97 research outputs found
Supporting data for the MS identification of distinct transferrin glycopeptide glycoforms and citrullinated peptides associated with inflammation or autoimmunity
This data article presents the results of all the statistical analyses applied to the relative intensities of the detected 2D-DiGE protein spots for each of the 3 performed DiGE experiments. The data reveals specific subsets of protein spots with significant differences between WT and CD38-deficient mice with either Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), or with chronic inflammation induced by CFA, or under steady-state conditions. This article also shows the MS data analyses that allowed the identification of the protein species which serve to discriminate the different experimental groups used in this study. Moreover, the article presents MS data on the citrullinated peptides linked to specific protein species that were generated in CIA(+) or CFA-treated mice. Lastly, this data article provides MS data on the efficiency of the analyses of the transferrin (Tf) glycopeptide glycosylation pattern in spleen and serum from CIA(+) mice and normal controls. The data supplied in this work is related to the research article entitled "identification of multiple transferrin species in spleen and serum from mice with collagen-induced arthritis which may reflect changes in transferrin glycosylation associated with disease activity: the role of CD38" [1]. All mass spectrometry data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with identifiers PRIDE: PXD002644, PRIDE: PXD002643, PRIDE: PXD003183 and PRIDE: PXD003163
GIADA microbalance measurements on board Rosetta: submicrometer- to micrometer-sized dust particle flux in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Context. From August 2014 to September 2016, Rosetta escorted comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) during its journey around the Sun. One of the aims of Rosetta was to characterize cometary activity and the consequent formation of dust flux structures in cometary comae. Aims: We characterize and quantify the submicrometer- to micrometer-sized dust flux that may be shaped in privileged directions within the coma of 67P inbound to and outbound from perihelion. Methods: The in situ dust-measuring instrument GIADA, part of the Rosetta/ESA payload, consisted of three subsystems, one of which was the Micro Balance Subsystem (MBS), composed of five quartz crystal microbalances. From May 2014 to September 2016, MBS measured the submicrometer- to micrometer-sized deposited dust mass every 5 min. Results: We characterized the submicrometer- to micrometer-sized dust mass flux in the coma of 67P. The anti-sunward and the radial direction are preferred, and the flux is higher in the anti-sunward direction. The measured cumulative dust mass in the anti-sunward direction is 2.38 ± 0.04 × 10-7 kg, and in the radial direction, it is 1.18 ± 0.02 × 10-7 kg. We explain the anti-sunward dust flux as the effect of nonuniform gas emission between the night- and dayside of the nucleus, which acts in combination with the solar radiation pressure. We compared the cumulated dust mass of particles ≤5 μm with particles ≥100 μm. The retrieved ratio of ≈2% implies a differential size distribution index of ≈-3.0, which confirms that particles of size ≥0.1 mm dominate the dust coma cross-section of 67P during the entire orbit. Conclusions: Submicrometer- to micrometer-sized dust mass flux measurements were made for the first time from the arising of cometary activity until its extinction. They indicate that these particles do not provide a substantial optical scattering in the coma of 67P with respect to the scattering caused by millimeter-sized particles. In addition, MBS data reveal that the measured dust flux is highly anisotropic: anti-sunward plus radial
Joint Europa Mission (JEM): a multi-scale study of Europa to characterize its habitability and search for extant life
Europa is the closest and probably the most promising target to search for extant life in the Solar System, based on complementary evidence that it may fulfil the key criteria for habitability: the Galileo discovery of a sub-surface ocean; the many indications that the ice shell is active and may be partly permeable to transfer of chemical species, biomolecules and elementary forms of life; the identification of candidate thermal and chemical energy sources necessary to drive a metabolic activity near the ocean floor. In this article we are proposing that ESA collaborates with NASA to design and fly jointly an ambitious and exciting planetary mission, which we call the Joint Europa Mission (JEM), to reach two objectives: perform a full characterization of Europa's habitability with the capabilities of a Europa orbiter, and search for bio-signatures in the environment of Europa (surface, subsurface and exosphere) by the