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At a Mars analog site in Utah, we tested two science operation methods for data acquisition and decision making protocols: a scenario where the tactical day is preplanned, but major adjustments may still be made before plan delivery; and a scenario in which the sol path must largely be planned before a given tactical planning day and very few adjustments to the plan may be made., Open camera or QR reader and scan code to access this article and other resources online. Testing Rover Science Protocols to Identify Possible Biosignatures on Mars: Achieving Sampling Goals Under a Highly Constrained Time Line R. Aileen Yingst,1 Julie K. Bartley,2 Thomas J. Chidsey, Jr.,3 Barbara A. Cohen,4 Natalie Curran,4 Brian M. Hynek,5 Linda C. Kah,6 Michelle E. Minitti,7 Michael D. Vanden Berg,3 Rebecca M.E. Williams,1 John Gemperline,5 Michael Lotto,5 Sarah Black,8 Bruce C. Bartley,9 and Taylor Pearson2 Abstract At a Mars analog site in Utah, we tested two science operation methods for data acquisition and decision-making protocols: a scenario where the tactical day is preplanned, but major adjustments may still be made before plan delivery; and a scenario in which the sol path must largely be planned before a given tactical planning day and very few adjustments to the plan may be made. The goal was to provide field-tested insight into operations planning for rover missions where science operations must facilitate the efficient choice of sampling locations at a site relevant to searching for habitability and biosignatures. Results of the test indicate that preplanning sol paths did not result in a sol cost savings nor did it improve science return or optimal bio-logically relevant sample collection. In addition because facies variations in an environment can be subtle and evident only at scales below orbital resolution, acquiring systematic observations is crucial. We also noted that while spectral data provided insight into the chemical components as a whole at this site, they did not provide a guide to targets for which the traverse should be altered. Finally, strategic science planning must include a special effort to account for terrain. Key Words: Rover—Science protocols—Mars analog. Astrobiology 22, 1310–1329. 1. Introduction Planetary exploration relies primarily on remote obser-vation, and an increasing amount of data are being pro-vided by in situ l

Background For more than a decade emergency medicine organizations have produced guidelines, training and leadership for disaster management. However to date, there have been limited guidelines for emergency physicians needing to provide a rapid response to a surge in demand. The aim of this study is to identify strategies which may guide surge management in the Emergency Department. Method A working group of individuals experienced in disaster medicine from the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Disaster Medicine Subcommittee (the Australasian Surge Strategy Working Group) was established to undertake this work. The Working Group used a modified Delphi technique to examine response actions in surge situations. The Working Group identified underlying assumptions from epidemiological and empirical understanding and then identified remedial strategies from literature and from personal experience and collated these within domains of space, staff, supplies, and system operation. Findings These recommendations detail 22 potential actions available to an emergency physician working in the context of surge. The Working Group also provides detailed guidance on surge recognition, triage, patient flow through the emergency department and clinical goals and practices. Discussion These strategies provide guidance to emergency physicians confronting the challenges of a surge in demand. The paper also identifies areas that merit future research including the measurement of surge capacity, constraints to strategy implementation, validation of surge strategies and measurement of strategy impacts on throughput, cost, and quality of care.