<b>As the pandemic lockdowns last longer, children's heart-rates are getting faster</b>; Using AI and connected vehicles to improve traffic flow; <b>New NASA space suits are undergoing testing in a Houston pool</b>; Reform proposals to limit government snooping on American communications; and <b>Recommendations from Adobe to cultivate a resilient business in times of crisis</b>
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<h3>Administrivia</h3>
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<center><b><i>Fresh and Informative STEM Content: Welcome to my little corner of the blockchain</i></b></center>
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<tr><td><h5>Straight from <A HREF=https://theoldreader.com>my RSS feed</A></h5></td><td><h5>Whatever gets my attention</h5></td></tr>
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<h6>Links and micro-summaries from my 1000+ daily headlines. I filter them so you don't have to.</h6>
First posted on the Steem blockchain: <A HREF="https://steemit.com/@remlaps/posts">SteemIt</A>.
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<h6> pixabay license: <a href="https://pixabay.com/es/photos/virus-child-covid-19-el-coronavirus-5188156/">source</a>.</h6>
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<li> <A HREF="https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/25/kids-heart-rates-rising-as-the-pandemic-drags-on/">Kids’ heart rates are rising as the pandemic drags on</A> - The firm, <A HREF="https://www.mightier.com/">Mightier</A>, makes video games using techniques that were developed at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. These games are designed to use biofeedback mechanisms to help children to develop emotional strength, which the article defines as: "<i>the ability to take on moments of challenge and frustration with grace.</i>" Because of their line of business, they have unique insights into what's going on in children's bodies during the course of the pandemic. What they are noticing is a "<i>significant and persistent change</i>" from an average heart beat of 90 beats per minute in July of 2019 to 92.5 beats per minute in July of 2020. In summarizing the effects of the pandemic-related lockdown policies, the article says, <blockquote>Children often don’t have words for the changes they are feeling, but we can see them in manifestations like rising heart rates or in their behaviors: poor sleep, less joy, and more undirected anger and frustration. Mental and physical health are often treated as two separate things, but there’s just one body and the two feed each another.</blockquote> -h/t <A HREF="https://www.realclearscience.com/2020/09/28/kids039_heart_rates_are_rising_during_the_pandemic_292412.html">RealClear Science</A></li><br>
<li> <A HREF="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/uop-uai092320.php">Using artificial intelligence to connect vehicles and traffic infrastructure</A> - Noting that the traffic sector accounts for 69% of US fuel consumption and 37 percent of CO<sub>2</sub> gas emissions, a team of researchers from "<i>The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, with the University of Pittsburgh, Georgia Institute of Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the City of Chattanooga</i>", are working to create a new model for traffic flow at intersections that will decrease energy consumption. The team has been awarded a $1.89 million grant from the US Department of Energy in order to conduct research in an existing "<i>smart corridor</i>" that's operated by the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. The researchers aim to accomplish their goals by combining the capabilities of "<i>connected vehicles</i>", and "<i>adaptive traffic control systems</i>" in order to "<i>develop a dynamic feedback Ecological ATCS (Eco-ATCS) which reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gases while maintaining a highly operable and safe transportation environment</i>". Team member, <A HREF="https://ce.gatech.edu/people/faculty/811/overview">Michael Hunter</A> is quoted as saying, "<i>Through this project we have the potential to develop a pilot deployment that may be replicated throughout the country, helping realize the vast potential of these technologies</i>".</li><br>
<li> <A HREF="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-tests-artemis-spacesuits-underwater-for-moon-2020-9">Astronauts are testing NASA's new spacesuits underwater as the agency pushes toward the next moon landing</A> - The space suits that are intended for use in NASA's planned 2024 <i>Artemis Moon Mission</i> have been designed and they are currently undergoing testing. A large percentage of the testing involves use in NASA's "<i>Neutral Buoyancy Lab</i>" in Houston, TX. The pool is 202 feet long, 102 feet wide, and 40.5 feet deep. In order to to simulate microgravity, the pool is filled with 6.2 million gallons of water - enough to fill nine Olympic sized swimming pools. Astronauts with experience at "space walks" report that the pool does a remarkably good job of preparing them for the experience. Until now, the pool has been used to simulate operations around the <i>International Space Station</i> (ISS), so the mission team is <A HREF="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/preparations-for-next-moonwalk-simulations-underway-and-underwater">in the process</A> of figuring out how to adapt it for the Moon Mission. This video of <i>Apollo 17</i> astronaut taking a spill demonstrates one reason why this training is important.<br><br>
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X1cVnC7EtWw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>
NASA Chief, <A HREF="https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-administrator-bridenstine">Jim Bridenstine</A>, says that the mission is on track for 2024 if they can secure $28 billion in funding, including $3.2 billion by Christmas for a human landing system to ferry astronauts between the moon's surface and lunar orbit.
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<li> <A HREF="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3486701">No Oversight, No Limits, No Worries: A Primer on Presidential Spying and Executive Order 12,333</A> - I only read the Abstract, but this is a working draft of a paper that proposes reforms to the 1980s era <i>Executive Order 12,333</i>. According to the abstract, the EO was primarily intended to permit spying on foreign targets, but its standards are so permissive as to allow for the targeting of Americans with little or no foreign intelligence value. It adds that the NSA's signal intelligence responsibility under this framework includes such acts as installing malware, monitoring internet traffic, hacking Internet companies like Yahoo! and Google, and other activities that involve analyzing the communications of large numbers of Americans. After examining the authorities allowed under the existing executive order, the working draft goes on to propose a set of reforms, "<i>including narrowing the aperture of authorized surveillance, increasing privacy standards for the retention of data, and requiring greater transparency and accountability.</i>" -h/t <A HREF="https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/09/on-executive-order-12333.html">Bruce Schneier</A></li><br>
<li> <A HREF="https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/23/1008736/four-must-haves-for-business-resilience-in-a-time-of-crisis/">Four must-haves for business resilience in a time of crisis</A> - Adobe offers the following advice for business resilience in times of crisis:
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<ol>
<li>Effective leadership is key - put your employees first and empathize</li>
<li>Build a strong technology foundation - In terms of both employee and customer experience. Also cultivate relationships across the organization.</li>
<li>Consistent engagement strategy led by data - Understand your data and let it lead you to personalize the customer experience by incorporating individual preferences, tastes, and cultures. "<i>Real-time, contextual data is paramount.</i>"</li>
<li>Assess your digital maturity - In addition to having the right data and technology, you also need employees who know how to use it effectively and efficiently.</li>
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