combination of an orbiter and a lander. JEM can build on the advanced understanding of this system which the missions preceding JEM will provide: Juno, JUICE and Europa Clipper, and on the Europa lander concept currently designed by NASA (Maize, report to OPAG, 2019). We propose the following overarching goals for our Joint Europa Mission (JEM): Understand Europa as a complex system responding to Jupiter system forcing, characterize the habitability of its potential biosphere, and search for life at its surface and in its sub-surface and exosphere. We address these goals by a combination of five Priority Scientific Objectives, each with focused measurement objectives providing detailed constraints on the science payloads and on the platforms used by the mission. The JEM observation strategy will combine three types of scientific measurement sequences: measurements on a high-latitude, low-altitude Europan orbit; in-situ measurements to be performed at the surface, using a soft lander; and measurements during the final descent to Europa's surface. The implementation of these three observation sequences will rest on the combination of two science platforms: a soft lander to perform all scientific measurements at the surface and sub-surface at a selected landing site, and an orbiter to perform the orbital survey and descent sequences. We describe a science payload for the lander and orbiter that will meet our science objectives. We propose an innovative distribution of roles for NASA and ESA; while NASA would provide an SLS launcher, the lander stack and most of the mission operations, ESA would provide the carrier-orbiter-relay platform and a stand-alone astrobiology module for the characterization of life at Europa's surface: the Astrobiology Wet Laboratory (AWL). Following this approach, JEM will be a major exciting joint venture to the outer Solar System of NASA and ESA, working together toward one of the most exciting scientific endeavours of the 21st century: to search for life beyond our own planet
DISC - the dust impact sensor and counter on-board Comet Interceptor: Characterization of the dust coma of a dynamically new comet
The Comet Interceptor space mission, selected by ESA in June 2019 as the first F-Class mission, will study a dynamically new comet or an interstellar object by a unique multi-point 'snapshot' measurement. The mission design will allow to complement previous single spacecraft's fly-by cometary observations. The Dust Impact Sensor and Counter (DISC), devoted to the dust coma characterization, is part of the payload selected for Comet Interceptor. It will be mounted on-board two of the three spacecraft, as part of the Dust-Fields -Plasma (DFP) suite, dedicated to understand further: 1) dust in the coma; 2) magnetic field; 3) plasma and energetic neutral atoms. DISC architecture originates from the Impact Sensor subsystems, part of the Grain Impact Analyzer and Dust Accumulator (GIADA) that successfully flew on-board the ESA/Rosetta spacecraft. DISC main scientific objectives are: 1) to define the dust mass distribution for particles in the mass range 10-15 -10-8 kg ejected from the cometary nucleus; 2) to count dust particles with mass > 10-15 kg; 3) to constrain dust particle density/structure. In this paper, we describe DISC design, aims, methods, feasibility and performances evaluations, carried out by real and simulated dust impacts and by retrieving the number of particles, and their corresponding momentum, using the Comet Interceptor's Engineering Dust Coma Model
ANALOGUE SAMPLES IN AN EUROPEAN SAMPLE CURATION FACILITY - THE EURO-CARES PROJECT.
The objective of the H2020-funded EURO-CARES project (grant agreement n° 640190) was
to create a roadmap for the implementation of a European Extraterrestrial Sample Curation
Facility (ESCF) that would be suitable for the curation of samples from all possible return
missions likely over the next few decades, i.e. from the Moon, asteroids and Mars.
The return of extraterrestrial samples brought to Earth will require specific storage conditions
and handling procedures, in particular for those coming from Mars. For practical reasons
and sterility concerns it might be necessary for such a facility to have its own collection of
analogue samples permitting the testing of storage conditions, and to develop protocols for
sample prepartion and analyses. Within the framework of the EURO-CARES project, we havecreated a list of the different types of samples that would be relevant for such a curation facility.
The facility will be used for receiving and opening of the returned sample canisters, as well as for
handling and preparation of the returned samples. Furthermore, it will provide some analysis
of the returned samples, i.e. early sample characterisation, and is expected to provide longterm storage of the returned samples. Each of these basic functions requires special equipment.
