Using Early Data to Illuminate the Pioneer Anomaly

Analysis of the radio tracking data from the Pioneer 10/11 spacecraft at distances between about 20 - 70 AU from the Sun has consistently indicated the presence of an unmodeled, small, constant, Doppler blue shift drift of order 6 \times 10^{-9} Hz/s. After accounting for systematics, this drift can be interpreted as a constant acceleration of a_P= (8.74 \pm 1.33) \times 10^{-8} cm/s^2 directed towards the Sun, or perhaps as a time acceleration of a_t = (2.92 \pm 0.44)\times 10^{-18} s/s^2. Although it is suspected that there is a systematic origin to this anomaly, none has been unambiguously demonstrated. We review the current status of the anomaly, and then point out how the analysis of early data, which was never analyzed in detail, could allow a more clear understanding of the origin of the anomaly, be it a systematic or a manifestation of unsuspected physics.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, additional materia

An Internet-based Controlled Trial Aimed to Improve Osteoporosis Prevention among Chronic Glucocorticoid Users

OBJECTIVE: To address the low prevention and treatment rates for those at risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), we evaluated the influence of a direct-to-patient, Internet-based educational video intervention using storytelling on rates of antiosteoporosis medication use among chronic glucocorticoid users who were members of an online pharmacy refill service. METHODS: We identified members who refilled \u3e /= 5 mg/day of prednisone (or equivalent) for 90 contiguous days and had no GIOP therapy for \u3e /= 12 months. Using patient stories, we developed an online video addressing risk factors and treatment options, and delivered it to members refilling a glucocorticoid prescription. The intervention consisted of two 45-day Video ON periods, during which the video automatically appeared at the time of refill, and two 45-day Video OFF periods, during which there was no video. Members could also self-initiate watching the video by going to the video link. We used an interrupted time series design to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention on GIOP prescription therapies over 6 months. RESULTS: Among 3017 members (64.8%) exposed to the intervention, 59% had measurable video viewing time, of which 3% self-initiated the video. The GIOP prescription rate in the Video ON group was 2.9% versus 2.7% for the Video OFF group. There was a nonsignificant trend toward greater GIOP prescription in members who self-initiated the video versus automated viewing (5.7% vs 2.9%, p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Among adults at high risk of GIOP, prescription rates were not significantly affected by an online educational video presented at the time of glucocorticoid refill. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01378689