The Icebreaker Life Mission to Mars: A Search for Biomolecular Evidence for Life

McKay, Christopher P.,Stoker, Carol R.,Glass, Brian J.,Davé,, Arwen I.,Davila, Alfonso F.,Heldmann, Jennifer L.,Marinova, Margarita M.,Fairen, Alberto G.,Quinn, Richard C.,Zacny, Kris A.,Paulsen Mary Ann Liebert 2013 Astrobiology Vol.13 No.4

<P>The search for evidence of life on Mars is the primary motivation for the exploration of that planet. The results from previous missions, and the Phoenix mission in particular, indicate that the ice-cemented ground in the north polar plains is likely to be the most recently habitable place that is currently known on Mars. The near-surface ice likely provided adequate water activity during periods of high obliquity, ? 5 Myr ago. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen are present in the atmosphere, and nitrates may be present in the soil. Perchlorate in the soil together with iron in basaltic rock provides a possible energy source for life. Furthermore, the presence of organics must once again be considered, as the results of the Viking GCMS are now suspect given the discovery of the thermally reactive perchlorate. Ground ice may provide a way to preserve organic molecules for extended periods of time, especially organic biomarkers. The Mars Icebreaker Life mission focuses on the following science goals: (1) Search for specific biomolecules that would be conclusive evidence of life. (2) Perform a general search for organic molecules in the ground ice. (3) Determine the processes of ground ice formation and the role of liquid water. (4) Understand the mechanical properties of the martian polar ice-cemented soil. (5) Assess the recent habitability of the environment with respect to required elements to support life, energy sources, and possible toxic elements. (6) Compare the elemental composition of the northern plains with midlatitude sites. The Icebreaker Life payload has been designed around the Phoenix spacecraft and is targeted to a site near the Phoenix landing site. However, the Icebreaker payload could be supported on other Mars landing systems. Preliminary studies of the SpaceX Dragon lander show that it could support the Icebreaker payload for a landing either at the Phoenix site or at midlatitudes. Duplicate samples could be cached as a target for possible return by a Mars Sample Return mission. If the samples were shown to contain organic biomarkers, interest in returning them to Earth would be high.</P>

Lessons from constructing and operating the national ecological observatory network

McKay Christopher 한국생태학회 2023 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.47 No.4

The United States (US) National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a continental-scale observation facility, constructed and operated by Battelle, that collects long-term ecological data to better understand and forecast how US ecosystems are changing. All data and samples are collected using standardized methods at 81 field sites across the US and are freely and openly available through the NEON data portal, application programming interface (API), and the NEON Biorepository. NSF led a decade-long design process with the research community, including numerous workshops to inform the key features of NEON, culminating in a formal final design review with an expert panel in 2009. The NEON construction phase began in 2012 and was completed in May 2019, when the observatory began the full operations phase. Full operations are defined as all 81 NEON sites completely built and fully operational, with data being collected using instrumented and observational methods. The intent of the NSF is for NEON operations to continue over a 30-year period. Each challenge encountered, problem solved, and risk realized on NEON offers up lessons learned for constructing and operating distributed ecological data collection infrastructure and data networks. NEON’s construction phase included offices, labs, towers, aquatic instrumentation, terrestrial sampling plots, permits, development and testing of the instrumentation and associated cyberinfrastructure, and the development of community-supported collection plans. Although colocation of some sites with existing research sites and use of mostly “off the shelf” instrumentation was part of the design, successful completion of the construction phase required the development of new technologies and software for collecting and processing the hundreds of samples and 5.6 billion data records a day produced across NEON. Continued operation of NEON involves reexamining the decisions made in the past and using the input of the scientific community to evolve, upgrade, and improve data collection and resiliency at the field sites. Successes to date include improvements in flexibility and resilience for aquatic infrastructure designs, improved engagement with the scientific community that uses NEON data, and enhanced methods to deal with obsolescence of the instrumentation and infrastructure across the observatory.

Worlds Apart: Language and English Programs in Australian Indienous Communities

McKay, Graham Australian Studies Institute 1998 Journal of Australian studies Vol.5 No.1

At least since Teichelmann and Sch??rmann taught in the Kaurna language at their school in Adelaide in the 1830s, the teaching of English to indigenous Australians and the use of the indigenous languages in education has been a matter of conflict and controversy, with wide implications. School education and literacy within school education have been significant contributors, both positive and negative, to the current situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The groundswell of development of indigenous language programs in the last two decades has had mixed effects in this process. Education in general and language education including English as a Second Language (ESL), in particular, are a double edged sword in the clash between cultural worlds, as seen in a language education into a broader perspective, this paper will discuss issues relating to language policy, language programs, indigenous languages, English, literacy and the language professions as they affect and are affected by the lives of indigenous Australians. These programs can be used by either side as weapons of conflict or as tools of reconciliation.

