Searching for biosignatures using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis of manganese oxides

Manganese oxide (Mn oxide) minerals from bacterial sources produce electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectral signatures that are mostly distinct from those of synthetic simulants and abiogenic mineral Mn oxides. Biogenic Mn oxides exhibit only narrow EPR spectral linewidths (～500 G), whereas abiogenic Mn oxides produce spectral linewidths that are 2-6 times broader and range from 1200 to 3000 G. This distinction is consistent with X-ray structural observations that biogenic Mn oxides have abundant layer site vacancies and edge terminations and are mostly of single ionic species [i.e., Mn(IV)], all of which favor narrow EPR linewidths. In contrast, abiogenic Mn oxides have fewer lattice vacancies, larger particle sizes, and mixed ionic species [Mn(III) and Mn(IV)], which lead to the broader linewidths. These properties could be utilized in the search for extraterrestrial physicochemical biosignatures, for example, on Mars missions that include a miniature version of an EPR spectrometer.     

Psychomotor performance during a 28 day head-down tilt with and without lower body negative pressure

Several factors may affect psychomotor performance in space: sensory-motor changes, sleep disturbances, psychological modifications induced by the social isolation and confinement. However, psychomotor performance is difficult to assess. A battery of standardized and computerized tests, so-called "Automated Portable Test System" (APTS) was devised to ascertain the cognitive, perceptive and motor abilities and their possible fluctuations according to environmental effects. Antiorthostatic bedrest, often used to simulate weightlessness, (particularly cardiovascular modifications) also constitutes a situation of social confinement and isolation. During two bedrest experiments (with head-down tilt of -6 degrees) of 28 days each, we intended to assess psychomotor performance of 6 males so as to determine whether: on the one hand, it could be altered by remaining in decubitus; on the other, the Lower Body Negative Pressure sessions, designed to prevent orthostatic intolerance back on Earth, could improve the performance. To accomplish this, part of the APTS tests as well as an automated perceptive attention test were performed. No downgrading of psychomotor performance was observed. On the contrary, the tasks were more accurately performed over time. In order to assess the experimental conditions on the acquisition phase, the learning curves were modelled. A beneficial effect of the LBNP sessions on simple tests involving the visual-motor coordination and attention faculties can only be regarded as a mere trend. Methods used in this experiment are also discussed.     

Effects of sublethal irradiation with helium ions (300 MeV/nucleon) on basic hematological parameters of mice

The aim of the experiment was to obtain new knowledge on the biological effectiveness of high-energy (300 MeV/nucleon) helium ions, which represent a part of the spectrum of cosmic rays. Male (CBA x C57BL)F1 mice, 4 months old, were exposed to a dose of 4 Gy helium ions (exposure rate 0.05 Gy/min). As a comparative standard irradiation the same dose of 4 Gy of 137Cs gamma-rays (exposure rate 0.07 Gy/min) was used. Material sampling was performed 6-8 h, 4 days and 9 days after irradiation for both experimental groups mentioned above. There were 7 animals in each group including the control group of non-irradiated mice. Eight basic hematological parameters of peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen and thymus were studied. On day 4 after the irradiation with helium ions, the values of leukocyte counts in peripheral blood, bone marrow cellularity and spleen cellularity were reduced to about 10% of the respective control values while the decline after irradiation with gamma-rays amounted to about 50%. These and other results presented reflect a high relative biological effectiveness of 300 MeV/nucleon helium ions.     

Composite impact vector control based on Apollo descent guidance

A new three-dimensional missile guidance law to control the impact vector against a stationary target is proposed. The composite guidance law has two well-known components: Apollo descent guidance and trajectory shaping guidance. These respectively linear and planar guidance laws are combined to achieve a specified impact direction. The main idea is to define an impact plane and to steer the missile onto this plane using Apollo descent guidance while concurrently performing trajectory shaping wi...     

军事星中的铷和石英频率标准的性能数据——在模拟太空环境中地检和实际轨道中所得数据的比较

航天计划中将增加原子频标的使用,以获得精确的时间和稳定的频率。GPS系统所具有的卓越的导航功能主要是由系统中采用的原子频标带来的。新一代的军事通信卫星(Milstar)载有多路复合铷原子频标以满足各种通讯和操作上的需要。第一颗军用通讯卫星,DFS-1使用了复合多路石英晶体振荡器,第二颗军用通讯卫星,1995年发射的DFS-2,是第一颗使用铷原子频标的军用通讯卫星。这以后发射的卫星都使用了铷原子频标。     

跨声速流自发凝结水滴的测量

应用基于多波长消光法原理发展的光学探针，测量了跨声速风洞中不同马赫数湿空气流自发凝结形成的水滴尺雨及浓度，并给出了实验结果。     

在(工作)持续时间短暂设备中伴随有燃烧的气体动力模型试验方法的特点

对在高焓、持续工作时间短暂设备中进行伴有燃烧过程的气体动力模型的试验方法的特点作了介绍。根据俄罗斯科学院西伯利亚分院理论及应用研究所组织这种试验工作所积累的经验 ,描述了解决各种各类与燃烧有关的问题的模型配备 ;在发动机进气道中的推力空气动力特性、压力及热通量的测量结果等等。由此说明试验时间为 50～ 2 0 0ms的热射式风洞是解决燃烧问题的可靠设备     

四向增强碳-碳复合材料的研究

四向织物增强碳一碳复合材料的研究工作正在进行中。这种复合材料是为制造在工作时承受很高的热应力的零、部件而专门设计的。本文概要地描述了四向织物并指出它与三向、七向、十一向相比较所具有的优点。四向织物是用单向碳纱按“抽拉工艺”制得的杆制造的,复合研究证明沥青在压力下浸渍-碳化工艺是优越的。     

双三角翼局歼击教练飞机的概念优化设计

双三角翼气动布局比三角翼飞机具有更好的大攻角空气动力特性。引入了评估教练机训练效能的作战分析法，研究了双三角机翼布局飞机空气动力特性的工程计算途径以及飞机性能指标的确定方法。以训练效能作为目标函数并选取机翼平面形状的几何参数为设计变量，采用多变量数值寻优方法，在战术技术指标及相关几何约束条件下，对某高级教练机的双三角机翼气动布局方案进行了优化选择。算例表明最优方案不仅比原准方案具有更高的训练效能，还改善了结构的受力情况，与工程实践吻合。     

复杂背景下快速移动目标的实时跟踪

提出了适用于跟踪在复杂背景下快速移动目标的实时跟踪系统.利用基于马尔可夫场模型的背景减除算法检测像素变化,以跟踪移动目标.分割掩膜的先验概率用马尔可夫场模型来表示,因此目标跟踪任务即被转化成最大后验问题.实验结果表明,本文算法在简单背景或复杂背景下的离线和在线移动目标跟踪方面均有较好的效果.