Spatial factors and muscle spindle input influence the generation of neuromuscular responses to stimulation of the human foot

Removal of the mechanical pressure gradient on the soles leads to physiological adaptations that ultimately result in neuromotor degradation during spaceflight. We propose that mechanical stimulation of the soles serves to partially restore the afference associated with bipedal loading and assists in attenuating the negative neuromotor consequences of spaceflight. A dynamic foot stimulus device was used to stimulate the soles in a variety of conditions with different stimulation locations, stimulation patterns and muscle spindle input. Surface electromyography revealed the lateral side of the sole elicited the greatest neuromuscular response in ankle musculature, followed by the medial side, then the heel. These responses were modified by preceding stimulation. Neuromuscular responses were also influenced by the level of muscle spindle input. These results provide important information that can be used to guide the development of a “passive” countermeasure that relies on sole stimulation and can supplement existing exercise protocols during spaceflight.     

SCAT弹头热防护的简化计算方法

本文对自适应发汗冷却（ＳＣＡＴ）弹头的热防护问题作了简化分析，并导得了热防护计算的简化计算公式。对铊，铟，锡和水四种冷却剂的情况，给出了算例。本文导行的公式，计算较简便，可作为弹头热防护设计的一种工程计算方法。这种工程计算方法亦可以用于地模拟实验前的予算。     

Some Matched Filter Configurations for Infrared Systems

An analysis of the output of three alternative matched filter configurations in an infrared scanning system model is presented. The sensor is corrupted by thermal noise, generation-recombination noise, photon noise, and modulation noise, the latter providing an extreme discoloration in the signal passband. Expressions for the signal voltage density spectrum, signal pulse shape, noise power spectrum, and average noise power at the matched filter output are derived where the integral evaluations attendant to these derivations do not appear elsewhere in the literature. The paper also provides graphical displays of the signal-to-noise power ratio at the filter output versus various system parameters, noise power spectrum out of the matched filter versus ?, and the signal pulse shape out of the filter versus time. Also included are discussions of practically realizable approximations to the matched filters and curve fitting techniques for the signal pulse shape function.     

An Adaptive-Control Switching Buck Regulator-Implementation, Analysis, and Design

Describing-function techniques and averaging methods have been employed to characterize a multiloop switching buck regulator by three functionsl blocks: power stage, analog signal processor, and pulse modulator. The model is employed. to explore possible forms of pole-zero cancellation and the adaptive nature of the control to filter parameter changes. Analysis-based design guide lines are provided including a suggested additional RC-compensation loop to optimize regulator performances such as stability, audiosusceptibility, output impedance, and load transient response.     

The Dollars and Sense of Continuing Education

Lifetime earnings of a high school graduate of $150 000 can be increased to $725 000 with a doctorate. Continued study is required to ?stand still? with an engineering half life of ten years. These points, among others, point to the value of investment in continued education.     

Large-scale impact cratering on the terrestrial planets

Impact cratering as a geologic process on the terrestrial planets is addressed. The crater densities on the Earth and Moon form the basis for a standard flux-time curve, which can be used to date unsampled planetary surfaces and constrain the temporal history of endogenic geologic processes. The attached uncertainties and the shape of the flux curve (a rapid exponential decay for the period 4.6 – 4.0 by, followed by the establishment of a constant fluid by 3.5 – 3.0 by which continues more or less to the present) are such that only very old (3.8 by) and very young ( 1.0 by) surfaces can be dated with some confidence. Dating of intermediate-aged surfaces is more imprecise; a problem which is most significant for the geologic history of Mars.

The cratering mechanics of simple craters are fairly well understood. A transient cavity of roughly parabolic cross-section results from the combined excavation and displacement of the target rocks by the cratering flow-field, which can be approximated by the Z-model derived from shallow-buried explosive events. The walls of the transient crater are unstable and slump inwards, resulting in a final bowl-shaped crater partially filled by breccia. The formation process of larger, shallow complex structures is less well understood. Recent models favor the complete collapse of the initial cavity, with the dynamic uplift of the excavated cavity floor. Regardless of the driving force for uplift, yield strength of the target rocks must be drastically reduced during cavity modification by an, as yet, imprecisely known process.

