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At least 865 records · Page 48

The Lunar Environment: Determining the Health Effects of Exposure to Moon Dusts

The Earth s moon presents a hostile environment in which to live and work. There is no atmosphere to protect its surface from the ravages of solar wind and micrometeorite impacts. As a result, the moon s surface is covered with a thin layer of fine, charged, reactive dust capable of entering habitats and vehicle compartments, where it can result in crewmember health problems. During the Apollo missions, lunar dusts were introduced into the crew vehicle, resulting in direct exposure and occasional reports of respiratory, dermal and ocular irritation. In order to study the toxicological effects of lunar dust, NASA formed the Lunar Airborne Dust Toxicity Advisory Group (LADTAG). This interdisciplinary group is comprised of leading experts in space toxicology, lunar geology, space medicine and biomedical research. LADTAG has demonstrated that lunar soil contains several types of reactive dusts, including an extremely fine respirable component. These dusts have highly reactive surfaces in the lunar environment; the grains contain surface coatings which are generated by vapor phases formed by hypervelocity impact of micrometeorites. This unique class of dusts has surface properties that are unlike any Earth based analog. These distinctive properties are why lunar dusts are of great toxicological interest. Understanding how these reactive components behave "biochemically" in a moisture-rich pulmonary environment will aid in determining how toxic these particles are to humans. The data obtained from toxicological examination of lunar dusts will determine the human risk criteria for lunar dust exposure and produce a lunar health standard. LADTAG s analysis of lunar dusts and lunar dust simulants will include detailed lunar particle characterizations, determining the properties of particle activation, reactivation of lunar dust, the process of dust passivation and discerning the pathology of lunar dust exposure via inhalation, intratracheal instillation, cell culture exposure, dermal exposure and ocular exposure. The resulting health standard will be time-based and will vary by the duration and type of exposure. It may also be necessary to set multiple standards for different types of lunar dust, as well as for dust in its activated form vs. aged & passivated dust. This standard, set to protect the health of our robust astronaut crews, will not only impact NASA medical operations, but engineering designs as well. The data from our multidisciplinary research are vital in developing remediation devices and environmental monitors. Ultimately, the engineering and safety groups will design and develop countermeasures for space vehicles, suits, rovers and habitats that will be sustained within the limits of the health standard.

Khan-Mayberry, Noreen↗

A survey of particle image velocimetry applications in Langley aerospace facilities

This paper describes several applications of the global velocity measurement technique known as particle image velocimetry to three different facilities at Langley Research Center. These three applications represent global velocity measurements in distinctly different flows, namely a reacting hydrogen - air flame, a low Reynolds number boundary layer, and hypersonic flow over a wedge. In addition, these applications illustrate the power of the instrument to obtain data such as vorticity and Reynolds stress. Finally, the ability to obtain particle dynamics data in supersonic/hypersonic flows similar to that which can be obtained with point measurement techniques is demonstrated.

Humphreys, W. M.↗

Observations of Mercury's magnetic field

Magnetic-field observations made during the third encounter of Mariner 10 with Mercury are discussed along with implications of an intrinsic field for the planetary interior. The data obtained confirm the presence of characteristic bow-shock, magnetosheath, and magnetosphere regions surrounding the planet and also indicate that Mercury occupies a much larger portion of its magnetosphere than does earth. Combined plasma, charged-particle, and magnetic-field data establish that the origin of the field is intrinsic to the planet rather than associated with an induction process due to solar-wind flow. Spherical harmonic analysis of the field data shows that the internal field of the planet is well described by a centered dipole with a moment of 5.0 by 10 to the 22nd power gauss-cu cm and oriented within 12 deg of the normal to the orbital plane in the same sense as earth. Surface intensities are deduced to be between about 300 and 800 gammas. It is concluded that an active dynamo is a more likely candidate than fossil magnetization for the origin of the field.

