ALBERT

Description: Die dauerhafte Sanierung von aktiven Rutschungen ist meist mit erheblichem finanziellen und technischen Aufwand verbunden. In Fällen, in denen weder wichtige Verkehrswege noch zahlreiche Bauwerke betroffen sind, stehen keine großen Geldmittel für eine Sanierung zur Verfügung. Somit ist schnell die Grenze der wirtschaftlichen Verträglichkeit der Maßnahme erreicht. Durch eine Kombination von Zugpfählen, einer Pfahlbock-Stützkonstruktion und gezielten Entwässerungsbohrungen können Rutschungen im Locker- und verwitterten Festgestein dagegen mit relativ geringem Aufwand saniert werden. Die Vorteile dieser Methode liegen in der Flexibilität während der Bauausführung, der Möglichkeit, auch aktive Rutschungen sanieren zu können sowie im geringen Eingriff in den Untergrund. Am Beispiel einer Rutschungssanierung im Rotliegend des Saar-Nahe-Beckens soll dieses konstruktive Verfahren vorgestellt werden, das sowohl in wirtschaftlicher als auch bautechnischer Hinsicht eine interessante Alternative zu konstruktiven Lösungen mit massiven Stützelementen darstellen kann.

Description: Abstract: The permanent remediation of active landslides most often requires substantial technical and financial investment. In cases where neither important roads nor numerous buildings are impacted, available funds for remediation are limited. Therefore, the economic requirements of intervention quickly surpass available funds. The combination of tension piles and drainage drills is an alternative construction method to stabilize landslides in loose rocks and is associated with a relatively limited amount of investment. This method’s advantages lies in its flexibility during the construction phase, its potential to remediate active landslides, and its limited involvement in the underlying soilirock. The remediation of a landslide in Rheinland-Pfalz provides an overview of this remediation method, which can be a cost effective and technically superior alternative to construction with massive piles.

Description: research

Description: Die zweite Ausgabe der Geowissenschaftlichen Mitteilungen vom 4. Quartal 2000 enthält die Themenblöcke: GEOaktiv (Praxis und Beruf), Geonova (Wissenschaft und Forschung), Geolobby (Gesellschaften, Verbände, Institutionen), Georeport, Geokalender, Anschriften.

Description: journal

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: In der Meisenheim-Formation (Glan-Gruppe) des karbonisch-permischen Saar-Nahe-Beckens treten weitverbreitet vulkanische Aschentuffe auf, die hervorragende Leithorizonte innerhalb der fluvio-lakustrinen Abfolge darstellen. Die laterale Verbreitung sowie die stratigraphische Position und Bedeutung der wichtigsten tephrostratigraphischen Horizonte im nordöstlichen Beckenbereich werden hier dokumentiert. Die Erhaltung der distalen pyroklastischen Fallablagerungen wurde durch das Ablagerungsmilieu und die synsedimentäre Tektonik gesteuert, was sich in einer unterschiedlichen Faziesausbildung der Tuffe widerspiegelt. Die Hauptleithorizonte sind meist aus mehreren aufeinanderfolgenden Tuff- und Tuffitlagen zusammengesetzt. Daneben weisen zahlreiche geringmächtige, lokal begrenzt auftretende Tuffhorizonte auf häufige Vulkanausbrüche bzw. Aschenfallereignisse hin. Innerhalb laminierter bituminöser Tonsteinabfolgen konnten Eruptionspausen von weniger als 200 Jahren bestimmt werden. Die Eruptionszentren lagen südlich des Saar-Nahe-Beckens, sehr wahrscheinlich im Schwarzwald und den Vogesen, möglicherweise auch im Bereich der heutigen Zentralalpen. Eine Aschenherkunft von Vulkanen innerhalb des Beckens wird ausgeschlossen. Zwei primäre Tufflagen im Kappeln- und St. Alban-Leithorizont deuten DRE (dense rock equivalent)-Volumen von mindestens 1,6 bzw. 1,1 km3 an, womit sie deutlich größere Eruptionsereignisse repräsentieren als der Ausbruch des Mount St. Helens 1980. Dabei gehört die Fallablagerung im Kappeln-Tuff zu den bedeutendsten Aschenfallereignissen im Saar-Nahe-Becken vor Beginn des beckeninternen Vulkanismus in der Nahe-Gruppe. Das Alter des Pappelberg-Tuffs von 297,0 + 3,2 Ma zeigt die stratigraphische Position der Meisenheim-Formation im Grenzbereich Karbon/Perm an.

Description: Abstract: In the Meisenheim-Formation (Glan-Group) of the Carboniferous-Permian Saar-Nahe Basin widespread volcanic ash tuffs occur representing excellent marker horizons within the fluvio-lacustrine sequence. The lateral distribution and Stratigraphie Position and significance of the main tephrostratigraphic horizons in the northeastern part of the basin are documented here. The preservation of the distal pyroclastic fallout deposits was controlled by the depositional environment and the synsedimentary tectonic activity which is reflected by a different facies character of the tuffs. The main marker horizons are offen composed of several successive tuff and tuffaceous layers. In addition, many thin and locally restricted tuff horizons indicate frequent eruptions and ash fall events, respectively. Within laminated bituminous mudstone successions, intereruptive periods of less than 200 years have been determined. The volcanic centres were located south of the Saar-Nahe Basin, most probable in the Black Forest and Vosges but possibly also in the area of the Central Alps. An ash origin from volcanoes within the basin is unlikely. Two primary tuff layers in the Kappeln and St. Alban marker horizon indicate DRE (dense rock equivalent) volumes of at least 1.6 and 1.1 km32, respectively, thus representing distinctly greater eruption events than the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980. Hence, the fallout deposit in the Kappeln-Tuff belongs to the most important ash fall events in the Saar-Nahe Basin prior to the beginning of the basininternal volcanism of the Nahe-Group. The age of the Pappelberg-Tuff of 297.0 ± 3.2 Ma indicates a Stratigraphie position of the Meisenheim-Formation in the ränge of the Carboniferous/ Permian boundary.

Description: research

Description: Mit den Tiefbauarbeiten im Rahmen der Neuverlegung einer Gasfernleitung wurde in den Frühjahrs- und Sommermonaten 1999 ein ausgedehntes Profil im variskischen Sockel des zentralen und südlichen Rheinischen Schiefergebirges der geologischen Betrachtung zugänglich. In der ca. 3 m tiefen, über rund 80 km Länge weitgehend quer zum Generalstreichen verlaufenden Grabentrasse wurden die variskisch deformierten Sedimentgesteine des unterdevonischen Grundgebirges hinsichtlich ihrer stratigraphischen und tektonischen Eigenheiten aufgenommen und zur Konstruktion eines geologischen Profilschnittes ausgewertet. Von Nordwesten nach Südosten konnten die im Bereich der Westeifel, der Moselmulde und des Hunsrücks erschlossenen Gesteinsverbände als drei Profilabschnitte den faziell und tektonisch typisch geprägten Baueinheiten des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges zugeordnet werden. In der stratigraphischen Abfolge überwiegen Schichten der Unter- und Oberems- Stufe. Untergeordnet treten Gesteine der Siegen-Stufe im Kernbereich des Manderscheid- An tiklinoriums und an der Nordflanke der Moselmulde zu Tage, vom paläogeographischen Muster bestimmt in jeweils unterschiedlicher Lithofazies. Die gesamte Abfolge unterdevonischer Schichtverbände ist charakterisiert durch intensiven Faltenbau und mehr oder weniger starke Störungstektonik, von Norden nach Süden insgesamt gekennzeichnet durch zunehmende Komplexität und stratigraphische Bedeutung.

Description: Abstract: By the excavations for the installation of a new gas-pipeline in spring and summer 1999 a large profile across the central and Southern parts of the Rhenish Massif became available. In the trench line, about 3 m deep, trending perpendicular to the general strike direction, sedimentary rocks of mainly Lower Devonian age have been investigated between Dorsel/Eifel Hills and the Hunsrück area with regard to Stratigraphie and tectonic elements. The data have been evaluated to build up a geologic profile of approximately 80 km an length. From NW to SE the rock sequences of the Eifel Hills, the Mosel-syncline and the Hunsrück area can be correlated with facies and tectonic units of the Rhenish Massif. The Stratigraphie sequence is dominated by lower and upper Emsian beds. Older rocks of Siegenian age and of variable lithologic facies are rare. They locally occurr in the core of the Manderscheid Anticline and the northern flank of the Mosel-Syncline, depending on their paleographic position in the rhenish basin. The whole sequence of Lower Devonian rocks is characterised by intensive folding and fault tectonics which incrase from North to South in complexity and Stratigraphie relevance.

Description: 1. Einleitung 2. Regionale Abgrenzung und geologischer Rahmen 3. Die stratigraphische Abfolge 3.1. Abschnitt Nord (Westeifel) 3.1.1. Obere Siegen-Stufe (Herdorf-Unterstufe) — Saxler-Schichten 3.1.2. Unterems-Stufe 3.1.2.1. Ulmen-Unterstufe — Eckfeld-Schichten — Reudelsterz-Schichten 3.1.2.2. Singhofen- bis Vallendar-Unterstufe — Stadtfeld Schichten — Klerf-Schichten 3.1.3. Oberems- bis untere Eifel-Stufe 3.2. Abschnitt Mitte (Moselmulde) 3.2.1. Siegen- bis Unterems-Stufe (Ulmen-Unterstufe) — Hunsrückschiefer (sensu lato) 3.2.2. Unterems-Stufe (ohne Ulmen-Unterstufe) 3.2.2.1. Singhofen-Unterstufe — Co ehern-Schichten 3.2.2.2. Vallendar-Unterstufe — Gladbach-Schichten — Klerf-Schichten 3.2.3. Oberems-Stufe 3.2.3.1. Lahnstein-Unterstufe — Emsquarzit — Flussbach-Schichten 3.2.3.2. Laubach-Unterstufe — Höllenthal-Schichten 3.2.3.3. Kondel-Unterstufe — Flaserschiefer — Kieselgallenschiefer 3.3. Abschnitt Süd (Hunsrück) 3.3.1. Siegen-Stufe 3.3.1.1. Herdorf-Unterstufe — Taunusquarzit, Dhrontal-Schichten 3.3.2. Unterems (Ulmen- bis Singhofen-Unterstufe in Hunsrückschiefer-Fazies) 3.3.2.1. Ulmen-Unterstufe (Hunsrückschiefer sensu stricto) — Zerf-Schichten / Zerfer Fazies — Kaub-Schichten / Kaub er Fazies 4. Tektonik 4.1. Vorbemerkungen 4.2. Faltenbau, Schieferung und Vergenzverhältnisse 4.2.1. Abschnitt Nord (Westeifel) 4.2.2. Abschnitt Mitte (Moselmulde) 4.4.3. Abschnitt Süd (Hunsrück) 4.3. Störungen 4.3.1. Abschnitt Nord (Westeifel) 4.3.2. Abschnitt Mitte (Moselmulde) 4.3.3. Abschnitt Süd (Hunsrück) 5. Fossilien 6. Bilanz und Ausblick 7. Geologische Profile Schriften

Description: research

Description: Die erste Ausgabe der Geowissenschaftlichen Mitteilungen vom 1. Quartal 2000 enthält die Themenblöcke: GEOaktiv (Praxis und Beruf), Geonova (Wissenschaft und Forschung), Geolobby (Gesellschaften, Verbände, Institutionen), Georeport, Geokalender.

Description: journal

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Im Mainzer Becken ist in der Sandgrube Fürfeld eine 9m mächtige mittel- bis oberpleistozäne Abfolge aufgeschlossen, die sich aus fluviahlen Sedimenten, Lössen und Lößderivaten sowie zwei zwischengeschalteten Tephren zusammensetzt. Die IRSL-und TL-Alter des karbonatreichen Lösses unterhalb des ersten zwischengeschalteten Bf-Restes einer Parabraunerde liegen je nach Methode zwischen 500 und 300 ka. Ob es sich bei diesem Löß um elsterzeitliche bzw. viertletztglaziale Ablagerungen handelt, kann mithilfe der erhobenen Daten nicht zweifelsfrei entschieden werden. Die vorliegenden Datierungen unterstützen die Annahme, dass die beiden Tephren der Riedener Eruptionsphase des Osteifel-Vulkanfeldes zuzuordnen sind. Aufgrund ihrer regionalen Bedeutung wird die T2-Tephra als „Fürfelder Tuff" bezeichnet. Oberhalb einer Diskordanz folgen Lösse und Schwemmlösse, die nach den Lumineszenz-Datierungen in die jüngere Saale-Kaltzeit zu stellen sind. Zum Hangenden hin ist eine Verbräunung zwischengeschaltet, die wiederum von Schwemmlössen überlagert wird. Die IRSL-und TL-Alter dieser Schwemmlösse deuten auf ein unterweichselzeitliches Ablagerungsalter. Die jüngsten Lösse und eine weitere zwischengeschaltete Verbräunung sind aufgrund der Lumineszenz-Altersbestimmungen in das Oberweichsel zu stellen.

Description: Abstract: In the Mainz basin at the sandpit at Fürfeld,a 9 m thick sequence of Middle to Upper Pleistocene fluvial sediments, loess and loess derivatives and two tephras are exposed. The carbonate-rich loess from below the intercalated Bt horizon of a brown forest soil yielded IRSLand TL age estimates ranging from 500 to 300 ka. Although the chronological data is in agreement with the geological age estimates, the reliability of very old IRSLand TL age estimates is under discussion. However, the luminescence age estimates and the preliminary geochemical data assume that the two mafic volcanic ashes belong to the Rieden erupfion phase of the East Eifel volcanic field, which was active from 450 to about 350 ka. Owing to the regional importance of tephra T2 as a marker horizon, it is defined as "Fürfelder Tuff" ("Fürfeld Tephra"). The truncated Bt horizon is covered by loess and reworked loess, designated to represent penultimate glacial loess. A brown horizon is exposed on top of these Sediments and covered by reworked loess. The latter one yielded IRSLand TL age estimates indicating an early last glacial deposition age. The uppermost loess horizons and the intercalated brown horizon are assumed to represent part of the last Pleniglacial.

Description: research

Description: Aus der Typusregion des Emsium (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Oberems, Lahnstein-Unterstufe, TK25, BI. 5611 Koblenz, Typuslokalität Hohenrhein-Schichten) sind folgende Sporenarten der Gattung Emphanisporites nachgewiesen worden: Emphanisporites annulatus, E. foveolatus, E. rotatus, E. cf. pseudoerraticus, E. cf. schultzii.

Description: Abstract: Spores of the genus Emphanisporites are described from the type area of the Emsian (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Upper Emsian, Lahnstein-substage, type locality of the Hohenrhein-formation). The following species have been discovered: Emphanisporites annulatus, E. foveolatus, E. rotatus, E. cf. pseudo erraticus, E. cf. schultzii.

