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At least 343 records · Page 19

Experimental models for cellular radiation targets: LET, RBE and radioprotectors

The topics of this presentation are: a brief review of the early research, the ideas it stimulated and the ways they are used in current efforts to explain cellular radiosensitivity; an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of two experimental models used in vitro for simulating the induction of double strand breaks (DSB) and single strand breaks (SSB) in situ. Note that when alkali is used to denature cellular DNA for the determination of strand breaks, both overt SSB and the SSB that result from DSB in the denaturation process are recorded as total strand breaks (TSB). All information is taken from published literature.

NASA Discipline Number 93-10↗

X-ray Variability Characteristics of the Narrow line SEYFERT 1 MKN 766 I: Energy Dependent Timing Properties

We present the energy-dependent power spectral density (PSD) and cross-spectral properties of Mkn 766 obtained from a six-revolution XMM-Newton observation in 2005. The resulting PSDs, which have highest temporal frequency resolution for an AGN PSD to date, show breaks which increase in temporal frequency as photon energy increases; break frequencies differ by an average of approx.0.4 in the log between the softest and hardest bands. The consistency of the 2001 and 2005 observations variability properties, namely PSD shapes and the linear rms-flux relation, suggests the 2005 observation is simply a low-flux extension of the 2001 observation. The coherence function is measured to be approx.0.6-0.9 at temporal frequencies below the PSD break, and is lower for relatively larger energy band separation; coherence also drops significantly towards zero above the PSD break frequency. Temporal frequency-dependent soft-to-hard time lags are detected in this object for the first time: lags increase towards longer time scales and as energy separation increases. Cross-spectral properties are the thus consistent with previous measurements for Mkn 766 (Vaughan & Fabian 2003) and other accreting black hole systems. The results are discussed in the context of several variability models, including those based on inwardly-propagating viscosity variations in the accretion disk.

Markowitz, A.↗

Scoring Dawg Core Breakoff and Retention Mechanism

This novel core break-off and retention mechanism consists of a scoring dawg controlled by a set of two tubes (a drill tube and an inner tube). The drill tube and the inner tube have longitudinal concentric holes. The solution can be implemented in an eccentric tube configuration as well where the tubes have eccentric longitudinal holes. The inner tube presents at the bottom two control surfaces for controlling the orientation of the scoring dawg. The drill tube presents a sunk-in profile on the inside of the wall for housing the scoring dawg. The inner tube rotation relative to the drill tube actively controls the orientation of the scoring dawg and hence its penetration and retrieval from the core. The scoring dawg presents a shaft, two axially spaced arms, and a tooth. The two arms slide on the control surfaces of the inner tube. The tooth, when rotated, can penetrate or be extracted from the core. During drilling, the two tubes move together maintaining the scoring dawg completely outside the core. After the desired drilling depth has been reached the inner tube is rotated relative to the drill tube such that the tooth of the scoring dawg moves toward the central axis. By rotating the drill tube, the scoring dawg can score the core and so reduce its cross sectional area. The scoring dawg can also act as a stress concentrator for breaking the core in torsion or tension. After breaking the core, the scoring dawg can act as a core retention mechanism. For scoring, it requires the core to be attached to the rock. If the core is broken, the dawg can be used as a retention mechanism. The scoring dawg requires a hard-tip insert like tungsten carbide for scoring hard rocks. The relative rotation of the two tubes can be controlled manually or by an additional actuator. In the implemented design solution the bit rotation for scoring was in the same direction as the drilling. The device was tested for limestone cores and basalt cores. The torque required for breaking the 10-mm diameter limestone cores was 5 to 5.8 lb-in. (0.56 to 0.66 N-m).

