Swimming behaviour and calcium incorporation into inner ear otoliths of fish after vestibular nerve transection.

Previous investigations on neonate swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri) revealed that otolithic calcium incorporation (visualized using the calcium tracer alizarin complexone) and thus otolith growth had ceased after nerve transection, supporting a hypothesis according to which the gravity-dependent otolith growth is regulated neuronally. Subsequent investigations on larval cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) yielded contrasting results, repeatedly depending on the particular batch of cichlids investigated. Like most neonate swordtails, Type I cichlids revealed a stop of calcium incorporation after unilateral vestibular nerve transection. Their behaviour after transection was normal, and the otolithic calcium incorporation in controls of the same batch was symmetric. In Type II cichlids, however, vestibular nerve transection had no effect on otolithic calcium incorporation. They behaved kinetotically after transection (this kind of kinetosis was qualitatively similar to the swimming behaviour exhibited by larval cichlids during microgravity in the course of parabolic aircraft flights). The otolithic calcium incorporation in control animals was asymmetric. These results show that the effects of vestibular nerve transection as well as the efficacy of the mechanism, which regulates otolith growth/otolithic calcium incorporation, are--depending on the particular batch of animals--genetically predispositioned. In conclusion, the regulation of otolithic calcium incorporation is guided neuronally, in part via the vestibular nerve and, in part, via a further pathway, which remains to be addressed in the course of future investigations.     

Effect of hypergravity on carboanhydrase reactivity in inner ear ionocytes of developing cichlid fish.

It has been shown earlier that hypergravity slows down inner ear otolith growth in developing fish. Otolith growth in terms of mineralization mainly depends on the enzyme carboanhydrase (CA), which is responsible for the provision of the pH-value necessary for calcium carbonate deposition. Larval siblings of cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) were subjected to hypergravity (3 g, hg; 6 h) during development and separated into normally and kinetotically swimming individuals following the transfer to 1 g (i.e., stopping the centrifuge; kinetotically behaving fish performed spinning movements). Subsequently, CA was histochemically demonstrated in inner ear ionocytes (cells involved in the endolymphatic ion exchange) and enzyme reactivity was determined densitometrically. It was found that both the total macular CA-reactivity as well as the difference in reactivities between the left and the right maculae (asymmetry) were significantly lower (1) in experimental animals as compared to the 1 g controls and (2) in normally swimming hg-animals as compared to the kinetotically behaving hg-fish. The results are in complete agreement with earlier studies, according to which hypergravity induces a decrease of otolith growth and the otolithic calcium incorporation (visualized using the calcium-tracer alizarin complexone) of kinetotically swimming hg-fish was higher as compared to normally behaving hyper-g animals. The present study thus strongly supports the concept that a regulatory mechanism, which adjusts otolith size and asymmetry as well as otolithic calcium carbonate incorporation towards the gravity vector, acts via activation/deactivation of macular CA.     

Analog Computer Needed!

Science and technology advance neither steadily nor continuously. Concepts deemed obsolete and confined to oblivion find their niche in new developments. Discarded old methods revive as the key ingredients to new designs. Analog computing was the birthplace of two important technologies: Computer simulation, as applied to system design, was founded. The operational amplifier, to become the basis for modern linear circuitry, was perfected. Valuable as it was, analog simulation's quasi-hardware approach to analysis aggravated users as much as it aided them. When digital simulation languages arrived, simulation engineers readily adopted them. When the microprocessor transformed digital computers into inexpensive circuit components (more like gates, flip-flops, amplifiers, etc. than computers,) there arose unlimited prospects for digital control. But, the discrete digital and continuous analog worlds are not compatible. Timing discontinuities and variable resolution limitations create problems. Control system designs, especially microprocessor based ones, need laboratory development. For hands-on testing, the analog computer is as handy an instrument as a controls engineer could have. Its two unique and valuable functions are: Simulator of Systems to be Controlled... The electrical analogs or physical models, analog computer simulations offer predictable yet realistic representations of mechanisms and processes to be controlled. Programmable Linear Circuits Manifold... The terminal points for high quality, linear circuit devices, analog computer patch panels offer the only formal means of programing linear signal processing, interface and control circuits. This paper offers a discussion of these two analog computing uses.     

