Genetic differentiation induced by spaceflight treatment of Cistanche deserticola and identification of inter-simple sequence repeat markers associated with its medicinal constituent contents

The dried, fleshy stems of Cistanche deserticola (Orobanchaceae) are popular tonics in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat the inability of kidney in expelling extra fluid in the body, causing fluid retention, and reform reproductive system. However, the wild plants of C. deserticola have become endangered due to habitat downsizing and over-harvesting for its medicinal usages. The present research was carried out for the following purposes: (1) promoting the space-breeding research; (2) providing molecular evidence for agricultural selective breeding; and (3) protecting this endangered herbal medicine and conserving its genetic resources.     

Aerodynamics of smart flap under ground effect

Aerodynamic characteristics of two-dimensional smart flap under the ground effect have been assessed by a numerical simulation. In this process, a pressure-based implicit procedure to solve Navier–Stokes equations on a nonorthogonal mesh with collocated finite volume formulation is used. The boundedness criteria for this procedure are determined from the Normalized Variable Diagram (NVD) scheme. The procedure incorporates the k–ε eddy–viscosity turbulence model. Cantilever beam with uniformly varying load with roller support at the free end is considered for the configuration of the smart flap. The method is first validated against experimental data. Then, the algorithm is applied for turbulent aerodynamic flows around airfoil with smart and conventional flaps for different attack angle, flap angle and ground clearance where the results of two flaps are compared. The comparisons show that the quality of the solution is considerable.     

Sunspot cycle 23 descent to an unusual minimum and forecasts for cycle 24 activity

The decay phase of the sunspot cycle 23 exhibited two unusual features. First, it lasted too long. Second, the interplanetary magnetic field intensity at earth orbit reached the lowest value since in situ measurements in space began in October 1963. These physical anomalies significantly altered the early forecasts for the sunspot activity parameters for cycle 24, made by several colleagues. We note that there was a significant change in the solar behavior during cycle 22. We discuss the observed trends and their effect on our empirical solar activity forecast technique, leading to our prediction for cycle 24 parameters; cycle 24 will be only half as active as cycle 23, reaching its peak in May 2013. We speculate on the possible implications of this outcome on future earth climate change and the ensuing socio-economic consequences.     

负游隙对高速高温薄壁圆柱滚子轴承动态性能的影响分析

计算了圆柱滚子轴承径向游隙为负值时的等效径向预紧载荷,并考虑等效径向预紧载荷下的套圈弹性变形,通过求解包含套圈弹性变形接触变形等效径向预紧载荷的非线性方程组,得到负游隙圆柱滚子轴承内部的载荷分布情况,以及负径向游隙带来的套圈周向应力.以此分析了负游隙对轴承承载性能及疲劳寿命的影响.结果表明:负径向游隙能够有效降低轴承打滑率,但同时也会降低轴承疲劳寿命,因此在负游隙设计时需同时考虑打滑率和轴承寿命,选择恰当的负游隙.     

脉冲等离子体推力器放电波形设计评估仿真研究

运用磁流体动力学的方法,对脉冲等离子体推力器推力室工作过程开展三维双温MHD数值仿真,并开展对推力室的工作机理的分析研究。通过该模型计算得到的推进剂烧蚀质量和元冲量与实验结果相符,同时针对不同初始电压、电容以及两种特征波形的情况进行评估,为推力器的放电波形设计提供指导依据。结果显示在推力器波形设计的初期,是采用电流高变化率低能量水平,还是采用电流低变化率高能量水平,需要结合实际,进行优化评估。     

低速单级轴流压气机自引气扩稳实验

在一台低速单级轴流压气机上采用自引气-喷气方式进行了实验研究,实验中分析比较了不同的引气方式对压气机失速裕度改善(SMI)以及对压气机效率的影响,同时对不同自引气方式的扩稳机理进行了探讨.实验结果表明:自引气方式能够有效的改善压气机失速裕度,并且能够略微提高压气机效率.与传统的外部引气相比,节省了外部引气所需要的外部空气压缩系统;为自引气在实际压气机稳定性控制中的应用提供参考.      