Description: research

Description: Die "höheren" Caenogastropoden umfassen viele tausend rezente und fossile Arten. Ihre charakteristischen Gehäuse haben gewöhnlich einen hohen Wiedererkennungswert, sind häufige Elemente fossiler Ablagerungen und eröffnen damit ausgezeichnete Möglichkeiten neontologische und paläontogische Studien zu korrelieren. Das Ziel solcher Studien ist hier, Evolution nachzuzeichnen, um sie dann auch interpretieren und letztlich verstehen zu können. Es wurde ein tendenziell holistischer Arbeitsansatz gewählt, der die Synthese gehäusemorphologischer, anatomischer, molekulargenetischer, reproduktionsbiologischer, ökologischer und biogeographischer Daten in die zeitliche Dimension übersetzt und damit in den Kontext der Geodynamik stellt. Diese Vorgehensweise wird als paläobiologische Konzeption bezeichnet. Im Ergebnis stehen folgende Erkenntnisse und darauf basierende Maßnahmen: die "höheren" Caenogastropoda sind sehr wahrscheinlich monophyletisch und werden als Überordnung Latrogastropoda nov klassifiziert. Die Ordnung Neomesogastropoda ist paraphyletisch und Teile von ihnen repräsentieren die Stammgruppe der Ordnung Neogastropoda. Es zeigt sich, daß viele der neontologisch klar zu definierenden evolutiven Linien, ohne weitere paläontologische Studien, im systematischen Vakuum wurzeln. Die stammesgeschichtlichen Lücken können nun anhand von Merkmalsabgrenzung - nach "unten" und nach "oben" - definiert bzw abstrahiert werden und als Phantombilder für zukünftige Recherchen dienen. Auf Grundlage der phylogenetischen Analysen wurde eine weitreichende Revison der Klassifikation erforderlich und durchgeführt. Der Ursprung der Latrogastropoda nov könnte in einer Lime liegen, welche auch zu der Stammgruppe der Rissoidae führt. Letztere und die potentielle Latrogastropode Maturifusus traten erstmals im Jura in Erscheinung. Erste signifikante Radiationen der Latrogastropoda nov. gingen mit der postneokomen weltweiten Erwärmung und der entsprechenden Tropisierung der Tethys einher Mit Beginn der Oberkreide differenzierten sich die Latrogastropoda infolge einer Reihe von Schlüsselinnovationen in ihre Hauptlinien. Die Wende vom Meso- zum Känozoikum spiegelt sich in der systematischen Entwurzelung der im Rezenten persistierenden Taxa wider; d.h. viele (noch genauer zu definierende) Stammlinien sind in der Erdneuzeit nicht mehr vertreten. Die weitere Evolution der Latrogastropoda nov ist durch extreme Radiationen im Eozän und im Miozän geprägt. Die neogenen supragenerischen systematischen Einheiten zeigen bereits eine hohe Übereinstimmung mit rezenten Pendants. Der relativ starke Wandel paläobiogeographischer Bezüge im Neogen korreliert also nicht mit evolutiven Innovationen von übergeordneter Bedeutung.

Description: The "higher" caenogastropods are represented by many thousand Recent and fossil species. Their characteristical shells can usually be well recognized and are frequently found particularly in marine Cenozoic deposits, thus offering excellent possibilities in respect of correlating neontological and palaeontological studies. Aim of such studies is here to trace evolution in order to obtain a basis for interpretation and actual insights respectively A more or less "holistic" approach was chosen, which translates the synthesis of conchological, anatomical, molecular genetical, reproductive biological, ecological and biogeographical data into the past and thus regarding evolution in the context of geodynamics. This approach is labelled palaeobiological conception. The different avenues of research led to the following results: the "higher" caenogastropods are very probably monophyletic and are classified as superorder Latrogastropoda nov The order Neomesogastropoda is paraphyletic because it includes the stem lineage of the Neogastropoda. It becomes apparent that many of the evolutionary lineages, which can be well defined by neontological means, are not yet correspondingly recognized in the fossil record and therefore are rooted in a systematic vacuum. The phylogenetic gaps can be defined or considered respectively by analyzing the direction of the evolution of morphological characters, which e.g. allows the creation of hypothetical fossils, which can be searched for Based upon the phylogenetic analyses, the necessity of a far-reaching revision of the classification became evident and consequently was conducted. The origin of the Latrogastropoda nov could be found in a lineage, which also leads to the stem-lineage of the Rissoidae. The latter and the potential latrogastropod Maturifusus both appeared in the Jurassic for the first time. First significant radiations of the Latrogastropoda nov correlated with the postneokomian global wanning and corresponding tropical climate of the Tethys ocean. During the early Upper Cretaceous the Latrogastropoda nov experienced key innovations which promoted the differentiation into their main lineages. The turn to the Cenozoic was accompanied by the systematic uprootal of taxa which persist in the modem fauna, which means that many stem-lineages (to be defined in detail) have not been detected in the Cenozoic. The Cenozoic evolution of latrogastropods is characterized by extreme Eocene and Miocene radiations. Neogene suprageneric systematic units show already great morphological correspondence with their Recent counterparts. Therefore the relatively strong change of palaeobiogeographic relations in the Neogene is not mirrored by principal evolutionary innovations.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Es wurden ca. 1500 jurassische Ammoniten mit regenerierten Verletzungen untersucht. Die Ammoniten stammen aus drei stratigraphischen Abschnitten: dem Unter-Toarcium (Süddeutschland, Südfrankreich, England) dem Ober-Callovium (Normandie / Frankreich) und dem Ober-Oxfordium (Madagaskar). Die ausgewählten Gattungen repräsentieren ein breites morphologisches Spektrum. Die Phänomene, die in Folge von Verletzungen an den Ammonitengehäusen sichtbar werden, wurden seit langer Zeit erkannt, benannt und klassifiziert. Das erfolgreichste Modell einer Klassifikation pathologischer Phänomene an Ammonitengehäusen geht auf HÖLDER (1956) zurück. Problematisch am Hölderschen Klassifikationsmodell ist das Fehlen klarer Rahmenbedingungen für das Aufstellen einer neuen forma aegra. Aus diesem Grund kam es in der Vergangenheit zu vielen, sich überschneidenden, verwirrenden und unnützen forma-Bezeichnungen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein stringentes Klassifikationsprinzip vorgeschlagen und eine nachvollziehbare Einordnung in dieses Prinzip gefordert. Unter dieser Prämisse werden ausgewählte forma-Bezeichnungen diskutiert. Es wird vorgeschlagen, auf die forma-Bezeichnungen: forma seccata (HÖLDER 1956), forma refecta (REIN 1994a), forma undaticarinata-undaticoncha (HENGSBACH 1996) und forma mordata (HENGSBACH 1996) zu verzichten. Als neue forma-Bezeichnungen werden eingeführt: forma augata n.f., forma umbilicata n.f. Als potentielle Verursacher regenerierbarer Schalenverletzungen konnten erkannt werden: durophage Fische (vor Allem: Lepidotes, Dapedium, Mesturas), dekapode Krebse (vor Allem: Eryma, Mecochirus) und Coleoideen. Für Verletzungen des Mantelrandepithelium (forma verticata) werden im Wesentlichen eryonide Krebse (z.B. Coleia, Proeryon, Eryon) verantwortlich gemacht. Diese Räuber lassen sich nur in Einzelfällen anhand ihrer Verletzungsspuren identifizieren. Die Ausbildung und Form der Verletzung wird im Wesentlichen von der Gehäusemorphologie bestimmt. Es lassen sich drei morphologische Variablen erkennen, die sensitiv für den Schutz vor Räubern waren: die Gehäuseform, die Wohnkammerlänge und die Skulpturierung der Schale. Dactylioceraten und Perisphinctiden, also Ammoniten mit geringer Windungsexpansionsrate, rundem Mündungsquerschnitt, langer Wohnkammer und kräftiger Skulptur waren am besten gegen räuberische Attacken geschützt. Harpoceraten und Hecticoceraten, also brevi-, mesodome, schlanke Ammoniten mit weniger kräftiger Skulptur waren schlecht gegen räuberische Attacken geschützt. Longidome Ammoniten (Dactylioceraten, Perisphinctiden) waren im Gegensatz zu den brevi-, mesodomen Ammoniten in der Lage, sich weit in die Wohnkammer zurückzuziehen. Sie konnten verletzte Schalenbereiche ausbessern, ohne dabei die Skulpturelemente wesentlich verzerren zu müssen. Longidome Ammoniten konnten aufgrund ihrer Gehäusemorphologie keine guten Schwimmer gewesen sein. Diese Ammoniten tolerierten laterale Abweichungen in der Windungssymmetrie als Verletzungsfolge und Abweichungen im Windungsquerschnitt, also Verletzungsfolgen die die Fortbewegung einschränken mußten, sehr viel besser als Morphotypen mit besseren hydrodynamischen Eigenschaften. Ammoniten konnten Schalenverlust sehr viel besser tolerieren als der rezente Nautilus. Am untersuchten Material fanden sich Ammoniten die einen Schalenverlust von 10-20 % regenerieren konnten. Beim rezenten Nautilus ist ein Schalenverlust von mehr als 4 % letal (WARD 1986). Unter der Annahme, die Ammoniten lebten, ähnlich wie Nautilus, im annähernden Schwebegleichgewicht, verweist dies auf einen sehr viel effizienteren Gleichgewichtsapparat bei den Ammoniten. Anhand des vorliegenden Materials können die als funktionell eingeschätzte Merkmale als Aptationen wahrscheinlich gemacht werden. Die relative Häufigkeit von Mehrfachverletzungen erweist sich dabei als guter Proxy für die Verletzbarkeit der Ammoniten. Die relative Häufigkeit regenerierter Verletzungen korreliert nicht mit der Verletzbarkeit der Ammoniten. Sie scheint in erster Linie die Wahrscheinlichkeit widerzuspiegeln, mit der räuberische Attacken auf den Mundrand stattgefunden haben. Gesteuert wird dieser Faktor ganz offensichtlich von der Lebensweise der Ammoniten, der sich wiederum in der Gehäusemorphologie widerspiegelt.

Description: The investigation is based on 1500 ammonoids with sublethal injuries. The observed ammonoids are Lower Toarcian (from Southern Germany / Southern France / England), Upper Callovian (from Normandy / France) and Upper Oxfordian (Madagascar). The selected ammonoid fauna represents a wide spectre of morphotypes. The healing pattern following the injuries of ammonoids have been subject to observation for a long time. The most successful model of a classification of these phenomena dates back to HÖLDER (1956). But the model of Hölder lacks a clearly defined framework for setting up a new forma aegra. For that reason many overlapping, confuse and useless forma types have been introduced. These investigation suggests a stringent principle of classification and calls for a comprehensive classification according to these principle. Following these premise, the current inventory of forma types is discussed. It is proposed to give up the terms forma seccata (HÖLDER 1956), forma refecta (REIN 1994a), forma undaticarinata-undaticoncha (HENGSBACH 1996) and forma mordata (HENGSBACH 1996). The forma-types forma augata n.f. and forma umbilicata n.f. are newly defined. Durophagous fishes (mainly Lepidotes, Dapedium and Mesturus), crustaceans (mainly Eryma and Mecochirus) and coleoids are found to be responsible for the sublethal shell breakages. Eryonid crustaceans (Coleia, Proeryon, Eryori) are most probably responsible of the healed damages of the mantle epithelia of the peristome (forma verticata, Hölder 1956). In almost all cases it is impossible to detect distinct predators by individual injuries. The character and shape of the shell breakage is defined mainly by the morphology of the shell. Three traits of the ammonoid shell are sensitive against predatory attacks: The morphology of the shell, the extension of the living chamber and the sculpture. Dactylioceratids and Perisphinctids which are longidome roughly ornamented morphotypes with a strong sculpture, a low whorl expansion and a subcircular area of aperture, are best armed against durophagous agressors. Instead Harpoceratids and Hecticoceratids, which are mesodome morphotypes with a smooth sculpture and high whorl expansion, are less armed by their shell. The longidome Dactylioceratids and Perisphinctids where in contrast to the meso- and brevidome morphotypes able to withdraw deeply in their shell. These relatively plump morphotypes tolerated an eccentric growth of the whorl (in rare cases a consequence of injury) much better than the discus-shaped Harpoceratids. Ammonoids in general tolerated a shell lost caused by a predatory attack much better than the recent Nautilus. The observed ammonoids where able to regenerate a maximal shell loss of 10-20 %. In the recent Nautilus a shell loss of more than 4 % is lethal. Under the assumption of a nearly neutral buoyant habit in life that gives evidence of a much higher efficiency of the buoyancy apparatus of the ammonoids. The traits supposed to be functional are shown to be real aptations by the frequency of multiple injuries. Multiple injuries are a good proxy of the vulnerability of the observed ammonoids. Instead the frequency of all healed injuries don’t correlate with the vulnerability but seems to be controlled mainly by the probability of a contact with a predator These factor is otherwise controlled by the habit of the ammonoids.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Diese Arbeit beruht auf der Nachbebenserie des Antofagasta-Bebens vom 30.07.1995. Die Nachbebenserie wurde während des CINCA ’95 Projektes in einer Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Instituten der Freien Universität Berlin und des GFZ Potsdam, im Rahmen des Sonderforschungsbereich 267, der BGR (Hannover), und des GEOMAR (Kiel) gemessen. Dazu wurde ein Netzwerk aus 50 Stationen on- und offshore im Zeitraum zwischen dem 10.08.1995 und dem 11.10.1995 betrieben. Das Netzwerk überdeckte insgesamt 310 km (22°10'S - 25°S) in Nord-Süd und 185 km (71°10'W - 69°20'W) in Ost- West-Richtung. Aus den gepickten P-und S-Einsätzen der Beben wurde mit dem Programm simulpsl2 ein 3D Geschwindigkeitsmodell berechnet. Das Modell zeigt Strukturen, die bereits früher mit aktiver Seismik gemessen wurden. So konnte entlang der Küste eine Hochgeschwindigkeitszone (vP ≈ 7.0 km/s) in 20 km, und eine Niedriggeschwindigkeitszone (vP ≈ 6.25 km/s) in 30 km Tiefe gemessen werden. Die Hochgeschwindigkeitszone wird als jurassische Unterkruste, die postjurassisch gehoben wurde, interpretiert. Im unteren Bereich kann die Hochgeschwindigkeitszone auch aus teilserpentinisierten jurassischen Mantelgestein bestehen. Als Interpretation für die Niedriggeschwindigkeitszone wird hydraulic fracturing favorisiert. Die Niedriggeschwindigkeitszone ist nicht durchgehend vorhanden. Bei 24°S befindet sich stattdessen ein Block hoher Geschwindigkeiten, der im oberen Bereich mit der Hochgeschwindigkeitszone verbunden ist. Der ozeanische Mantel konnte zwar in den Inversionen modelliert werden, jedoch war hier die Durchstrahlung nicht hinreichend, um genauere Angaben über seine Geschwindigkeit, oder seine Oberkante zu erhalten. Auch die oberen Bereiche der kontinentalen Kruste konnten nur unzureichend aufgelöst werden, da sich die Strahlen hier kaum kreuzten. Zusammen mit dem vP-Geschwindigkeitsmodell wurde auch das vP/vS- Verhältnis berechnet. Dabei konnte die Hochgeschwindigkeitszone mit einem vP/vS- Verhältnis von 1.76 - 1.81 korreliert werden. Die Niedriggeschwindigkeitszone kann mit einem vP/vS- Verhältnis von 1.67 - 1.76 korreliert werden. Mit dem 3D-Modell konnten fast alle Beben mit einer besseren Tiefengenauigkeit als 1 km lokalisiert werden. Der Hauptteil der Beben befindet sich in einem schmalen Bereich zwischen kontinentaler und ozeanischer Platte. Jedoch wurden auch einige krustale Beben detektiert. Desweiteren konnten einige Beben im ozeanischen Mantel gemessen werden. Die Bereiche, in denen das Modell gut bzw. schlecht bestimmt ist, wurden durch einen Vergleich verschiedener Modelle klassifiziert. Bei dieser Methode wurden Modelle mit verschiedenen Knotenebenen berechnet. Bereiche, in denen sich diese Modelle stark unterschieden, wurden über die Geometrische Spreizung als „schlecht aufgelöst“ klassifiziert. Weiterhin wurde die Wirkung verrauschter Daten auf die Inversion betrachtet, um den Einfluß ungenauer Picks auf das Modell zu erhalten. Zusätzlich wurden die Magnituden-Häufigkeits-Parameter für die Bebengebiete in ≈ 40 km, ≈ 100 km, sowie ≈ 200 km aus Daten verschiedener Kataloge berechnet. Es zeigte sich, daß die Beben in 100 km Tiefe nicht durch einen einzigen Magnituden-Häufigkeits-Gradienten („b-Wert“) beschreibbar sind. Dazu wurde vorgeschlagen, daß sich die tektonische Spannung hier aufbaut, und bei einer Magnitude von etwa 5.6 entlädt. Für die Beben in etwa 40 km Tiefe wurde weiterhin die zeitliche Änderung der Magnituden-Häufigkeits-Parameter zwischen 1973 und 1998 untersucht. Dabei konnte zum einen ein Trend von kleinen zu großen b- Werten zwischen 1977 und 1983 festgestellt werden. Für die nachfolgenden Jahre, bis 1995, wichen die Magnituden-Häufigkeits-Kurven fast immer so stark von einer Geraden ab, daß die Parameter nicht berechnet werden konnten. Als problematisch erwies sich die Umrechnung der Parameter zwischen den Lokalmagnituden (CINCA ’95) und den Raumwellenmagnituden (PDE-Katalog). Hier reichten die Beben, die in beiden Katalogen verzeichnet sind nicht aus, um eine Regressionsgerade zu erstellen. In Anbetracht dieser Problematik wurde in der Arbeit auch eine Methode formuliert, die Magnituden mittels der Magnituden-Häufigkeits-Parameter ineinander umzurechnen.

Description: This work is based on aftershock series of the Antofagasta event (30.07.1995). The aftershocks were recorded within the project CINCA ’95, as a collaboration between the Freie Universität Berlin and the GFZ Potsdam (within the frame of the collaborative research center 267), the BGR (Hannover) and the Geomar (Kiel). The seismological part of CINCA ’95 was performed with a network of 50 stations (on- and offshore) 10.08.95 and 11.10.95. The itself network covered an area of 310 km (22°10'S – 25°S) by 185 km (71°10'W – 69°20'W). A 3D velocity model has been obtained with the use of the program simulpsl2 from the P- and S-onsets of the events. Several structures which were known from previous active seismic experiments were resolved by the 3D model: a high velocity zone (vP ≈ 7.0 km/s) at a depth of 20 km and a low velocity zone ( vP ≈ 6.25 km/s) at a depth of 30 km. Generally, the high velocity zone is corellated to a vP/vS-ratio of 1.76 - 1.81, whereas he low velocity zone is corellated to a vP/vS-ratio of 1.67 - 1.76. The high velocity zone was explained as jurassic lower crust which was elevated in post Jurassic times. In its lower parts the high velocity zone possibly consists of former mantle material which was partly serpentinized. The low velocity zone was interpreted as material which is modified by upwelling fluids (hydraulic fracturing). In the southern part of the model (24°S) the low velocity zone is absent. In this region a block of high velocities was found which is connected to the high velocity zone. The oceanic mantle was computed within the 2D inversion step. However, the ray density was not adequate to gain sufficient information from the 3D inversion about the seismic velocity or the upper edge of the oceanic mantle. The upper regions of the continental crust were not sufficiently resolved as well. The majority of earthquakes was localized with a precision higher than 1 km. Most earthquakes were found in a small region between the continental and the oceanic plate. However, several crustal events were detected in the continental plate. Moreover, several events were detected within the oceanic mantle. A comparison of models obtained from different inversions was used to classify the quality of the regions of the model. This method included the computation of models with varying grids. Regions where the seismic velocities varied strongly with respect to the different models were classified as “low resolved“. From this classification a threshold value of the geometrical spread was determined. The influence of inexact picks on the model was investigated by inversions with noisy data. Additionally, the magnitude - frequency parameters were computed for earthquakes at ≈ 40 km, ~ 100 km and ≈ 200 km depth. As a single straight line is not adequate to describe the magnitude - frequency distribution in ≈ 100 km depth, it was proposed that the tectonic stress in this region rarely exceeds values which generate earthquakes with a magnitude of roughly 5.6. For the region of ≈ 40 km depth the temporal (1973 to 1998) variation of the magnitude - frequency parameters was investigated. It was found that the b-values increase between 1977 and 1983. In subsequent times the magnitude - frequency distribution can not be described by a straight line. The large quantity of events which were recorded within CINCA ’95 lead to accurate magnitude - frequency parameters. However, only a few events were listed in both, the PDE and the CINCA catalogue. Thus, the local - magnitudes (CINCA) could not be transformed sufficiently to body wave magnitudes by the use of regression. A formula was derived which transforms the magnitudes if all events belong to the same set of magnitude frequency parameters.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die Auswertung und Interpretation von refraktions- und weitwinkelseismischen Messungen die im Rahmen des seismischen Projekts ANCORP 1996 in Nordchile und Bolivien durchgeführt worden waren. Der Datensatz dieses Projekts, bestehend aus Steilwinkelreflexionsdaten und Refraktionsdaten ergänzt die in den vergangenen zwei Jahrzehnten gesammelten seismischen Daten. Nachdem in den vorigen Projekten onshore ausschließlich refraktionsseismische Daten gesammelt wurden, ist die ANCORP-Traverse die einzige tiefenreflexions- und refraktionsseismische Linie in den südlichen Zentralen Anden. Nach einer kurzen Einleitung wird zunächst ein Überblick über die geologische und morphostrukturelle Gliederung des Arbeitsgebietes gegeben, das sich von der chilenischen Pazifikküste bis zum Ostrand des bolivianischen Altiplanos erstreckt. Die Traverse kreuzt die morphologischen Einheiten (Küstenkordillere, Längstal, Westkordillere (der aktive vulkanische Bogen) und Altiplano) senkrecht zu ihrer Streichrichtung. Es folgt die Beschreibung der technischen Durchführung der seismischen Messungen auf der ANCORP-Traverse, die von September bis November 1996 stattfand. Im Anschluß daran wird auf die Auswertung der refraktions- und weitwinkelseismischen Daten eingegangen. Die Ersteinsätze der Steilwinkelreflexionsdaten erlaubten die tomographische Bestimmung eines Geschwindigkeitsmodells entlang der Traverse für die oberen 5 km. Dieses Geschwindigkeitsmodell gibt vor allem einen Überblick über die Lage von mächtigeren Sedimentschichten im Längstal und auf dem Altiplano, wo deutlich niedrigere P-Wellen-Geschwindigkeiten (um etwa 2 km/s) bestimmt wurden als in den Kordilleren. Die Schußsektionen des Weitwinkel-Experiemts wurden dann auf mögliche Korrelationen untersucht. Da die meisten Sektionen nicht länger als 160 km waren, waren kaum Korrelationen aus dem Bereich der unteren kontinentalen Kruste und der ozeanischen Kruste möglich. Überkritische Reflexionen von der kontinentalen Moho und der ozeanischen Moho konnten in der Sektion des Schußpunktes im Pazifischen Ozean korreliert werden. Die übrigen Schüsse ergänzten die bereits aus früheren Kampagnen stammenden Sektionen entlang der Traverse und senkrecht zu ihr. Basierend auf Laufzeitmodellierungen der in den Sektionen korrelierten Phasen und unter Berücksichtigung der Ergebnisse der dem ANCORP Experiment vorangehenden Messungen wird ein Geschwindigkeitsmodell für die Traverse entlang des 21. südlichen Breitengrades vorgestellt. Perturbationsrechnungen wurden durchgeführt, um den Fehlerbalken für die P- Wellen Geschwindigkeiten und Tiefenlagen von Reflektoren zu bestimmen. Um die gewonnenen Ergebnisse strukturell zu interpretieren, werden weitere Informationen aus geophysikalischen Untersuchungen benötigt, über die in den folgenden Kapiteln ein Überblick gegeben wird. Die Datensätze aus Reflexionsseismik, Gravimetrie und Magnetotellurik werden dann zusammengefaßt zu einem Strukturmodell bestehend aus der kontinentalen Kruste, aufgeteilt in eine geophysikalische Oberkruste und der durch verschiedene Prozesse verdickten Kruste, einem asthenosphärischen Mantelkeil und der subduzierten ozeanischen Kruste. Die Synthese der Ergebnisse der geophysikalischen Untersuchungen entlang der Traverse bezüglich der extremen Verdickung der kontinentalen Kruste ist, daß diese im Forearc durch Underplating und Hydratisierung von Mantelmaterial erfolgt ist, im Arc und westlichen Backarc durch pure shear Deformation und im östlichen Backarc durch simple shear Deformation.

Description: In this thesis the refraction and wide-angle seismic data of the seismic project ANCORP 1996, measured in Northern Chile and Bolivia, are evaluated and interpreted. The data set of this project, consisting of near- vertical incidence and wide-angle seismic data, completes the data collected during the past two decades. Earlier projects having measured only refraction seismic data onshore, the ANCORP transsect is the only deep reflexion and refraction seismic line in the Southern Central Andes. After a short introduction, an overview of the geological and morphstructural setting of the working area is given. The area is reaching from the Chilean Pacific Coast through the eastern margin of the Bolivian Altiplano. The transsect crosses the morphstructural units (Coastal Cordillera, Longitudinal Valley, Precordillera, Western Cordillera (magmatic arc) and Altiplano) orthogonally to their strike. After that a description of technical aspects of the seismic measurements on the ANCORP transsect is given. Then the evaluation of the refraction- and wide-angle data will be described. The first break traveltimes of the CMP-measurements made possible the tomographic determination of the P-wave velocity distribution along the transsect for the uppermost 5 km. This velocity model mainly represents the varying sediment layer thickness in the Longitudinal Valley and on the Altiplano where significantly lower P-wave velocities were found than in the cordilleras (2 km/s lower). The shot-sections of the wide-angle seismic experiment were examined for possible correlations. As most of the sections were not longer than 160 km, only few correlations from the deeper continental crust and the oceanic crust could be made. Over-critical reflections from the continental Moho and the oceanic Moho could be correlated in the section of the shotpoint in the Pacific Ocean. The remaining shots complete the sections from earlier campaigns along the transsect and orthogonally to it. Based on traveltime modeling of the phases correlated in the sections and taking into account the results of measurements before the ANCORP experiment a velocity model for the transsect along 21°S is introduced. Perturbed models were tested in order to find the error of P-wave velocity and depth of layer boundaries. For a structural interpretation of the results, further information from geophysical inverstigations is needed. An overview of the most important results of reflection seismic, gravimetric and magnetotelluric measurements is given and then, together with the results of the wide-angle seismic investigations put together into a structural model, consisting of a continental crust, divided into upper geophysical crust and crust thickened by several processes, an asthenospheric mantle wedge and the subducted oceanic crust. The most important conclusion concerning the thickening of the continental crust, derived from the geophysical investigations along the transsect is the following: In the forearc, thickening is mainly caused by magmatic underplating and hydration of the continental mantle, in the arc and western backarc pure shear deformation are most important and the eastern backarc is thickened by simple shear deformation.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: research

Description: research

Description: Tertiär-Block [:] Helmut Keupp & Spyridon M. Bellas (in Zusammenarbeit mit Jan Bartholdy und Dimitris Frydas): Neogene development of the sedimentary basins of NW Crete island, Chania Prefecture, South Aegean Arc System (Greece) …3 ; Dimitris Frydas & Helmut Keupp: Biostratigraphical and paleoecological research of Lower Pliocene diatoms and silicoflagellates from northwestern Crete, Greece …119 ; Wilfried Krutzsch: Stratigraphische Tabelle Oberoligozän und Neogen (marin - kontinental) ...153 ; Glenn Fechner: Eine Dinoflagellaten-Zysten-Flora aus der ehern. Ziegeleitongrube bei Welsow (nordöstl. Mark Brandenburg) ...167 ; Rolf Kohring & Thomas Schlüter: Über ein fossiles Harz aus einer Braunkohle (?Eozän) von Gibbsland und Anglesey (Victoria, S-Australien) ...177 ; Mollusken-Block [:] Joachim Gründel, Thierry Pélissié & Michel Guérin: Brackwasser-Gastropoden des mittleren Doggers von la Balme (Causses du Quercy, Südfrankreich) ...185 ; Joachim Gründel: Archaeogastropoda aus dem Dogger Norddeutschlands und des nordwestlichen Polens ...205 ; Joachim Gründel: Gordenellidae n. fam., eine neue Gastropoden-Familie aus dem Dogger und Malm Europas ...255 ; Steffen Kiel & Klaus Bandel: New slit-bearing Archaeogastropoda from the Late Cretaceous of Spain ...269 ; Helmut Keupp: Anomale Muskelleisten bei Ammoniten ...279 ; Thomas Küchler: Nostoceras (Euskadiceras) euskadiense a new ammonite subgenus and species from the higher Upper Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of northern Spain ...291 ; []

Description: research

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: It's spring at Martian Outpost 3, the year 2025. The Universe Cup's on later today, and next week little Suzie celebrates her fourth birthday. Fortunately, this football fan and parent will be able to participate in both of these activities, albeit at a slight time delay, due completely to the sophisticated, high-speed quasi-real-time multimedia/navigation MarsNet surrounding Mars and tying it to Earth. Capable of moving gigabits a second in either direction, the network supports not only the multiple manned and robotic science needs of teams and devices encircling Mars, but also the very real human need for communication.