Badescu, Mircea↗

Chromatin Folding, Fragile Sites, and Chromosome Aberrations Induced by Low- and High- LET Radiation

We previously demonstrated non-random distributions of breaks involved in chromosome aberrations induced by low- and high-LET radiation. To investigate the factors contributing to the break point distribution in radiation-induced chromosome aberrations, human epithelial cells were fixed in G1 phase. Interphase chromosomes were hybridized with a multicolor banding in situ hybridization (mBAND) probe for chromosome 3 which distinguishes six regions of the chromosome in separate colors. After the images were captured with a laser scanning confocal microscope, the 3-dimensional structure of interphase chromosome 3 was reconstructed at multimega base pair scale. Specific locations of the chromosome, in interphase, were also analyzed with bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes. Both mBAND and BAC studies revealed non-random folding of chromatin in interphase, and suggested association of interphase chromatin folding to the radiation-induced chromosome aberration hotspots. We further investigated the distribution of genes, as well as the distribution of breaks found in tumor cells. Comparisons of these distributions to the radiation hotspots showed that some of the radiation hotspots coincide with the frequent breaks found in solid tumors and with the fragile sites for other environmental toxins. Our results suggest that multiple factors, including the chromatin structure and the gene distribution, can contribute to radiation-induced chromosome aberrations.

Zhang, Ye↗

Proximity Within Interphase Chromosome Contributes to the Breakpoint Distribution in Radiation-Induced Intrachromosomal Exchanges

Previously, we reported that breaks involved in chromosome aberrations were clustered in several regions of chromosome3 in human mammary epithelial cells after exposures to either low-or high-LET radiation. In particular, breaks in certain regions of the chromosome tended to rejoin with each other to form an intrachromosome exchange event. This study tests the hypothesis that proximity within a single chromosome in interphase cell nuclei contributes to the distribution of radiation-induced chromosome breaks. Chromosome 3 in G1 human mammary epithelial cells was hybridized with the multicolor banding in situ hybridization (mBAND) probes that distinguish the chromosome in six differently colored regions, and the location of these regions was measured with a laser confocal microscope. Results of the study indicated that, on a multi-mega base pair scale of the DNA, the arrangement of chromatin was non-random. Both telomere regions tended to be located towards the exterior of the chromosome domain, whereas the centromere region towards the interior. In addition, the interior of the chromosome domain was preferentially occupied by the p-arm of the chromatin, which is consistent with our previous finding of intrachromosome exchanges involving breaks on the p-arm and in the centromere region of chromosome3. Other factors, such as the fragile sites in the 3p21 band and gene regulation, may also contribute to the breakpoint distribution in radiation-induced chromosome aberrations. Further investigations suggest that the 3D chromosome folding is cell type and culture condition dependent.

Zhang, Ye↗

Characterizing Droplet Formation from Non-Linear Slosh in a Propellant Tank

The Fluid Dynamics Branch (ER42) at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was tasked with characterizing the formation and evolution of liquid droplets resulting from nonlinear propellant slosh in a storage tank. Lateral excitation of propellant tanks can produce high amplitude nonlinear slosh waves through large amplitude excitations and or excitation frequencies near a resonance frequency of the tank. The high amplitude slosh waves become breaking waves upon attaining a certain amplitude or encountering a contracting geometry such as the upper dome section of a spherical tank. Inherent perturbations in the thinning regions of breaking waves result in alternating regions of high and low pressure within the fluid. Droplets form once the force from the local pressure differential becomes larger than the force maintaining the fluid interface shape due to surface tension. Droplets released from breaking waves in a pressurized tank may lead to ullage collapse given the appropriate conditions due to the increased liquid surface area and thus heat transfer between the fluids. The goal of this project is to create an engineering model that describes droplet formation as a function of propellant slosh for use in the evaluation of ullage collapse during a sloshing event. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) model in the production level Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code Loci-Stream was used to predict droplet formation from breaking waves with realistic surface tension characteristics. Various excitation frequencies and amplitudes were investigated at multiple fill levels for a single storage tank to create the engineering model of droplet formation from lateral propellant slosh.

