Upward Drift Research Articles

Comparison of ionospheric profile parameters with IRI-2012 model over Jicamarca

We used the hourly ionogram data obtained from Jicamarca station (12° S, 76.9° W, dip latitude: 1.0° N) an equatorial region to study the variation of the electron density profile parameters: maximum height of F2-layer (hmF2), bottomside thickness (B0) and shape (B1) parameter of F-layer. The period of study is for the year 2010 (solar minimum period).The diurnal monthly averages of these parameters are compared with the updated IRI-2012 model. The results show that hmF2 is highest during the daytime than nighttime. The variation in hmF2 was observed to modulate the thickness of the bottomside F2-layer. The observed hmF2 and B0 post-sunset peak is as result of the upward drift velocity of ionospheric plasma. We found a close agreement between IRI-CCIR hmF2 model and observed hmF2 during 0000-0700 LT while outside this period the model predictions deviate significantly with the observational values. Significant discrepancies are observed between the IRI model options for B0 and the observed B0 values. Specifically, the modeled values do not show B0 post-sunset peak. A fairly good agreement was observed between the observed B1 and IRI model options (ABT-2009 and Bill 2000) for B1.

Interaction between <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> and <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> infection in West African Dwarf Goats

In order to investigate the immunomodulatory influence of concurrent T. brucei and H. contortus infection in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats, 28 infected and 7 uninfected (control) of 8-9 months old male WAD goats were studied. The infected goats were separated into resistant (Class 1) and susceptible (Class 2) Faecal Eggs Count (FEC) phenotypes. They were infected with 3000 infective larvae (L3) of H. contortus and 5 x 10 6 T. brucei . Another group of these phenotypes received only the H. contortus challenge. The responses were measured by parasitological response through FEC and Worm Burden (WB), and by host immune response through IgG levels. Class 2 animals with or without T. brucei infection exhibited non-significant (P > 0.05) higher FEC compared to those of Class 1. Worm burdens were not significantly different between FEC classes but were different (P=0.038) in relation to T. brucei infection. There was an overall increase in worm burdens of T. brucei infected goats, more pronounced in Class 2 than in Class 1. There was a significant upward drift of antibody levels with time across all groups without significant interactions. However, there was a significant effect of FEC Class (P=0.017) and trypanosome infection (P=0.041) with no significant interaction. Animals in Class 1 had generally higher antibody levels than those in Class 2, irrespective of T. brucei infection. Infection status had a highly significant (P=0.0001) effect on IgG. H. contortus only infected goats had the highest antibody levels and trypanosome infection reduced this response, irrespective of FEC phenotype. There was a highly significant (P=0.001) positive correlation (r = +0.719) between FEC and total worm counts. This work showed that the two response phenotypes identified in earlier immunizing infections were still clearly recognizable following homologous challenge and dual infections. This suggests that under field conditions where repeated H. contortus challenge occurs and trypanosomosis is endemic, the phenotypes could remain unchanged. © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Haemoparasite, Gastrointestinal parasite, concurrent infection, immune response, domestic animals

Twenty-four hour intraocular pressure monitoring with the SENSIMED Triggerfish contact lens: effect of body posture during sleep

PurposeTo determine the difference in relative intraocular pressure (IOP) measured by the SENSIMED Triggerfish (TF) contact lens in flat compared with 30° head-up sleeping positions in patients with progressive primary...

Evolution of internal flows in mechanically oscillating sessile droplets undergoing evaporation

Sessile water droplets on hydrophobic substrates have been subjected to mechanical oscillations to excite mean streaming flows in the liquid phase. The driving frequencies are below 1kHz. The flow features have been imaged at a frame rate much lower than the driving frequencies. Counter-rotating vortices are observed along the oscillating liquid-vapor interface (droplet free surface) while an upward drift originating from the substrate exists in the interior. The mean flow features arise out of steady streaming from the substrate and the oscillating liquid-vapor interface. The upward drift is segregated along the droplet height by seemingly horizontal planes. These planes are a characteristic of the time periodic velocity rather than the mean flow. Furthermore when the oscillating droplet is allowed to evaporate under stationary ambient conditions and constant driving frequency, these flow features evolve in a spatio-temporal fashion. In one of our previous studies, we have shown that the oscillation mode of the droplet changes when allowed to evaporate. Mode transition therefore also leads to evolution of the mean streaming flow. The aim is to provide a physical understanding of the evolution of the time averaged flow. This work is motivated by studies related to manipulation of nano-particle deposition patterns in colloidal droplets using controlled oscillations.

