Electrophysiological, histochemical, and hormonal adaptation of rat muscle after prolonged hindlimb suspension

The perspective of long-duration flights for future exploration, imply more research in the field of human adaptation. Previous studies in rat muscles hindlimb suspension (HLS), indicated muscle atrophy and a change of fibre composition from slow-to-fast twitch types. However, the contractile responses to long-term unloading is still unclear. Fifteen adult Wistar rats were studied in 45 and 70 days of muscle unweighting and soleus (SOL) muscle as well as extensor digitorum longus (EDL) were prepared for electrophysiological recordings (single, twitch, tetanic contraction and fatigue) and histochemical stainings. The loss of muscle mass observed was greater in the soleus muscle. The analysis of electrophysiological properties of both EDL and SOL showed significant main effects of group, of number of unweighting days and fatigue properties. Single contraction for soleus muscle remained unchanged but there was statistically significant difference for tetanic contraction and fatigue. Fatigue index showed a decrease for the control rats, but increase for the HLS rats. According to the histochemical findings there was a shift from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism during HLS. The data suggested that muscles atrophied, but they presented an adaptation pattern, while their endurance in fatigue was decreased.     

Early renal changes in 45 degrees HDT rats

Background: Both microgravity and simulated microgravity models, such as the 45HDT (45 degrees head-down tilt), cause a redistribution of body fluids indicating a possible adaptive process to the microgravity stressor. Understanding the physiological processes that occur in microgravity is a first step to developing countermeasures to stop its harmful effects, i.e., (edema, motion sickness) during long-term space flights. Hypothesis: Because of the kidneys' functional role in the regulation of fluid volume in the body, it plays a key role in the body's adaptation to microgravity. Methods: Rats were injected intramuscularly with a radioactive tracer and then lightly anesthetized in order to facilitate their placement in the 45HDT position. They were then placed in the 45HDT position using a specially designed ramp (45HDT group) or prone position (control group) for an experimental time period of 1 h. During this period, the 99mTc-DTPA (technetium-labeled diethylenepentaacetate, MW=492 amu, physical half-life of 6.02 h) radioactive tracer clearance rate was determined by measuring gamma counts per minute. The kidneys were then fixed and sectioned for electron microscopy. A point counting method was used to quantitate intracellular spaces of the kidney proximal tubules. Results: 45HDT animals show a significantly (p=0.0001) increased area in the interstitial space of the proximal tubules. Conclusions: There are significant changes in the kidneys during a 1 h exposure to a simulated microgravity environment that consist primarily of anatomical alterations in the kidney proximal tubules. The kidneys also appear to respond differently to the initial periods of head-down tilt.     

使用连续流动法测量高氯酸铵表面积

1、引言为了予测复合固体推进剂的弹道性能,必须要知道推进剂中各组份的粒度或表面积。在塑料型推进剂的制造过程中固体粒子会发生机械破碎,尽管如此,仍发现高氯酸铵的初始表面积与推进剂的弹道性能有关。爆炸物研制公司(ERDE)测量高氯酸铵表面积的作法是采用以空气渗透法为基础的菲希尔(Fisher)筛分机。由于塑料型推进剂中使用的高氯酸铵的比表面积范围通常为1000～9000cm~2/cm~3(0.051～0.46m~2/g),因此,菲希尔法完全能满足这一要求。为了生产较高燃速的推进剂,爆炸物研制公司最近研究的推进剂配方中含有更细的高氯酸铵(9000～10000cm~2/cm~3)。在端羧基聚丁二烯和端羟基聚丁二烯两种橡胶型推进剂中,即     

批检发动机试车燃速计算精度的影响因素

大西洋研究公司提出了一种分析批检发动机燃速的计算机方法,该法揭示了工业上常用的数据测量方法的一些缺点,这些缺点增加了固体推进剂燃速测定的误差。造成燃速测定误差或不准确性的因素是:浇铸芯子的偏心度;芯子和壳体的不圆度,相应环境温度条件下药柱的变形;推进剂硫化时的收缩;测定燃烧终止的误差;测定燃烧开始的误差;压力测定的误差。除了上述误差因素外,大西洋研究公司发现,除非排除推力测量误差、喷管喉径测量误差、推进剂重量测量误差、药柱长度测量误差等一系列的误差,否则该方法的高精度的潜力就不可能完全实现。     

EDEN: a payload dedicated to neurovestibular research for Neurolab

The European Space Agency contributes to the Neurolab mission through the delivery of the ESA Developed Elements for Neurolab (EDEN). Those elements include one set supporting the Autonomic Nervous System experiment and one set supporting the Neurovestibular (so-called ATLAS) experiment. This second set is called the Visual and Vestibular Investigation System (VVIS). This paper describes the main characteristics of the VVIS and its various subsystems. The scientific objectives and operational constraints of the ATLAS experiment to be carried out with this equipment during Neurolab are presented to underline the correspondence between the VVIS design and the scientific requirements. Further scientific and technical perspectives for the VVIS, particularly within the scope of the International Space station, are also proposed.     

Space radiation enhancement linked to geomagnetic disturbances

Space radiation dosimetry measurements have been made on board the Space Shuttle. A newly developed active detector called "Real-time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD)" was used (Doke et al., 1995; Hayashi et al., 1995). The RRMD results indicate that low Linear Energy Transfer (LET) particles steadily penetrate around the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) without clear enhancement of dose equivalent and some daily periodic enhancements of dose equivalent due to high LET particles are seen at the lower geomagnetic cutoff regions (Doke et al., 1996). We also have been analyzing the space weather during the experiment, and found that the anomalous high-energy particle enhancement was linked to geomagnetic disturbance due to the high speed solar wind from a coronal hole. Additional analysis and other experiments are necessary for clarification of these phenomena. If a penetration of high-energy particles into the low altitude occurs by common geomagnetic disturbances, the prediction of geomagnetic activity becomes more important in the next Space Station's era.     

Motor timing under microgravity

Five participants were tested on their ability to produce accurate and regular inter-response intervals in the 350 to 530 ms time range. Three of them were members of the French-Russian CASSIOPEE 96 spaceflight mission, and the other two were control subjects tested on the ground. During spaceflight, the target inter-response intervals were increasingly undershot and the timing became more variable (less regular). The increase in the timing variability was mostly attributable to the internal timekeeping processes rather than those involved in motor execution. The results are discussed with reference to the physiological mechanisms possibly underlying the timing of fast serial movements.     

用于小型探测器类航天器的廉价地面系统

为了支持ＮＡＳＡ的小型探测器（ＳＭＥＸ）工程，哥达德航天中心的专用载荷部已开发研制了一个用于航天器总装和测试以及在轨运行的廉价地面数据系统。因为系统设计方案的灵活多变和低费用，也可用于哥达德中心的非ＳＭＥＸ卫星。本文介绍该系统以及开发过程中采用的设计原则，讨论在ＮＡＳＡ目前所见到的航天器操作发展趋势下该系统如何用于低费用操作。     

利用区间广义卡尔曼滤波器跟踪来袭弹道式导弹

用雷达跟踪来袭弹道式导弹,由于其运动模型、测量噪声的不确定性,成为需要研究的重要问题。经典广义卡尔曼滤波器(EKF)不再适用于这种不确定的问题,因此,引入一种新的区间广义卡尔曼德波(EIKF)方法来跟踪导弹系统。计算机仿真结果表明本EIKF算法对于这种不确定的、非线性弹道式导弹的测量问题是有效的。