Brodnick, Jacob↗

Odor Control Test Plan of the Urine Containment Bag (UCB) for Orion Utilization

The purpose of this test is to evaluate the odor containment of the urine containment bag (UCB), P/N SDD46107234-306 in an environment simulating a spacecraft capsule. The goal is to determine the time of odor break through and the acceptability of the odor, once break through occurs. The goal is to simulate, as close as possible, the volume ratio (trash to free volume), trash content (vomit, urine, feces, and food trash), humidity and temperature of the capsule. The goal for minimum break through is 48 hours (Orion Block 0) from the start of the test. The goal for acceptability of odor is 2 weeks (including docked ISS time for Orion Block 0). Two UCB's will be tested simultaneously in different chambers. The one UCB will be tested empty, serving as a control. Odor break through will be based upon the when the filled UCB total organics exceeds that of the control (empty UCB) by a level detectable by a human panel (approximately 2 ppm).

Casper, Stephanie↗

Ice Crystal Icing Investigation on a Honeywell Uncertified Research Engine in an Altitude Simulation Icing Facility

A Honeywell Uncertified Research Engine was exposed to various ice crystal conditions in the NASA Glenn Propulsion Systems Laboratory. Simulations using NASA's 1D Icing Risk Analysis tool were used to determine potential inlet conditions that could lead to ice crystal accretion along the inlet of the core flowpath and into the high pressure compressor. These conditions were simulated in the facility to develop baseline conditions. Parameters were then varied to move or change accretion characteristics. Data were acquired at altitudes varying from 5 kft to 45 kft, at nominal ice particle Median Volumetric Diameters from 20 µm to 100 µm, and total water contents of 1 g/m3 to 12 g/m3. Engine and flight parameters such as fan speed, Mach number, and inlet temperature were also varied. The engine was instrumented with total temperature and pressure probes. Static pressure taps were installed at the leading edge of the fan stator, front frame hub, the shroud of the IGV, and first two rotors. Metal temperatures were acquired for vane stators 1-2. In-situ measurements of the particle size distribution were acquired three meters upstream of the engine forward fan flange and one meter downstream of the fan in the bypass in order to study particle break-up behavior. Cameras were installed in the engine to capture ice accretions at the leading edge of the fan stator, splitter lip, and inlet guide vane. Additional measurements acquired but not discussed in this paper include: high speed pressure transducers installed at the trailing edge of the first stage rotor and light extinction probes used to acquire particle concentrations at the fan exit stator plane and at the inlet to the core and bypass. The goal of this study was to understand key parameters of accretion, acquire particle break-up data aft of the fan, and generate a unique icing dataset for model and tool development. This work described in the paper focuses on the effect of particle break-up. It was found that there was significant particle break-up downstream of the fan in the bypass especially with larger initial particle sizes. The metal temperatures on the inlet guide vanes and stators show a temperature increase with increasing MVD. Accretion behavior was very similar across all test cases. However at the inlet guide vanes, the accretion decreased with increasing particle size.

Ashlie B Flegel↗

Monte Carlo Study of the Formation of Chromosome Aberrations by Direct Ion Traversal vs. Delta-Electrons

Space radiation constitutes a major risk for the safety of space travel. Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) are made of high energy protons (87%), high energy helium ions (12%) and high-charge and energy (HZE) ions [1]. At a cellular scale, HZE ions display a characteristic pattern of energy deposition, known as the ion track, that correlates with the ion linear energy transfer (LET). These energy deposition events (ionizations/excitations) create DNA breaks that, if misrepaired, lead to the formation of chromosome aberrations (CAs). Compared to low-LET terrestrial radiations (X-rays and γ-rays), high LET ions are known to create complex, clustered DNA breaks that are particularly efficient at forming CAs. Indeed, ion tracks are usually described as a dense ionization core, where clustered breaks are formed, and a penumbra, made of low-LET δ-electrons that have sufficient energy to travel across many cells and induce breaks that are more homogeneously distributed. In this work, we investigated the formation of CAs, and separated them into two contributions (direct ion traversal of the nucleus vs.δ-electrons), to elucidate to which extent δ-electrons contribute to CA formation.

