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At least 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Structural characterization and regulatory element analysis of the heart isoform of cytochrome c oxidase VIa

In order to investigate the mechanism(s) governing the striated muscle-specific expression of cytochrome c oxidase VIaH we have characterized the murine gene and analyzed its transcriptional regulatory elements in skeletal myogenic cell lines. The gene is single copy, spans 689 base pairs (bp), and is comprised of three exons. The 5'-ends of transcripts from the gene are heterogeneous, but the most abundant transcript includes a 5'-untranslated region of 30 nucleotides. When fused to the luciferase reporter gene, the 3.5-kilobase 5'-flanking region of the gene directed the expression of the heterologous protein selectively in differentiated Sol8 cells and transgenic mice, recapitulating the pattern of expression of the endogenous gene. Deletion analysis identified a 300-bp fragment sufficient to direct the myotube-specific expression of luciferase in Sol8 cells. The region lacks an apparent TATA element, and sequence motifs predicted to bind NRF-1, NRF-2, ox-box, or PPAR factors known to regulate other nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins are not evident. Mutational analysis, however, identified two cis-elements necessary for the high level expression of the reporter protein: a MEF2 consensus element at -90 to -81 bp and an E-box element at -147 to -142 bp. Additional E-box motifs at closely located positions were mutated without loss of transcriptional activity. The dependence of transcriptional activation of cytochrome c oxidase VIaH on cis-elements similar to those found in contractile protein genes suggests that the striated muscle-specific expression is coregulated by mechanisms that control the lineage-specific expression of several contractile and cytosolic proteins.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2015

NASA Space Radiation Program Integrative Risk Model Toolkit

NASA Space Radiation Program Element scientists have been actively involved in development of an integrative risk models toolkit that includes models for acute radiation risk and organ dose projection (ARRBOD), NASA space radiation cancer risk projection (NSCR), hemocyte dose estimation (HemoDose), GCR event-based risk model code (GERMcode), and relativistic ion tracks (RITRACKS), NASA radiation track image (NASARTI), and the On-Line Tool for the Assessment of Radiation in Space (OLTARIS). This session will introduce the components of the risk toolkit with opportunity for hands on demonstrations. The brief descriptions of each tools are: ARRBOD for Organ dose projection and acute radiation risk calculation from exposure to solar particle event; NSCR for Projection of cancer risk from exposure to space radiation; HemoDose for retrospective dose estimation by using multi-type blood cell counts; GERMcode for basic physical and biophysical properties for an ion beam, and biophysical and radiobiological properties for a beam transport to the target in the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory beam line; RITRACKS for simulation of heavy ion and delta-ray track structure, radiation chemistry, DNA structure and DNA damage at the molecular scale; NASARTI for modeling of the effects of space radiation on human cells and tissue by incorporating a physical model of tracks, cell nucleus, and DNA damage foci with image segmentation for the automated count; and OLTARIS, an integrated tool set utilizing HZETRN (High Charge and Energy Transport) intended to help scientists and engineers study the effects of space radiation on shielding materials, electronics, and biological systems.

Kim, Myung-Hee Y.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Deep K-Band Observations of TMC-1 with the Green Bank Telescope: Detection of HC7O, Nondetection of HC11N, and a Search for New Organic Molecules

The 100-meter Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope K-band (KFPA) receiver was used to perform a high-sensitivity search for rotational emission lines from complex organic molecules in the cold interstellar medium toward TMC-1 (Taurus Molecular Cloud - cyanopolyyne peak), focussing on the identification of new carbon-chain-bearing species as well as molecules of possible prebiotic relevance. We report a detection of the carbon-chain oxide species HC7O and derive a column density of (7.8 plus or minus 0.9) times 10 (sup 11) per square centimeter. This species is theorized to form as a result of associative electron detachment reactions between oxygen atoms and C7H minus, and/or reaction of C6H2 plus with CO (followed by dissociative electron recombination). Upper limits are given for the related HC6O, C6O, and C7O molecules. In addition, we obtained the first detections of emission from individual (sup 13) C isotopologues of HC7N, and derive abundance ratios HC7N/HCCCC (sup 13) CCCN equal to 110 plus or minus 16 and HC7N/HCCCC (sup 13) CCCN equal to 96 plus or minus 11, indicative of significant (sup 13) C depletion in this species relative to the local interstellar elemental (sup 12) C divided by (sup 13) C ratio of 60-70. The observed spectral region covered two transitions of HC11N, but emission from this species was not detected, and the corresponding column density upper limit is 7.4 times 10 (sup 10) per square centimeter (at 95 percent confidence). This is significantly lower than the value of 2.8 times 10 (sup 11) per square centimeter previously claimed by Bell et al. and confirms the recent nondetection of HC11N in TMC-1 by Loomis et al. Upper limits were also obtained for the column densities of malononitrile and the nitrogen heterocycles quinoline, isoquinoline, and pyrimidine.

ISM: abundances, ISM: lines and bands, ISM: molecu↗
NASA NTRS1994

Electric currents in the subsolar region of the Venus lower ionosphere

The ion and electron momentum equations, along with Ampere's law, are solved for the ion and electron drift velocities and the electric field in the subsolar Venus ionosphere, assuming a partially ionized gas and a single ion species having the ion mean mass. All collision terms among the ions, electrons and neutral particles are retained in the equations. A general expression for the evolution of the magnetic field is derived and compared with earlier expressions. Subsolar region data in the altitude range 150-300 km from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are used to calculate altitude profiles of the components of the current due to the electric field, gradients of pressure, and gravity. Altitude profiles of the ion and electron velocities as well as the electric field, electrodynamic heating, and the energy density are determined. Only orbits having a complete set of measured plasma temperatures and densities, neutral densities, and magnetic field were considered for analysis; the results are shown only for orbit 202. The vertical velocity at altitudes above 220 km is upgoing for orbit 202. This result is consistent with observations of molecular ions at high altitudes and of plasma flow to the nightside, both of which require upward velocity of ions from the dayside ionosphere. Above about 230 km the momentum equations are extremely sensitive to the altitude profiles of density, temperature, and magnetic field.

Cole, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Theoretical study of silicon dicarbide

Silicon dicarbide was first observed in 1926 in spectra of cool carbon stars. The carrier of these bands around 5000 A was tentatively identified as SiC2 by Kleman (1956) who produced similar spectra by inserting silicon into the graphite tube of a King furnace heated to over 2500 K. This identification was strengthened by subsequent mass spectral studies which showed SiC2 as a major molecular component of vaporized silicon carbide. The present investigation is concerned with calculations which were initiated in an attempt to understand more recent astronomical observations of unidentified lines in the millimeter-wave region of the spectrum. The calculations were designed to determine the ground state equilibrium structure and to obtain vibrational and rotational constants. Calculations for estimating the positions and structure of low-lying electronic states were also performed. Self-consistent field (SCF) calculations were performed assuming a closed-shell electronic structure analogous to that in C3. Calculations were conducted for symmetric CSiC, and asymmetric SiCC forms.

Green, S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Growth and characterization of molecular beam epitaxial GaAs layers on porous silicon

GaAs layers have been grown on porous silicon (PS) substrates with good crystallinity by molecular beam epitaxy. In spite of the surface irregularity of PS substrates, no surface morphology deterioration was observed on epitaxial GaAs overlayers. A 10-percent Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy minimum channeling yield for GaAs-on-PS layers as compared to 16 percent for GaAs-on-Si layers grown under the same condition indicates a possible improvement of crystallinity when GaAs is grown on PS. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the dominant defects in the GaAs-on-PS layers are microtwins and stacking faults, which originate from the GaAs/PS interface. GaAs is found to penetrate into the PS layers. n-type GaAs/p-type PS heterojunction diodes were fabricated with good rectifying characteristics.

Lin, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Growing Cobalt Silicide Columns In Silicon

Codeposition by molecular-beam epitaxy yields variety of structures. Proposed fabrication process produces three-dimensional nanometer-sized structures on silicon wafers. Enables control of dimensions of metal and semiconductor epitaxial layers in three dimensions instead of usual single dimension (perpendicular to the plane of the substrate). Process used to make arrays of highly efficient infrared sensors, high-speed transistors, and quantum wires. For fabrication of electronic devices, both shapes and locations of columns controlled. One possible technique for doing this electron-beam lithography, see "Making Submicron CoSi2 Structures on Silicon Substrates" (NPO-17736).

Fathauer, Obert W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Primary results from the Berkeley EUV airglow rocket spectrometer: O I and N2 FUV/EUV dayglow in the thermosphere and lower exosphere

The Berkeley extreme-ultraviolet airglow rocket spectrometer (BEARS) made spectroscopic measurements of far and extreme UV, atomic oxygen emissions from a Black Brandt XII (12.041 WT) sounding rocket launched from Wallops Island, Virginia, on September 30, 1988. BEARS' primary instrument, a near-normal Rowland mount spectrometer, measured several atomix oxygen and molecular nitrogen dayglow features at high spectral resolution (1.5 A): O I (989, 1027, 1304, and 1356 A); and N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield (4, 0) and (3, 0) bands at 1325 and 1354 A. The instrument collected over 800 s of data spanning altitudes of 150 - 963 km with look directions between 95 deg and 125 deg from zenith. We have analyzed the data using electrons and radiative transport models in a forward modeling approach. The model and data are generally in good agreement. However, there are some discrepancies, which are discussed in terms of remote sensing capabilities and improvements to the models.

Cotton, Daniel M.↗
NASA NTRS1996

A search for HCCN in molecular clouds

We have conducted a deep search for HCCN towards the dark cloud TMC-l and several GMC's via its N(J) = 1(2)-->0(1) transition. HCCN was not detected in any of these sources. Towards TMC-l, assuming optically thin emission, the total column density upper limit is NHCCN < or = 2 x 10(12) cm-2, which corresponds to a fractional abundance upper limit with respect to molecular hydrogen of fHCCN < or = 2 x 10(-10). We find the abundance ratio of HCN:HCCN:HCCCN in TMC-l to be l : <0.01 : 0.3, which suggests that carbon-chain growth by the addition of single carbon atoms may not be efficient under dark cloud conditions. The HCCN abundance limit also places constraints on the branching ratio for the products of the dissociative electron recombination H3C2N+ + e.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2000

Microgravity Platforms

The world's space agencies have been conducting microgravity research since the beginning of space flight. Initially driven by the need to understand the impact of less than- earth gravity physics on manned space flight, microgravity research has evolved into a broad class of scientific experimentation that utilizes extreme low acceleration environments. The U.S. NASA microgravity research program supports both basic and applied research in five key areas: biotechnology - focusing on macro-molecular crystal growth as well as the use of the unique space environment to assemble and grow mammalian tissue; combustion science - focusing on the process of ignition, flame propagation, and extinction of gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels; fluid physics - including aspects of fluid dynamics and transport phenomena; fundamental physics - including the study of critical phenomena, low-temperature, atomic, and gravitational physics; and materials science - including electronic and photonic materials, glasses and ceramics, polymers, and metals and alloys. Similar activities prevail within the Chinese, European, Japanese, and Russian agencies with participation from additional international organizations as well. While scientific research remains the principal objective behind these program, all hope to drive toward commercialization to sustain a long range infrastructure which .benefits the national technology and economy. In the 1997 International Space Station Commercialization Study, conducted by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, some viable microgravity commercial ventures were identified, however, none appeared sufficiently robust to privately fund space access at that time. Thus, government funded micro gravity research continues on an evolutionary path with revolutionary potential.

Del Basso, Steve↗
NASA NTRS2019

TPSAS-NF1676L-32869-DND

Three unseeded molecular tagging velocimetry (MTV) techniques have been demonstrated in NASA Langley’s 0.3-meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). High pressure, cryogenic gaseous N2 is used to produce high Reynolds number transonic flow in TCTs, allowing small aircraft and space vehicles to be tested at flight Reynolds numbers. These facilities generally cannot be seeded with particles or toxic gases so unseeded velocimetry methods are needed. Three Laser Electronic Excitation and Tagging (LEET) techniques were tested: Femtosecond LEET (FLEET), Picosecond LEET (PLEET) and Selective Two-photon Absorptive Resonance Femtosecond LEET (STARFLEET). All three techniques were used over a range of pressures (124 to 517 kPa), temperatures (100-300 K) and Mach numbers (0.2-0.8) to measure freestream conditions and were then compared to conditions determined by the facility data system using conventional wall pressures and probes. Measurement precision and accuracy are presented, as are signal intensity and lifetimes which impact measurement uncertainties and are useful for understanding and modelling the various LEET processes.

P Danehy↗
NASA NTRS1983

Polyaryl ethers and related polysiloxane copolymer molecular coatings preparation and radiation degrdation

Poly(arylene ether sulfones) comprise a class of materials known as engineering thermoplastics which have a variety of important applications. These polymers are tough, rigid materials with good mechanical properties over a wide temperature range, and they are processed by conventional methods into products typically having excellent hydrolytic, thermal, oxidative and dimensional stability. Wholly aromatic random copolymers of hydroquinone and biphenol with 4.4 prime dichlorodiphenyl sulfone were synthesized via mechanical nucleophilic displacement. Their structures were characterized and mechanical behavior studied. These tough, ductile copolymers show excellent radiation resistance to electron beam treatment and retain much of the mechanical properties up to at least 700 Mrads under argon.

Mcgrath, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The contribution of dissociative processes to the production of atomic lines in hydrogen plasmas

The contribution of molecular dissociative processes to the production of atomic lines is considered for a steady-state hydrogen plasma. If the contribution of dissociative processes is dominant, a substantial simplification in plasma diagnostics can be achieved. Numerical calculations have been performed for the production of Balmer alpha, beta, and gamma lines in hydrogen plasmas with medium and large degrees of ionization (x greater than about 0.0001) and for electron temperatures of 5000-45,000 K and electron densities of 10 to the 10th to 10 to the 16th/cu cm.

Kunc, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The non-mass-dependent oxygen isotope effect in the electrodissociation of carbon dioxide - A step toward understanding NoMaD chemistry

A non-mass dependent (NoMaD) oxygen isotope effect is demonstrated in the dissociation of CO2 similar to that observed in the electrosynthesis of ozone. The molecular oxygen produced carries the signature of two separate isotopic fractionation processes; a mass-dependent fractionation probably due to CO2 + O isotopic exchange, and a secondary NoMaD fractionation (delta O-17 = 0.97 + or - 0.09 delta O-18, with the O2 depleted in O-17 and O-18). It is suggested that the effect is due to either the formation or relaxation of ozone in an excited electronic state. This represents the latest advance in the understanding of chemical NoMaD effects which may be essential to the explanation of non-mass-dependent fractionations observed in meteorites.

Heidenreich, J. E., III↗
NASA NTRS1985

Accurate quantum yields by laser gain vs absorption spectroscopy - Investigation of Br/Br(asterisk) channels in photofragmentation of Br2 and IBr

Various techniques have been used to study photodissociation dynamics of the halogens and interhalogens. The quantum yields obtained by these techniques differ widely. The present investigation is concerned with a qualitatively new approach for obtaining highly accurate quantum yields for electronically excited states. This approach makes it possible to obtain an accuracy of 1 percent to 3 percent. It is shown that measurement of the initial transient gain/absorption vs the final absorption in a single time-resolved signal is a very accurate technique in the study of absolute branching fractions in photodissociation. The new technique is found to be insensitive to pulse and probe laser characteristics, molecular absorption cross sections, and absolute precursor density.

Haugen, H. K.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Electronic Characterization of Defects in Narrow Gap Semiconductors-Comparison of Electronic Energy Levels and Formation Energies in Mercury Cadmium Telluride, Mercury Zinc Telluride, and Mercury Zinc Selenide

We have used a Green's function technique to calculate the energy levels and formation energy of deep defects in the narrow gap semiconductors mercury cadmium telluride (MCT), mercury zinc telluride (MZT) and mercury zinc selenide (MZS). The formation energy is calculated from the difference between the total energy with an impurity cluster and the total energy for the perfect crystal. Substitutional (including antisite), interstitial (self and foreign), and vacancy deep defects are considered. Relaxation effects are calculated (with molecular dynamics). By use of a pseudopotential, we generalize the ideal vacancy model so as to be able to consider relaxation for vacancies. Different charge states are considered and the charged state energy shift (as computed by a modified Haldane-Anderson model) can be twice that due to relaxation. Different charged states for vacancies were not calculated to have much effect on the formation energy. For all cases we find deep defects in the energy gap only for cation site s-like orbitals or anion site p-like orbitals, and for the substitutional case only the latter are appreciably effected by relaxation. For most cases for MCT, MZT, MZS, we consider x (the concentration of Cd or Zn) in the range appropriate for a band gap of 0.1 eV. For defect energy levels, the absolute accuracy of our results is limited, but the precision is good, and hence chemical trends are accurately predicted. For the same reason, defect formation energies are more accurately predicted than energy level position. We attempt, in Appendix B, to calculate vacancy formation energies using relatively simple chemical bonding ideas due to Harrison. However, these results are only marginally accurate for estimating vacancy binding energies. Appendix C lists all written reports and publications produced for the grant. We include abstracts and a complete paper that summarizes our work which is not yet available.

Patterson, James D.↗
NASA NTRS2001

STEM Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans muscle thick filaments: evidence for microdifferentiated substructures

In the thick filaments of body muscle in Caenorhabditis elegans, myosin A and myosin B isoforms and a subpopulation of paramyosin, a homologue of myosin heavy chain rods, are organized about a tubular core. As determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy, the thick filaments show a continuous decrease in mass-per-length (MPL) from their central zones to their polar regions. This is consistent with previously reported morphological studies and suggests that both their content and structural organization are microdifferentiated as a function of position. The cores are composed of a second distinct subpopulation of paramyosin in association with the alpha, beta, and gamma-filagenins. MPL measurements suggest that cores are formed from seven subfilaments containing four strands of paramyosin molecules, rather than the two originally proposed. The periodic locations of the filagenins within different regions and the presence of a central zone where myosin A is located, implies that the cores are also microdifferentiated with respect to molecular content and structure. This differentiation may result from a novel "induced strain" assembly mechanism based upon the interaction of the filagenins, paramyosin and myosin A. The cores may then serve as "differentiated templates" for the assembly of myosin B and paramyosin in the tapering, microdifferentiated polar regions of the thick filaments.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗
NASA NTRS1981

InSb heterodyne receivers for submillimeter astronomy

InSb hot electron bolometer mixer receivers have been developed for submillimeter line studies of the interstellar medium up to about 500 GHz. The receivers have been used aboard the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory which is transported to about 12,000 km by a C141 aircraft. Data have been obtained on new interstellar lines (such as the ground-state fine structure transition of atomic carbon at 492 GHz) and such molecular transitions as carbon monoxide and water. Other data were obtained at ground level using the 5-cm Hale telescope at Mount Palomar and the NASA Infrared Telescope facility at Mauna Kea, HI. The heterodyne bolometers have reached noise temperatures of less than 400 K at all frequencies to 500 GHz.

Phillips, T. G.↗