Equipment, handling protocols and long-term storage conditions will strongly depend on the
characteristics of the materials, and on whether returned samples are from the Moon, Mars or
an asteroidal body. Therefore the different types and aspects of analogue samples one need to
be considered, i.e. the nature of the materials, which analogues are needed for what purpose,
what mass is needed, and how should the analogue samples be stored within the facility.
We distinguished five different types of anologue samples: analogue (s.s.), witness plate, voucher
specimen, reference sample, and standard. Analogues are materials that have one or more physical or chemical properties similar to Earth-returned extraterrestrial samples. Reference samples
are well-characterised materials with known physical and chemical properties used for testing.
They may not necessarily be the same materials as the analogues defined above. Standards are
internationally recognised, homogeneous materials with known physical and chemical properties
that are used for calibration. They can also be used as reference samples in certain circumstances. They may be made of natural materials but are often produced artificially. A voucher
specimen is a duplicate of materials used at any stage during sample acquisition, storage, transport, treatment etc., e.g. spacecraft materials (including solar panels), lubricants, glues, gloves,
saws, drills, and others. In addition, Earth landing site samples (from the touch down site)
would be necessary in case of doubtful analysis, even if normally this type of contamination
is not expected. Finally, a witness plate is defined as material left in an area where work is
being done to detect any biological, particulate, chemical, and/or organic contamination. It is
a spatial and temporal document of what happens in the work area.
Analogue materials could be solids (including ices), liquids or gases. These could contain
biological (extant and/or exinct) and/or organic components. They could be natural materials,
e.g. rocks or minerals, or could be manufactured, such as mixtures of different components,
which may be biologically and/or organically doped. Analogues with appropriate sample size
and nature will be well-suited for testing and training of sample handling procedures, and
for transport protocols. The training of science and curation teams also requires reference
samples and standards. Long-term storage needs special witness plates and voucher specimes.
Developing and testing sample preparation protocols needs all sample types
Diurnal variation of dust and gas production in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at the inbound equinox as seen by OSIRIS and VIRTIS-M on board Rosetta
International audienceOn 27 April 2015, when comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was at 1.76 au from the Sun and moving toward perihelion, the OSIRIS and VIRTIS-M instruments on board the Rosetta spacecraft simultaneously observed the evolving dust and gas coma during a complete rotation of the comet.We aim to characterize the spatial distribution of dust, H2O, and CO2 gas in the inner coma. To do this, we performed a quantitative analysis of the release of dust and gas and compared the observed H2O production rate with the rate we calculated using a thermophysical model.For this study we selected OSIRIS WAC images at 612 nm (dust) and VIRTIS-M image cubes at 612 nm, 2700 nm (H2O emission band), and 4200 nm (CO2 emission band). We measured the average signal in a circular annulus to study the spatial variation around the comet, and in a sector of the annulus to study temporal variation in the sunward direction with comet rotation, both at a fixed distance of 3.1 km from the comet center.The spatial correlation between dust and water, both coming from the sunlit side of the comet, shows that water is the main driver of dust activity in this time period. The spatial distribution of CO2 is not correlated with water and dust. There is no strong temporal correlation between the dust brightness and water production rate as the comet rotates. The dust brightness shows a peak at 0° subsolar longitude, which is not pronounced in the water production. At the same epoch, there is also a maximum in CO2 production. An excess of measured water production with respect to the value calculated using a simple thermophysical model is observed when the head lobe and regions of the southern hemisphere with strong seasonal variations are illuminated (subsolar longitude 270°–50°). A drastic decrease in dust production when the water production (both measured and from the model) displays a maximum occurs when typical northern consolidated regions are illuminated and the southern hemisphere regions with strong seasonal variations are instead in shadow (subsolar longitude 50°–90°). Possible explanations of these observations are presented and discussed
Composition and mineralogy of dark material deposits on Vesta
Differences in spectral albedo of the asteroid 4 Vesta were already observed by the Hubble multispectral images [1,2,3]. However, unusual regions of very low albedo on Vesta’s surface were first discovered by the Dawn Mission [4]. These “Dark Material Deposits” (DMD) are non-randomly distributed onto the surface and often are associated with geological/morphological features [5,6]
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