Floriane Poignant↗

Simulations of Mach 0.8 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Aircraft Aerodynamics at High Angles of Attack

This paper presents numerical simulations of the Mach 0.8 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) aircraft at high angle of attack using CFD solver FUN3D. Three different approaches - steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS), Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS), and Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) are used to simulation the TTBW aircraft at Mach number 0.8 and altitude 40, 000 ft. The pitch break phenomenon is observed at this flight condition. The simulation results show that the pitch break angle of attack occurs at 2.75˚ by DDES, 2.81◦ by URANS, and 2.89˚ by RANS. The DDES unsteady pressure begins to grow at angle of attack of 3.5˚, which might indicate the buffet onset, and rises one order of magnitude larger at angle of attack of 4.0˚. However, the URANS unsteady pressure begins to grow at angle of attack of 4.0˚. Both unsteady simulation results show the pitch break occurs before buffet onset.

TTBW↗

The Skylab S019 ultraviolet spectra of HD 153919 (=3U 1700-37) and HDE 226868 (=Cyg X-1)

Ultraviolet spectra of HD153919 (=3U1700-37) and HDE226868 (=Cyg X-1) were obtained with the ultraviolet objective-prism spectrograph of Skylab Experiment S019. The data consist of unwidened spectra which extend to 1,600A for HD153919 and to 2,400A for HDE226868. The wavelength resolution is about 2A to 1,400A and 12A at 2,000A. For HD153919, an unwidened spectrum of fair quality and extending to a wavelength of 1,600A was obtained at 22 sup h 08 sup m on 1 September 1973. The energy distribution in this spectrum generally resembles that of other reddened O stars. A break in continuum intensity seems to occur at a wavelength of about 1,720A. There is a suggestion of an emission line on the longward edge of the break but this could be either a chance clumping of grains or else a photographic edge-effect caused by the break.

Kondo, Y.↗

Variability of ultimate properties of elastomers

The measurement of the ultimate properties of elastomers is characterized by variability in the data. For example, when a sufficient number of specimens is tested, distributions in the values of the stress-at-break, strain-at-break, and time-to-break are commonly obtained. It is pointed out that such variability can be rationalized on the basis of variations in both the degree of crosslinking and in the size of naturally occurring flows present in the elastomer.

Fedors, R. F.↗

Auroral electron beams near the magnetic equator

Intense beams of electrons traveling parallel to the local magnetic field have been observed at a magnetic latitude of 11 deg and a radial distance of 6.6 earth radii. The distribution function for electrons traveling within 8 deg of the field line direction is typically flat or slightly rising up to a break point beyond which it decreases as inversely as the 5-10th power of v. The energy corresponding to the break point velocity is usually between 0.1 and 10 keV. These beams are found to occur on closed field lines at the inner edge of the plasma sheet and thus at the root of the earth's magnetotail. Beams with break point energies greater than 2 keV seem to occur only within the first 10 minutes after the onset of hot plasma injection associated with a magnetospheric substorm.

Mcilwain, C. E.↗

The Potential for Helicopter Passenger Service in Major Urban Areas

An interurban helicopter cost model having the capability of selecting an efficient helicopter network for a given city in terms of service and total operating costs was developed. This model which is based upon the relationship between total and direct operating costs and the number of block hours of helicopter operation is compiled in terms of a computer program which simulates the operation of an intracity helicopter fleet over a given network. When applied to specific urban areas, the model produces results in terms of a break-even air passenger market penetration rate, which is the percent of the air travelers in each of those areas that must patronize the helicopter network to make it break even commercially. A total of twenty major metropolitan areas are analyzed and are ranked initially according to cost per seat mile and then according to break-even penetration rate.