Description: A better understanding of combustion can lead to significant technological advances, such as less polluting, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Unfortunately, gravity can interfere with the study of combustion. Gravity drags down gases that are cooler- and, therefore, denser-than heated gases. This movement mixes the fuel and the oxidizer substance that promotes burning. Because of this mixing, an observer cannot necessarily distinguish what is happening as a result of the natural combustion process and what is caused, by the pull of gravity. To remove this uncertainty, scientists can conduct experiments that simulate the negation of gravity through freefall. This condition is known as a microgravity environment. A micro-gravity experiment may take place in a chamber that is dropped down a hole or from a high-speed drop tower. The experiment also be conducted in an airplane or a rocket during freefall in a parabolic flight path. This method provides less than a minute of microgravity at most. An experiment that requires the prolonged absence of gravity may necessitate the use of an orbiting spacecraft as a venue. However, access to an orbital laboratory is difficult to acquire. High-end computing centers such as the NCCS can provide a practical alternative to operating in microgravity. Scientists can model phenomena such as combustion without gravitys observational interference. The study of microgravity combustion produces important benefits beyond increased observational accuracy. Certain valuable materials that are produced through combustion can be formed with a more uniform crystal structure-and, therefore, improved structural quality-when the pull of gravity is removed. Furthermore, understanding how fires propagate in the absence of gravity can improve fire safety aboard spacecraft.

Description: NASA's terrestrial. space, and deep-space missions require technology that allows storing. retrieving, and processing a large volume of information. Holographic memory offers high-density data storage with parallel access and high throughput. Several methods exist for data multiplexing based on the fundamental principles of volume hologram selectivity. We recently demonstrated that a spatial (amplitude-phase) encoding of the reference wave (SERW) looks promising as a way to increase the storage density. The SERW hologram offers a method other than traditional methods of selectivity, such as spatial de-correlation between recorded and reconstruction fields, In this report we present the experimental results of the SERW-hologram memory module with solid-state architecture, which is of particular interest for space operations.

Description: A multimedia, CD ROM to teach 2nd graders about remote sensing was created and developed into a web site. Distribution was expanded for Grades K-4 or 5-8. The idea was to have a story introduction, interactive story and a teacher's website. Interactive Multimedia Adventures in Grade School Education using Remote Sensing (I.M.A.G.E.R.S.) was created. The lessons are easy to use, readily available and aligned with national standards. This resource combines hands-on activities with an interactive web site

Description: The NASA Network includes nine NASA operated and partner operated stations covering North America, the west coast of South America, the Pacific, and Western Australia . A new station is presently being setup in South Africa and discussions are underway to add another station in Argentina. NASA SLR operations are supported by Honeywell Technical Solutions, Inc (HTSI), formally AlliedSignal Technical Services, The University of Texas, the University of Hawaii and Universidad Nacional de San Agustin.

Description: This report describes the organization, activities, meetings held and the current challenges of the Central Bureau of the ILRS.

Description: Analyses of laser ranges to the Moon are utilized for a broad range of investigations: lunar science, gravitational physics, geodesy, geodynamics and astronomy. Unique contributions from LLR include: detection of a molten lunar core; measurement of tidal dissipation in the Moon; an accurate test of the principle of equivalence for massive bodies (strong equivalence principle); and detection of lunar free librations. LLR analysis has provided tests of relativity, measurements of the Moon's tidal acceleration and the Earth s precession, and has provided orders-of-magnitude improvements in the accuracies of the lunar ephemeris and three-dimensional rotation. JPL has been active in all of these various LLR applications and supplies lunar and planetary ephemerides and lunar physical librations to the community.

Description: The Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) has supported the archive and distribution of laser ranging data (both lunar and satellite) since its inception in 1982. This report summarizes the current and future plans of the CDDIS with respect to the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS). Included here is background information about the CDDIS, its computer architecture, staffing, and archive contents, as well as future plans for the system within the ILRS.

Description: The NASA SLR Operational Center is responsible for: 1) NASA SLR network control, sustaining engineering, and logistics; 2) ILRS mission operations; and 3) ILRS and NASA SLR data operations. NASA SLR network control and sustaining engineering tasks include technical support, daily system performance monitoring, system scheduling, operator training, station status reporting, system relocation, logistics and support of the ILRS Networks and Engineering Working Group. These activities ensure the NASA SLR systems are meeting ILRS and NASA mission support requirements. ILRS mission operations tasks include mission planning, mission analysis, mission coordination, development of mission support plans, and support of the ILRS Missions Working Group. These activities ensure than new mission and campaign requirements are coordinated with the ILRS. Global Normal Points (NP) data, NASA SLR FullRate (FR) data, and satellite predictions are managed as part of data operations. Part of this operation includes supporting the ILRS Data Formats and Procedures Working Group. Global NP data operations consist of receipt, format and data integrity verification, archiving and merging. This activity culminates in the daily electronic transmission of NP files to the CDDIS. Currently of all these functions are automated. However, to ensure the timely and accurate flow of data, regular monitoring and maintenance of the operational software systems, computer systems and computer networking are performed. Tracking statistics between the stations and the data centers are compared periodically to eliminate lost data. Future activities in this area include sub-daily (i.e., hourly) NP data management, more stringent data integrity tests, and automatic station notification of format and data integrity issues.

Description: The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) is an established Service within Section II , Advanced Space Technology, of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). The primary objective of the ILRS is to provide a service to support, through Satellite and Lunar Laser Ranging data and related products, geodetic and geophysical research activities as well as International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) products important to the maintenance of an accurate International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The service also develops the necessary standards/specifications and encourages international adherence to its conventions.

Description: The governing board report presents an overview of the Satellite Ranging Service (SLR), the origin and establishment of the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS), and the organization of the ILRS and how it interfaces with other organizations, the current status and future prospects for the ILRS.

Description: No abstract available

Description: The magnitude and duration of a cytosolic Ca(2+) release can potentially be altered by changing the rate of Ca(2+) efflux. In plant cells, Ca(2+) efflux from the cytoplasm is mediated by H(+)/Ca(2+)-antiporters and two types of Ca(2+)-ATPases. ACA2 was recently identified as a calmodulin-regulated Ca(2+)-pump located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we show that phosphorylation of its N-terminal regulatory domain by a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase (CDPK isoform CPK1), inhibits both basal activity ( approximately 10%) and calmodulin stimulation ( approximately 75%), as shown by Ca(2+)-transport assays with recombinant enzyme expressed in yeast. A CDPK phosphorylation site was mapped to Ser(45) near a calmodulin binding site, using a fusion protein containing the N-terminal domain as an in vitro substrate for a recombinant CPK1. In a full-length enzyme, an Ala substitution for Ser(45) (S45/A) completely blocked the observed CDPK inhibition of both basal and calmodulin-stimulated activities. An Asp substitution (S45/D) mimicked phosphoinhibition, indicating that a negative charge at this position is sufficient to account for phosphoinhibition. Interestingly, prior binding of calmodulin blocked phosphorylation. This suggests that, once ACA2 binds calmodulin, its activation state becomes resistant to phosphoinhibition. These results support the hypothesis that ACA2 activity is regulated as the balance between the initial kinetics of calmodulin stimulation and CDPK inhibition, providing an example in plants for a potential point of crosstalk between two different Ca(2+)-signaling pathways.

Description: No abstract available

Description: Human lymphocytes flown on the Space Shuttle respond poorly to mitogen stimulation and populations of the lymphoblastoid T cell line, Jurkat, manifest growth arrest, increase in apoptosis and time- and microgravity-dependent increases in the soluble form of the cell death factor, Fas/APO-1 (sFas). The potential role of apoptosis in population dynamics of space-flown lymphocytes has not been investigated previously. We flew Jurkat cells on Space Transportation System (STS)-80 and STS-95 to determine whether apoptosis and the apparent microgravity-related release of sFas are characteristic of lymphocytes in microgravity. The effects of spaceflight and ground-based tests simulating spaceflight experimental conditions, including high cell density and low serum concentration, were assessed. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed increased cell associated Fas in flown cells. Results of STS-80 and STS-95 confirmed increase in apoptosis during spaceflight and the release of sFas as a repeatable, time-dependent and microgravity-related response. Ground-based tests showed that holding cells at 1.5 million/ml in medium containing 2% serum before launch did not increase sFas. Reports of increased Fas in cells of the elderly and the increases in spaceflown cells suggest possible similarities between aging and spaceflight effects on lymphocytes.

Description: Myocardial perfusion imaging has long been a goal for the non-invasive echocardiographic assessment of the heart. However, many factors at play in perfusion imaging have made this goal elusive. Harmonic imaging and triggered imaging with newer contrast agents have made myocardial perfusion imaging potentially practical in the very near future. The application of indicator dilution theory to the coronary circulation and bubble contrast agents is fraught with complexities and sources of error. Therefore, quantification of myocardial perfusion by non-invasive echocardiographic imaging requires further investigation in order to make this technique clinically viable.

Description: Strain Rate Imaging (SRI) is a new echocardiographic technique that allows for the real-time determination of myocardial SR, which may be used for the early and accurate detection of coronary artery disease. We sought to study whether SR is affected by scan line alignment in a computer simulation and an in vivo experiment. Through the computer simulation and the in vivo experiment we generated and validated safe scanning sectors within the ultrasound scan sector and showed that while SRI will be an extremely valuable tool in detecting coronary artery disease there are potential pitfalls for the unwary clinician. Only after accounting for these affects due to angle dependency, can clinicians utilize SRI's potential as a valuable tool in detecting coronary artery disease.

Description: Oligonucleotide 5'-polyphosphates are formed under potentially prebiotic conditions from oligonucleotide 5'-phosphates and sodium trimetaphosphate. Oligonucleotides activated as polyphosphates undergo template-directed ligation. We believe that these reactions could have produced longer oligonucleotide products from shorter substrates under prebiotic conditions.

Description: Our previous analysis of the energetics of metabolism showed that both the biosynthesis of amino acids and lipids from sugars, and the fermentation of organic substrates, were energetically driven by electron transfer reactions resulting in carbon redox disproportionation (Weber, 1997). Redox disproportionation--the spontaneous (energetically favorable) direction of carbon group transformation in biosynthesis--is brought about and driven by the energetically downhill transfer of electron pairs from more oxidized carbon groups (with lower half-cell reduction potentials) to more reduced carbon groups (with higher half-cell reduction potentials). In this report, we compare the redox and kinetic properties of carbon groups in order to evaluate the relative biosynthetic capability of organic substrates, and to identify the optimal biosubstrate. This analysis revealed that sugars (monocarbonyl alditols) are the optimal biosynthetic substrate because they contain the maximum number of biosynthetically useful high energy electrons/carbon atom while still containing a single carbonyl group needed to kinetically facilitate their conversion to useful biosynthetic intermediates. This conclusion applies to aqueous life throughout the Universe because it is based on invariant aqueous carbon chemistry--primarily, the universal reduction potentials of carbon groups.

Description: Chimeric Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is characterized by a serine-threonine kinase domain, an autoinhibitory domain, a calmodulin-binding domain and a neural visinin-like domain with three EF-hands. The neural visinin-like Ca(2+)-binding domain at the C-terminal end of the CaM-binding domain makes CCaMK unique among all the known calmodulin-dependent kinases. Biological functions of the plant visinin-like proteins or visinin-like domains in plant proteins are not well known. Using EF-hand deletions in the visinin-like domain, we found that the visinin-like domain regulated Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation of CCaMK. To investigate the effects of Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation on the interaction with calmodulin, the equilibrium binding constants of CCaMK were measured by fluorescence emission anisotropy using dansylated calmodulin. Binding was 8-fold tighter after Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation. This shift in affinity did not occur in CCaMK deletion mutants lacking Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation. A variable calmodulin affinity regulated by Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation mediated through the visinin-like domain is a new regulatory mechanism for CCaMK activation and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases. Our experiments demonstrate the existence of two functional molecular switches in a protein kinase regulating the kinase activity, namely a visinin-like domain acting as a Ca(2+)-triggered switch and a CaM-binding domain acting as an autophosphorylation-triggered molecular switch.

Description: Subjects who are in an enclosed chamber rotating at constant velocity feel physically stationary but make errors when pointing to targets. Reaching paths and endpoints are deviated in the direction of the transient inertial Coriolis forces generated by their arm movements. By contrast, reaching movements made during natural, voluntary torso rotation seem to be accurate, and subjects are unaware of the Coriolis forces generated by their movements. This pattern suggests that the motor plan for reaching movements uses a representation of body motion to prepare compensations for impending self-generated accelerative loads on the arm. If so, stationary subjects who are experiencing illusory self-rotation should make reaching errors when pointing to a target. These errors should be in the direction opposite the Coriolis accelerations their arm movements would generate if they were actually rotating. To determine whether such compensations exist, we had subjects in four experiments make visually open-loop reaches to targets while they were experiencing compelling illusory self-rotation and displacement induced by rotation of a complex, natural visual scene. The paths and endpoints of their initial reaching movements were significantly displaced leftward during counterclockwise illusory rotary displacement and rightward during clockwise illusory self-displacement. Subjects reached in a curvilinear path to the wrong place. These reaching errors were opposite in direction to the Coriolis forces that would have been generated by their arm movements during actual torso rotation. The magnitude of path curvature and endpoint errors increased as the speed of illusory self-rotation increased. In successive reaches, movement paths became straighter and endpoints more accurate despite the absence of visual error feedback or tactile feedback about target location. When subjects were again presented a stationary scene, their initial reaches were indistinguishable from pre-exposure baseline, indicating a total absence of aftereffects. These experiments demonstrate that the nervous system automatically compensates in a context-specific fashion for the Coriolis forces associated with reaching movements.

Description: Directional cell locomotion is critical in many physiological processes, including morphogenesis, the immune response, and wound healing. It is well known that in these processes cell movements can be guided by gradients of various chemical signals. In this study, we demonstrate that cell movement can also be guided by purely physical interactions at the cell-substrate interface. We cultured National Institutes of Health 3T3 fibroblasts on flexible polyacrylamide sheets coated with type I collagen. A transition in rigidity was introduced in the central region of the sheet by a discontinuity in the concentration of the bis-acrylamide cross-linker. Cells approaching the transition region from the soft side could easily migrate across the boundary, with a concurrent increase in spreading area and traction forces. In contrast, cells migrating from the stiff side turned around or retracted as they reached the boundary. We call this apparent preference for a stiff substrate "durotaxis." In addition to substrate rigidity, we discovered that cell movement could also be guided by manipulating the flexible substrate to produce mechanical strains in the front or rear of a polarized cell. We conclude that changes in tissue rigidity and strain could play an important controlling role in a number of normal and pathological processes involving cell locomotion.

Description: Myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) is a serine-threonine protein kinase encoded by the myotonic dystrophy (DM) locus on human chromosome 19q13.3. It is a close relative of other kinases that interact with members of the Rho family of small GTPases. We show here that the actin cytoskeleton-linked GTPase Rac-1 binds to DMPK, and coexpression of Rac-1 and DMPK activates its transphosphorylation activity in a GTP-sensitive manner. DMPK can also bind Raf-1 kinase, the Ras-activated molecule of the MAP kinase pathway. Purified Raf-1 kinase phosphorylates and activates DMPK. The interaction of DMPK with these distinct signals suggests that it may play a role as a nexus for cross-talk between their respective pathways and may partially explain the remarkable pleiotropy of DM.

Description: BACKGROUND: Nonuniform heating and cooling of the body, a possibility during extended duration extravehicular activities (EVA), was studied by means of a specially designed water circulating garment that independently heated or cooled the right and left sides of the body. The purpose was to assess whether there was a generalized reaction on the finger in extreme contradictory temperatures on the body surface, as a potential heat status controller. METHOD: Eight subjects, six men and two women, were studied while wearing a sagittally divided experimental garment with hands exposed in the following conditions: Stage 1 baseline--total body garment inlet water temperature at 33 degrees C; Stage 2--left side inlet water temperature heated to 45 degrees C; right side cooled to 8 degrees C; Stage 3--left side inlet water temperature cooled to 8 degrees C, right side heated to 45 degrees C. RESULTS: Temperatures on each side of the body surface as well as ear canal temperature (Tec) showed statistically significant Stage x Side interactions, demonstrating responsiveness to the thermal manipulations. Right and left finger temperatures (Tfing) were not significantly different across stages; their dynamic across time was similar. Rectal temperature (Tre) was not reactive to prevailing cold on the body surface, and therefore not informative. Subjective perception of heat and cold on the left and right sides of the body was consistent with actual temperature manipulations. CONCLUSIONS: Tec and Tre estimates of internal temperature do not provide accurate data for evaluating overall thermal status in nonuniform thermal conditions on the body surface. The use of Tfing has significant potential in providing more accurate information on thermal status and as a feedback method for more precise thermal regulation of the astronaut within the EVA space suit.

Description: In two experiments, visually perceived eye level (VPEL) was measured while subjects viewed two-dimensional displays that were either upright or pitched 20 degrees top-toward or 20 degrees top-away from them. In Experiment 1, it was demonstrated that binocular exposure to a pair of pitched vertical lines or to a pitched random dot pattern caused a substantial upward VPEL shift for the top-toward pitched array and a similarly large downward shift for the top-away array. On the other hand, the same pitches of a pair of horizontal lines (viewed binocularly or monocularly) produced much smaller VPEL shifts. Because the perceived pitch of the pitched horizontal line display was nearly the same as the perceived pitch of the pitched vertical line and dot array, the relatively small influence of pitched horizontal lines on VPEL cannot be attributed simply to an underestimation of their pitch. In Experiment 2, the effects of pitched vertical lines, dots, and horizontal lines on VPEL were again measured, together with their effects on resting gaze direction (in the vertical dimension). As in Experiment 1, vertical lines and dots caused much larger VPEL shifts than did horizontal lines. The effects of the displays on resting gaze direction were highly similar to their effects on VPEL. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that VPEL shifts caused by pitched visual arrays are due to the direct influence of these arrays on the oculomotor system and are not mediated by perceived pitch.

Description: Future activities in space will require greater periods of time in extreme environments in which the body periphery will be vulnerable to chilling. Maintaining the hands and fingers in comfortable conditions enhances finger flexibility and dexterity, and thus effects better work performance. We have evaluated the efficacy of promoting heat transfer and release by the extremities by increasing the blood flow to the periphery from more distant parts of the body. The experimental garment paradigm developed by the investigators was used to manipulate the temperature of different body areas. Six subjects, two females and four males, were evaluated in a stage-1 baseline condition, with the inlet temperature of the circulating water in the liquid cooling/warming garment (LCWG) at 33 degrees C. At stage 2 the total LCWG water inlet temperature was cooled to 8 degrees C, and at stage 3 the inlet water temperature in specific segments of the LCWG was warmed (according to protocol) to 45 degrees C, while the inlet temperature in the rest of the LCWG was maintained at 8 degrees C. The following four body-area-warming conditions were studied in separate sessions: (1) head, (2) upper torso/arm, (3) upper torso/arm/head, and (4) legs/feet. Skin temperature, heat flux and blood perfusion of the fingers, and subjective perception of thermal sensations and overall physical comfort were assessed. Finger temperature (T(fing)) analyses showed a statistically significant condition x stage interaction. Post-hoc comparisons (T(fing)) indicated that at stage 3, the upper torso/arm/head warming condition was significantly different from the head, upper torso/arm and legs/feet conditions, showing an increase in T(fing). There was a significant increase in blood perfusion in the fingers at stage 3 in all conditions. Subjective perception of hand warmth, and overall physical comfort level significantly increased in the stage 3 upper torso/arm/head condition. The findings indicate that physiological methods to enhance heat transfer by the blood to the periphery within protective clothing provide an additional tool for increasing total and local human comfort in extreme environments.

Description: No abstract available

Description: No abstract available

Description: The prospect of noninvasive brain-actuated control of computerized screen displays or locomotive devices is of interest to many and of crucial importance to a few 'locked-in' subjects who experience near total motor paralysis while retaining sensory and mental faculties. Currently several groups are attempting to achieve brain-actuated control of screen displays using operant conditioning of particular features of the spontaneous scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) including central mu-rhythms (9-12 Hz). A new EEG decomposition technique, independent component analysis (ICA), appears to be a foundation for new research in the design of systems for detection and operant control of endogenous EEG rhythms to achieve flexible EEG-based communication. ICA separates multichannel EEG data into spatially static and temporally independent components including separate components accounting for posterior alpha rhythms and central mu activities. We demonstrate using data from a visual selective attention task that ICA-derived mu-components can show much stronger spectral reactivity to motor events than activity measures for single scalp channels. ICA decompositions of spontaneous EEG would thus appear to form a natural basis for operant conditioning to achieve efficient and multidimensional brain-actuated control in motor-limited and locked-in subjects.

Description: The universal phylogenetic tree not only spans all extant life, but its root and earliest branchings represent stages in the evolutionary process before modern cell types had come into being. The evolution of the cell is an interplay between vertically derived and horizontally acquired variation. Primitive cellular entities were necessarily simpler and more modular in design than are modern cells. Consequently, horizontal gene transfer early on was pervasive, dominating the evolutionary dynamic. The root of the universal phylogenetic tree represents the first stage in cellular evolution when the evolving cell became sufficiently integrated and stable to the erosive effects of horizontal gene transfer that true organismal lineages could exist.

Description: Poly (Propylene Fumarate) (PPF), a novel, bulk erosion, biodegradable polymer, has been shown to have osteoconductive effects in vivo when used as a bone regeneration scaffold (Peter, S. J., Suggs, L. J., Yaszemski, M. J., Engel, P. S., and Mikos, A. J., 1999, J. Biomater. Sci. Polym. Ed., 10, pp. 363-373). The material properties of the polymer allow it to be injected into irregularly shaped voids in vivo and provide mechanical stability as well as function as a bone regeneration scaffold. We fabricated a series of biomaterial composites, comprised of varying quantities of PPF, NaCl and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), into the shape of right circular cylinders and tested the mechanical properties in four-point bending and compression. The mean modulus of elasticity in compression (Ec) was 1204.2 MPa (SD 32.2) and the mean modulus of elasticity in bending (Eb) was 1274.7 MPa (SD 125.7). All of the moduli were on the order of magnitude of trabecular bone. Changing the level of NaCl from 20 to 40 percent, by mass, did not decrease Ec and Eb significantly, but did decrease bending and compressive strength significantly. Increasing the beta-TCP from 0.25 g/g PPF to 0.5 g/g PPF increased all of the measured mechanical properties of PPF/NVP composites. These results indicate that this biodegradable polymer composite is an attractive candidate for use as a replacement scaffold for trabecular bone.

Description: Metabolic activity was measured in the laboratory at temperatures between 5 and -20 degrees C on the basis of incorporation of (14)C-labeled acetate into lipids by samples of a natural population of bacteria from Siberian permafrost (permanently frozen soil). Incorporation followed a sigmoidal pattern similar to growth curves. At all temperatures, the log phase was followed, within 200 to 350 days, by a stationary phase, which was monitored until the 550th day of activity. The minimum doubling times ranged from 1 day (5 degrees C) to 20 days (-10 degrees C) to ca. 160 days (-20 degrees C). The curves reached the stationary phase at different levels, depending on the incubation temperature. We suggest that the stationary phase, which is generally considered to be reached when the availability of nutrients becomes limiting, was brought on under our conditions by the formation of diffusion barriers in the thin layers of unfrozen water known to be present in permafrost soils, the thickness of which depends on temperature.

Description: No abstract available

Description: Our goal is to summarize what has been learned from studies of human movement and orientation control in weightless conditions. An understanding of the physics of weightlessness is essential to appreciate the dramatic consequences of the absence of continuous contact forces on orientation and posture. Eye, head, arm, leg, and whole body movements are discussed, but only experiments whose results seem relatively incontrovertible are included. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing between virtually immediate adaptive compensations to weightlessness and those with longer time courses. The limitations and difficulties of performing experiments in weightless conditions are highlighted. We stress that when astronauts and cosmonauts return from extended space flight they do so with both physical "plant" and neural "controller" structurally and functionally altered. Recent developments in adapting humans to artificial gravity conditions are discussed as a way of maintaining sensory-motor and structural integrity in extended missions involving transitions between different force environments.

Description: A 15N-glycine tracer technique was used to study protein turnover in four Russian cosmonauts and two U.S. astronauts who had spent long time aboard the Russian orbital station MIR. As was shown, in space flight protein synthesis falls by 46% on the average, which substantially exceeds estimations made on the basis of data about bed-rested human subjects. Reduction in protein synthesis during space flight is connected with the negative energy balance; therefore, it appears imperative to keep balance between energy intake (foodstuffs) and expenditure by cosmonauts on long-term mission.

Description: Presented are results of testing the method of adaptive biocontrol during preflight training of cosmonauts. Within the MIR-25 crew, a high level of controllability of the autonomous reactions was characteristic of Flight Commanders MIR-23 and MIR-25 and flight Engineer MIR-23, while Flight Engineer MIR-25 displayed a weak intricate dependence of these reactions on the depth of relaxation or strain.

Description: Growth of Streptomyces hygroscopicus under conditions of simulated microgravity in a rotating-wall bioreactor resulted in a pellet form of growth, lowered dry cell weight, and inhibition of rapamycin production. With the addition of Teflon beads to the bioreactor, growth became much less pelleted, dry cell weight increased but rapamycin production was still markedly inhibited. Growth under simulated microgravity favored extracellular production of rapamycin, in contrast to a greater percentage of cell-bound rapamycin observed under normal gravity conditions.

Description: The use of (35)S-labeled calmodulin (CaM) to screen a corn root cDNA expression library has led to the isolation of a CaM-binding protein, encoded by a cDNA with sequence similarity to small auxin up RNAs (SAURs), a class of early auxin-responsive genes. The cDNA designated as ZmSAUR1 (Zea mays SAURs) was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was purified by CaM affinity chromatography. The CaM binding assay revealed that the recombinant protein binds to CaM in a calcium-dependent manner. Deletion analysis revealed that the CaM binding site was located at the NH(2)-terminal domain. A synthetic peptide of amino acids 20-45, corresponding to the potential CaM binding region, was used for calcium-dependent mobility shift assays. The synthetic peptide formed a stable complex with CaM only in the presence of calcium. The CaM affinity assay indicated that ZmSAUR1 binds to CaM with high affinity (K(d) approximately 15 nM) in a calcium-dependent manner. Comparison of the NH(2)-terminal portions of all of the characterized SAURs revealed that they all contain a stretch of the basic alpha-amphiphilic helix similar to the CaM binding region of ZmSAUR1. CaM binds to the two synthetic peptides from the NH(2)-terminal regions of Arabidopsis SAUR-AC1 and soybean 10A5, suggesting that this is a general phenomenon for all SAURs. Northern analysis was carried out using the total RNA isolated from auxin-treated corn coleoptile segments. ZmSAUR1 gene expression began within 10 min, increased rapidly between 10 and 60 min, and peaked around 60 min after 10 microM alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid treatment. These results indicate that ZmSAUR1 is an early auxin-responsive gene. The CaM antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride inhibited the auxin-induced cell elongation but not the auxin-induced expression of ZmSAUR1. This suggests that calcium/CaM do not regulate ZmSAUR1 at the transcriptional level. CaM binding to ZmSAUR1 in a calcium-dependent manner suggests that calcium/CaM regulate ZmSAUR1 at the post-translational level. Our data provide the first direct evidence for the involvement of calcium/CaM-mediated signaling in auxin-mediated signal transduction.

Description: In high-performance aircraft, the need for total environmental awareness coupled with high-g loading (often with abrupt onset) creates a predilection for cervical spine injury while the pilot is performing routine movements within the cockpit. In this study, the prevalence and severity of cervical spine injury are assessed via a modified cross-sectional survey of pilots of multiple aircraft types (T-38 and F-14, F-16, and F/A-18 fighters). Ninety-five surveys were administered, with 58 full responses. Fifty percent of all pilots reported in-flight or immediate post-flight spine-based pain, and 90% of fighter pilots reported at least one event, most commonly (〉 90%) occurring during high-g (〉 5 g) turns of the aircraft with the head deviated from the anatomical neutral position. Pre-flight stretching was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in neck pain episodes in this evaluation, whereas a regular weight training program in the F/A-18 group approached a significant reduction (mean = 2.492; p 〈 0.064). Different cockpit ergonomics may vary the predisposition to cervical injury from airframe to airframe. Several strategies for prevention are possible from both an aircraft design and a preventive medicine standpoint. Countermeasure strategies against spine injury in pilots of high-performance aircraft require additional research, so that future aircraft will not be limited by the human in control.

Description: Arachidonic acid (AA) is the precursor for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and increases growth of prostate cancer cells. To further elucidate the mechanisms involved in AA-induced prostate cell growth, induction of c-fos expression by AA was investigated in a human prostate cancer cell line, PC-3. c-fos mRNA was induced shortly after addition of AA, along with a remarkable increase in PGE2 production. c-fos expression and PGE2 production induced by AA was blocked by a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, flurbiprofen, suggesting that PGE2 mediated c-fos induction. Protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 abolished induction of c-fos expression by AA, and partially inhibited PGE2 production. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X had no significant effect on c-fos expression or PGE2 production. Expression of prostaglandin (EP) receptors, which mediate signal transduction from PGE2 to the cells, was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in several human prostate cell lines. EP4 and EP2, which are coupled to the PKA signalling pathway, were expressed in all cells tested. Expression of EP1, which activates the PKC pathway, was not detected. The current study showed that induction of the immediate early gene c-fos by AA is mediated by PGE2, which activates the PKA pathway via the EP2/4 receptor in the PC-3 cells.

Description: In this report, we describe an experiment conducted at Kennedy Space Center in the biomass production chamber (BPC) using soybean plants for purification and processing of human hygiene water. Specifically, we tested whether it was possible to detect changes in the root-associated bacterial assemblage of the plants and ultimately to identify the specific microorganism(s) which differed when plants were exposed to hygiene water and other hydroponic media. Plants were grown in hydroponics media corresponding to four different treatments: control (Hoagland's solution), artificial gray water (Hoagland's+surfactant), filtered gray water collected from human subjects on site, and unfiltered gray water. Differences in rhizosphere microbial populations in all experimental treatments were observed when compared to the control treatment using both community level physiological profiles (BIOLOG) and molecular fingerprinting of 16S rRNA genes by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (TRFLP). Furthermore, screening of a clonal library of 16S rRNA genes by TRFLP yielded nearly full length SSU genes associated with the various treatments. Most 16S rRNA genes were affiliated with the Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Variovorax, Burkholderia, Bordetella and Isosphaera groups. This molecular approach demonstrated the ability to rapidly detect and identify microorganisms unique to experimental treatments and provides a means to fingerprint microbial communities in the biosystems being developed at NASA for optimizing advanced life support operations.

Description: BACKGROUND: Exercise thermoregulation is dependent on heat loss by increased skin blood flow (convective and conductive heat loss) and through enhanced sweating (evaporative heat loss). Reduction of plasma volume (PV), increased plasma osmolality, physical deconditioning, and duration of exposure to simulated and actual microgravity reduces the ability to thermoregulate during exercise. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that 24 h of head down tilt (HDT24) would alter thermoregulatory responses to a submaximal exercise test and result in a higher exercise rectal temperature (Tre) when compared with exercise Tre after 1 h of head down tilt (HDT1). METHODS: Seven men (31+/-SD 6 yr, peak oxygen uptake (VpO2peak) of 44+/-6 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) were studied during 70 min of supine cycling at 58+/-SE 1.5% VO2peak at 22.0 degrees C Tdb and 47% rh. RESULTS: Relative to pre-tilt sitting chair rest data, HDT1 resulted in a 6.1+/-0.9% increase and HDT24 in a 4.3+/-2.3% decrease in PV (delta = 10.4% between experiments, p〈0.05) while plasma osmolality remained unchanged (NS). Pre-exercise Tre was elevated after HDT24 (36.71 degrees C +/-0.06 HDT1 vs. 36.93 degrees C+/-0.11 HDT24, p〈0.05). The 70 min of exercise did not alter this relationship (p〈0.05) with respective end exercise increases in Tre to 38.01 degrees C and 38.26 degrees C (degrees = 1.30 degrees C (HDT1) and 1.33 degrees C (HDT24)). While there were no pre-exercise differences in mean skin temperature (Tsk), a significant (p〈0.05) time x treatment interaction occurred during exercise: after min 30 in HDT24 the Tsk leveled off at 31.1 degrees C, while it continued to increase reaching 31.5 degrees C at min 70 in HDT1. A similar response (NS) occurred in skin blood velocity. Neither local sweating rates nor changes in body weight during exercise of -1.63+/-0.24 kg (HDT1) or - 1.33+/-0.09 kg (HDT24) were different (NS) between experiments. CONCLUSION: While HDT24 resulted in elevated pre-exercise Tre, reduced PV, attenuation of Tsk and skin blood velocity during exercise, the absolute increase in exercise Tre was not altered. But if sweat rate and cutaneous vascular responses were similar at different core temperatures (unchanged thermoregulation), the Tre offset could have been caused by the HDT-induced hypovolemia.

Description: BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that a common oscillatory pattern might characterize the rhythmic discharge of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and the spontaneous variability of heart rate and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) during a physiological increase of sympathetic activity induced by the head-up tilt maneuver. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten healthy subjects underwent continuous recordings of ECG, intra-arterial pressure, respiratory activity, central venous pressure, and MSNA, both in the recumbent position and during 75 degrees head-up tilt. Venous samplings for catecholamine assessment were obtained at rest and during the fifth minute of tilt. Spectrum and cross-spectrum analyses of R-R interval, SAP, and MSNA variabilities and of respiratory activity provided the low (LF, 0.1 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.27 Hz) rhythmic components of each signal and assessed their linear relationships. Compared with the recumbent position, tilt reduced central venous pressure, but blood pressure was unchanged. Heart rate, MSNA, and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels increased, suggesting a marked enhancement of overall sympathetic activity. During tilt, LF(MSNA) increased compared with the level in the supine position; this mirrored similar changes observed in the LF components of R-R interval and SAP variabilities. The increase of LF(MSNA) was proportional to the amount of the sympathetic discharge. The coupling between LF components of MSNA and R-R interval and SAP variabilities was enhanced during tilt compared with rest. CONCLUSIONS: During the sympathetic activation induced by tilt, a similar oscillatory pattern based on an increased LF rhythmicity characterized the spontaneous variability of neural sympathetic discharge, R-R interval, and arterial pressure.

Description: Root gravitropism in wild-type Arabidopsis and in two starchless mutants, pgm1-1 and adg1-1, was evaluated as a function of light position to determine the relative strengths of negative phototropism and of gravitropism and how much phototropism affects gravitropic measurements. Gravitropism was stronger than phototropism in some but not all light positions in wild-type roots grown for an extended period, indicating that the relationship between the two tropisms is more complex than previously reported. Root phototropism significantly influenced the time course of gravitropic curvature and the two measures of sensitivity. Light from above during horizontal exposure overestimated all three parameters for all three genotypes except the wild-type perception time. At the irradiance used (80 micromol m(-2) s(-1)), the shortest periods of illumination found to exaggerate gravitropism were 45 min of continuous illumination and 2-min doses of intermittent illumination. By growing roots in circumlateral light or by gravistimulating in the dark, corrected values were obtained for each gravitropic parameter. Roots of both starchless mutants were determined to be about three times less sensitive than prior estimates. This study demonstrates the importance of accounting for phototropism in the design of root gravitropism experiments in Arabidopsis.

Description: Auxin transport has been reported to occur in two distinct polarities, acropetally and basipetally, in two different root tissues. The goals of this study were to determine whether both polarities of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) transport occur in roots of Arabidopsis and to determine which polarity controls the gravity response. Global application of the auxin transport inhibitor naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) to roots blocked the gravity response, root waving, and root elongation. Immediately after the application of NPA, the root gravity response was completely blocked, as measured by an automated video digitizer. Basipetal [(3)H]IAA transport in Arabidopsis roots was inhibited by NPA, whereas the movement of [(14)C]benzoic acid was not affected. Inhibition of basipetal IAA transport by local application of NPA blocked the gravity response. Inhibition of acropetal IAA transport by application of NPA at the root-shoot junction only partially reduced the gravity response at high NPA concentrations. Excised root tips, which do not receive auxin from the shoot, exhibited a normal response to gravity. The Arabidopsis mutant eir1, which has agravitropic roots, exhibited reduced basipetal IAA transport but wild-type levels of acropetal IAA transport. These results support the hypothesis that basipetally transported IAA controls root gravitropism in Arabidopsis.

Description: OBJECTIVES: To survey operating theatre and intensive care unit staff about attitudes concerning error, stress, and teamwork and to compare these attitudes with those of airline cockpit crew. DESIGN:: Cross sectional surveys. SETTING:: Urban teaching and non-teaching hospitals in the United States, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Major airlines around the world. PARTICIPANTS:: 1033 doctors, nurses, fellows, and residents working in operating theatres and intensive care units and over 30 000 cockpit crew members (captains, first officers, and second officers). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Perceptions of error, stress, and teamwork. RESULTS:: Pilots were least likely to deny the effects of fatigue on performance (26% v 70% of consultant surgeons and 47% of consultant anaesthetists). Most pilots (97%) and intensive care staff (94%) rejected steep hierarchies (in which senior team members are not open to input from junior members), but only 55% of consultant surgeons rejected such hierarchies. High levels of teamwork with consultant surgeons were reported by 73% of surgical residents, 64% of consultant surgeons, 39% of anaesthesia consultants, 28% of surgical nurses, 25% of anaesthetic nurses, and 10% of anaesthetic residents. Only a third of staff reported that errors are handled appropriately at their hospital. A third of intensive care staff did not acknowledge that they make errors. Over half of intensive care staff reported that they find it difficult to discuss mistakes. CONCLUSIONS: Medical staff reported that error is important but difficult to discuss and not handled well in their hospital. Barriers to discussing error are more important since medical staff seem to deny the effect of stress and fatigue on performance. Further problems include differing perceptions of teamwork among team members and reluctance of senior theatre staff to accept input from junior members.

Description: PURPOSE: This study of the foot uses experimentally measured kinematic and kinetic data with a numerical model to evaluate in vivo calcaneal stresses during walking and running. METHODS: External ground reaction forces (GRF) and kinematic data were measured during walking and running using cineradiography and force plate measurements. A contact-coupled finite element model of the foot was developed to assess the forces acting on the calcaneus during gait. RESULTS: We found that the calculated force-time profiles of the joint contact, ligament, and Achilles tendon forces varied with the time-history curve of the moment about the ankle joint. The model predicted peak talocalcaneal and calcaneocuboid joint loads of 5.4 and 4.2 body weights (BW) during walking and 11.1 and 7.9 BW during running. The maximum predicted Achilles tendon forces were 3.9 and 7.7 BW for walking and running. CONCLUSIONS: Large magnitude forces and calcaneal stresses are generated late in the stance phase, with maximum loads occurring at approximately 70% of the stance phase during walking and at approximately 60% of the stance phase during running, for the gait velocities analyzed. The trajectories of the principal stresses, during both walking and running, corresponded to each other and qualitatively to the calcaneal trabecular architecture.

Description: No abstract available

Description: DNA and RNA molecules can be detected as they are driven through a nanopore by an applied electric field at rates ranging from several hundred microseconds to a few milliseconds per molecule. The nanopore can rapidly discriminate between pyrimidine and purine segments along a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule. Nanopore detection and characterization of single molecules represents a new method for directly reading information encoded in linear polymers. If single-nucleotide resolution can be achieved, it is possible that nucleic acid sequences can be determined at rates exceeding a thousand bases per second.

Description: Presented are results of studying 24-hr variability of the cardiac rhythm which characterizes individual difference in reactions of two crew members to the same set of stresses during a 115-day MIR mission. Spacelab (USA) cardiorecorders were used. Data of monitoring revealed significantly different baseline health statuses of the cosmonauts. These functional differences were also observed in the mission. In one of the cosmonauts, the cardiac regulation changed over to a more economic functioning with the autonomous balance shifted towards enhanced sympathetic activity. After 2-3 months on mission he had almost recovered pre-launch level of regulation. In the other, the regulatory system was appreciably strained at the beginning of the mission as compared with preflight baseline. Later on, on flight months 2-3, this strain kept growing till a drastic depletion of the functional reserve. On return to Earth, this was manifested by a strong stress reaction with a sharp decline in power of high-frequency and grow in power of very low frequency components of the heart rhythm. The data suggest that adaptation to space flight and reactions in the readaptation period are dependent on initial health status of crew members, and functional reserve.

Description: The International Space Station will provide an extremely high-quality, long-duration microgravity environment for the conduct of research. In addition, the ISS offers a platform for performing observations of Earth and Space from a high-inclination orbit, outside of the Earth's atmosphere. This unique environment and observational capability offers the opportunity for advancement in a diverse set of research fields. Many of these disciplines do not relate to one another, and present widely differing approaches to study, as well as different resource and operational requirements. Significant challenges exist to ensure the highest quality research return for each investigation. Requirements from different investigations must be identified, clarified, integrated and communicated to ISS personnel in a consistent manner. Resources such as power, crew time, etc. must be apportioned to allow the conduct of each investigation. Decisions affecting research must be made at the strategic level as well as at a very detailed execution level. The timing of the decisions can range from years before an investigation to real-time operations. The international nature of the Space Station program adds to the complexity. Each participating country must be assured that their interests are represented during the entire planning and operations process. A process for making decisions regarding research planning, operations, and real-time replanning is discussed. This process ensures adequate representation of all research investigators. It provides a means for timely decisions, and it includes a means to ensure that all ISS International Partners have their programmatic interests represented. c 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Description: NASA-Johnson Space Center is designing and building a habitat (Bioregenerative Planetary Life Support Systems Test Complex, BIO-Plex) intended for evaluating advanced life support systems developed for long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars where all consumables will be recycled and reused. A food system based on raw products obtained from higher plants (such as soybeans, rice, and wheat) may be a central feature of a biologically based Advanced Life Support System. To convert raw crops to edible ingredients or food items, multipurpose processing equipment such as an extruder is ideal. Volatile compounds evolved during the manufacturing of these food products may accumulate and reach toxic levels. Additionally, off-odors often dissipated in open-air environments without consequence may cause significant discomfort in the BIO-Plex. Rice and defatted soy flours were adjusted to 16% moisture, and triplicate samples were extruded using a tabletop single-screw extruder. The extrudate was collected in specially designed Tedlar bags from which air samples could be extracted. The samples were analyzed by GC-MS with special emphasis on compounds with Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations (SMACs). Results showed a combination of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and carbonyl compounds in the different flours. Each compound and its SMAC value, as well as its impact on the air revitalization system, was discussed.

Description: The shape and dynamics of the mitral annulus of 10 patients without heart disease (controls), 3 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and 5 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and normal systolic function were analyzed by transesophageal echocardiography and 3-dimensional reconstruction. Mitral annular orifice area, apico-basal motion of the annulus, and nonplanarity were calculated over time. Annular area was largest in end diastole and smallest in end systole. Mean areas were 11.8 +/- 2.5 cm(2) (controls), 15.2 +/- 4.2 cm(2) (dilated cardiomyopathy), and 10.2 +/- 2.4 cm(2) (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) (P = not significant). After correction for body surface, annuli from patients with normal left ventricular function were smaller than annuli from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (5.9 +/- 1.2 cm(2)/m(2) vs 7.7 +/- 1.0 cm(2)/m(2); P 〈.02). The change in area during the cardiac cycle showed significant differences: 23.8% +/- 5.1% (controls), 13.2% +/- 2.3% (dilated cardiomyopathy), and 32.4% +/- 7.6% (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) (P 〈.001). Apico-basal motion was highest in controls, followed by those with hypertrophic obstructive and dilated cardiomyopathy (1.0 +/- 0.3 cm, 0.8 +/- 0.2 cm, 0.3 +/- 0.2 cm, respectively; P 〈.01). Visual inspection and Fourier analysis showed a consistent pattern of anteroseptal and posterolateral elevations of the annulus toward the left atrium. In conclusion, although area changes and apico-basal motion of the mitral annulus strongly depend on left ventricular systolic function, nonplanarity is a structural feature preserved throughout the cardiac cycle in all three groups.

Description: Amphioxus, as the closest living invertebrate relative of the vertebrates, can give insights into the evolutionary origin of the vertebrate body plan. Therefore, to investigate the evolution of genetic mechanisms for establishing and patterning the neuroectoderm, we cloned and determined the embryonic expression of two amphioxus transcription factors, AmphiSox1/2/3 and AmphiNeurogenin. These genes are the earliest known markers for presumptive neuroectoderm in amphioxus. By the early neurula stage, AmphiNeurogenin expression becomes restricted to two bilateral columns of segmentally arranged neural plate cells, which probably include precursors of motor neurons. This is the earliest indication of segmentation in the amphioxus nerve cord. Later, expression extends to dorsal cells in the nerve cord, which may include precursors of sensory neurons. By the midneurula, AmphiSox1/2/3 expression becomes limited to the dorsal part of the forming neural tube. These patterns resemble those of their vertebrate and Drosophila homologs. Taken together with the evolutionarily conserved expression of the dorsoventral patterning genes, BMP2/4 and chordin, in nonneural and neural ectoderm, respectively, of chordates and Drosophila, our results are consistent with the evolution of the chordate dorsal nerve cord and the insect ventral nerve cord from a longitudinal nerve cord in a common bilaterian ancestor. However, AmphiSox1/2/3 differs from its vertebrate homologs in not being expressed outside the CNS, suggesting that additional roles for this gene have evolved in connection with gene duplication in the vertebrate lineage. In contrast, expression in the midgut of AmphiNeurogenin together with the gene encoding the insulin-like peptide suggests that amphioxus may have homologs of vertebrate pancreatic islet cells, which express neurogenin3. In addition, AmphiNeurogenin, like its vertebrate and Drosophila homologs, is expressed in apparent precursors of epidermal chemosensory and possibly mechanosensory cells, suggesting a common origin for protostome and deuterostome epidermal sensory cells in the ancestral bilaterian. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Description: A dissociation between plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) appears to exist during exposure to altered gravity. The pulsatile nature of LH release and the diurnal variability of T secretion may mask or bias the effects of altered gravity on the pituitary-gonadal axis when analyzing plasma concentrations. Therefore, we examined the relationship between the excretion of urinary LH and T in male Sprague-Dawley rats during exposure to increased gravity upon return to Earth following a 14-day spaceflight (n = 6) and by 12 days of centrifugation at 2g (n = 8). Excreted LH and T were elevated on the first 3 days postflight. Excreted T was elevated between Days 1 and 8 of centrifugation; however, excreted LH was reduced on Days 2 and 3 compared with control animals. Excreted LH and T were significantly correlated (R = 0.731 and 0.706, respectively) in postspaceflight and centrifuged animals. Correlation curves had similar slopes (0.0213 and 0.023, respectively), but different y-intercepts (-1.43 and 3.32, respectively). The sustained increase in excreted T during centrifugation suggests that the pituitary-gonadal axis in postspaceflight animals may adapt quicker to increased gravity. The upward shift in the correlation curve exhibited by the centrifuged animals suggests that the sensitivity of LH-induced T release is increased in these animals. The previous dissociation between plasma LH and T during altered gravity was not observed in the present study in which excreted LH and T were measured.

Description: No abstract available

Description: BACKGROUND: The amount of oxalate ingested may be an important risk factor in the development of idiopathic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. Reliable food tables listing the oxalate content of foods are currently not available. The aim of this research was to develop an accurate and reliable method to measure the food content of oxalate. METHODS: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and ion chromatography (IC) were compared as direct techniques for the estimation of the oxalate content of foods. Foods were thoroughly homogenized in acid, heat extracted, and clarified by centrifugation and filtration before dilution in water for analysis. Five individuals consuming self-selected diets maintained food records for three days to determine their mean daily oxalate intakes. RESULTS: Both techniques were capable of adequately measuring the oxalate in foods with a significant oxalate content. With foods of very low oxalate content (〈1.8 mg/100 g), IC was more reliable than CE. The mean daily intake of oxalate by the five individuals tested was 152 +/- 83 mg, ranging from 44 to 352 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: CE appears to be the method of choice over IC for estimating the oxalate content of foods with a medium (〉10 mg/100 g) to high oxalate content due to a faster analysis time and lower running costs, whereas IC may be better suited for the analysis of foods with a low oxalate content. Accurate estimates of the oxalate content of foods should permit the role of dietary oxalate in urinary oxalate excretion and stone formation to be clarified. Other factors, apart from the amount of oxalate ingested, appear to exert a major influence over the amount of oxalate excreted in the urine.

Description: Numerous problems exist with the current thinking of RNA as the first genetic material. No plausible prebiotic processes have yet been demonstrated to produce the nucleosides or nucleotides or for efficient two-way nonenzymatic replication. Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a promising precursor to RNA, consisting of N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG) and the adenine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine-N-acetic acids. However, PNA has not yet been demonstrated to be prebiotic. We show here that AEG is produced directly in electric discharge reactions from CH(4), N(2), NH(3), and H(2)O. Electric discharges also produce ethylenediamine, as do NH(4)CN polymerizations. AEG is produced from the robust Strecker synthesis with ethylenediamine. The NH(4)CN polymerization in the presence of glycine leads to the adenine and guanine-N(9)-acetic acids, and the cytosine and uracil-N(1)-acetic acids are produced in high yield from the reaction of cyanoacetaldehyde with hydantoic acid, rather than urea. Preliminary experiments suggest that AEG may polymerize rapidly at 100 degrees C to give the polypeptide backbone of PNA. The ease of synthesis of the components of PNA and possibility of polymerization of AEG reinforce the possibility that PNA may have been the first genetic material.

Description: This paper develops a deterministic model of frequency distributions for energy imparted (total energy deposition) in small volumes similar to DNA molecules from high-energy ions of interest for space radiation protection and cancer therapy. Frequency distributions for energy imparted are useful for considering radiation quality and for modeling biological damage produced by ionizing radiation. For high-energy ions, secondary electron (delta-ray) tracks originating from a primary ion track make dominant contributions to energy deposition events in small volumes. Our method uses the distribution of electrons produced about an ion's path and incorporates results from Monte Carlo simulation of electron tracks to predict frequency distributions for ions, including their dependence on radial distance. The contribution from primary ion events is treated using an impact parameter formalism of spatially restricted linear energy transfer (LET) and energy-transfer straggling. We validate our model by comparing it directly to results from Monte Carlo simulations for proton and alpha-particle tracks. We show for the first time frequency distributions of energy imparted in DNA structures by several high-energy ions such as cosmic-ray iron ions. Our comparison with results from Monte Carlo simulations at low energies indicates the accuracy of the method.

Description: The alpha1- and beta1-subunits of human soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) were coexpressed in the Sf9 cells/baculovirus system. In addition to the native enzyme, constructs with hexahistidine tag at the amino and carboxyl termini of each subunit were coexpressed. This permitted the rapid and efficient purification of active recombinant enzyme on a nickel-affinity column. The enzyme has one heme per heterodimer and was readily activated with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside or 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'furyl)-1-benzyl-indazole (YC-1). Sodium nitroprusside and YC-1 treatment potentiated each other in combination and demonstrated a remarkable 2,200-fold stimulation of the human recombinant sGC. The effects were inhibited with 1H-(1,2, 4)oxadiazole(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1one (ODQ). The kinetics of the recombinant enzyme with respect to GTP was examined. The products of the reaction, cGMP and pyrophosphate, inhibited the enzyme. The extent of inhibition by cGMP depended on the activation state of the enzyme, whereas inhibition by pyrophosphate was not affected by the enzyme state. Both reaction products displayed independent binding and cooperativity with respect to enzyme inhibition. The expression of large quantities of active enzyme will facilitate structural characterization of the protein.

Description: Water flux rates and osmotic responses of Kemp's Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempi) acutely exposed to fresh water were quantified. Salt-water adapted turtles were exposed to fresh water for 4 d before being returned to salt water. During the initial salt water phase, absolute and relative water flux rates were 1.2+/-0.1 l d(-1) and 123.0+/-6.8 ml kg(-1) d(-1), respectively. When turtles were exposed to fresh water, rates increased by approximately 30%. Upon return to salt water, rates decreased to original levels. Plasma osmolality, Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) decreased during exposure to fresh water, and subsequently increased during the return to salt water. The Na(+):K(+) ratio was elevated during the fresh water phase and subsequently decreased upon return to salt water. Aldosterone and corticosterone were not altered during exposure to fresh water. Elevated water flux rates during fresh water exposure reflected an increase in water consumption, resulting in a decrease in ionic and osmotic concentrations. The lack of a change in adrenocorticoids to acute fresh water exposure suggests that adrenal responsiveness to an hypo-osmotic environment may be delayed in marine turtles when compared to marine mammals.

Description: To evaluate the relationship between osteoblast differentiation and bioenergetics, cultured primary osteoblasts from fetal rat calvaria were grown in medium supplemented with ascorbate to induce differentiation. Before ascorbate treatment, the rate of glucose consumption was 320 nmol. h(-1). 10(6) cells(-1), respiration was 40 nmol. h(-1). 10(6) cells(-1), and the ratio of lactate production to glucose consumption was approximately 2, indicating that glycolysis was the main energy source for immature osteoblasts. Ascorbate treatment for 14 days led to a fourfold increase in respiration, a threefold increase in ATP production, and a fivefold increase in ATP content compared with that shown in immature cells. Confocal imaging of mitochondria stained with a transmembrane potential-sensitive vital dye showed that mature cells possessed abundant amounts of high-transmembrane-potential mitochondria, which were concentrated near the culture medium-facing surface. Acute treatment of mature osteoblasts with metabolic inhibitors showed that the rate of glycolysis rose to maintain the cellular energy supply constant. Thus progressive differentiation coincided with changes in cellular metabolism and mitochondrial activity, which are likely to play key roles in osteoblast function.

Description: No abstract available

Description: Long-duration exposure to weightlessness results in bone demineralization, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular deconditioning, altered sensory-motor control, and central nervous system reorganizations. Exercise countermeasures and body loading methods so far employed have failed to prevent these changes. A human mission to Mars might last 2 or 3 years and without effective countermeasures could result in dangerous levels of bone and muscle loss. Artificial gravity generated by rotation of an entire space vehicle or of an inner chamber could be used to prevent structural changes. Some of the physical characteristics of rotating environments are outlined along with their implications for human performance. Artificial gravity is the centripetal force generated in a rotating vehicle and is proportional to the product of the square of angular velocity and the radius of rotation. Thus, for a particular g-level, there is a tradeoff between velocity of rotation and radius. Increased radius is vastly more expensive to achieve than velocity, so it is important to know the highest rotation rates to which humans can adapt. Early studies suggested that 3 rpm might be the upper limit because movement control and orientation were disrupted at higher velocities and motion sickness and chronic fatigue were persistent problems. Recent studies, however, are showing that, if the terminal velocity is achieved over a series of gradual steps and many body movements are made at each dwell velocity, then full adaptation of head, arm, and leg movements is possible. Rotation rates as high as 7.5-10 rpm are likely feasible. An important feature of the new studies is that they provide compelling evidence that equilibrium point theories of movement control are inadequate. The central principles of equilibrium point theories lead to the equifinality prediction, which is violated by movements made in rotating reference frames. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Description: Microgravity is associated with an impaired cardiac output response to orthostatic stress. Mesenteric veins are critical in modulating cardiac filling through venoconstriction. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of simulated microgravity on the capacitance of rat mesenteric small veins. We constructed pressure-diameter relationships from vessels of 21-day hindlimb-unweighted (HLU) rats and control rats by changing the internal pressure and measuring the external diameter. Pressure-diameter relationships were obtained both before and after stimulation with norepinephrine (NE). The pressure-diameter curves of HLU vessels were shifted to larger diameters than control vessels. NE (10(-4) M) constricted veins from control animals such that the pressure-diameter relationship was significantly shifted downward (i.e., to smaller diameters at equal pressure). NE had no effect on vessels from HLU animals. These results indicate that, after HLU, unstressed vascular volume may be increased and can no longer decrease in response to sympathetic stimulation. This may partially underlie the mechanism leading to the exaggerated fall in cardiac output and stroke volume seen in astronauts during an orthostatic stress after exposure to microgravity.

Description: I examine the plausibility of theories that postulate the development of complex chemical organization without requiring the replication of genetic polymers such as RNA. One conclusion is that theories that involve the organization of complex, small-molecule metabolic cycles such as the reductive citric acid cycle on mineral surfaces make unreasonable assumptions about the catalytic properties of minerals and the ability of minerals to organize sequences of disparate reactions. Another conclusion is that data in the Beilstein Handbook of Organic Chemistry that have been claimed to support the hypothesis that the reductive citric acid cycle originated as a self-organized cycle can more plausibly be interpreted in a different way.

Description: To examine the relationship between visual motion processing for perception and pursuit, we measured the pursuit eye-movement and perceptual responses to the same complex-motion stimuli. We show that humans can both perceive and pursue the motion of line-figure objects, even when partial occlusion makes the resulting image motion vastly different from the underlying object motion. Our results show that both perception and pursuit can perform largely accurate motion integration, i.e. the selective combination of local motion signals across the visual field to derive global object motion. Furthermore, because we manipulated perceived motion while keeping image motion identical, the observed parallel changes in perception and pursuit show that the motion signals driving steady-state pursuit and perception are linked. These findings disprove current pursuit models whose control strategy is to minimize retinal image motion, and suggest a new framework for the interplay between visual cortex and cerebellum in visuomotor control.

Description: To determine whether vasoregulation is an important cause of pulmonary perfusion heterogeneity, we measured regional blood flow and gas exchange before and after giving prostacyclin (PGI(2)) to baboons. Four animals were anesthetized with ketamine and mechanically ventilated. Fluorescent microspheres were used to mark regional perfusion before and after PGI(2) infusion. The lungs were subsequently excised, dried inflated, and diced into approximately 2-cm(3) pieces (n = 1,208-1,629 per animal) with the spatial coordinates recorded for each piece. Blood flow to each piece was determined for each condition from the fluorescent signals. Blood flow heterogeneity did not change with PGI(2) infusion. Two other measures of spatial blood flow distribution, the fractal dimension and the spatial correlation, did not change with PGI(2) infusion. Alveolar-arterial O(2) differences did not change with PGI(2) infusion. We conclude that, in normal primate lungs during normoxia, vasomotor tone is not a significant cause of perfusion heterogeneity. Despite the heterogeneous distribution of blood flow, active regulation of regional perfusion is not required for efficient gas exchange.

Description: Obesity is a major health care problem and is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity. Leptin, a neuroendocrine hormone released by adipose tissue, is important in modulating obesity by signaling satiety and increasing metabolism. Moreover, leptin receptors are expressed on vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and mediate angiogenesis. We hypothesized that leptin may also play an important role in vasoregulation. We investigated vasoregulatory mechanisms in the leptin-deficient obese (ob/ob) mouse model and determined the influence of leptin replacement on endothelial-dependent vasorelaxant responses. The direct effect of leptin on EC nitric oxide (NO) production was also tested by using 4, 5-diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate staining and measurement of nitrate and nitrite concentrations. Vasoconstrictor responses to phenylephrine, norepinephrine, and U-46619 were markedly enhanced in aortic rings from ob/ob mice and were modulated by NO synthase inhibition. Vasorelaxant responses to ACh were markedly attenuated in mesenteric microvessels from ob/ob mice. Leptin replacement resulted in significant weight loss and reversal of the impaired endothelial-dependent vasorelaxant responses observed in ob/ob mice. Preincubation of ECs with leptin enhanced the release of NO production. Thus leptin-deficient ob/ob mice demonstrate marked abnormalities in vasoregulation, including impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilation, which is reversed by leptin replacement. These findings may be partially explained by the direct effect of leptin on endothelial NO production. These vascular abnormalities are similar to those observed in obese, diabetic, leptin-resistant humans. The ob/ob mouse may, therefore, be an excellent new model for the study of the cardiovascular effects of obesity.

