Topological biosignatures: large-scale structure of chemical networks from biology and astrochemistry

The chemical basis of life involves more than simply the presence of biological molecules; biochemical systems embody a complex network of reactions with characteristic topological features. At the same time, chemical complexity is also present in nonbiological contexts, inviting us to clarify the relationship between chemistry and life through comparative studies. This study examines chemical networks from biology (the metabolism of E. coli) and astronomy (gas-phase reactions in dark molecular clouds) to establish common topological features that may be generic for any complex chemical system, as well as clear differences that may be topological signatures of life. The biological and astrochemical networks exhibit different scaling behaviors, and the network motifs found in the two systems show similarities as well as significant differences. The PageRank algorithm was used to quantify the degree to which individual species act primarily as products or reactants; in the metabolic network, these two roles are nearly identical for most species, whereas the astrochemical network shows a clearer partitioning into reactants and products.     

Abundance and diversity of microbial inhabitants in European spacecraft-associated clean rooms

The determination of the microbial load of a spacecraft en route to interesting extraterrestrial environments is mandatory and currently based on the culturable, heat-shock-surviving portion of microbial contaminants. Our study compared these classical bioburden measurements as required by NASA's and ESA's guidelines for the microbial examination of flight hardware, with molecular analysis methods (16S rRNA gene cloning and quantitative PCR) to further develop our understanding of the diversity and abundance of the microbial communities of spacecraft-associated clean rooms. Three samplings of the Herschel Space Observatory and its surrounding clean rooms were performed in two different European facilities. Molecular analyses detected a broad diversity of microbes typically found in the human microbiome with three bacterial genera (Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium, and Brevundimonas) common to all three locations. Bioburden measurements revealed a low, but heterogeneous, abundance of spore-forming and other heat-resistant microorganisms. Total cell numbers estimated by quantitative real-time PCR were typically 3 orders of magnitude greater than those determined by viable counts, which indicates a tendency for traditional methods to underestimate the extent of clean room bioburden. Furthermore, the molecular methods allowed the detection of a much broader diversity than traditional culture-based methods.     

The PROCESS experiment: an astrochemistry laboratory for solid and gaseous organic samples in low-earth orbit

The PROCESS (PRebiotic Organic ChEmistry on the Space Station) experiment was part of the EXPOSE-E payload outside the European Columbus module of the International Space Station from February 2008 to August 2009. During this interval, organic samples were exposed to space conditions to simulate their evolution in various astrophysical environments. The samples used represent organic species related to the evolution of organic matter on the small bodies of the Solar System (carbonaceous asteroids and comets), the photolysis of methane in the atmosphere of Titan, and the search for organic matter at the surface of Mars. This paper describes the hardware developed for this experiment as well as the results for the glycine solid-phase samples and the gas-phase samples that were used with regard to the atmosphere of Titan. Lessons learned from this experiment are also presented for future low-Earth orbit astrochemistry investigations.     

Adsorption of amino acids (ALA, CYS, HIS, MET) on zeolites: fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy investigations

Minerals adsorb more amino acids with charged R-groups than amino acids with uncharged R-groups. Thus, the peptides that form from the condensation of amino acids on the surface of minerals should be composed of amino acid residues that are more charged than uncharged. However, most of the amino acids (74%) in today's proteins have an uncharged R-group. One mechanism with which to solve this paradox is the use of organophilic minerals such as zeolites. Over the range of pH (pH 2.66-4.50) used in these experiments, the R-group of histidine (His) is positively charged and neutral for alanine (Ala), cysteine (Cys), and methionine (Met). In acidic hydrothermal environments, the pH could be even lower than those used in this study. For the pH range studied, the zeolites were negatively charged, and the overall charge of all amino acids was positive. The conditions used here approximate those of prebiotic Earth. The most important finding of this work is that the relative concentrations of each amino acid (X=His, Met, Cys) to alanine (X/Ala) are close to 1.00. This is an important result with regard to prebiotic chemistry because it could be a solution for the paradox stated above. Pore size did not affect the adsorption of Cys and Met on zeolites, and the Si/Al ratio did not affect the adsorption of Cys, His, and Met. ZSM-5 could be used for the purification of Cys from other amino acids (Student-Newman-Keuls test, p<0.05), and mordenite could be used for separation of amino acids from each other (Student-Newman-Keuls test, p<0.05). As shown by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, Ala interacts with zeolites through the [Formula: see text] group, and methionine-zeolite interactions involve the COO, [Formula: see text], and CH(3) groups. FT-IR spectra show that the interaction between the zeolites and His is weak. Cys showed higher adsorption on all zeolites; however, the hydrophobic Van der Waals interaction between zeolites and Cys is too weak to produce any structural changes in the Cys groups (amine, carboxylic, sulfhydryl, etc.); thus, the FT-IR and Raman spectra are the same as those of solid Cys.     