Uphill Cycling: Seated versus Standing Economy and Heart Rate

Introduction Elite cyclists differentiate between seated and standing pedaling techniques while climbing. There has been debate as to which technique is the most economical for cyclists riding a sustained climb, and what the benefits and drawbacks of the two techniques are. The purpose of this study was to compare economy (VO 2 ) and heart rate (HR) for seated and standing cycling positions when riding uphill at constant speed and grade.  Methods Three male collegiate team cyclists (21.3 ± 1.7 yrs; 68.0 ± 4.6 kg) participated in a pilot study of a single continuous bout of uphill riding which used both seated and standing positions. Cycling was at subthreshold intensity with fixed speed (8 mph; 3.58 m/s) and grade (8%) on a large treadmill (length 3 m). After a 10-minute warmup, a 20-minute trial began which randomly alternated 5-minute stages of either seated or standing cycling. Specific gears generating cadences of approximately 66 and 60 rpm (seated and standing respectively) were required during each 5-minute stage. VO2 and HR data were collected continuously throughout the test but the last two minutes of each stage were compared using single-subject analyses. VO2 data were averaged every 15 seconds using a Parvo Medics metabolic cart; HR was recorded at 1 s intervals using a Garmin Edge 800 and chest strap and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was determined at the end of each 5 minute stage. Results Each rider required greater oxygen uptake and had higher heart rates when standing compared to seated (p < .05). Mean VO2 values were 3.06 ± 0.37 L/min and 3.17± 0.43 L/min whereas mean HR values were 166 ± 5 bpm and 175 ± 4 bpm for seated and standing trials, respectively (Figure 1 & 2). RPE was less consistent; two riders increased RPE while standing, while one increased RPE when seated.  Discussion Clear differences in VO 2 and heart rate were observed between the two cycling techniques. Two of the subjects began the trial in a standing position while one subject began seated. When VO 2 was compared across all three subjects, a higher metabolic cost for a standing vs. seated position was found. This could be due to factors such as slight differences in breathing patterns between the two positions, muscle recruitment shifts, as well as angular changes to the rider’s body while moving back and forth in the standing position. The differences in heart rate, which were about 5% higher for standing vs. seated cycling, followed the increase in physiological demands while standing. Cardiovascular drift was observed during the 20 minutes of climbing with increases of both HR and VO 2 from first to second stage of the standing or seated periods. This complicated direct comparison of a 5 minute stage mean VO 2 or HR with the stage immediately afterward as these would be about 3 to 5% higher simply due to cardiac drift. Second bout comparisons (minutes 10-15 and 15-20) provided the clearest results with distinct decrease of VO 2 and HR from standing to seated in the last 10 minutes despite the upward cardiovascular drift.  Conclusions In a real world scenario, muscle fatigue, pedaling technique and air drag forces may also impact a cyclist’s decision to ride seated or standing. However, our research showed that elite cyclists required greater oxygen uptake and have higher heart rates when climbing in a standing position compared to seated.

Australia's Fiscal Framework: Revisiting Options for a Fiscal Anchor

This paper revisits options for fiscal anchors in Australia against the backdrop of a medium-term budget balance anchor that has led to larger than expected upward drift in the net debt to GDP ratio since the end of the mining investment boom. The IMF's G20MOD model is used to compare the budget balance anchor with a long-term debt anchor. Using model simulations evaluated against objective macro stabilization-debt control criteria under three likely scenarios for the Australian economy, the latter is found to perform at least as well as the former. The paper also considers the operationalization of a long-term debt anchor utilizing a combination of fiscal rules which includes expenditure restrictions and a flexible time horizon for convergence, aiming at encouraging countercyclical fiscal policy and minimizing the cost in terms of real GDP foregone in the medium term under fiscal consolidation.