The formation of large impact basins had a profound effect on planetary evolution. They define the basic tectonic and stratigraphic framework of the Moon and their secondary effects lasted for 10⁸ y. The evidence is less compelling from other planets, but a general feature appears to be the concentration of later endogenic activity in and around basins. On Earth, it is possible that basin-formation contributed to the establishment of the dichotomy between proto-continental and proto-oceanic crusts. The effects of impact continue into recent geologic history and may be linked to major biological changes on Earth, such as at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary.     

Ion formation by high- and medium-velocities dust impacts from laboratory measurements and Halley results

The ion formation processes by dust impacts have been studied qualitatively as well as quantitatively by dust accelerator laboratory measurements. Iron, carbon and metallized glass particles in the femto- to nano-gram mass range had been impacted on various metal targets in a velocity regime of v = 2 - 64 km/s. In the high velocity regime as relevant for the (retrograde) Halley encounter more than 99% of the ions produced are singly charged atomic, the rest molecular ones. The ion/atom ratios are apparently modified SIMS yields, the modification parameter being impact velocity dependent. A semiempirical formula was deduced for the determination of mass and density of the impacting particle from target and projectile ion yields. When evaluating the Halley encounter results, the elemental distribution of p/Halley dust appeared nearly to be solar; the organic fraction (CHON) could be characterized in a rough manner as fairly unsaturated. Oligomers of the monomers C₂H₂ (65%), CH₂O (25%), and HCN (10%) are probable.

With medium velocities (for prograde comet encounter), i.e. v = 15-30 km/s molecular ion types govern the mass spectra. Consequently, more chemical information of the projectile can be expected in this case, additional to the elemental distribution. Mass and density of the impinging dust particles can be determined as well.     

The search for extra-solar planetary systems.

I review the observational evidence for planetary systems around nearby stars and, using our own solar system as a guide, assess the stringent requirements that new searches need to meet in order to unambiguously establish the presence of another planetary system. Basically, these requirements are: 1 milliarcsecond or better positional accuracy for astrometric techniques, 9 orders of magnitude or better star to planet luminosity ratio discrimination at 0.5 to 1" separation in the optical for direct imaging techniques, 10 meters sec-1 or better radial velocity accuracy for reflex motion techniques and +/-1% or better brightness fluctuation accuracy for planet/star occultation measurements. The astrometric accuracy is in reach of HST, direct imaging will require much larger telescopes and/or a 50 times smoother mirror than HST while the reflex motion and occultation techniques best performed on the ground are just becoming viable and promise exciting new discoveries. On the other band, new indirect evidence on the existence of other planetary systems also comes from the observation of large dusty disks around nearby main sequence stars not too dissimilar from our sun. In one particular case, that of Beta Pictoris, a flattened disk seen nearly edge-on has been imaged in the optical and near IR down to almost 70 AU of the star. It probably represents a young planetary system in its clearing out phase as planetesimals collide, erode and are swept out of the inner system by radiation pressure. The hypothesized Kuiper belt around our solar system may be the analogous structure in a later evolutionary stage. Features of this type have been detected in the far IR and sub-millimeter wavelength regions around 50-100 nearby main sequence and pre-main sequence stars. I discuss a battery of new accurate observations planned in the near future of these objects some of which may actually harbour planets or planetesimals that will certainly dramatically improve our knowledge of planetary system formation processes and our peculiar position in this scheme.     

A procedure for calculating the damping in multi-element space structures

A procedure is outlined for estimating the damping in a multi-element space structure by incorporating distributed material damping and discrete nonlinear joint properties into a linear analysis. Tests have been conducted in which the transient response of a truss member is measured in free fall in a vacuum in order to obtain precise material damping characteristics. The force-state mapping technique is then used to identify the localized nonlinearities in joints by mapping the force transmitted through the joint as a function of the full mechanical state of the joint. The identified nonlinear joint parameters are then linearized using an equivalent energy approach which finds the equivalent linear stiffness and linear viscous damping by equating the integrated work done and energy dissipated by the nonlinearity to those of a spring and damper undergoing sinusoidal motion. The distributed material damping and localized nonlinear effects are then incorporated to form a linearized damped finite element model. Finally, an eigenvalue perturbation analysis is developed to explore the effect of introducing damping at the joints on the overall dynamics of the truss, and to obtain design guidance on where supplemental joint damping might optimally be added.