Readaptation of the vestibuloocular reflex to 1g-condition in immature lower vertebrates (Xenopus laevis) after micro- or hypergravity exposure

The effects of altered gravitational conditions (AGC) on the development of the static vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and readaptation to 1g were investigated in the amphibian Xenopus laevis. Tadpoles were exposed to microgravity (μg) during the German Space Mission D-2 for 10 days, using the STATEX closed survival system, or to 3g for 9 days during earth-bound experiments. At the beginning of AGC, the tadpoles had not yet developed the static VOR.

The main results were: (i) Tadpoles with ug- or 3g-experience had a lower gain of the static VOR than the 1g-controls during the 2nd and 5th post-AGC days, (ii) Readaptation to response levels of 1g-reared controls usually occurred during the following weeks, except in slowly developing tadpoles with 3g-experience. Readaptation was less pronounced if, during the acute VOR test, tadpoles were rolled from the inclined to the normal posture than in the opposite test situation.

It is postulated that (i) gravity is necessarily involved in the development of the static VOR, but only during a period including the time before onset of the first behavioural response; and (ii) readaptation which is superimposed by the processes of VOR development depends on many factors including the velocity of development, the actual excitation level of the vestibular systems and the neuroplastic properties of its specific pathways.     

Interpersonal relationships in isolation and confinement: long-term bed rest in head-down tilt position

The long-term bed-rest was organized by ESA and CNES, in order to simulate the physiological effects of weightlessness: eight volunteers had to stay 42 days in bed, in a head down tilt position (-6 degrees). There were two subjects in a room, they could not be alone and it was difficult for them to have their own personal space and intimacy. In these circumstances, as in outer space, interpersonal relationships were of prime importance. This situation enabled us, through systematic observation, to analyze the evolution of the relational behavior in dyads, and to quote some social indicators of adaptation. Results show significant withdrawal, and the time spent alone was marked by the emergence, during the experiment, of specific preferential activities. Behavioral contagion was observed in each dyad (people engaged in the same activities at the same time), except in the one case of abandon. Moreover, the highest rates of inactivity and withdrawal were noted in this case. Verbal indicators were useful to comment these results and showed that, for all the dyads, one of the two subjects always played a regulating role by expressing a very positive perception of the situation. These results emphasize the importance of psycho-sociological factors in isolation and confinement. Thus, it appears that different modalities of interpersonal relationships, and not only verbal interactions, play a significant role in adaptation to stress situations.     

跟踪与数据中继卫星系统第二套地面终端站

在九十年代及后续的时间里,跟踪与数据中继卫星系统(TDRSS)第二套地面终端站(STGT)将为NASA天基网(SN)的用户提供高可用性指令和控制能力及更高级的服务。TDRSS这一天基网(SN)将是国际空间站和其它用户航天器及其地面支持部分的主要通信关口。STGT含有一套带备份的分布式计算机系统,对带备份的射频(RF)到基带的设备链进行组配与控制,以完成用户数据的透明传输、用户星的跟踪测轨和中继卫星(TDRS)的控制和监视。STGT与位于哥达德航天中心(GSFC)的NASA测控网控制中心(NCC)有接口,通过该接口对STGT进行自动调度和控制。STGT还备有一个TDRSS本地操控中心(TOCC2)和一套与国内通信卫星(DOMSAT)的接口设备。TOCC2用于本地监视和备份控制,接口设备用于数据分发。本文专门介绍STGT,并重点描述为用户航天器进行中继业务的各部分的配置及其监控情况。     

Body orientation and center of mass control in microgravity

The control of the body orientation and the center of mass position with respect to the feet was investigated under normo- and microgravity (space flight Altair), during erect posture and at the end of a forward or backward upper trunk movement.

It was observed that during erect posture, the trunk orientation with respect to the vertical was inclined some 6 ° forward in both subjects under microgravity, whereas it was vertical or slightly backward oriented under normogravity. Under microgravity, on the contrary, the initial position CM changed either backwards or forwards. This result suggests that the inclined trunk posture might be due to misevaluating the vertically under microgravity and that different control mechanisms are involved in orienting the trunk and placing the CM.