Australia's Fiscal Framework: Revisiting Options for a Fiscal Anchor

This paper revisits options for fiscal anchors in Australia against the backdrop of a medium-term budget balance anchor that has led to larger than expected upward drift in the net debt to GDP ratio since the end of the mining investment boom. The IMF’s G20MOD model is used to compare the budget balance anchor with a long-term debt anchor. Using model simulations evaluated against objective macro stabilization-debt control criteria under three likely scenarios for the Australian economy, the latter is found to perform at least as well as the former. The paper also considers the operationalization of a long-term debt anchor utilizing a combination of fiscal rules which includes expenditure restrictions and a flexible time horizon for convergence, aiming at encouraging countercyclical fiscal policy and minimizing the cost in terms of real GDP foregone in the medium term under fiscal consolidation.

Sentiment and Stock Returns

This study documents the effect of the Super Bowl on the stock returns of firms that are geographically associated with the competing teams. We find significant upward return drift in the 9 trading days leading up to the Super Bowl, a pattern consistent with investors trading in anticipation of the game itself. The “anticipatory behavior” among investors leads to widespread pregame returns, which is not documented in prior studies. These pre-event abnormal returns are positive and statistically and economically significant for all firms, and the size of pre-event returns varies according to each team’s favored status. In addition, firms associated with the winning team exhibit significant positive return drift over the 10-day period after their win. Firms associated with the losing team exhibit moderate downward drift. Our findings are strongest among the smallest quintile of firms and are robust to various risk adjustments and using a matched sample control group. The collective findings suggest that only by standing on the sideline will investors avoid winning around the Super Bowl.

Diurnal evolution of the F region electron density local time gradient at low and middle latitudes resolved by the Swarm constellation

AbstractIn this study we have provided new insights into the local time gradient of F region electron density (ΔNe) derived from the lower pair of Swarm satellites flying side by side. Our result shows that the electron density (Ne) increase starts just at sunrise, around 06:00 LT, simultaneously at low and middle latitudes due to the increased photoionization. At equatorial latitudes the increase in electron density gets even steeper after 07:00 LT, and the steepest increase of electron density (about 3 · 1010 m−3 within 6 min) occurs around 09:00 LT. We suggest that the upward vertical plasma drift in connection with the buildup of the equatorial fountain effect plays a major role. We also found that the local time variations of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest electron density during daytime are similar to the respective evolutions at the equator, but about 1–2 h delayed. We relate this delay to the response time between the equatorial electric field and the buildup of the plasma fountain. At equinox months a fast decrease of the F region electron density is seen at the EIA trough region during the prereversal enhancement, while an increase is found meanwhile at crest regions. Afterward, a fast decrease of the EIA crest electron density occurs between 19:00 and 23:00 LT, with seasonal dependence. The local time gradient between Swarm A and C shows also prominent longitudinal wave‐4 pattern around August months, and the phase of DE3 in ΔNe is found to be delayed by 6 h compared to that in Ne.

Ion temperature intensification in southern convection flow channels during the 1 October 2001 geomagnetic storm recovery phase

AbstractIn this study, we investigate Southern Hemisphere flow channel (FC) events and their underlying thermal and drift variations during the 1 October 2001 storm recovery phase. We adopt FC classification introduced by previous studies for specifying FCs, ranging from FC‐0 to FC‐4, according to the stages of convection cycle they are related to. Our investigation includes also the subauroral FC known as the subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) and the localized FC underlying plasma density increases crossing the polar cap. For tracking FCs, we utilize multi‐instrument data from the Defence Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). Since our focus is on the region of magnetic South Pole, we utilize DMSP passes that crossed the magnetic pole. We present various scenarios with polar cross sections, constructed with ion density (Ni), electron and ion temperature (Te; Ti), and zonal and vertical drift (VY; VZ) data, where the location of magnetic pole is marked. Our results show (1) the occurrence of FC‐2 in the central polar cap, (2) the propagation of localized FC from the dayside to the nightside across the polar cap implying dayside‐nightside coupling across the polar cap, and (3) the structuring of SAPS FC. These scenarios reveal the local intensification of Ti and/or VZ in FCs (a) ranging from FC‐0 to FC‐3 and (b) specified as SAPS FC and localized FC passing over the magnetic pole. We conclude that strong upward drift, reaching sometimes ~1000 m/s, could enhance localized thermospheric impact caused by elevated Ti in FCs.

