Multipath errors in range rate measurement by a TDRS/VHF - GRARR

Range rate errors due to multipath reflection are calculated for a tracking and data relay satellite system using the VHF Goddard range and range rate (GRARR) system. At VHF the reflection is primarily specular, and the strength of the multipath relative to the direct path can be modeled in terms of the geometry and the surface characteristics, specifically the root-mean-square (rms) ocean wave height. The uplink and downlink multipath introduces phase jitter on the GRARR carrier and subcarrier. The derivation of these effects is reviewed leading to an expression for the rms range rate error. The derivation assumed the worst-case orbital configurations in which there was very little relative specular Doppler. This means that the specular multipath interference was not attenuated by the carrier and subcarrier PLL transfer functions. Curves of range rate error are presented as a function of grazing angle with wave height 0.3 to 0.7 meters and spacecraft altitude 100 to 700 miles as parameters

Multipath performance of a TDRS system employing wideband FM VHF signals

An approximate theoretical analysis is presented for the effects of specular reflection multipath on the performance of a one-way tracking and data relay satellite-to-user link. The analysis pertains to the wideband FM system employing a sinusoidal subcarrier to achieve spectrum spreading. Bounds on multipath effects are derived for receivers with and without limiters and for data modulated on the carrier or the subcarrier. For data modulation, performance is evaluated in terms of an additive lowpass signal at the data detection filter. Doppler and range tracking performance is evaluated in terms of root-mean-square (RMS) error of carrier frequency in a carrier PLL and rms phase jitter in a subcarrier PLL

Prediction of airfoil stall using Navier-Stokes equations in streamline coordinates

A Navier-Stokes procedure to calculate the flow about an airfoil at incidence was developed. The parabolized equations are solved in the streamline coordinates generated for an arbitrary airfoil shape using conformal mapping. A modified k-epsilon turbulence model is applied in the entire domain, but the eddy viscosity in the laminar region is suppressed artificially to simulate the region correctly. The procedure was applied to airfoils at various angles of attack, and the results are quite satisfactory for both laminar and turbulent flows. It is shown that the present choice of the coordinate system reduces the error due to numerical diffusion, and that the lift is accurately predicted for a wide range of incidence

The Effects Of HIV Disease And Lifestyle Factors On Cellular Aging In Trangender Women

ABSTRACT THE EFFECTS OF HIV DISEASE AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS ON CELLULAR AGING IN TRANSGENDER WOMEN by Scott Stephen Sohn Background: Telomeres are short tandem repeats of nucleotides at the ends of chromosomes. These specialized structures serve as caps on the end of the chromosomes, which protect DNA integrity. Telomeres get shorter each time a cell replicates, but the DNA remains intact as long as the telomere caps are a sufficient length. In time, telomeres become too short to protect DNA, which leads to cellular death. Previous research has shown that disease and negative lifestyle factors play a role in accelerated telomere attrition throughout the cellular life cycle. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if HIV infection and lifestyle factors in a transgender population living in Atlanta Georgia are associated with telomere length reduction. Participants/setting: This study is a secondary analysis of data provided by a Georgia State University study entitled “Telomere Length, Environmental Stressors and Health Related Outcomes among Transgender Women”. The study included 92 transgender women from Atlanta, Georgia with 49 reporting HIV infection. Two sources of data were collected, survey responses collected during face to face interviews and a saliva sample for DNA analysis. Statistical analysis: Frequency statistics were used to describe the sample population. A Mann Whitney U was used to evaluate telomere length using the T/S ratio by HIV status, by physical activity level (healthy active or low active) and by fruit and vegetable intake category (Don’t eat, 1-2 servings/day, 3-4 servings/day vs. \u3e5 servings/day) in the total Population. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between independent variables (activity level, body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, hormone use, race, HIV status and age) and telomere length. Results: The majority of the population was Black (84%) with a median age of 33 years (range, 18 to 65 years). No significant association was observed between HIV infection and T/S ratio. The vast majority of the population reported low activity level and only 9% reported consuming \u3e5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. No significant association was found between fruit and vegetable intake or physical activity level and T/S ratio in this population. Conclusion: HIV infection, Fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity were not found to impact telomere length in an urban population of transgender women. Future research is needed to further understand the mechanisms that impact telomere length throughout the cellular life cycle within the transgender population

Low temperature terahertz spectroscopy of n-InSb through a magnetic field driven metal-insulator transition

We use fiber-coupled photoconductive emitters and detectors to perform terahertz (THz) spectroscopy of lightly-doped n-InSb directly in the cryogenic (1.5 K) bore of a high-field superconducting magnet. We measure transmission spectra from 0.1-1.1 THz as the sample is driven through a metal-insulator transition (MIT) by applied magnetic field. In the low-field metallic state, the data directly reveal the plasma edge and magneto-plasmon modes. With increasing field, a surprisingly broad band (0.3-0.8 THz) of low transmission appears at the onset of the MIT. This band subsequently collapses and evolves into the sharp 1s -> 2p- transition of electrons `frozen' onto isolated donors in the insulating state.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Multipath error in range rate measurement by PLL-transponder/GRARR/TDRS

