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From the beginning of World War II, dual-axis tracking radars have played an important role in the tracking of missiles in test ranges. These radars operate mostly in S- or C-band of frequencies. However, these Radars have associated problems with the costly maintenance budget, various errors that creep into the data, and inter-radar bias correction. The modern-day global navigation satellite system (GNSS) together with space-based augmentation systems (SBAS) have provided scope to obtain internally generated and telemetered trajectory data from the missile under test (MUT) from the onboard GNSS receiver with SBAS capabilities within comparable or better accuracies. This research presents a comparison of the precession parameters of the MUT’s position solutions between data from several tracking radars and those from the enhanced GNSS data. Also, experiments have been conducted using various satellite navigation constellations including NavIC and SBAS augmentation to demonstrate the improvement in accuracy and precession parameters applicable to the Indian scenario. To compete with the outcomes of contemporary satellite-based navigation system together with the augmentation systems for trajectory generation of cooperative missile targets, radar manufacturers must reconsider their design philosophies for usage on missile test ranges.

In this paper, the potentials of using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) techniques in the complex calibration procedure of the tracking sensors for missile test range applications have been presented. The frequently used tracking sensors in test range applications are- electro-optical tracking stations (EOTS) and tracking radars. Over the years, the EOTS are used as the reference for bias estimation of the radars. With the introduction of GPS in test range applications, especially the DGPS, the reference for bias estimation got shifted to DGPS from the EOTS. However, the achievable position solution accuracy is limited to the order of a few meters for DGPS, EOTS, and Radars. With the evolution of Multi-constellation GNSS and carrier-phase based measurement techniques in satellite navigation, achievable position solution accuracies may be improved to sub-meter level. New navigation techniques like real time kinematic (RTK) and precise point positioning have the potentials for use in the calibration procedures of the missile test ranges to the accuracies of centimeter-level. Moreover, because of the availability of a large number of navigation signals over the Indian region, multi-constellation GNSS receivers can enhance signal availability, reliability, and accuracies during the calibration of missile test ranges. Currently available compact, low-cost GNSS modules also offer the possibilities of using these for cost-effective, networked RTK for dynamic calibration of test ranges reducing cost and resource requirements.

Objective. To identify instruments used to measure health literacy and numeracy in people with diabetes; evaluate their use, measurement scope, and properties; discuss their strengths and weaknesses; and propose the most useful, reliable, and applicable measure for use in research and practice settings. Methods. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the instruments. Nutbeam's domains of health literacy and a diabetes health literacy skill set were used to evaluate the measurement scope of the identified instruments and to evaluate their applicability in people with diabetes. Results. Fifty-six studies were included, from which one diabetes-specific (LAD) and eight generic measures of health literacy (REALM, REALM-R, TOFHLA, s-TOFHLA, NVS, 3-brief SQ, 3-level HL Scale, SILS) and one diabetes-specific (DNT) and two generic measures of numeracy (SNS, WRAT) were identified. These instruments were categorized into direct measures, that is, instruments that assess the performance of individuals on health literacy skills and indirect measures that rely on self-report of these skills. The most commonly used instruments measure selective domains of health literacy, focus mainly on reading and writing skills, and do not address other important skills such as verbal communication, health care system navigation, health-related decision making, and numeracy. The structure, mode, and length of administration and measurement properties were found to affect the applicability of these instruments in clinical and research settings. Indirect self- or clinician-administered measures are the most useful in both clinical and research settings. Conclusion. This review provides an evaluation of available health literacy measures and guidance to practitioners and researchers for selecting the appropriate measures for use in clinical settings and research applications.

In the analysis of spatial point patterns, an important role is played by statistical tests based on simulation envelopes, such as the envelope of simulations of Ripley's K function. Recent ecological literature has correctly pointed out a common error in the interpretation of simulation envelopes. However, this has led to a widespread belief that the tests themselves are invalid. On the contrary, envelope-based statistical tests are correct statistical procedures, under appropriate conditions. In this paper, we explain the principles of Monte Carlo tests and their correct interpretation, canvas the benefits of graphical procedures, measure the statistical performance of several popular tests, and make practical recommendations. There are several caveats including the under-recognized problem that Monte Carlo tests of goodness of fit are probably conservative if the model parameters have to be estimated from data. Finally, we discuss whether graphs of simulation envelopes can be used to infer the scale of spatial interaction.

Recent advances in Bayesian hypothesis testing have led to the development of uniformly most powerful Bayesian tests, which represent an objective, default class of Bayesian hypothesis tests that have the same rejection regions as classical significance tests. Based on the correspondence between these two classes of tests, it is possible to equate the size of classical hypothesis tests with evidence thresholds in Bayesian tests, and to equate P values with Bayes factors. An examination of these connections suggest that recent concerns over the lack of reproducibility of scientific studies can be attributed largely to the conduct of significance tests at unjustifiably high levels of significance. To correct this problem, evidence thresholds required for the declaration of a significant finding should be increased to 25–50:1, and to 100–200:1 for the declaration of a highly significant finding. In terms of classical hypothesis tests, these evidence standards mandate the conduct of tests at the 0.005 or 0.001 level of significance.

