Satellite observations of upper atmosphere O3 and HNO3 from the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) experiment on Nimbus 7

The Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) experiment is a limb scanning infrared sounder designed to measure vertical temperature profiles and the concentrations of key chemical compounds which are important in the stratospheric ozone-nitrogen photochemistry. This paper describes results from the O₃ and HNO₃ channels with emphasis on validation of the data. Similar discussions of results from the other channels are presented in two companion papers published in these proceedings.     

The microlesion concept in HZE particle dosimetry.

High energy, high-Z (HZE) particles are present in high-altitude and high-inclination satellite orbits. Most of the HZE dose above LET = 200 keV/micrometer is due to Fe nuclei. Individual HZE particles can damage several cells adjacent to one another along the particle track in tissue. The outcome has been described as a "microlesion" by D. Grahn. The present study attempts to define conditions for microlesions in specific tissues, to seek biological evidence that microlesions are produced, and to evaluate the microlesion as a potentially useful unit of dose in assessing hazards to spaceworkers. Microlesions in individuals cells and hair follicles have been described. Microbial studies have provided some evidence for independent secondary electron action. Whether or not a few hundred microlesions would be damaging to the whole organism depends upon the nature of damage to critical tissues. For example, cancer may occur if microlesions kill several cells in a straight line and mutate other cells alongside the particle track. Fe particle irradiation of the mouse Harderian gland (Fry et al., this issue) produces tumors efficiently. Microlesions in the lens, cornea, and retina need to be considered. Further dialogue is required before a final decision can be made concerning the most appropriate way to assess the HZE hazard.     

Cygnus X-1 revisited

We review the X- and gamma-ray observations of Cygnus X-1 and their theoretical interpretations, with emphasis on new developments since the mid-1970's. The overall data base at present is most consistent with the inverse Compton model by hot thermal electrons of T _e 10⁹ K, for the hard X-ray luminosity (10–200 keV). However, the origin of the soft X-rays ( 10 keV) in high states and gamma rays (> 200 keV) remain unsettled.Operated under DOE Contract W-7405-Eng-48.Partially supported by NASA Grant NGR 05-020-668.NRC/NRL Research Associate.     

What you thought you knew about motion sickness isn't necessarily so

Motion sickness symptoms, stimuli, and drug therapy are discussed. Autogenic feedback training (AFT) methods of preventing motion sickness are explained. Research with AFT indicates that participants who had AFT could withstand longer periods of Coriolis acceleration, participants with high or low susceptibility to motion sickness could control their symptoms with AFT, AFT for Coriolis acceleration is transferable to other motion sickness stimuli, and most people can learn AFT, though with varying rates of learning.     

Systolic time intervals after a seven-day orbital flight.

Heart rate, systolic time intervals (pre-ejection period, left ventricular ejection time , ejection friction, stroke volume and QT interval of two cosmonauts (Leonid Popov--L.P. and Dumitru Prunariu--D.P.) were studied before, during, and after an ergometric bicycle exercise test performed before and after the seven-day Soviet-Romanian orbital flight on the Soyuz 40-Salyut 6 Complex in May 1981. For this purpose one precordial electrocardiogram (ecg) and the ear photodensitopram (den) were recorded stimulaneously. The method used permitted recording even during exercise, Ecg and den signals were stored on magnetic tape, processed in an analogue device and in a digital computer. The data obtained after landing suggest a slight cardiac deconditioning in L.P., demonstrated especially by augmentation of the pre-ejection period, which was unchanged in D.P. corresponding to a sympathoadrenergic hypertonia. The seven-day orbital flight has not produced important cardiovascular changes.     

