Influence of ionic inorganic solutes on self-assembly and polymerization processes related to early forms of life: implications for a prebiotic aqueous medium

A commonly accepted view is that life began in a marine environment, which would imply the presence of inorganic ions such as Na+, Cl-, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Fe2+. We have investigated two processes relevant to the origin of life--membrane self-assembly and RNA polymerization--and established that both are adversely affected by ionic solute concentrations much lower than those of contemporary oceans. In particular, monocarboxylic acid vesicles, which are plausible models of primitive membrane systems, are completely disrupted by low concentrations of divalent cations, such as magnesium and calcium, and by high sodium chloride concentrations as well. Similarly, a nonenzymatic, nontemplated polymerization of activated RNA monomers in ice/eutectic phases (in a solution of low initial ionic strength) yields oligomers with > 80% of the original monomers incorporated, but polymerization in initially higher ionic strength aqueous solutions is markedly inhibited. These observations suggest that cellular life may not have begun in a marine environment because the abundance of ionic inorganic solutes would have significantly inhibited the chemical and physical processes that lead to self-assembly of more complex molecular systems.     

Eye light flashes on the Mir space station

The phenomenon of light flashes (LF) in eyes for people in space has been investigated onboard Mir. Data on particles hitting the eye have been collected with the SilEye detectors, and correlated with human observations. It is found that a nucleus in the radiation environment of Mir has roughly a 1% probability to cause an LF, whereas the proton probability is almost three orders of magnitude less. As a function of LET, the LF probability increases above 10 keV/micrometer, reaching about 5% at around 50 keV/micrometer.     

MEDES clinical research facility as a tool to prepare ISSA space flights

This new multi-disciplinary medical experimentation center provides the ideal scientific, medical and technical environment required for research programs and to prepare international space station Alpha (ISSA) missions, where space and healthcare industries can share their expertise. Different models are available to simulate space flight effects (bed-rest, confinement,...). This is of particular interest for research in Human psychology, physiology, physiopathology and ergonomics, validation of biomedical materials and procedures, testing of drugs, and other healthcare related products. This clinical research facility (CRF) provides valuable services in various fields of Human research requiring healthy volunteers. CRF is widely accessible to national and international, scientific, medical and industrial organisations. Furthermore, users have at their disposal the multi-disciplinary skills of MEDES staff and all MEDES partners on a single site.     

The Kinelite Project: a new powerful motion analyser for Spacelab and space station

The goal of the Kinelite Project is to develop a space qualified motion analysis system to be used in space by the scientific community, mainly to support neuroscience protocols. The measurement principle of the Kinelite is to determine, by triangulation mean, the 3D position of small, lightweight, reflective markers positioned at the different points of interest. The scene is illuminated by Infra Red flashes and the reflected light is acquired by up to 8 precalibrated and synchronized CCD cameras. The main characteristics of the system are: Camera field of view: 45 degrees; Number of cameras: 2 to 8; Acquisition frequency: 25, 50, 100, or 200 Hz; CCD format: 256 x 256; Number of markers: up to 64; 3D accuracy: 2mm; Main dimensions: 45 cm x 45 cm x 30 cm; Mass: 23 kg; Power consumption: less than 200 W. The Kinelite will first fly aboard the NASA Spacelab; it will be used, during the NEUROLAB mission (4/98), to support the "Frames of References and Internal Models" (Principal Investigator: Pr. A. Berthoz, Co Investigators: J. McIntyre, F. Lacquaniti).     

一种对磁场和震动具有低灵敏度的简单新颖的铷原子频标

TFL开发了一种设计简单,耐用的新型铷原子频标。这个设计在传统的设计上进行了两项改进: ·采用适当的电路措施改进震动和加速度的频率灵敏度 ·进行适当的电路改进降低频标的磁场灵敏度     

采用以谐振隧道贯穿效应的光纤偏振器

我们首次演示了一种采用谐振隧道贯穿效应、多层漏泄、全光纤的光纤偏振器，实验证实器件的偏振水光比（ＰＥＲ）≈２７ｄＢ，插入损耗（ＩＬ）≈３ｄＢ，并有进一步改善器件性能的潜力；为分析该器件，提出了一种简单的平面波导模型，理论预计与实验结果完全一致，进一步研究表明：通过适当选取器件参数，对于波长λ＝０．６３８８μｍ，消光比为６８ｄＢ，插入损耗为０．２ｄＢ；当λ＝１．３μｍ时，实现ＰＥＲ约８０ｄＢ，插入损     

用于可重构机床控制系统的电力线通信技术

介绍了可重构机床对通信系统的要求,提出了一种基于宽带电力线通信(PLC,Power Line Communication)技术的新型通信系统.通过对机床电力线的信道特性和噪声频谱的分析与测量,选定了通信系统的载波频率和带宽等参数.为了对抗电力线信道的多径效应,提高频谱利用率,实现可靠高效的数据传输,采用正交频分复用技术(OFDM,OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiplex)作为调制解调方式.开发了PLC调制解调器,定义了物理层帧结构.最后以机床主轴伺服系统为例对该通信系统进行了实验验证.实验结果表明,该系统实现了有效数据传输率10 Mbit/s,误比特率(BER,Bit Error Rate)小于10-8的高效数据传输.     

惯性顶级推进系统故障分析

1983年4月4日,航天飞机STS—6发射,将第二台惯性顶级飞行器(IUS)送到低地球轨道。随后,IUS的第一级火箭(SRM—1)又成功地完成了使命,将该飞行器及有效载荷“跟踪和数据中继卫星(TDRS)”送到同步转移轨道。但在第二级火箭(SRM—2)工作时,推力向量出现了非指令的异常改变,使TDRS卫星误入歧轨。飞行失事后开展了广泛的分析研究,以确定事故起因和修正措施。本文介绍分析研究的各个阶段;①评定现有的飞行数据;②建立故障树;③评定事故起因;④配合性分析工作和部件试验的结果;⑤修改设计、工艺和验收试验要求;⑥发动机试验,以验证设计分析模型和确定今后飞行的置信度。迄今已进行的有:①甄别了最可能导致事故的原因;②通过两台全尺寸发动机试车验证了分析模型;③已开始实施各项修正措施;④已在制造新的飞行件;⑤总結这一系列研究/修正工作的最后审验发动机试车的准备工作正在就绪。