sediments in nutrient cycle, (vi) the role of landslides and (v) laying the foundations for early career scientists. As a follow up, among the 120 abstracts submitted in the workshop, we received fifteen manuscripts, out of which nine were selected for publication in the present special issue. In this editorial, we summarize the major challenges that the soil erosion research community faces in relation to supporting the increasing role of soils in the EU Green Deal.

Towards mission-driven investment in new antimicrobials? What role for Chinese strategic industrial financing vehicles in responding to the challenge of antimicrobial resistance?

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes high levels of global mortality. There is a global need to develop new antimicrobials to replace those whose efficacy is being eroded, but limited incentive for companies to engage in R&D, and a limited pipeline of new drugs. There is a recognised need for policies in the form of 'push' and 'pull' incentives to support this R&D. This article discusses China, a country with a rapidly emerging pharmaceuticals and biotech (P&B) sector, and a history of using coordinated innovation and industrial policy for strategic and developmental ends. We investigate the extent to which 'government guidance funds' (GGFs), strategic industrial financing vehicles (a 'push' mechanism), support the development of antimicrobials as part of China's 'mission-driven' approach to innovation and industrial policy. GGFs are potentially globally significant, having raised approximately US$ 872 billion to 2020. RESULTS: GGFs have a substantial role in P&B, but almost no role in developing new antimicrobials, despite this being a priority in the country's AMR National Action Plan. There are multiple constraints on GGFs' ability to function as part of a mission-driven approach to innovation at present, linked to their business model and the absence of standard markets for antimicrobials (or other effective 'pull' mechanisms), their unclear 'social' mandate, and limited technical capacity. However, GGFs are highly responsive to changing policy demands and can be used strategically by government in response to changing needs. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the very limited role of GGFs in developing new antimicrobials, their responsiveness to policy means they are likely to play a larger role as P&B becomes an increasingly important component of China's innovation and industrial strategy. However, for GGFs to effectively play that role, there is a need for reforms to their governance model, an increase in technical and managerial capacity, and supporting ('pull') incentives, particularly for pharmaceuticals such as antimicrobials for which there is strong social need, but a limited market. Given GGFs' scale and strategic importance, they deserve further research as China's P&B sector becomes increasingly globally important, and as the Chinese government commits to a larger role in global health.

The process, outcomes and context of the sanitation change induced by the Swachh Bharat Mission in rural Jharkhand, India.

BACKGROUND: The Indian Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched in 2014 with the goal to make India open defecation (OD) free by October 2019. Although it is known that the ambitious goal was not achieved, the nature of the sanitation change brought about by the SBM in different parts of India is poorly understood. One reason is a dearth of case studies that would shed light on the performance of the SBM simultaneously across its different domains. This article provides an example of such study. Employing a Process, Outcomes, Context approach, the objective is to understand the process and outcomes of the SBM-induced sanitation change in a specific context of rural Jharkhand. METHODS: The study utilizes data collected through field research conducted in the rural areas of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, a state in east-central India. This data was obtained via repeated cross-sectional household surveys conducted at the beginning and at the end of the SBM, supplemented by key informant interviews with SBM stakeholders. FINDINGS: We identified political support of SBM implementation and its acceptance amongst the population. Female community workers became key agents of SBM implementation at local level. The SBM increased toilet coverage in the study area from 15% to 85% and lowered the OD rate from 93% to 26%. It substantially reduced structural inequalities in access to toilets, furthered social sanitation norms, improved some of the attitudes towards toilet use, but impacted less on hygiene and sanitation knowledge. The implementation mainly concentrated on the construction of subsidized toilets but less on improving public understanding of safe sanitation practices. CONCLUSIONS: Although the SBM reduced sanitation inequalities in access to toilets in the study area, the behaviour change component was underplayed, focusing more on spreading normative sanitation messages and less on public education. Sustainability of the observed sanitation change remains a key question for the future. This article calls for more systematic production of geographically situated knowledge on the performance of sanitation interventions.

Normalisation and equity of referral to the NHS Low Calorie Diet programme pilot; a qualitative evaluation of the experiences of health care staff.