The global distribution of the dusk‐to‐nighttime enhancement of summer NmF2 at solar minimum

AbstractIn this paper, the dusk‐to‐nighttime enhancement (DNE) of summer NmF2 was investigated based on Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate radio occultation observations at solar minimum. The global distributions of the magnitude and the peak time of the DNE as well as the role of the DNE in NmF2 diurnal cycle were presented. The DNE mainly exists in three regions (one in the Southern Hemisphere and two in the Northern Hemisphere), and its distribution is related to geomagnetic configuration, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. For most DNEs, their peaks correspond to the maxima of NmF2 diurnal cycle. The DNEs are much more prominent in the southern than in the northern summer hemisphere; they last to later nighttime hours, have larger magnitudes, and play more important roles in NmF2 diurnal cycle in the southern than in the northern summer hemisphere. The distribution of the DNE was analyzed in terms of photoionization and the vertical plasma drift induced by neutral winds. The positive geomagnetic declinations and the smaller geomagnetic inclinations at higher geographic latitudes over the South Pacific are crucial for the prominent DNEs in the southern summer hemisphere; they result in larger upward plasma drift at higher latitudes where photoionization is still significant at sunset and evening hours.

Equatorial ionization anomaly in the low‐latitude topside ionosphere: Local time evolution and longitudinal difference

AbstractAlthough the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) has been widely studied, it was seldom investigated from observations for the topside ionosphere. In this paper, the climatology characteristics of the latitudinal structure of topside ion density (Ni) were investigated in detail using ROCSAT‐1 and DMSP Ni observations. EIA double‐peak structure may exist at 600 km, depending on longitude, local time, season, and solar activity, while it is not a prevalent characteristic at 840 km even at solar maximum sunset. Local time evolution of the EIA at 600 km was presented. The double‐peak structure begins to appear at noontime, being later than the appearance of the EIA in F2 peak region. The pronounced EIA induced by the strong prereversal enhancement at solar maximum begins to appear at 19:00 LT and can last to premidnight; EIA crest‐to‐trough ratio is largest (lowest) at March equinox (June solstice) and reaches a maximum at 20:00 LT in all seasons. EIA structure shows evident longitudinal difference. Pronounced EIA exists around about 100°E at 13:00 LT at the two equinoxes and June solstice, while it exists at more extensive longitudes (about 90°E to 240°E) at December solstice. The trans‐equator plasma transport induced by neutral winds can weaken the double‐peak structure in the topside ionosphere. The longitudinal difference in the EIA structure at 600 km is related to the longitudinal variations of equatorial upward plasma drift and geomagnetic declination.

Variation of the topside ionosphere during the last solar minimum period studied with multisatellite measurements of electron density and temperature

AbstractUsing the ionospheric measurements of CHAMP, DEMETER, and DMSP F15, the seasonal and spatial variations of the topside ionosphere during the last solar minimum period were investigated and compared with ionospheric models. In all the satellite measurements, equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) shows clearly longitudinal asymmetry with wave number −3 or −4 patterns. Anomalous increases of Ne in the nighttime surpassing daytime Ne, known as the Weddell Sea anomaly (WSA) or midlatitude summer nighttime anomaly (MSNA), were also observed in the global Ne distribution with differences in detailed geometry of the geomagnetic field according to the altitude. In the nighttime ionosphere, the reduced Te in the equatorial region at the DMSP altitude, identified as the equatorial plasma temperature anomaly (EPTA), was ascribed to the leftover of the prereversal enhancement of the upward plasma drift. Though the EIA, WSA, MSNA, and EPTA are all associated with the upward plasma movement, the difference in the thermal evolution is ascribable to the geometry of drift in which the plasma moves across the geomagnetic field line for the EIA and the EPTA, while along the field line for the WSA and the MSNA.

