RBE for non-stochastic effects.

Evidence is reviewed concerning the variation of RBE values of high-LET radiations for non-stochastic effects, generally impairment of tissue integrity and function. The RBE values are dependent on the type of radiation, the type of tissue effect and the dose rate or fractionation schedule. RBE values depend strongly on the effect considered, with high values for late effects in lung, kidney and central nervous system. RBE values generally increase with decreasing dose rate or dose per fraction. Maximum values can be derived by extrapolation on the basis of a radiobiological model. These values are denoted RBEm to distinguish them from RBEM derived for stochastic effects, e.g. carcinogenesis. Values of RBEm are generally in the range of 2 to 10 and are considerably smaller by a factor of 2 to 5 than values of RBEM for various types of stochastic effects. RBE values for effects from actual exposures to mixtures of high-LET and low-LET radiations can be derived by considering the doses received and the tissue at risk. Applications of RBEm values will yield estimates of maximum values of equivalent doses and these should only be applied for planning medical interventions if the contribution from high-LET radiation is small. The selection of Q values for radiation protection is mostly based on RBE--values and the application of Q values in cases where non-stochastic effects are important might therefore result in an overestimate of the risks of exposure.     

A minimal living system and the origin of a protocell

Based on our current knowledge of molecular biology a living entity os a negentropic system, made of specific catalytic and informational macromolecules, which has the ability to reproduce itself, selectively interact with the environment, increase complexity, undergo mutation and evolve by natural selection. At the cellular level the essential molecular attributes of a minimal living system are considered to be the following: (a) Linear informational molecules, protoRNA (protoDNA) at least 10 mononucleotides long, capable to code for at least 2 amino acids; (b) Code-translating molecules, aminoacyl-proto tRNAs at least 5 mononucleotides long; (c) Protoenzymes, oligopeptides of at least 2 amino acids, with measurable catalytic activity for phosphodiester, pyrophosphate and peptide bond formation; (d) Protoribosomes, RNA-peptide complexes which facilitate the interaction of the above three types of molecules, and (e) Protomembranes, liposomes made of amphiphilic lipids and peptides which can provide the semipermeability and the proton gradient necessary for the synthesis of pyrophosphate, ATP and other biochemical compounds. The transition from subcellular Lamarckian evolution to cellular Darwinian evolution required the cooperative interaction, within an internal microenvironment, of the above five types of molecular species.     

The origin of adaptation and dyssymmetry in the evolution of autocatalytic systems.

The evolution of open systems that include several autocatalytic processes in parallel or in series is mathematically analyzed. For the case of two reactions in parallel, such systems progressively and finally select the reaction pathway which involves the better autocatalyst. The effect of parameters influencing the rate of this evolution is discussed. Where catalysts are strictly equivalent, e.g. enantiomers in a symmetrical surrounding, the evolution is amplified by fluctuations and retains finally only one reaction pathway, if the autocatalytic rates of reactions are more than proportional to the catalyst concentrations. When including two reactions in series, these open systems are also able to give oscillations.     

Radiation quality and risk estimation in relation to space missions.

While Q is specified as a function of linear energy transfer (LET) in practice the Q for neutrons has been selected by a judgment decision based on the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) to induce stochastic effects. There are no RBE values for tumor induction by heavy ions or protons in humans. Thus, selection of Q values has been based either on LET (or lineal energy) or RBEs from animal experiments. Estimates of Q for heavy ions in low earth orbit (LEO) range from about 5 to 14. The average Q value of all radiation in LEO has been estimated to be about 1.3. There is a lack of experimental data for RBEs for heavy ions but RBE increases as a function of LET. In the case of the Harderian gland the RBE reaches a maximum of 25-30 between about 100-200 keV/micrometer but does not appear to decrease at higher LETs. The International Commission of Radiological Protection have proposed the use of radiation weighting factors in lieu of quality factors. The weighting factors will range from 1 to 20.     

Hypotheses on the appearance of life on Earth (review).

It is generally accepted within the natural sciences that life emerged on Earth by a kind of proto-Darwinian evolution from molecular assemblies that were predominantly formed from the various constituents of the primitive atmosphere and hydrosphere. Evolutionary stages under discussion are: the self-organization of spontaneously formed biomolecules into early precursors of life (protobionts), their stepwise evolution via (postulated) protocells to (postulated) progenotes and the Darwinian evolution from progenotes to the three kingdoms of contemporary organisms (archaebacteria, eubacteria and eukaryotes). Considerable discrepancies between scientists have arisen because all evolutionary stages from prebiotic molecules to progenotes are entirely hypothetical and so are the postulated environmental conditions. We can only theorize that all those environmental conditions that allow the existence of the various forms of contemporary life might have allowed also the development of their precursors. Because of all these difficulties the hypothesis that life came to our planet from a remote place of our universe (panspermia) has been revived. But experimental evidence only supports the view that spores can--under favorable circumstances--survive a relatively short journey within our solar system (interplanetary transfer of life). It is extremely unlikely that spores can survive a journey of hundreds or thousands of years through interstellar space.     