It was also noted that the final position of the CM at the end of the movement did not differ markedly between microgravity and normogravity. This result suggests that the kinematic synergies which stabilize the CM during uppertrunk movements may result from an automatic central control which is independent from the gravity constraints.     

Evaluation of various cleaning methods to remove bacillus spores from spacecraft hardware materials

A detailed study was made of the biological cleaning effectiveness, defined in terms of the ability to remove bacterial spores, of a number of methods used to clean hardware surfaces. Aluminum (Al 6061) and titanium (Ti 6Al-4V) were chosen for the study as they were deemed the two materials most likely to be used in spacecraft extraterrestrial sampler construction. Metal coupons (1 cm x 2.5 cm) were precleaned and inoculated with 5.8 x 10(3) cultivable Bacillus subtilis spores, which are commonly found on spacecraft surfaces and in the assembly environments. The inoculated coupons were subsequently cleaned using: (1) 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe; (2) water wipe; (3) multiple-solvent flight-hardware cleaning procedures used at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); (4) Johnson Space Center-developed ultrapure water rinse; and (5) a commercial, semi-aqueous, multiple-solvent (SAMS) cleaning process. The biological cleaning effectiveness was measured by agar plate assay, sterility test (growing in liquid media), and epifluorescent microscopy. None of the cleaning protocols tested completely removed viable spores from the surface of the aluminum. In contrast, titanium was capable of being cleaned to sterility by two methods, the JPL standard and the commercial SAMS cleaning process. Further investigation showed that the passivation step employed in the JPL standard method is an effective surface sterilant on both metals but not compatible with aluminum. It is recommended that titanium (Ti 6Al-4V) be considered superior to aluminum (Al 6061) for use in spacecraft sampling hardware, both for its potential to be cleaned to sterilization and for its ability to withstand the most effective cleaning protocols.     

采用非同时数据的平均电平自适应检测器

本文给出了一种平均电平自适应检测器（ＭＬＡＤ）的收敛结果。ＭＬＡＤ包括一个带有平均电平检测器（ＭＬＤ）的自适应匹配滤波器（用于空间相关输入）。由一组数据估算出的自适应匹配滤波器的最佳权数适用于一组统计独立的非同时数据。ＭＬＤ的门限由结果数据确定。此后,把一个候选单元与该门限相比较,得出了作为一些参数的函数的虚警概率和检测概率,这些参数是门限系数、匹配滤波器的阶数、用于计算自适应匹配滤波器权数的每个     

Animal protein production modules in biological life support systems: novel combined aquaculture techniques based on the Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.)

Based on the experiences made with the Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) which was primarily deveoloped for long-term and multi-generation experiments with aquatic animals and plants in a space station highly effective fresh water recycling modules were elaborated utilizing a combination of ammonia oxidizing bacteria filters and higher plants. These exhibit a high effectivity to eliminate phosphate and anorganic nitrogen compounds and arc. in addidition. able to contribute to the oxygen supply of the aquatic animals. The C.E.B.A.S. filter system is able to keep a closed artificial aquatic ecosystem containing teleost fishes and water snails biologically stable for several month and to eliminate waste products deriving from degraded dead fishes without a decrease of the oxygen concentration down to less than 3.5 mg/l at 25 °C. More advanced C.E.B.A.S. filter systems, the BIOCURE filters, were also developed for utilization in semiintensive and intensive aquaculture systems for fishes. In fact such combined animal-plant aquaculture systems represent highly effective productions sites for human food if proper plant and fish species are selected The present papers elucidates ways to novel aquaculture systems in which herbivorous fishes are raised by feeding them with plant biomass produced in the BIOCURE filters and presents the scheme of a modification which utilizes a plant species suitable also for human nutrition. Special attention is paid to the benefits of closed aquaculture system modules which may be integrated into bioregenerative life support systems of a higher complexity for, e. g.. lunar or planetary bases including some psychologiccal aspects of the introduction of animal protein production into plant-based life support systems. Moreover, the basic reproductive biological problems of aquatic animal breeding under reduced gravity are explained leading to a disposition of essential research programs in this context.