甲烷-空气贫燃料预混燃烧的数值模拟

针对燃气轮机燃烧室火焰筒中的甲烷-空气贫燃料预混燃烧问题,给出了基于八步化学反应动力学机理的数学模型。以某型航空发动机燃烧室火焰筒为例,对甲烷-空气贫燃料的预混燃烧进行数值模拟。研究结果表明,基于八步化学反应动力学机理的数值模拟方法,可以比较准确地反映燃烧产物的形成过程,在分析航空发动机燃烧室火焰筒内的贫燃料预混燃烧问题时具有较强的实用性。     

固体推进剂的非线性结构模型

在大多数固体推进剂特性的线性和非线性理论中,一个主要的缺陷在于忽略了内部损伤。对于那些已引出损伤参数的非线性理论,数值常数与推进剂的物理性质无关。而且,这些理论具有如此复杂的性质以至于要完成一个庞大的实验测试程序。已经提出了一个表示固体推进剂性质的简单方法。这个方法以一个基本定律为基础,该定律用一个应力衰减函数修正粘弹表达式。根据单轴试验数据,可用衰减函数表示推进剂的非线性性质。在卸载期损伤的表达式中,这个方法比过去的方法显示出重大的改进。分别定义松弛和再加载为过去最大应力的正态函数。利用这种方法对复杂的过程进行了预测,而且实测应力与预测应力很接近。     

热塑塑料在宇航结构中的应用

介绍热塑塑料及其复合物的种类和在宇航领域中的应用;其潜力能否充分挖掘取决于是否能经济有效地设计和制造这些材料.正涌现出的热塑塑料在竞争激烈的工程领域有可能满足宇航应用的要求.添加合适的纤维加强物使中空成微球状来减小密度和个电特性,“塑性”材料就能广泛应用,热塑塑料当然是其中之一.但热塑塑料也不会完全取代热固性材料,它们只是相互取长补短.     

火箭发动机安全发火装置的安全问题

本文介绍了一种新型火箭发动机安全发火装置安全问题的初步研究结果。这是一种控制指令“在线”安全发火装置,起飞前通过某些机电对接来接通作用元件的线路。从安全发火装置的构件分析和试验评估证明,偶然施加的单相或多相信号导致点火电容器的危险充电的可能性是极低的。     

Psychological countermeasures for extended manned spaceflights

The authors examine psychological issues and countermeasures in extended space flight. Individual-oriented pre-flight countermeasures include basic psychological selection and training of astronaut candidates. Crew-oriented pre-flight countermeasures include crew composition based on psychological compatibility and psychological mission preparation. Psychological inflight support measures include those that address the emotional state and well-being of astronauts, performance efficiency, and prevention of task overload. Suggestions for an integrated approach to psychological countermeasures for extended flights are presented. Case reports examine psychological selection and training of German astronauts in preparation for the STS-55 mission.     

固体推进剂断裂前的特性

前言在固体推进剂药柱中,一个通常遇到的结构问题是大断裂的发生和增长。要弄清此问题,也研究推进剂断裂前的特性。按研究大纲,分三个阶段进行理论和实验研究。本文涉及第一阶段企图做的和已完成的工作。即建立一个数学模型,将其应用于固体推进剂在应力作用下的单个断裂前的结构形式上,在聚合物系统中具有此种断裂前结构形式的谓之裂纹。同时研究了一种实验技术,用以测定在裂纹附近的位移场和应力场。