基于差分递减权系数的加权Q控制图

Q控制图的异常检出时间远长于参数已知时控制图的异常检出时间,对此提出了一种加权Q控制图方法.基于单容量样本度量和多容量样本度量,分别给出了相应算法,对算法的正确性给出了数学证明.加权Q控制图方法根据差分递减的权系数构造加权Q控制图的Q统计量,随后对该Q统计量使用Q控制图进行异常分析.仿真结果表明:加权Q控制图的异常检出时间短于Q控制图的异常检出时间,且与参数已知时的控制图的异常检出时间相差不大,综合考虑实用性和检测灵敏度这两个指标,加权Q控制图优于Q控制图和参数已知时的控制图.     

Self-instructed condensation of amino acids into polymers

In contemporary cells biological information is largely stored in nucleic acids. Therefore, a prerequisite in many theories on the origin of cellular life is the pre-existance of self-replicating polynucleotides that had to be formed by abiotic processes on the prebiotic Earth. It is usually assumed that the spontaneous synthesis of a self-replicating polynucleotide could take place readily. However, serious stereochemical obstacles exist which make such a synthesis extremely improbable. Amino acids on the other hand, which are abundantly formed in prebiotic simulation experiments, are relatively easily polymerized to macromolecules (protoproteins) that share with modern proteins many properties: e.g., definable non-random structure, selected amino acid sequences, enzyme-like activities and self-assembly into supramolecular structures. Prebiotic polyamino acids are therefore regarded by some scientists, including the present author, as the first informational macromolecules. The origin of this information is the chemical reactivity of the various prebiotic amino acids and their chemical response to their environment. The first informational polynucleotides were likely formed by a polynucleotide polymerase activity of prebiotic protoproteins. A contemporary model for this process is seen, e.g., in the activity of template-free Qβ-replicase.     

Charged particle dynamics in the combined field of two rotating magnetic dipoles: A numerical investigation of the parametric effect on the equatorial motions

In this contribution we study some aspects of the dynamics of a charged particle in the field produced by two magnetic dipoles that rotate in circular orbits around their common center of mass under their mutual Newtonian attraction. More precisely, we numerically investigate the evolution of the regions of the particle motion on the equatorial plane of each dipole and we explore their parametric variation. We focus our investigation on those problem parameters that are related with the magnetic fields and the masses of the primaries. The obtained preliminary results show that for each particular set of the above parameters and for certain values of energy these regions are bounded, and therefore the motion of the particle is confined inside them.     

Insects as test systems for assessing the potential role of microgravity in biological development and evolution.

Gravity and radiation are undoubtedly the two major environmental factors altered in space. Gravity is a weak force, which creates a permanent potential field acting on the mass of biological systems and their cellular components, strongly reduced in space flights. Developmental systems, particularly at very early stages, provide the larger cellular compartments known, where the effects of alterations in the size of the gravity vector on living organisms can be more effectively tested. The insects, one of the more highly evolved classes of animals in which early development occurs in a syncytial embryo, are systems particularly well suited to test these effects and the specific developmental mechanisms affected. Furthermore, they share some basic features such as small size, short life cycles, relatively high radio-resistance, etc. and show a diversity of developmental strategies and tempos advantageous in experiments of this type in space. Drosophila melanogaster, the current biological paradigm to study development, with so much genetic and evolutionary background available, is clearly the reference organism for these studies. The current evidence on the effects of the physical parameters altered in space flights on insect development indicate a surprising correlation between effects seen on the fast developing and relatively small Drosophila embryo and the more slowly developing and large Carausius morosus system. In relation to the issue of the importance of developmental and environmental constraints in biological evolution, still the missing link in current evolutionary thinking, insects and space facilities for long-term experiments could provide useful experimental settings where to critically assess how development and evolution may be interconnected. Finally, it has to be pointed out that since there are experimental data indicating a possible synergism between microgravity and space radiation, possible effects of space radiation should be taken into account in the planning and evaluation of experiments designed to test the potential role of microgravity on biological developmental and evolution.     

Cosmic radiation and evolution of life on earth: roles of environment, adaptation and selection.

