Liposome formation in microgravity.

Liposomes are artificial vesicles with a phospholipid bilayer membrane. The formation of liposomes is a self-assembly process that is driven by the amphipathic nature of phospholipid molecules and can be observed during the removal of detergent from phospholipids dissolved in detergent micelles. As detergent concentration in the mixed micelles decreases, the non-polar tail regions of phospholipids produce a hydrophobic effect that drives the micelles to fuse and form planar bilayers in which phospholipids orient with tail regions to the center of the bilayer and polar head regions to the external surface. Remaining detergent molecules shield exposed edges of the bilayer sheet from the aqueous environment. Further removal of detergent leads to intramembrane folding and membrane folding and membrane vesiculation, forming liposomes. We have observed that the formation of liposomes is altered in microgravity. Liposomes that were formed at 1-g did not exceed 150 nm in diameter, whereas liposomes that were formed during spaceflight exhibited diameters up to 2000 nm. Using detergent-stabilized planar bilayers, we determined that the stage of liposome formation most influenced by gravity is membrane vesiculation. In addition, we found that small, equipment-induced fluid disturbances increased vesiculation and negated the size-enhancing effects of microgravity. However, these small disturbances had no effect on liposome size at 1-g, likely due to the presence of gravity-induced buoyancy-driven fluid flows (e.g., convection currents). Our results indicate that fluid disturbances, induced by gravity, influence the vesiculation of membranes and limit the diameter of forming liposomes.     

Synaptic plasticity and gravity: ultrastructural, biochemical and physico-chemical fundamentals.

On the basis of quantitative disturbances of the swimming behaviour of aquatic vertebrates ("loop-swimming" in fish and frog larvae) following long-term hyper-g-exposure the question was raised whether or not and to what extent changes in the gravitational vector might influence the CNS at the cellular level. Therefore, by means of histological, histochemical and biochemical analyses the effect of 2-4 x g for 9 days on the gross morphology of the fish brain, and on different neuronal enzymes was investigated. In order to enable a more precise analysis in future-microgravity-experiments of any gravity-related effects on the neuronal synapses within the gravity-perceptive integration centers differentiated electron-microscopical and electronspectroscopical techniques have been developed to accomplish an ultrastructural localization of calcium, a high-affinity Ca2(+)-ATPase, creatine kinase and cytochrome oxidase. In hyper-g animals vs. 1-g controls, a reduction of total brain volume (15%), a decrease in creatine kinase activity (20%), a local increase in cytochrome oxidase activity, but no differences in Ca2+/Mg(2+)-ATPase activities were observed. Ultrastructural peculiarities of synaptic contact formation in gravity-related integration centers (Nucleus magnocellularis) were found. These results are discussed on the basis of a direct effect of hyper-gravity not only on the gravity-sensitive neuronal integration centers but possibly also on the physico-chemical properties of the lipid bilayer of neuronal membranes in general.     

Life sciences flight hardware development for the International Space Station.

During the construction phase of the International Space Station (ISS), early flight opportunities have been identified (including designated Utilization Flights, UF) on which early science experiments may be performed. The focus of NASA's and other agencies' biological studies on the early flight opportunities is cell and molecular biology; with UF-1 scheduled to fly in fall 2001, followed by flights 8A and UF-3. Specific hardware is being developed to verify design concepts, e.g., the Avian Development Facility for incubation of small eggs and the Biomass Production System for plant cultivation. Other hardware concepts will utilize those early research opportunities onboard the ISS, e.g., an Incubator for sample cultivation, the European Modular Cultivation System for research with small plant systems, an Insect Habitat for support of insect species. Following the first Utilization Flights, additional equipment will be transported to the ISS to expand research opportunities and capabilities, e.g., a Cell Culture Unit, the Advanced Animal Habitat for rodents, an Aquatic Facility to support small fish and aquatic specimens, a Plant Research Unit for plant cultivation, and a specialized Egg Incubator for developmental biology studies. Host systems (Figure 1A, B: see text), e.g., a 2.5 m Centrifuge Rotor (g-levels from 0.01-g to 2-g) for direct comparisons between g and selectable g levels, the Life Sciences Glovebox for contained manipulations, and Habitat Holding Racks (Figure 1B: see text) will provide electrical power, communication links, and cooling to the habitats. Habitats will provide food, water, light, air and waste management as well as humidity and temperature control for a variety of research organisms. Operators on Earth and the crew on the ISS will be able to send commands to the laboratory equipment to monitor and control the environmental and experimental parameters inside specific habitats. Common laboratory equipment such as microscopes, cryo freezers, radiation dosimeters, and mass measurement devices are also currently in design stages by NASA and the ISS international partners.     

