A Test Platform to Assess the Impact of Miniaturized Propulsion Systems

Miniaturized propulsion systems can enable many future CubeSats missions. The advancement of the Technology Readiness Level of this technology passes through the integration in a CubeSat platform and the assessment of the impact and the interactions of the propulsion systems on the actual CubeSat technology and vice versa. The request of power, the thermal environmental, and the electromagnetic emissions generated inside the platform require careful analyses. This paper presents the upgraded design and the validation of a CubeSat test platform (CTP) that can interface a wide range of new miniaturized propulsion systems and gather unprecedented information for these analyses, which can be fused with the commonly used ground support equipment. The CTP features are reported, and the main achievements of the tests are shown, demonstrating the effective capabilities of the platform and how it allows for the investigation of the mutual interactions at system level between propulsion systems and the CubeSat technology

ENTRY, DESCENT AND IMPACT SYSTEM DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF A SMALL PLATFORM IN MARTIAN ENVIRONMENT

Thanks to the latest Mars missions, planetary exploration has made enormous strides over the past ten years increasing the interest of the scientific community and beyond. These missions must fulfil many complex operations which are of paramount importance to mission success. Among these, a special mention goes to the Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) functions which require a dedicated system to overcome all the obstacles of these critical phases. The goal of this study is to describe in detail the design methodology for EDL system during the preliminary phase of the design. The design is supported by a simulation tool integrating the entry trajectory algorithm. The trajectory data computed are used to size the EDL system and strategy in order to have a low aerodynamic acceleration, low dynamic pressure and low convective heat flux incoming to the spacecraft. The reference mission has the goal to find bioevidence and biohazards on Martian subsurface in order to prepare future manned missions. The mission is based on Space Penetrator Systems (SPS) that can descend on Mars surface following a ballistic fall and penetrate the ground after the impact with the surface (around 50 and 300 cm depth). The SPS contains all the instrumentation required to sample and make the required analyses. As results, an Entry Descent and Impact (EDI) system based on inflatable structure is designed, respecting the low-cost and low-mass constraints. For this mission, a solution, like the one of Finnish Meteorological Institute in the Mars Met-Net mission, is chosen, using an inflatable Thermal Protection System (TPS) called Inflatable Braking Unit (IBU) and an additional inflatable decelerator. Consequently, there are three configurations during the EDI phases: at an altitude of 125 km, the IBU is inflated at speed 5.5 km/s; at an altitude of 16 km, the IBU is jettisoned and an Additional Inflatable Braking Unit (AIBU) is inflated; at last, at about 13 km, the SPS is ejected from AIBU and it impacts on the Martian surface. In this paper, the results obtained by the application of this design methodology are presented and, the obtained system and descent strategy satisfy the requirements of the mission

Structural and electrical properties of annealed Ge2Sb2Te5 films grown on flexible polyimide

The morphological, structural, and electrical properties of as-grown and annealed Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) layers, deposited by RF-sputtering on flexible polyimide, were studied by means of optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical characterization. The X-ray diffraction annealing experiments showed the structural transformation of GST layers from the as-grown amorphous state into their crystalline cubic and trigonal phases. The onset of crystallization of the GST films was inferred at about 140 degrees C. The vibrational properties of the crystalline GST layers were investigated via Raman spectroscopy with mode assignment in agreement with previous works on GST films grown on rigid substrates. The electrical characterization revealed a good homogeneity of the amorphous and crystalline trigonal GST with an electrical resistance contrast of 8 x 10(6)

Efeitos da ingestão dos ácido docosa-hexaenoico e ácido eicosapentaenoico sobre o sistema nervoso central de indivíduos saudáveis ou com patologias neuropsiquiátricas em diferentes faixas etárias: revisão sistemática