Thermospheric wind observed by GOCE: Wind jets and seasonal variations

AbstractFour years of GOCE observation near ∼250 km altitude during 2010–2013 provide a large data set for examining winds near dawn and dusk. The analysis has revealed interesting new features on the spatial and seasonal variation of the quiet time F region wind. (1) The wind structure in equatorial regions is aligned with the dip equator in all seasons but June solstice, forming a strong eastward jet in the evening sector but a weak westward jet in the morning sector. This demonstrates a magnetic control of the thermospheric wind. (2) The equatorial evening eastward wind reaches over 120 m/s in December but drops below 90 m/s in June. This weak wind likely leads to the frequently observed weak prereversal enhancement in June. (3) At middle latitudes, winds experience a marked annual variation but with opposite phase between the evening and morning sectors. The evening eastward wind maximizes in local winter (∼140 m/s) and minimizes in local summer (∼60 m/s), while the morning westward wind behaves vice versa. This annual variation may be attributed to the Midlatitude Summer Night Anomaly. (4) Although HWM14 empirical wind model significantly improved over HWM07, neither captures the wind's alignment with the dip equator. This leads to large underestimation of zonal winds by over 50 m/s at low latitudes in the evening sector at all longitudes in all seasons. Care should thus be taken when using HWMs to drive physical models, as they likely produce weaker upward plasma drift.

A Prospective Study on Associated Conditions of Vertical Deviation

Background: Hypertropia is a condition of misalignment of the eyes where the visual axis of one eye is higher than the fellow fixating eye. Hypotropia is the similar condition focus being on the eye with the visual axis lower than the fellow fixating eye. Dissociated Vertical Deviation is a special type of hypertropia leading to slow upward drift of one or rarely both eyes usually when the patient is inattentive. Vertical Deviation may be congenital or acquired and misalignment is due to imbalance in extra ocular muscle function. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study conducted on 32 patients with clinical diagnosis of vertical deviation. Results: 32 cases with clinical diagnosis of Vertical Deviation were enrolled in this study. Esodeviation is the common associated deviation. Conclusion: Superior oblique palsy was the frequent cause of hypertropia. Majority of them were congenital in origin. Majority presented with upward deviation of Right eye.

The observed compression and expansion of the F2 ionosphere as a major component of ionospheric variability

AbstractThis paper examines a number of sources of ionospheric variability and demonstrates that they have relationships in common which are currently not recognized. The paper initially deals with medium to large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances. Following sections deal with nontraveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) ionospheric variations which are often repetitious from day to day. The latter includes the temporary rise in F2 height associated with sunset in equatorial latitudes resulting from strong upward drift in ionization driven by an E × B force. The following fall in height is often referred to as the premidnight collapse and is accompanied by a temporary increase in foF2 as a result of ionospheric compression. An entirely different repetitious phenomenon reported recently from middle latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere consists of strong morning and afternoon peaks in foF2 which define a midday bite‐out and occur at the equinoxes. This behavior has been speculated to be tidal in origin. All the sources of ionospheric variability listed above exhibit similar relationships associated with a temporary expansion and upward lift of the ionospheric profile and a fall involving a compression of the ionospheric profile producing a peak in foF2 at the time of maximum compression. Such ionospheric compression/decompression is followed by a period in which the ionospheric profile recovers. Such relationships in traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) have been noted previously. The present paper establishes for the first time that relationships hitherto seen as occurring only with TIDs are also present in association with other drivers of ionospheric variability.

Evaluating PSA nadir drift in high-risk and metastatic prostate cancer.