高超声速变外形飞行器建模与有限时间控制

针对高超声速变外形飞行器变形带来的参数摄动大、变形过程建模难、外界干扰复杂等大不确定问题,研究了一类可变后掠飞行器建模与姿态控制问题,设计了一种有限时间控制方案。针对变外形飞行器建立了带有变形量的面向姿态控制的三自由度模型,该模型能够反映出变外形飞行器的内在影响。分析了变外形飞行器在典型状态下的气动特征,并给出了连续变形关键气动数据可行处理方案。针对可连续变形的飞行器设计了一套有限时间控制方案,并证明了系统稳定性。进一步考虑控制律中用到的指令微分项,设计了有限时间指令收敛滤波器。利用扩张状态观测器,估计不易测量状态和“综合扰动”。以考虑复杂干扰下的高超声速变外形飞行器为对象进行仿真,结果表明：所设计的控制方案可解决不同变形速率下、存在复合干扰的飞行器姿态控制问题。     

某RLV飞行器投放轨迹的设计与分析

对于可重复使用发射式飞行器RLV(Reusable Launch Vehicles)设计投放轨迹,并作轨迹特性分析.根据投放几何和飞行器性能约束确定目标轨迹,将轨迹分为四个阶段,分别为:消耗多余能量的S型转弯段;改变飞行器航向并转向航向校正圆柱HAC (Heading Alignment Cylinder)的过渡飞行段;航向校正圆柱段;进一步调整能量以满足终端要求的着陆前飞行段.在各段衔接处设置窗口检查,在轨迹仿真过程中对轨迹进行进一步调整,得到投放轨迹.作为导航和控制的参考轨迹,还对飞行器进行了沿轨迹的操稳性分析和检查.结果表明所建立的轨迹设计方法能够提供满意的精度;轨迹对常值扰动敏感,对高频扰动不敏感.     

飞行器航迹倾角的自适应动态面控制

针对飞行器纵向模型具有参数不确定性和外界干扰的特点,提出一种飞行器航迹倾角的自适应动态面控制方法.动态面控制方法通过引入一阶低通滤波器避免了传统反演设计存在的"微分爆炸"现象,采用自适应律对模型未知参数进行在线估计,并利用非线性阻尼项克服外界干扰.通过Lyapunov方法证明得出闭环系统半全局一致稳定,跟踪误差可通过调节控制器参数达到任意小.仿真结果表明:该方法能在简化控制设计过程的同时保证航迹倾角跟踪上预定轨迹,控制系统具有较强的自适应能力且对外界干扰具有一定的鲁棒性.     

基于ESO的可重复使用飞行器积分滑模控制器设计

考虑参数不确定和外界干扰对姿态控制的影响,开展基于扩张状态观测器(ESO,extended states observer)的可重复使用飞行器姿态控制研究.首先,对飞行器运动模型进行描述,在合理假设条件下,得到面向控制器设计的纵向和横侧向姿态模型;其次,分别针对纵向和横侧向姿态模型设计积分滑模控制器(ISMC,integral sliding mode control);然后,引入ESO对耦合作用、参数不确定及外界干扰进行估计,并在控制器中进行补偿;最后,六自由度仿真结果表明,本研究给出的控制策略能够实现对给定制导指令的稳定跟踪,确保安全再入飞行.     

基于飞行角度优化的蚁群改进算法

针对无人飞行器路径规划问题,实现了排序蚁群算法,并在此基础上,引入了针对无人飞行器飞行特征的飞行角度优化策略,并建立了转移概率的更新原则。模拟飞行环境建立栅格化地图,进行仿真验证,输出无人飞行器的最优路径,验证最优解的质量和算法的收敛速度,结果表明,该方法能有效消除飞行过程中的尖角和折返现象,更加符合无人飞行器的飞行特征。与传统的方法相比,算法的收敛速度和最优解的质量均得到了提升。     

Detection of microlesions induced by heavy ions using liposomes filled with fluorescent dye.

In cells irradiation by heavy ions has been hypothesized to produce microlesions, regions of local damage. In cell membranes this damage is thought to manifest itself in the form of holes. The primary evidence for microlesions comes from morphological studies of cell membranes, but this evidence is still controversial, especially since holes also have been observed in membranes of normal, nonirradiated, cells. However, it is possible that damage not associated with histologically discernable disruptions may still occur. In order to resolve this issue, we developed a system for detecting microlesions based on liposomes filled with fluorescent dye. We hypothesized that if microlesions form in these liposomes as the result of irradiation, then the entrapped dye will leak out into the surrounding medium in a measurable way. Polypropylene vials containing suspensions of vesicles composed of either dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, or a combination of egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol were irradiated at the Brookhaven National Laboratory using 56Fe ions at 1 GeV/amu. In several cases we obtained a significant loss of the entrapped dye above the background level. Our results suggest that holes may form in liposomes as the result of heavy ion irradiation, and that these holes are large enough to allow leakage of cell internal contents that are at least as large as a 1 nm diameter calcein molecule.     