BACKGROUND: Health and wellbeing can be profoundly impacted by both obesity and type 2 diabetes, while the normalisation and equity of care for people living with these non-communicable diseases remain as challenges for local health systems. The National Health Service Low Calorie Diet programme in England, aims to support people to achieve type 2 diabetes remission, while also reducing health inequalities. We have explored the experiences of health care staff who have made a referral to the LCD programme, while identifying effective and equitable delivery of programme referrals, and their normalisation into routine care. METHODS: Nineteen individual semi-structured interviews were completed health care staff in the first year of the Low Calorie Diet programme. Interviewees were purposively sampled from the ten localities who undertook the Low Calorie Diet programme pilot. Each interview explored a number of topics of interest including communication and training, referrals, equity, and demands on primary care, before being subjected to a thematic analysis. RESULTS: From the data, five core themes were identified: Covid-19 and the demands on primary care, the expertise and knowledge of referrers, patient identification and the referral process, barriers to referrals and who gets referred to the NHS LCD programme. Our findings demonstrate the variation in the real world settings of a national diabetes programme. It highlights the challenge of COVID-19 for health care staff, whereby the increased workload of referrals occurred at a time when capacity was curtailed. We have also identified several barriers to referral and have shown that referrals had not yet been normalised into routine care at the point of data collection. We also raise issues of equity in the referral process, as not all eligible people are informed about the programme. CONCLUSIONS: Referral generation had not yet been consistently normalised into routine care, yet our findings suggest that the LCD programme runs the risk of normalising an inequitable referral process. Inequalities remain a significant challenge, and the adoption of an equitable referral process, normalised at a service delivery level, has the capacity to contribute to the improvement of health inequalities.

Commercial provider staff experiences of the NHS low calorie diet programme pilot: a qualitative exploration of key barriers and facilitators.

BACKGROUND: The National Health Service Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission programme in England (known as the NHS Low Calorie Diet programme when piloted) was established to support people living with excess weight and Type 2 Diabetes to lose weight and improve their glycaemic control. A mixed method evaluation was commissioned to provide an enhanced understanding of the long-term cost effectiveness of the pilot programme, its implementation, equity and transferability across broad and diverse populations. This study provided key insights on implementation and equity from the service providers' perspective. METHODS: Thirteen focus groups were conducted with commercial providers of the programme, during the initial pilot rollout. Participants were purposively sampled across all provider organisations and staff roles involved in implementing and delivering the programme. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) was used to design the topic schedule, with the addition of topics on equity and person-centredness. Data were thematically analysed using NPT constructs with additional inductively created codes. Codes were summarised, and analytical themes generated. RESULTS: The programme was found to fulfil the requirements for normalisation from the providers' perspective. However, barriers were identified in engaging GP practices and receiving sufficient referrals, as well as supporting service users through challenges to remain compliant. There was variation in communication and training between provider sites. Areas for learning and improvement included adapting systems and processes and closing the gap where needs of service users are not fully met. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of the pilot programme demonstrated that it was workable when supported by effective primary care engagement, comprehensive training, and effective internal and external communication. However, limitations were identified in relation to programme specifications e.g. eligibility criteria, service specification and local commissioning decisions e.g. pattern of roll out, incentivisation of general practice. A person-centred approach to care is fundamental and should include cultural adaptation(s), and the assessment and signposting to additional support and services where required.

Mission risk control via joint optimization of sampling and abort decisions.

Information-driven mission abort is an effective way to control the failure risk of safety-critical systems during mission executions. We investigate the optimal sampling and mission abort decisions of partially observable safety-critical systems, where the underlying system health state can only be revealed by sampling. In contrast to previous studies, we employ partial health information to jointly determine: (a) whether to execute sampling, and (b) when to abort the mission in a dynamic manner, so as to minimize the expected total cost incurred by sampling, mission failure, and system malfunction. Dynamic sampling and mission abort policies are devised following the belief state, whose optimization model is cast into the framework of a partially observable Markov decision process. Some structural insights with regard to the value function, control limit selection, and optimality existence are presented. The performance of the proposed sampling and abort policy is tested by numerical experiments, which are proved to outperform other heuristic abort policies in mission loss control.

The new framework of innovation biosphere for analysing innovation policies facing COVID-19 grand challenge.

BACKGROUND: Facing global grand challenges such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) require the participation of various actors in different sectors and systematically directing their innovative efforts. Considering the complexity, non-linear dynamics, and global extent of the COVID-19 challenge, developing and applying a multi-level, resilient, and systematic innovative framework is vital. Therefore, this study aims to apply the "innovation biosphere" framework inspired by ecological studies for examining and analysing the management dimensions of COVID-19. METHODS: In this research, based on a deductive-inductive approach, the case study methodology is used. In accordance with this strategy, the innovation biosphere metaphor is considered as the basic framework (deductive approach) and subsequently the grand challenge of COVID-19 (inductive approach) is analysed at three levels: micro, meso and macro. RESULTS: The research findings verify the correspondence between what happened in the management of COVID-19 and the proposed framework of innovation biosphere. In other words, the findings of the research show that the effect of global cooperation, role-playing and co-evolution of different actors and subsystems in facing the grand challenge of COVID-19 under an ecosystemic and eco-innovation approach has been evident. These events subsequently led to the cessation of the pandemic after about four years. CONCLUSIONS: The main policy implications include the role of self-organization, the capability of global value networks, mission orientation, and co-evolution between actors as the contributions of innovation biosphere framework for managing grand health challenges, and global cohesion, oligopoly market, supporting local innovations, the critical role of basic research, and deregulation as the contributions of the COVID-19 case study for enhancing the innovation biosphere metaphor.

