Baede (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Inst., The Hague.) Feb. 1990 82 p (BCRS-89-38; ETN-90-97687) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A05 The impact of SEASAT/SASS (SEASAT-A Scatterometer System) data on analyses and forecasts was studied in preparation for the use of ERS-1 scatterometer winds in a Limited Area Model (LAM). With the LAM, parallel runs are carried out with and without these winds. The resulting analyses and forecasts are evaluated. A case study on the QE2 storm is performed. It is concluded that maximum positive impact of single level RS surface data possibly relies on the availability of upper air data, and on the development of optimal assimilation techniques for this type of highly correlated and spatially dense satellite data. ESA (KNMI-TR-118; ISSN-0169-1708; ETN-90-97647) Copyright Avail: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Inst., P.O. Box 201, 3730 AE De Bilt, Wilhelminalaan 10, Netherlands Wave heights predicted by an operational wave model (GONO) and wind fields derived from an atmospheric fine mesh model (GONO wind) were compared with observations. The comparison was made for wind direction, wind speed, wave height, and low frequency wave height for the locations EPF, YMUIDEN and K-13 the southern North Sea, AVK in the central North Sea, and Brent in the northern North Sea. It is shown that there is a quite strong correlation between errors in the GONO wind and errors in the calculated wave height. The correlation coefficient at the coastal stations is about 0.7 and at the stations in open sea about 0.5. ESA N91-10546 Royal Netherlands Meteorological Inst., De Bilt. SPECTRA AND GRADIENTS OF STORMY WINDS AT R. W. M. Meijer 1989 178 p In DUTCH; ENGLISH summary Atmospheric turbulence data, collected in 1986 at the 213 m Cabauw mast in stormy weather, were analyzed. The theory on the subject is discussed. Experimental situation, instrumentation, and data evaluation procedures are described. Fifteen selected 30 minute runs were analyzed in similitary form, including dimensionless wind speed gradients as well as horizontal wind spectra. The uncertainties about the quality of the local scales are discussed. It is shown that Sorbjan's assumption for the dimensionless wind velocity gradient in the stable boundary layer does not agree well with the Cabauw data. The horizontal wind velocity spectra are markedly influenced by the propellor vanes used. There are not enough published turbulence data above 100 m available to check the reliability of various models. N91-10547# (Switzerland). ESA World Meteorological Organization, Geneva N91-10548*# Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc., Denver, CO. (NASA-CR-3974; NAS 1.26:3974; EMA-85-R-37) Avail: NTIS Since 1980, NASA has been collecting direct strike lightning data by flying an instrumented F-106B aircraft into thunderstorms. The continuing effort to interpret the measured data is reported here. Both linear and nonlinear finite difference modeling techniques are applied to the problem of lightning triggered by an aircraft in a thunderstorm. Five different aircraft are analyzed to determine the effect of aircraft size and shape on lightning triggering. The effect of lightning channel impedance on aircraft response is investigated. The particle environment in thunderstorms and electric field enhancements by typical ice particles is also investigated. Author N91-10362# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). N91-10365# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). Takashi Ohshima In its Meteorological Satellite Center Technical N91-10366# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). Hiroyuki Koba In its Meteorological Satellite Center Technical Note. Special Issue (1989). Summary of GMS System. 2: Data Processing Mar. 1989 p 103-108 In JAPANESE; ENGLISH summary Original contains color illustrations (For primary document see N91-10356 01-42) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A08 N91-10367# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). Tokuei Uchiyama In its Meteorological Satellite Center Technical N91-10371# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). Hideyuki Sasaki In its Meteorological Satellite Center Technical N91-10373# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). Kazuhiro Oosawa In its Meteorological Satellite Center Technical 48 OCEANOGRAPHY Includes biological, dynamic, and physical oceanography; and marine resources. For related information see also 43 Earth Resources and Remote Sensing. N91-10549# Technische Univ., Delft (Netherlands). Fluid DIRECTIONAL RESPONSE OF WIND WAVES TO TURNING 1990 266 p Sponsored by Gerbrant Philippus van Vledder The directional response of wind generated waves to turning winds was studied theoretically by using an advanced numerical wave prediction model, and empirically by using the results of directional wave measurements in the open ocean. The shape of the two-dimensional spectra and physical processes during responses of the waves, and the relation between the time scale of the directional response and local wind and