Onsite analysis of data from the Dynamics Explorer (DE) spacecraft

The tasks performed by ARC Professional Services Group, Inc. fell into five parts: (1) dynamics explorer (DE) data analysis and modeling; (2) DE project support; (3) chemical release observations support; (4) VLF emissions and plasma instability studies; and (5) modeling of planetary radio emissions. Some recommendations for future considerations are also addressed

Use of Sonification for Analysis and Detection of Plasma Bubbles at 21 MHz

This research explores sonification as a useful tool for space science data exploration. Our interest lies in basic scientific analysis of plasmas of the ionosphere, of interplanetary space and of the interstellar medium. These plasmas all contain irregularities. Propagation of electromagnetic waves, like optical or radio waves, through a medium with random fluctuations in refractive index results in amplitude and phase fluctuations (Scheuer 1968). These variations may be displayed via sonification, using changes in sounds to represent the data variations. This is particularly useful extending science to the visually-impaired. The xSonify Java-based tool was developed to explore sonification techniques and its value for general science analysis and also assistive technology

Generating Animated Displays of Spacecraft Orbits

Tool for Interactive Plotting, Sonification, and 3D Orbit Display (TIPSOD) is a computer program for generating interactive, animated, four-dimensional (space and time) displays of spacecraft orbits. TIPSOD utilizes the programming interface of the Satellite Situation Center Web (SSCWeb) services to communicate with the SSC logic and database by use of the open protocols of the Internet. TIPSOD is implemented in Java 3D and effects an extension of the preexisting SSCWeb two-dimensional static graphical displays of orbits. Orbits can be displayed in any or all of the following seven reference systems: true-of-date (an inertial system), J2000 (another inertial system), geographic, geomagnetic, geocentric solar ecliptic, geocentric solar magnetospheric, and solar magnetic. In addition to orbits, TIPSOD computes and displays Sibeck's magnetopause and Fairfield's bow-shock surfaces. TIPSOD can be used by the scientific community as a means of projection or interpretation. It also has potential as an educational tool

Quantum modeling of semiconductor gain materials and vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser systems

This article gives an,overview of the microscopic theory,theory used to quantitatively model a wide range of semiconductor laser gain materials. As a snapshot of the current state of research, applications to a variety of actual quantum-well systems are presented. Detailed theory experiment comparisons are shown and it is analyze how the theory can be used to extract poorly known material parameters. The intrinsic laser loss processes due to radiative and nonradiative Auger recombination are evaluated microscopically. The results are used for realistic simulations of vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser systems. To account for nonequilibrium effects, a simplified model is presented using pre-computed microscopic scattering and dephasing rates. Prominent deviations from quasi-equilibrium carrier distributions are obtained under strong in-well pumping conditions

The Space Physics Environment Data Analysis System (SPEDAS)

With the advent of the Heliophysics/Geospace System Observatory (H/GSO), a complement of multi-spacecraft missions and ground-based observatories to study the space environment, data retrieval, analysis, and visualization of space physics data can be daunting. The Space Physics Environment Data Analysis System (SPEDAS), a grass-roots software development platform (www.spedas.org), is now officially supported by NASA Heliophysics as part of its data environment infrastructure. It serves more than a dozen space missions and ground observatories and can integrate the full complement of past and upcoming space physics missions with minimal resources, following clear, simple, and well-proven guidelines. Free, modular and configurable to the needs of individual missions, it works in both command-line (ideal for experienced users) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) mode (reducing the learning curve for first-time users). Both options have “crib-sheets,” user-command sequences in ASCII format that can facilitate record-and-repeat actions, especially for complex operations and plotting. Crib-sheets enhance scientific interactions, as users can move rapidly and accurately from exchanges of technical information on data processing to efficient discussions regarding data interpretation and science. SPEDAS can readily query and ingest all International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP)-compatible products from the Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF), enabling access to a vast collection of historic and current mission data. The planned incorporation of Heliophysics Application Programmer’s Interface (HAPI) standards will facilitate data ingestion from distributed datasets that adhere to these standards. Although SPEDAS is currently Interactive Data Language (IDL)-based (and interfaces to Java-based tools such as Autoplot), efforts are under-way to expand it further to work with python (first as an interface tool and potentially even receiving an under-the-hood replacement). We review the SPEDAS development history, goals, and current implementation. We explain its “modes of use” with examples geared for users and outline its technical implementation and requirements with software developers in mind. We also describe SPEDAS personnel and software management, interfaces with other organizations, resources and support structure available to the community, and future development plans

Women's understandings of their relationship with their husband in the early stages of his gradual onset dementia

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DXN054561 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Common Data Format (CDF) and Coordinated Data Analysis Web (CDAWeb)

The Coordinated Data Analysis Web (CDAWeb) <http://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov> data browsing system provides plotting, listing and open access v ia FTP, HTTP, and web services (REST, SOAP, OPeNDAP) for data from mo st NASA Heliophysics missions and is heavily used by the community. C ombining data from many instruments and missions enables broad resear ch analysis and correlation and coordination with other experiments a nd missions. Crucial to its effectiveness is the use of a standard se lf-describing data format, in this case, the Common Data Format (CDF) <http://cdf.gsfc.nasa.gov>, also developed at the Space Physics Data facility <http://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov> , and the use of metadata standa rds (easily edited with SKTeditor <http://sscweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/skteditor/>). CDAweb is based on a set of IDL routines, CDAWlib <http://spd f.gsfc.nasa.gov/CDAWlib.html>. . The CDF project also maintains soft ware and services for translating between many standard formats (CDF. netCDF, HDF, FITS, XML) <!<http://cdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/html/dtws.html>

Xsonify sonification tool for space physics

Presented at the 12th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD), London, UK, June 20-23, 2006.xSonify is a concentrated project to extend the space physics data capabilities of the NASA Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) [1] for use by visually-impaired students and researchers, by developing a sonification data analysis tool using the JavaSound API and accessing data locally or via web services. xSonify is an open-source publicly-available Java application and can be easily installed (using WebStart) and run on most platforms. With sonification, a large fraction of the space physics data collection is opened to a completely new and now excluded audience (both professional and public). Besides meeting a compelling need for a more effective non-visual approach to displaying science data, this extends SPDF's goals of improving access to space physics data and helps achieve NASA's goals of diversity and public outreach. Wanda Diaz Merced, a visually-impaired astrophysicist from Puerto Rico, is instrumental in advising on and testing the tool. Anton Schertenleib is the initial developer, as part of his graduate student thesis effort. We seek to further develop this tool with greater capabilities for rendering these data, improve its functional interface and allow for a wider variety of file input formats. Completion of this tool will open up the SPDF space physics data collection to a new community of researchers and students now excluded from space physics research. Development and evaluation will be guided by a user group of space scientists (sighted and visually-impaired) and experts in adaptive technologies from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)