Mars One-Year Mission Craft

A human Mars mission is more challenging to astronauts than the Apollo mission because of travel time, life support requirements, and the space environment. Although plans for Mars exploration by NASA and SpaceX based on conventional rockets have been presented, there are considerations that suggest alternatives for the mid-or long-term. The purpose of this paper is to outline a fast mission enabled by advanced (nuclear) propulsion and by internationally shared technology. Whether the destination is the Mars surface or Phobos, for a chemical powered spacecraft, the round trip takes about 990 days, including a 480-day surface stay, compared to only 370 days, including a 41-day surface stay, for the nuclear-powered spacecraft assumed here. Since nuclear propulsion can provide higher speed than chemical, the radiation dose can be drastically reduced. The logistics of such a mission involve one or more cargo craft that must precede the astronauts. Ballistic entry into Mars’ atmosphere depends on accurate knowledge of its features, to date poorly known, that may result in uncertainty in landing coordinates. For a single vehicle, this is not critical, but for a human crew ballistic landing kilometers away from cargo is unacceptable: walking for anything but the shortest distance cannot be afforded with current space suits. In this context, the concept of a modest L/D maneuvering cargo glider based on the past Russian “Kliper” is recommended and developed to ensure landing within a hundred meters of each spacecraft. The crewed lander vehicle is based on the high L/D, inherently stable USAF FDL-7C/D hypersonic glider experience

Aeronautical approach and support to mars exploration

Traveling to Mars with a human crew poses challenges exceeding those facing the Apollo astronauts in terms of time, equipment and threatening environment. One problem is that access to Mars/Earth windows of travel are one to three years apart, not almost daily as for Apollo. When accessible, the round trip travel time for a chemical powered spacecraft is about 990 days, including a 480 day surface stay, whereas for the nuclear powered spacecraft assumed here only 370 days, including a 41 day surface stay. The former could very well doom the human crew because of the space radiation dose absorbed during the transits. Fast transit enabled by nuclear propulsion and radiation are thus strongly connected. Earth departure and arrival is not the surface of the Earth, but via rendezvous in low Earth orbit with an ISS. Before astronauts depart for the Martian surface there should be a one or morecargo craft that precedes the astronauts with life support materials to the surface as well as reconnaissance vehicles and scientific materials that are to remain on the surface. Ballistic entry into a randomly variable, unmeasured atmosphere results in imprecise landing points. For a single vehicle an uncertainty of tens of kilometers is not critical. For a human crew, with their transportation and survival resources lying kilometers from their landing site this is unacceptable, since long walks are not possible in current space suit concepts. An unmanned Mars orbiter cannot determine its precise location with respect to the planet. When the crewed spacecraft arrives it is vital that they establish the orbital parameters and their location with respect to geological features. Even then experience with the Soyuz capsule demonstrates how imprecise an Earth re-entry and landing location can be. Here we are recommending instead a modest L/D maneuvering cargo glider based on the Russian "Kliper" concept to assure landing within a hundred meters of each spacecraft. The crewed glider is based on the high L/D, inherently stable USAF FDL-7C/D derived glider. An exploration vehicle powered by in situ manufactured CO2 and silane can explore the Martian surface much faster and efficiently than with rovers or rocket-powered 'hoppers'. © 2011 by Claudio Bruno and Paul Czysz

α particle space distribution from fusion reactions in Boron irradiated by mono-energetic protons

This work presents results regarding the p + 11B → 3α + 8.7MeV aneutronic fusion reaction. We obtained such results by directing a 0.675 MeV proton beam from a Tandetron accelerator to a solid Boron sample, varying the incidence angle. Three different detectors were used to reveal the alpha particles emitted during the experiments. The evidence obtained leads us to propose an innovative scheme to investigate the yield of the aneutronic reaction when the proton beam is directed against a 11B laser induced plasma

α particle space distribution from fusion reactions in Boron irradiated by mono-energetic protons