wave parameters were studied. Results obtained show that for the relatively small wind shifts up to 45 deg the shapes of the two-dimensional spectrum and corresponding source function remain almost unchanged, and symmetric around the (turning) mean wave direction. For the larger wind shifts of 60 and 90 deg the spectrum and source function become strongly skewed. In all sudden wind shift cases a second spectral peak develops initially, but for relatively small wind shift this second peak is rapidly absorbed. ESA N91-10550# (Rept-90-1; ETN-90-97756) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A09 The effects of tides and storm surges on wind waves in shelf seas are assessed using analytical and numerical approaches for several academic cases and by hindcasting three storm cases on the North Sea. The results of the hindcast are compared with observed wave data using a developed wave model which incorporates all relevant effects of tides and surges on wind waves. It is shown that tides and storm surges should be considered as an instationary medium for wind wave propagation in shelf seas. For such conditions the commonly applied quasi-stationary approximation to wave current interactions cannot be used. It is shown that interactions are predominantly caused by currents; effects of mean surface level variations contribute significantly in storm surge conditions only. The hindcasts for the North Sea show relatively small tide and surge induced modulation of mean wave parameters such as the significant wave height or the mean wave period (typically 5 to 10 percent). The magnitude of these modulations decreases with increasing severity of wind and wave conditions. Modulations of the spectral density of the wave spectrum can be of the order of 50 percent. Observed modulations of mean wave parameters in the storm cases considered here appear to be for the most part wind induced. ESA N91-10372# Meteorological Satellite Center, Tokyo (Japan). Hideyuki Sasaki In its Meteorological Satellite Center Technical 51 LIFE SCIENCES (GENERAL) N91-10551# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. JPRS REPORT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. USSR: LIFE SCIENCES 6 Jan. 1990 80 p Transl. into ENGLISH from various Russian articles (JPRS-ULS-90-001) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A05 Abstracts of Soviet literature in various areas of the life sciences are compiled. The following subject areas are covered: aerospace medicine, agriculture, biochemistry, biophysics, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, industrial medicine, laser bioeffects, medicine, nonionizing radiation effects, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology, public health, radiobiology, veterinary medicine, and virology. M.G. N91-10552# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. JPRS REPORT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. USSR: LIFE SCIENCES 26 Jul. 1990 40 p Transl. into ENGLISH from various Russian articles (JPRS-ULS-90-013) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 Abstracts of Soviet literature in various areas of the life sciences are compiled. The following subject areas are covered: aerospace medicine, agriculture, biochemistry, biotechnology, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, laser bioeffects, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, nonionizing radiation effects, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology, public health, radiobiology, and virology. For individual titles, see N91-10553 through N91-10555. Histological examinations were performed on the adrenal glands of seven male Wistar rats after 7-days flight aboard biosatellite Cosmos-1667. The studies were conducted 4 to 6 hours after landing to assess the effects of weightlessness. The weight of the glands and the volume of cortical and medullary tissue were not affected. The general architectonics of the glands were within normal limits, although the width of the zona glomerulosa was somewhat narrowed. In the zona glomerulosa the nuclei:cytoplasm ratio remained normal, although the cytoplasm and nuclear volumes in the experimental animals were expanded. The ratio was increased in the zona fasciculata due to an increase in the nuclear volume. The zona reticularis remained unaffected. The entire cortex was hyperemic, while the presence of numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles indicated lipid depletion. Increased vacuolization of medullary cells and diminished area of epinephrine- and norepinephrine-producing cells interpreted to reflect gravitational stress. The findings suggested diminished medullary function and attenuation of the sympathetic system during space flight. Author were blood volume shift to the lower extremities from the cardiopulmonary compartment. In short-term flights the heart rate remained essentially unchanged, while the stroke volume and minute volume diminished by 8 and 13 percent, respectively. In long-term flights the heart rate increased slightly, while the stroke and minutes volumes remained unaltered. The hemodynamic changes were interpreted to