适用于检验石墨及碳/碳复合材料的改进射线照相法

本文叙述了空军材料实验室(AFML)在关于检测块状石墨及碳/碳复合材料微缺陷方面所进行的工作,提出了一些优良的射线照相法。用对比液体如四溴乙烷(TBE)浸泡,使影象质量及灵敏度有显著的改进,能分辩石墨中的微孔结构和微裂纹,并可提供较清晰的复合材料的编织型式。如果将试件埋置在已知射线照相均匀性和原子序数相近的材料中,当测定厚度有变化的部件(如鼻锥、喷管等)时,将有助于射线照相法。埋置方法使出现在相近厚度范围内的缺陷,具有更均匀的厚度。以便提高检测能力。摄影接触印相机与对比度大的感光乳剂配合在一起,可为检测微缺陷提供更多的信息。     

Cell-to-cell interactions in changed gravity: ground-based and flight experiments

Cell-to-cell interactions play an important role in all physiological processes and are mediated by humoral and mechanical factors. Mechanosensitive cells (e.g., osteocytes, chondrocytes, and fibroblasts) can be studied ex vivo to understand the effects of an altered gravity environment. In particular, cultured endothelial cells (EC) are very sensitive to a broad spectrum of mechanical and biochemical stimuli. Earlier, we demonstrated that clinorotation leads to cytoskeletal remodeling in cultured ECs. Long-term gravity vector changes also modulate the expression of surface adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, E-selectin, VCAM-1) on cultured ECs. To study the interactions of geterological cells, we cocultured endothelial monolayers and human lymphocytes, immune cells and myeloleucemic (K-560) cells. It was found that, although clinorotation did not alter the basal adhesion level of non-activated immune cells on endothelial monolayers, the adhesion of PMA-activated lymphocytes was increased. During flight experiments onboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station, we measured the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells incubated with labeled target cells. It was found that immune cells in microgravity retained their ability to contact, recognize, and destroy oncogenic cells in vitro. Together, our data concerning the effects of simulated and real microgravity suggest that, despite changes in the cytoskeleton, cell motility, and expression of adhesion molecules, cell-cell interactions are not compromised, thus preserving the critical physiological functions of immune and endothelial cells.     

Ultrastructural and geochemical characterization of Archean-Paleoproterozoic graphite particles: implications for recognizing traces of life in highly metamorphosed rocks

Abundant graphite particles occur in amphibolite-grade quartzite of the Archean-Paleoproterozoic Wutai Metamorphic Complex in the Wutaishan area of North China. Petrographic thin section observations suggest that the graphite particles occur within and between quartzite clasts and are heterogeneous in origin. Using HF maceration techniques, the Wutai graphite particles were extracted for further investigation. Laser Raman spectroscopic analysis of a population of extracted graphite discs indicated that they experienced a maximum metamorphic temperature of 513 +/- 50 degrees C, which is consistent with the metamorphic grade of the host rock and supports their indigenicity. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the particles bear morphological features (such as hexagonal sheets of graphite crystals) related to metamorphism and crystal growth, but a small fraction of them (graphite discs) are characterized by a circular morphology, distinct marginal concentric folds, surficial wrinkles, and complex nanostructures. Ion microprobe analysis of individual graphite discs showed that their carbon isotope compositions range from -7.4 per thousand to -35.9 per thousand V-PDB (Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite), with an average of -20.3 per thousand, which is comparable to bulk analysis of extracted carbonaceous material. The range of their size, ultrastructures, and isotopic signatures suggests that the morphology and geochemistry of the Wutai graphite discs were overprinted by metamorphism and their ultimate carbon source probably had diverse origins that included abiotic processes. We considered both biotic and abiotic origins of the carbon source and graphite disc morphologies and cannot falsify the possibility that some circular graphite discs characterized by marginal folds and surficial wrinkles represent deflated, compressed, and subsequently graphitized organic-walled vesicles. Together with reports by other authors of acanthomorphic acritarchs from greenschist-amphibolite-grade metamorphic rocks, this study suggests that it is worthwhile to examine carbonaceous materials preserved in highly metamorphosed rocks for possible evidence of ancient life.     

