High Dimensional Event Exploration Over Multiple Simulations

In this project, we introduce a visualization technique to analyze event simulation data. In particular, we allow the user to discover families of events based on the topological evolution of discrete events across simulations. Discovering how events behave across runs of a simulation has applications in financial market analysis, military simulations, physical mechanics, and other settings. Our approach is to use established methods to produce a linearized tour through parameter space of arbitrary dimension and visualize events of interest in two dimensions, where the first dimension is the tour ordering and the second dimension is usually time. This paper presents our approach and gives examples in the context of a magnet dynamics simulation

Construction and evaluation of a bale weighing gantry

Development of a more precise method of determining drying rate parameters was the main objective of this experiment. Therefore, a bale weighing gantry was designed to meet this need. The gantry was designed to suspend four large, round, hay bales so that their weights could be continuously monitored while the bales were drying. The bale weighing gantry was constructed and assembled using research facilities of the Biosystems Engineering Department at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After the gantry had been successfully constructed and assembled, it was shipped to the Middle Tennessee Experiment Station for testing in the solar-heated forced-air dryer located there. The gantry was tested using large, round bales that had 6-inch and 12-inch hollow cores. Bales dried on the solar dryer floor consisted of solid, 6-inch hollow core, and 12- inch hollow core bales. Drying rate parameters were determined by taking core samples of bales on the dryer floor and monitoring weight of bales suspended by the gantry. The gantry did provide a more precise method of determining drying rate parameters. The gantry method had a significantly lower standard error associated with the predicted drying rate parameter than did the core sampling method (P\u3c.001). No statistically significant differences were found in the drying rate parameters of the solid, 6- inch hollow core, and 12-inch hollow core bales (P\u3e.11). The 12-inch hollow core bales suspended by the gantry tended to have higher drying rate parameters than did the 6-inch hollow core bales but is not supported statistically (P\u3e.13). Two types of fans were used in the drying process. Inline centrifugal fans produced significantly faster drying rates compared to the vane-axial fans (P\u3c.05). Results showed that there was no significant loss of bale dry matter during the drying process of the experiment (P\u3c.001)

Philosophy as a religious experience in Plato

Plato is a philosophical theologian in whom philosophy and theology are synonymous, and the way of philosophy a religious endeavour. However, contemporary scholarship overlooks the importance of the religious dimension of Plato's philosophy, and in particular, neglects an examination of the theological ideas that are involved in this understanding. In answer to this, the thesis argues that, in Plato, philosophy is a religious human experience, that it is within such a perspective that Plato's philosophical theology can be properly understood, and that such a perspective provides both theological and philosophical insights. The thesis offers a unique contribution to scholarship in that it examines the issues of Plato's philosophical theology from the perspective of Plato's philosophy as a religious experience. Secondly, it relates the question of the religious nature of Plato's philosophy to the issue of humanity by seeing Plato's philosophy as a means of human transformation and as a religious way of life and existence. And thirdly, by interacting with recent scholarly interpretation and commentary, seeks ways in which such a perspective provides insights for contemporary theological and philosophical thought. To examine these issues, the thesis employs two overarching themes: philosophy as a religious experience as involved directly with the question of the human situation and life, and the human experience of the divine in Plato. Chapters One and Two consider, respectively, Plato's philosophy as a way of salvation and transformation in the individual and society, and the idea of the philosophical life. Chapters Three through Five examine the religious experience of the Forms as divine reality and the meaning to human existence, the idea of the personal relationship between the philosopher and the divine, and the philosophical experience of divine inexpressibility. Lastly, in the Conclusion, I seek to apply the idea of Plato's philosophy as a religious experience to a contemporary context by raising several ofthe important issues that are involved when Plato's philosophy is realised as a religious way of life today. The thesis concludes that what is manifested in Plato is a deep interrelation between philosophical and religious thought which gives rise to a vibrant and insightful philosophical theology of Plato's philosophy as a religious human experience

Characterization of geolocation accuracy of Suomi NPP Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder measurements