FIGARO: An experiment for pulsar and variable source studies in the MeV range

We present a large area, balloon borne, NaI(Tl) detector for low-energy gamma rays with temporal signature : FIGARO.The main detector is a mosaic of 12 NaI(Tl) tiles 22.5 × 15 × 5 cm, for a total geometric area of 4050 cm².In the energy band 140 keV - 6 MeV, the expected background counting rate at float altitude is in the range of two to three thousands counts per second.For pulsar analysis the expected 3δ sensitivity for 5 hours exposition time is 2.5 10^?4 ph/cm².s.MeV (150–500 keV) 1.5 10^?4 ph/cm².s.MeV (1–6 MeV). This performance, together with the large effective area and the relatively short duration of a balloon flight, make FIGARO particularly suitable for the identification of sources by means of temporal analysis.For objectives in the Northern sky, including the Crab pulsar, a transmediterranean flight is planned for the summer of 1982 ; a Southern mission is scheduled in Brazil for the fall of 1983 (Vela, PSR 1822-09).     

Expression of cloned genes of transgenic microorganisms introduced into man-made ecosystems.

Modeling of transgenic microorganism introduction into small man-made ecosystems can help forecast changes in expression of cloned genes under different conditions of existence. Introduction of the E. coli Z905/pPHL7 strain containing a plasmid with luminescent system genes of luminous bacteria led to changes in cell and colony morphology, reduction in metabolic activity of cells, and, as a result, a lower level of expression of cloned gene. A low concentration of nutrients has been shown to favor greatly the phenotypic change of cells of the recombinant strain. Expression of cloned genes changed due to: a lower concentration of plasmid DNA, a change in regulation of cloned genes, and a change in cells of biosynthesis of substrates needed for expression of luminescent genes. The conducted investigations can provide a basis for the use of marker transgenic microorganisms in closed ecosystems of different types. Grant numbers: 99-04-96017, 00-07-9011.     

Long clinostation influence on the ultrastructure of Funaria hygrometrica moss protonema cells

Changes in the ultrastructure of protonema cells of Funaria hygrometrica, cultivated during 20 days on a horizontal clinostat (2 rev/min), were determined by the electron microscopy method. About 20% of the cells were almost identical to those in the control, 20% were destructive cells, and in 60% ultrastructure changes were observed. The heterogeneity of the reaction demonstrated the evidence of sensitive cells on the clinostation process. Changes affected the ultrastructure of plastids, wall of the cell, and the form of the nucleus as well. Starch disappeared from chloroplasts practically completely, thylakoids swelled, granas frequently disappeared from plastids. Peroxisomes number in cells increased appreciably, width of cell walls decreased by almost half their size. Ca⁺⁺-binding sites were revealed in cytoplasma of cells. Electronocytochemical exposure of ATPases activity with the presence of Mg⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ ions showed that Mg²⁺-ATPase activity localization in clinosted cells was not too different from the control, while Ca²⁺-ATPase location presented differences in plasmalemma and Ca-sites. These changes are perhaps connected with the membranes permeability breaking and affect the plant cells adaptation to the influence of hypogravitation.     

Transformation of a delta: Converting estuaries to lakes

In this century large-scale transformations have been carried out in the delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt in The Netherlands. The following principal consequences are considered: the loss of estuarine ecosystems, the change in the process of sedimentation and erosion, and the development of new aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The ecological consequences of the transformation of the Grevelingen estuary into a salt-water lake and some surprising developments are described briefly. The need for a limited restoration of the water exchange between the lake and the North Sea is indicated, as well as the major impacts of the exchange. The necessity for the maintenance or restoration of estuaries, the ecological development and the possibilities of the new lakes, and the management of these lakes by engineering structures are discussed. Careful land-use planning and ecosystem management, backed by research, are needed to make the fullest possible use of the potential offered by new lakes. It is also concluded that salt lakes have interesting perspectives.     

Attitude and Oribit Estimation Using Stars and Landmarks

An extended Kalman filter is used to process line-of-sight measurements to stars and known landmarks providing a statistical indication of performance in estimating spacecraft attitude, orbital ephemeris, and the bias drift of a set of three strapdown gyros. The landmark measurements were assumed to have been taken from the imagery of an Earth-observing multispectral scanner. It is shown that filtering of these noisy measurements results in highly accurate estimates of the above parameters. Results are given showing the sensitivity of performance to various system parameters such as star tracker accuracy, errors in the knowledge of landmark position, and number of stars and landmarks processed.