reflect ongoing adaptation and adjustment to weightlessness, a process that has been demonstrated to function for at least 237 days. Author N91-10555# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 A brief review is presented of changes in the protective functions of the skin under conditions of space flight. In general, confinement aboard space ships has been accompanied by loss of bactericidal properties and changes in the normal skin flora, changes that have been reported to persist for prolonged periods of time. It is generally accepted that the microclimatic conditions lead to functional changes in the skin that alter the normal pH, fatty acid, and amino acid profiles. The net change is a reduction in the bactericidal potency of the skin, and a change in the skin flora. Changes in bacterial flora in themselves eliminate normal bacterial antagonism. Finally, morphological changes in the epidermis further compromise the barrier function of the skin. Author N91-10556# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. JPRS REPORT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. USSR: LIFE SCIENCES 16 Jul. 1990 48 p Transl. into ENGLISH from various Russian articles (JPRS-ULS-90-012) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 Abstracts of Soviet literature in various areas of the life sciences are compiled. The following subject areas are covered: aerospace medicine, biochemistry, epidemiology, immunology, medicine, military medicine, molecular biology, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology, and public health. For individual titles, see N91-10557 through N91-10564. healthy sailors with a mean age of 37.5 years to assess the effects of seasickness on circadian rhythm of the sinoatrial node. The results demonstrate considerable individual variability in susceptibility to desynchronization of the self-excitation pattern and attendant deterioration of capacity for work. In individuals regarded as well adapted, usually with a work history of 10 to 15 years at sea, the changes were less pronounced and recovery was more rapid. This approach was felt to provide an objective assessment of the severity of seasickness, an important factor in determining occupational fitness and health status. Author The results are presented derived from an extensive series of trials conducted on space suits and decompression procedures to assess their efficacy in prevention of Decompression Sickness (DS). The studies involved 193 volunteers with good tolerance of moderate hypoxia and low barometric pressure. The data demonstrated that with long physical exertions and in-suit pressures of 105 to 320 mm Hg, commonly employed decompression procedures are effective in preventing DS with the probability of 0.75 to 0.9 after 1 to 2 hours of oxygen inhalation under terrestrial-equivalent conditions. A probability of 0.9 to 0.98 for the prevention of DS was theoretically attainable with a short period of decompression for several minutes with a coefficient if supersaturation of 3.5 to 5.4. However, with a coefficient of supersaturation of 1.9 to 2.1 success in prevention DS with a probability of 0.98 to 0.99 was shown to require oxygen breathing for 0.5 to 1 hour. Author Male volunteers were used in pressure chamber studies designed to assess in the Maximum Allowable Coefficient of Supersaturation (MACS) in relation to pressure after decomposition, in order to assess the safety of high-altitude decompression procedures. The 70 volunteers ranged in age from 21 to 47 years underwent a total of 383 measurements that simulated transition from an orbital station to a space suit at reduced oxygen tension. MACS values were seen to decrease from 1.661 at 452 kPa (6300 m, 339 mm Hg), to 1.608 at 467 kPa (6080 m, 350 mm Hg), to 1.55 at 268 kPa (201 mm Hg), and 1.24 at 240 kPa (180 mm Hg). In practical terms the plots of coefficient of supersaturation vs. pressure after decompression demonstrated that MACS does not change significantly over an altitude range of 6100 to 9300 m, retaining value of essentially 1.6. Accordingly, this figure provides an acceptable margin of safety for prevention of decompression sickness. Author primary document see N91-10556 01-51) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 Acid-base monitoring and determination of blood gases were conducted on 8 healthy males, 25 to 44 years old, to assess the physiological effects of prolonged exposure to 15 or 25 mg per cum acetic acid vapors. Acetic acid was selected for the study because it is one of the key body surface metabolites and has previously been shown to be innocuous in concentrations of 10 mg per cu m. The experimental conditions utilized exposure for 20 days, with the temperature elevated to 33 C from day 16 through day 19 in one set of experiments and from day 6 to day 9 in another. The blood chemistries demonstrated that the low exposure level was innocuous in the long run, with any changes that were observed of limited duration. Data on the higher dosage showed more pronounced alteration in acid-base equilibrium, but again within physiological limits and without long-term