IMP-8 Magnetometer Experiment

IMP-8 (IMP-J) was launched by NASA on October 26, 1973 to measure the magnetic fields, plasmas, and energetic charged particles (e.g., cosmic rays) of the Earth's magnetotail and magnetosheath and of the near-Earth solar wind. IMP-8, the last often IMP (Interplanetary Monitoring Platform) or AIMP (Anchored-IMP) spacecraft launched in 10 years, operated until October 7, 2006, in a near-circular, 35 Earth Radii, 12-day orbit. It was an important adjunct to the International Solar Terrestrial Physics program, provided in-ecliptic, one Astronomical Unit baseline data for the deep space Pioneer, Voyager and Ulysses missions, and built a long-time-series database useful in understanding long-term solar processes

DSCOVR High Time Resolution Solar Wind Measurements

The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), previously known as Triana, spacecraft is expected to be launched in late 2014. It will carry a fluxgate magnetometer, Faraday Cup solar wind detector and a top-hat electron electrostatic analyzer. The Faraday Cup will provide an unprecedented 10 vectors/sec time resolution measurement of the solar wind proton and alpha reduced distribution functions. Coupled with the 40 vector/sec vector magnetometer measurements, the identification of specific wave modes in the solar wind will be possible for the first time. The science objectives and data products of the mission will be discussed

Interplanetary Magnetic Field Power Spectrum Variations in the Inner Heliosphere: A Wind and MESSENGER Study

The newly reprocessed high time resolution (11/22 vectors/sec) Wind mission interplanetary magnetic field data and the similar observations made by the MESSENGER spacecraft in the inner heliosphere affords an opportunity to compare magnetic field power spectral density variations as a function of radial distance from the Sun under different solar wind conditions. In the reprocessed Wind Magnetic Field Investigation (MFI) data, the spin tone and its harmonics are greatly reduced that allows the meaningful fitting of power spectra to the approx.2 Hz limit above which digitization noise becomes apparent. The powe'r spectral density is computed and the spectral index is fitted for the MHD and ion inertial regime separately along with the break point between the two for various solar wind conditions. Wind and MESSENGER magnetic fluctuations are compared for times when the two spacecraft are close to radial and Parker field alignment. The functional dependence of the ion inertial spectral index and break point on solar wind plasma and magnetic field conditions will be discussed

The Semantic Web in Federated Information Systems: A Space Physics Case Study

This paper presents a new theoretical contribution that provides a middle-of-the-road approach to formal ontologies in federated information systems. NASA’s space physics domain, like many other domains, is relatively unfamiliar with the emerging Semantic Web. This work offers a new framework that garners the benefits of formal logic yet shields participants and users from the details of the technology. Moreover, the results of a case study involving the utilization of the Semantic Web within NASA’s space physics domain are presented. A real-world search and retrieval system, relying on relational database technology, is compared against a near identical system that incorporates a formal ontology. The efficiency, efficacy, and implementation details of the Semantic Web are compared against the established relational database technology

The interaction of Neptune with the solar wind

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1993.Vita.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-123).by Adam Szabo.Ph.D

Quantum State Engineering Via Coherent-State Superpositions

The quantum interference between the two parts of the optical Schrodinger-cat state makes possible to construct a wide class of quantum states via discrete superpositions of coherent states. Even a small number of coherent states can approximate the given quantum states at a high accuracy when the distance between the coherent states is optimized, e. g. nearly perfect Fock state can be constructed by discrete superpositions of n + 1 coherent states lying in the vicinity of the vacuum state

Ponovo uvođenje manića u akvakulturu Mađarske (preliminarni rezultati)