Description: This study established two- and three-dimensional renal proximal tubular cell cultures of the endangered species bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), developed SV40-transfected cultures, and cloned the 61-amino acid open reading frame for the metallothionein protein, the primary binding site for heavy metal contamination in mammals. Microgravity research, modulations in mechanical culture conditions (modeled microgravity), and shear stress have spawned innovative approaches to understanding the dynamics of cellular interactions, gene expression, and differentiation in several cellular systems. These investigations have led to the creation of ex vivo tissue models capable of serving as physiological research analogs for three-dimensional cellular interactions. These models are enabling studies in immune function, tissue modeling for basic research, and neoplasia. Three-dimensional cellular models emulate aspects of in vivo cellular architecture and physiology and may facilitate environmental toxicological studies aimed at elucidating biological functions and responses at the cellular level. Marine mammals occupy a significant ecological niche (72% of the Earth's surface is water) in terms of the potential for information on bioaccumulation and transport of terrestrial and marine environmental toxins in high-order vertebrates. Few ex vivo models of marine mammal physiology exist in vitro to accomplish the aforementioned studies. Techniques developed in this investigation, based on previous tissue modeling successes, may serve to facilitate similar research in other marine mammals.

Description: We studied the ventilation-perfusion matching pattern in normal gravity (1 G) and short- and long-duration microgravity (microG) using the cardiogenic oscillations in the sulfur hexaflouride (SF(6)) and CO(2) concentration signals during the phase III portion of vital capacity single-breath washout experiments. The signal power of the cardiogenic concentration variations was assessed by spectral analysis, and the phase angle between the oscillations of the two simultaneously expired gases was obtained through cross-correlation. For CO(2), a significant reduction of cardiogenic power was observed in microG, with respect to 1 G, but the reduction was smaller and more variable in the case of SF(6). A shift from an in-phase condition in 1 G to an out-of-phase condition was found for both short- and long-duration microG. We conclude that, although the distribution of ventilation and perfusion becomes more homogeneous in microG, significant inhomogeneities persist and that areas of high perfusion become associated with areas of relatively lower ventilation. In addition, these modifications seem to remain constant during long-term exposure to microG.

Description: Harmonic imaging is a new ultrasonographic technique that is designed to improve image quality by exploiting the spontaneous generation of higher frequencies as ultrasound propagates through tissue. We studied 51 difficult-to-image patients with blinded side-by-side cineloop evaluation of endocardial border definition by harmonic versus fundamental imaging. In addition, quantitative intensities from cavity versus wall were compared for harmonic versus fundamental imaging. Harmonic imaging improved left ventricular endocardial border delineation over fundamental imaging (superior: harmonic = 71.1%, fundamental = 18.7%; similar: 10.2%; P 〈.001). Quantitative analysis of 100 wall/cavity combinations demonstrated brighter wall segments and more strikingly darker cavities during harmonic imaging (cavity intensity on a 0 to 255 scale: fundamental = 15.6 +/- 8.6; harmonic = 6.0 +/- 5.3; P 〈.0001), which led to enhanced contrast between the wall and cavity (1.89 versus 1.19, P 〈.0001). Harmonic imaging reduces side-lobe artifacts, resulting in a darker cavity and brighter walls, thereby improving image contrast and endocardial delineation.

Description: BACKGROUND: Conflicts of interest pose a threat to the integrity of scientific research. The current regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Science Foundation require that medical schools and other research institutions report the existence of conflicts of interest to the funding agency but allow the institutions to manage conflicts internally. The regulations do not specify how to do so. METHODS: We surveyed all medical schools (127) and other research institutions (170) that received more than $5 million in total grants annually from the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation; 48 journals in basic science and clinical medicine; and 17 federal agencies in order to analyze their policies on conflicts of interest. RESULTS: Of the 297 institutions, 250 (84 percent) responded by March 2000, as did 47 of the 48 journals and 16 of the 17 federal agencies. Fifteen of the 250 institutions (6 percent)--5 medical schools and 10 other research institutions--reported that they had no policy on conflicts of interest. Among the institutions that had policies, there was marked variation in the definition and management of conflicts. Ninety-one percent had policies that adhered to the federal threshold for disclosure ($10,000 in annual income or equity in a relevant company or 5 percent ownership), and 9 percent had policies that exceeded the federal guidelines. Only 8 percent had policies requiring disclosure to funding agencies, only 7 percent had such policies regarding journals, and only 1 percent had policies requiring the disclosure of information to the relevant institutional review boards or to research subjects. Twenty journals (43 percent) reported that they had policies requiring disclosure of conflicts of interest. Only four federal agencies had policies that explicitly addressed conflicts of interest in extramural research, and all but one of the agencies relied primarily on institutional discretion. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variation among policies on conflicts of interest at medical schools and other research institutions. This variation, combined with the fact that many scientific journals and funding agencies do not require disclosure of conflicts of interest, suggests that the current standards may not be adequate to maintain a high level of scientific integrity.

Description: Nuclear interactions of space radiation with shielding materials result in alterations in dose and lineal energy spectra that depend on the specific elemental composition, density and thickness of the material. The shielding characteristics of materials have been studied using charged-particle beams and radiation transport models by examining the risk reduction using the conventional dose-equivalent approach. Secondary neutrons contribute a significant fraction of the total radiation exposure in space. An experiment to study the changes in dose and lineal energy spectra by shielding materials was carried out at the Los Alamos Nuclear Science Center neutron facility. In the energy range of about 2 to 200 MeV, this neutron spectrum is similar in shape within a factor of about 2 to the spectrum expected in the International Space Station habitable modules. It is shown that with a shielding thickness of about 5 g cm(-2), the conventional radiation risk increases, in some cases by as much as a factor of 2, but decreases with thicknesses of about of 20 g cm(-2). This suggests that care must be taken in evaluating the shielding effectiveness of a given material by including both the charged-particle and neutron components of space radiation.

Description: Organ and tissue doses and effective dose equivalent were measured using a life-size human phantom on the ninth Shuttle-Mir Mission (STS-91, June 1998), a 9.8-day spaceflight at low-Earth orbit (about 400 km in altitude and 51.65 degrees in inclination). The doses were measured at 59 positions using a combination of thermoluminescent dosimeters of Mg(2)SiO(4):Tb (TDMS) and plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTD). In correcting the change in efficiency of the TDMS, it was assumed that reduction of efficiency is attributed predominantly to HZE particles with energy greater than 100 MeV nucleon(-1). A conservative calibration curve was chosen for determining LET from the PNTD track-formation sensitivities. The organ and tissue absorbed doses during the mission ranged from 1.7 to 2.7 mGy and varied by a factor of 1.6. The dose equivalent ranged from 3.4 to 5.2 mSv and varied by a factor of 1.5 on the basis of the dependence of Q on LET in the 1990 recommendations of the ICRP. The effective quality factor (Q(e)) varied from 1.7 to 2.4. The dose equivalents for several radiation-sensitive organs, such as the stomach, lung, gonad and breast, were not significantly different from the skin dose equivalent (H(skin)). The effective dose equivalent was evaluated as 4.1 mSv, which was about 90% of the H(skin).

Description: The relative free aldehyde content of eight hexoses and four pentoses has been estimated within about 10% from the rate constants for their reaction with urazole (1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dione). These values of the percent free aldehyde are in agreement with those estimated from CD measurements, but are more accurate. The relative free aldehyde contents for the aldoses were then correlated to various literature NMR measurements to obtain the absolute values. This procedure was also done for three deoxyaldoses, which react much more rapidly than can be accounted for by the free aldehyde content. This difference in reactivity between aldoses and deoxyaldoses is due to the inductive effect of the H versus the OH on C-2'. This may help explain why deoxyribonucleosides hydrolyze much more rapidly than ribonucleosides.

Description: Members of the Deinococcaceae (e.g., Thermus, Meiothermus, Deinococcus) contain A/V-ATPases typically found in Archaea or Eukaryotes which were probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Two methods were used to quantify the extent to which archaeal or eukaryotic genes have been acquired by this lineage. Screening of a Meiothermus ruber library with probes made against Thermoplasma acidophilum DNA yielded a number of clones which hybridized more strongly than background. One of these contained the prolyl tRNA synthetase (RS) gene. Phylogenetic analysis shows the M. ruber and D. radiodurans prolyl RS to be more closely related to archaeal and eukaryal forms of this gene than to the typical bacterial type. Using a bioinformatics approach, putative open reading frames (ORFs) from the prerelease version of the D. radiodurans genome were screened for genes more closely related to archaeal or eukaryotic genes. Putative ORFs were searched against representative genomes from each of the three domains using automated BLAST. ORFs showing the highest matches against archaeal and eukaryotic genes were collected and ranked. Among the top-ranked hits were the A/V-ATPase catalytic and noncatalytic subunits and the prolyl RS genes. Using phylogenetic methods, ORFs were analyzed and trees assessed for evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Of the 45 genes examined, 20 showed topologies in which D. radiodurans homologues clearly group with eukaryotic or archaeal homologues, and 17 additional trees were found to show probable evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Compared to the total number of ORFs in the genome, those that can be identified as having been acquired from Archaea or Eukaryotes are relatively few (approximately 1%), suggesting that interdomain transfer is rare.

Description: No abstract available

Description: A direct approach utilizing ion pairing reversed-phase chromatography coupled with suppressed conductivity detection was developed to monitor biodegradation of anionic surfactants during wastewater recycling through hydroponic plant growth systems and fixed-film bioreactors. Samples of hydroponic nutrient solution and bioreactor effluent with high concentrations (up to 120 mS electrical conductance) of inorganic ions can be analyzed without pretreatment or interference. The presence of non-ionic surfactants did not significantly affect the analysis. Dynamic linear ranges for tested surfactants [Igepon TC-42, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and sodium alkyl (C10-C16) ether sulfate] were 2 to approximately 500, 1 to approximately 500, 2.5 to approximately 550 and 3.0 to approximately 630 microg/ml, respectively.

Description: The responses of neck muscle to sudden transit from one 'g' to hyper 'g', work to support the head and remain the relative position of head on trunk as common observed: i.e. in sudden acceleration or deceleration by car or ejection of pilot from aircraft. Accordingly it is highly possible that the neck muscle responses to moving up may be important to prevent the neck injury due to sudden linear acceleration such as moving up against gravity. However little is known about the evaluation of mechanism of this reflex. Therefore the present study was conducted with two aims. The first aim was to investigate the neck muscle responses to vertical linear acceleration bv 0.4 g produced with an electro-hydraulic servo-system. We chose the vertical linear acceleration because it activates mainly sacculus, from which afferents have been demonstrated to be connected directly to sternocleidomastoid muscle in animals and human. The second aim was to determine whether there is a difference of neck muscle response to moving down and moving up.

Description: Infrared spectral images of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io, acquired during the October and November 1999 and February 2000 flybys of the Galileo spacecraft, were used to study the thermal structure and sulfur dioxide distribution of active volcanoes. Loki Patera, the solar system's most powerful known volcano, exhibits large expanses of dark, cooling lava on its caldera floor. Prometheus, the site of long-lived plume activity, has two major areas of thermal emission, which support ideas of plume migration. Sulfur dioxide deposits were mapped at local scales and show a more complex relationship to surface colors than previously thought, indicating the presence of other sulfur compounds.

Description: Absolute band intensities of acetone ((CH3)2CO) in the nu19/nu23 and nu7 band systems near 530 and 777 cm(-1), respectively, were measured at temperatures of 232, 262 and 295 K, using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. No evident temperature dependence for the band intensities was observed. The dipole moments and the fundamental band intensities were derived in the harmonic oscillator approximation. The results are useful for the spectroscopic retrieval of acetone concentrations in the upper atmosphere.

Description: Modified muscle use can result in muscle inflammation that is triggered by unidentified events. In the present investigation, we tested whether the activation of the complement system is a component of muscle inflammation that results from changes in muscle loading. Modified rat hindlimb muscle loading was achieved by removing weight-bearing from the hindlimbs for 10 days followed by reloading through normal ambulation. Experimental animals were injected with the recombinant, soluble complement receptor sCR1 to inhibit complement activation. Assays for complement C4 or factor B in sera showed that sCR1 produced large reductions in the capacity for activation of the complement system through both the classical and alternative pathways. Analysis of complement C4 concentration in serum in untreated animals showed that the classical pathway was activated during the first 2 hours of reloading. Analysis of factor B concentration in untreated animals showed activation of the alternative pathway at 6 hours of reloading. Administration of sCR1 significantly attenuated the invasion of neutrophils (-49%) and ED1(+) macrophages (-52%) that occurred in nontreated animals after 6 hours of reloading. The presence of sCR1 also reduced significantly the degree of edema by 22% as compared to untreated animals. Together, these data show that increased muscle loading activated the complement system which then briefly contributes to the early recruitment of inflammatory cells during modified muscle loading.

Description: It has previously been shown that exposing rats to particles of high energy and charge (HZE) disrupts the functioning of the dopaminergic system and behaviors mediated by this system, such as motor performance and an amphetamine-induced conditioned taste aversion; these adverse behavioral and neuronal effects are similar to those seen in aged animals. Because cognition declines with age, spatial learning and memory were assessed in the Morris water maze 1 month after whole-body irradiation with 1.5 Gy of 1 GeV/nucleon high-energy (56)Fe particles, to test the cognitive behavioral consequences of radiation exposure. Irradiated rats demonstrated cognitive impairment compared to the control group as seen in their increased latencies to find the hidden platform, particularly on the reversal day when the platform was moved to the opposite quadrant. Also, the irradiated group used nonspatial strategies during the probe trials (swim with no platform), i.e. less time spent in the platform quadrant, fewer crossings of and less time spent in the previous platform location, and longer latencies to the previous platform location. These findings are similar to those seen in aged rats, suggesting that an increased release of reactive oxygen species may be responsible for the induction of radiation- and age-related cognitive deficits. If these decrements in behavior also occur in humans, they may impair the ability of astronauts to perform critical tasks during long-term space travel beyond the magnetosphere.

Description: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is now commonly used to evaluate the thoracic aorta, because it is widely available and provides high-resolution images and flow information by Doppler. This article reviews the essential features on TEE of acute and chronic aortic diseases, such as aortic dissection, aneurysm, and atherosclerosis, and discusses its strengths, weaknesses, and indications.

Description: No abstract available