Geotropic sensitivity exhibited by single hornets: The influence of caste, age, light and temperature

Hornet ( , Hymenoptera: Vespinae) workers, queens and males, aged 0–24 hours (i.e. juveniles) and 24 hours and more (i.e. adults) were tested for their responses to changes in the direction of the gravitational force while placed on a flat surface gradually tilted between 0.5° and 180°. The tests were run on non-blind and blind hornets, at temperatures ranging between 18°C and 35°C, in daylight as well as in the dark. Up to 18 hours of age, negative phototaxis prevailed among the hornets, which displayed a clear preference for remaining in the dark regardless of the geotropic position. Between 18–24 hours of age, there was gradual appearance of a sensitivity to change in the geotropic position. Above 24 hr of age, the hornets became sensitive to changes in their declinations, with workers becoming sensitive at a 3–5° declination, queens at 4–5° and males at a declination of 8–19° from the horizontal. Hornet response takes the form of an upward climb, to the highest point of the test surface. Such response required a temperature exceeding 24.8–25°C for workers, 23.2°C for queens and 20.8–21°C for males.     

热载荷蜂窝夹层板作用下固有频率预测与分析

针对热载荷作用下蜂窝夹层板固有频率变化的问题,分析了蜂窝夹层板在热载荷作用下的应力分布及固有频率,并根据应力分布预测了夹层板的固有频率变化,与仿真得到的频率变化一致。仿真结果表明:碳纤维蒙皮蜂窝夹层板在热载荷作用下的固有频率基本不变,且约束形式对频率变化的影响很小;铝合金蒙皮蜂窝夹层板在热载荷作用下时,约束形式对频率变化影响很大,当约束较少时频率基本保持不变,当约束较多时将引起结构固有频率大幅下降。     

飞秒光学频率梳在计量领域的应用

飞秒光学频率梳是超快激光光学领域的重要研究方向，通过将锁模激光器重复频率（f_r）及载波包络相移频率（f_o）锁定至微波频率基准，在时域上呈现出飞秒量级的周期性超短脉冲序列，在频域上呈现出一系列离散等间隔排列的纵模分量，广泛应用于时间频率传递，空间尺度测量和精密光谱测量等诸多计量科学研究领域。根据飞秒光频梳的基本原理，着重介绍了其在计量领域的应用研究，分析了在计量领域的重要作用及研究的重要意义。     

A step in embryonic axis specification in Xenopus laevis is simulated by cytoplasmic displacements elicited by gravity and centrifugal force.

Determination of the body pattern in Xenopus embryos is known to involve at least six steps. One of these steps can be experimentally simulated by inclining the fertilized egg with respect to gravity or centrifugal force (10-30 g x 4 min, directed 90 degrees to the animal-vegetal axis). In these eggs, the dorsal structures of the body axis form from the side of the egg that was uppermost in the gravitational or centrifugal field. This topography is seen even if the sperm entry point side (the prospective ventral side in control eggs) was uppermost. In addition, conjoined twin embryos form at very high frequencies in response to certain conditions of single or double centrifugation. Cytological analysis shows that the dorsal structures invariably form from the side(s) of the egg away from which vegetal cytoplasm was displaced. This is similar to the situation in the unperturbed egg, where the subcortical cytoplasm of the vegetal hemisphere rotates some 30 degrees relative to the surface, and the dorsal structures form from the side of the egg away from which the subcortical cytoplasm moved. The displacements elicited by centrifugation probably substitute for the normal displacements brought about by the subcortical rotation. These and other data suggest that the subcortical rotation is a crucial step in the process of axis determination. The subcortical rotation is an autonomous activity of the activated egg, and can displace cytoplasm against gravity. I believe that the subcortical rotation will function normally at microgravity, and I expect that overall development and axis polarity at microgravity will be normal. This will be tested in spaceflight.     

OPTIS – A Satellite test of Special and General Relativity

OPTIS has been proposed as a small satellite platform in a high elliptical orbit (apogee 40,000 km, perigee 10,000 km) and is designed for high precision tests of foundations of Special and General Relativity. The experimental set-up consists of two ultrastable Nd:YAG lasers, three crossed optical resonators (monolithic cavities), an ensemble of atomic clocks, an optical comb generator, laser tracking devices and a drag-free control system. OPTIS enables improved tests of (1) the isotropy and (2) constancy of the speed of light, (3) special relativistic time dilation, (4) the universality of the gravitational redshift by comparison of various clocks, can measure (5) the absolute value of the gravitational redshift, (6) the Lense–Thirring effect and (7) the perigee advance and (8) can make a test of a hypothetical Yukawa part in the gravitational potential. To avoid any influence from atmospheric drag, solar radiation, or Earth albedo, the satellite needs drag-free control to depress the residual acceleration down to 10⁻¹⁴ m/s² in the frequency range between 10⁻² and 10⁻³ Hz. Precise thermal control must be used to stabilize the cavity temperature to within one part in 10⁷ at time scales of 100 s and to one part in 10⁵ on the orbit time scale.     

Experimental and theoretical analysis of the influence of gravity at the cellular level: a review.

The present paper is a review of the experimental investigations published in the literature and performed by the authors on space vehicles. The paper also gives an analysis of theoretical concepts concerning gravitational effects on the cell. Taking this into account, the authors put forth a hypothesis that free-living unicellular organisms are indifferent to variations in the magnitude and direction of the gravitational field.     

Influence of gravity on the circadian timing system.

The circadian timing system (CTS) is responsible for daily temporal coordination of physiological and behavioral functions both internally and with the external environment. Experiments in altered gravitational environments have revealed changes in circadian rhythms of species ranging from fungi to primates. The altered gravitational environments examined included both the microgravity environment of spaceflight and hyperdynamic environments produced by centrifugation. Acute exposure to altered gravitational environments changed homeostatic parameters such as body temperature. These changes were time of day dependent. Exposure to gravitational alterations of relatively short duration produced changes in both the homeostatic level and the amplitude of circadian rhythms. Chronic exposure to a non-earth level of gravity resulted in changes in the period of the expressed rhythms as well as in the phase relationships between the rhythms and between the rhythms and the external environment. In addition, alterations in gravity appeared to act as a time cue for the CTS. Altered gravity also affected the sensitivity of the pacemaker to other aspects of the environment (i.e., light) and to shifts of time cues. Taken together, these studies lead to the conclusion that the CTS is indeed sensitive to gravity and its alterations. This finding has implications for both basic biology and space medicine.     

Adaptation of the macular vestibuloocular reflex to altered gravitational conditions in a fish (Oreochromis mossambicus).

Young fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) were exposed to microgravity (micro g) for 9 to 10 days, or to hypergravity (hg) for 9 days. For several weeks after termination of micro g and hg, the roll-induced static vestibuloocular reflex (rVOR) was recorded. In stage 11/12-fish, the rVOR amplitude (angle between the maximal up and down movement of an eye during a complete 360 degree lateral roll) of micro g-animals increased significantly by 25% compared to 1 g-controls during the first post-flight week but decreased to the control level during the second post-flight week. Microgravity had no effect in stage 14/16 fish on the rVOR amplitude. After 3 g-exposure, the rVOR amplitude was significantly reduced for both groups compared to their 1 g-controls. Readaptation to 1 g-condition was completed during the second post-3 g week. We postulate a critical period during which the development of the macular vestibuloocular reflex depends on gravitational input, and which is limited by the first appearance of the rVOR. At this period of early development, exposure to microgravity sensitizes the vestibular system while hypergravity desensitizes it.     

An active role of the amyloplasts and nuclei of root statocytes in graviperception.

Three main phases are discerned in the gravitropic reaction: perception of a gravitational stimulus, its transduction, and fixation of the reaction resulting in bending of an organ. According to the starch-statolith hypothesis of Nemec and Haberlandt, amyloplasts in the structurally and functionally specialized graviperceptive cells (statocytes) sediment in the direction of a gravitational vector in the distal part of a cell while a nucleus is in the proximal one. If amyloplasts appear to act as gravity sensors, the receptors, which interact with sedimented amyloplasts, and next signaling are still unclear. An analysis of the structural-functional organization of cells in different root cap layers of such higher plants as pea, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Brassica rapa grown under 1 g, on the clinostats, and in microgravity, allows us to support the hypothesis that amyloplasts function as statoliths in statocytes, but they may not be only the passive statolithic mass. We propose that amyloplasts fulfill a more complex function by interacting with a receptor, which is a nucleus, in transduction of some signal to it. Gravity-induced statolith movement in certain order leads to a new functional connection between gravity susceptors--amyloplasts and a receptor--a nucleus receiving some signal presumedly of a mechanical or biochemical nature from the amyloplasts. During gravitropism, sugar signaling could induce expression of genes encoding auxin transport proteins in a nucleus giving the nucleus an intermediate role in signal trunsduction following perception.     

