Chiral symmetry breaking and complete chiral purity by thermodynamic-kinetic feedback near equilibrium: implications for the origin of biochirality

Chiral symmetry breaking occurs when a physical or chemical process spontaneously generates a large excess of one of the two enantiomers--left-handed (L) or right-handed (D)--with no preference as to which of the two enantiomers is produced. From the viewpoint of energy, these two enantiomers can exist with an equal probability, and inorganic processes that involve chiral products commonly yield a racemic mixture of both. The fact that biologically relevant molecules exist only as one of the two enantiomers is a fascinating example of complete symmetry breaking in chirality and has long intrigued the science community. The origin of this selective chirality has remained a fundamental enigma with regard to the origin of life since the time of Pasteur, some 140 years ago. Here, it is shown that two populations of chiral crystals of left and right hand cannot coexist in solution: one of the chiral populations disappears in an irreversible autocatalytic process that nurtures the other one. Final and complete chiral purity seems to be an inexorable fate in the course of the common process of growth-dissolution. This unexpected chiral symmetry breaking can be explained by the feedback between the thermodynamic control of dissolution and the kinetics of the growth process near equilibrium. This "thermodynamic-kinetic feedback near equilibrium" is established as a mechanism to achieve complete chiral purity in solid state from a previously solid racemic medium. The way in which this mechanism could operate in solutions of chiral biomolecules is described. Finally, based on this mechanism, experiments designed to search for chiral purity in a new way are proposed: chiral purity of amino acids or biopolymers is predicted in solid phase from a previously solid racemic medium. This process may have played a key role in the origin of biochirality.     

利用TDRSS星上导航系统为地球观测卫星精密导航

地球观测系统卫星EOS—AM1的基本导航系统是TDRSS星上导航系统(TONS),为成象仪器标校和例行操作提供精密位置和速度信息。本文给出实时导航性能评价结果,看一下基于TONS的轨道和频率测定精度能否满足这一要求。给出了利用陆地—4卫星实际数据对EOS—AM1导航精度进行协方差分析和仿真研究的结果。研究了利用单向前向链路业务的局部(半圈)和全球(多圈)跟踪情况。还研究了利用比GEM—T3更精确重力模型提高导航精度的问题。本项研究的主要目的是评价额定性能、潜在敏感性并设法改进算法,例如TDRS星历加偏,电离层模型和重力过程噪声模型,这些都是已经准备采取的措施。结果表明TONS可以做得满足已明确的仪器导航精度要求—20m(3σ)。     

美国陆军白沙导弹靶场动目标分辨技术的开发

“动目标分辨”(TMR)是指为了从现有测量雷达设备中提取更多更好信息的高度专用的软件和处理方法的总称。在美国陆军白沙靶场,TMR正在彻底改变C波段相干测量雷达系统的用途以及人们对该系统的看法。只需要对雷达稍作花钱不多的改造,就可以实现一种技术,用以测得精密的弹道参数,获得目标相对于重心的运动以及相对于雷达的定向,而且可以检测目标发生的各种事件,如主发动机关机,导弹分离,弹头爆炸,以及子弹头释放等等。     

未来的小型机动式GPS靶场测量设备

技术的迅速发展将有可能研制出一种小型的靶场跟踪和遥测系统。这种系统将装在拖车上,能够跟踪3个飞行器并显示其空间位置及遥测数据。     

Letting thoughts take wing

Recent developments in neuroelectronics are applied to aviation and airplane flight control instruments. Electromyographic control has been applied to flight simulations using the autopilot interface in order to use gestures to give bank and pitch commands to the autopilot. In other demonstrations, direct rate control was used to perform repeated successful landings and the damage-adaptive capability of inner-loop neural and propulsion-based controls was utilized.     

Conversations: with Carl Pilcher [interview by Johan Benson

An interview with Carl Pilcher, science program director for solar system exploration at NASA, examines NASA's past, present, and planned missions to explore the solar system. Specific questions relate to the status of current and planned missions, science results of the Pathfinder mission to Mars, cooperation with the Japanese space agency, the status of the search for extraterrestrial life in solar system meteoroids and asteroids, mission size for more in-depth exploration, reports of water on the moon, and the exploration of near-Earth objects.     

PHYSIOLAB: a cardiovascular laboratory

PHYSIOLAB is a cardio-vascular laboratory designed by CNES in cooperation with IMBP, with double scientific and medical goals: -a better understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in blood pressure and heart rate regulation, in order to predict and control the phenomenon of cardio-vascular deconditionning. -a real-time monitoring of cosmonauts during functional tests. Launched to the MIR station in 1996, this laboratory was set up and used for the first time by Claudie Andre-Deshays during the French mission "Cassiopeia". The scientific program is performed pre, post and in-flight to study phenomena related to the transition to microgravity as well as the return to the earth conditions. Particular emphasis was placed on the development of the real-time telemetry to monitor LBNP test. This function was successful during the Cassiopeia mission, providing the medical team at TSOUP (MIR Control Center in Moscow) with efficient means to control the physiological state of the cosmonaut. Based on the results of this first mission, IMBP and CNES will go on using Physiolab with Russian crews. CNES will take advantage of the upcoming French missions on MIR to improve the system, and intends to develop a new laboratory for the International Space Station.     

中巴地球资源卫星在巴西的应用

重点介绍了当前巴西以用户为导向的中巴地球资源卫星(CBERS-1)数据在森林采伐监测、土地利用规划、影像制图和科学应用等方面的应用项目,对今后利用中巴地球资源卫星开展国家项目发表了一些看法。