Dajani, J. S.↗

Influence of temperature and the role of chromium on the kinetics of sulfidation of 310 stainless steel

The sulfidation of 310 stainless steel was studied over the temperature range from 910 K to 1285 K. By adjusting the ratio of hydrogen sulfide, variations in sulfur potential were obtained. The effect of temperature on sulfidation was determined at three different sulfur potentials: 39/sqNm, 0.014/sqNm, and 0.00015/sqNm. All sulfide scales contained one or two surface layers in addition to a subscale. The second outer layer (OL-II), furthest from the alloy, contained primarily Fe-Ni-S. The first outer layer (OL-I), nearest the subscale, contained FE-Cr-S. The subscale consisted of sulfide inclusions in the metal matrix. At a given temperature and sulfur potential, the weight gain data obeyed the parabolic rate law after an initial transient period. The parabolic rate constants obtained at the sulfur potential of 39/sqNm did not show a break when the logarithm of the rate constant was plotted as a function of the inverse of absolute temperature. Sulfidation carried out at sulfur potentials below 0.02/sqNm, however, did show a break at 1145 K, which is termed as the transition temperature. This break was found to be associated with the changes which had occurred in the Fe:Cr ratio of OL-I. Below the transition temperature the activation energy was found to be approximately 125 kj/mole. Above the transition temperature the rate of sulfidation decreased with temperature but dependent on the Fe:Cr ratio in the iron-chromium-sulfide layers of the OL-I. A reaction mechanism consistent with the experimental results has been proposed.

Rao, D. B.↗

Assessment of the potential of solar thermal small power systems in small utilities

The potential economic benefit of small solar thermal electric power systems to small municipal and rural electric utilities is assessed. Five different solar thermal small power system configurations were considered in three different solar thermal technologies. The configurations included: (1) 1 MW, 2 MW, and 10 MW parabolic dish concentrators with a 15 kW heat engine mounted at the focal point of each dish, these systems utilized advanced battery energy storage; (2) a 10 MW system with variable slat concentrators and central steam Rankine energy conversion, this system utilized sensible thermal energy storage; and (3) a 50 MW central receiver system consisting of a field of heliostats concentrating energy on a tower-mounted receiver and a central steam Rankine conversion system, this system also utilized sensible thermal storage. The results are summarized in terms of break-even capital costs. The break-even capital cost was defined as the solar thermal plant capital cost which would have to be achieved in order for the solar thermal plants to penetrate 10 percent of the reference small utility generation mix by the year 2000. The calculated break-even capital costs are presented.

Steitz, P.↗

Soft CP violation and the global matter-antimatter symmetry of the universe

Scenarios for baryon production are considered within the context of SU(5) and SO(10) grand unified theories where CP violation arises spontaneously. The spontaneous CP symmetry breaking then results in a matter-antimatter domain structure in the universe. Two possible, distinct types of theories of soft CP violation are defined. In the first type the CP nonconservation originates only from the breaking of SU(2) sub L X U(1) symmetry, and in the second type, even at the unification temperature scale, CP violation can emerge as a result of symmetry breaking by the vacuum expectation values of the superheavy Higgs sector scalars.

Senjanovic, G.↗

Thermal shock resistance of silicon oxynitride

The thermal shock resistance of Si2N2O refractory material was studied. The thermal expansion coeff. is 3.55x10 to the -6th power at 20 to 800 C and 2.86x10 to the -6th power m/m/deg at 20 to 200 C. The breaking loads are high at high stress. Young's modulus E and the shear modulus G decrease linearly with increasing porosity. For dense material E sub o approx. = 216,500 N/mm2 and G approx = 90,600 N/mm2. The Vickers hardness of the dense material is comparable to that of sapphire. The results on thermal shock show that R, the breaking load, stays constant for T T sub c, the first cracks appear and R decreases sharply for T=T sub c. As the severity of the thermal shock is increased at T T sub c, a small no. of new, large-size cracks appears. The shock's cumulative effect is negligible, and repeated shocks do not change the cracks. The low values of the thermal expansion coefficient and Young's modulus and the high tension breaking load are considered. Sintered Si2N2O with 5% MgO shows excellent cracking resistance under thermal shock.

Glandus, J. C.↗