A Series of Proton Flares in July 1985 from Observations by the Prognoz-10 Satellite and Vega-1, 2 Spacecraft

The enhancements of solar protons with an energy of more than 30 MeV, originating from flares in one active region and observed simultaneously aboard three spacecraft Vega-1, 2 and Prognoz-10 in July 1985, are analyzed and approximated in this work by using the reflection model [2]. The numerical values of several physical parameters (the parameters of distribution of solar cosmic ray (SCR) particles inside heliosphere traps, the coefficients of trap transparency) that are not observed by direct measurements are estimated.     

Factors influencing the heating of the auroral electrojet by high power radio waves

Results are presented from recent ionospheric modification experiments in which the EISCAT UHF radar measured the E-region temperature and density response to high power RF heating above Tromsø. A variety of electrojet conditions were encountered during these experiments. In particular, the electron drift velocity varied considerably allowing the heating efficiency of the RF heater to be investigated as a function of electron flow velocity. These observations constitute the first direct investigation of electrojet temperature modifications by high power radio waves and provide a test of a recent theoretical model in which the combined effects of RF heating and of natural plasma turbulence associated with the Farley-Buneman instability have been considered.     

Ulysses solar wind observations to 56° south

In the 25 months since Jupiter flyby, the Ulysses spacecraft has climbed southward to a heliolatitude of 56°. This transit has been marked by an evolution from slow, dense coronal streamer belt solar wind through two regions where the rotation of the Sun carried Ulysses back and forth between streamer belt and polar coronal hole flows, and finally into a region of essentially continuous fast, low density solar wind from the southern polar coronal hole. Throughout these large changes, the momentum flux normalized to 1 AU displays very little systematic variation. In addition, the bulk properties of the polar coronal hole solar wind are quite similar to those observed in high speed streams in the ecliptic plane at 1 AU. Coronal mass ejections and forward and reverse shocks associated with corotating interaction regions have also been observed at higher heliolatitudes, however they are seen less frequently with increasing southern heliolatitude. Ulysses has thus far collected data from 20° of nearly contiguous solar wind flows from the polar coronal hole. We examine these data for characteristic variations with heliolatitude and find that the bulk properties in general show very little systematic variation across the southern polar coronal hole so far.     

A high performance automotive radar for automatic AICC

The paper describes a recent effort to design, build, and test a 77 GHz radar to be used for “intelligent” cruise control of automobiles. An analysis of requirements is given, design trade-offs are accounted for, and main features of prototypes in manufacturing are detailed. The radar has been thoroughly tested and evaluated both under “controlled” conditions and on roads, also in dense traffic. Results so far are very promising     

Venus Express: Scientific goals, instrumentation, and scenario of the mission

The first European mission to Venus (Venus Express) is described. It is based on a repeated use of the Mars Express design with minor modifications dictated in the main by more severe thermal environment at Venus. The main scientific task of the mission is global exploration of the Venusian atmosphere, circumplanetary plasma, and the planet surface from an orbiting spacecraft. The Venus Express payload includes seven instruments, five of which are inherited from the missions Mars Express and Rosetta. Two instruments were specially designed for Venus Express. The advantages of Venus Express in comparison with previous missions are in using advanced instrumentation and methods of remote sounding, as well as a spacecraft with a broad spectrum of capabilities of orbital observations.     

The Motion of Coaxial Bodies of Varying Composition on the Active Leg of Descent

The motion of a spacecraft (SC) with double rotation and variable mass on the active leg of its descent is considered. The SC consists of two coaxial bodies. The coaxial scheme is used for gyroscopic stabilization of the SC longitudinal axis by the method of partial spin-up. The equations of spatial motion of coaxial bodies of varying composition are derived and approximate solutions for the angles of spatial orientation are found. The condition of decreasing amplitude of nutation oscillations is obtained, which allows the estimation of efficiency of the stabilization by partial spin-up. The errors in the magnitude and direction of the vector of braking thrust are also determined.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 3, 2005, pp. 224–232.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Aslanov, Doroshin, Kruglov.     

Chromosomal intrachanges induced by swift iron ions.

We measured the induction of structural aberrations in human chromosome 5 induced by iron ions using the novel technique of multicolor banding in situ hybridization (mBAND). Human lymphocytes isolated from whole blood were exposed in vitro to 500 MeV/n (LET=200 keV/micrometers, doses 1 or 4 Gy) Fe nuclei at the HIMAC accelerator in Chiba (Japan). Chromosomes were prematurely condensed by calyculin A after 48 h in culture and slides were painted by mBAND. We found a frequency of 0.11 and 0.57 residual breakpoints per chromosome 5 after 1 and 4 Gy Fe-ions, respectively. Inter-chromosomal exchanges were the prevalent aberration type measured at both doses, followed by terminal deletions, and by intra-chromosomal exchanges. Among intra-chromosomal exchanges, intra-arm events were more frequent than inter-arm, but a significant number of intra-changes was associated to inter-changes involving the same chromosome after 4 Gy of iron ions. These events show that the complexity of chromosomal exchanges induced by heavy ions can be higher than expected by previous FISH studies.     

Organization of cytoskeleton during differentiation of gravisensitive root sites under clinorotation.

Key role in cell gravisensing is attributed to the actin cytoskeleton which acts as a mediator in signaling reactions, including graviperception. Despite of increased attention to the actin cytoskeleton, major gaps in our understanding of its functioning in plant gravisensing still remain. To fill these gaps, we propose a novel approach focused on the investigation of actin involvement in the development of columella cells and cells in the transition zone of roots submitted to clinorotation. Both statocytes and cells in the transition zone represent the postmitotic cells which take origin in root meristems and are specified into graviperceptive (root cap) and gravireacting (transition zone) root tissues. The aim of the research was to investigate and compare the microfilament arrangements in root cap statocytes and peripheral root tissues (epidermis and cortex cells) in the transition zone and to find out how the actin cytoskeleton is involved in their specification under clinostat conditions. So far, our experiments have shown that under clinorotation the cytoplasmic microfilament network in the cortex cells in the transition zone is significantly enhanced. It is suggested that more abundant cytoplasmic microfilaments could strengthen the cortical actin cytoskeleton arranged parallel with the cortical microtubules, which are found to be partially disorganized in this area. Due to microtubule disorganization, the functioning of cellulose-synthesizing machinery and proper deposition of cell wall might be affected and could cause the alterations in the growth mode. But, in our case growth of the cells in the transition zone under clinorotation was rather stable. Due to our opinion, general stability of cell growth under clinorotation is promoted by mutual functional interrelation between actin and tubulin cytoskeletons. It is suggested that a strengthened cortical actin cytoskeleton restricts the cell growth instead of disorganized microtubules.     

Neuritogenesis: a model for space radiation effects on the central nervous system.

Pivotal to the astronauts' functional integrity and survival during long space flights are the strategies to deal with space radiations. The majority of the cellular studies in this area emphasize simple endpoints such as growth related events which, although useful to understand the nature of primary cell injury, have poor predictive value for extrapolation to more complex tissues such as the central nervous system (CNS). In order to assess the radiation damage on neural cell populations, we developed an in vitro model in which neuronal differentiation, neurite extension, and synaptogenesis occur under controlled conditions. The model exploits chick embryo neural explants to study the effects of radiations on neuritogenesis. In addition, neurobiological problems associated with long-term space flights are discussed.