Minitact gyroscope-the low cost alternative

The allure of the solid state optical gyros is being challenged by the invention of a new spinning mass device, providing superior low noise drift performance, high reliability at a very low cost. The Minitact is a unique two axis gyroscope advancing the technology of spinning mass devices to set new low cost standards. Minitact provides all the low noise performance benefits of tuned rotor gyroscopes without the vagaries of fixture suspension systems. The Minitact design integrates together the advantages of a spherical hydrodynamic gas bearing and a three axis permanent magnet DC commutated, motor and torquer, into miniature two aids gyroscope with a dynamic range of greater than 10^-7. The design is described and performance data presented illustrating the capability of this low cost next generation rate gyroscope. The Minitact is the result of Integrated Product Development (IPD) and Design to Unit Production Cost (DTUPC) design processes and is expected to become the tactical performance benchmark     

A cost effective critical space systems design approach

NASA-ISC requires avionics platforms capable of serving a wide range of applications in a cost-effective manner. In part, making the avionics platform cost effective means adhering to open standards and supporting the integration of COTS products with custom products. Inherently, operation in space requires low power, mass, and volume while retaining high performance, reconfigurability, scalability, and upgradability. The Universal Mini-Controller (UMC) project is based on a modified PC/104-Plus architecture while maintaining full compatibility with standard COTS PC/104 products. The architecture consists of a library of stackable building block modules, which can be mixed and matched to meet a specific application. A set of NASA developed core building blocks, (e.g. processor card, analog input/output card, high level analog card, and a Mil-Std-1553 card) were constructed to meet critical functions and unique interfaces     

High resolution measurements of nightside ion troughs at venus: Evidence of electrodynamic perturbations

The Bennett rf ion mass spectrometer (OIMS) on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter was particularly designed to provide variable temporal resolution for measurements of thermal ion composition and density. An Explore-Adapt mode is used to obtain priority for measurement of most prominent ion species, and in a 2/16 configuration, the two dominant ions within the available range of 16 species are selectively sampled at the highest rate of 0.2 sec/sample. The high resolution measurements are combined with independent observations from the magnetic field (OMAG), neutral mass spectrometer (ONMS), and electron temperature (OETP) experiments to investigate sharply structured troughs in the low altitude nightside ion concentrations. The results indicate a close correlation between the structure in the ion distributions and the structured configuration of the magnetic field which is draped about the planet. In the regions of the ion depletions, sharp fluctuations in electron temperature and anomalous increases in the density of neutral gases indicate that the ion depletion may be associated either with dynamic perturbation in the ion and neutral flows, and/or local joule heating. The configuration of the ion flow/magnetic field draping and consequent electric fields for these events must be analyzed in detail to understand the relationships.     

Direct evidence for chromospheric evaporation in a well-observed compact flare

We have observed the flare of 1980 May 7 1456 UT with several Solar Maximum Mission instruments, in coordination with the Sacramento Peak Observatory Vacuum Tower Telescope. From the X-ray data we determine the total amount of plasma at T > 2 × 10⁶ K, commonly attributed to chromospheric evaporation. From Hα we have determined the amount of plasma that has been evaporated from the chromosphere. We find that enough material has been evaporated from the chromosphere to account for the X-ray plasma. Taken together, the Hα, soft and hard X-ray images suggest that chromospheric evaporation is driven both by flare accelerated electrons, during the impulsive phase, and conduction, during the thermal phase.     

Inactivation probability of heavy ion-irradiated Bacillus subtilis spores as a function of the radial distance to the particle's [correction of paricle's] trajectory.

The understanding of the radiobiological action of heavy ions requires the knowledge of the dependence of the inactivation probability on the distance between the particle's trajectory and the biological test organism (the impact parameter). Spores of Bacillus subtilis with a cytoplasmic core of about 0.22 micrometer cross section are suitable test objects for the study of this radial inactivation probability in its microscopic details. The spores are irradiated at low fluences of some 10(6) ions/cm2 with very heavy ions at different specific energies up to 10 MeV per atomic mass unit u while in fixed contact with visual nuclear track detectors. The methods are described by which the biological response of individual cells can be evaluated and the impact parameter be determined with an accuracy typically better than 0.2 micrometer. The results demonstrate that the common characteristics of inactivation, e.g., an effective range of inactivation extending to at least 3 micrometers, a nonmonotonic dependence of the inactivation probabilities on the radial distance, and the fact that the inactivation probability even for direct central hits on the cytoplasmic core is substantially below one, are nearly independent of the particle energy and type. The results are incompatible with the assumption that the radiobiological effectiveness can be attributed to the dose of secondary electrons as currently understood. They also demonstrate that the widely held notion of an "overkill" at low impact parameters does not apply for the spores even with the most densely ionizing ions.     

Red edge measurements for remotely sensing plant chlorophyll content

The feasibility of using the wavelength of the maximum slope of the red edge of leaf reflectance spectra (λ_re) as an indication of plant chlorophyll status was examined in the laboratory for single leaves of several species. λ_re for each sample was determined by derivative reflectance spectroscopy. A high positive correlation was found between λ_re and leaf chlorophyll content for all species, although there were some differences in the quantitative nature of the relationship for plants of different types. The position of the red edge was found to be unaffected by simulated change in ground cover, but multiple leaf layers produced a shift in its position. Appropriate spectral measurements and processing for obtaining useful information from the red edge are discussed, and the potential of the red edge in relation to other spectral measurements is considered.