Characterization of space station multilayer insulation damage due to hypervelocity space debris impact

Four main tasks were accomplished. The first three tasks were related to the goal of measuring the degradation of the insulating capabilities of Space Station multilayer insulation (MLI) due to simulated space debris impacts at hypervelocities. The last task was associated with critically reviewing a Boeing document on the fracture characteristics of the Space Station pressure wall when subjected to a simulated hypervelocity space debris impact. In Task 1, a thermal test procedure for impact damaged MLI specimens was written. In Task 2, damaged MLI specimens were prepared. In Task 3, a computer program was written to simulate MLI thermal tests. In Task 4, the author reviewed a Boeing document describing hypervelocity impact testing on biaxially stressed plates

BALLIST: A computer program to empirically predict the bumper thickness required to prevent perforation of the Space Station by orbital debris

A computer program called BALLIST that is intended to be a design tool for engineers is described. BALLlST empirically predicts the bumper thickness required to prevent perforation of the Space Station pressure wall by a projectile (such as orbital debris) as a function of the projectile's velocity. 'Ballistic' limit curves (bumper thickness vs. projectile velocity) are calculated and are displayed on the screen as well as being stored in an ASCII file. A Whipple style of spacecraft wall configuration is assumed. The predictions are based on a database of impact test results. NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center currently has the capability to generate such test results. Numerical simulation results of impact conditions that can not be tested (high velocities or large particles) can also be used for predictions

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Povećanje dugolančanih n-3 masnih kiselina u mesu dobivenom od goveda tovljenih na paši uz dodatak kalcijevih soli iz ribljeg ulja

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fish oil Ca salts supplementation on the muscle deposition of fatty acids, with the major focus on eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in beef cattle. For Experiment 1, thirty-eight grazing LowLine Angus steers were divided into three groups and supplemented either control, fish oil (FO)- or palm oil (PO)-based fatty acid Ca salts, supplemented individually in dry form. In Experiment 2, 14 Angus heifers and 14 Angus steers were fed free-choice harvested forage and supplemented either PO or FO Ca salts, delivered as a suspension within dried molasses lick tubs. Growth performances, sensory characteristics and the concentrations of EPA and DHA of the M. Longissimus thoracis (LT) were evaluated. M. Longissimus thoracis fatty acid concentrations of EPA and DHA were greater (P<0.001) for cattle fed FO; whereas C18:2 n-6 and the ratio of n-6 to n-3 were greater (P<0.001) for cattle fed PO in both experiments. Sensory evaluation of LT steaks obtained from the carcasses of the LowLine steers of Experiment 1 did not reveal any adverse effects of the FO supplementation (P≥0.2695). We conclude that supplementing FO Ca-salts to forage-fed beef cattle increases muscle deposition of EPA and DHA, with no adverse effects on flavor. Supplementing fish oil to beef cattle is a way to meet the omega fatty acid requirements of humans.Provedena su dva pokusa kako bi se procijenili učinci dodatka kalcijevih soli iz ribljeg ulja na nakupljanje masnih kiselina u mišićima, s posebnim naglaskom na eikozapentanoičnu (EPA) i dokozaheksanoičnu kiselinu (DHA) u goveđem mesu. U prvom je pokusu ukupno 38 pašnih goveda, kastriranih junaca pasmine angus (linija malog uzrasta) podijeljeno u tri pokusne skupine, uključujući i kontrolnu skupinu. U pokusnim su skupinama u prehranu životinja kao suha tvar uvedene kalcijeve soli masnih kiselina iz ribljeg ulja (FO) i palmina ulja (PO). U drugom je pokusu 14 junica i 14 kastriranih junaca pasmine angus hranjeno po volji krmnim biljem kojemu su dodane kalcijeve soli palmina ili ribljeg ulja. Soli ulja su kao suspenzija u osušenoj melasi ponuđena u blokovima za lizanje. Procijenjeni su pokazatelji rasta, senzoričke značajke i koncentracije EPA-e i DHA-a mišića m. longissimus thoracis (LT). Koncentracije masnih kiselina EPA i DHA u m. longissimus thoracis bile su veće (P<0,001) u goveda hranjenih FO-om, dok su C18:2 n-6 i omjer n-6 prema n-3 bili veći (P<0,001) u goveda hranjenih u oba pokusa. Senzorička procjena LT odrezaka dobivenih od trupova kastriranih junaca (linija malog uzrasta) iz prvog pokusa nije otkrila štetne učinke FO suplementacije (P≥0,2695). Na temelju rezultata ovih pokusa zaključujemo da dodatak kalcijevih soli ribljeg ulja u prehranu goveda hranjenih krmnim biljem povećava odlaganje EPA-e i DHA-a u mišićima bez štetnih učinaka na okus. Dodatak ribljeg ulja goveđem mesu može biti način da se zadovolje potrebe ljudskog organizma za omega-3 masnim kiselinama