高超声速飞行器抗干扰反步滑模控制

针对存在参数不确定及外部扰动下的高超声速飞行器轨迹跟踪控制问题,研究了一种基于反步法的抗干扰滑模控制设计方法.将非线性高超声速飞行器动力学模型表达为严反馈形式分步进行设计.采用滑模控制方法进行每步的控制器设计,并提出采用扩展状态观测器（ESO,Extended State Observer）方法实现对参数不确定及外部扰动产生的内外干扰进行估计,继而在控制中补偿.扩展状态观测器能保证对干扰的估计收敛到真值附近的邻域内,从而能够保证较好的补偿效果.通过0.5°附加干扰攻角和25%的气动参数偏差下的非线性高超声速飞行器动力学模型仿真结果验证了该抗干扰滑模控制方案对内外干扰的抑制效果和闭环系统良好的跟踪性能.      

Gravity effects on biological systems.

Theoretical investigations of the membrane-solution interface predict different effects of gravity on vertically and horizontally oriented planar membranes. Single channel events of gramicidin incorporated into phosphatidylserine planar bilayer membranes were measured in 0.1 M KCl solution, pH 7, at room temperature. The potential difference across the membrane was set to +/- 70 mV. The mean channel current was observed to be about 20% higher in horizontally oriented membranes compared to vertical membranes. This is in good agreement with the theoretical considerations and demonstrates that gravity does affect membrane processes by interaction with the membrane-solution interface which is a ubiquitous structure in biological systems.     

Changes in the central nervous system during long-duration space flight: implications for neuro-imaging.

The purpose of this paper is to review the potential functional and morphological effects of long duration space flight on the human central nervous system (CNS) and how current neuroimaging techniques may be utilized to study these effects. It must be determined if there will be any detrimental changes to the CNS from long term exposure to the space environment if human beings are to plan interplanetary missions or establish permanent space habitats. Research to date has focused primarily on the short term changes in the CNS as the result of space flight. The space environment has many factors such as weightlessness, electromagnetic fields, and radiation, that may impact upon the function and structure of the CNS. CNS changes known to occur during and after long term space flight include neurovestibular disturbances, cephalic fluid shifts, alterations in sensory perception, changes in proprioception, psychological disturbances, and cognitive changes. Animal studies have shown altered plasticity of the neural cytoarchitecture, decreased neuronal metabolism in the hypothalamus, and changes in neurotransmitter concentrations. Recent progress in the ability to study brain morphology, cerebral metabolism, and neurochemistry in vivo in the human brain would provide ample opportunity to investigate many of the changes that occur in the CNS as a result of space flight. These methods include positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).     

Optical performance of PHEBUS/EUV detector onboard BepiColombo

BepiColombo, a mission of ESA (European Space Agency) in cooperation with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), will explore Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun. BepiColombo will launch in 2014 on a journey lasting up to six and a half years; the data gathering phase should occupy a one year nominal mission, with a possible extension of another year. The data which will be brought back from the orbiters will tell us about the Hermean surface, atmospheric composition, and magnetospheric dynamics; it will also contribute to understanding the history and formation of terrestrial planets. The PHEBUS (Probing of Hermean Exosphere by Ultraviolet Spectroscopy) instrument will be flown on MPO: Mercury Planetary Orbiter, one of the two BepiColombo orbiters. The main purpose of the instrument is to reveal the composition and the distribution of the exosphere of Mercury through EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet: 55–155 nm) and FUV (Far Ultraviolet: 145–315 nm) measurements. A consortium composed of four main countries has been formed to build it. Japan provides the two detectors (EUV and FUV), Russia implements the scanning system, and France and Italy take charge of the overall design, assembly, test, integration, and also provide two small NUV (Near Ultraviolet) detectors (for the light from calcium and potassium molecules). An optical prototype of the EUV detector which is identical to the flight configuration has been manufactured and evaluated. In this paper, we show the first spectra results observed by the EUV channel optical prototype. We also describe the design of PHEBUS and discuss the possibility of detecting noble gases in Mercury’s exosphere taking the experimental results so far into account.     

Cytochemical localization of calcium in soybean root cap cells in microgravity.