Situations that prompt teachers in problem-based curricula to reflect on their beliefs, identity and mission.

Teachers have different perceptions of how to enhance student learning. Whereas some take a teacher-centred perspective, others lean more towards a student-centred approach. Many studies in higher education have invoked Korthagen's onion model (2014) to explain how teachers' perspectives can impact their teaching practices. Spanning six interrelated layers, this model contains both outer (environment, behaviour, competencies) and inner (beliefs, identity, and mission) aspects. Focusing essentially on teachers' outer aspects, previous studies have paid scant attention to how particular situations affect teachers' inner aspects and, consequently, how teachers perceive student-centred learning. In this descriptive qualitative study, we explored situations that encouraged or discouraged teachers to embrace student-centred beliefs, identities and missions. We held three focus-group discussions with 18 teachers from two Indonesian medical schools, performing a thematic analysis of the data thus obtained. We found that certain situations made teachers reflect on their inner aspects, which either favourably or adversely affected their acceptance of a student-centred learning approach. Teachers' outer aspects (i.e. their prior problem-based teaching and learning experiences, learning situations from their own training as well as clinical duties) strongly interacted with their inner aspects, thereby shaping their teaching perspectives. Understanding how specific situations can influence teachers' inner aspects might help institutions to design faculty development programmes that address teachers' specific educational needs.

Effect of the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act Scribes Trial on Emergency Department Provider Productivity and Patient Throughput Times.

BACKGROUND: To help improve access to care, section 507 of the VA MISSION (Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks) Act of 2018 mandated a 2-year trial of medical scribes in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). OBJECTIVE: The impact of scribes on provider productivity and patient throughput time in VHA emergency departments (EDs) was evaluated. METHODS: A clustered randomized trial was designed using intent-to-treat difference-in-differences analysis. The intervention period was from June 30, 2020 to July 1, 2022. The trial included six intervention and six comparison ED clinics. Two ED providers who volunteered to participate in the trial were assigned two scribes each. Scribes assisted providers with documentation and visit-related activities. The outcomes were provider productivity and patient throughput time per clinic-pay period. RESULTS: Randomization to intervention resulted in decreased provider productivity and increased patient throughput time. In adjusted regression models, randomization to scribes was associated with a decrease of 8.4 visits per full-time equivalent (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.4-4.3; p < 0.001) and 0.5 patients per day per provider (95% CI 0.8-0.3; p < 0.001). Intervention was associated with increases in length of stay of 29.1 min (95% CI 21.2-36.9 min; p < 0.001), 6.3 min in door to doctor (95% CI 2.9-9.6 min; p < 0.001), 19.5 min in door to disposition (95% CI 13.2-25.9 min; p < 0.001), and 13.7 min in doctor to disposition (95% CI 8.8-18.6 min; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Scribes were associated with decreased provider productivity and increased patient throughput time in VHA EDs. Although scribes may have contributed to improvements in other dimensions of quality, further examination of the ways in which scribes were used is advisable before widespread adoption in VHA EDs.

Study on the Fast Search Planning Problem of Lost Targets for Maritime Emergency Response Based on an Improved Adaptive Immunogenetic Algorithm.

This study investigates the problem of rapid search planning for moving targets in maritime emergencies using an improved adaptive immune genetic algorithm. Given the complexity and uncertainty inherent in searching for moving targets in maritime emergency situations, a task planning method based on the improved adaptive immunogenetic algorithm (IAIGA) is proposed to enhance search efficiency and accuracy. This method utilizes a priori information to construct the potential regions of the target and the distribution probability within each region. It establishes a "prediction-scheduling" search strategy model, planning a rapid search task for disconnected targets based on overlapping probability through the IAIGA. By incorporating an immune mechanism, the algorithm enhances its global search capability and robustness. Additionally, the adaptive strategy enables dynamic adjustment of the algorithm's parameters to accommodate varying search scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed IAIGA significantly outperforms traditional methods, providing higher search speeds and more accurate search results in the context of maritime emergency response. These findings offer effective technical support for maritime emergency operations.

Deep Learning-Enhanced Sampling-Based Path Planning for LTL Mission Specifications.

The presented paper introduces a novel path planning algorithm designed for generating low-cost trajectories that fulfill mission requirements expressed in Linear Temporal Logic (LTL). The proposed algorithm is particularly effective in environments where cost functions encompass the entire configuration space. A core contribution of this paper is the presentation of a refined approach to sampling-based path planning algorithms that aligns with the specified mission objectives. This enhancement is achieved through a multi-layered framework approach, enabling a simplified discrete abstraction without relying on mesh decomposition. This abstraction is especially beneficial in complex or high-dimensional environments where mesh decomposition is challenging. The discrete abstraction effectively guides the sampling process, influencing the selection of vertices for extension and target points for steering in each iteration. To further improve efficiency, the algorithm incorporates a deep learning-based extension, utilizing training data to accurately model the optimal trajectory distribution between two points. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulated tests, which highlight its ability to identify low-cost trajectories that meet specific mission criteria. Comparative analyses also confirm the superiority of the proposed method compared to existing methods.

