Statistical validation of HZETRN as a function of vertical cutoff rigidity using ISS measurements

Measurements taken in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and transit vehicles have been extensively used to validate radiation transport models. Primarily, such comparisons were done by integrating measured data over mission or trajectory segments so that individual comparisons to model results could be made. This approach has yielded considerable information but is limited in its ability to rigorously quantify and differentiate specific model errors or uncertainties. Further, as exploration moves beyond LEO and measured data become sparse, the uncertainty estimates derived from these validation cases will no longer be applicable. Recent improvements in the underlying numerical methods used in HZETRN have resulted in significant decreases in code run time. Therefore, the large number of comparisons required to express error as a function of a physical quantity, like cutoff rigidity, are now possible. Validation can be looked at in detail over any portion of a flight trajectory (e.g. minute by minute) such that a statistically significant number of comparisons can be made. This more rigorous approach to code validation will allow the errors caused by uncertainties in the geometry models, environmental models, and nuclear physics models to be differentiated and quantified. It will also give much better guidance for future model development. More importantly, it will allow a quantitative means of extrapolating uncertainties in LEO to free space. In this work, measured data taken onboard the ISS during solar maximum are compared to results obtained with the particle transport code HZETRN. Comparisons are made at a large number (∼77,000) of discrete time intervals, allowing error estimates to be given as a function of cutoff rigidity. It is shown that HZETRN systematically underestimates exposure quantities at high cutoff rigidity. The errors are likely associated with increased angular variation in the geomagnetic field near the equator, the lack of pion production in HZETRN, and errors in high energy nuclear physics models, and will be the focus of future work.     

GPS scintillation and TEC gradients at equatorial latitudes in April 2006

We use observations of ionospheric scintillation at equatorial latitudes from two GPS receivers specially modified for recording, at a sampling rate of 50 Hz, the phase and the amplitude of the L1 signal and the Total Electron Content (TEC) from L1 and L2. The receivers, called GISTM (GPS Ionospheric Scintillation and TEC Monitor), are located in Vietnam (Hue, 16.4°N, 107.6°E; Hoc Mon, 10.9°N, 106.6°E). These experimental observations are analysed together with the tomographic reconstruction of the ionosphere produced by the Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS) for investigating the moderate geomagnetic storm which occurred on early April 2006, under low solar activity. The synergic adoption of the ionospheric imaging and of the GISTM measurements supports the identification of the scale-sizes of the ionospheric irregularities causing scintillations and helps the interpretation of the physical mechanisms generating or inhibiting the appearance of the equatorial F layer irregularities. In particular, our study attributes to the turning of the IMF (Interplanetary Magnetic Field) between northward and southward direction an important role in the inhibition of the generation of spread F irregularities resulting in a lack of scintillation enhancement in the post-sunset hours.     

复合材料异型构件成型技术

以H-弯波导为典型构件,对复合材料异型构件成型进行了研究。选用138℃低熔点合金作为芯模材料进行模具设计与芯模模压参数摸索,成型前应用DELMIA对铺层过程进行了虚拟仿真,省去预装环节。结果表明:低熔点合金芯模较化学溶解芯模提高了脱模效率,使批量化生产成为可能,为此类异型构件的成型提供了技术保障。     

Basic performance of BeiDou-2 navigation satellite system used in LEO satellites precise orbit determination

The visibility for low earth orbit（LEO） satellites provided by the BeiDou-2 system is analyzed and compared with the global positioning system（GPS）. In addition, the spaceborne receivers＇ observations are simulated by the BeiDou satellites broadcast ephemeris and LEO satellites orbits. The precise orbit determination（POD） results show that the along-track component accuracy is much better over the service area than the non-service area, while the accuracy of the other two directions keeps at the same level over different areas. However, the 3-dimensional（3D） accuracy over the two areas shows almost no difference. Only taking into consideration the observation noise and navigation satellite ephemeris errors, the 3D accuracy of the POD is about30 cm. As for the precise relative orbit determination（PROD）, the 3D accuracy is much better over the eastern hemisphere than that of the western hemisphere. The baseline length accuracy is 3.4 mm over the service area, and it is still better than 1 cm over the non-service area. This paper demonstrates that the BeiDou regional constellation could provide global service to LEO satellites for the POD and the PROD. Finally, the benefit of geostationary earth orbit（GEO） satellites is illustrated for POD.     

Mars Express/ASPERA-3/NPI and IMAGE/LENA observations of energetic neutral atoms in Earth and Mars orbit

The low energy neutral atom imagers on Mars Express and IMAGE have revealed that the neutral atom populations in interplanetary space come from a variety of sources and challenge our current understanding of heliospheric physics. For example, both in cruise phase and at Mars, the neutral particle instrument NPD on Mars Express observed “unexplained neutral beams” unrelated to Mars which appear to be either of heliospheric or solar wind origin. Likewise, the NPI instrument on Mars Express has revealed streams of neutral atoms with different properties than those observed by NPD. Independently, IMAGE/LENA has reported neutral atom observations that may be interpreted as a “secondary stream” having different characteristics and flowing from a higher ecliptic longitude than the nominal upstream direction. Both sets of observations do not appear to fit in easily with the neutral atom environment from 1.0 to 1.57 AU as it is currently understood. In this paper, we examine some highly suggestive similarities in the IMAGE/LENA and Mars Express/ASPERA-3/NPI data to try to determine potential origins for the observed signal.     

