Toward optimizing lighting as a countermeasure to sleep and circadian disruption in space flight

Light is being used as a pre-launch countermeasure to circadian and sleep disruption in astronauts. The effect of light on the circadian system is readily monitored by measurement of plasma melatonin. Our group has established an action spectrum for human melatonin regulation and determined the region of 446-477 nm to be the most potent for suppressing plasma melatonin. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 460 and 555 nm for suppressing melatonin using a within-subjects design. Subjects (N=12) were exposed to equal photon densities (7.18 x 10(12) photons/cm2/s) at 460 and 555 nm. Melatonin suppression was significantly stronger at 460 nm (p<0.02). An extension to the action spectrum showed that 420 nm light at 16 and 32 microW/cm2 significantly suppressed melatonin (p<0.04 and p<0.002). These studies will help optimize lighting countermeasures to circadian and sleep disruption during spaceflight.     

Caenorhabditis elegans survives atmospheric breakup of STS-107, space shuttle Columbia

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a popular organism for biological studies, is being developed as a model system for space biology. The chemically defined liquid medium, C. elegans Maintenance Medium (CeMM), allows axenic cultivation and automation of experiments that are critical for spaceflight research. To validate CeMM for use during spaceflight, we grew animals using CeMM and standard laboratory conditions onboard STS-107, space shuttle Columbia. Tragically, the Columbia was destroyed while reentering the Earth's atmosphere. During the massive recovery effort, hardware that contained our experiment was found. Live animals were observed in four of the five recovered canisters, which had survived on both types of media. These data demonstrate that CeMM is capable of supporting C. elegans during spaceflight. They also demonstrate that animals can survive a relatively unprotected reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, which has implications with regard to the packaging of living material during space flight, planetary protection, and the interplanetary transfer of life.     

Evaluation of spontaneous baroreflex response after 28 days head down tilt bedrest

The spontaneous baroreflex response was evaluated during supine rest and head up tilt (60 degrees) before and immediately after a 28 day 6 degrees HDT bedrest in 6 healthy adult men (age 30-42 years). Sequences of 3 or more beats where RR-interval and systolic blood pressure changed in the same direction were used to evaluate baroreflex response slope (BRS). Prior to bedrest, the mean BRS and RR-interval were 18.0 +/- 3.9 ms/mm Hg and 926 +/- 61 ms at rest and 10.5 +/- 2.5 ms/mm Hg and 772 +/- 63 ms during the first 10 min of 60 degrees tilt. Following bedrest, these values changed to 15.6 +/- 2.7 ms/mm Hg and 780 +/- 53 ms at rest, and to 6.5 +/- 1.2 ms/mm Hg and 636 +/- 44 ms during tilt. Thus, (1) the spontaneous baroreflex can be evaluated in human subjects during experiments of orthostatic stress; (2) the baroreflex slope was reduced on going from supine to the head up tilt position; and (3) 28 days of bedrest reduced the spontaneous baroreflex slope.     

An appraisal of the value of vitamin B12 in the prevention of motion sickness

Unpublished reports have suggested that hydroxycobalamin (B12, i.m.) prevents motion sickness. Some biomedical evidence supports this contention in that B12 influences the metabolism of histidine and choline; dietary precursors to neurotransmitters with established roles in motion sickness. Susceptibility to motion sickness was evaluated after B12 (1000 micrograms, i.m.). Subjects initially completed vestibular function and motion sickness susceptibility tests to establish normal vestibular function. The experimental motion stressor was a modified coriolis sickness susceptibility test. Subjects executed standardized head movements at successively higher RPM until a malaise III endpoint was reached. Following two baseline tests with this motion stressor, subjects received a B12 injection, a second injection two weeks later, and a final motion sickness test three weeks later. No significant differences in susceptibility were noted after B12. Hematological parameters revealed no B12 deficiency before injection. The possibility that patients with B12 deficiencies are more susceptible to motion sickness cannot be ruled out.     

基于蜂群算法的变循环发动机最小耗油率优化

性能寻优控制是使变循环发动机满足长寿命、低油耗和大推力需求的主要途径,也是实现飞机推进系统综合控制的关键技术.基于双外涵变循环发动机非线性数学模型,在满足发动机各部件物理约束条件和推力条件下,采用人工蜂群算法对变循环发动机典型亚声速巡航点(H=11 km,Ma=0.8)耗油率进行了寻优分析,找到了耗油率最小条件下发动机6个几何可调参数、5个发动机循环参数最优值.结果表明:亚声速巡航点的耗油率在优化后比优化前降低了4.5％,从而证实人工蜂群算法能够完成变循环发动机多维优化问题.     

基于虚温定义的粘弹性有限元方法

基于NARAYANASWAMY提出的虚温定义,用虚温表示的温度变化产生的折算应变率替代Swanson模型中的应变率修正函数,获得了基于虚温定义的粘弹性材料的应力应变本构方程,并导出基于虚温定义的粘弹性非线性有限单元法计算公式。计算结果验证了此基于虚温定义的粘弹性分析方法的正确性。     

运用数字信号处理技术的转动速率检测和补偿

光纤陀螺研制的头十年重点主要放在光学元件的性能上；现在越来越多的注意力已转移到生产、装配过程，在恶劣环境下的性能，以及很重要的成本上。受温度、噪声和其他因素影响的模拟电路被较复杂的数字线路板所取代，原因是数字线路板有较高的性能、较小的空间和较低的成本。线路板还能进行温度效应的补偿并能满足用户的特殊要求，例如除角度速率外，还要求对角速率进行积分求得角度。     

从1970至1995年的惯性导航技术发展概况

自１９７０年开始的这段时间，以集中精力推进新的导航技术的发展为其特点。由于今天几乎所有任务的性能需求都可以由２５年前的仪表加以满足，因而有理由提出这样一个问题，即什么因素驱动惯性技术的发展。对这个问题的回答也批了未来２５年技术发展可能走的道路和方向。干式调谐二自由度陀螺仪的出现与完善，光学陀螺、谐振陀螺、石英谐振加速度计及微机械硅仪表的兴起都受一个目的和一个需要的驱动，目的是提高惯性系统的寿命、降