Maritime Emission Monitoring: Development and Testing of a UAV-Based Real-Time Wind Sensing Mission Planner Module.

Maritime emissions contribute significantly to global pollution, necessitating accurate and efficient monitoring methods. Traditional methods for tracking ship emissions often face limitations in real-time data accuracy, with wind measurement being a critical yet challenging aspect. This paper introduces an innovative mission planner module for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that leverages onboard wind sensing capabilities to enhance maritime emission monitoring. The module's primary objective is to assist operators in making informed decisions by providing real-time wind data overlays, thus optimizing flight paths and data collection efficiency. Our experimental setup involves the testing of the module in simulated maritime environments, demonstrating its efficacy in varying wind conditions. The real-time wind data overlays provided by the module enable UAV operators to adjust their flight paths dynamically, reducing unnecessary power expenditure and mitigating the risks associated with low-battery scenarios, especially in challenging maritime conditions. This paper presents the implementation of real-time wind data overlays on an open-source state-of-the-art mission planner as a C# plugin that is seamlessly integrated into the user interface. The factors that affect performance, in terms of communication overheads and real-time operation, are identified and discussed. The operation of the module is evaluated in terms of functional integration and real-time visual representation of wind measurements, and the enhanced situational awareness that it can offer to mission controllers is demonstrated. Beyond presenting a novel application of UAV technology in environmental monitoring, we also provide an extensive discussion of how this work will be extended in the context of complete aerial environmental inspection missions and the future directions in research within the field that can potentially lead to the modernization of maritime emission monitoring practices.

Effects of the re-mission video game on fatigue and quality of life levels of adolescents diagnosed with cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Re-Mission video game on the fatigue and quality of life of adolescents diagnosed with cancer. A total of 46 adolescents aged who received inpatient chemotherapy treatment in the pediatric hematology clinic were enrolled in the study. The data were obtained by using the Personal Information Form, Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18 and Quality of Life scale. Intergroup comparisons demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of their mean scores for the overall Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue and Quality of Life calculated at the baseline of the study and one month and three months. The use of Re-mission video game positively affected levels of fatigue and quality of life of adolescents aged between 13 and 18 diagnosed with cancer.

Reactivity of the Ethenium Cation (C2H5+) with Ethyne (C2H2): A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study.

The gas-phase reaction between the ethyl cation (C2H5+) and ethyne (C2H2) is re-investigated by measuring absolute reactive cross sections (CSs) and branching ratios (BRs) as a function of collision energy, in the thermal and hyperthermal energy range, via tandem-guided ion beam mass spectrometry under single collision conditions. Dissociative photoionization of C2H5Br using tuneable VUV radiation in the range 10.5-14.0 eV is employed to generate C2H5+, which has also allowed us to explore the impact of increasing (vibrational) excitation on the reactivity. Reactivity experiments are complemented by theoretical calculations, at the G4 level of theory, of the relative energies and structures of the most relevant stationary points on the reactive potential energy hypersurface (PES) and by mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectrometry experiments to probe the metastable decomposition from the [C4H7]+ PES and elucidate the underlying reaction mechanisms. Two main product channels have been identified at a centre-of-mass collision energy of ∼0.1 eV: (a) C3H3++CH4, with BR = 0.76±0.05 and (b) C4H5++H2, with BR = 0.22±0.02. A third channel giving C2H3+ in association with C2H4 is shown to emerge at both high internal excitation of C2H5+ and high collision energies. From CS measurements, energy-dependent total rate constants in the range 4.3×10-11-5.2×10-10 cm3·molecule-1·s-1 have been obtained. Theoretical calculations indicate that both channels stem from a common covalently bound intermediate, CH3CH2CHCH+, from which barrierless and exothermic pathways exist for the production of both cyclic c-C3H3+ and linear H2CCCH+ isomers of the main product channel. For the minor C4H5+ product, two isomers are energetically accessible: the three-member cyclic isomer c-C3H2(CH3)+ and the higher energy linear structure CH2CHCCH2+, but their formation requires multiple isomerization steps and passages via transition states lying only 0.11 eV below the reagents' energy, thus explaining the smaller BR. Results have implications for the modeling of hydrocarbon chemistry in the interstellar medium and the atmospheres of planets and satellites as well as in laboratory plasmas (e.g., plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanotubes and diamond-like carbon films).