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Abstract: For the South polar lunar region between −85 and −90° Latitude an updated analyses of the solar illumination and ground station visibility conditions has been performed in the frame of a feasibility study for an ESA Lunar Lander mission. The analyses are based on the refined lunar digital elevation model provided by the Japanese Kaguya/Selene mission, originating from its LASER altimeter instrument. For the South polar region maps of integral solar illumination are presented for a mission epoch in 2016. The analysis modelling was validated with the help of a Kaguya High Definition video. The solar illumination is driving for the power subsystems of any robotic lander craft or manned lunar outpost, in case they rely on conventional photovoltaic power generation with battery buffering of shadowed periods. In addition the visibility of the terrain from a terrestrial ESA ground station was analysed. The results are presented as an integral ground contact duration map, being crucial for the operations of any lunar outpost. Considering these two quality criteria, several possible landing sites for a future lunar mission have been pre-selected. For these sites a detailed analysis of quasi-continuous illumination conditions is presented. This includes magnified maps of the pre-selected areas, showing any location''s longest illumination intervals that are allowed to be interrupted by shadows with limited duration only. As a final quality criterion, the terrain topology has been analysed for its impact on the landing trajectory. From a trade-off between the three quality criteria the connecting ridge between the Shackleton and the de Gerlache was determined to provide the most favourable landing site quality. This site is located at 89°28′ South, 136°40′ West, and 1947m altitude, and features and integral illumination of 85.7%. With battery energy to sustain shadows of 120h, total mission duration of 9.37 sidereal months can be guaranteed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the Magnetic Nano-Probe Swarm mission utilising a constellation of several swarms of nano-satellites in order to acquire simultaneous measurements of the geomagnetic field resolving the local field gradients. The space segment comprises of up to 4 S/C swarms each consisting of up to 6 nano-satellites (Nano-Probes) and 1 mother spacecraft (MSC) to be launched with a single launcher in polar low Earth orbits. The Nano-Probes, equipped with magnetometer payloads operate in the vicinity of the MSCs. The MSCs will eject the NPs after acquisition of the initial orbits, provide control and maintenance of the swarm constellation and serve as communication relay to the ground. The systems design relies on near-to-medium term technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Residential use of pesticides has been associated with increased risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We evaluated determinants of glyphosate concentrations in house dust and estimated ALL risk in the California Childhood Leukemia Study (CCLS). The CCLS is a population-based case-control study of childhood leukemia in California. Among those < 8-years (no move since diagnosis/reference date), we collected dust (2001–2007) from the room where the child spent the most time while awake and measured > 40 pesticides. Three-to-eight years later, we collected a second sample from non-movers. We used Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry to measure glyphosate (µg/g dust) for 181 ALL cases and 225 controls and for 45 households with a second dust sample. We used multivariable Tobit regression to evaluate determinants of glyphosate concentrations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for ALL and quartiles of the concentration (first samples) using unconditional logistic regression. We computed the within- and between-home variance and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Glyphosate was frequently detected (cases: 98 %; controls: 99 %). Higher concentrations were associated with occupational pesticide exposure, nearby agricultural use, treatment for lawn weeds and bees/wasps, and sampling season. Increasing concentrations were not associated with ALL risk (adjusted OR Q4vsQ1 = 0.8, CI: 0.4–1.4). We observed similar null associations for boys and girls, Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, and among those who resided in their home since birth (76 cases/117 controls) or age two (130 cases/176 controls). The ICC was 0.32 indicating high within-home temporal variability during the years of our study. We observed higher concentrations in homes associated with expected predictors of exposure but no association with childhood ALL risk. Due to continuing use, potential exposure to young children is high. It will be important to evaluate risk in future studies with multiple dust measurements or biomarkers of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seal envelope with unique optical signature. • Seal, sensor element, and spectral dispersion grating combined in a single glass foil. • Infinitesimally small sensory mesh width. • Continuous monitoring of seal's integrity against tamper attempts. • Encrypted initialization and autonomous alarm management. The advancement of high technology manipulation tools to gain unauthorized access to security eminent hardware in mobile devices demands more sophisticated tamper protection solutions. We developed sensory seal envelopes of ultra-thin glass with individual optical spectra used as signature for tamper protection of electronic controls or cryptographic communication units. A miniaturized autonomic read-out system detects and analyzes the state of the seal. The read-out system is located in the protected area under the seal, together with the secret, in order to protect against attacks via electronic interfaces, such as the mimicry of signature data and the deceptive simulation of the seal's integrity. We introduced a single optical waveguide Bragg grating element via femtosecond laser processing into ultra-thin glass slides. This single Bragg grating combines different functions: It is a sensor element which diffracts the light out-of-plane and doing this in a dispersing manner to create a unique spectral signature. This combination allows a miniaturization of the optical analysis of the dispersed light. We demonstrated that a single waveguide Bragg grating element, inscribed into a monolithic ultra-thin glass foil of 10 cm x 10 cm size, is sufficient for the registration of marginal local mechanical forces onto the glass foil, causing vertical deformations of less than 50 µm at any position. In case of manipulation attempts, such as drilling, cutting, and lasing through the glass foil, the seal's monitoring system recognizes the change or complete loss of the individual spectral signature immediately. We present all elements needed for an optical tamper protection system, based on the sensory seal envelopes of ultra-thin glass in a miniaturized setup, thus reflecting the high potential for future commercial solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]