Laser geodynamic satellite (LAGEOS II)

The Laser Geodynamic Satellite 2 (LAGEOS 2) is nearly identical to the LAGEOS 1 satellite, which was launched by NASA in 1976. However, LAGEOS 2 is completely passive, and is equipped with fused silian corner reflectors for ranging with ground-based lasers. The addition of LAGEOS 2 will provide the GSFC laser network with significantly increased satellite tracking opportunities, because LAGEOS 1 is at a 110-degree inclination and LAGEOS 2 will be at a 52-degree inclination. The flight profile is given, and information is presented in tabular form on the following topics: Deep Space Network support, frequency assignments, telemetry, tracking, and tracking support responsibility

SMA applications in an innovative multishot deployment mechanism

An innovative Deployment and Retraction hinge Mechanism (DARM) in the frame of a technological program is examined. The mechanism includes two restraint/release devices, which enable it to be stable in its stowed or deployed position while sustaining all associated loads, and to carry its payload by remote command. The main characteristics of the DARM are as follows: deployment and retraction movements are spring actuated; the available amount of functional sequences is almost unlimited; and no use of electrical motors is made. These features were accomplished by: the application of a special kinematic scheme to the mechanical connection between the spring motor and the swivel head arm; and the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) actuators for both release and spring recharge functions. DARM is thus a mechanism which can find many applications in the general space scenario of in-orbit maintenance and servicing. In such a frame, the DARM typical concept, which has a design close to very simple one-shot deployment mechanisms, has a good chance to replace existing analog machines. Potential items that could be moved by DARM are: booms for satellite instruments; antenna reflector tips; entire antenna reflectors; and solar panels

Targeting chemokines : new drugs for old diseases

Chemokine receptor antagonists are set to become novel important pharmacological tools within the current therapeutic repertoire available for the management of various inflammatory conditions.peer-reviewe

Flying in 3D with an Insect based Visual Autopilot

International audienceFlying insects rely on Optic Flow (OF) cues to avoid collisions, control their speed, control their height, and land. Recent studies have shown that the principle of “OF regulation” may account for various behaviors observed in freely flying insects. The aim of the present study was to suggest a visually guided autopilot enabling an insect to navigate in 3D, and to test its robustness to natural images. Using computer-simulation experiments, we simulated a bee that flies through a tunnel wallpapered with natural images, by controlling both its ground speed and clearance all four sides: the lateral walls, the ground, and the ceiling. The simulated bee can translate along three directions (the surge, sway, and heave axes): it is therefore fully actuated. The new visuo-motor control system, called ALIS (AutopiLot using an Insect based vision System), is a dual OF regulator consisting of two interdependent feedback loops: the speed control loop (along the surge axis) and the positioning control loop (along both the sway and heave axes), each of which has its own OF set-point. The experiments show that the simulated bee navigates safely along a straight tunnel, while compensating for the major OF perturbations caused by, e.g., a tapering of the tunnel or the lack of texture on one wall. The minimalistic visual system used here (only eight pixels) is robust to naturally contrasted stimuli and tunnels, and is sufficient to control both the clearance from the four sides and the forward speed jointly, without requiring to measure any speeds or distances. Besides, the ALIS autopilot accounts remarkably for the quantitative results of ethological experiments performed on honeybees flying freely in straight or tapered corridors

Negation Detection for Robust Adverse Drug Event Extraction From Social Media Texts

Adverse Drug Event (ADE) extraction from user-generated content has gained popularity as a tool to aid researchers and pharmaceutical companies to monitor side effect of drugs in the wild. Automatic models can rapidly examine large collections of social media texts. However it is currently unknown if such models are robust in face of linguistic phenomena such as negation and speculation, which are pervasive across language varieties. We evaluate three state-of-the-art systems, showing their fragility against negation, and then we introduce two possible strategies to increase the robustness of these models: (i) a pipeline approach, using a specific component for negation detection; (ii) an augmentation of the dataset with artificially negated samples to further train the models. We show that both strategies bring significant increases in performance

