Impact vaporization and Condensation: Laser Irradiation Experiments with Natural Planetary Materials

0000-0002-4414-4917The attached files are the published version of the article from the 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083), and the open access abstract (Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 20, EGU2018-16223, 2018, EGU General Assembly 2018, © Author(s) 2018. CC Attribution 4.0 license.

MMX samples curation in Europe

In 2024 the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission from JAXA will be launched to the Martian Moons Phobos and Deimos to investigate their nature and improve our understanding of their formation. In 2029 samples from Phobos will be returned back to Earth as MMX is the latest JAXA’s sample return mission. Samples returned to Earth by the MMX mission will be retrieved by JAXA and transferred to the JAXA ISAS Sample receiving laboratory for initial description, followed by initial proprietary analyses performed by the MMX Science Sub-Teams (SSTs), which will include a number of ESA-appointed MMX participating scientists from ESA Member States. The duration of these activities is determined by the MMX Sample Allocation Committee (SAC), and it is estimated to last approximately one year. It is planned that JAXA will thereafter transfer an allocation of samples to ESA for use by scientists and laboratories in the ESA Member States. Sample Curation Facilities (hereafter SCFs) at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and at the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) will host and handle the MMX Samples provided to the ESA Science Program. After transfer to the SCFs the samples will be catalogued (if not done by JAXA) in preparation for an ESA Announcements of Opportunity (AOs) to allocate the Samples to scientists and laboratories in the ESA Member States. In preparation to this major effort, we are working on the setup of an analytical and curation facility in Berlin, in cooperation between the DLR and the Museum für Naturkunde (MfN). Within the analytical facility it will be possible to carry out the basic characterization of the samples in controlled environmental conditions, for then being able to move on to more specialized facilities for more in depth examination. The curatorial expertise is being developed on the existing expertise from the Meteorite Collection based at the MfN and in collaboration with the JAXA curation facilities. Current curators, together with the younger generation are being trained and working on skillset exchange

BOSC 2019, the 20th annual Bioinformatics Open Source Conference.

The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference is a volunteer-organized meeting that covers open source software development and open science in bioinformatics. Launched in 2000, BOSC has been held every year since. BOSC 2019, the 20th annual BOSC, took place as one of the Communities of Special Interest (COSIs) at the Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology meeting (ISMB/ECCB 2019). The two-day meeting included a total of 46 talks and 55 posters, as well as eight Birds of a Feather interest groups. The keynote speaker was University of Cape Town professor Dr. Nicola Mulder, who spoke on "Building infrastructure for responsible open science in Africa". Immediately after BOSC 2019, about 50 people participated in the two-day CollaborationFest (CoFest for short), an open and free community-driven event at which participants work together to contribute to bioinformatics software, documentation, training materials, and use cases

Morphological effects on IR band profiles: Experimental spectroscopic analysis with application to observed spectra of oxygen-rich AGB stars

To trace the source of the unique 13, 19.5, and 28 $\mu$m emission features in the spectra of oxygen-rich circumstellar shells around AGB stars, we have compared dust extinction spectra obtained by aerosol measurements. We have measured the extinction spectra for 19 oxide powder samples of eight different types, such as Ti-compounds (TiO, TiO$_2$, Ti$_2$O$_3$, Ti$_3$O$_5$, Al$_2$TiO$_5$, CaTiO$_3$), $\alpha$-, $\gamma$-, $\chi$-$\delta$-$\kappa$-Al$_2$O$_3$, and MgAl$_2$O$_4$ in the infrared region (10 - 50 $\mu$m) paying special attention to the morphological (size, shape, and agglomeration) effects and the differences in crystal structure. Anatase (TiO$_2$) particles with rounded edges are the possible 13, 19.5 and 28 $\mu$m band carriers as the main contributor in the spectra of AGB stars, and spherically shaped nano-sized spinel and Al$_2$TiO$_5$ dust grains are possibly associated with the anatase, enhancing the prominence of the 13 $\mu$m feature and providing additional features at 28 $\mu$m. The extinction data sets obtained by the aerosol and CsI pellet measurements have been made available for public use at http://elbe.astro.uni-jena.deComment: 17 pages, 8 figures, Accepted 24 March 2009 for publication in A&

The mineralogy and alteration history of the Yamato-type (CY) carbonaceous chondrites