The role of ionizing radiation in general, and cosmic radiation in particular, in the evolution of organisms on the earth by adaptation and natural selection is considered in a series of questions: (1) Are there times during the evolution of the earth and of life when genetic material could be exposed to heavy ion radiation? (2) Throughout the course of chemical and biological evolution on the earth, what fraction of environmental mutagenesis could be attributable to cosmic and/or solar ionizing radiation? (3) Is ionizing radiation an agent of adaptation or selection, or both? (4) What can the cladistics of the evolution of genetic repair tell us about the global history of genotoxic selection pressures? (5) How much genetic diversity can be attributed to the selection of radiation-damage repair processes?     

一种确定模拟的行星际MHD激波局地参数的新方法

简要阐述了分析模拟的行星际磁流体力学（MHD）激波的局部性质时，采用无厚度局部平面激波这一假设的合理性，说明了在激波未扰动区域（激波上游），物理量在几个小时内的变化很小这一事实，利用平面激波的分析方法，提出了分析模拟的行星际MHD激波的新方法，包括激波位置的确定，上下游状态参数的选择，激波局部参数的计算以及激波的分类，最后应用这种方法对一个二维的MHD模拟结果进行了分析。结果证实了过去文献关于磁流体力学混合激波空间连接和时间演化的链式规则，而且说明位于太阳赤道附近的慢激波和中间激波最终会发展为快激波。     

Life as a set of matter transformation cycles: ecological attributes of life.

An approach to searching for extraterrestrial life on the base of "autotroph" concept of the origin of life is presented in the paper. According to this concept the origin of life took place in three stages. The first stage was developed inside the global geochemical cycle in which the turnover of different chemical transformations was implemented by solar radiation and/or heat energy of bowels of the Earth. At the second stage, after the autocatalytic systems have emerged these systems evolved as a result of "natural selection" by autocatalysis parameters up to emergence of special inheritance systems that drastically improved the autocatalysis parameters. The best in terms of autocatalysis parameters were the autocatalysis systems based on phase-separated particles where complex structures can form not only on the basis of covalent interactions. Such autocatalysis systems can emerge only in liquid in a certain range of temperatures and pressures. At this stage the geochemical cycle complicated involving new substances. At the third stage the evolution involved improvement of inheritance systems resulting in formation of the modern type of genetic apparatus. This concept formed the basis to consider approaches to experimental modeling of major aspects of the origin of life and to outlining some general features of life that can extend the sensitive horizon of searching for extraterrestrial life.     

场发射电推力器的参数选择与调控方法

场发射电推力器具有几种不同的发射模式,分别产生荷质比不同的带电液滴或带电离子,使得不同模式下推力性能差别显著。针对不同的空间应用,需要设计不同种类的场发射电推力器,使其达到相应的推力参数。为此对场发射电推力器的发射过程展开分析,确定了推力参数的调控方法。首先对场发射电推力器的基本工作原理进行了阐述,并对不同发射模式的基础物理机制进行了分析。在此基础上通过理论计算得出采用不同推进剂可达到不同发射模式这一结论,并最终得出推力器性能参数的调控方法,论证了推力性能受到推进剂种类和发射模式的影响,在离子发射模式下处于高比冲、低推力工况,而液滴发射模式下处于低比冲、高推力工况。此外推力参数还受到供给流量、外加电压等多种因素的影响。在得到推力器参数的调控方法后,设计了一种主动供给型离子液体电推力器,以离子液体EMI BF4作为推进剂,进行了相应的试验研究。通过改变外加电压,实现了对推力器推力性能的调控,证实了此调控方法的可行性。推力器达到的推力范围为1.6~10μN,比冲范围为154~978s。     

Evolution of anticodons

Anticodons are trinucleotides in transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules. The latter carry amino acids for insertion into the polypeptide sequences of proteins during the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. Messenger RNA molecules are transcribed from genes. Evolution of tRNA molecules has resulted in a set of anticodons for the 20 amino acids that are used in protein synthesis. This set of anticodons is slightly different in mitochondrial codes from the set that is used in the nuclear “universal” code. Theories for the evolution of the code include frozen accident, doublet expansion, repeating triplets and coevolutionary distribution. The number of codons has always been fixed at 64 by mathematical rules, but because an anticodon may pair with more than one codon, the number of anticodons is only 54 in the universal code, is smaller in mitochondrial codes, and was probably even smaller in archetypal primitive codes. Evidence of anticodon evolution can be seen by comparing mitochondrial codes with the universal code. Codes used by very primitive organisms that are now extinct might have specified fewer amino acids than are now used.     

Heavy-ion induced genetic changes and evolution processes.

