No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The Lite (Light) satellite for the study of B-mode polarization and Inflation from cosmic background Radiation Detection (LiteBIRD) is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)-led Strategic Large-Class mission designed to search for the existence of the primordial gravitational waves produced during the inflationary phase of the early Universe, through the measurement of their imprint onto the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). It is an international collaboration, with European Union (EU) operations being coordinated by France. A short study on the merits of 2-dimensional versus 3-dimensional elements in the Finite Element Model (FEM) meshing of basic plates and beams was performed as well as the analysis of two different methods of representing threaded connections in FEM models. Both these activities were in service of the creation of a FEM model of the structure of the contribution of the EU to LiteBIRD: the Medium-High-Frequency Telescope (MHFT). All analysis was done using the Siemens NX software and the Simcenter Nastran solver. This model has passed preliminary quality checks and will be used for future structural analysis intended to verify the integrity of the design, its compliance with JAXA requirements, and to perform screw dimensioning. The results of those analyses will inform possible future design changes or will support the current design. Logistical work on the project was also performed, consisting of the groundwork to initiate an Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) plan and an Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) plan. This primarily involved the creation of a Model Definition Document, which contained clear and complete descriptions of the different MHFT models to be used throughout project development. The document defines the purpose and components of the models, the dependencies between models, as well as the necessary tests to be performed on each as part of the AIT and AIV process. A list of the structure interfaces was also created, which will contribute to the development of an interface control document.

The expectation for ever-present broadband connectivity is growing along with the proliferation of "always-on" mobile devices such as PDAs, laptops and cell phones. The International Telecommunications Union predicts people worldwide will soon live in "ubiquitous network societies," where interconnected appliances and devices provide relevant content and information whatever the location of the user. While some public spaces currently offer wireless internet, broadband subscribers typically lose guaranteed connections each time they leave their access points. One increasingly popular solution, shared broadband signals, relies on a model of peer-to-peer networking. Instead of information passing from "one to many," it may travel from "many to many." This form of viral networking is taking hold at the grassroots level of media activism, as well as within the elite realm of venture capitalism. This study encompasses both semi-structured qualitative interviews and a survey in order to gain a deeper understanding of a complex phenomenon: the potential for peer-to-peer signal sharing to expand digital inclusion in the United States. The research approaches WiFi signal sharing as more than a promising "last mile" technology. Rather, it finds that WiFi sharing communities have the potential to disrupt the current political economy of telecommunications by privileging digital inclusion, innovation and localism over profits and globalization. This research extends knowledge by delving into the demand-side of the peer networking movement as a means of better understanding potential pathways to connectivity. The interview findings reflect the perspectives of people who opt to share their WiFi signals, policymakers, incumbent ISPs, and both non-profit and for-profit entities that facilitate peer-to-peer networking. Local officials stressed the need for wireless community activists to work with residents of disenfranchised neighborhoods, who stand to benefit the most from free broadband access. Federal-level informants suggested that high quality spectrum--so called "white spaces"--could enable peer-to-peer networks to transmit more powerful WiFi signals. Responses to a questionnaire disseminated to mesh network members suggest that these grassroots communities facilitate public participation in technology, as well as encourage civic engagement. The study concludes with recommendations--geared toward federal policymakers, local officials, ISPs and broadband activists--for supporting and sustaining peer-to-peer networking communities. / Mass Media and Communication