The CY chondrites are a group of thermally metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites. Although they share similarities with the CM and CI chondrites, their primary properties argue for a distinct classification. Previous studies have highlighted their isotopically heavy bulk compositions (δ17O =10‰, δ18O=21‰, Δ17O =0‰) and exceptionally high sulphide abundances (10–30vol%). In this work we explore their petrography and alteration history. The CYs accreted low abundances of chondrules (15–20 area%) with average apparent diameters slightly larger (∼320–340µm) than the CM chondrites. In contrast to the CMs, the CYs record an early episode of brecciation prior to the main window of aqueous alteration. Subsequent fluid activity produced a range of alteration extents with both CY2 and CY1 chondrites documented. Phyllosilicate minerals in the CYs were a mix of serpentine and saponite (including occurrences of Na-saponite) with minor quantities of chlorite (within chondrules). An initial generation of Fe-sulphides formed by sulfidation of metal, and by precipitation from S-rich fluids. Three generations of carbonates are recognized, an early generation that infilled voids left by brecciation and co-precipitated with sulphide, a later generation that co-precipitated with magnetite and a final Fe-Mg-bearing generation which formed large (>100 µm) clasts. Only the first-generation carbonates are found in the CY2s, while the CY1s preserve all three generations. Phosphates occur as Ca-apatite or rarely as Mg-bearing apatite and have hydroxylapatite compositions, indicating low halogen activities in the alteration fluids. Refractory oxides (ilmenite and Cr-spinel) occur as precipitates adhering to the margins of phyllosilicates. They formed late in the alteration sequence and attest to oxidizing conditions. During the late-stages of aqueous alteration Fe-sulphides were replaced by magnetite. Thermal metamorphism (Stage II-IV: ∼300–750 °C) overprinted aqueous alteration leading to dehydration and recrystallization of the phyllosilicate matrix and the decomposition of some carbonate phases. Most Fe-sulphide grains survived heating without decomposition as initial partial decomposition from pyrrhotite to troilite under closed system conditions led to elevated ƒS2 gas and resulted in a stabilizing effect. Retrograde reactions between trapped S2 gas and metal/magnetite formed a final generation of Fe-sulphides. The survival of Fe-sulphides and their stochiometric troilite compositions are evidence for near-closed system heating. Analysis of organic matter by Raman spectroscopy supports an interpretation of short-duration heating (on the scale of minutes to days), at peak temperatures between 750 and 900°C. Thus, an impact event was the most likely cause of metamorphic heating

Spectral and Petrographic Properties of Inclusions in Carbonaceous Chondrites and Comparison with In Situ Images from Asteroid Ryugu

We imaged a set of carbonaceous chondrites from the CM2, CO3, CV3, and CK4 groups using the qualification model of MasCam, the camera on board the asteroid lander MASCOT, which touched down on asteroid Ryugu in 2018 October. A CI1 meteorite was also imaged but excluded from the analysis due to prominent terrestrial weathering. Following the methods used to image the rock on Ryugu, we placed a total of 14 meteorites approximately 20 cm in front of the camera to achieve a spatial resolution of about 0.2 mm per pixel and illuminated the samples with onboard light-emitting diodes of four different colors in the visible wavelength range. We mapped bright and dark inclusions within the meteorites and derived the inclusion brightness relative to the matrix in the red light, the relative spectral slope of each inclusion, the inclusion size frequency distribution and the matrix volume abundance. We find that the meteorite groups overlap within these parameters, but individual samples, as well as individual inclusions, can have deviating values. Terrestrial weathering appears to have no systematic influence on these parameters. Relating our analysis to the inclusions found in the rock on Ryugu, we find that the spectral parameters of Ryugu's inclusions fit well in the parameter space of the carbonaceous chondrites. Compared with the most common types of carbonaceous chondrites, Ryugu's rock has larger inclusions (mean diameter: 0.63 ± 0.91 mm) and a higher upper limit to the matrix abundance (92.4 vol%)

ECSA's Characteristics of Citizen Science: Explanation Notes

This explanation document provides an interpretation of and explanation for the characteristics document, which was kept short to make it useful to different stakeholders. In this document, the characteristics document is represented, with the original text in blue and an explanation in black

Research led by participants: a new social contract for a new kind of research

In recent years, there have been prominent calls for a new social contract that accords a more central role to citizens in health research. Typically, this has been understood as citizens and patients having a greater voice and role within the standard research enterprise. Beyond this, however, it is important that the renegotiated contract specifically addresses the oversight of a new, path-breaking approach to health research: participant-led research. In light of the momentum behind participant-led research and its potential to advance health knowledge by challenging and complementing traditional research, it is vital for all stakeholders to work together in securing the conditions that will enable it to flourish

Research led by participants: a new social contract for a new kind of research

In recent years, there have been prominent calls for a new social contract that accords a more central role to citizens in health research. Typically, this has been understood as citizens and patients having a greater voice and role within the standard research enterprise. Beyond this, however, it is important that the renegotiated contract specifically addresses the oversight of a new, path-breaking approach to health research: participant-led research. In light of the momentum behind participant-led research and its potential to advance health knowledge by challenging and complementing traditional research, it is vital for all stakeholders to work together in securing the conditions that will enable it to flourish

A multi-disciplinary perspective on emergent and future innovations in peer review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]

Peer review of research articles is a core part of our scholarly communication system. In spite of its importance, the status and purpose of peer review is often contested. What is its role in our modern digital research and communications infrastructure? Does it perform to the high standards with which it is generally regarded? Studies of peer review have shown that it is prone to bias and abuse in numerous dimensions, frequently unreliable, and can fail to detect even fraudulent research. With the advent of Web technologies, we are now witnessing a phase of innovation and experimentation in our approaches to peer review. These developments prompted us to examine emerging models of peer review from a range of disciplines and venues, and to ask how they might address some of the issues with our current systems of peer review. We examine the functionality of a range of social Web platforms, and compare these with the traits underlying a viable peer review system: quality control, quantified performance metrics as engagement incentives, and certification and reputation. Ideally, any new systems will demonstrate that they out-perform current models while avoiding as many of the biases of existing systems as possible. We conclude that there is considerable scope for new peer review initiatives to be developed, each with their own potential issues and advantages. We also propose a novel hybrid platform model that, at least partially, resolves many of the technical and social issues associated with peer review, and can potentially disrupt the entire scholarly communication system. Success for any such development relies on reaching a critical threshold of research community engagement with both the process and the platform, and therefore cannot be achieved without a significant change of incentives in research environments