Representative systems for space exploration

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: an overview of the synthesis report; specific architecture 4 implementations; and specific power systems/environment issues

Impact of new instrumentation on advanced turbine research

A description is presented of an orderly test program that progresses from the simplest stationary geometry to the more complex, three dimensional, rotating turbine stage. The instrumentation requirements for this evolution of testing are described. The heat transfer instrumentation is emphasized. Recent progress made in devising new measurement techniques has greatly improved the development and confirmation of more accurate analytical methods for the prediction of turbine performance and heat transfer. However, there remain challenging requirements for novel measurement techniques that could advance the future research to be done in rotating blade rows of turbomachines

Temporal evolution of multiple evaporating ribbon sources in a solar flare

We present new results from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph showing the dynamic evolution of chromospheric evaporation and condensation in a flare ribbon, with the highest temporal and spatial resolution to date. IRIS observed the entire impulsive phase of the X-class flare SOL2014-09-10T17:45 using a 9.4 second cadence `sit-and-stare' mode. As the ribbon brightened successively at new positions along the slit, a unique impulsive phase evolution was observed for many tens of individual pixels in both coronal and chromospheric lines. Each activation of a new footpoint displays the same initial coronal up-flows of up to ~300 km/s, and chromospheric downflows up to 40 km/s. Although the coronal flows can be delayed by over 1 minute with respect to those in the chromosphere, the temporal evolution of flows is strikingly similar between all pixels, and consistent with predictions from hydrodynamic flare models. Given the large sample of independent footpoints, we conclude that each flaring pixel can be considered a prototypical, `elementary' flare kernel.Comment: Accepted for publication - ApJ letter

Epidermal growth factor-mediated T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor transcriptional activity is essential but not sufficient for cell cycle progression in nontransformed mammary epithelial cells

Because beta-catenin target genes such as cyclin D1 are involved in cell cycle progression, we examined whether beta-catenin has a more pervasive role in normal cell proliferation, even upon stimulation by non-Wnt ligands. Here, we demonstrate that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) transcriptional activity in nontransformed mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and that its transcriptional activity is essential for EGF-mediated progression through G(1)/S phase. Thus, expression of dominant-negative Tcf4 blocks EGF-mediated Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity and bromodeoxyuridine uptake. In fact, the importance of EGF-mediated Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity for cell cycle progression may lie further upstream at the G(1)/S phase transition. We demonstrate that dominant-negative Tcf4 inhibits a reporter of cyclin D1 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, dominant-negative Tcf4 suppresses EGF- mediated cell cycle activity specifically by thwarting EGF- mediated Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity, not by broader effects on EGF signaling. Thus, although expression of dominant-negative Tcf4 blocks EGF- mediated TOPFLASH activation, it has no effect on either EGF receptor or ERK phosphorylation, further underscoring the fact that Tcf/ Lef-mediated transcription is essential for cell cycle progression, even when other pro-mitogenic signals are at normal levels. Yet, despite its essential role, Tcf/Lef transcriptional activity alone is not sufficient for cell cycle progression. Serum also stimulates Tcf/ Lef transcriptional activation in MCF-10A cells but is unable to promote DNA synthesis. Taken together, our data support a model wherein EGF promotes Tcf/ Lef transcriptional activity, and this signal is essential but not sufficient for cell cycle activity

Tracing the Dynamics of Disk Galaxies with Optical and IR Surface Photometry: Color Gradients in M99

We present optical and IR surface photometry of M99 (NGC 4254) at g, r_S i, J and K'. We also present a K' image of M51 (NGC 5194) for comparison. Fourier decomposition of the disk light reveals that the radial distribution of power depends on wavelength, which in turn implies that the spiral structure traced in the visual (i.e. young population I and dust) is different from the one detected at 2 microns (i.e. old stellar disk). We observe radial modulation of the power and a dependency of power with wavelength that are consistent with modal theory of spiral structure. A central motivation for our research is the fundamental idea of density wave theory that the passage of a spiral density wave triggers star formation. We have found a stellar population age gradient consistent with this scenario in a reddening-free, red supergiant-sensitive, Q-like photometric parameter at 6 kpc galactocentric distance across one of the arms of M99. We rule out that the change in this parameter, Q(r_SJgi), across the arm is mainly due to dust. The difference in Q(r_SJgi) going from the interarm regions to the arms also indicates that arms cannot be due exclusively to crowding of stellar orbits. We present the first measurement of Omega_p, the angular speed of the spiral pattern, and of the location of the corotation radius, derived from the drift velocity of the young stars away from their birth site. The measured Q(r_SJgi) implies a star formation rate for M99 within the range of 10-20 M_odot/yr; a disk stellar mass surface density of ~80 M_odot/pc^2; and a maximum contribution of ~20 percent from red supergiants to the K' light in a small region, and much smaller on average. We measure a K' arm--interarm contrast of 2-3, too high for M99 to be a truly isolated galaxy.Comment: 25 pages of uuencoded, compressed Postscript (text only). To appear in 1 April 1996 issue of The Astrophysical Journal. Also available, together with 2 uuencoded, compressed PostScript files with 10 figures each, at http://astro.berkeley.edu/preprints.htm

Liquid storage tank venting device for zero gravity environment Patent

Venting device for liquid propellant storage tank using magnetic field to separate liquid and gaseous phase