Ness, N. F.↗

Mutagenic effects of a single and an exact number of alpha particles in mammalian cells

One of the main uncertainties in risk estimation for environmental radon exposure using lung cancer data from underground miners is the extrapolation from high- to low-dose exposure where multiple traversal is extremely rare. The biological effects of a single alpha particle are currently unknown. Using the recently available microbeam source at the Radiological Research Accelerator Facility at Columbia University, we examined the frequencies and molecular spectrum of S1- mutants induced in human-hamster hybrid (A(L)) cells by either a single or an exact number of alpha particles. Exponentially growing cells were stained briefly with a nontoxic concentration of Hoechst dye for image analysis, and the location of individual cells was computer-monitored. The nucleus of each cell was irradiated with either 1,2,4, or 8 alpha particles at a linear energy transfer of 90 keV/microm consistent with the energy spectrum of domestic radon exposure. Although single-particle traversal was only slightly cytotoxic to A(L) cells (survival fraction approximately 0.82), it was highly mutagenic, and the induced mutant fraction averaged 110 mutants per 10(5) survivors. In addition, both toxicity and mutant induction were dose-dependent. Multiplex PCR analysis of mutant DNA showed that the proportion of mutants with multilocus deletions increased with the number of particle traversals. These data provide direct evidence that a single a particle traversing a nucleus will have a high probability of resulting in a mutation and highlight the need for radiation protection at low doses.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Experimental water droplet impingement data on modern aircraft surfaces

An experimental method has been developed to determine the water droplet impingement characteristics on two- and three-dimensional aircraft surfaces. The experimental water droplet impingement data are used to validate particle trajectory analysis codes that are used in aircraft icing analyses and engine inlet particle separator analyses. The aircraft surface is covered with thin strips of blotter paper in areas of interest. The surface is then exposed to an airstream that contains a dyed-water spray cloud. The water droplet impingement data are extracted from the dyed blotter paper strips by measuring the optical reflectance of each strip with an automated reflectometer. Preliminary experimental and analytical impingement efficiency data are presented for a NLF(1)-0414F airfoil, s swept MS(1)-0317 airfoil, a swept NACA 0012 wingtip and for a Boeing 737-300 engine inlet model.

Papadakis, Michael↗

Experimental Water Droplet Impingement Data on Airfoils, Simulated Ice Shapes, an Engine Inlet and a Finite Wing

An experimental method has been developed to determine the water droplet impingement characteristics on two- and three-dimensional aircraft surfaces. The experimental water droplet impingement data are used to validate particle trajectory analysis codes that are used in aircraft icing analyses and engine inlet particle separator analyses. The aircraft surface is covered with thin strips of blotter paper in areas of interest. The surface is then exposed to an airstream that contains a dyed-water spray cloud. The water droplet impingement data are extracted from the dyed blotter paper strips by measuring the optical reflectance of each strip with an automated reflectometer. Experimental impingement efficiency data represented for a NLF (1)-0414 airfoil, a swept MS (1)-0317 airfoil, a Boeing 737-300 engine inlet model, two simulated ice shapes and a swept NACA 0012 wingtip. Analytical impingement efficiency data are also presented for the NLF (1)-0414 airfoil and the Boeing 737-300 engine inlet model.

Papadakis, M.↗

Propagation characteristics of solar flare particles

A statistical study on the propagation characteristics of about 80 solar particle events is carried out using the data from Goddard cosmic-ray experiments. It is found that for particles near onset as well as maximum particle intensity at 1 AU, a linear relation exists between the velocity and the traveled distance. This holds for both relativistic electrons (0.5-1.1 MeV) and nonrelativistic protons (4-80 MeV). The relation indicates that particle propagation is independent of both rigidity and energy. It is shown that in general interplanetary diffusion plays a minor role in particle propagation during the initial phase of a flare effect. A study of the onset characteristics indicates that the speed of particle transport in the corona may be as high as 40 deg/hr. This behavior can not be accounted for by either magnetic-field or curvature drift.

Ma Sung, L. S.↗

Gamma ray emission and solar flares

Solar gamma ray line and continuum emission provide information about particle acceleration and its temporal behavior; the energy spectrum, composition and directivity of the accelerated particles; and the composition, density and temperatures of the ambient medium. These data, coupled with the comprehensive photon and particle observations available for the sun, give a detailed picture of the particle acceleration and flare energy release processes. Additional information on elemental and isotopic abundances, surface nuclear reactions and coronal heating mechanisms can be obtained. Implications of present observations and the potential return from future observational are discussed.