Objective: The omega-3 essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are beneficial to the central nervous system (CNS), with studies demonstrating their role in myelination and synaptogenesis. Furthermore, its deficiency was correlated with the development of neurological and psychiatric pathologies. Therefore, the present work aims to present an updated literature review on the effects of EPA/DHA intake on the CNS of humans in different age groups and neurological/psychiatric health status. Methodology: This study was conducted observing the PRISMA method; the search for studies was performed in the scientific database Medline. The inclusion criteria were articles published between 2010-2021, published in English, randomized clinical trials with humans, and observational studies. Results: 11 articles were selected and then categorized by topic. It was observed that in children's neuropsychomotor development the EPA/DHA supplementation benefited language acquisition and provided slightly better scores in neurological tests. In healthy adults, there was found evidence of an increase in the effectiveness of neural processing. In children with ADHD, the consumption of EPA/DHA was linked with better scores on tests of attention. In individuals with schizophrenia, there was less loss of cortical thickness. In older adults with memory deficits or Alzheimer's disease, results such as an increase in brain oxygenation, less inflammation, and slower brain mass loss were found. Conclusion: From the analysis of the studies, it appears that the ingestion of EPA/DHA benefits the CNS through effects on neurodevelopment, cognitive function, disease prevention, and as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy.Objetivo: Os ácidos graxos essenciais (AGE) ômega-3 dos tipos ácido eicosapentaenoico (EPA) e ácido docosa-hexaenoico (DHA), são benéficos para o sistema nervoso central (SNC) - com estudos demonstrando seu papel na mielinização, formação de sinapses, além da relação de sua deficiência com o desenvolvimento de patologias neurológicas e psiquiátricas. Portanto, o presente trabalho objetiva avaliar sistematicamente os efeitos da ingestão de EPA/DHA no SNC de humanos em diferentes faixas etárias e estados de saúde neurológica e psiquiátrica.  Metodologia: Foi adotado o método PRISMA, a busca por estudos foi realizada na base de dados científicos Medline, sendo incluídos artigos publicados entre 2010-2021, publicados em língua inglesa, ensaios clínicos aleatórios (randomizados), e estudos observacionais. Resultados: 11 artigos foram selecionados e, em seguida, categorizados por temas. No desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor infantil, observou-se, com a suplementação, benefícios na aquisição da linguagem e obtenção de escores levemente melhores em testes neurológicos. Em adultos saudáveis, houve indícios de aumento na eficácia do processamento neural. No TDAH em crianças, melhores resultados em testes de atenção. Em indivíduos com esquizofrenia, houve menor perda da espessura cortical. Em idosos com déficit de memória ou doença de Alzheimer, maior oxigenação cerebral, menos inflamação e desaceleração da perda de massa cerebral. Conclusão: Constata-se, pela análise dos estudos, que os AGs EPA/DHA beneficiam o SNC por meio de efeitos no neurodesenvolvimento, função cognitiva, prevenção de doenças e como estratégia terapêutica adjuvante.   Palavras-chave: Ácido Docosa-Hexaenoico. Ácido Eicosapentaenoico. Neuroproteção. Transtorno do Neurodesenvolvimento. Demência

Alliance of Genome Resources Portal: unified model organism research platform

The Alliance of Genome Resources (Alliance) is a consortium of the major model organism databases and the Gene Ontology that is guided by the vision of facilitating exploration of related genes in human and well-studied model organisms by providing a highly integrated and comprehensive platform that enables researchers to leverage the extensive body of genetic and genomic studies in these organisms. Initiated in 2016, the Alliance is building a central portal (www.alliancegenome.org) for access to data for the primary model organisms along with gene ontology data and human data. All data types represented in the Alliance portal (e.g. genomic data and phenotype descriptions) have common data models and workflows for curation. All data are open and freely available via a variety of mechanisms. Long-term plans for the Alliance project include a focus on coverage of additional model organisms including those without dedicated curation communities, and the inclusion of new data types with a particular focus on providing data and tools for the non-model-organism researcher that support enhanced discovery about human health and disease. Here we review current progress and present immediate plans for this new bioinformatics resource

Alliance of Genome Resources Portal: unified model organism research platform

The Alliance of Genome Resources (Alliance) is a consortium of the major model organism databases and the Gene Ontology that is guided by the vision of facilitating exploration of related genes in human and well-studied model organisms by providing a highly integrated and comprehensive platform that enables researchers to leverage the extensive body of genetic and genomic studies in these organisms. Initiated in 2016, the Alliance is building a central portal (www.alliancegenome.org) for access to data for the primary model organisms along with gene ontology data and human data. All data types represented in the Alliance portal (e.g. genomic data and phenotype descriptions) have common data models and workflows for curation. All data are open and freely available via a variety of mechanisms. Long-term plans for the Alliance project include a focus on coverage of additional model organisms including those without dedicated curation communities, and the inclusion of new data types with a particular focus on providing data and tools for the non-model-organism researcher that support enhanced discovery about human health and disease. Here we review current progress and present immediate plans for this new bioinformatics resource

Neural networks for event detection: an interplanetary cubesat asteroid mission case study

CubeSats are a relatively new category of space systems that is becoming one of the key players for scientific and technological missions in Low Earth Orbit. Lately, interesting concepts for interplanetary nanosatellite missions are also appearing. These missions are affected by several technical limitations, spanning different domains of the mission and system design. Among these, limitations in the data rate and lack of proper ground support are definitely important. This paper focus the attention on event detection capabilities, with the intent of enabling autonomous operations for a nanosatellite interplanetary mission. The paper presents an artificial intelligence algorithm based on the neural network technology, and applies it to a future mission used as case study. The algorithm robustness is also verified

Design of a CubeSat test platform for the verification of small electric propulsion systems

Small satellites represent an emerging opportunity to realize a wide range of space missions at lower cost and faster delivery, compared to traditional spacecraft. However, small platforms, such as CubeSats, shall increase their actual capabilities. Miniaturized electric propulsion systems can provide the satellite with the key capability of moving in space. The level of readiness of miniaturized electric propulsion systems is low although many concepts have been developed. The present research intends to build a flexible test platform for the assessment of selected small propulsion systems in relevant environment at laboratory level. Main goal of the research is to analyze the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical interactions of propulsion systems with the modern CubeSat-technology and to assess the performance of the integrated platform. The test platform is a 6U CubeSat hosting electric propulsion systems, providing mechanical, electrical and data interfaces, able to handle a variety of electric propulsion systems, thanks to the ability to regulate and distribute electric power, to exchange data according to several protocols, and to provide different mechanical layouts. The test platform is ready to start the first verification campaign. The paper describes the detailed design of the platform and the main results of the AIV activities