Gravity perception and signal transduction in single cells

Cellular signal processing in multi-, as well as in unicellular organisms, has to rely on fundamentally similar mechanisms. Free-living single cells often use the gravity vector for their spatial orientation (gravitaxis) and show distinct gravisensitivities. In this investigation the gravisensitive giant ameboid cell Physarum polycephalum (Myxomycetes, acellular slime molds) is used. Its gravitaxis and the modulation of its intrinsic rhythmic contraction activity by gravity was demonstrated in 180 °turn experiments and in simulated, as well as in actual, near-weightlessness studies (fast-rotating clinostat; Spacelab D1, IML-1). The stimulus perception was addressed in an IML-2 experiment, which provided information on the gravireceptor itself by the determination of the cell's acceleration-sensitivity threshold. Ground-based experiments designed to elucidate the subsequent steps in signal transduction leading to a motor response, suggest that an acceleration stimulus induces changes in the level of second messenger, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), indicating also that the acceleration-stimulus signal transduction chain of Physarum uses an ubiquitous second messenger pathway.     

GE90的飞行试验验证了其使用性

GE公司已经完成了推力为377千牛的GE90发动机的使用性和系统验证飞行试验,证明这种发动机可以由波音公司开始进行获准180分钟ETOPS的飞行试验.GE90的飞行试验是在1993年12月到今年3月17日分两个阶段进行的.试验时此发动机装在GE公司的波音747空中试车台2号位上.这是一架曾经由泛美航空公司用过的波音747-100飞机,已经过大量改装.     

遥测数据压缩和信道编码的新进展

文章论述了远程通信信道前向纠错编码和信源数据压缩编码对集成电路工艺的依赖性。重点放在采用全定制超大规模集成电路(VLSI)工艺的实时高速RS(Reed Slomon)译码上。本文还介绍了 NASA 标准信道编码器和推荐的无损数据压缩编码器的性能曲线。     

数字磁记录器用的高性能误差修正系统

本文叙述并行高密度数字记录器用消去型误差修正系统。该系统能修正任何长度的单磁道或同时发生的二个磁道的突发性错误。文中比较了它的理论特性和实测特性,并比较了几种典型系统的质量因数。     

Caenorhabditis elegans survives atmospheric breakup of STS-107, space shuttle Columbia

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a popular organism for biological studies, is being developed as a model system for space biology. The chemically defined liquid medium, C. elegans Maintenance Medium (CeMM), allows axenic cultivation and automation of experiments that are critical for spaceflight research. To validate CeMM for use during spaceflight, we grew animals using CeMM and standard laboratory conditions onboard STS-107, space shuttle Columbia. Tragically, the Columbia was destroyed while reentering the Earth's atmosphere. During the massive recovery effort, hardware that contained our experiment was found. Live animals were observed in four of the five recovered canisters, which had survived on both types of media. These data demonstrate that CeMM is capable of supporting C. elegans during spaceflight. They also demonstrate that animals can survive a relatively unprotected reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, which has implications with regard to the packaging of living material during space flight, planetary protection, and the interplanetary transfer of life.     

固体复合推进剂受震动或冲击时的能量分布

本文讨论了从推进剂各组分的实测冲击H值(Shock Hugoniot)来计算复合推进剂的冲击H值。HMX炸药—聚氨酯粘合剂复合推进剂的冲击H值计算值与实验值极其吻合。推进剂及其组分的冲击均相温度的数值计算是利用Walsh—Christian方程式,但是包括了温度对热容的影响。粘合剂的冲击温度要比炸药的冲击温度高。讨论了复合固体推进剂受震动或冲击时控制能量分布的因素;指出高聚物粘合剂加入到炸药内是如何降低冲击温度,从而相应地降低了推进剂的震动或冲击发火感度。     

Many chemistries could be used to build living systems

It has been widely suggested that life based around carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen is the only plausible biochemistry, and specifically that terrestrial biochemistry of nucleic acids, proteins, and sugars is likely to be "universal." This is not an inevitable conclusion from our knowledge of chemistry. I argue that it is the nature of the liquid in which life evolves that defines the most appropriate chemistry. Fluids other than water could be abundant on a cosmic scale and could therefore be an environment in which non-terrestrial biochemistry could evolve. The chemical nature of these liquids could lead to quite different biochemistries, a hypothesis discussed in the context of the proposed "ammonochemistry" of the internal oceans of the Galilean satellites and a more speculative "silicon biochemistry" in liquid nitrogen. These different chemistries satisfy the thermodynamic drive for life through different mechanisms, and so will have different chemical signatures than terrestrial biochemistry.     

Introduction and ISS assembly description

This introductory address provides a brief overview and a timeline for construction of the International Space Station, beginning with the July 2000 launch of the Russian Service Module, Zvezda, and ending with the Mission STS-112.     

液氧/烃三组元推进剂助推发动机的设计思想

讨论了液氧/烃三组元推进剂助推发动机的设计思想,这种液氧/甲烷助推发动机的初步设计还使用了液氢.试验表明,液氧/甲烷/液氢三组元推进剂发动机具有燃烧稳定、燃烧效率高、冷却性能好、能与铜合金燃烧室壁很好兼容等优点,因而可消除或大大减少设计可重复使用的高压烃类助推发动机时可能出现的风险.