A Climatological Study of Equatorial GPS Data and the Effects on Ionospheric Scintillation

Ionospheric scintillation is detrimental to radio signals, especially those from the global positioning system. Such scintillation is caused when a signal permeates the ionosphere through plasma bubbles. The signal’s phase and amplitude can be altered, and a receiver on the ground can lose lock on the GPS signal. Measured using a zero to one index known as S4, scintillation severity is based upon season, solar cycle, time of day, location and frequency. The most severe scintillation occurs at the equatorial anomaly, or fifteen degrees north and south of the equator. Seven years of data from fifteen different locations around the equator were used in a Matlab program to determine if the current trends still apply. Previous research has found the S4 at the equator to peak during the months of September to March, between the hours of 2000 and 0300 local time, and when the sunspot number is above 60. Matlab plots were generated to find peaks in scintillation based upon location and month. These were compared to sunspot numbers during those months. A new Matlab program was made to compile all of the plots into a climatological map of the seasonal data. Trends similar to those found previously were discovered. S4 numbers peaked in the area of the anomaly, and between the months of October to March. As the sunspot number increased, the yearly average scintillation also increased. The hours of 000 to 0300 GMT also saw a peak in S4 scintillation, which agrees with previous findings. This research showed that solar maximum years, the hours of 000 to 0300 GMT, and the months of October through March have the largest amount of scintillation

Integration of Direct-Write (DW) and Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC) Technologies to Create Advanced Structures with Embedded Electrical Circuitry

In many instances conductive traces are needed in small, compact and enclosed areas. However, with traditional manufacturing techniques, embedded electrical traces or antenna arrays have not been a possibility. By integrating Direct Write and Ultrasonic Consolidation technologies, electronic circuitry, antennas and other devices can be manufactured directly into a solid metal structure and subsequently completely enclosed. This can achieve a significant reduction in mass and volume of a complex electronic system without compromising performance.Mechanical Engineerin

Analysis of RNA Expression of Normal and Cancer Tissues Reveals High Correlation of COP9 Gene Expression with Respiratory Chain Complex Components

BACKGROUND: The COP9 signalosome, composed of eight subunits, is implicated in cancer genetics with its deneddylase activity to modulate cellular concentration of oncogenic proteins such as IkB and TGFβ. However, its function in the normal cell physiology remains elusive. Primarily focusing on gene expression data of the normal tissues of the head and neck, the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database was used to identify groups of genes that were expressed synergistically with the COP9 genes, particularly with the COPS5 (CSN5), which possesses the catalytic activity of COP9. RESULTS: Expressions of seven of the COP9 genes (COPS2, COPS3, COPS4, COPS5, COPS6, COPS7A, and COPS8) were found to be highly synergistic in the normal tissues. In contrast, the tumor tissues decreased the coordinated expression pattern of COP9 genes. Pathway analysis revealed a high coordination of the expression of the COPS5 and the other COP9 genes with mitochondria-related functional pathways, including genes encoding the respiratory chain complex. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that mRNA expression data for the matched normal tissues available in TCGA are statistically reliable, and are highly useful to assess novel associations of genes with functional pathways in normal physiology as well as in the cancer tissues. This study revealed the significant correlation between the expressions of the COP9 genes and those related to the mitochondrial activity