New Antenna Deployment, Pointing and Supporting Mechanism

On ITALSAT Flight 2, the Italian telecommunications satellite, the two L-Ka antennas (Tx and Rx) use two large deployable reflectors (2000-mm diameter), whose deployment and fine pointing functions are accomplished by means of an innovative mechanism concept. The Antenna Deployment & Pointing Mechanism and Supporting Structure (ADPMSS) is based on a new configuration solution, where the reflector and mechanisms are conceived as an integrated, self-contained assembly. This approach is different from the traditional configuration solution. Typically, a rigid arm is used to deploy and then support the reflector in the operating position, and an Antenna Pointing Mechanism (APM) is normally interposed between the reflector and the arm for steering operation. The main characteristics of the ADPMSS are: combined implementation of deployment, pointing, and reflector support; optimum integration of active components and interface matching with the satellite platform; structural link distribution to avoid hyperstatic connections; very light weight and; high performance in terms of deployment torque margin and pointing range/accuracy. After having successfully been subjected to all component-level qualification and system-level acceptance tests, two flight ADPMSS mechanisms (one for each antenna) are now integrated on ITALSAT F2 and are ready for launch. This paper deals with the design concept, development, and testing program performed to qualify the ADPMSS mechanism

Statistics of extremal intensities for Gaussian interfaces

The extremal Fourier intensities are studied for stationary Edwards-Wilkinson-type, Gaussian, interfaces with power-law dispersion. We calculate the probability distribution of the maximal intensity and find that, generically, it does not coincide with the distribution of the integrated power spectrum (i.e. roughness of the surface), nor does it obey any of the known extreme statistics limit distributions. The Fisher-Tippett-Gumbel limit distribution is, however, recovered in three cases: (i) in the non-dispersive (white noise) limit, (ii) for high dimensions, and (iii) when only short-wavelength modes are kept. In the last two cases the limit distribution emerges in novel scenarios.Comment: 15 pages, including 7 ps figure

\u201cWhat is more important than love?\u201d. Parental attachment and romantic relationship in Italian emerging adulthood

Previous researches suggest that individuals with different attachment styles practice different styles of love, but these do not consider the role of trust, communication, and closeness to the father and mother separately. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship and the impact of parental attachment, through the analysis of the participants\u2019 self-reported account and 1. Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, University of Macerata. Postbox: Piazzale Luigi Bertelli (Contrada Vallebona) 62100, Macerata, Italy 2. Psychology of Communication department, University of Macerata, Angelo Carrieri. 3. University of Pablo de Olavide, (ES), Health Plus Parish Priest Mifsud Str. Hamrun, Malta 4. Health Plus Parish Priest Mifsud Str. Hamrun, Malta Accepted Manuscript 4 romantic styles in Italians emerging adulthood by using a multidimensional approach (trust, communication, closeness to father and mother). The 296 participants (19\u201329 years; 50.7% males) rated items of information on a questionnaire, regarding their perspective of their attachment to their mother/father and attitude toward love. Using a variable-centred approach and a person-centred approach, the results suggest that the respondents differed in levels of parental attachment or love styles and that the present parental attachment has a positive impact on their romantic relationship. It is possible to estimate romantic relationships and prevent manic relationships based on the individual\u2019s current perceptions of their attachment to the father or mother. The role of parents and paternal attachment, are still fundamental in Italian young adults. The role of communication with the mother, in particular, is controversial and should be further investigated

Universal Fluctuations of the Danube Water Level: a Link with Turbulence, Criticality and Company Growth

A global quantity, regardless of its precise nature, will often fluctuate according to a Gaussian limit distribution. However, in highly correlated systems, other limit distributions are possible. We have previously calculated one such distribution and have argued that this function should apply specifically, and in many instances, to global quantities that define a steady state. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, the relevance of this prediction to natural phenomena. The river level fluctuations of the Danube are observed to obey our prediction, which immediately establishes a generic statistical connection between turbulence, criticality and company growth statistics.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur