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At least 1,585 records · Page 88
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

The joint US-USSR biological satellite program

The joint US-USSR biological satellite missions carried out in 1975 and 1977 using Cosmos 782 and Cosmos 936 spacecraft, respectively, is reviewed. The experimental equipment and the biological specimens aboard the aircraft are considered, and it is noted that Cosmos 782, unlike Cosmos 936, carried no centrifuges for rats, although it did contain a centrifuge where a variety of biological specimens, including carrot tissue and fruit flies, were subjected to artificial gravity during space flight. The ground control groups, designed for biological experiments under simulated space-conditions, are taken into account. The U.S. experiments aboard the aircraft are described, with attention given to the experiments with rats, fish embryos, plants, and insects. Results of the experiments are noted, including the finding that space flight factors, especially weightlessness, have a measurable effect on the erythropoietic and musculoskeletal systems of rats

Souza, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A continuation of base-line studies for environmentally monitoring space transportation systems at John F. Kennedy Space Center. Executive summary

Studies conducted in and around John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merrit Island, Florida were designed to establish baseline conditions for various attributes of the biotic and abiotic environment. Features were described and quantitatively measured. Certain condition were found to be appropriate for the detection and assessment of possible environmental perturbations caused by future NASA activities. These include plant communities, mammal populations, rainfall chemistry, fish populations, and the status of rare and endangered species. On the basis of statistical analysis of quantitative data and logistic considerations, it was possible to refine the kinds and amounts of measurements needed to evaluate perturbations in selected environmental components.

Stout, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Occupational changes in the organ of hearing and equilibrium in sailors and fisherman

Prophylactic examination in persons engaged in fishing industry and in sailors of ocean-going ships demonstrated occupational cochlear neuritis, resulting from the action of noise and vibration. Five hundred and fifty three sailors and fishermen working under conditions of noise were studied. A total of 233 persons 43.7% were found to be suffering from changes of the auditory analyzer typically resulting from the action of noise and vibration. The most pronounced changes of hearing were revealed in fishermen, in 44.8% of the persons examined, the percentage also being the highest among the engine room workers (63%). The incidence of cochlear neuritis in sailors of the ocean-going steamship line and in personnel of research ocean-going ships was almost equal (39.9-40%). These indices differed in the engine room workers (42-46%). Vestibular function was investigated by caloric and rotation tests with the use of electronystagmography. The data obtained point to diminution of the vestibular analyzer excitability with increase of the length of navigation service.

Menyakin, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Salton Sea solar pond project

The feasibility of constructing salt gradient solar ponds within the Salton Sea is being studied. These ponds would serve a dual purpose: (1) become a depository for unwanted salt and (2) supply thermal energy for driving turbine electric power systems. Under present circumstances, the rise in salinity is expected to eliminate fish life and create other unfavorable conditions. The proposed concept would have a power generation potential of 600 MWe.

French, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Simulation modeling of estuarine ecosystems

A simulation model has been developed of Galveston Bay, Texas ecosystem. Secondary productivity measured by harvestable species (such as shrimp and fish) is evaluated in terms of man-related and controllable factors, such as quantity and quality of inlet fresh-water and pollutants. This simulation model used information from an existing physical parameters model as well as pertinent biological measurements obtained by conventional sampling techniques. Predicted results from the model compared favorably with those from comparable investigations. In addition, this paper will discuss remotely sensed and conventional measurements in the framework of prospective models that may be used to study estuarine processes and ecosystem productivity.

Johnson, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Remote sensing in biological oceanography

The main attribute of remote sensing is seen as its ability to measure distributions over large areas on a synoptic basis and to repeat this coverage at required time periods. The way in which the Coastal Zone Color Scanner, by showing the distribution of chlorophyll a, can locate areas productive in both phytoplankton and fishes is described. Lidar techniques are discussed, and it is pointed out that lidar will increase the depth range for observations.

Esaias, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Biological and physical oceanographic observations pertaining to the trawl fishery in a region of persistent coastal upwelling

An upwelling episode in the Point Sal region of the central California coast is examined by using data obtained by a data buoy. The episodes was interrupted by the abrupt abatement of the strong wind which promotes coastal upwelling. The mean hourly upwelling index is calculated to be higher than the 20 year mean monthly value. During 3 days of light wind commercial bottom trawl operations were possible. Shipboard estimates of chlorophyll content in surface waters during trawling show the high concentrations that are indicative of a rich biomass of phytoplankton, a result of the upwelling episode. Satellite imagery shows the extent of the upwelling water to be of the order of 100 km offshore; the result of many upwelling episodes. Shipboard echo sounder data show the presence of various delmersal species and of zooplakton; the latter graze on the phytoplankton in the upper euphotic layers. The fish catch data are recorded according to species for 2 days of trawling, and the catch per trawl hour is recorded.

Howe, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The Seasat commercial demonstration program

The background and development of the Seasat commercial demonstration program are reviewed and the Seasat spacecraft and its sensors (altimeter, wind field scatterometer, synthetic aperture radar, and scanning multichannel microwave radiometer) are described. The satellite data distribution system allows for selected sets of data, reformatted or tailored to specific needs and geographical regions, to be available to commercial users. Products include sea level and upper atmospheric pressure, sea surface temperature, marine winds, significant wave heights, primary wave direction and period, and spectral wave data. The results of a set of retrospective case studies performed for the commercial demonstration program are described. These are in areas of application such as marine weather and ocean condition forecasting, offshore resource exploration and development, commercial fishing, and marine transportation.

Mccandless, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Optical recognition of statistical patterns

Optical implementation of the Fukunaga-Koontz transform (FKT) and the Least-Squares Linear Mapping Technique (LSLMT) is described. The FKT is a linear transformation which performs image feature extraction for a two-class image classification problem. The LSLMT performs a transform from large dimensional feature space to small dimensional decision space for separating multiple image classes by maximizing the interclass differences while minimizing the intraclass variations. The FKT and the LSLMT were optically implemented by utilizing a coded phase optical processor. The transform was used for classifying birds and fish. After the F-K basis functions were calculated, those most useful for classification were incorporated into a computer generated hologram. The output of the optical processor, consisting of the squared magnitude of the F-K coefficients, was detected by a T.V. camera, digitized, and fed into a micro-computer for classification. A simple linear classifier based on only two F-K coefficients was able to separate the images into two classes, indicating that the F-K transform had chosen good features. Two advantages of optically implementing the FKT and LSLMT are parallel and real time processing.

Lee, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ship and satellite bio-optical research in the California Bight

Mesoscale biological patterns and processes in productive coastal waters were studied. The physical and biological processes leading to chlorophyll variability were investigated. The ecological and evolutionary significance of this variability, and its relation to the prediction of fish recruitment and marine mammal distributions was studied. Seasonal primary productivity (using chlorophyll as an indication of phytoplankton biomass) for the entire Southern California Bight region was assessed. Complementary and contemporaneous ship and satellite (Nimbus 7-CZCS) bio-optical data from the Southern California Bight and surrounding waters were obtained and analyzed. These data were also utilized for the development of multi-platform sampling strategies and the optimization of algorithms for the estimation of phytoplankton biomass and primary production from satellite imagery.

Smith, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Procedures for analysis of spatial relationships among ship survey data and sea surface temperature

The establishment of a limited spatial data base for the U.S. eastern seaboard vicinity is discussed along with the demonstration of computer assisted analysis techniques for investigating spatial patterns and relationships among ship survey data and remotely sensed sea surface temperature. Ship survey variables included concentrations of two zooplankton, two icthyoplankton, and two fish species, in addition to physical data of depth to bottom and surface and bottom water temperatures. Continuous spatial distributions of these data were created by both weighted nearest neighbor and iterative smoothing interpolation techniques. Maps of surface water temperature were created by digitizing GOES satellite images. All mapped data were spatially registered by conversion of latitude and longitude coordinates to rotated Lambert conic conformal rectilinear coordinates and stored in grid format of approximately one hundred square kilometers per cell. The analysis of these data include the generation of statistical summaries and maps describing the joint occurrence among variables.

Berry, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The enchanted loom

The evolution of intelligence began with the movement of Crossopterygian fish onto land. The eventual appearance of large dinosaurs eliminated all but the smallest of mammalian creatures, with the survivors forced to move only nocturnally, when enhanced olfactory and aural faculties were favored and involved a larger grey matter/body mass ratio than possessed by the dinosaurs. Additionally, the mammals made comparisons between the inputs of various senses, implying the presence of significant memory capacity and an ability to abstract survival information. More complex behavior occurred with the advent of tree dwellers (forward-looking eyes), hands, color vision, and the ability to grip and manipulate objects. An extra pound of brain evolved in the human skull in less than a million years. The neural processes that can lead to an action by a creature with a brain are mimicked by the basic AND and OR gates in computers, which are rapidly approaching the circuit density of the human brain. It is suggested that humans will eventually produce computers of higher intelligence than people possess, and computer spacecraft, alive in an electronic sense, will travel outward to explore the universe.

Jastrow, R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Atmospheric composition - Influence of biology

The variability of atmospheric constituents influenced by biological organisms over various time scales is examined, together with the human contribution to atmospheric sulfur. The biogeochemistry of nitrogen is discussed, with an emphasis on N2O, NO, and microbially mediated reactions in soil and water. Carbon species are bound up mainly in sediments and the deep ocean, but human activities involving combustion may cause a doubling of the atmospheric levels of CO2 in the near future, which could produce a general low-level atmospheric warming. Longer term measurements are required to assess the effects of CH4 augmentation in the atmosphere through fuel combustion. Coal burning effectively doubles the amount of SO2 produced by natural sources, and reduces the pH of rainwater, thus posing hazards to fish, plankton, and mollusc life.

Mcelroy, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Mammalian gravity receptors: Structure and metabolism

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrumentation was used for amino acid analysis of rat otoconial complexes. The amino acids of otoconial complexes pooled by origin from only 10 rats were analyzed. It is indicated that it should be possible to analyze complexes from only three rats, and perhaps fewer, which means that the method should be applicable to material from space flow rats. It is suggested that the organic otoconial phase is comparable in its complement of acidic amino acids to other calcium carbonate containing materials such as fish otoliths and certain mollusk shells. The organic material is high in acidic amino acids; and the relative proportions of aspirate, glutamate, threonine and serine appear to be similar to those found in neogastropod shells. Its significance to the evolution of biomineralization processes occurring in the animal kingdom is emphasized.

Ross, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A research program in determination of heavy metals in sediments and benthic species in relation to nuclear power plant operation

Heavy metals in the estuarine environment can be toxic to fish and shellfish early life history stages and concentrations build up to levels of concern in marketable shellfish. The present survey was begun just before startup in 1974 of the 1900 megawatt Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant on the Chesapeake Bay in order to assess and understand factors relating to heavy metal accumulation in estuarine biota. Oysters were collected in large numbers at test and reference sites in June 1974 to 77 and individually analyzed for copper and zinc. Oyster copper and zinc concentrations were correlated with salinity read at time of collection. The relationship of oyster age to metal concentration was examined with two sets of oysters of known age and genetic origin (laboratory spawned). Copper sorption by typical mid Bay sediments, and field studies on cadmium concentrations in sediments were examined.

Phelps, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Ocean services user needs assessment. Volume 1: Survey results, conclusions and recommendations

An interpretation of environmental information needs of marine users, derived from a direct contact survey of eight important sectors of the marine user community is presented. Findings of the survey and results and recommendations are reported. The findings consist of specific and quantized measurement and derived product needs for each sector and comparisons of these needs with current and planned NOAA data and services. The following supportive and reference material are examined: direct contact interviews with industry members, analyses of current NOAA data gathering and derived product capabilities, evaluations of new and emerging domestic and foreign satellite data gathering capabilities, and a special commercial fishing survey conducted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Montgomery, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The Development of the Vestibular Apparatus Under Conditions of Weightlessness

A series of experiments has been carried out on the effect of space flight conditions on morphogenesis and the structure of the vestibular apparatus in amphibian and fish larvae. Larval development proceeded in weightlessness without serious morphological defects. The vestibular apparatus developed; its organization in the experimental animals did not differ qualitatively from that in the controls. The specific external stimulus (gravitation) appears not to be a necessary condition for the development of a gravitation receptor in ontogenesis although the appearance of the vestibular apparatus in phylogenesis was apparently related to this stimulus.

Vinnikov, Y. A.↗