National Space Transportation System (NSTS) technology needs

The National Space Transportation System (NSTS) is one of the Nation's most valuable resources, providing manned transportation to and from space in support of payloads and scientific research. The NSTS program is currently faced with the problem of hardware obsolescence, which could result in unacceptable schedule and cost impacts to the flight program. Obsolescence problems occur because certain components are no longer being manufactured or repair turnaround time is excessive. In order to achieve a long-term, reliable transportation system that can support manned access to space through 2010 and beyond, NASA must develop a strategic plan for a phased implementation of enhancements which will satisfy this long-term goal. The NSTS program has initiated the Assured Shuttle Availability (ASA) project with the following objectives: eliminate hardware obsolescence in critical areas, increase reliability and safety of the vehicle, decrease operational costs and turnaround time, and improve operational capability. The strategy for ASA will be to first meet the mandatory needs - keep the Shuttle flying. Non-mandatory changes that will improve operational capability and enhance performance will then be considered if funding is adequate. Upgrade packages should be developed to install within designated inspection periods, grouped in a systematic approach to reduce cost and schedule impacts, and allow the capability to provide a Block 2 Shuttle (Phase 3)

Antioxidants in white wine (cv. Riesling): I. Comparison of different testing methods for antioxidant activity

This paper provides a study on different testing methods for antioxidant activity. Four commonly used methods (LDL oxidation, TAS measurement, beta-carotene bleaching as well as a rapid screening test published by PRYOR et al. 1993) are compared on the basis of a set of model compounds. The differing results concerning the ranking order of the tested substances are discussed. Furthermore three methods which showed appropriate results were used in order to determine the antioxidant activity of Riesling wine fractions

Seasonal cycle and temperature dependence of pinene oxidation products, dicarboxylic acids and nitrophenols in fine and coarse air particulate matter

Filter samples of fine and coarse air particulate matter (PM) collected over a period of one year in central Europe (Mainz, Germany) were analyzed for water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs), including the α- and β-pinene oxidation products pinic acid, pinonic acid and 3-methyl-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid (3-MBTCA), as well as a variety of dicarboxylic acids and nitrophenols. Seasonal variations and other characteristic features in fine, coarse, and total PM (TSP) are discussed with regard to aerosol sources and sinks in comparison to data from other studies and regions. The ratios of adipic acid and phthalic acid to azelaic acid indicate that the investigated aerosol samples were mainly influenced by biogenic sources. A strong Arrhenius-type correlation was found between the 3-MBTCA concentration and inverse temperature (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.79, <i>n</i> = 52, <i>E</i><sub>a</sub> = 126 ± 10 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>, temperature range 275–300 K). Model calculations suggest that the temperature dependence observed for 3-MBTCA can be explained by enhanced photochemical production due to an increase of hydroxyl radical (OH) concentration with increasing temperature, whereas the influence of gas-particle partitioning appears to play a minor role. The results indicate that the OH-initiated oxidation of pinonic acid is the rate-limiting step in the formation of 3-MBTCA, and that 3-MBTCA may be a suitable tracer for the chemical aging of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) by OH radicals. An Arrhenius-type temperature dependence was also observed for the concentration of pinic acid (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.60, <i>n</i> = 56, <i>E</i><sub>a</sub> = 84 ± 9 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>); it can be tentatively explained by the temperature dependence of biogenic pinene emission as the rate-limiting step of pinic acid formation

Molecular Basis of Filtering Carbapenems by Porins from β-Lactam-resistant Clinical Strains of Escherichia coli

Integral membrane proteins known as porins are the major pathway by which hydrophilic antibiotics cross the outer mem- brane of Gram-negative bacteria. Single point mutations in porins can decrease the permeability of an antibiotic, either by reduction of channel size or modification of electrostatics in the channel, and thereby confer clinical resistance. Here, we inves- tigate four mutant OmpC proteins from four different clinical isolates of Escherichia coli obtained sequentially from a single patient during a course of antimicrobial chemotherapy. OmpC porin from the first isolate (OmpC20) undergoes three consec- utive and additive substitutions giving rise to OmpC26, OmpC28, and finally OmpC33. The permeability of two zwitte- rionic carbapenems, imipenem and meropenem, measured using liposome permeation assays and single channel electro- physiology differs significantly between OmpC20 and OmpC33. Molecular dynamic simulations show that the antibiotics must pass through the constriction zone of porins with a specific ori- entation, where the antibiotic dipole is aligned along the electric field inside the porin. We identify that changes in the vector of the electric field in the mutated porin, OmpC33, create an addi- tional barrier by “trapping” the antibiotic in an unfavorable ori- entation in the constriction zone that suffers steric hindrance for the reorientation needed for its onward translocation. Iden- tification and understanding the underlying molecular details of such a barrier to translocation will aid in the design of new anti- biotics with improved permeation properties in Gram-negative bacteria

