NASA Near Earth Network (NEN) DVB-S2 Demonstration Testing for Enhancing Higher Data Rates for CubeSat/Small Satellite Missions at X-band and Ka-band

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CubeSat/SmallSat missions are moving to higher data rates. Digital Video Broadcast, Satellite Second Generation (DVB-S2) is a communications standard that uses power and bandwidth efficient modulation and coding techniques to deliver performance approaching radio frequency (RF) channel theoretical limits. The Near Earth Network (NEN) will test DVB-S2’s ability to provide higher data rates for CubeSat/SmallSat missions at X-band and Ka-band at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF). The goal is to upgrade the NEN with DVB-S2 to increase science data return for missions and enable support for more CubeSat/SmallSat missions. This paper describes NEN DVB-S2 X-band and Ka-band demonstration objectives, scope, and performance measures as well as NEN channel test configuration. The NEN has planned 2020 tests to demonstrate all modulation and coding schemes in the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) DVB-S2 standard over X-band and Ka-band. A link analysis study for the trade-offs among achievable data rates, modulations, codes, spacecraft antenna sizes and power amplifiers (PA) is provided. This paper identifies Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) CubeSat/SmallSat X-band and Ka-band communication systems and discusses low cost DVB-S2 X-band software defined radio (SDR) transmitter development concepts and implementation with a practical system for CubeSats/SmallSats

Transformational leadership as a mediator between emotional intelligence and team outcomes

Using leadership theory we examined whether transformational leadership mediates the link between the emotional intelligence of team leaders and three outcomes as perceived by followers: leader effectiveness, team effectiveness, and service climate. Data were collected from 859 employees, working in 55 teams in a South Korean public-sector organization and results were analyzed at the group level. All variables were modeled in a path diagram and tested using hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation modeling. Same-source bias in the findings was controlled for by randomly splitting the sample into three separate groups. The results show that transformational leadership mediates the relationships between emotional intelligence and leader effectiveness, as well as between emotional intelligence and service climate, although not between emotional intelligence and team effectiveness. Practical implications of the findings are discussed, together with limitations and ideas for future research

Supporting the externalisation of thinking in criminal intelligence analysis

At the end of the criminal intelligence analysis process there are relatively well established and understood approaches to explicit externalisation and representation of thought that include theories of argumentation, narrative and hybrid approaches that include both of these. However the focus of this paper is on the little understood area of how to support users in the process of arriving at such representations from an initial starting point where little is given. The work is based on theoretical considerations and some initial studies with end users. In focusing on process we discuss the requirements of fluidity and rigor and how to gain traction in investigations, the processes of thinking involved including abductive, deductive and inductive reasoning, how users may use thematic sorting in early stages of investigation and how tactile reasoning may be used to externalize and facilitate reasoning in a productive way. In the conclusion section we discuss the issues raised in this work and directions for future work

PENGARUH PENDEKATAN REALISTIC MATHEMATICS EDUCATION TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KRITIS DAN KEMAMPUAN PEMECAHAN MASALAH MATEMATIS SEKOLAH DASAR