310 Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is a heterogeneous, clinically disparate, and often unpredictable disease whereby nearly 3% of patients present with bone metastatic PC (BMPC). Virtually all patients diagnosed with stage M1 disease fail to achieve complete remission and rapidly progress to castration-resistant PC (CRPC) and death (28% 5-year survival). Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the current standard of care for M1 disease, does not induce durable remissions. Improved understanding of tumor biology associated with lethal progression is desperately needed to guide clinical trials. Methods: We assembled a diverse, clinically annotated biorepository with diagnostic biopsy tissue from 428 patients with high-risk M0 and M1 disease. Retrospective analysis was performed on M0 (n = 157) and M1 (n = 112) patients stratified by treatment sequence. Clinical and pathological variables analyzed included age at diagnosis, race, primary Gleason sum, tumor burden, initial treatment received, PSA at time of biopsy, PSA velocity and length of follow-up. Primary endpoints included PSA nadir per treatment round, time from biopsy to CRPC, and death. Results: Compared to M0 cases, M1 patients were older, displayed significantly higher PSAs at the time of biopsy, and were more likely to display primary Gleason pattern 5. Patients with stage M1 disease had significantly worse survival, shorter time to CRPC, and median PSA nadir following each treatment round never fell below 2ng/ml. Median PSA nadirs associated with each treatment round demonstrated marked upward drift in the M1 cohort when compared to the M0 cohort. Conclusions: The presence of distant metastases is a major obstacle in achieving durable remissions for very high-risk PC. Our data confirms that ADT has limited effect on controlling cancer progression in M1 patients. PSA nadir drift in M1 compared to M0 patients may indicate intrinsic tumor resistance to currently available therapies. Multimodal profiling of M1 primary tumors may reveal actionable targets for initiation of combination treatment regimens at diagnosis.

Post-concussive cervical dystonia and chronic frontal headache: A diagnostic and treatment perspective.

Event Abstract Back to Event Post-concussive cervical dystonia and chronic frontal headache: A diagnostic and treatment perspective. Nathan D. Keiser1, 2*, Darren Scarborough1, 3, Wendy Kwok1, 4, Irvin Lee-Ying1, 4 and Aaron Nardella1, 5 1 Carrick Institute, United States 2 Innova Brain Rehabilitation, United States 3 Symmetry Wellness, Canada 4 Woodbine Chiropractic Clinic, Canada 5 Balance Health and Sports Therapy, Canada Clinical Features: An 18-year-old male hockey player presented to a chiropractic neurology clinic with post-concussive symptoms following a fall backwards on the ice without striking his head. After resting for the better part of the season, he returned to play and was subsequently cross-checked from behind which re-aggravated his symptoms of stiff neck, supraorbital headache, fogginess, fatigue, dizziness, akathisia, and “drunk feeling” that had persisted for over 12 months. Methods: Videonystagmography (VNG) was employed to quantitatively measure oculomotor strategies. Findings included mild upward drift with vision occluded. Upward vertical pursuits were contaminated with square wave jerks to the right. Increased latencies measured in horizontal and vertical saccades. Optokinetic responses (OKR) in the horizontal plane were variable in frequency and amplitude to the left. Vertical OPK were adequate, but with mild convergence in the upward direction. Mild bilateral postural tremor noted in the upper limbs. Mild hyperalgesia noted in the left trigeminal nerve distribution. Loss of associated arm swing in the right upper limb during casual and dual-tasking gait. A case specific intensive multi-modal neurorehabilitation protocol was designed including vestibular rehabilitation, oculomotor training and visual therapy, over a three-day period. Results: Post-treatment findings revealed attenuation of tremor, equalization of sensation in the trigeminal distribution, decreased headache, increased cervical range of motion, and normalization of gait. VNG testing measured normalization of gaze, pursuits, saccades, and OKR in horizontal and vertical planes. Complaints of stiff neck, supraorbital headache, fogginess, fatigue, dizziness, akathisia, and disequilibrium showed improvement on subjective assessment. Conclusions: Utilizing findings from a functional neurological exam, an individual protocol of intensive multi-modal neurorehabilitation was devised and implemented. Following the execution of the protocol the subject had an improvement in symptomatology and neurological findings. With further investigation, it may provide a therapeutic approach for other individuals with cervical dystonia and chronic frontal headache. Keywords: concussion, akathisia, Cervical dystonia, frontal headache, Vestibular Rehabilitation Conference: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: Clinical Neuroscience for Optimization of Human Function, Orlando, United States, 7 Oct - 9 Oct, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Abstracts ISCN 2016 Citation: Keiser ND, Scarborough D, Kwok W, Lee-Ying I and Nardella A (2016). Post-concussive cervical dystonia and chronic frontal headache: A diagnostic and treatment perspective.. Front. Neurol. Conference Abstract: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: Clinical Neuroscience for Optimization of Human Function. doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2016.59.00081 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 02 Sep 2016; Published Online: 07 Sep 2016. * Correspondence: Dr. Nathan D Keiser, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, FL, United States, dockeiser@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Nathan D Keiser Darren Scarborough Wendy Kwok Irvin Lee-Ying Aaron Nardella Google Nathan D Keiser Darren Scarborough Wendy Kwok Irvin Lee-Ying Aaron Nardella Google Scholar Nathan D Keiser Darren Scarborough Wendy Kwok Irvin Lee-Ying Aaron Nardella PubMed Nathan D Keiser Darren Scarborough Wendy Kwok Irvin Lee-Ying Aaron Nardella Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Mauno Koivisto Lecture: 2014 The Nordic welfare model and welfare services – Can we maintain acceptable standards?