Cellular communication and “non-targeted effects”: Modelling approaches

During the last decade, a large number of experimental studies on the so-called “non-targeted effects”, in particular bystander effects, outlined that cellular communication plays a significant role in the pathways leading to radiobiological damage. Although it is known that two main types of cellular communication (i.e. via gap junctions and/or molecular messengers diffusing in the extra-cellular environment, such as cytokines, NO etc.) play a major role, it is of utmost importance to better understand the underlying mechanisms, and how such mechanisms can be modulated by ionizing radiation. Though the “final” goal is of course to elucidate the in vivo scenario, in the meanwhile also in vitro studies can provide useful insights. In the present paper we will discuss key issues on the mechanisms underlying non-targeted effects and cell communication, for which theoretical models and simulation codes can be of great help. In this framework, we will present in detail three literature models, as well as an approach under development at the University of Pavia. More specifically, we will first focus on a version of the “State-Vector Model” including bystander-induced apoptosis of initiated cells, which was successfully fitted to in vitro data on neoplastic transformation supporting the hypothesis of a protective bystander effect mediated by apoptosis. The second analyzed model, focusing on the kinetics of bystander effects in 3D tissues, was successfully fitted to data on bystander damage in an artificial 3D skin system, indicating a signal range of the order of 0.7–1 mm. A third model for bystander effect, taking into account of spatial location, cell killing and repopulation, showed dose–response curves increasing approximately linearly at low dose rates but quickly flattening out for higher dose rates, also predicting an effect augmentation following dose fractionation. Concerning the Pavia approach, which can model the release, diffusion and depletion/degradation of candidate signals (e.g. cytokines) travelling in the extra-cellular environment, the good agreement with ad hoc experimental data obtained in our laboratory validated the adopted approach, which in the future can be applied also to other candidate signals.     

Protein expression profile changes in human fibroblasts induced by low dose energetic protons

Extrapolation of known radiation risks to the risks from low dose and low dose-rate exposures of human population, especially prolonged exposures of astronauts in the space radiation environment, relies in part on the mechanistic understanding of radiation induced biological consequences at the molecular level. While some genomic data at the mRNA level are available for cells or animals exposed to radiation, the data at the protein level are still lacking. Here, we studied protein expression profile changes using Panorama antibody microarray chips that contain antibodies to 224 proteins (or their phosphorylated forms) involved in cell signaling that included mostly apoptosis, cytoskeleton, cell cycle and signal transduction. Normal human fibroblasts were cultured until fully confluent and then exposed to 2 cGy of 150 MeV protons at high-dose rate. The proteins were isolated at 2 or 6 h after exposure and labeled with Cy3 for the irradiated cells and with Cy5 for the control samples before loading onto the protein microarray chips. The intensities of the protein spots were analyzed using ScanAlyze software and normalized by the summed fluorescence intensities and the housekeeping proteins. The results showed that low dose protons altered the expression of more than 10% of the proteins listed in the microarray analysis in various protein functional groups. Cell cycle (24%) related proteins were induced by protons and most of them were regulators of G1/S-transition phase. Comparison of the overall protein expression profiles, cell cycle related proteins, cytoskeleton and signal transduction protein groups showed significantly more changes induced by protons compared with other protein functional groups.     

TMS320C5402的特性及其硬件设计

介绍了TMS320C5402的主要特性和硬件设计及与慢速器件的接口。     

冷却流道布局对铣槽喷管低周疲劳寿命的影响

为了研究不同的冷却流道布局对大面积比铣槽喷管三维再生冷却槽道在循环工作条件下的热结构响应和低周疲劳寿命的影响, 采用有限体积流—热耦合计算方法、非线性有限元热—结构耦合分析方法和局部应变法对比分析了冷却剂单向逆流、单向顺流和先顺向流动再逆向流动的来回流三种流道布局方案。计算结果表明,铣槽喷管内衬最严重的节点应变主要发生在喷管前部内衬燃气侧壁面与肋条对称面及槽道对称面相交的危险区域,这也是节点低周疲劳寿命最小的位置;铣槽内衬节点的应变时间历程主要由塑性应变决定,肋条与槽道对称面上内衬节点的热结构响应存在较大差异;采用冷却剂单向逆流布局的铣槽喷管内衬节点应变幅和残余应变最大,导致喷管疲劳使用寿命最短;采用冷却剂单向顺流布局的铣槽喷管内衬节点应变幅和残余应变最小,导致喷管低周疲劳寿命最长;采用冷却剂来回流布局的再生冷却喷管铣槽内衬的热结构响应和疲劳使用寿命均处于上述两者之间,但取消了喷管尾部集合器和外置冷却剂供给管路等易失效的部件。      

湍流脉动对化学反应影响的数值研究

为了研究湍流脉动对化学反应的影响,在对冲火焰中引入了时空发展的扰动,其中H₂O₂扰动模拟组分脉动,拉伸率扰动在燃料和氧化剂边界温度均匀的条件下模拟速度脉动,在非均匀条件下模拟温度脉动。正庚烷自点火的计算结果显示:H₂O₂扰动可以缩短点火延迟时间。通过RO₂同素异形化以及C₂H₃氧化的反应路径通量分析,发现H₂O₂扰动不会改变反应路径间的极限竞争关系。均匀温度边界条件下的拉伸率扰动通过恶化热量和自由基的损失抑制中温机理,延长点火所需时间。非均匀温度边界条件下的拉伸率扰动能产生附加的温度扰动,点火延迟时间随扰动频率的变化关系复杂。通过RO₂同素异形化的反应路径通量分析可知,该扰动能够改变反应路径间的极限竞争关系,也能逆转点火进程。由此可以推断,在工程应用中,若湍流脉动较强,点火可能会从单级转化为多级。 