An Overview of STS-132 MRM1 Cargo Element Thermal Model Development and Analyses

STS-132 was launched in May 2010 and delivered the Russian Mini Research Module 1 (MRM1) cargo element to the International Space Station as part of the ULF-4 assembly flight. The cargo element consisted of the module outfitted with externally mounted Multi-purpose Laboratory Module (MLM) Airlock, MLM radiator, Portable Work Platform (PWP), and a European Robotic Arm (ERA) spare elbow. Prior to every Shuttle flight, hardware developers are required to determine compatibility of their hardware to thermal environments experienced during the Shuttle mission and once the element is integrated with the ISS. Thermal models are provided to the Shuttle program to determine the impact of the payload on the Orbiter hardware, as well as the ISS program to determine impacts on other ISS payloads in the Orbiter. Historically the Russian International Partner (IP) develops models in formats not compatible with software used by Space Shuttle or ISS programs. This prompted NASA and Lockheed Martin to develop a unique set of thermal models for the MRM1 cargo element. Subsequent ULF-4 mission analyses performed with the models assessed the launch to activation response, identified operational criteria documented in flight rules, and ensured compliance with the mission timeline and no hazards to the crew, orbiter, or ISS. This presentation provides an overview of the work performed, depicts unique approaches in model development, discusses lessons learned, and issue resolution approaches. Though development and analysis efforts spanned over four years and presented various integration challenges it provided an example of successful collaboration with our International Partners

Estudio geológico - económico de las canteras graníticas del partido de Azul, pcia. de Bs. As.

El presente trabajo se efectuó con el propósito de informar sobre aspectos petrológicos, estructurales, geotécnicos y geológico económicos de las canteras de granito del Partido de Azul, Provincia de Buenos Aires. Este estudio, solicitado por la Municipalidad del Partido de Azul a la Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, fue realizado bajo la dirección del Dr. Isidoro B. Schalamuk, por los Licenciados Miguel A., Del Blanco y Fernando E. Piantanida y el estudiante Claudio Falconaro. Durante su desarrollo se contó con el importante apoyo de: la Dirección de Geología, Minería y Aguas Subterráneas; la Dirección de Vialidad de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Municipalidad del Partido de Azul y de las Empresas Vicente Robles S.A., Marengo S.A., y Novobra S.R.L., propietarias de las canteras "El Peregrino","Azul" y "Novobra" respectivamente.Digitalizado en SEDICI-CIC Digita

External Corrosion of the bottom plate of Petroleum and Derivative Storage tanks on Compacted Soils

Inspections carried out on petroleum and derivative storage tanks on compacted soils have shown external corrosion on the bottom plates of the tanks despite cathodic protection by an impressed current. The holes or cavities in the outer plates of the bottom of the tank (in contact with the soil) result in oil leakage, thereby having significant environmental impacts. The objective of this paper is to show, in laboratory experiments, that cathodic protection is not reliable when there are voids or spaces between the plates and the soil. In addition, it proposes the application of a thermal spray with aluminium in the parts of the bottom plates that are in contact with the soil to protect these plates from localised corrosion. It is important to note that the welding temperature was 320°C, without affecting the aluminium coating applied by the thermal spray

Emplacement of the Lavadores granite (NW Portugal): U/Pb and AMS results

Studies of Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and U-Pb geochronology, in zircon fractions, were carried out in a magnetite type-granite, the Lavadores granite, which is an example of a late to post-orogenic Variscan granite in northern Portugal (NW Iberian Peninsula). The U-Pb zircon analyses yield an age of 298 +/- 11 Ma that is considered to be the emplacement age of this granite and thus suggesting a post-tectonic emplacement. This is also supported by the magmatic nature of the microstructures. Magnetic lineations are subvertical and magnetic foliations display a general WNW-ESE subvertical pattern consistent with a dextral kinematic. These AMS data suggest that the emplacement of the Lavadores granite was controlled by a major mechanical anisotropy formed by transtensional structures associated with the Porto-Tomar shear zone

Parametric and machine learning-based analysis of the seismic vulnerability of adobe historical buildings damaged after the September 2017 Mexico earthquakes

