Is the presence of oxygen on an exoplanet a reliable biosignature?

We revisit the validity of the presence of O(2) or O(3) in the atmosphere of a rocky planet as being a biosignature. Up to now, the false positive that has been identified applies to a planet during a hot greenhouse runaway, which is restricted to planets outside the habitable zone (HZ) of the star that are closer to the star. In this paper, we explore a new possibility based on abiotic photogeneration of O(2) at the surface of a planet that could occur inside the HZ. The search for such a process is an active field of laboratory investigation that has resulted from an ongoing interest in finding efficient systems with the capacity to harvest solar energy on Earth. Although such a process is energetically viable, we find it to be a very unlikely explanation for the observation of O(2) or O(3) in the atmosphere of a telluric exoplanet in the HZ. It requires an efficient photocatalyst to be present and abundant under natural planetary conditions, which appears unlikely according to our discussion of known mineral photochemical processes. In contrast, a biological system that synthesizes its constituents from abundant raw materials and energy has the inherent adaptation advantage to become widespread and dominant (Darwinist argument). Thus, O(2) appears to continue to be a good biosignature.     

火箭发动机推力瞬变的测量

任何测力装置都能用一个质量弹簧系统来描述,最简单地说:即通过一个具有刚度 K 和质量 M 的简单弹簧来描述,其中它的阻尼为 c,位移为 x,于是有M(d~2x/dt~2) c(dx/dt) kx=T,这里 T 为外加力。而大多数系统只测量 kx 项,这对低频情况是足够的。为了精确地记录推力的变化,从而要提高装置的固有频率,使之相对于推力变化的频率来说足够高,有时这是不现实的。为克服这一困难有两种可采用的途径。第一种方法是把运动方程的所有项合并到远远超过装置的固有频率所给定外力上。第二种方法是一个质量块在沿轴向作用的轴承上被发动机自由加速,加速度计给出推力/时间曲线。通过使质量块停止所需要的力对所预定时间内的积分而得到总冲。     

第三章 带有动力传动装置的行星式液压振动器

行星式液压振动器与惯性振动器有关,在这种振动器内部被作成实心、空心或在液压缸的端头带凸肩的工作元件(转子)多半沿壳体内的圆形轨道滚动。这种振动器的扰动力直接在接触点由转子传给壳体。这使得人们有可能在合理地选择材料和正确计算的情况下,制造出扰动力很大、非常坚固耐用和其它类型振动器无法达到的振动器。内装式结构方案有很高的可靠性和很长的工作寿命,因其内部不存在机械传动装置。     

Searching for life on Mars: selection of molecular targets for ESA's aurora ExoMars mission

The European Space Agency's ExoMars mission will seek evidence of organic compounds of biological and non-biological origin at the martian surface. One of the instruments in the Pasteur payload may be a Life Marker Chip that utilizes an immunoassay approach to detect specific organic molecules or classes of molecules. Therefore, it is necessary to define and prioritize specific molecular targets for antibody development. Target compounds have been selected to represent meteoritic input, fossil organic matter, extant (living, recently dead) organic matter, and contamination. Once organic molecules are detected on Mars, further information is likely to derive from the detailed distribution of compounds rather than from single molecular identification. This will include concentration gradients beneath the surface and gradients from generic to specific compounds. The choice of biomarkers is informed by terrestrial biology but is wide ranging, and nonterrestrial biology may be evident from unexpected molecular distributions. One of the most important requirements is to sample where irradiation and oxidation are minimized, either by drilling or by using naturally excavated exposures. Analyzing regolith samples will allow for the search of both extant and fossil biomarkers, but sequential extraction would be required to optimize the analysis of each of these in turn.     

Microbial survival rates of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under low temperature, low pressure, and UV-Irradiation conditions, and their relevance to possible Martian life

Viability rates were determined for microbial populations of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under the environmental stresses of low temperature (-35 degrees C), low-pressure conditions (83.3 kPa), and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (37 W/m(2)). During the stress tests the organisms were suspended in saltwater soil and freshwater soil media, at variable burial depths, and in seawater. Microbial populations of both organisms were most susceptible to dehydration stress associated with low-pressure conditions, and to UV irradiation. However, suspension in a liquid water medium and burial at larger depths (5 cm) improved survival rates markedly. Our results indicate that planetary surfaces that possess little to no atmosphere and have low water availability do not constitute a favorable environment for terrestrial microorganisms.     

HBM测量系统在航空航天中的应用

RUAG公司用HBM测量系统进行飞机全尺寸疲劳试验瑞士RUAG公司的研究人员对瑞士版F/A-18战斗机的加强结构进行了大规模的综合试验研究,以验证飞机结构是否能满足较高的要求,达到所需的5000个飞行小时的工作寿命。     

失落了的文明

在气候炎热的危地马拉丛林中,一群人在血红色的大金字塔下站了好几个小时.他们一动不动.所有的目光都集中在塔顶的石刻上.在那儿,国王的头上佩带着翎毛,一手持一柄双首鳄节杖,正要从留有祖先信息的神堂中现身而出.这群人虽然看不到国王的动态、却懂得这种宗教仪式的奥秘:通过服用致幻药飘飘然地进入阴间.国王会使用黑曜岩刀片或鱼脊骨,刺穿他自己的阴茎.随即掏出一根绳子穿过伤口,让血液沥到几张树皮纸上.然后他拿起带血的树皮纸将它点燃,从缕缕上升的烟雾中金蛇飞舞的幻象便呈现在国王的面前.     

应及时切实地检查原料需要计划系统

在过去的十年里,上千个制造公司在原料需求量计划系统(MRP—material Requir—ment Planning)上,采用了许多新技术。还有些公司不惜花费大量的时间和资金去设计原材料需求量计划系统,但都没有取得预期的效果。虽然企业的效益不断增加,库存量减少了20—40％,功效提高了5—20％,为顾客服务水平提高了10—50％,但大部分公司并     

汉莎开辟新的航空货运市场

汉莎航空公司目前正开拓一些新的国内和国际货运业务,并为此寻找新的货运枢纽和合作伙伴,以便巩固其世界最大定期货运商的地位。 该计划包括收回汉莎在货运分部中的全部股本,使其成为一个独立的经营实体。这是公司为摆脱赤字而采取的重大调整战略的一部分。汉莎管理委员会已同意成立独立的货运公司,并正在与工会进行协商。主要问题是雇员的养老保护问题,目前养老金是由政府提供的。雇员养老保护问