Lin, R. P.↗

Active and Passive Radiative Transfer Modeling with Preferentially-Aligned Particles

The fluid dynamics of falling hydrometeors often results in preferential orientations that can affect both the intensity and polarization of electromagnetic radiation. In order to properly interpret remote sensing observations of ice and snow, such alignments should be considered when constructing databases of scattering particles; however, the inclusion of aligned particles increases the complexity of the scattering data. To demonstrate the use of scattering properties of preferentially-aligned particles, millimeter-wave brightness temperatures and radar observables, including reflectivity and linear depolarization ratio, are modeled using the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator (ARTS). The necessary scattering parameters for vector radiative transfer, particularly with respect to ARTS, are reviewed, and the exploitation of particle symmetries, as well as scattering reciprocity relationships, are detailed.

radiative transfer↗

Characterization of Moving Dust Particles

A large depth-of-field Particle Image Velocimeter (PIV) has been developed at NASA GSFC to characterize dynamic dust environments on planetary surfaces. This instrument detects and senses lofted dust particles. We have been developing an autonomous image analysis algorithm architecture for the PIV instrument to greatly reduce the amount of data that it has to store and downlink. The algorithm analyzes PIV images and reduces the image information down to only the particle measurement data we are interested in receiving on the ground - typically reducing the amount of data to be handled by more than two orders of magnitude. We give a general description of PIV algorithms and describe only the algorithm for estimating the velocity of the traveling particles.

Bos, Brent J.↗

Solar source regions of 3HE-rich particle events

Hydrogen alpha X-ray, and metric and kilometric radio data to examine the solar sources of energetic 3He-rich particle events observed near earth in association with impulsive 2 to 100 keV electron events were applied. Each 3He/electron event is associated with a kilometric type 3 burst belonging to a family of such bursts characterized by similar interplanetary propagation paths from the same solar active region. The 3He/electron events correlate very well with the interplanetary low frequency radio brightnesses of these events, but progressively worse with signatures from regions closer to the Sun. When H alpha brightnings can be associated with 3He/electron events, they have onsets coinciding to within 1 min of that of the associated metric type 3 burst but are often too small to be reported. The data are consistent with the earlier idea that many type 3 bursts, the 3He/electron events, are due to particle acceleration in the corona, well above the associated H alpha and X-ray flares.

Kahler, S. W.↗

Remote Sensing Data from CLARET: A Prototype Cart Data Set

A data set containing radiation, meteorological, and cloud sensor observations is documented. It was prepared for use by the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program and other interested scientists. These data are a precursor of the types of data that ARM Cloud And Radiation Testbed (CART) sites will provide. The data are from the Cloud Lidar And Radar Exploratory Test (CLARET) conducted by the Wave Propagation Laboratory during autumn 1989 in the Denver-Boulder area of Colorado primarily for the purpose of developing new cloud-sensing techniques on cirrus. After becoming aware of this experiment, ARM scientists requested archival of subsets or the data to assist in the developing ARM program. Five CLARET cases were selected: two with cirrus, one with stratus, one with mixed-phase clouds, and one with clear skies. The cases range from 2 to 9.5 h in length. A pyranometer, pyrgeometer, pyrheliometer, and an infrared radiometer constituted the ensemble of instruments that provided surface radiation data. A lidar, radar, and ceilometer observed the cloud geometrical structure, and visual reports and all-sky camera observations were assimilated to provide cloud cover data. Radiosondes, wind profiler, RASS (profiling virtual temperature), microwave radiometers (observing column integrated liquid water and water vapor), and standard surface measurements provided meteorological data. Satellite data from the stratus case and one cirrus case were analyzed for statistics on cloud cover and top height. The main body of the selected data are available on diskette from the Wave Propagation Laboratory or Los Alamos National Laboratory. In addition to documenting the data set, this report describes CLARET and gives a bibliography of publications associated with the project. Some preliminary results of CLARET' research are also summarized. Simultaneous CO 2 lidar and radar backscatter measurements were shown to provide estimates of the effective radius of ice particles. Simultaneous radar and infrared radiometer data appear useful for estimating column-integrated numbers and average sizes of ice cloud particles. Ice water content obtained with this method compared favorably with values from another empirical technique using radar data alone. Depolarization of the CO 2 lidar signal from ice clouds was surprisingly small, suggesting that calculation of backscatter from nonspherical particles for this lidar is a tractable problem. Examples are also cited of CO 2 lidar measurements of the effective radius of water cloud drop size distributions and of inference of the size of pristine ice crystals that assume a particular orientation in the air. These parameters are all important to radiative transfer through clouds.