Many species’ range limits (RL) occur across continuous environmental gradients without obvious barriers imposing them. Such RL are expected to reflect niche limits (NL) and thus to occur where populations cease to be self-sustaining. Transplant experiments comparing fitness within and beyond species’ ranges can test this hypothesis, but interpretive power depends strongly on experimental design. We first identify often overlooked aspects of transplant design that are critical to establishing the causes of RL, especially incorporating transplant sites at, and source populations from, the range edge. We then conduct a meta-analysis of published beyond-range transplant experiments ( tests). Most tests (75%) found that performance declined beyond the range, with the strongest declines detected when the measure of performance was lifetime fitness (83%), suggesting that RL commonly involve niche constraints (declining habitat quality). However, only 46% supported range limits occurring at NL; 26% (mostly geographic RL) fell short of NL with self-sustaining transplants beyond the range, and 23% (all elevational RL) exceeded NL with range-edge populations acting as demographic sinks. These data suggest an important but divergent role for dispersal, which may commonly constrain geographic distributions while extending elevational limits. Meta-analysis results also supported the importance of biotic interactions at RL, particularly the long-held assertion of their role in causing low-elevation and equatorial limits.

Selective attention mechanisms route behaviorally relevant information through large-scale cortical networks. Although evidence suggests that populations of cortical neurons synchronize their activity to preferentially transmit information about attentional priorities, it is unclear how cortical synchrony across a network is accomplished. Based on its anatomical connectivity with the cortex, we hypothesized that the pulvinar, a thalamic nucleus, regulates cortical synchrony. We mapped pulvino-cortical networks within the visual system, using diffusion tensor imaging, and simultaneously recorded spikes and field potentials from these interconnected network sites in monkeys performing a visuospatial attention task. The pulvinar synchronized activity between interconnected cortical areas according to attentional allocation, suggesting a critical role for the thalamus not only in attentional selection but more generally in regulating information transmission across the visual cortex.

Different methods have been designed to calculate the air quality index in form of mathematical formula. But the formula designed by Central Pollution Control Board in 2014 is more robust to find out the air quality category. The index has been calculated based upon four parameters like particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5), sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide. The study area has affected by different sources like point, line and volume. Presence of different industries and mining activities polluting the natural environment of nearby areas more, although the industries taking mitigative measures proactively. In the present research, monitoring of ambient air quality has been carried out for a period from March 2013 to February 2016 for three years. It has been revealed from the study that the air quality status of the area has been declining from 2013 to 2016 i.e. 78.9 to 157.8 in summer, 49.4 to 84.3 in monsoon and 86.9 to 183.9 in winter season. It has also been found that, PM[sub]10[/sub] and PM[sub]2.5[/sub] were responsible for maximum sub-index as well as air quality index. During the study period 2015-16, out of the eight stations most comes under moderately polluted category especially in winter season followed by summer season. Statistical and Duncan's multiple range test has been applied to the results with two-way and one-way analysis of variance based on different seasons and stations. In two-way analysis of variance, F-value was computed to be 30.105 based on seasons and stations and one-way analysis of variance test shows the F- values as 186.07 and 18.97 based on seasons and stations respectively which is found to be significant (P<0.01).The present research is important to assess the environmental quality of a mining- industrial complex area and can be a reference for similar study in other areas.

Bergmann’s rule states that individuals of a species/clade at higher altitudes or latitudes will be larger than those at lower ones. A systemic review of the known literature on inter- and intraspecific variation in insect size along latitudinal or altitudinal clines was done to see how often such clines appeared and whether they reflected classwide, species-specific, or experimentally biased tendencies. Nearly even numbers of studies showed Bergmann clines and converse-Bergmann clines, where insects get smaller as latitude/altitude increases. In fact, the majority of studies suggested no clines at all. Small ranges may have obscured certain clines, while giant ranges may have introduced artifacts. Researchers examining interspecific patterns found clines less frequently than those examining intraspecific patterns because of variation among species within the clades, which renders interspecific studies unhelpful. Bergmann’s rule does not apply to hexapods with nearly the same consistency as it does to endothermic vertebrates. The validity of Bergmann’s rule for any group and range of insects is highly idiosyncratic and partially depends on the study design. I conclude that studies of Bergmann’s rule should focus within species and look at widespread but contiguous populations to account for all sources of variation while minimizing error.

AIM: Three broad mechanisms have been proposed to explain geographic variation in species range size: habitat area/heterogeneity, climate seasonality and long‐term climate variability. However, it has proved difficult to disentangle their relative role, particularly as temperature seasonality often covaries with the amplitude of long‐term temperature oscillations. Here, we shed new light onto this debate by providing the first continental‐scale analysis of range size and beta diversity in groundwater habitats, where taxa are not exposed to latitudinal variation in temperature seasonality. LOCATION: Europe. METHODS: We compiled and mapped occurrence data for 1570 groundwater crustacean species. Generalized regression models were used to test for latitudinal variation in geographic range size and to assess the relative role of the three broad mechanisms in shaping present‐day patterns of range size. We partitioned beta diversity into its spatial turnover and nestedness components and analysed their latitudinal variation across Europe. RESULTS: Median range size increases with latitude above 43° N and the range size of individual species is positively correlated to latitude, even after accounting for phylogenetic effects. Long‐term temperature variability accounted for a substantially higher variation in median range size of groundwater crustaceans across Europe than precipitation seasonality and habitat heterogeneity, including aquifer area, elevation range, climatic rarity and productive energy. Spatial turnover contributes significantly more to beta diversity in southern regions characterized by stable historic climates than it does in northern Europe. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Our findings add support to the historic climate hypothesis which suggests that patterns of increasing range size and decreasing species turnover at higher latitudes in the Palaearctic region are primarily driven by long‐term temperature oscillations rather than by climatic seasonality and the availability and heterogeneity of habitats.