This work presents results regarding the p + 11B → 3α + 8.7MeV aneutronic fusion reaction. We obtained such results by directing a 0.675 MeV proton beam from a Tandetron accelerator to a solid Boron sample, varying the incidence angle. Three different detectors were used to reveal the alpha particles emitted during the experiments. The evidence obtained leads us to propose an innovative scheme to investigate the yield of the aneutronic reaction when the proton beam is directed against a 11B laser induced plasma

A Retrospective Study of Cemiplimab Effectiveness in Elderly Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Insights from a Real-Life Scenario

Abstract Introduction This retrospective study investigates the efficacy of cemiplimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the PD-1 receptor, in treating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Methods The study analyzes data from 50 patients with SCC, focusing on various clinical parameters, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment history, disease status at the beginning of therapy, and survival outcomes. Results Of the patients who received at least one cycle of cemiplimab, 42% showed a clinical response. Adverse reactions were generally low, with the safety profile deemed excellent. During a median follow-up of 9.6 months, 17 patients experienced progression or death. Among these, 15 patients had died at the time of the analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire cohort was approximately 20.8 months, while median overall survival (OS) was not reached. Univariate Cox regression analysis for PFS showed that tumors in the arms and legs were associated with higher progression risk, while age above 65 years was not statistically significant. Distant metastasis exhibited a trend towards improved PFS. In terms of OS, distant metastasis was a significant predictor of reduced survival, while age above 65 years was not statistically significant. In a multivariate model, only the absence of distant metastasis remained significant, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 12.3 (95% confidence interval 1.3–112.1). Conclusion These findings provide valuable insights into the real-world effectiveness of cemiplimab in SCC management

Mechanism of adenosine-induced airways obstruction in allergic guinea pigs

1. Inhaled adenosine induces airway obstruction in asthmatic but not healthy subjects, a phenomenon that is also observed in various animal species when they are immunised to a relevant antigen, but which does not occur in naïve animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of airway responsiveness to adenosine receptor agonists in anaesthetised allergic guinea pigs. 2. Inhaled adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP), the A(1)-selective adenosine receptor agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) and ovalbumin all caused airway obstruction in allergic guinea pigs, but not naïve animals, as assessed by changes in total lung resistance. In contrast, the A(2a)-selective (CGS 21680; 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5′-N-ethylcarboxoamido adenosine) and A(3)-selective (IB-MECA; 1-deoxy-1-[6-[[3-iodophenyl)-methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-N-methyl-β-D-ribofuranuronamide) adenosine receptor agonists failed to elicit airway obstruction in passively sensitised guinea pigs. 3. Airway obstruction induced by AMP or CPA was not inhibited by the H(1) receptor antagonist, mepyramine (1 mg kg(−1)) in passively sensitised guinea-pigs. In contrast, airway obstruction to ovalbumin was significantly inhibited by this antagonist. 4. Airway obstruction induced by AMP and CPA was significantly inhibited in sensitised animals chronically treated with capsaicin. In contrast, airway obstruction to ovalbumin was not inhibited by this treatment. 5. Airway obstruction induced by AMP, CPA and ovalbumin was significantly inhibited following bilateral vagotomy or pharmacological treatment with atropine (2 mg kg(−1)). 6. Airway obstruction to CPA was inhibited by the adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX: 0.1–1 mg kg(−1)). In contrast, airway obstruction to ovalbumin was not inhibited by this treatment. 7. These observations provide evidence indicating that AMP and CPA may induce airway obstruction in sensitised guinea pigs by a mechanism unrelated to histamine release from mast cells, but is mediated via an adenosine A(1)-receptor-dependent mechanism. The inhibition of AMP- and CPA-induced airway obstruction by atropine, capsaicin and bilateral vagotomy suggests a neuronal-dependent mechanism with the particular involvement of capsaicin-sensitive nerves