Clouds (Meteorology)↗

Time variations of magnetospheric intensities of outer zone protons, alpha particles and ions (Z greater than or equal to 2)

A comprehensive study of the temporal behavior of trapped protons, alpha particles and ions (Z 2) in outer zone of the earth's magnetosphere has been made. These observations were made by the Injun V satellite during the first 21 months of operation, August 1968 to May 1970. Rapid increases in the observed number of particles followed by slower exponential decay characterize the data. Comparisons are made with the temporal behavior of interplanetary particles of the same energy observed by Explorer 35. Increases in the trapped fluxes generally correspond to enhanced interplanetary activity. The energy spectra of protons and alpha particles at L = 3 have similar shapes when compared on an energy per charge basis while the respective polar cap spectra have similar shape on an energy per nucleon basis. Apparent inward trans-L motion of energetic protons is observed. These particles are diffused inward by a process involving fluctuating electric fields. The loss of trapped low altitude protons, alpha particles and ions (Z 2) is controlled by coulombic energy loss in the atmosphere.

Randall, B. A.↗

Universal Features of the Fluid to Solid Transition for Attractive Colloidal Particles

Attractive colloidal particles can exhibit a fluid to solid phase transition if the magnitude of the attractive interaction is sufficiently large, if the volume fraction is sufficiently high, and if the applied stress is sufficiently small. The nature of this fluid to solid transition is similar for many different colloid systems, and for many different forms of interaction. The jamming phase transition captures the common features of these fluid to solid translations, by unifying the behavior as a function of the particle volume fraction, the energy of interparticle attractions, and the applied stress. This paper describes the applicability of the jamming state diagram, and highlights those regions where the fluid to solid transition is still poorly understood. It also presents new data for gelation of colloidal particles with an attractive depletion interaction, providing more insight into the origin of the fluid to solid transition.

Cipelletti, L.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, March 2013

Topics covered include: Remote Data Access with IDL Data Compression Algorithm Architecture for Large Depth-of-Field Particle Image Velocimeters Vectorized Rebinning Algorithm for Fast Data Down-Sampling Display Provides Pilots with Real-Time Sonic-Boom Information Onboard Algorithms for Data Prioritization and Summarization of Aerial Imagery Monitoring and Acquisition Real-time System (MARS) Analog Signal Correlating Using an Analog-Based Signal Conditioning Front End Micro-Textured Black Silicon Wick for Silicon Heat Pipe Array Robust Multivariable Optimization and Performance Simulation for ASIC Design; Castable Amorphous Metal Mirrors and Mirror Assemblies; Sandwich Core Heat-Pipe Radiator for Power and Propulsion Systems; Apparatus for Pumping a Fluid; Cobra Fiber-Optic Positioner Upgrade; Improved Wide Operating Temperature Range of Li-Ion Cells; Non-Toxic, Non-Flammable, -80 C Phase Change Materials; Soft-Bake Purification of SWCNTs Produced by Pulsed Laser Vaporization; Improved Cell Culture Method for Growing Contracting Skeletal Muscle Models; Hand-Based Biometric Analysis; The Next Generation of Cold Immersion Dry Suit Design Evolution for Hypothermia Prevention; Integrated Lunar Information Architecture for Decision Support Version 3.0 (ILIADS 3.0); Relay Forward-Link File Management Services (MaROS Phase 2); Two Mechanisms to Avoid Control Conflicts Resulting from Uncoordinated Intent; XTCE GOVSAT Tool Suite 1.0; Determining Temperature Differential to Prevent Hardware Cross-Contamination in a Vacuum Chamber; SequenceL: Automated Parallel Algorithms Derived from CSP-NT Computational Laws; Remote Data Exploration with the Interactive Data Language (IDL); Mixture-Tuned, Clutter Matched Filter for Remote Detection of Subpixel Spectral Signals; Partitioned-Interval Quantum Optical Communications Receiver; and Practical UAV Optical Sensor Bench with Minimal Adjustability.

Source record↗