Relation algebras over containers and surfaces: An ontological study of a room space

Recent research in geographic information systems hasbeen concerned with the construction of algebras tomake inferences about spatial relations by embeddingspatial relations within a space in which decisionsabout compositions are derived geometrically. Wepursue an alternative approach by studying spatialrelations and their inferences in a concrete spatialscenario, a room space that contains such manipulableobjects as a box, a ball, a table, a sheet of paper,and a pen. We derive from the observed spatialproperties an algebra related to the fundamentalspatial concepts of containers and surfaces and showthat this container-surface algebra holds allproperties of Tarski's relation algebra, except forthe associativity. The crispness of the compositionscan be refined by considering the relative size of theobjects) and their roles (i.e., whether it isexplicitly known that the objects are containers orsurfaces).     

Chaotic exchange of solid material between planetary systems: implications for lithopanspermia

Abstract We examined a low-energy mechanism for the transfer of meteoroids between two planetary systems embedded in a star cluster using quasi-parabolic orbits of minimal energy. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we found that the exchange of meteoroids could have been significantly more efficient than previously estimated. Our study is relevant to astrobiology, as it addresses whether life on Earth could have been transferred to other planetary systems in the Solar System's birth cluster and whether life on Earth could have been transferred from beyond the Solar System. In the Solar System, the timescale over which solid material was delivered to the region from where it could be transferred via this mechanism likely extended to several hundred million years (as indicated by the 3.8-4.0?Ga epoch of the Late Heavy Bombardment). This timescale could have overlapped with the lifetime of the Solar birth cluster (～100-500?Myr). Therefore, we conclude that lithopanspermia is an open possibility if life had an early start. Adopting parameters from the minimum mass solar nebula, considering a range of planetesimal size distributions derived from observations of asteroids and Kuiper Belt objects and theoretical coagulation models, and taking into account Oort Cloud formation models, we discerned that the expected number of bodies with mass>10?kg that could have been transferred between the Sun and its nearest cluster neighbor could be of the order of 10(14) to 3·10(16), with transfer timescales of tens of millions of years. We estimate that of the order of 3·10(8)·l (km) could potentially be life-bearing, where l is the depth of Earth's crust in kilometers that was ejected as the result of the early bombardment. Key Words: Extrasolar planets-Interplanetary dust-Interstellar meteorites-Lithopanspermia. Astrobiology 12, 754-774.     

The Emergence of Life

The Rosetta observations have greatly advanced our knowledge of the cometary nucleus and its immediate environment. However, constraints on the mission (both planned and unplanned), the only partially successful Philae lander, and other instrumental issues have inevitably resulted in open questions. Surprising results from the many successful Rosetta observations have also opened new questions, unimagined when Rosetta was first planned. We discuss these and introduce several mission concepts that might address these issues. It is apparent that a sample return mission as originally conceived in the 1980s during the genesis of Rosetta would provide many answers but it is arguable whether it is technically feasible even with today’s technology and knowledge. Less ambitious mission concepts are described to address the suggested main outstanding scientific goals.

     

Why does the total pressure on the subsolar magnetopause differ from the solar wind dynamic pressure?

Based on analysis of MHD equations and the results of numerical simulation in the magneto-sheath it is demonstrated that the total pressure on the magnetopause differs from the solar wind dynamic pressure in the majority of cases. From the equation of motion it follows that the total pressure is reduced due to deflection from the Sun-Earth line. At the same time, it increases because of formation of a magnetic barrier. This result is consistent with experimentally observed expansion of the magnetosphere for the radial direction of the interplanetary magnetic field, when no magnetic barrier is formed. In this paper we compare the behavior of pressure along the Sun-Earth line for the northward and radial interplanetary field, using the results of numerical MHD simulation and observational data from THEMIS. In the isotropic MHD approximation, the difference between the total pressure on the subsolar magnetopause at northern and radial IMFs does not exceed 10–12 percent. However, in the anisotropic approximation this difference increases up to 15–20 percent. The results of anisotropic modeling well agree with observed averaged profiles of pressure components in the subsolar magnetosheath.     

Temporal variation and asymmetry of sunspot and solar plage types from 1930 to 1936

Using the recently converted to digital format heliophysics catalogues of the Ebro Observatory published in the 1930s, we analyse simultaneously the temporal variation and asymmetry of two different solar structures located at different layers of the solar atmosphere: sunspots and solar plages. In particular, we do the research for all the types of sunspots and plages, including the daily and relative frequencies over the solar cycle. The data were catalogued using the sunspot Cortie classification and a solar plage classification scheme proposed by the Ebro Observatory, which group the phenomena by size and shape. For all types of both sunspots and plages, we observe a decrease in their frequency up to the end of solar cycle 16 and an increase over the beginning of solar cycle 17. Furthermore, we note that small sunspot groups are more likely to happen than bigger groups, although single big spots dominate near the solar minimum. The daily frequency of solar plage occurrences shows that there is not a dominance of compact or scattered solar plages. The North-South occurrence distribution of every type in both sunspots and solar plages shows an asymmetry during the solar cycle: in its declining phase, such asymmetry is directed to the north, while in the beginning of a new cycle is directed to the south.     

ITRS/GCRS transformation: Uncertainty propagation analysis and short-term modelling of IAU 2006/2000A developments

A study of the uncertainty propagation in ITRS/GCRS transformation is presented in this work. General law of propagation of variances is applied to the ITRS/GCRS transformation matrix, deriving the analytical expressions to compute GCRS position uncertainty. This evaluation is based on EOP uncertainties provided by IERS long-term series and formal uncertainties of ITRS-compatible coordinates. Numerical results for the period 1998–2016 are shown and discussed for ITRS positions in different altitudes and latitudes, providing graphical and numerical insights of the mapping of EOP uncertainties to transformed coordinates.Eventually, an analysis of short-term evolution of the Celestial Intermediate Pole coordinates in the GCRS provided by the IAU2006/2000A precession-nutation model is carried out, in order to assess the feasibility to potentially broadcast these parameters in GNSS navigation message. This approach would facilitate the dissemination of terrestrial-celestial transformation parameters for real time users, given that polar motion and UT1-UTC are already foreseen in GPS interface specification. The results presented in this work confirm the feasibility of this idea.     

Morphology: an ambiguous indicator of biogenicity

This paper deals with the difficulty of decoding the origins of natural structures through the study of their morphological features. We focus on the case of primitive life detection, where it is clear that the principles of comparative anatomy cannot be applied. A range of inorganic processes are described that result in morphologies emulating biological shapes, with particular emphasis on geochemically plausible processes. In particular, the formation of inorganic biomorphs in alkaline silica-rich environments are described in detail.     

Linear and circular structures of the Bohemian Massif — Comparison of satellite and geophysical data

Two structural schemes of the Bohemian Massif are presented and compared. The first one is a result of interpretation of various geophysical data and the second one is compiled on the basis of decoding of space imagery from different sources (Kosmos, Landsat etc.). Both schemes have many structural features in common, but there are diversities namely in the hierarchy of directions and regional distribution of linear structures. These problems are discussed in detail. For example, the most impressive system of structures is the NW-SE system in both schemes, whereas the NE-SW is more remarkable in the geophysical scheme; the N-S and the E-W systems are best expressed in the scheme of photolineaments. These facts are due to the genesis, age, development and dynamic characteristics of respective structural systems. The circular structural features namely those of large size are mostly remarkable in space imagery. At present, they are not distinguished genetically but only described regionally.