Implications of subzero metabolic activity on long-term microbial survival in terrestrial and extraterrestrial permafrost

The survival of microorganisms over extended time frames in frozen subsurface environments may be limited by chemical (i.e., via hydrolysis and oxidation) and ionizing radiation-induced damage to chromosomal DNA. In an effort to improve estimates for the survival of bacteria in icy terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments, we determined rates of macromolecular synthesis at temperatures down to -15°C in bacteria isolated from Siberian permafrost (Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5 and P. arcticus 273-4) and the sensitivity of P. cryohalolentis to ionizing radiation. Based on experiments conducted over ≈400 days at -15°C, the rates of protein and DNA synthesis in P. cryohalolentis were <1 to 16 proteins cell(-1) d(-1) and 83 to 150 base pairs (bp) cell(-1) d(-1), respectively; P. arcticus synthesized DNA at rates of 20 to 1625?bp cell(-1) d(-1) at -15°C under the conditions tested. The dose of ionizing radiation at which 37% of the cells survive (D(37)) of frozen suspensions of P. cryohalolentis was 136?Gy, which was ～2-fold higher (71?Gy) than identical samples exposed as liquid suspensions. Laboratory measurements of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation demonstrate the physiological potential for DNA metabolism at -15°C and suggest a sufficient activity is possible to offset chromosomal damage incurred in near-subsurface terrestrial and martian permafrost. Thus, our data imply that the longevity of microorganisms actively metabolizing within permafrost environments is not constrained by chromosomal DNA damage resulting from ionizing radiation or entropic degradation over geological time.     

Magnetism, iron minerals, and life on Mars

A short critical review is provided on two questions linking magnetism and possible early life on Mars: (1) Did Mars have an Earth-like internal magnetic field, and, if so, during which period and was it a requisite for life? (2) Is there a connection between iron minerals in the martian regolith and life? We also discuss the possible astrobiological implications of magnetic measurements at the surface of Mars using two proposed instruments. A magnetic remanence device based on magnetic field measurements can be used to identify Noachian age rocks and lightning impacts. A contact magnetic susceptibility probe can be used to investigate weathering rinds on martian rocks and identify meteorites among the small regolith rocks. Both materials are considered possible specific niches for microorganisms and, thus, potential astrobiological targets. Experimental results on analogues are presented to support the suitability of such in situ measurements.     

8PSK TCM调制在TDRSS信道中的性能

随着NASA局走向21世纪,新的航天计划,例如国际空间站、载人火星飞行计划和新的陆地星计划逐步展开,对TDRSS的数传要求很可能超出现有带宽。按NASA资助合同NAG5—1491,新墨西哥州大学(NMSU)空间遥测和通信系统的小Manual Lujan中心正在研究提高TDRSS数传容量的技术。这些技术包括利用高带宽效率调制格式来提高TDRSS转发器的数传     

一个由可匹配的互易无损五端口和优良的定向耦合器组成的理想六端口网络

由一个可匹配的互易无损五端口串接一个优良的定向耦合器组成的六端口。根据Engen所发展的理论,证明它具有理想六端口的特性。诸q点以120°间距分布在公共圆上。可匹配的五端口本身具有四路分配网络的功能,并与一个可匹配的非互易的无损三端口(环行器)非常类似。这种类似可用于设计几种可匹配对称微带线式的五端口,以便进行六端口测量。     

高Sc数下湍流喷流混合流的初步实验观测

对低斯密特数(Schmidt数)下的剪切流动已作过不少实验观测。为了解分子扩散作用和Sc数的影响,作者提供了一种低温喷流混合流实验设备,实验观测在高Sc数下喷流混合流动。实验观测表明:在高Sc数下的湍流喷流混合流动的基本流态与在低Sc数下类同;其喷流(火焰)无量纲长度与其质量流量比(Φ)也有类似关系。实验也部分观测了浮力对该喷流混合流动特性的影响。     

CALCULATION OF THREE DIMENSIONAL BOUNDARY LAYER EQUATIONS USING DIFFERENTIAL QUADRATURE METHOD

ＣＡＬＣＵＬＡＴＩＯＮＯＦＴＨＲＥＥＤＩＭＥＮＳＩＯＮＡＬＢＯＵＮＤＡＲＹＬＡＹＥＲＥＱＵＡＴＩＯＮＳＵＳＩＮＧＤＩＦＦＥＲＥＮＴＩＡＬＱＵＡＤＲＡＴＵＲＥ　ＭＥＴＨＯＤＴａｎｇＤｅｎｇｂｉｎ；ＣｈｅｎｇＧｕｏｗｅｉ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＡｅｒｏ...     

轴对称运载器纵向动力响应分析方法的改进

这份NASA报告刊出的是由Archer和Rubin提出的用有限元分析运载火箭轴向动力特性和动力响应的新方法。该方法是将火箭的主要部段——贮箱取成壳元,而贮箱内的燃料则取为液体元(不考虑液体刚度),其它非对称部件取成弹簧-质量单元。用这种组合模型可以用较少的自由度计算轴对称液燃火箭的纵向动力特性和动力稳态响应。该方法曾用于登月的土星V运载系统的轴向动力计算,也用于航天飞机哥伦比亚号主燃料箱的纵向动力计算,还用在法国阿里安火箭的纵向动力计算,都取得了较好效果。文章对所用公式有较详细的推导,对程序也做了一定的说明,该方法和程序具有较大实用意义。     

关于用近地卫星校准无线电外测设备的数据分析研究

1957年,东靶场首先提出了用近地卫星来校准导弹无线电外测系统的设想。这种方法的主要优点来自下述两个方面:①合作卫星处于自由下落状态,因此具有“平滑”的可预测的轨道;②卫星处于足够的高度,可由许多站进行重迭跟踪。1964年中期,这一计划终于作为一项专款项目来实施。在制定这一计划时,必须详细研究一下东靶场准备用于C波段和连续波雷达的飞行试验事后分析和处理的方法。第一步工作是作出完整的系统模型并尽量找出重要的误差源。找出了11种可能的误差源。对每一误差源开展了具体研究。有些作了深入的研究,有些仅仅浏览了有关文献,选择了校准工作所用的最理想的模型或方法。东靶场主要在下列几方面作了工作:①外测设备测量值及其误差的特性鉴定;②数据压缩和选择;③计算机程序鉴定;④卫星数据最佳区间的选择;⑤站址大地测量。最后将各项研究汇总起来形成初步处理校准卫星数据指导思想的雏型。本文扼要介绍这些研究结果以及初步处理校准卫星数据所得的某些结果。