Burbot (Lota Lota) is a native species in Hungary and is known to live in most of our rivers. It is a popular but slightly rare catch among anglers. The length of the larger sized individuals varies between 40 and 50 centimeters, rarely reaches 60 cm, the national record is 3,56 kg from 2001 (Harka and Sallai, 2007). The Hungarian aquaculture industry is interested in rearing this species for a while, however in spite of some foreign research teams having started to work on investigating the rearing of burbot (Żarski et al., 2010; Trabelsi et al., 2011; Lahnsteiner et al., 2012;), this species does not have a developed and detailed reproduction and rearing technology. The previous national studies (e.g. Keresztessy and Rideg, 2001) and the increasing consumer and angler needs made us to begin the rearing and reproduction of burbot again. Two Polish, RAS reared burbot population delivery arrived to Hungary lately: 1000 pcs larvae with 15 g average weight on 08.10.2014 and 100 pcs broodstock with 210 g average weight on 15.12.2014 from the laboratory of the Warmia and Mazury University. The fish were introduced to RAS system here as well, in the fish farm of Zoltán Szabó self-entrepreneur. Larvae were fed with Scretting trout feed (protein: 42%, fat: 14%), at the start in an amount of 140 g/day, later, until 13.04.2015 in an amount of 280 g/day. By this time, the average weight reached 62 g, and altogether 96 individuals died (survival rate: 90,4%) For feeding the broodstock intended for reproduction, the feed was the same Scretting feed, and after one month, we have changed to Aquabio (protein: 54%, fat: 17%). By 13.04.2015 the average weight reached 300 g, survival rate is 50% due to a bacterial infection. The water temperature was constant 14˚C. For the purpose of reproduction, we have placed 40 females into a 700 l tank, where we have reduced the water temperature to 2-2,5 ˚C in a very short time. We could strip eggs from 13 individuals at 3 different dates (20.03, 24.03, and 26.03) and success rates (PGSI: 11,75 % ±11,75; 24,43 % ±4,40; 12,92% ±3,62). In addition to the rearing and reproduction technology experiments, we have conducted a preliminary fish processing experiment as well, where we tested the following parameters: weight of intestines, liver, head, spine, and meat, the characteristics of the fish meat, reactions during kitchen preparation and taste after preparation. The work was supported by the project number 8526-5/2014/TUDPOL of the Ministry of Human Resources of Hungary.Manić (Lota Lota) je nativna vrsta ribe u Mađarskoj i poznato je da on živi skoro u svim našim rekama. Među pecarošima, ova vrsta je veoma popularna mada je retka kada je reč o ulovu. Dužina većih jedinki varira između 40 i 50 santimetara, retko dostiže dužinu od 60 santimetara, a državni rekord od 3,56 kg dostignut je 2001. godine (Harka and Sallai, 2007). Mađarska industrija za akvakulturu je zainteresovana za gajenje ove vrste već neko vreme, međutim uprkos činjenici da su neki strani istraživački timovi počeli da rade na istraživanju metoda za gajenje manića (Żarski et al., 2010; Trabelsi et al., 2011; Lahnsteiner et al., 2012;), ova vrsta nema detaljno razvijenu tehnologiju za reprodukciiju i uzgoj. Prethodna istraživanja na nivou države (e.g. Keresztessy and Rideg, 2001) i povećane potrebe potrošača i pecaroša podstakli su nas da ponovo započnemo uzgoj i reprodukciju manića. Nedavno su u Mađarsku dostavljene 2 populacije manića gajene u Poljskoj u RAS sistemu: 08.10.2014 dostavljeno je 1000 larvi prosečne težine 15g, a 15.12.2014 dostavljeno je 100 matica prosečne težine od 210g iz laboratorija Univerziteta Warmia i Mazury. Ribe su i u Mađarskoj uvedene u RAS sistem, na privatnom ribnjaku Zoltána Szabó. Larve su hranjene sa Scretting hranom za pastrmke (proteina: 42%, masti: 14%), na početku sa 140 g/dnevno, a kasnije i do 13.04.2015 sa 280 g/dnevno. Do tog datuma, prosečna težina jedinki dostigla je 62 g, a ukupno 96 jedinki je uginulo (stopa preživljavanja: 90,4%). Ista hrana, Scretting, korišćena je i za hranjenje matica za reprodukciju, međutim posle mesec dana, promenili smo je i počeli da koristimo Aquabio (proteina: 54%, masti: 17%). Do 13.04.2015 prosečna težina dostigla je 300 g, a stopa preživljavanja bila je 50% zbog bakterijske infekcije. Temperatura vode bila je konstantna: 14˚C. Da bi izvršili reprodukciju, stavili smo 40 ženki u tank od 700 l, u kome smo za jako kratak vremenski period snizili temperaturu na 2-2,5 ˚C. Uspeli smo da istisnemo ikru od 13 jedinki u tri različita dana (20.03, 24.03, i 26.03) sa stopom uspeha od PGSI: 11,75 % ±11,75; 24,43 % ±4,40; 12,92% ±3,62). Osim tehnoloških eksperimenata za gajenje i reprodukciju, izvršili smo preliminarni ekperiment prerade ribe, u kome smo testirali sledeće parametre: težinu creva, jetre, glave, kičme i mesa, karakteristike ribljeg mesa, reakcije u toku pripreme u kuhinji i ukus nakon pripreme. Rad je podržan projektom 8526-5/2014/TUDPOL Ministarstva Ljudskih Resursa Mađarske

