A harness for enhanced comfort and loading during treadmill exercise in space

IntroductionLocomotor and some resistance exercises in space require a gravity replacement force in order to allow 1g-like ground reaction forces to be generated. Currently bungee cords, or other loading devices, interface with the crew member through a harness with a waist belt and shoulder straps. Crew members often find the application of the required loads to be uncomfortable, particularly at the hips.MethodsAn experimental harness was built that differed from previous in-flight designs by having a wider, moldable waist belt and contoured shoulder straps with additional padding. Eight subjects ran at 100% body weight (BW) loading for a total duration of 30 min per day on 12 days over a 3-week period in simulated 0-g conditions using horizontal suspension. A 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS)¹ was used to assess harness-related and lower extremity discomfort at the end of each run.ResultsThe overall rating of harness discomfort decreased from 27 mm on the 100 mm scale on day 1 to 10 mm on day 12, with significant decreases recorded for the back and hip regions as well as the overall harness.DiscussionThe experimental harness allows for repeated exposure to 30-minute bouts of 100% BW loaded simulated 0-g running with levels of discomfort less than 30 mm on a VAS scale of 0–100 mm. We believe that the use of such a harness during on-orbit exercise countermeasures may allow exercise to be performed at levels which are more effective in preventing bone and muscle loss.     

Inhibitory effect of simulated microgravity on differentiating preosteoblasts

The bone loss induced by microgravity is partly due to the decrease of mature osteoblasts. In the present study, we employed the random positioning machine (RPM) to simulate microgravity and investigated the acute effects of simulated microgravity on the differentiation of 2T3 preosteoblasts. Following 7 days’ culture under normal (1 g) condition, cells were exposed to simulated microgravity for 24 h. The results showed that 24 h treatment of simulated microgravity significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity without changing the cell morphology. In addition, the mRNA expressions of osteogenic genes, including runt-related gene 2 (Runx2), osterix, osteocalcin (OC), type I collagen (Col I) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), were dramatically downregulated. Moreover, western blot analysis of total extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and phosphorylated Erk (p-Erk) indicated that p-Erk level, which represents the Erk activation status, was increased. Taken together, our results suggested that acute exposure to simulated microgravity inhibited osteoblast differentiation through modulating the expression of osteogenic genes and the Erk activity. These findings provide new insight for bone loss due to microgravity and unloading.     

Hydrodynamic atmosphere models for hot luminous stars II. Method and improvements over unified models

In a paper submitted to A&A we present the first line blanketed hydrodynamic models of spherically expanding atmospheres of hot stars. This paper is complementary to the submitted paper. Here, we emphasize the advantages and the weak points of our approach and we present additional technical aspects.The models are characterised by a simultaneous solution of the equation of motion, the non-LTE populations of H and He, and radiation transfer in a line blanketed atmosphere. The entire domain from the optically thick photosphere out to the terminal velocity of the wind is treated. The radiative forces are evaluated consistently with the depth-dependent radiation field, taking into account multiple scattering by metal lines and line overlap.     

一种新型阻尼器--液弹阻尼器

一种被称为液弹的新型技术问世了,它是将液体和弹性元素结合在一起,能提供极好的动态特性来解决直升机振动和阻尼问题的。本文阐述了液弹阻尼器的工作原理,并将液弹阻尼器同粘弹阻尼器和液压阻尼器进行了对比。     

原子氧环境对硅凝胶材料的侵蚀效应研究

简述了DC93-500和GN511硅凝胶材料原子氧环境试验过程,分析和考察了DC93-500和GN511硅凝胶材料在原子氧环境作用下的侵蚀效应,探索了原子氧环境对硅凝胶材料的作用机理.结果表明在原子氧环境作用下,DC93-500和GN511硅凝胶材料样品的可见光透射率明显下降;样品表面被氧化并出现龟裂裂纹和凸起的小岛;随着原子氧作用累积通量的进一步增加,样品表面会由于小岛被剥落而发生质损现象;相对于GN511而言,DC93-500硅凝胶材料在原子氧环境下的结构和性质较为稳定.     

故障注入器功能设计

对于容错计算机的验证 ,必须模拟在系统运行出现故障的情况下 ,容错计算机对故障的检测、隔离和定位能力。所以 ,需要研究故障注入技术。故障注入是通过一定的方法 ,按照一定的控制 ,改变计算机内部硬件或软件的状态 ,使其出现预先定义的故障状态 ,由此触发容错计算机的故障逻辑 ,验证故障逻辑的功能和性能。     

高位垂直进气径向出流旋转盘腔风阻效应的实验

用实验的方法对高位垂直进气转静系旋转盘的风阻效应进行了研究,研究结果表明:转盘无量纲力矩系数随着旋转雷诺数的增加而减小;转盘无量纲力矩系数随着流量系数的增加而增加;且与冷却的具体结构有关;在高旋转雷诺数时,转盘无量纲力矩系数小于自由盘无量纲力矩系数;当流量为0时,无量纲力矩系数的数值全部小于自由盘之值.     

感应加热中功率延伸电缆结构形式的优选设计

在某些特殊工艺的感应加热中,感应线圈需要通过延伸电缆与电源连接.为了解决延伸电缆带来的功率损耗高的问题,分析了并行实芯导体结构、同轴空心导体结构和多束细漆包线密布结构等3种结构形式的电缆的功率损耗和回路电感储能的情况,并进行了试验测定与分析,结果表明,多束细漆包线密布结构电缆上的功率损耗最小,同轴空心导体结构电缆回路的电感量最小.据此,提出了以同轴空心导体结构为基本结构,内、外导体为多束细漆包线密布而成的延伸电缆结构形式.     

频谱分析仪使用中有关回波损耗的问题

介绍测试射频信号频谱时，减小测试误差的方法，分析了回波损耗的各种情况。     

双圆极化频率复用数传链路极化损耗影响分析

对双圆极化频率复用技术的原理进行了说明，并介绍了影响链路性能的关键参数——交叉极化。通过对遥感卫星极化复用数据传输链路的分析，从工程应用的角度研究了交叉极化的产生及其对链路极化损耗的定量影响。可为极化复用数传链路的设计原则和方法提供借鉴。