sequels. Nevertheless, a concentration of 25 mg per cum was felt to represent the upper limit of physiologically tolerable acetic acid concentration in the environment. Author N91-10562# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. EFFECTS OF TAURINE ON CYTOGENETIC CORNEAL DISTURBANCES INDUCED IN MICE BY 9 GeV PROTONS Abstract Only S. V. Vorozhtsova and Ye. I. Yartsev In its JPRS Report: Science and Technology. USSR: Life Sciences 16 Jul. 1990 p 2 Transl. into ENGLISH from Kosmicheskaya Biologiya i Aviakosmicheskaya Meditsina (Moscow, USSR), v. 23, no. 3, May - Jun. 1989 p 86-89 (For primary document see N91-10556 01-51) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 The fact that protons account for some 80 percent of cosmic radiation led to a more detailed analysis on the efficiency of taurine drops on mitigating proton-induced cytogenetic damage to the cornea. The experiments were performed with mice irradiated with 9 GeV protons in doses ranging from 0.25 to 7.0 Gy. Certain animals were treated with 2 drops of 4 percent taurine solution in each eye five times before or after irradiation. Corneal monitoring at 24 and 72 hours demonstrated that proton irradiation led to a reduction in mitotic activity, an increase in the number of cells with chromosomal abnormalities, and cell depletion. These changes were essentially dose-dependent. Treatment with taurine reduced the number of cells with chromosomal abnormalities by two- to fivefold and was effective when administered both before and after irradiation. The effects of taurine were attributed to the fact that it had an inhibitory effect on mitosis, limiting thereby the extent of primary radiation damage and, consequently, postradiation damage to the genome. Author An analysis was conducted on the thermal state of 10 males exposed to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures in 50 cu m closed chambers for 5 days. The experimental parameters were as follows: 26 to 28 C, 70 to 85 percent rel. humidity, 740 to 770 mm Hg barometric pressure, 3 to 3.5 percent CO2, 20 to 21 percent O2, and N2 to make 100 percent gas mixture. Physiological monitoring showed that mean body temperature remained unaffected as a result of elevation of the skin temperature by 0.7 C and a reduction in rectal temperature by 0.5 C. However, both the respiratory and heart rates were significantly increased. On balance, the data indicated that the level of discomfort and changes in body temperature regulation under the combined effect of elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide and ambient temperature serve to diminish work performance. Author N91-10564# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. Technology. USSR: Life Sciences 16 Jul. 1990 P 2 Transl into ENGLISH from Voyenno-Meditsinskiy (Moscow, USSR), no. 1, Jan. 1989 p 54-57 (For primary document see N91-10556 01-51) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 An analysis was conducted on the motor activity of pilots undergoing retraining on single-seat airplanes during landing maneuvers. The study was performed with 56 pilots during 290 flights. In general, as the pilots gained familiarity and experience with the new planes there was a gradual reduction in the number of control column movements and their amplitudes. Correspondingly, the quality of landings improved. The reduction in the incidence of control and adjustment movements was accompanied by an increase in the number of fine feedback movements. Readjustment of pilot to new airplanes appears to involve fine-tuning of established habituated movements rather than a fundamental reconstructing of underlying motor activity inherent in piloting skills. Consequently, fine feedback movements that appear as second nature and represent a form of international automation may be used to assess the degree of piloting habituation. Author N. N. Karkishchenko In its JPRS Report: Science and Technology. USSR: Life Sciences 11 Jul. 1990 p 1-3 Transl. into ENGLISH from Kosmicheskaya Biologiya | Aviakosmicheskaya Meditsina, Moscow (USSR), v. 23, no. 6 Nov. Dec. 1989 p 33-36 (For primary document see N91-10565 01-51) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 The imperfect state of medical protection against Space Motion Sickness (SMS) is largely due to insufficient study of the mechanisms underlying this syndrome and the lack of theoretical approaches that could be used to formulate the property requirements of an ideal drug and produce highly effective prescriptions. The existing pharmacological methods are insufficiently effective. The action of existing agents is chiefly aimed at suppressing the central links of vestibular reflexes by acting upon the chemoreceptor trigger zone and vestibular nuclei. However, the onset of intensive vestibular-autonomic disturbances during motion sickness is associated with the generalized propagation of stimulation along Central Nervous System (CNS) structures that originated from the vestibular apparatus. In this connection, the use of anti-epileptic agents that affect the intercentral reciprocal relationships in the CNS to restrict such stimulation may be