Improving Spacecraft Operations by Leveraging World Wide Web Technologies

The last decade saw an Internet revolution that left few businesses untouched. In many companies that previously didn't think themselves as part of the IT industry, email and intranet are now a part of daily work. Spacecraft operations traditionally are a computer and network oriented trade. However more often than not the new technologies are slow take hold in the operation centres. Traditional concerns about security and safety didn't allow crossing the barrier between data on paper and the operational world, between offices and control rooms freely. At the German Space Operations Centre a project was undertaken to introduce a growing system of intranet services that started by assisting the mission preparation and is now strongly interweaved with actual day-to-day operations. After successfully supporting nine missions we present a variety of tools and applications made possible by using intranet technologies. It is pointed out how to manage content, observe security aspects, and make the system efficient and reliable. Finally the effect on people is shown

Arginine Vasotocin and Cortisol Co-regulate Vasotocinergic, Isotocinergic, Stress, and Thyroid Pathways in the Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

In teleosts, a complex interaction between several endocrine axes modulates physiological functions related to metabolism, stress, and osmoregulation. Although many studies in fish underline the interconnection between the hypothalamic– pituitary–interrenal (HPI) and hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) endocrine axes, their relationship with the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems remains unknown. The aim of the present study is therefore to shed light on the potential cross-regulations between HPT, HPI, and the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic axes in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) at hypothalamic, hypophyseal, and plasma levels. Sea breams were administered with intraperitoneal slow-release implants containing different doses of vasotocin (the active peptide in vasotocinergic system) or cortisol (the last component of HPI axis). Plasma osmolality was higher in active neuropeptides vasotocin (Avt)- treated fish, indicating an osmoregulatory function of this hormone. Low concentrations of Avt increased hypothalamic arginine vasotocin precursor (avt) mRNA levels and increased Avt storage in the pituitary. Avt treatment down-regulated hypothalamic arginine vasotocin receptor v1a-type (avtrv1a), suggesting a negative paracrine coregulation of the HPI axis due to the close location of avtrv1a and adrenocorticotropin hormone (Acth) cells in the anterior pituitary. Furthermore, the up-regulation observed in arginine vasotocin receptor v2-type (avtrv2) suggests their involvement in metabolic and cortisol-related pathways in the hypothalamus. The decrease in isotocin (It) pituitary storage and the up-regulation of it receptor, observed in the Avt-treated group, reinforce the idea of an interconnection between the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems. Cortisol and Avt administration each inhibited the HPI axis, down-regulating crh gene expression in the absence of variations in corticotropin releasing hormone binding protein (crhbp). Finally, both hormonal treatments activated the HPT axis via upregulation of trh and down-regulation of thrb. Our results provide evidence for strong interactions among the Avt/It, HPI, and HPT axes of marine teleosts, particularly at the hypothalamic level

Transport and Recovery of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.) Sedated With Clove Oil and MS-222: Effects on Stress Axis Regulation and Intermediary Metabolism

Transport processes between aquaculture facilities activate the stress response in fish. To deal with these situations, the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis releases cortisol, leading to an increase in circulating energy resources to restore homeostasis. However, if the allostatic load generated exceeds fish tolerance limits, stress-related responses will compromise health and welfare of the animals. In this context, anesthetics have arisen as potential agents aiming to reduce negative effects of stress response. Here we assessed the effects of a sedative dose of clove oil (CO) and MS-222 on hallmarks involved in HPI axis regulation and energy management after simulated transport, and further recovery, in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) juveniles. Fish were placed in a mobile setup of water tanks where transport conditions were simulated for 6 h. Sedation doses of either CO (2.5 mg L−1) or MS-222 (5 mg L−1) were added in the water tanks. A control group without anesthetics was also included in the setup. Half of the animals (n = 12 per group) were sampled immediately after transport, while remaining animals were allowed to recover for 18 h in clean water tanks and then sampled. Our results showed that the HPI axis response was modified at peripheral level, with differences depending on the anesthetic employed. Head kidney gene-expressions related to cortisol production (star and cyp11b1) matched concomitantly with increased plasma cortisol levels immediately after transport in CO-sedated fish, but these levels remained constant in MS-222-sedated fish. Differential changes in the energy management of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids, depending on the anesthetic employed, were also observed. The use of CO stimulated amino acids catabolism, while MS-222-sedated fish tended to consume liver glycogen and mobilize triglycerides. Further studies, including alternative doses of both anestethics, as well as the assessment of time-course HPI activation and longer recovery periods, are necessary to better understand if the use of clove oil and MS-222 is beneficial for S. aurata under these circumstances

Sioux City-Woodbury County Alcohol Safety Action Project. 1975 household survey.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.Alcohol Safety Action Project--Sioux City, IowaMode of access: Internet.Author corporate affiliation: Morningside College, Social Science Research Center, Sioux City, IowaSubject code: PDFESubject code: SBEGSubject code: WTDSubject code: YCDHSubject code: YC

A nitrogen factor for European pike-perch (Sander lucioperca), northern pike (Esox lucius), and sheatfish (Silurus glanis) fillets

Measures for consumer protection against food adulteration and misleading labeling are integrated into EU legislation, including methods for detection of misleading practices. Verification of meat content is available for marine products but not for freshwater fish because of the lack of standard nitrogen factors. The aim of this study was to establish nitrogen factors for European pike-perch Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758), northern pike Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758, and sheatfish Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758. The study involved analysis of 808 fillet samples obtained in spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November) harvest seasons, 2018–2019, from seven Czech Republic fish rearing facilities. Samples with and without skin were analyzed for nitrogen content, dry matter, protein, ash, and fat according to established ISO methods. The recommended nitrogen factor for European pike-perch with the skin is 3.28 ± 0.09 and without the skin is 3.21 ± 0.09; for northern pike with the skin is 3.18 ± 0.09 and without skin is 3.15 ± 0.09; and for sheatfish with skin is 2.73 ± 0.13 and without skin is 2.75 ± 0.12. The established nitrogen factors will enable analysis of meat content to ensure that consumers are purchasing correctly described and labeled fish products

Newborn pig skin as model membrane in in vitro drug permeation studies: A technical note

The suitability of newborn pig skin as an alternative to human epidermis in in vitro permeation studies was investigated. A set of 7 benzoxazinones was used to perform in vitro experiments by using a modified Franz diffusion cell and excised newborn pig skin as a membrane. The maximum flux through newborn pig skin (Jmax,p) was compared with the maximum flux through excised human epidermis (Jmax,h), available from the literature, by means of the factor of difference value FoD=Jmax,p/Jmax,h. The FoD values ranged from 0.48 to 1.91, indicating thatJmax,p andJmax,h were in the same order of magnitude