双层金属平板模拟机匣抗冲击性研究

采用LS-Dyna软件分析了双层平板模拟机匣的抗冲击性能,讨论了层间距和厚度分配对双层平板模拟机匣抗冲击性能的影响。研究结果表明：在叶片正撞击时,双层模拟机匣的损伤为局部剪切和整体塑性变形的混合型。层间距只影响外层板吸收的能量,随着层间距的变化,双层平板吸收能量没有一定规律。厚度分配比小于1时,双层板的抗冲击性能随着厚度分配比的减小而增强;厚度分配比大于1时,双层板的抗冲击性能随着厚度分配比的增大而增强。     

The Magnetic Field of Mercury

The magnetic field strength of Mercury at the planet’s surface is approximately 1% that of Earth’s surface field. This comparatively low field strength presents a number of challenges, both theoretically to understand how it is generated and observationally to distinguish the internal field from that due to the solar wind interaction. Conversely, the small field also means that Mercury offers an important opportunity to advance our understanding both of planetary magnetic field generation and magnetosphere-solar wind interactions. The observations from the Mariner 10 magnetometer in 1974 and 1975, and the MESSENGER Magnetometer and plasma instruments during the probe’s first two flybys of Mercury on 14 January and 6 October 2008, provide the basis for our current knowledge of the internal field. The external field arising from the interaction of the magnetosphere with the solar wind is more prominent near Mercury than for any other magnetized planet in the Solar System, and particular attention is therefore paid to indications in the observations of deficiencies in our understanding of the external field. The second MESSENGER flyby occurred over the opposite hemisphere from the other flybys, and these newest data constrain the tilt of the planetary moment from the planet’s spin axis to be less than 5°. Considered as a dipole field, the moment is in the range 240 to 270 nT-R _M ³ , where R _M is Mercury’s radius. Multipole solutions for the planetary field yield a smaller dipole term, 180 to 220 nT-R _M ³ , and higher-order terms that together yield an equatorial surface field from 250 to 290 nT. From the spatial distribution of the fit residuals, the equatorial data are seen to reflect a weaker northward field and a strongly radial field, neither of which can be explained by a centered-dipole matched to the field measured near the pole by Mariner 10. This disparity is a major factor controlling the higher-order terms in the multipole solutions. The residuals are not largest close to the planet, and when considered in magnetospheric coordinates the residuals indicate the presence of a cross-tail current extending to within 0.5R _M altitude on the nightside. A near-tail current with a density of 0.1 μA/m² could account for the low field intensities recorded near the equator. In addition, the MESSENGER flybys include the first plasma observations from Mercury and demonstrate that solar wind plasma is present at low altitudes, below 500 km. Although we can be confident in the dipole-only moment estimates, the data in hand remain subject to ambiguities for distinguishing internal from external contributions. The anticipated observations from orbit at Mercury, first from MESSENGER beginning in March 2011 and later from the dual-spacecraft BepiColombo mission, will be essential to elucidate the higher-order structure in the magnetic field of Mercury that will reveal the telltale signatures of the physics responsible for its generation.     

The Time Structure of Ground Level Enhancements in?Solar Cycle 23

In a recent paper McCracken et al. (J. Geophys. Res. 113:A12101, 2008) proposed that the Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) of 20 January 2005 may have been produced by more than one acceleration mechanism, with the first acceleration due to the solar flare and the second one due to the CME associated with that event. They also noted several other GLEs with similar multiple pulse structures. This paper systematically investigates all the GLEs of solar cycle 23, from GLE 55 on 6 November 1997 to GLE 70 on 13 December 2006, to study their morphology and pulse structure, and to determine whether the multiple structures that may be found in these events are qualitatively similar to that of the GLE of 20 January 2005. We use all the data of all NMs that saw each event, to have as much directional and spectral information as possible. It is shown that three of these 16 events do contain such double-pulse structures, and the properties of these three are discussed in some detail.     

Ceramic ChemCam Calibration Targets on Mars Science Laboratory

The ChemCam instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity will use laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to analyze major and minor element chemistry from sub-millimeter spot sizes, at ranges of ～1.5–7?m. To interpret the emission spectra obtained, ten calibration standards will be carried on the rover deck. Graphite, Ti?metal, and four glasses of igneous composition provide primary, homogeneous calibration targets for the laser. Four granular ceramic targets have been added to provide compositions closer to soils and sedimentary materials like those expected at the Gale Crater field site on Mars. Components used in making these ceramics include basalt, evaporite, and phyllosilicate materials that approximate the chemical compositions of detrital and authigenic constituents of clastic and evaporite sediments, including the elevated sulfate contents present in many Mars sediments and soils. Powdered components were sintered at low temperature (800?°C) with a small amount (9?wt.%) of lithium tetraborate flux to produce ceramics that retain volatile sulfur yet are durable enough for the mission. The ceramic targets are more heterogeneous than the pure element and homogenous glass standards but they provide standards with compositions more similar to the sedimentary rocks that will be Curiosity’s prime targets at Gale Crater.