The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) onboard Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite has 22 channels at frequencies ranging from 23 to 183 GHz for probing the atmospheric temperature and moisture under all weather conditions. As part of the ATMS calibration and validation activities, the geolocation accuracy of ATMS data must be well characterized and documented. In this study, the coastline crossing method (CCM) and the land-sea fraction method (LFM) are utilized to characterize and quantify the ATMS geolocation accuracy. The CCM is based on the inflection points of the ATMS window channel measurements across the coastlines, whereas the LFM collocates the ATMS window channel data with high-resolution land-sea mask data sets. Since the ATMS measurements provide five pairs of latitude and longitude data for K, Ka, V, W, and G bands, respectively, the window channels 1, 2, 3, 16, and 17 from each of these five bands are chosen for assessing the overall geolocation accuracy. ATMS geolocation errors estimated from both methods are generally consistent from 40 cases in June 2014. The ATMS along-Track (cross-Track) errors at nadir are within ±4.2 km (±1.2 km) for K/Ka, ±2.6 km (±2.7 km) for V bands, and ±1.2 km (±0.6 km) at W and G bands, respectively. At the W band, the geolocation errors derived from both algorithms are probably less reliable due to a reduced contrast of brightness temperatures in coastal areas. These estimated ATMS along-Track and cross-Track geolocation errors are well within the uncertainty requirements for all bands. © 2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved

Small Satellite Payload Calibration

This project focused on developing an efficient and cost-effective method for calibrating optical payloads that streamlines setup, measurement, and analysis time while staying within a SmallSat budget. To develop and test the concept, the team identified key calibration parameters and performed a demonstration on a surrogate payload using spatial, spectral, and radiometric calibration methods. Calibration results were derived from the demonstration and are detailed below

A High-Accuracy Blackbody for CLARREO

The NASA climate science mission Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO), which is to measure Earth’s emitted spectral radiance from orbit for 5 years, has an absolute accuracy requirement of 0.1 K (3σ) at 220 K over most of the thermal infrared. To meet this requirement, CLARREO needs highly accurate on-board blackbodies which remain accurate over the life of the mission. Space Dynamics Laboratory is developing a prototype blackbody that demonstrates the ability to meet the needs of CLARREO. This prototype is based on a blackbody design currently in use, which is relatively simple to build, was developed for use on the ground or on-orbit, and is readily scalable for aperture size and required performance. We expect the CLARREO prototype to have emissivity of ~0.9999 from 1.5 to 50 μm, temperature uncertainties of ~25 mK (3σ), and radiance uncertainties of ~10 mK due to temperature gradients. The high emissivity and low thermal gradient uncertainties are achieved through cavity design, while the SI-traceable temperature uncertainty is attained through the use of phase change materials (mercury, gallium, and water) in the blackbody. Blackbody temperature sensor calibration is maintained over time by comparing sensor readings to the known melt temperatures of these materials, which are observed by heating through their melt points. Since blackbody emissivity can potentially change over time due to changes in surface emissivity (especially for an on-orbit blackbody) an on-board means of detecting emissivity change is desired. The prototype blackbody will include an emissivity monitor based on a quantum cascade laser to demonstrate the concept

Characterization of a Quantum Cascade Laser Based Emissivity Monitor for CORSAIR

Continuous improvements of quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology have extended the applications in environmental trace gas monitoring, mid-infrared spectroscopy in medicine and life science, law enforcement and homeland security and satellite sensor systems. We present the QCL based emissivity monitor for the CORSAIR blackbody. The emissivity of the blackbody was designed to be better than 0.9999 for the spectral range between 5 to 50μm. To actively monitor changes in blackbody emissivity we employ a QCL-based infrared illumination source. The illumination source consisted of a QCL and thermoelectric cooler (TEC) unit mounted on a copper fixture. The stability of the QCL was measured for 30, 60, and 90s operation time at 1.5A driving current. The temperature distribution along the laser mounting fixture and time dependent system heat dispersion were analyzed. The results were compared to radiative and conductive heat transfer models to define the potential laser operating time and required waiting time to return to initial temperature of the laser mount. The observed cooling behaviour is consistent with a primarily conductive heat transfer mechanism