Experimentally tracing the key steps in the origin of life: The aromatic world

Life is generally believed to emerge on Earth, to be at least functionally similar to life as we know it today, and to be much simpler than modern life. Although minimal life is notoriously difficult to define, a molecular system can be considered alive if it turns resources into building blocks, replicates, and evolves. Primitive life may have consisted of a compartmentalized genetic system coupled with an energy-harvesting mechanism. How prebiotic building blocks self-assemble and transform themselves into a minimal living system can be broken into two questions: (1) How can prebiotic building blocks form containers, metabolic networks, and informational polymers? (2) How can these three components cooperatively organize to form a protocell that satisfies the minimal requirements for a living system? The functional integration of these components is a difficult puzzle that requires cooperation among all the aspects of protocell assembly: starting material, reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, and the integration of the inheritance, metabolism, and container functionalities. Protocells may have been self-assembled from components different from those used in modern biochemistry. We propose that assemblies based on aromatic hydrocarbons may have been the most abundant flexible and stable organic materials on the primitive Earth and discuss their possible integration into a minimal life form. In this paper we attempt to combine current knowledge of the composition of prebiotic organic material of extraterrestrial and terrestrial origin, and put these in the context of possible prebiotic scenarios. We also describe laboratory experiments that might help clarify the transition from nonliving to living matter using aromatic material. This paper presents an interdisciplinary approach to interface state of the art knowledge in astrochemistry, prebiotic chemistry, and artificial life research.     

The influence of microgravity on invasive growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This study investigates the effects of microgravity on colony growth and the morphological transition from single cells to short invasive filaments in the model eukaryotic organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two-dimensional spreading of the yeast colonies grown on semi-solid agar medium was reduced under microgravity in the Σ1278b laboratory strain but not in the CMBSESA1 industrial strain. This was supported by the Σ1278b proteome map under microgravity conditions, which revealed upregulation of proteins linked to anaerobic conditions. The Σ1278b strain showed a reduced invasive growth in the center of the yeast colony. Bud scar distribution was slightly affected, with a switch toward more random budding. Together, microgravity conditions disturb spatially programmed budding patterns and generate strain-dependent growth differences in yeast colonies on semi-solid medium.     

带滑移滞变系统的三阶段逐步收敛的识别方法

针对非线性带滑移滞变系统模型复杂，参数多，识别时收敛困难等问题，提出了一种三阶段逐步收敛的识别方法对Baber与Noori提出的带滑移滞变模型进行了参数识别。计算实例表明，该方法具有收敛速度快、且容易收敛的特点，对于参数较多、模型复杂的系统，是一种非常有效的参数识别方法。     

ESA再入探测器的某些空气热动力问题

给出了两种不同的再入飞行器:充气的再入和下滑演示器(IRDT)和Huygens.两者的任务都涉及在靠近轨道的条件下再入并均已于2005年完成.概述了IRDT的使命和具体设计问题,综述了IRDT最近飞行的初步结果和ESTEC估计Huygens受到的辐射通量采用的方法.     

硕果香来自坚持推行全面质量管理——黎阳公司产品获得两枚国家银质奖的经验

本文阐述了黎阳机械公司产品两次获得国家银质奖的主要经验:坚持推行全面质量管理和切实做好企业的各项基础管理工作。文中说明了七项具体做法及其对争优、创优所起的作用。     

参考照片

装在伽利略探测器顶部的惯性未级(IUS)助推器正在点火,使探测器飞向金星,最终到达木星。左侧是发射探测器的阿特兰蒂斯号航天飞机伽利略探测器向木星释放再入器。在伽利略探测器上有百页窗,以保护在地球轨道内探测器上的敏感部分不受到太阳的高热照射这是一幅绘制的火星观察者探测器构造图。其上装有研究地形学、矿物学、大气学的仪器。A为伽玛射线分光计;B为激光测高计;C为火星气球中继天线;D为密封的红外辐射计;E为热辐射分光计;F为火