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Wang, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Wang, M..

18 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

The United States' Next Generation of Atmospheric Composition and Coastal Ecosystem Measurements: NASA's Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Mission

The Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission was recommended by the National Research Council's (NRC's) Earth Science Decadal Survey to measure tropospheric trace gases and aerosols and coastal ocean phytoplankton, water quality, and biogeochemistry from geostationary orbit, providing continuous observations within the field of view. To fulfill the mandate and address the challenge put forth by the NRC, two GEO-CAPE Science Working Groups (SWGs), representing the atmospheric composition and ocean color disciplines, have developed realistic science objectives using input drawn from several community workshops. The GEO-CAPE mission will take advantage of this revolutionary advance in temporal frequency for both of these disciplines. Multiple observations per day are required to explore the physical, chemical, and dynamical processes that determine tropospheric composition and air quality over spatial scales ranging from urban to continental, and over temporal scales ranging from diurnal to seasonal. Likewise, high-frequency satellite observations are critical to studying and quantifying biological, chemical, and physical processes within the coastal ocean. These observations are to be achieved from a vantage point near 95deg-100degW, providing a complete view of North America as well as the adjacent oceans. The SWGs have also endorsed the concept of phased implementation using commercial satellites to reduce mission risk and cost. GEO-CAPE will join the global constellation of geostationary atmospheric chemistry and coastal ocean color sensors planned to be in orbit in the 2020 time frame.

Atmospheric composition↗
NASA NTRS2012

State of Climate 2011 - Global Ocean Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton photosynthesis in the sun lit upper layer of the global ocean is the overwhelmingly dominant source of organic matter that fuels marine ecosystems. Phytoplankton contribute roughly half of the global (land and ocean) net primary production (NPP; gross photosynthesis minus plant respiration) and phytoplankton carbon fixation is the primary conduit through which atmospheric CO2 concentrations interact with the ocean s carbon cycle. Phytoplankton productivity depends on the availability of sunlight, macronutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous), and micronutrients (e.g., iron), and thus is sensitive to climate-driven changes in the delivery of these resources to the euphotic zone

Siegel, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Calculation of Dose Deposition in 3D Voxels by Heavy Ions and Simulation of gamma-H2AX Experiments

The biological response to high-LET radiation is different from low-LET radiation due to several factors, notably difference in energy deposition and formation of radiolytic species. Of particular importance in radiobiology is the formation of double-strand breaks (DSB), which can be detected by -H2AX foci experiments. These experiments has revealed important differences in the spatial distribution of DSB induced by low- and high-LET radiations [1,2]. To simulate -H2AX experiments, models based on amorphous track with radial dose are often combined with random walk chromosome models [3,4]. In this work, a new approach using the Monte-Carlo track structure code RITRACKS [5] and chromosome models have been used to simulate DSB formation. At first, RITRACKS have been used to simulate the irradiation of a cubic volume of 5 m by 1) 450 1H+ ions of 300 MeV (LET 0.3 keV/ m) and 2) by 1 56Fe26+ ion of 1 GeV/amu (LET 150 keV/ m). All energy deposition events are recorded to calculate dose in voxels of 20 m. The dose voxels are distributed randomly and scattered uniformly within the volume irradiated by low-LET radiation. Many differences are found in the spatial distribution of dose voxels for the 56Fe26+ ion. The track structure can be distinguished, and voxels with very high dose are found in the region corresponding to the track "core". These high-dose voxels are not found in the low-LET irradiation simulation and indicate clustered energy deposition, which may be responsible for complex DSB. In the second step, assuming that DSB will be found only in voxels where energy is deposited by the radiation, the intersection points between voxels with dose > 0 and simulated chromosomes were obtained. The spatial distribution of the intersection points is similar to -H2AX foci experiments. These preliminary results suggest that combining stochastic track structure and chromosome models could be a good approach to understand radiation-induced DSB and chromosome aberrations.

Plante, I.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Modularized TGFbeta-Smad Signaling Pathway

The Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling pathway is a prominent regulatory signaling pathway controlling various important cellular processes. It can be induced by several factors, including ionizing radiation. It is regulated by Smads in a negative feedback loop through promoting increases in the regulatory Smads in the cell nucleus, and subsequent expression of inhibitory Smad, Smad7 to form a ubiquitin ligase with Smurf targeting active TGF receptors for degradation. In this work, we proposed a mathematical model to study the radiation-induced Smad-regulated TGF signaling pathway. By modularization, we are able to analyze each module (subsystem) and recover the nonlinear dynamics of the entire network system. Meanwhile the excitability, a common feature observed in the biological systems, along the TGF signaling pathway is discussed by mathematical analysis and numerical simulation.