The dark matter halo structure of “fossil” groups candidates

We investigated properties of four isolated giant elliptical galaxies with extended X-ray halo using ASCA data. The derived size of X-ray halo, X-ray luminosity, and gravitational mass of the dark halo are unusually large those of X-ray halo of a single galaxy, but are typical for X-ray halos of groups and poor clusters of galaxies. The measured temperatures and abundances of the X-ray halo gas in these galaxies are also similar to those of the groups and poor clusters. Based on these results we identified these galaxies as “isolated X-ray overluminous elliptical galaxy” (IOLEG). The radial profiles of dark halo in these objects were derived from X-ray data. It is found that some are similar to those of compact groups while others are the same as those of normal ellipticals. The dark halos of lOLEGs are thus indistinguishable from those of groups (and poor clusters), which appears to be consistent with a widely believed idea that lOLEGs are a product of dynamical evolution of a compact group. However, mass-to-light ratios of IOLEGs (M₂₀₀/L_B  100–1000) are far greater than those of Hickson compact groups M₂₀₀/L_B  40–60). Since it is hard to consider that total optical luminosity of a compact group decreases by an order of magnitude in the course of dynamical evolution, such difference in the observed mass-to-light ratio between IOLEGs and Hickson compact groups strongly suggests that most IOLEGs have not evolved from compact groups which are observed at present.     

Dark energy,co-evolution of massive black holes with galaxies,and ASTROD-GW

The detection of low frequency band (100 nHz–100 mHz) and very low frequency band (300 pHz–100 nHz) gravitational waves (GWs) is important for exploration of the equation of state of dark energy and the co-evolution of massive black holes (MBHs) with galaxies. Most galaxies are believed to have a massive black hole in the galactic core. In the formation of these black holes, merging and accretion are the two main processes. Merging of massive black holes generate GWs which could be detected by space GW detectors and Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) to cosmological distances. LISA (Laser-Interferometric Space Antenna) is most sensitive to the frequency band 1 mHz–100 mHz, ASTROD-GW (ASTROD [Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices] optimized for Gravitational Wave detection) is most sensitive to the frequency band 100 nHz–1 mHz and PTAs are most sensitive to the frequency band 300 pHz–100 nHz. In this paper, we discuss the sensitivities and outlooks of detection of GWs from binary massive black holes in these frequency bands with an emphasis on ASTROD-GW. The GWs generated by the inspirals, merging and subsequent ringdowns of binary black holes are standard sirens to the cosmological distance. Using GW observations, we discuss the methods for determining the equation of state of dark energy and for testing the co-evolution models of massive black holes. ASTROD-GW is an optimization of ASTROD to focus on the goal of detection of GWs. The mission orbits of the 3 spacecraft forming a nearly equilateral triangular array are chosen to be near the Sun-Earth Lagrange points L3, L4 and L5. The 3 spacecraft range interferometrically with one another with arm length about 260 million kilometers. With 52 times longer in arm length compared to that of LISA, the strain detection sensitivity is 52 times better toward larger wavelength. The scientific aim is focused for gravitational wave detection at low frequency. The science goals include detection of GWs from MBHs, and Extreme-Mass-Ratio Black Hole Inspirals (EMRI), and using these observations to find the evolution of the equation of state of dark energy and to explore the co-evolution of massive black holes with galaxies.     

基于卫星自旋的纯引力轨道万有引力干扰抑制

一个称为“内卫星”的验证质量块位于外卫星的内部空腔中,不与外卫星接触而自由飞行,由于外卫星的屏蔽,其不受大气阻力、太阳光压等干扰作用,沿着纯引力轨道飞行。外卫星会对内卫星产生万有引力作用,是内卫星纯引力轨道的主要残余干扰。根据卫星相对运动动力学方程,建立了万有引力干扰对内卫星纯引力轨道影响的分析模型;基于将外卫星绕轨道面法向旋转以调制万有引力的策略,建立了外卫星自旋对万有引力干扰影响的抑制模型。以内编队纯引力飞行系统为例,对比计算了外卫星有无自旋时万有引力干扰对内卫星纯引力轨道的影响。基于模型的分析表明,外卫星自旋能够显著抑制万有引力干扰对内卫星纯引力轨道的长期影响;实例计算表明,万有引力干扰的天长期影响能够降低5~7个数量级。     

Gravitational wave detection on the Moon and the moons of Mars

The Moon and the moons of Mars should be extremely quiet seismically and could therefore become sensitive gravitational wave detectors, if instrumented properly. Highly sensitive displacement sensors could be deployed on these planetary bodies to monitor the motion induced by gravitational waves. A superconducting displacement sensor with a 10-kg test mass cooled to 2 K will have an intrinsic instrument noise of 10⁻¹⁶ m Hz^−1/2. These sensors could be tuned to the lowest two quadrupole modes of the body or operated as a wideband detector below its fundamental mode. An interesting frequency range is 0.1–1 Hz, which will be missed by both the ground detectors on the Earth and LISA and would be the best window for searching for stochastic background gravitational waves. Phobos and Deimos have their lowest quadrupole modes at 0.2–0.3 Hz and could offer a sensitivity h_min ? 10⁻²² Hz^−1/2 within their resonance peaks, which is within two orders of magnitude from the goal of the Big Bang Observer (BBO). The lunar and Martian moon detectors would detect many interesting foreground sources in a new frequency window and could serve as a valuable precursor for BBO.     

Modeling irregular small bodies gravity field via extreme learning machines and Bayesian optimization

Close proximity operations around small bodies are extremely challenging due to their uncertain dynamical environment. Autonomous guidance and navigation around small bodies require fast and accurate modeling of the gravitational field for potential on-board computation. In this paper, we investigate a model-based, data-driven approach to compute and predict the gravitational acceleration around irregular small bodies. More specifically, we employ Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) theories to design, train and validate Single-Layer Feedforward Networks (SLFN) capable of learning the relationship between the spacecraft position and the gravitational acceleration. ELM-base neural networks are trained without iterative tuning therefore dramatically reducing the training time. Analysis of performance in constant density models for asteroid 25143 Itokawa and comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko show that ELM-based SLFN are able learn the desired functional relationship both globally and in selected localized areas near the surface. The latter results in a robust neural algorithm for on-board, real-time calculation of the gravity field needed for guidance and control in close-proximity operations near the asteroid surface.     

Ultrastructural aspects of otoliths and sensory epithelia of fish inner ear exposed to hypergravity.

The present electron microscopical investigations were directed to the question, whether alterations in the gravitational force might induce structural changes in the morphology of otoliths or/and inner ear sensory epithelia of developing and adult swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri) that had been kept either under long-term moderate hypergravity (8 days; 3g) or under short-time extreme hypergravity (10 minutes up to 9g). The otoliths of adult and neonate swordtail fish were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Macular epithelia of adult fish were examined both by SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The saccular otoliths (sagittae) of normally hatched adult fish revealed an enormous inter- (and even intra-; i.e. left vs. right) individual diversity in shape and size, whereas the otoliths of utricles (lapilli) and lagenae (asterisci) seemed to be more constant regarding morphological parameters. The structural diversity of juvenile otoliths was found to be less prominent as compared to the adults, differing from the latter regarding their peculiar crystalline morphology. Qualitative differences in the fine structure (SEM) of otoliths taken from adult and larval animals kept under 3g in comparison to 1g controls could not be observed. The SEM and TEM investigations of sensory epithelia also did not reveal any effects due to 3g stimulation. Even extreme hypergravity (more than 7g) for 10 minutes did not result in distinct pathological changes.     

Features of vestibuloocular reflex modulations induced by altered gravitational forces in tadpoles (Xenopus laevis).

In Xenopus laevis tadpoles, we studied the static vestibuloocular reflex (rVOR) in relation to modifications of the gravitational environment to find basic mechanisms of how altered gravitational forces (AGF) affect this reflex. Animals were exposed to microgravity during space flight or hypergravity (3g) for 4 to 12 days. Basic observations were that (1)the development of the rVOR is significantly affected by altered gravitational conditions, (2) the duration of 1g-readaptation depends on the strength of the test stimulus, (3) microgravity induces malformations of the body which are related to the rVOR depression. Future studies are based on the hypotheses (1) that the vestibular nuclei play a key roll in the adaptation to AGF conditions, (2) that the stimulus transducing systems in the sense organ are affected by AGF conditions, and (3) that fertilized eggs will be converted to normal adults guided by physiological and morphological set points representing the genetic programs. Developmental retardation or acceleration, or otherwise occurring deviations from standard development during embryonic and postembryonic life will activate genes that direct the developmental processes towards normality.     

