New CMB Power Spectrum Constraints from MSAMI

We present new cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy results from the combined analysis of the three flights of the first Medium Scale Anisotropy Measurement (MSAM1). This balloon-borne bolometric instrument measured about 10 square degrees of sky at half-degree resolution in 4 frequency bands from 5.2 icm to 20 icm with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Here we present an overview of our analysis methods, compare the results from the three flights, derive new constraints on the CMB power spectrum from the combined data and reduce the data to total-power Wiener-filtered maps of the CMB. A key feature of this new analysis is a determination of the amplitude of CMB fluctuations at $\ell \sim 400$. The analysis technique is described in a companion paper by Knox.Comment: 9 pages, 6 included figure

Gravito-electromagnetism versus electromagnetism

The paper contains a discussion of the properties of the gravito-magnetic interaction in non stationary conditions. A direct deduction of the equivalent of Faraday-Henry law is given. A comparison is made between the gravito-magnetic and the electro-magnetic induction, and it is shown that there is no Meissner-like effect for superfluids in the field of massive spinning bodies. The impossibility of stationary motions in directions not along the lines of the gravito-magnetic field is found. Finally the results are discussed in relation with the behavior of superconductors.Comment: 13 Pages, LaTeX, 1 EPS figure, to appear in European Journal of Physic

Combining the High Tech with the Soft Touch: Population Health Management Using eHealth and Peer Support

Integration of diverse approaches may offer paths to meeting population health challenges, such as how to provide ongoing diabetes self-management support to the 387 million people with the disease around the world. The Affordable Care Act challenges us to improve the health of whole populations, with an eye toward chronic diseases in particular. The centrality of highly variable human behavior provides enormous challenges to managing populations of those with chronic diseases. It requires reorienting resources within the health care system to address ongoing, effortful, and complex behaviors of patients amid strong competing priorities

MSAM1-94: repeated measurement of medium-scale anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation

The second flight of the Medium Scale Anisotropy Measurement (MSAM1-94) observed the same field as the first flight (MSAM1-92) to confirm our earlier measurement of cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) anisotropy. This instrument chops a 30\arcmin\ beam in a 3 position pattern with a throw of \pm40\arcmin, and simultaneously measures single and double differenced sky signals. We observe in four spectral channels centered at 5.6, 9.0, 16.5, and 22.5~\icm, providing sensitivity to the peak of the CMBR and to thermal emission from interstellar dust. The dust component correlates well with the \IRAS\ 100~\micron\ map. The CMBR observations in our double difference channel correlate well with the earlier observations, but the single difference channel shows some discrepancies. We obtain a detection of fluctuations in the MSAM1-94 dataset that match CMBR in our spectral bands of \Delta T/T = 1.9^{+1.3}_{-0.7}\times 10^{-5} (90\% confidence interval, including calibration uncertainty) for total rms Gaussian fluctuations with correlation angle 0\fdg3, using the double difference demodulation

A Measurement of the Medium-Scale Anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

Observations from the first flight of the Medium Scale Anisotropy Measurement (MSAM) are analyzed to place limits on Gaussian fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR). This instrument chops a 30\arcmin\ beam in a 3 position pattern with a throw of \pm40\arcmin; the resulting data is analyzed in statistically independent single and double difference datasets. We observe in four spectral channels at 5.6, 9.0, 16.5, and 22.5~\icm, allowing the separation of interstellar dust emission from CMBR fluctuations. The dust component is correlated with the \IRAS\ 100~\micron\ map. The CMBR component has two regions where the signature of an unresolved source is seen. Rejecting these two source regions, we obtain a detection of fluctuations which match CMBR in our spectral bands of $0.6 \times 10^{-5} < \Delta T/T < 2.2 \times 10^{-5}$ (90\% CL interval) for total rms Gaussian fluctuations with correlation angle 0\fdg5, using the single difference demodulation. For the double difference demodulation, the result is $1.1 \times 10^{-5} < \Delta T/T < 3.1 \times 10^{-5}$ (90\% CL interval) at a correlation angle of 0\fdg3.Comment: 13 pages + 3 figures (included), LaTeX + AASTeX v3.

A Balloon-Borne Millimeter-Wave Telescope for Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy Measurements

We report on the characteristics and design details of the Medium Scale Anisotropy Measurement (MSAM), a millimeter-wave, balloon-borne telescope that has been used to observe anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) on 0\fdg5 angular scales. The gondola is capable of determining and maintaining absolute orientation to a few arcminutes during a one-night flight. Emphasis is placed on the optical and pointing performance as well as the weight and power budgets. We also discuss the total balloon/gondola mechanical system. The pendulation from this system is a ubiquitous perturbation on the pointing system. A detailed understanding in these areas is needed for developing the next generation of balloon-borne instruments.Comment: 37 pages, 15 figures, uses BoxedEPS.te