Australia, Korea and APEC : Prospects for Middle Power Initiatives

Mckay, John 경희대학교 아태지역연구원 2001 아태연구 Vol.5 No.-

Unlimited Liability

Mckay, John S. Korea Society of Air Space Law and Policy 1994 한국항공우주정책·법학회지 Vol.6 No.-

Clearly there are many legal arguments and criticisms surrounding the proposals for change in the Warsaw Convention and the need for a radical review. The question remains is unlimited liability the answer or should there be some other form of supplemental compensation and if so, what limits should be applicable. It does seem that the adopted limits of the Convention are seen by many as the first line of defence, which, dependent on political and cultural differences, the legal interpretation of contractual wording and the legal system globally have resulted in enormous differences in compensation paid whether or not the Convention limits were imposed. An example of this is in the United States, which highlights the significance of the problem in that domestic travellers without Convention Limits can, through the American legal system, obtain compensation in the multi-million dollar area for a death claim, whereas a passenger t1ying internationally would in the first instance be subject to Convention Limits. expensive legal action through litigation. To date, we can advise that insurers have not charged additional premium for unlimited liability coverage. Insurance rates as we have stated are hardening considerably. To date, average rate increases have been plus 56% for aircraft hull and plus 45% for liabilities. Insurers last year suffered global losses of around US $ 1.1 Billion against a premium income of US $ 800,000. The target premium income for 1993 is believed to be in the region of US $1.4 Billion.

Grammar-based Genetic Programming: a survey

McKay, Robert I.,Hoai, Nguyen Xuan,Whigham, Peter Alexander,Shan, Yin,O’Neill, Michael Springer-Verlag 2010 Genetic programming and evolvable machines Vol.11 No.3

The Relationship between Sacral Kyphosis and Pelvic Incidence

George McKay,Peter Alexander Torrie,Georgina Dempster,Wendy Bertram,Ian Harding 대한척추외과학회 2018 Asian Spine Journal Vol.12 No.1

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Purpose: Evaluate the fixed anatomical parameter of sacral kyphosis (SK) and its relationship with pelvic incidence (PI). Overview of Literature: Pelvic parameters determine pelvic and lumbar spinal position. Studies have defined normative values, and have evaluated the role of these parameters in clinical practice. It has been suggested that a ratio of sacral slope (SS)/PI <0.5 predisposes to spinal pathology. PI=SS+pelvic tilt (PT) and therefore for a given PI, patients with a higher SS due to an elevated SK will potentially predispose to an unfavourable SS/PI ratio. Methods: CT measurements of SS and PI were made in 100 consecutive patients from our database. Imagings without clear landmarks were excluded. PI and SK were measured using standardised techniques. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess association between PI and SK, in addition to the correlation between age and the pelvic parameters. Gender specific values for PI and SK were compared using an unpaired Student t -test. Results: Ninety-five patients (52 females) with a mean age 51.3 years were available for analysis. A strong positive correlation between the PI and the SK was identified (Pearson's coefficient=0.636, R2 value=0.404). Neither PI nor SK had a statistically significant correlation with age (p =0.721 and p =0.572, respectively). The mean values of both the PI and SK were statistically significantly lower in females when compared to males (p =0.0461 and p =0.0031, respectively). Conclusions: A strong correlation between PI and SK exists and is a reflection of different pelvic morphologies. SK partially determines SS and a relatively high SK compared to PI will result in less ability to change PT and a potentially unfavourable SS/PI ratio, which could theoretically contribute to clinical pathology.

Shaping a Process Model for Action Research

Judy Mckay,Peter Marshall 한국경영정보학회 2001 한국경영정보학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2001 No.-

Myelography in the Assessment of Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis and Its Influence on Surgical Management

George McKay,Peter Alexander Torrie,Wendy Bertram,Priyan Landham,Stephen Morris,John Hutchinson,Roland Watura,Ian Harding 대한척추신경외과학회 2017 Neurospine Vol.14 No.4

Objective: Myelography has been shown to highlight foraminal and lateral recess stenosis more readily than computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It also has the advantage of providing dynamic assessment of stenosis in the loaded spine. The advent of weight-bearing MRI may go some way towards improving assessment of the loaded spine and is less invasive, however availability remains limited. This study evaluates the potential role of myelography and its impact upon surgical decision making. Methods: Of 270 patients undergoing myelography during 2006-2009, a period representing peak utilisation of this imaging modality in our unit, we identified 21 patients with degenerative scoliosis who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. An operative plan was formulated by our senior author based initially on interpretation of an MRI scan. Subsequent myelogram and CT myelogram investigations were scrutinised, with any additional abnormalities noted and whether these impacted upon the operative plan. Results: From our 21 patients, 18 (85.7%) had myelographic findings not identified on MRI. Of note, in 4 patients, supine CT myelography yielded additional information when compared to supine MRI in the same patients. The management of 7 patients (33%) changed as a result of myelographic investigation. There were no complications of myelography of the total 270 analysed. Conclusion: MRI scan alone understates the degree of central and lateral recess stenosis. In addition to the additional stenosis displayed by dynamic myelography in the loaded spine, we have also shown that static myelography and CT myelography are also invaluable tools with regards to surgical planning in these patients.

Conference Call Tone and Stock Returns: Evidence from the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

S. McKay Price,Paul Brockman,Xu Li 한국증권학회 2017 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.47 No.5

We investigate market reactions to manager and analyst tones during earnings conference calls using company transcripts from the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK). This is the first study to examine the role of conference call tones outside of a US setting. Consistent with previous US-based results, we find that positive tones lead to higher stock returns. In contrast to US-based results, we show that investors place more emphasis on managerial tones than on analyst tones. We also find that stock market reactions to conference call tones are stronger for firms with a sophisticated investor base.