Li, Yongfeng↗
NASA NTRS2003

Radiometric orbit determination activities in support of navigating Deep Space 1 to Comet Borrelly

After several months of planning, development and testing, new software was uploaded that allowed Deep Space 1 to restore celestial inertia reference and begin thrusting towards an encounter with comet Borrelly. The new mission plan would have to work within the constraints of the new software as well as minimize use of the dwindling supply of hydrazine, the fuel needed to maintain the spacecraft attitude.

DS1↗
NASA NTRS2001

Indomethacin attenuates post-suspension hypotension in Sprague-Dawley rats

Orthostatic hypotension is a serious condition that is sometimes manifested in astronauts during standing postflight. These observations may be related to impairment of autonomic function and/or excessive production of endothelium-dependent relaxing factors. To evaluate the role of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin as a countermeasure against the post-suspension reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP), we examined the cardiovascular responses to 7-day 30 degrees tail-suspension and a subsequent 6-hr post-suspension period in conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats. Indomethacin (2 mg/kg) or saline were administered intravenously prior to release from suspension and at 2 and 4 hrs post-suspension. Direct MAP and heart rate were determined prior to suspension, daily and every 2 hrs post-suspension. During suspension, MAP did not change, in contrast, during post-suspension; it decreased compared to parallel non-suspended, untreated animals. There were no significant changes in heart rate. The reduction in MAP post-suspension was associated with significant increases in plasma prostacyclin. Indomethacin attenuated the observed post-suspension reduction in MAP and reduced plasma prostacyclin levels. Also, the baroreflex sensitivity for heart rate was modified by indomethacin--the MAP threshold for baroreflex activation was raised and the effective MAP range expanded. Thus, the post suspension reduction in mean arterial pressure may be due to overproduction of vasodilatory prostaglandins and/or other endothelium-dependent relaxing factors and alteration in baroreflex activity.

NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary↗
NASA NTRS2001

L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, as a potential countermeasure to post-suspension hypotension in rats

A large number of astronauts returning from spaceflight experience orthostatic hypotension. This hypotension may be due to overproduction of vasodilatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins. To evaluate the role of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) as a countermeasure against the post-suspension reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP), we assessed the cardiovascular responses and vascular reactivity to 7-day 30 degrees tail-suspension and a subsequent 6 hr post-suspension period in conscious rats. After a pre-suspension reading, direct MAP and heart rate (HR) were measured daily and every 2 hrs post-suspension. The NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (20 mg/kg, i.v.), or saline, were administered after the 7th day reading prior to release from suspension and at 2 and 4 hrs post-suspension. At 6 hrs post-suspension, vascular reactivity was assessed. While MAP did not change during the suspension period, it was reduced post-suspension. Heart rate was not significantly altered. L-NAME administration reversed the post-suspension reduction in MAP. In addition, the baroreflex sensitivity for heart rate was modified by L-NAME. Thus, the post-suspension reduction in MAP may be due to overproduction of NO and altered baroreflex activity.

NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary↗
NASA NTRS1999

Angiotensin-(1-7) antagonist [D-Ala7-Ang-(1-7);A-779] attenuates post-suspension hypotension in Sprague-Dawley rats

Cardiovascular deconditioning manifested by reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardioaccleration are usually observed in astronauts during standing postflight. The head-down tilt (HDT) rat model with "unloaded" hindlimbs has been extensively studied because some of the observed responses mimic observations made during exposure to microgravity. Angiotensin-(1-7) is a biologically active component of the renin-angiotensin system that acts to oppose the pressor and proliferative actions of Angiotensin II. It produces a hypotensive response by either stimulating production of vasodilator prostaglandins (i.e., prostacyclin), increasing nitric oxide or both. In the present study, we have evaluated the role of a specific inhibitor of Ang-(1-7), D-Ala7-Ang-(1-7)[A-779], as a countermeasure against post-suspension hypotension.

Hindlimb Suspension↗
NASA NTRS1996

Hydroacoustic forcing function modeling using DNS database

A wall pressure frequency spectrum model (Blake 1971 ) has been evaluated using databases from Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of a turbulent boundary layer (Na & Moin 1996). Good agreement is found for moderate to strong adverse pressure gradient flows in the absence of separation. In the separated flow region, the model underpredicts the directly calculated spectra by an order of magnitude. The discrepancy is attributed to the violation of the model assumptions in that part of the flow domain. DNS computed coherence length scales and the normalized wall pressure cross-spectra are compared with experimental data. The DNS results are consistent with experimental observations.