The antimonate precipitation technique was used to evaluate the effects of microgravity and ethylene on the cellular and subcellular distribution of free calcium ions in soybean root apices. Soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr.]) dry seeds were launched, activated by hydration, and germinated in the presence of KMnO4 (to remove ethylene) and in its absence onboard the space shuttle Columbia during the STS-87 mission. Primary root apices of 6-day old seedlings were fixed for electron microscopy after landing. Ultrastructural studies indicated that antimonate precipitation appeared as individual electron-dense particles which were more or less round in shape and varied in diameter from 10 nm (minimum size beginning from which the particles were well identified) to 90 nm. It was revealed that analyzed root cap cells varied in both the precipitate particle sizes and the amount particles per unit of the cellular area. In both flight and ground control treatments, antimonate precipitation level increases from apical meristem cells to peripheral (secretory) cells of root apices. In root cap statocytes, subcellular localization of precipitate particles was revealed in the cytoplasm, nucleus and small vacuoles. The quantitative analysis showed a reduction of precipitate density in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and an increase in precipitate density in the vacuoles from statocytes of both spaceflight treatments in comparison with ground controls.     

Measurements of water vapour in the mesosphere with the spectral absorption line imager (SALI)

Water vapour concentration is one of the most important, yet one of the least known quantities of the mesosphere. Knowledge of water vapour concentration is the key to understanding many mesospheric processes, including the one that is primary focus of our investigation, Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC). The processes of formation and occurrence parameters of PMC constitute an interesting problem in their own right, but recent evidence had been provided which suggests that PMC are a critical indicator of climate change. In this context the feasibility of a low cost method of water vapour measurements using an instrument carried aloft by a sounding rocket has been examined and some of the results discussed. It is proposed to measure the strength of the 936nm water absorption line in a solar occultation configuration employing a CCD detector. This leads to the design of a small, low cost and low-mass instrument, which can be flown on a small rocket, of the type of the Orbital Sciences Corporation Viper 5. Alternatively the instrument can be flown as a “passenger” on larger rocket carrying other experiments. In either case flight costs are relatively low. Some performance simulations are presented showing that the instrument we have designed will be sufficiently sensitive to measure water vapor in concentrations that are expected at the summer mesopause, about 85 km height. Sufficient payload design work was carried out showing that the structural, thermal and electrical requirements for a flight on the Viper 5 rocket can be met and thus making the experiment feasible for a flight.     

Transient effects of microgravity on early embryos of Xenopus laevis.

In order to study the role of gravity on the early development of the clawed toad Xenopus laevis, we performed an experiment on the Maser-6 sounding rocket launched from Kiruna (Sweden) on 4 Nov 1993. The aim was to find out whether a short period of microgravity during fertilization and the first few minutes of development does indeed result in abnormal axis formation as was suggested by a pilot experiment on the Maser 3 in 1989. On the Maser 6 we used two new technical additions in the Fokker CIS unit, viz. a 1-g control centrifuge and a video recording unit which both worked successfully. The 1-g control centrifuge was used to discriminate between the influences of flight perturbations and microgravity. After fertilization shortly before launch, one of the first indications of successful egg activation, the cortical contraction, was registered in microgravity and on earth. Analysis of the video tapes revealed that the cortical contraction in microgravity starts earlier than at 1 g on earth. After recovery of the eggs fertilized in microgravity and culture of the embryos on earth, the morphology of the blastocoel has some consistent differences from blastulae from eggs fertilized in the 1-g centrifuge of the rocket. However from the gastrula stage onward, the microgravity embryos apparently recover and resume normal development: the XBra gene is normally expressed, and histological examination shows normal axis formation.     

热毛细液层非模态稳定性分析

利用非模态稳定性方法研究了亚临界情况下的热毛细液层对初始扰动和外加激励的敏感性.通过瞬态增长函数和反馈函数分别反映流场对初始扰动和外加激励的放大.研究结果表明, 小Prandtl数(Pr)下的亚临界流动对初始扰动和外加激励均十分敏感,最大扰动放大与Reynolds数(Re)的平方近似成正比.在大Pr下,只有回流的亚临界...     

Technology development for a long duration,mid-cloud level Venus balloon

This paper describes the results of ongoing technology development activities for a Venus spherical superpressure balloon capable of flying for long durations (30 days) in the middle cloud layer at an altitude of 55.5 km. Data is presented from a successful aerial deployment and inflation flight experiment on a 5.5 m diameter prototype balloon conducted at a 2.5 km altitude above the Earth. Although the balloon in that test was not released for free flight, all other steps in the deployment and inflation process were successfully executed. Experimental and computational results are also presented from an investigation of the stress concentration phenomenon at the junction of the metal end fitting and fabric end cap of the prototype Venus balloon. Good agreement was found between the simulation and experimental results and a stress concentration factor of 1.55 determined for this end cap design compared to the expectations of thin membrane theory. Finally, results are presented for a new, second-generation Venus balloon material utilizing Aclar™ film instead of Teflon. Optical property and sulfuric acid tolerance data are presented for this material based on laboratory testing of samples.