quite promising. At the same time, the generalized propagation of stimulation along the CNS structures during which typical SMS disturbances occur in the sensory, motor, and autonomic areas is a result of the excessively pronounced vestibular asymmetry that occurs in microgravity. The use of adaptive agents that stimulate the synthesis of nucleic acids and protein and that activate energy metabolism must be conducive to the formation of adaptive changes in vestibular analyzer function In spite of the comparatively low doses of total ionizing radiation received during space flights, radiation alterations did take place in biological test objects. Such changes can be induced by protons and gamma rays at doses 100 or 1000 higher than the doses received in flight. Therefore, the results of the space flight experiments cannot be easily associated with protons. It would seem more probable that the observed alterations are associated with the passage of some heavy ions (HI) of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) through the biological object. Calculations have shown that when HI pass through biological tissue in a 2 to 20 nm radius track area, the energy released is equivalent to a dose of several hundred rads. Inasmuch as the HI energy transfer is markedly localized, the observed effects may result from the impact of these particles in the region of certain sensitive cellular structures. The effect of single HI of GCR was studied during extensive flights on the orbiting manned stations Salyut. Air-dried Lactuca sativa lettuce seeds were employed as the biological test object. Author biochemistry, biotechnology, immunology, laser bioeffects, microbiology, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology, public health, radiobiology, veterinary medicine, and virology. M.G. N91-10572# Joint Publications Research Service, Arlington, VA. JPRS REPORT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. USSR: LIFE SCIENCES 14 Jun. 1990 40 p Transl. into ENGLISH from various Russian articles (JPRS-ULS-90-005) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 Abstracts of Soviet literature in various areas of the life sciences are compiled. The following subject areas are covered: aerospace medicine, biochemistry, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, industrial medicine, laser bioeffects, medicine, microbiology, military medicine, nonionizing radiation effects, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology, and virology. M.G. N91-10573# Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA. Health Physics Society Meeting, Anaheim, CA, 18-22 Jun. 1990 (Contract DE-AC06-76RL-01830) (DE90-016554; PNL-SA-18314; CONF-900679-7) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A03 Extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields arise from a variety of sources including power distribution networks, public transportation systems, electrical appliances and motors, electrically heated beds and blankets, etc. In fact, in an industrialized society, people and animals are bathed in complex milieu of elevated electromagnetic fields. The ways in which exposure to these ELF electric and magnetic fields may affect biological systems are not obvious. Ionizing radiation can interact with neutral molecules to form chemically reactive radical or ionic species; however, ELF radiation transfers energy to tissues at a level lower than is already present in the form of thermal energy. ELF electromagnetic fields, nonetheless, appear to interact with tissue, and in particular with neural tissue in some whole-animal and cellular systems. This paper evaluates possible interactions between the contemporary electromagnetic environment and living organisms, and whether such influences are temporary or long lasting, beneficial or harmful. In studies on electric and magnetic fields, a broad range of exposure levels has been employed from a few volts/meter to more than 100 kV/m, and from 0.01 to 30 millitessla. A equally wide span of biological endpoints have been DOE evaluated for possible response to ELF fields. 52 AEROSPACE MEDICINE Includes physiological factors; biological effects of radiation; and effects of weightlessness on man and animals. N91-10574*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., ed. and Donald F. Stewart, ed. Washington Oct. 1989 125 p Workshop held in Houston, TX, 1986 (NASA-CP-3051; S-597; NAS 1.55:3051) Avail: NTIS HC/MF A06 CSCL 06P The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has a dedicated history of ensuring human safety and productivity in flight. Working and living in space long term represents the challenge of the future. Our concern is in determining the effects on the human body of living in space. Space flight provides a powerful stimulus for adaptation, such as cardiovascular and musculoskeletal deconditioning. Extended-duration space flight will influence a great many systems in the human body. We must understand the process by which this adaptation occurs. The NASA is agressively involved in developing programs which will act as a foundation for this new field of space medicine. The |