Zawadzki, I.↗
NASA NTRS1996

An optimized index of human cardiovascular adaptation to simulated weightlessness

Prolonged exposure to weightlessness is known to produce a variety of cardiovascular changes, some of which may influence the astronaut's performance during a mission. In order to find a reliable indicator of cardiovascular adaptation to weightlessness, we analyzed data from nine male subjects after a 24-hour period of normal activity and after a period of simulated weightlessness produced by two hours in a launch position followed by 20 hours of 6 degrees head-down tilt plus pharmacologically induced diuresis (furosemide). Heart rate, arterial pressure, thoracic fluid index, and radial flow were analyzed. Autoregressive spectral estimation and decomposition were used to obtain the spectral components of each variable from the subjects in the supine position during pre- and post-simulated weightlessness. We found a significant decrease in heart rate power and an increase in thoracic fluid index power in the high frequency region (0.2-0.45 Hz) and significant increases in radial flow and arterial pressure powers in the low frequency region (<0.2 Hz) in response to simulated weightlessness. However, due to the variability among subjects, any single variable appeared limited as a dependable index of cardiovascular adaptation to weightlessness. The backward elimination algorithm was then used to select the best discriminatory features from these spectral components. Fisher's linear discriminant and Bayes' quadratic discriminant were used to combine the selected features to obtain an optimal index of adaptation to simulated weightlessness. Results showed that both techniques provided improved discriminant performance over any single variable and thus have the potential for use as an index to track adaptation and prescribe countermeasures to the effects of weightlessness.

NASA Discipline Number 14-10↗
NASA NTRS1994

Cardiovascular regulation in humans in response to oscillatory lower body negative pressure

The frequency response characteristics of human cardiovascular regulation during hypotensive stress have not been determined. We therefore exposed 10 male volunteers to seven frequencies (0.004-0.1 Hz) of oscillatory lower body negative pressure (OLBNP; 0-50 mmHg). Fourier spectra of arterial pressure (AP), central venous pressure (CVP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were determined and first harmonic mean, amplitude, and phase angles with respect to OLBNP are presented. AP was relatively well regulated as demonstrated by small oscillations in half amplitude (3.5 mmHg) that were independent of OLBNP frequency and similar to unstressed control spectra. Due to the biomechanics of the system, the magnitudes of oscillations in calf circumference (CC) and CVP decreased with increasing frequency; therefore, we normalized responses by these indexes of the fluid volume shifted. The ratios of oscillations in AP to oscillations in CC increased by an order of magnitude, whereas oscillations in CVP to oscillations in CC and oscillations in AP to oscillations in CVP both tripled between 0.004 and 0.1 Hz. Therefore, even though the amount of fluid shifted by OLBNP decreased with increasing frequency, the magnitude of both CVP and AP oscillations per volume of fluid shifted increased (peaking at 0.08 Hz). The phase relationships between variables, particularly the increasing lags in SV and TPR, but not CVP, indicated that efferent responses with lags of 5-6 s could account for the observed responses. We conclude that, at frequencies below 0.02 Hz, the neural system of humans functioned optimally in regulating AP; OLBNP-induced decreases in SV (by as much as 50%) were counteracted by appropriate oscillations in HR and TPR responses. As OLBNP frequency increased, SV, TPR, and HR oscillations increasingly lagged the input and became less optimally timed for AP regulation.

NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary↗
NASA NTRS1993

Dynamic testbed laboratory and micro-optics

Objectives of this research are as follows: to understand the three classes of superresolution and their behavior in optical data storage systems; to investigate new and improved components and techniques in the optical system for data detection and servo control; to apply micro-optic components to the optical system to reduce size and weight; to investigate techniques, such as near-field optical probes, for recording data densities beyond that possible with superresolution; and to understand and find solutions for problems associated with dynamic testing, especially those that arise when evaluating blue-sensitive media.

Milster, T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Spectral analysis of resting cardiovascular variables and responses to oscillatory LBNP before and after 6 degree head dowm bedrest

A major focus of our research program is to develop noninvasive procedures for determining changes in cardiovascular function associated with the null gravity environment. We define changes in cardiovascular function to be (1) the result of the regulatory system operating at values different from 'normal' but with an overall control system basically unchanged by the null gravity exposure, or (2) the result of operating with a control system that has significantly different regulatory characteristics after an exposure. To this end, we have used a model of weightlessness that consisted of exposing humans to 2 hrs. in the launch position, followed by 20 hrs. of 6 deg head down bedrest. Our principal objective was to use this model to measure cardiovascular responses to the 6 deg head down bedrest protocol and to develop the most sensitive 'systems identification' procedure for indicating change. A second objective, related to future experiments, is to use the procedure in combination with experiments designed to determine the degree to which a regulatory pathway has been altered and to determine the mechanisms responsible for the changes.

Knapp, Charles F.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Far-infrared laser power measurements.

Peak and average output power of cyanide laser in far IR measured, indicating usefulness of available oversize waveguide instrumentation at HF

FAR INFRARED↗