In September 2017, two strong earthquakes hit the central region of Mexico, producing substantial damage to the historical buildings. A retroactive analysis for assessing the pre-event seismic vulnerability of these constructions allowed for testing the suitability of an existing parameter-based approach based on material and geometrical features. More than 160 adobe buildings in four municipalities of the State of Morelos were surveyed and included in a vulnerability-oriented GIS database. Data were collected on-site and managed by resorting to open-source GIS software combined with a Python-based database management tool and a cloud-based platform for onsite data collection using mobile devices. The parameter-based approach was used for assessing the analytical seismic vulnerability of the buildings and implementing a secondary, more conservative assessment that considers uncertainties associated with the data acquisition process. The capabilities of the database were further used to train a Machine Learning algorithm aimed at overcoming some representativeness limitations of the parameter-based analytical method. This third approach was found to be suitable for assessing the vulnerability of the building typologies addressed in this investigation. Although the implementation discussed in this paper is limited to a specific vernacular typology, it can be used to conduct customized local calibrations.- This work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R & D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020. This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through grant number PD/BD/150385/2019. The field campaigns in the State of Morelos were financed by the Instituto de Ingenieria - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Institute of Engineering - National Autonomous University of Mexico) through the project R562

First results in the development of a genetic marker based on the storage proteins in two species of the Nothofagus genus

The Nothofagus genus (Nothofagaceae) in Chile includes 12 species and some hybrids among them. Some of these species are seriously threatened, presenting a low distribution and high genetic erosion. In this study a molecular marker based on seed storage proteins Nothofagus sp. was developed. Seed samples of Nothofagus alessandrii and N. glauca from two locations in southern Chile were analysed for each species. Among the different fractions of seed proteins (albumins, globulins, prolamins and glutelins) analyzed, the glutelins showed the best results, presenting conspicuous bands. Up to 39 bands were detected in both species; 22 in N. alessandrii (including 14 polymorphic) and 26 in N. glauca (21 polymorphic), with seven of them common to both species. There was a clear difference between the protein profiles of both species; we detected a preliminary value of genetic diversity in N. glauca greater than in N. alessandrii. These results, although preliminary, suggest that this marker could be useful for assessing genetic diversity in the Nothofagus genus.El género Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) comprende 12 especies y algunos híbridos entre las mismas. Algunas de estas especies se encuentran seriamente amenazadas, presentando una distribución reducida y una gran erosión genética. En este estudio fue desarrollado un marcador molecular basado en las proteínas de reserva de la semilla de especies del género Nothofagus. Para ello se tomaron muestras de semilla de dos especies del género, N. alessandrii y N. glauca. De las diferentes fracciones de proteínas de la semilla (albúminas, globulinas, prolaminas y glutelinas), las glutelinas mostraron los mejores resultados al presentar bandas más conspicuas. Hasta 39 bandas fueron detectadas entre las dos especies, 22 en N. alessandrii (14 de ellas polimórficas) y 26 en N. glauca (21 polimórficas), siendo siete de ellas comunes a ambas especies. Se encontró una clara diferencia entre los perfiles proteicos de ambas especies, detectándose mayor diversidad genética en N. glauca que en N. alessandrii. Aunque estos resultados son preliminares, sugieren que este marcador podría ser útil para la evaluación de la diversidad genética en especies del género Nothofagus

Characterization and identification of field ectomycorrhizae of Boletus edulis and Cistus ladanifer

Field ectomycorrhizae sampled under Boletus edulis and Cistus ladanifer have been characterized and described in detail based on standard morphological and anatomical characters. The described ectomycorrhiza has traits typical of Boletales: whitish with three differentiated plectenchymatous layers in the mantle in plan view forming ring-like structures and rhizomorphs with highly differentiated hyphae. The inflated, smooth cystidia-like clavate end cells on the surface of the rhizomorphs and their slightly twisted external hyphae are additional characterizing features. The Hartig net occupies 1 1/2 rows of cortical cells, partly reaching the endodermis. Not all hyphae have clamps. The identification of the fungal symbiont as B. edulis was confirmed by ITS rDNA sequence comparison between mycorrhizas and sporocarps. The singularity of this symbiotic association, as well as its ecological and practical implications, are discussed