Domain evolution and functional diversification of sulfite reductases

Sulfite reductases are key enzymes of assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfur metabolism, which occur in diverse bacterial and archaeal lineages. They share a highly conserved domain "C-X5-C-n-C-X3-C" for binding siroheme and iron-sulfur clusters that facilitate electron transfer to the substrate. For each sulfite reductase cluster, the siroheme-binding domain is positioned slightly differently at the N-terminus of dsrA and dsrB, while in the assimilatory proteins the siroheme domain is located at the C-terminus. Our sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the siroheme-binding domain shows that sulfite reductase sequences diverged from a common ancestor into four separate clusters (aSir, alSir, dsr, and asrC) that are biochemically distinct; each serves a different assimilatory or dissimilatory role in sulfur metabolism. The phylogenetic distribution and functional grouping in sulfite reductase clusters (dsrA and dsrB vs. aSiR, asrC, and alSir) suggest that their functional diversification during evolution may have preceded the bacterial/archaeal divergence.     

Trojans in habitable zones

With the aid of numerical experiments we examined the dynamical stability of fictitious terrestrial planets in 1:1 mean motion resonance with Jovian-like planets of extrasolar planetary systems. In our stability study of the so-called "Trojan" planets in the habitable zone, we used the restricted three-body problem with different mass ratios of the primary bodies. The application of the three-body problem showed that even massive Trojan planets can be stable in the 1:1 mean motion resonance. From the 117 extrasolar planetary systems only 11 systems were found with one giant planet in the habitable zone. Out of this sample set we chose four planetary systems--HD17051, HD27442, HD28185, and HD108874--for further investigation. To study the orbital behavior of the stable zone in the different systems, we used direct numerical computations (Lie Integration Method) that allowed us to determine the escape times and the maximum eccentricity of the fictitious "Trojan planets."     

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.     

Physiological and biomechanical considerations for a human Mars mission

Evolving on Earth has made humans perfectly adapted, both physiologically and biomechanically, to its gravity and atmospheric conditions. Leaving the Earth and its protective environment, therefore, results in the degradation of a number of human systems. Long-duration stays on the International Space Station (ISS) are accompanied by significant effects on crew's cardiovascular, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems. Bone loss and muscle atrophy are experienced at a rate of 1-3% and 5% per month respectively, while VO2 (oxygen consumption) measurements are reduced by approximately 25% after a few weeks in space. If these figures are simply extrapolated, a future human mission to Mars will be seriously jeopardised and crews may find they cross the threshold of bone and muscle loss and aerobic fitness--ultimately with them being unable to return to Earth. When arriving on Mars, considerable biomechanical alterations will also occur. Optimum walking speeds will be approximately 30% lower and transitioning from a walk to a run will occur at a speed 25% slower. Peak vertical forces will be reduced by as much as 50%, while stride length, stride time and airborne time will all increase. On Mars, half as much energy will be required to travel the equivalent distance on Earth and it will be 65% more economical to run rather than to walk.     

全球定位系统用作洲际导弹制导系统鉴定工具的测量性能

八十年代初期,在两次民兵Ⅲ型导弹发射中(编号为PVM-18,19),试飞了一种四信道全球定位系统(GPS)接收机——弹载接收设备(MBRS)。这两次发射试验是称为“飞-2”系列飞行中的一部分。每次带两个NS20惯性测量装置。这两次试验的主要目的是在洲际导弹实际飞行环境中验证、测定全球定位系统的性能。本文概括了这两次飞行中GPS性能的分析结果。由此验证了如何利用这种质量的数据来高精度地鉴定制导误差,并用该数据来识别出飞行过程中各种制导误差。这两次试飞所得到的GPS数据证实了短期精度达到了预期能力。典型的随机误差为2英尺~*和0.01英尺/秒(一秒平均)。有了这一精度就可利用GPS作为外部测量仪器,对自由段中摆式积分陀螺加速度表(PIGA)的磁敏感效应进行直接观测。实现这种观测还是第一次。由于缺乏合适的标准,尚不容易进行绝对精度鉴定。显然,GPS的精度比同时参与导弹跟踪的雷达(多台)的好,拟合后残差非常一致,说明总精度很高。因此可得出结论,GPS的总精度达到了预期性能指标。 (本文常用缩略语AIRS——高级惯性基准球,BREW——民兵导弹上装的第二惯性测量装置,CSDL——Charles Stark Draper实验室,ECI——地心惯性座标系,GPS——全球定位系统,MBRS——导弹装载的GPS接收机,MISTRAM——米斯特拉姆,高精度无线电外测系统,PIGA——摆式积分陀螺加速度表,PVB——民兵导弹试验编号,TI——德克萨斯仪器公司)     

先进的航天发动机试验

本文报导一种航天发动机的高空模拟点火试验。这种发动机综合利用了几种先进技术:90%固体燃料的端羟基聚丁二烯/铝粉/过氯酸铵/奥克托金推进剂;在凯夫拉壳体内的头端满装药;无支撑的整体喉部和收敛段入口;特轻的喷管和用充气膨胀的作动筒展开的可延伸出口锥。这次试验结束了法国欧洲动力公司和美国联合工艺公司化学系统分部之间为期两年的分工协作的研究和试制工作。所达到的比冲值被认为是复合推进剂在样机发动机中的一个最高记录。     

带有补片电极的矩形AT切石英片的厚度切变、厚度扭转和弯曲振动

本文研究了补片《矩形》电极尺寸和质量对镀膜矩形晶体片的振动和能陷的影响。文中采用晶体片振动的Mindlin二维近似方程来保留厚度切变、厚度扭转和弯曲的耦合膜。通过采用位移公式以有限元法获得数值解,此解满足晶体片的边缘静止条件和在晶体片镀膜与非镀膜交界处的应力和位移的连续条件。文內对位置对称的补片电极矩形AT切石英片进行了数值计算,获得了晶体片和电极不同尺寸和不同质量时的谐振频率及其相应的二维振动膜。Mindlin和Lee,Lee和Spencer及Tiersten把计算结果同现有的分析结果做了比较,而Curran和Koneval把计算结果与实验数据进行了比较。所得二维Bechmann数基本上取决于三个参数:电极长度与晶体片厚度之比;电极宽度与晶体片厚度之比;以及电极质量与晶体单位面积质量之比。     

卫星通信系统的现状与动向

CCC——卫星通信系统——星上等效全向辐射功率 BPK——(地面频道信号)时分——脉码调制——二重相位键控——(卫星转发器通道信号)频分多     

航天飞机的表面磨削

航天飞机提出一系列从未遇到过的工程技术问题。在许多问题中首先考虑的是表面的研制和表面的材质问题——需能够经得住重返大气层时的热量。 现请作者(加工工程师协会副会长)谈谈它是如何制做的……。 对于外层空间研究的下一个阶段将由航