我国早期原子钟研制历程回顾

“2019全国时间频率学术会议”是由四个专业委员会联合每两年举办一次的20周年纪念会。20年来，我国原子钟事业已有长足发展，成为世界上原子钟研制与开发的大国。但总体上说，我们的工作还是以跟随为主，真正属于自主创新的较少。不改变这种局面，我们还难以成为独立自主的时间频率强国，为国家经济和国防建设作出应有贡献。本文回顾了我国原子钟研发的情况，提到一些从基础研究上属于原始创新的案例。阐述了这些案例是在简陋的实验条件下依靠对原子钟内各类实验现象进行深入的物理分析基础上出现的。同时，也指出了在比较粗糙的工艺条件下实现精细的技术指标中能工巧匠所起的特殊作用。文章也约略提到国内各单位间无私协作的崇高精神。本文将讲述一些故事，并就原子钟产业的问题表示一点看法。中国要实现“强国梦”，阻力和困难还很多很艰巨，我们必须拥有丰富的原始创新来加以克服。为此，坚韧的奋斗钻研精神和传统仍不失借鉴与继承意义。     

空间引力红移实验的原理与精度

通过对文献[4, 5]关于空间引力红移实验原理与精度的分析,根据爱因斯坦惯性力与引力等效的原理,提出在航天器内部,重力的大部分被惯性力抵消,因而其中的微重力比轨道重力小很多(失重).因此,应当把星载原子钟的重力势取为与微重力相当的有效重力势,而不能简单地将星载钟的重力势取为轨道重力势.另外,检验相对论红移需要将理论值与实验值进行对比,这两种数值均具有误差,而检验精度取决于误差较大者.因此,如果不提高地球重力模型(例如EGM2008)精度而只提高测量精度则不能提高检验精度.     

Efficacy of an ototoxic aminoglycoside (gentamicin) on the differentiation of the inner ear of cichlid fish.

Previous investigations revealed that the growth of fish inner ear otoliths depends on the amplitude and the direction of gravity, thus suggesting the existence of a (negative) feedback mechanism. In the course of these experiments, it was shown that altered gravity both affected otolith size (and thus the provision of the proteinacious matrix) as well as the incorporation of calcium. It is hitherto unknown, as of whether sensory hair cells are involved either in the regulation of otolith growth or in the provision of otolithic material (such as protein or inorganic components) or even both. The ototoxic aminoglycoside gentamicin (GM) damages hair cells in many vertebrates (and is therefore used for the treatment of Meniere's disease in humans). The present study was thus designed to determine as of whether vestibular sensory cells are needed for otolith growth by applying GM in order to induce a (functionally relevant) loss of these cells. Developing cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus were therefore immersed in 120 mg/l GM for 10 or 21 days. At the beginning and at the end of the experimental periods, the fish were incubated in the calcium-tracer alizarin complexone (AC). After the experiment, otoliths were dissected and the area grown during GM-exposure (i.e., the area enclosed by the two AC labellings) was determined planimetrically. The results showed that incubating the animals in a GM-solution had no effect on otolith growth, but the development of otolith asymmetry was affected. Ultrastructural examinations of the sensory hair cells revealed that they had obviously not been affected by GM-treatment (no degenerative morphological features observed). Overall, the present results suggest that hair cells are not affected by GM concerning their possible role in (general) otolith growth, but that these cells indeed might have transitionally been impaired by GM resulting in a decreased capacity of regulating otolith symmetry.     

旋转状态下温度比对气膜与主流掺混区域的影响

为了研究在旋转状态下温度比对气膜与主流掺混区域的影响,采用了数值模拟的方法对此进行了分析.结果表明:与静止状态相比,气膜出流在旋转状态下会发生偏转.当温度比固定,随着转速的增加,吸力面上气膜覆盖区域向高旋转半径方向偏转;但在压力面上,覆盖区域向低旋转半径方向偏转.在旋转速度固定时,随着冷却气膜和燃气温度比的增加,气膜覆盖区域向高旋转半径方向偏转.旋转同时会降低气膜冷却效率,而温度比对此的影响却很小.