Noise Performance of the CrIS Instrument

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is a spaceborne Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) that was launched into orbit on 28 October 2011 onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite. CrIS is a sophisticated sounding sensor that accurately measures upwelling infrared radiance at high spectral resolution. Data obtained from this sensor are used for atmospheric profiles retrieval and assimilation by numerical weather prediction models. Optimum vertical sounding resolution is achieved with high spectral resolution and multiple spectral channels; however, this can lead to increased noise. The CrIS instrument is designed to overcome this problem. Noise Equivalent Differential Radiance (NEdN) is one of the key parameters of the Sensor Data Record product. The CrIS on-orbit NEdN surpassesmission requirements with margin and has comparable or better performance when compared to heritage hyperspectral sensors currently on orbit. This paper describes CrIS noise performance through the characterization of the sensor’s NEdN and compares it to calibration data obtained during ground test. In addition, since FTS sensors can be affected by vibration that leads to spectrally correlated noise on top of the random noise inherent to infrared detectors, this paper also characterizes the CrIS NEdN with respect to the correlated noise contribution to the total NEdN. Lastly, the noise estimated from the imaginary part of the complex FTS spectra is extremely useful to assess andmonitor in-flight FTS sensor health. Preliminary results on the imaginary spectra noise analysis are also presented

Modeled vs. Actual Performance of the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS)

The NASA Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) has been completed as an Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) and has recently finished thermal vacuum testing and calibration. The GIFTS EDU was designed to demonstrate new and emerging sensor and data processing technologies with the goal of making revolutionary improvements in meteorological observational capability and forecasting accuracy. The GIFTS EDU includes a cooled (150 K), imaging FTS designed to provide the radiometric accuracy and atmospheric sounding precision required to meet the next generation GOES sounder requirements. This paper discusses a GIFTS sensor response model and its validation during thermal vacuum testing and calibration. The GIFTS sensor response model presented here is a component-based simulation written in IDL with the model component characteristics updated as actual hardware has become available. We discuss our calibration approach, calibration hardware used, and preliminary system performance, including NESR, spectral radiance responsivity, and instrument line shape. A comparison of the model predictions and hardware performance provides useful insight into the fidelity of the design approach

Risk of Injection-Site Abscess among Infants Receiving a Preservative-Free, Two-Dose Vial Formulation of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Kenya.

There is a theoretical risk of adverse events following immunization with a preservative-free, 2-dose vial formulation of 10-valent-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10). We set out to measure this risk. Four population-based surveillance sites in Kenya (total annual birth cohort of 11,500 infants) were used to conduct a 2-year post-introduction vaccine safety study of PCV10. Injection-site abscesses occurring within 7 days following vaccine administration were clinically diagnosed in all study sites (passive facility-based surveillance) and, also, detected by caregiver-reported symptoms of swelling plus discharge in two sites (active household-based surveillance). Abscess risk was expressed as the number of abscesses per 100,000 injections and was compared for the second vs first vial dose of PCV10 and for PCV10 vs pentavalent vaccine (comparator). A total of 58,288 PCV10 injections were recorded, including 24,054 and 19,702 identified as first and second vial doses, respectively (14,532 unknown vial dose). The risk ratio for abscess following injection with the second (41 per 100,000) vs first (33 per 100,000) vial dose of PCV10 was 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-4.06). The comparator vaccine was changed from a 2-dose to 10-dose presentation midway through the study. The matched odds ratios for abscess following PCV10 were 1.00 (95% CI 0.12-8.56) and 0.27 (95% CI 0.14-0.54) when compared to the 2-dose and 10-dose pentavalent vaccine presentations, respectively. In Kenya immunization with PCV10 was not associated with an increased risk of injection site abscess, providing confidence that the vaccine may be safely used in Africa. The relatively higher risk of abscess following the 10-dose presentation of pentavalent vaccine merits further study