Atmospheric Characterization of the Hot Jupiter Kepler-13Ab

Kepler-13Ab (= KOI-13.01) is a unique transiting hot Jupiter. It is one of very few known short-period planets orbiting a hot A-type star, making it one of the hottest planets currently known. The availability of Kepler data allows us to measure the planet's occultation (secondary eclipse) and phase curve in the optical, which we combine with occultations observed by warm Spitzer at 4.5 mic and 3.6 mic and a ground-based occultation observation in the Ks band (2.1 mic). We derive a day-side hemisphere temperature of 2,750 +- 160 K as the effective temperature of a black body showing the same occultation depths. Comparing the occultation depths with one-dimensional planetary atmosphere models suggests the presence of an atmospheric temperature inversion. Our analysis shows evidence for a relatively high geometric albedo, Ag= 0.33 +0.04 -0.06. While measured with a simplistic method, a high Ag is supported also by the fact that the one-dimensional atmosphere models underestimate the occultation depth in the optical. We use stellar spectra to determine the dilution, in the four wide bands where occultation was measured, due to the visual stellar binary companion 1.15 +- 0.05" away. The revised stellar parameters measured using these spectra are combined with other measurements leading to revised planetary mass and radius estimates of Mp = 4.94 - 8.09 Mjup and Rp = 1.406 +- 0.038 Rjup. Finally, we measure a Kepler mid-occultation time that is 34.0 +- 6.9 s earlier than expected based on the mid-transit time and the delay due to light travel time, and discuss possible scenarios.Comment: V2: Accepted to ApJ on 2014 April 11. Spitzer photometry and model fitting Matlab pipeline code is publicly available at: http://gps.caltech.edu/~shporer/spitzerphot

Replacing Sanger with Next Generation Sequencing to improve coverage and quality of reference DNA barcodes for plants

We estimate the global BOLD Systems database holds core DNA barcodes (rbcL + matK) for about 15% of land plant species and that comprehensive species coverage is still many decades away. Interim performance of the resource is compromised by variable sequence overlap and modest information content within each barcode. Our model predicts that the proportion of species-unique barcodes reduces as the database grows and that ‘false’ species-unique barcodes remain >5% until the database is almost complete. We conclude the current rbcL + matK barcode is unfit for purpose. Genome skimming and supplementary barcodes could improve diagnostic power but would slow new barcode acquisition. We therefore present two novel Next Generation Sequencing protocols (with freeware) capable of accurate, massively parallel de novo assembly of high quality DNA barcodes of >1400 bp. We explore how these capabilities could enhance species diagnosis in the coming decades