Organic aerosol and global climate modelling: a review

The present paper reviews existing knowledge with regard to Organic Aerosol (OA) of importance for global climate modelling and defines critical gaps needed to reduce the involved uncertainties. All pieces required for the representation of OA in a global climate model are sketched out with special attention to Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA): The emission estimates of primary carbonaceous particles and SOA precursor gases are summarized. The up-to-date understanding of the chemical formation and transformation of condensable organic material is outlined. Knowledge on the hygroscopicity of OA and measurements of optical properties of the organic aerosol constituents are summarized. The mechanisms of interactions of OA with clouds and dry and wet removal processes parameterisations in global models are outlined. This information is synthesized to provide a continuous analysis of the flow from the emitted material to the atmosphere up to the point of the climate impact of the produced organic aerosol. The sources of uncertainties at each step of this process are highlighted as areas that require further studies

Negative electrostatic contribution to the bending rigidity of charged membranes and polyelectrolytes screened by multivalent counterions

Bending rigidity of a charged membrane or a charged polyelectrolyte screened by monovalent counterions is known to be enhanced by electrostatic effects. We show that in the case of screening by multivalent counterions the electrostatic effects reduce the bending rigidity. This inversion of the sign of the electrostatic contribution is related to the formation of two-dimensional strongly correlated liquids (SCL) of counterions at the charged surface due to strong lateral repulsion between them. When a membrane or a polyelectrolyte is bent, SCL is compressed on one side and stretched on the other so that thermodynamic properties of SCL contribute to the bending rigidity. Thermodynamic properties of SCL are similar to those of Wigner crystal and are anomalous in the sense that the pressure, compressibility and screening radius of SCL are negative. This brings about substantial negative correction to the bending rigidity. For the case of DNA this effect qualitatively agrees with experiment.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Charge-Fluctuation-Induced Non-analytic Bending Rigidity

In this Letter, we consider a neutral system of mobile positive and negative charges confined on the surface of curved films. This may be an appropriate model for: i) a highly charged membrane whose counterions are confined to a sheath near its surface; ii) a membrane composed of an equimolar mixture of anionic and cationic surfactants in aqueous solution. We find that the charge fluctuations contribute a non-analytic term to the bending rigidity that varies logarithmically with the radius of curvature. This may lead to spontaneous vesicle formation, which is indeed observed in similar systems.Comment: Revtex, 9 pages, no figures, submitted to PR

Porins and small-molecule translocation across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria

Gram-negative bacteria and their complex cell envelope, which comprises an outer membrane and an inner membrane, are an important and attractive system for studying the translocation of small molecules across biological membranes. In the outer membrane of Enterobacteriaceae, trimeric porins control the cellular uptake of small molecules, including nutrients and antibacterial agents. The relatively slow porin-mediated passive uptake across the outer membrane and active efflux via efflux pumps in the inner membrane creates a permeability barrier. The synergistic action of outer membrane permeability, efflux pump activities and enzymatic degradation efficiently reduces the intracellular concentrations of small molecules and contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and functional roles of general porins in small-molecule translocation in Enterobacteriaceae and consider the crucial contribution of porins in antibiotic resistance

A Statistical Study on the Morphology of Rays and Dynamics of Blobs in the Wake of Coronal Mass Ejections

In this paper, with a survey through the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) data from 1996 to 2009, we present 11 events with plasma blobs flowing outwards sequentially along a bright coronal ray in the wake of a coronal mass ejection. The ray is believed to be associated with the current sheet structure that formed as a result of solar eruption, and the blobs are products of magnetic reconnection occurring along the current sheet. The ray morphology and blob dynamics are investigated statistically. It is found that the apparent angular widths of the rays at a fixed time vary in a range of 2.1-6.6 (2.0-4.4) degrees with an average of 3.5 (2.9) degrees at 3 (4) Rs, respectively, and the observed durations of the events vary from 12 h to a few days with an average of 27 h. It is also found, based on the analysis of blob motions, that 58% (26) of the blobs were accelerated, 20% (9) were decelerated, and 22% (10) moved with a nearly-constant speed. Comparing the dynamics of our blobs and those that are observed above the tip of a helmet streamer, we find that the speeds and accelerations of the blobs in these two cases differ significantly. It is suggested that these differences of the blob dynamics stem from the associated magnetic reconnection involving different magnetic field configurations and triggering processes.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Solar Physic