A key feature of the Nordic welfare model is provision of welfare services like care, education and health. They are individual entitlements, and collectively financed. It is a prerequisite that contemporary standards of services are provided; thus the public solution is not a second rate solution used only by those who cannot afford better solutions. Can the Nordic welfare model meet this objective in the future? Increasing productivity and wealth challenge this. Services tend to have lower productivity growth and thus to become more expensive (Baumol’s cost disease), but also to have a high income elasticity, and thus demands rise alongside improved material living standards (Wagner effects). The same implies to leisure, implying that tax bases may be eroded. In short, expenditures are on an upward drift and revenues on a downward trend, challenging the financial viability of the welfare model. This seems to leave a conundrum for the welfare state in the sense that the success of the model in improving living standards tends to undermine the possibility of attaining key objectives of the welfare state. It is argued that although the welfare state will be financially strained, these challenges can be met without jeopardizing its fundamental objectives.

Long‐term drift induced by the electronic crosstalk in Terra MODIS Band 29

AbstractTerra MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is one of the key sensors in the NASA's Earth Observing System, which has successfully completed 15 years of on‐orbit operation. Terra MODIS continues to collect valuable information of the Earth's energy radiation from visible to thermal infrared wavelengths. The instrument has been well characterized over its lifetime using onboard calibrators whose calibration references are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology standards. In this paper, we focus on the electronic crosstalk effect of Terra MODIS band 29, a thermal emissive band (TEB) whose center wavelength is 8.55 µm. Previous works have established the mechanism to describe the effect of the electronic crosstalk in the TEB channels of Terra MODIS. This work utilizes the established methodology to apply to band 29. The electronic crosstalk is identified and characterized using the regularly scheduled lunar observations. The moon being a near‐pulse‐like source allowed easy detection of extraneous signals around the actual Moon surface. First, the crosstalk‐transmitting bands are identified along with their amplitudes. The crosstalk effect then is characterized using a moving average mechanism that allows a high fidelity of the magnitude to be corrected. The lunar‐based analysis unambiguously shows that the crosstalk contamination is becoming more severe in recent years and should be corrected in order to maintain calibration quality for the affected spectral bands. Finally, two radiometrically well‐characterized sites, Pacific Ocean and Libya 1 desert, are used to assess the impact of crosstalk effect. It is shown that the crosstalk contamination induces a long‐term upward drift of 1.5 K in band 29 brightness temperature of MODIS Collection 6 L1B, which could significantly impact the science products. The crosstalk effect also induces strong detector‐to‐detector differences, which result in severe stripping in the Earth view images. With crosstalk correction applied, both the long‐term drift and detector differences are significantly reduced.