KInNeSS: A Modular Framework for Computational Neuroscience

Making use of very detailed neurophysiological, anatomical, and behavioral data to build biological-realistic computational models of animal behavior is often a difficult task. Until recently, many software packages have tried to resolve this mismatched granularity with different approaches. This paper presents KInNeSS, the KDE Integrated NeuroSimulation Software environment, as an alternative solution to bridge the gap between data and model behavior. This open source neural simulation software package provides an expandable framework incorporating features such as ease of use, scalabiltiy, an XML based schema, and multiple levels of granularity within a modern object oriented programming design. KInNeSS is best suited to simulate networks of hundreds to thousands of branched multu-compartmental neurons with biophysical properties such as membrane potential, voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels, the presence of gap junctions of ionic diffusion, neuromodulation channel gating, the mechanism for habituative or depressive synapses, axonal delays, and synaptic plasticity. KInNeSS outputs include compartment membrane voltage, spikes, local-field potentials, and current source densities, as well as visualization of the behavior of a simulated agent. An explanation of the modeling philosophy and plug-in development is also presented. Further developement of KInNeSS is ongoing with the ultimate goal of creating a modular framework that will help researchers across different disciplines to effecitively collaborate using a modern neural simulation platform.Center for Excellence for Learning Education, Science, and Technology (SBE-0354378); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (F49620-01-1-0397); Office of Naval Research (N00014-01-1-0624

The space physics environment data analysis system (SPEDAS)

With the advent of the Heliophysics/Geospace System Observatory (H/GSO), a complement of multi-spacecraft missions and ground-based observatories to study the space environment, data retrieval, analysis, and visualization of space physics data can be daunting. The Space Physics Environment Data Analysis System (SPEDAS), a grass-roots software development platform (www.spedas.org), is now officially supported by NASA Heliophysics as part of its data environment infrastructure. It serves more than a dozen space missions and ground observatories and can integrate the full complement of past and upcoming space physics missions with minimal resources, following clear, simple, and well-proven guidelines. Free, modular and configurable to the needs of individual missions, it works in both command-line (ideal for experienced users) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) mode (reducing the learning curve for first-time users). Both options have “crib-sheets,” user-command sequences in ASCII format that can facilitate record-and-repeat actions, especially for complex operations and plotting. Crib-sheets enhance scientific interactions, as users can move rapidly and accurately from exchanges of technical information on data processing to efficient discussions regarding data interpretation and science. SPEDAS can readily query and ingest all International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP)-compatible products from the Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF), enabling access to a vast collection of historic and current mission data. The planned incorporation of Heliophysics Application Programmer’s Interface (HAPI) standards will facilitate data ingestion from distributed datasets that adhere to these standards. Although SPEDAS is currently Interactive Data Language (IDL)-based (and interfaces to Java-based tools such as Autoplot), efforts are under-way to expand it further to work with python (first as an interface tool and potentially even receiving an under-the-hood replacement). We review the SPEDAS development history, goals, and current implementation. We explain its “modes of use” with examples geared for users and outline its technical implementation and requirements with software developers in mind. We also describe SPEDAS personnel and software management, interfaces with other organizations, resources and support structure available to the community, and future development plans.Published versio

The NASA SBIR product catalog

The purpose of this catalog is to assist small business firms in making the community aware of products emerging from their efforts in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It contains descriptions of some products that have advanced into Phase 3 and others that are identified as prospective products. Both lists of products in this catalog are based on information supplied by NASA SBIR contractors in responding to an invitation to be represented in this document. Generally, all products suggested by the small firms were included in order to meet the goals of information exchange for SBIR results. Of the 444 SBIR contractors NASA queried, 137 provided information on 219 products. The catalog presents the product information in the technology areas listed in the table of contents. Within each area, the products are listed in alphabetical order by product name and are given identifying numbers. Also included is an alphabetical listing of the companies that have products described. This listing cross-references the product list and provides information on the business activity of each firm. In addition, there are three indexes: one a list of firms by states, one that lists the products according to NASA Centers that managed the SBIR projects, and one that lists the products by the relevant Technical Topics utilized in NASA's annual program solicitation under which each SBIR project was selected

Interference analysis of high frequency power line communications

Abstract. In power line communications, the existing in-house or in-office power distribution network can be used as a communications channel. Current broadband power line communication systems in the market deploy frequency range up to 86 MHz with transmission speeds up to 1 Gb/s. To increase the capacity even further, an extension of the frequency range above 100 MHz has been proposed in the published literature. This thesis presents an empirical study of radiated interference of high frequency broadband power line communications. Utilization of high frequencies for power line communications will cause unwanted radio interference which needs to be treated with caution. The preliminary results obtained in this work show how the components and structures of a power grid segment will contribute to the overall interference radiation when frequencies above 100 MHz are used for power line communication. The results indicate that the peak levels of radiated interference from a typical cabling in in-house or in-office power line networks reach their maximum on frequencies near 300 MHz and remain on a relatively same level on above. The peak levels are approximately 13 dB above the EN 55022 limit in the 230–1000 MHz frequency range with an injected power spectral density of -80 dBm/Hz. The results will provide valuable information when designing and making more comprehensive measurement campaigns for deciding on the national transmission levels for power line communications in UHF and higher frequencies.Korkeataajuisen sähköverkkotiedonsiirron aiheuttama säteily. Tiivistelmä. Sähköverkkotiedonsiirrossa hyödynnetään olemassa olevaa sähköverkkoa tiedonsiirtokanavana. Tällä hetkellä käytössä olevat sähköverkkotiedonsiirron standardit käyttävät taajuuksia 86 MHz:iin asti. Saavutettavat tiedonsiirtonopeudet yltävät 1 Gb/s asti. Kapasiteetin kasvattamiseksi on julkaistussa kirjallisuudessa esitetty taajuusalueen laajentamista yli 100 MHz:n taajuuksille. Tässä diplomityössä esitetään empiirinen tutkimus korkeataajuisen sähköverkkotiedonsiirron aiheuttamasta säteilystä. Korkeiden taajuuksien käyttö sähköverkkotiedonsiirrossa aiheuttaa haitallista säteilyä, joka täytyy ottaa huomioon ennen kuin taajuusaluetta voidaan laajentaa. Työssä saavutetut tulokset osoittavat kuinka sähköverkon eri komponentit vaikuttavat kokonaissäteilyyn kun yli 100 MHz:n taajuuksia käytetään sähköverkkotiedonsiirrossa. Tulokset osoittavat että tyypillisen talon tai toimistorakennuksen sähköverkossa siirretyn korkeataajuisien signaalin vuotama säteily saavuttaa maksimitasonsa 300 MHz:n taajuuteen mennessä ja ei kasva sitä korkeammilla taajuuksilla. Säteilyn maksimitasot ovat noin 13 dB EN55022 standardin rajojen yläpuolella taajuuksilla 230–1000 MHz kun sähköverkkoon syötetyn signaalin tehollinen tehotiheys on -80 dBm/Hz. Tuloksia voidaan käyttää hyödyksi laajempia mittauskampanjoita suoritettaessa kansallisten tehorajoitusten päättämiseksi kun UHF ja sitä korkeampia taajuuksia käytetään sähköverkkotiedonsiirrossa