Kemampuan berpikir kritis dan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis merupakan kemampuan yang sangat penting yang harus dimiliki siswa Sekolah Dasar. Hal ini akan membantu dalam mengembangkan potensi dirinya, dengan menitikberatkan pada kemampuan dalam berpikir dan bertindak secara normatif, dan siap bernalar dari apa yang dilihat maupun didengar sehingga dapat menyelesaikan permasalahan yang dihadapinya dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, oleh karena itu peranan guru sebagai tenaga pendidik secara professional menjadi penentu dalam menjembatani siswa melalui pembelajaran yang berkualitas. Namun kenyataannya berkaitan dengan proses pembelajaran matematika di SD proses pembelajaran yang dilaksanakan belum memberikan kesempatan siswa dalam menggali potensi dirinya dalam berpikir kritis dan menyelesaikan permasalahan. Sehingga perlu dicari alternatif pembelajaran yang dapat meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kritis dan kemampuan pemecahan masalah. Pendekatan Realistic Mathematics Education merupakan salah satu alternatif yang digunakan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kritis dan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah pendekatan Realistic Mathematics Education dapat meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kritis dan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis dalam pembelajaran matematika di Sekolah Dasar. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan menggunakan metode kuasi eksperimen dengan desain kelompok kontrol non-Ekuivalen. Sampel dalam penelitian adalah siswa kelas IV pada salah satu SD di Kabupaten Garut. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan tes berbentuk uraian dan lembar observasi selama proses pembelajaran. Untuk pengolahan data digunakan program SPSS versi 20. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian berupa skor N-gain dianalisis dengan menggunakan uji t-tes. Hasil penelitian yang dianalisis menunjukkan bahwa terdapat peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis dan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis yang belajar melalui pendekatan Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) dengan yang menggunakan pembelajaran biasa. Jadi dapat disimpulkan peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis dan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis dengan menggunakan Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) lebih baik dari siswa yang mendapatkan pembelajaran biasa ---------- Critical thinking skills and mathematical problem solving ability is a very important capability that should be owned by elementary school students. These abilities would help students to improve their potential, with concern on the ability to think and act as normative, and ready to have a reason of what is seen and heard so that they can solve their problems in daily life, therefore the role of the teacher as professional educators be decisive in bridging the students through quality learning. But in the reality, relates to the process of learning mathematics in elementary school, learning process which implemented yet provide an opportunity for students to explore their potential in critical thinking to solve the problems. so it is necessary to find an alternative learning that can improve critical thinking skills and problem solving skills. Realistic Mathematics Education approach is one alternative that is used to improve critical thinking skills and mathematical problem-solving abilities. This research aims to determine whether Realistic Mathematics Education approach can improve the ability of critical thinking and mathematical problem solving ability in mathematics in elementary school. This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a control group of non-Equivalent. Samples were fourth grade students in one elementary school in Garut. Data collected by the description and the sheet-shaped test observations during the learning process. For data processing used SPSS version 20. Based on the results of research in the form of N-gain scores were analyzed using t-test, which analyzed research results show that there are increasing in the ability of critical thinking and problem solving skills are learned through mathematical approach Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) with the use of regular learning. So we can conclude the increase in critical thinking skills and mathematical problem-solving abilities by using Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) is better than the students who get regular learnin

Understanding 3D mid-air hand gestures with interactive surfaces and displays: a systematic literature review

3D gesture based systems are becoming ubiquitous and there are many mid-air hand gestures that exist for interacting with digital surfaces and displays. There is no well defined gesture set for 3D mid-air hand gestures which makes it difficult to develop applications that have consistent gestures. To understand what gestures exist we conducted the first comprehensive systematic literature review on mid-air hand gestures following existing research methods. The results of the review identified 65 papers where the mid-air hand gestures supported tasks for selection, navigation, and manipulation. We also classified the gestures according to a gesture classification scheme and identified how these gestures have been empirically evaluated. The results of the review provide a richer understanding of what mid-air hand gestures have been designed, implemented, and evaluated in the literature which can help developers design better user experiences for digital interactive surfaces and displays

Scalable production of iPSC-derived human neurons to identify tau-lowering compounds by high-content screening

Lowering total tau levels is an attractive therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. High-throughput screening in neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a powerful tool to identify tau-targeted therapeutics. However, such screens have been hampered by heterogeneous neuronal production, high cost and low yield, and multi-step differentiation procedures. We engineered an isogenic iPSC line that harbors an inducible neurogenin 2 transgene, a transcription factor that rapidly converts iPSCs to neurons, integrated at the AAVS1 locus. Using a simplified two-step protocol, we differentiated these iPSCs into cortical glutamatergic neurons with minimal well-to-well variability. We developed a robust high-content screening assay to identify tau-lowering compounds in LOPAC and identified adrenergic receptors agonists as a class of compounds that reduce endogenous human tau. These techniques enable the use of human neurons for high-throughput screening of drugs to treat neurodegenerative disease

Nanoparticulate Radiolabelled Quinolines Detect Amyloid Plaques in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Detecting aggregated amyloid peptides (Aβ plaques) presents targets for developing biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Polymeric n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles (NPs) were encapsulated with radiolabelled amyloid affinity 125I-clioquinol (CQ, 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline) as in vivo probes. 125I-CQ-PBCA NPs crossed the BBB (2.3 ± 0.9 ID/g) (P < .05) in the WT mouse (N = 210), compared to 125I-CQ (1.0 ± 0.4 ID/g). 125I-CQ-PBCA NP brain uptake increased in AD transgenic mice (APP/PS1) versus WT (N = 38; 2.54 × 105 ± 5.31 × 104 DLU/mm2; versus 1.98 × 105 ± 2.22 × 104 DLU/mm2) and in APP/PS1/Tau. Brain increases were in mice intracranially injected with aggregated Aβ42 peptide (N = 17; 7.19 × 105 ± 1.25 × 105 DLU/mm2), versus WT (6.07 × 105 ± 7.47 × 104 DLU/mm2). Storage phosphor imaging and histopathological staining of the plaques, Fe2+ and Cu2+, validated results. 125I-CQ-PBCA NPs have specificity for Aβ in vitro and in vivo and are promising as in vivo SPECT (123I), or PET (124I) amyloid imaging agents