Range rate errors due to specular and diffuse multipath are calculated for a tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) using an S band Goddard range and range rate (GRARR) system modified with a phase-locked loop transponder. Carrier signal processing in the coherent turn-around transponder and the GRARR reciever is taken into account. The root-mean-square (rms) range rate error was computed for the GRARR Doppler extractor and N-cycle count range rate measurement. Curves of worst-case range rate error are presented as a function of grazing angle at the reflection point. At very low grazing angles specular scattering predominates over diffuse scattering as expected, whereas for grazing angles greater than approximately 15 deg, the diffuse multipath predominates. The range rate errors at different low orbit altutudes peaked between 5 and 10 deg grazing angles

Simultaneous dual-frequency radio observations of S5 0716+714: A search for intraday variability with the Korean VLBI Network

This study aims to search for the existence of intraday variability (IDV) of BL Lac object S5 0716+714 at high radio frequencies for which the interstellar scintillation effect is not significant. Using the 21-meter radio telescope of the Korean VLBI Network (KVN), we present results of multi-epoch simultaneous dual-frequency radio observations. Single-dish observations of S5 0716+714 were simultaneously conducted at 21.7 GHz (K-band) and 42.4 GHz (Q-band), with a high cadence of 30-60 minute intervals.We observed four epochs between December 2009 and June 2010. Over the whole set of observation epochs, S5 0716+714 showed significant inter-month variations in flux density at both the K- and Q-bands, with modulation indices of approximately 19% for the K-band and approximately 36% for the Q-band. In all epochs, no clear intraday variability was detected at either frequency. The source shows monotonic flux density increase in epochs 1 and 3 and monotonic flux density decrease in epochs 2 and 4. In the flux density increasing phases, the flux densities at the Q-band increase more rapidly. In the decreasing phase, no significant flux density difference is seen at the two frequencies. The situation could be different close to flux density peaks that we did not witness in our observations. We find an inverted spectrum with mean spectral indices of -0.57+-0.13 in epoch 1 and -0.15+-0.11 in epoch 3. On the other hand, we find relatively steep indices of +0.24+-0.14 and +0.17+-0.18 in epochs 2 and 4, respectively. We conclude that the frequency dependence of the variability and the change of the spectral index are caused by source-intrinsic effects rather than by any extrinsic scintillation effect.Comment: 6 pages and 4 figures and 4 table

Arp 65 interaction debris: massive HI displacement and star formation

Context: Pre-merger interactions between galaxies can induce significant changes in the morphologies and kinematics of the stellar and ISM components. Large amounts of gas and stars are often found to be disturbed or displaced as tidal debris. This debris then evolves, sometimes forming stars and occasionally tidal dwarf galaxies. Here we present results from our HI study of Arp 65, an interacting pair hosting extended HI tidal debris. Aims: In an effort to understand the evolution of tidal debris produced by interacting pairs of galaxies, including in situ star and tidal dwarf galaxy formation, we are mapping HI in a sample of interacting galaxy pairs. The Arp 65 pair is one of them. Methods: Our resolved HI 21 cm line survey is being carried out using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). We used our HI survey data as well as available SDSS optical, Spitzer infra-red and GALEX UV data to study the evolution of the tidal debris and the correlation of HI with the star-forming regions within it. Results: In Arp 65 we see a high impact pre-merger interaction involving a pair of massive galaxies (NGC 90 and NGC 93) that have a stellar mass ratio of ~ 1:3. The interaction, which probably occurred ~ 1.0 -- 2.5 $\times$ 10$^8$ yr ago, appears to have displaced a large fraction of the HI in NGC 90 (including the highest column density HI) beyond its optical disk. We also find extended ongoing star formation in the outer disk of NGC 90. In the major star-forming regions, we find the HI column densities to be ~ 4.7 $\times$ 10$^{20}$ cm$^{-2}$ or lower. But no signature of star formation was found in the highest column density HI debris, SE of NGC 90. This indicates conditions within the highest column density HI debris remain hostile to star formation and it reaffirms that high HI column densities may be a necessary but not sufficient criterion for star formation.Comment: Accepted in A&

Critical Currents of Josephson-Coupled Wire Arrays

We calculate the current-voltage characteristics and critical current I_c^{array} of an array of Josephson-coupled superconducting wires. The array has two layers, each consisting of a set of parallel wires, arranged at right angles, such that an overdamped resistively-shunted junction forms wherever two wires cross. A uniform magnetic field equal to f flux quanta per plaquette is applied perpendicular to the layers. If f = p/q, where p and q are mutually prime integers, I_c^{array}(f) is found to have sharp peaks when q is a small integer. To an excellent approximation, it is found in a square array of n^2 plaquettes, that I_c^{array}(f) \propto (n/q)^{1/2} for sufficiently large n. This result is interpreted in terms of the commensurability between the array and the assumed q \times q unit cell of the ground state vortex lattice.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure