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At least 1,387 records · Page 77

Experiment K-310: The effect of spaceflight on osteogenesis and dentinogenesis in the mandibles of rats

Normal rates of dentinogenesis and osteogenesis in the body of the mandible were observed. The total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and hydroxyproline levels in the jaws and incisors of the flight rats were normal. Gravity density fractionation studies suggested, however, that spaceflight caused a delay in the normal maturation of bone mineral and matrix; normal values were reestablished by 6 days postflight. The teeth were spared. The circadian and ultradian patterns of dentin calcification were normal during spaceflight and recovery periods, but the enamel rhythms displayed a greater amplitude of sulfur concentrations and this abnormal calcium to sulfur ratios only during exposure to zero gravity. The rat mandible and teeth do not suffer the deficits of bone formation common to weight bearing parts of the skeleton during spaceflight. The only derangements detected were in the quality of the matrix and mineral moieties.

Simmons, D. J.↗

Fractional-frequency rotor motion due to nonsymmetric clearance effects

Analysis based on the Jeffcott model is presented to explain 1/2 speed and 1/3 speed whirling motion occurring in rotors which are subject to periodic normal-loose or normal-tight radial stiffness variations. The normal-loose stiffness variation results due to bearing-clearance effects, while normal-tight stiffness variations result from rubbing over a portion of a rotor's orbit. The results demonstrate that 1/2 speed subharmonic motion can be explained as either a linear parametric-excitation phenomenon or as a stable nonlinear subharmonic motion. The 1/3 speed motion is shown to be possible due to the radial stiffness nonlinearity. A linear parametric-excitation analysis demonstrates that during a normal-tight rubbing condition, Coulomb damping significantly widens the potential range of unstable speeds.

Childs, D. W.↗

Explorer 34 magnetic field measurements near the tail current sheet and auroral activity

Explorer 34 (Imp 4) 2.56 s magnetic data obtained during 131 traversals of the tail current sheet are presented, along with the simultaneous 2.5 min auroral electrojet indices AE and AL. The normal magnetic field satellite crossing times and positions are tabulated for these 131 crossings. Normal magnetic field is defined in the center of the sheet: it is the vector magnetic field at the time of field minimum during the crossing. It is remarkable that the only normal components too large in magnitude to be classified as fine structure occur near the time of onset of an AE event. Cases are discussed where the normal component, defined near the plasma sheet edges, has the opposite sign compared to the normal component defined at the sheet center. For quiet times, the current sheet may be only about 1000 km thick within a 3 earth-radii plasma sheet, and may carry some 10-15% of the total tail current.

Speiser, T. W.↗

Universal binding energy relations in metallic adhesion

Scaling relations which map metallic adhesive binding energy onto a single universal binding energy curve are discussed in relation to adhesion, friction, and wear in metals. The scaling involved normalizing the energy to the maximum binding energy and normalizing distances by a suitable combination of Thomas-Fermi screening lengths. The universal curve was found to be accurately represented by E*(A*)= -(1+beta A) exp (-Beta A*) where E* is the normalized binding energy, A* is the normalized separation, and beta is the normalized decay constant. The calculated cohesive energies of potassium, barium, copper, molybdenum, and samarium were also found to scale by similar relations, suggesting that the universal relation may be more general than for the simple free electron metals.

Ferrante, J.↗

Oblique-incidence secondary emission from charged dielectronics

Experimental measurements and computer simulation of secondary electron emission coefficients for FEP-Teflon, for normal and oblique incidence in the presence of a normal electric field are reported. Knowledge of the electrostatic environment surrounding the specimen calculation of particle trajectories are considered. A simulation using a conformal mapping, a Green's integral, and a trajectory generator provides the necessary mathematical support for the measurements which have been made with normal fields of 1.5 and 2.7 kV/mm. When incidence is normal and energy exceeds the critical energy, the coefficient is given by V.58 and for oblique incidence this expression may be divided by the cosine of the angle. The parameter V sub 0 is a function of normal field. Measurements for values of V sub f are presented.

Robinson, J. W.↗

Reversed-polarity regions

It is found by a statistical study of 58 reversed-polarity regions (RPRs) covering the 11-year period 1969-1979 that RPRs (1) have a lifespan comparable to normal active regions, (2) do not show a tendency to rotate toward a more normal alignment, and (3) have stable configurations that do not suggest stress due to their anomalous magnetic alignment. As in normal regions, RPR magnetic complexity is found to be the primary factor in flare productivity. Weak-field RPRs produce no flares, and regions with complex spots produce more flares than regions with non-complex spots by a factor of five. The main difference between RPRs and normal regions lies in complex spot frequency, with less that 17% of normal active regions having such spots and fewer than 1.8% having long-lived complex ones, while 41% of RPRs have complex spots and 24% have long-lived complex spots.

Tang, F.↗

A comparison of minimum distance and maximum likelihood techniques for proportion estimation

The estimation of mixing proportions P sub 1, P sub 2,...P sub m in the mixture density f(x) = the sum of the series P sub i F sub i(X) with i = 1 to M is often encountered in agricultural remote sensing problems in which case the p sub i's usually represent crop proportions. In these remote sensing applications, component densities f sub i(x) have typically been assumed to be normally distributed, and parameter estimation has been accomplished using maximum likelihood (ML) techniques. Minimum distance (MD) estimation is examined as an alternative to ML where, in this investigation, both procedures are based upon normal components. Results indicate that ML techniques are superior to MD when component distributions actually are normal, while MD estimation provides better estimates than ML under symmetric departures from normality. When component distributions are not symmetric, however, it is seen that neither of these normal based techniques provides satisfactory results.

Woodward, W. A.↗

Multiple spacecraft observations of interplanetary shocks: Characteristics of the upstream ULF turbulence

All interplanetary shocks observed by ISEE-3 and either ISEE-1 or ISEE-2 or both in 1978 and 1979 are examined for evidence of upstream waves. In order to characterize the properties of these shocks it is necessary to determine accurate shock normals. An overdetermined set of equations were inverted to obtain shock normals, velocities and error estimates for all these shocks. Tests of the method indicate it is quite reliable. Using these normals the Mach number and angle were between the interplanetary magnetic field and the shock normal for each shock. The upstream waves were separated into two classes: whistler mode precursors which occur at low Mach numbers and upstream turbulence whose amplitude at Mach numbers greater than 1.5 is controlled by the angle of the field to the shock normal. The former waves are right hand circularly polarized and quite monochromatic. The latter waves are more linearly polarized and have a broadband featureless spectrum.

Russell, C. T.↗

Intercepted photosynthetically active radiation in wheat canopies estimated by spectral reflectance

The interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was evaluated relative to greenness and normalized difference (MSS 7-5/7+5) for five planting dates of wheat for 1978-79 and 1979-80 in Phoenix. Intercepted PAR was calculated from a model driven by leaf area index and stage of growth. Linear relationships were found between greenness and normalized difference with a separate model representing growth and senescence of the crop. Normalized difference was a significantly better model and would be easier to apply than the empirically derived greenness parameter. For the leaf area growth portion of the season the model between PAR interception and normalized difference was the same over years, however, for the leaf senescence the models showed more variability due to the lack of data on measured interception in sparse canopies. Normalized difference could be used to estimate PAR interception directly for crop growth models.

Hatfield, J. L.↗

Intercepted photosynthetically active radiation estimated by spectral reflectance

Interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was evaluated relative to greenness and normalized difference (MSS (7-5)/(7+5) for five planting dates of wheat for 1978-79 and 1979-80 at Phoenix, Arizona. Intercepted PAR was calculated from leaf area index and stage of growth. Linear relatinships were found with greeness and normalized difference with separate relatinships describing growth and senescence of the crop. Normalized difference was significantly better than greenness for all planting dates. For the leaf area growth portion of the season the relation between PAR interception and normalized difference was the same over years and planting dates. For the leaf senescence phase the relationships showed more variability due to the lack of data on light interception in sparse and senescing canopies. Normalized difference could be used to estimate PAR interception throughout a growing season.

Hatfield, J. L.↗

A comparison of specularly reflected gyrating ion orbits with observed shock foot thicknesses

ISEE 1 and 2 flux gate magnetometer data has been used to measure the length or thickness of the 'foot' of 60 quasi-perpendicular supercritical bow shocks along the shock normal. These bow shock crossings are contrasted with 10 quasi-perpendicular subscritical shocks which do not exhibit the precursor foot. The extent of the foot structure is compared to the orbit of an ion having solar wind velocity and undergoing simple specular reflection about the shock normal. Good quantitative agreement between the measured value of the foot and the predicted value of about 0.7 ion gyroradii is evident. The foot thickness normalized to this predicted value is compared to the ratio of fast Mach number to critical fast Mach number. There is no dependence of the normalized foot thickness on Mach number other than at the transition point between subcritical and supercritical regimes. No dependence of the normalized foot thickness on upstream ion Beta is noted.

Livesey, W. A.↗

An Investigation of Flame Spread over Shallow Liquid Pools in Microgravity and Nonair Environments

Experiments of interest to combustion fundamentals and spacecraft fire safety investigated flame spread of alcohol fuels over shallow, 15 cm diameter pools in a 5.2 sec free-fall, microgravity facility. Results showed that, independent O2 concentration, alcohol fuel, and diluent types, microgravity flame spread rates were nearly identical to those corresponding normal-gravity flames for conditions where the normal gravity flames spread uniformly. This similarity indicated buoyancy-related convection in either phase does not affect flame spread, at least for the physical scale of the experiments. However, microgravity extinction coincided with the onset conditions for pulsating spread in normal gravity, implicating gas phase, buoyant flow as a requirement for pulsating spread. When the atmospheric nitrogen was replaced with argon, the conditions for the onset of normal-gravity pulsating flame spread and microgravity flame extinction were changed, in agreement with the expected lowering of the flash point through the thermal properties of the diluent. Helium-diluted flames, however, showed unexpected results with a shift to apparently higher flash-point temperatures and high normal gravity pulsation amplitudes.

Ross, Howard D.↗

An investigation of flame spread over shallow liquid pools in microgravity and nonair environments

Experiments of interest to combustion fundamentals and spacecraft fire safety investigated flame spread of alcohol fuels over shallow, 15 cm diameter pools in a 5.2 sec free-fall, microgravity facility. Results showed that, independent O2 concentrations, alcohol fuel, and diluent types, microgravity flame spread rates were nearly identical to those corresponding normal-gravity flames for conditions where the normal gravity flames spread uniformly. This similarity indicated buoyancy-related convection in either phase does not affect flame spread, at least for the physical scale of the experiments. However, microgravity extinction coincided with the onset conditions for pulsating spread in normal gravity, implicating gas phase, buoyant flow as a requirement for pulsating spread. When the atmospheric nitrogen was replaced with argon, the conditions for the onset of normal-gravity pulsating flame spread and microgravity flame extinction were changed, in agreement with the expected lowering of the flash point through the thermal properties of the diluent. Helium-diluted flames, however, showed unexpected results with a shift to apparently higher flash-point temperatures and high normal gravity pulsation amplitudes.

Ross, Howard D.↗

Flight Determination of the Static Longitudinal Stability Boundaries of the Bell X-5 Research Airplane with 59 Deg Sweepback

During the flight program on the Bell X-5 airplane with 59 deg sweepback to determine the practical Mach number and normal-force coefficient limits of this configuration, a reduction in static longitudinal stability was encountered in maneuvering flight. A determination of the boundary for reduction of longitudinal stability extending to a Mach number of 0.98 is presented in this paper. A reduction of static longitudinal stability existed for all elevator and all stabilizer-executed maneuvers. The reduction of stability existed for maneuvers executed with elevator near a normal-force coefficient of 0.6 for a Mach number range of about 0.31 to 0.76. Above a Mach number of 0.76 the normal-force coefficient for reduction of stability gradually decreased to a value of 0.2 at a Mach number of 0.98. For stabilizer-executed maneuvers the stability boundary was the same as for elevator maneuvers up to a Mach number of 0.88. Above this Mach number the reduction of stability occurred at slightly higher normal-force coefficients decreasing from about 0.51 at a Mach number of 0.92 to a value of 0.311 at a Mach number of 0.97. The airplane has been flown to a Mach number of 1.04 at a normal-force coefficient of about 0.15 without encountering any reduction of stability. The pilot did not consider the reduction of stability to be dangerous at altitudes above 30,000 feet; however, precise flight was impossible. At angles of attack above that at which the reduction of longitudinal stability occurred, directional instability and aileron control overbalance were encountered.

Finch, Thomas W↗

Calculation of the chordwise load distribution over airfoil sections with plain, split, or serially hinged trailing-edge flaps

A method is presented for the rapid calculation of the incremental chordwise normal-force distribution over an airfoil section due to the deflection of a plain flap or tab, a split flap, or a serially hinged flap. This report is intended as a supplement to NACA Report no. 631, wherein a method is presented for the calculation of the chordwise normal-force distribution over an airfoil without a flap or, as it may be considered, an airfoil with flap (or flaps) neutral. The method enables the determination of the form and magnitude of the incremental normal-force distribution to be made for an airfoil-flap combination for which the section characteristics have been determined. A method is included for the calculation of the flap normal-force and hinge-moment coefficients without necessitating a determination of the normal-force distribution.

Allen, H Julian↗

Amphibian fertilization and development in microgravity

During the year before launch, female frogs will be tested every 3 months for the quantity and quality of eggs produced. Two weeks or more prior to launch, male and female frogs will be transported to the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC). During the few weeks before launch, groups will be periodically tested for egg quality to assure that the frogs have adapted to the KSC laboratory environment. About 27 hours before launch, four females will be placed in a damp foam-lined box, called the Adult Frog Box (AFB), through which 100 cc/min of air wil be circulated. The AFB will be lowered into the Spacelab and loaded into the Frog Environmental Unit (FEU) during the final pre-launch preparations. A sperm suspension, for use in flight to fertilize the eggs, will also be prepared and loaded during the pre-launch period. The sperm suspension, together with a kit of syringes containing Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), will be stored in a refrigerator aboard the shuttle until needed in flight. On the first day of flight, the AFB will be transferred from the FEU to the General Purpose Work Station (GPWS), which is a type of glove box specially designed to allow the crew to use chemicals and biological materials during the flight without contaminating the shuttle/Spacelab environment. Inside the GPWS the four adult frogs will be injected with the HCG hormone and returned to the FEU. Approximately 16 hours after injection, ovulation should have taken place and 15 to 20 eggs from each frog will be placed on each of two egg baskets and covered with sperm for 10 minutes. The egg baskets are inserted into acrylic egg chambers and 50 ml of 'pond water' (20 percent strength Modified Ringers solution (is added. One of the chambers from each frog will be placed on a centrifuge within the FEU and rotated to simulate normal terrestrial gravity (1 g). The remaining chambers are incubated under microgravity conditions within the FEU. Forty minutes after fertilization, the four chambers exposed to 1 g will be removed and observed within the GPWS using a dissecting microscope and camera system. On the basis of egg rotation and egg appearance, the 'best' and 'second best' frogs will be selected to contribute additional eggs. Using the two best frogs, 22 egg chambers will be loaded with eggs and fertilized. Eleven chambers wil be incubated at microgravity and eleven will be incubated on the centrifuge. At various times during the flight, chambers will be removed from the FEU and transferred to the GPWS where a formaldehyde-based fixative will be injected in order to preserve important developmental stages for in depth study following the flight. Five of the 22 chambers plus the eight fertilization test chambers will be returned to Earth with live tadpoles. The swimming behavior of these free swimming tadpoles will be examined within several hours of landing and some will be fixed for a detailed analysis of their inner ear, the otolity, the animals 'balance system.' Lychakov and Vinikov reported an increase in otolith size in tadpoles that developed (but were not fertilized) in space. Live tadpoles from the SL-J flight will be raised through metamorphsis for studies of maturation including an analysis of the effects of space flight on their ability to produce normal progency. Following the flight, the fixed embryos will be serially sectioned and stained using procedures that were developed for this experiment. The embroys fixed at the 2-4 cell stage will be examined for the distribution of cytoplasmic contents, including the various classes of yolk platelets, and the location and shape of the cleavage furrows. The gastrulae will be assessed for the normality of the complex cellular rearrangements that constitute blastopore formation and involution, i.e., the differentiation of the embryo into its specialized body parts. Using a new procedure, the gastrulae will be bleached which will enable the initial sperm entry point (SEP) to be located. The correlation between the SEP and the dorsal lip of the blastopore will be determined. Under normal terrestrial conditions it was shown that the SEP typically is located on the side of the egg opposite the future dorsal side of the embryo. The neurulae will be examined for the normality and completeness of the neural plate and archenteron expansion. The tadpole stages will be used to study the allometry and morphology of the various organ systems.

Souza, Kenneth A.↗

Laser ranging data analysis

Center for Space Research efforts have focused on the near real-time analysis of Lageos laser ranging data and on the production of predictive ephemerides. The data are analyzed in terms of range bias, time bias, and internal precision, and estimates for the Earth orientation parameters X(sub p), Y(sub p) and UT1 are obtained. The results of these analyses are reported in a variety of formats. In addition several additional stations began sending not only quick-look observations but also normal points created on-site with new software. These normal points are transmitted in a new standard format different from either current quick-look or MERIT-II full-rate formats. Thus new preprocessing software was written and successfully tested on these data. Inspection of the Bendix produced Lageos full-rate normal points continued, with detailed analyses and filtering of all 1991 A and B release normal points for Lageos through the beginning of 1992. A summary of the combined full-rate and quick-look normal point data set created for 1991 is provided. New long-term ephemerides for Lageos satellite, as well as for Etalon-1 and Etalon-2 (the so-called high satellites used for laser ranging) were produced and distributed to the network stations in cooperation with the Crustal Dynamics Project and Eurolas. These predictions are used by essentially every laser ranging site obtaining regular returns from any of these three satellites.

Source record↗

Exercise detraining: Applicability to microgravity

Physical training exposes the various systems of the body to potent physiologic stimuli. These stimuli induce specific adaptations that enhance an individual's tolerance for the type of exercise encountered in training. The level of adaptation and the magnitude of improvement in exercise tolerance is proportional to the potency of the physical training stimuli. Likewise, our bodies are stimulated by gravity, which promotes adaptations of both the cardiovascular and skeletal muscles. Exposure to microgravity removes normal stimuli to these systems, and the body adapts to these reduced demands. In many respects the cessation of physical training in athletes and the transition from normal gravity to microgravity represent similar paradigms. Inherent to these situations is the concept of the reversibility of the adaptations induced by training or by exposure to normal gravity. The reversibility concept holds that when physical training is stopped (i.e., detraining) or reduced, or a person goes from normal gravity to microgravity, the bodily systems readjust in accordance with the diminished physiologic stimuli. The focus of this chapter is on the time course of loss of the adaptations to endurance training as well as on the possibility that certain adaptations persist, to some extent, when training is stopped. Because endurance exercise training generally improves cardiovascular function and promotes metabolic adaptations within the exercising skeletal musculature, the reversibility of these specific adaptations is considered. These observations have some applicability to the transition from normal to microgravity.

Coyle, Edward F.↗