On Moon and Mars, there will be more galactic cosmic rays and higher radiation doses than on earth. Our experimental studies showed that heavy ion radiation can effectively cause mutation and chromosome aberrations and that high-LET heavy-ion induced mutants can be irreversible. Chromosome translocations and deletions are common in cells irradiated by heavy particles, and ionizing radiations are effective in causing hyperploidy. The importance of the genetic changes in the evolution of life is an interesting question. Through evolution, there is an increase of DNA content in cells from lower forms of life to higher organisms. The DNA content, however, reached a plateau in vertebrates. By increasing DNA content, there can be an increase of information in the cell. For a given DNA content, the quality of information can be changed by rearranging the DNA. Because radiation can cause hyperploidy, an increase of DNA content in cells, and can induce DNA rearrangement, it is likely that the evolution of life on Mars will be effected by its radiation environment. A simple analysis shows that the radiation level on Mars may cause a mutation frequency comparable to that of the spontaneous mutation rate on Earth. To the extent that mutation plays a role in adaptation, radiation alone on Mars may thus provide sufficient mutation for the evolution of life.     

Multiple cell hits by particle tracks in solid tissues.

Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) and Quality Factor (Q) at extreme values of Linear Energy Transfer (LET) have been determined on the basis of experiments with single-cell systems and specific tissue responses. In typical single cell systems, each heavy particle (Ar or Fe) passes through a single cell or no cell. In tissue end-point experiments each heavy particle passes through several cells, and the LET can exceed 200 keV/micrometer in every cell. In most laboratory animal tissue systems, however, only a small portion of the hit cells are capable of expressing the end-point of interest to the investigator, such as cell killing, mutation or carcinogenesis. The following question must therefore be addressed: Do RBE's and Q factors derived from single-cell experiments properly account for the increased probability of multiple-cell damage by HZE tracks? A model is offered in which measured radiation effects and known tissue properties are combined to estimate the value of a multiplier of damage effectiveness on the basis of number of cells at risk, p3n, per track containing a hit cell, where n is the number of cells per track, based on tissue and organ geometry, and P3 is the probability that a cell in the track is capable of expressing the experimental end-point.     

Leaf proteomic analysis of three rice heritable mutants after seed space flight

To explore the proteomic changes of heritable variant rice plants induced by space environment, three mutants were selected after seed space flight by comparing the phenotypes with their on-ground controls. R955 grew more tillers and became dwarf, 971-5 acquired higher grain yield and better stress resistance, 974-5 matured earlier. Leaf proteins were extracted during the tiller development and analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). More than 300 proteins were detected as reproducible Coomassie Brilliant Blue stained spots with pI values from around 4.0 to 7.0. Five proteins that changed significantly over the controls were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The main functions of these proteins were photosynthesis, stress defense and metabolism including RuBisCO activase, glycine rich RNA binding protein, peroxidase, triosephosphate isomerase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which might be probably associated with the altered phenotypes. Quantitative analyses were also applied: less total protein spots and more down-regulated protein spots were detected in the mutants, indicating there might be a major loss of protein in heritable variant rice plants after seed space flight. These results may provide new insights to understand the biological effects of space environment to rice.     

Space radiation quality factor investigations with “NAUSICAA”-device on board the “MIR” space station

The estimation of radiation quality factor in space flights is a serious problem of space dosimetry. The solution of this problem is based on LET-spectra measurements. The “NAUSICAA”-device installed on the “MIR” station has a detector with a large geometric factor, that gives the possibility of measuring LET-spectra with sufficient statistic in relatively short time interval and hence the corresponding Q. LET-spectra are accumulated through 24 hour periods and equivalent dose (H), absorbed dose (D), quality factor and flux (F) are measured every 10 minutes. The obtained data permit the estimate of the diurnal Q and Q in South Atlantic Anomaly. These values vary in the range of 1.4 – 2.2. The analysis of these values including their comparison with the calculated results is given in this paper.     

ABDOM的参数规范化与离散化改进

为了更好利用叠加式双阻尼振荡模型(ABDOM,Accumulative Bi-Damped Oscillation Model)来描述、预测和评估真实软件缺陷发现时序过程,在提出理想软件缺陷发现时序过程范型(ISPSDD,Ideal Sequential Process of Software Defects Discovery)的基础上,对ABDOM中软件缺陷发现阻尼 a 和软件缺陷发现周期阻尼 b 的规范化进行了进一步讨论,提出了软件缺陷发现时序过程质量评价指数 Q ,给出了其典型取值和相关意义,并将其引入ABDOM,最终得到了经过参数规范化和离散化改进后的ABDOM-Q_d,并利用一个真实的工程实践项目数据对ABDOM-Q_d 进行了验证.