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Spacecraft charging is a well‐known effect that occurs when a spacecraft is located in a charged environment such as plasma. In this process, the surface of the spacecraft acquires an electrostatic potential through the accumulation and emission of positive and negative charges. In addition to causing severe electrostatic discharges, it also significantly affects low‐energy particle measurements performed by instruments onboard the spacecraft as it causes a change in energy and a distortion of the Field Of View (FOV) of the instrument by modifying the trajectory of measured particles. Spacecraft charging is therefore an important aspect to consider for Jovian plasma Dynamics and Composition analyzer (JDC), an instrument which aims to perform cold plasma measurements around the Galilean moons onboard JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE). In this study we use SPIS to perform simulations to study the FOV distortion of JDC for positive ions caused by spacecraft charging in two environments of the JUICE mission: the ionosphere of Ganymede and the Jovian magnetosphere. We show that the resulting distortion of the instrument FOV is highly space dependent and varies in shape and intensity from a pixel to another. However, we show that in both environments the complexity of the interactions between measured positive ions and the spacecraft can be decomposed and described as a superposition of a finite number of elementary interactions (i.e., modes). We show that each mode is caused by a specific element of the spacecraft and leads to a characteristic distortion of the instrument FOV. This study constitutes a first step toward necessary spacecraft potential corrections of the measurements performed by JDC. Key Points: The spacecraft potential affects charged particle measurements by distorting the instrument field of viewInteractions between JUpiter ICy moons Explorer spacecraft and Jovian plasma Dynamics and Composition analyzer positive ion measurements are simulatedThe spacecraft potential causes complex and highly geometry dependent distortions, especially for particles with low energy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graffiti is a short-lived form of heritage balancing between tangible and intangible, offensive and pleasant. Graffiti makes people laugh, wonder, angry, think. These conflicting traits are all present along Vienna's Donaukanal (Eng. Danube Canal), a recreational hotspot – located in the city's heart – famous for its endless display of graffiti. The graffiti-focused heritage science project INDIGO aims to build the basis to systematically document, monitor, and analyse circa 13 km of Donaukanal graffiti in the next decade. The first part of this paper details INDIGO's goals and overarching methodological framework, simultaneously placing it into the broader landscape of graffiti research. The second part of the text concentrates on INDIGO's graffiti documentation activities. Given the project's aim to create a spatially, spectrally, and temporally accurate record of all possible mark-makings attached in (il)legal ways to the public urban surfaces of the Donaukanal, it seems appropriate to provide insights on the photographic plus image-based modelling activities that form the foundation of INDIGO's graffiti recording strategy. The text ends with some envisioned strategies to streamline image acquisition and process the anticipated hundreds of thousands of images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jovian magnetospheric plasma irradiates the surface of Ganymede and is postulated to be the primary agent that changes the surface brightness of Ganymede, leading to asymmetries between polar and equatorial regions as well as between the trailing and leading hemispheres. As impinging ions sputter surface constituents as neutrals, ion precipitation patterns can be remotely imaged using the Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENA) measurement technique. Here we calculate the expected sputtered ENA flux from the surface of Ganymede to help interpret future observations by ENA instruments, particularly the Jovian Neutrals Analyzer (JNA) onboard the JUpiter ICy moon Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft. We use sputtering models developed based on laboratory experiments to calculate sputtered fluxes of H2O, O2, and H2. The input ion population used in this study is the result of test particle simulations using electric and magnetic fields from a hybrid simulation of Ganymede's environment. This population includes a thermal component (H+ and O+ from 10 eV to 10 keV) and an energetic component (H+, O++, and S+++ from 10 keV to 10 MeV). We find a global ENA sputtering rate from Ganymede of 1.42 × 1027 s-1, with contributions from H2, O2, and H2O of 34%, 17%, and 49% respectively. We also calculate the energy distribution of sputtered Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs), give an estimate of a typical JNA count rate at Ganymede, and investigate latitudinal variations of sputtered fluxes along a simulated orbit track of the JUICE spacecraft. Our results demonstrate the capability of the JNA sensor to remotely map ion precipitation at Ganymede. Plain Language Summary Particles trapped by Jupiter's magnetic field interact with Jupiter's moons. Ganymede, the largest of those moons, lacks a dense atmosphere to protect its surface from these energetic Jovian particles, but Ganymede's magnetic field is strong enough to influence their trajectory: charged particles are deflected away from equatorial regions to polar regions, resulting in uneven particle precipitation patterns at the surface of Ganymede. When ions hit the surface of Ganymede, they eject particles from the surface, in a process referred to as sputtering. Those particles are mostly neutral and therefore unaffected by Ganymede's magnetic fields, so we can image where ions hit the surface of Ganymede by measuring ejected neutral particles. The Jovian Neutrals Analyzer (JNA) will fly onboard the JUpiter ICy moon Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft and will measure sputtered neutrals in the vicinity of Ganymede. To help interpret the data to be collected by JNA, we used models derived from laboratory experiments to simulate what JNA will observe at Ganymede. Our results show that JNA will be able to show us where ions hit the surface of Ganymede, which is important as uneven ion precipitation is thought to explain why Ganymede's poles are brighter than its equatorial regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Ca isotopic analysis in biomedical studies has great potential to identify changes in Ca metabolism and bone metabolism. Reliable measurement of Ca isotope-amount ratios is challenging considering limited Ca amounts and significant procedural blank levels. In this study, Ca purification was performed using the DGA Resin, optimized for low procedural blanks and separation of Ca from matrix elements and isobaric interferences (Na, Mg, K, Ti, Fe, Ba), while maintaining quasi-quantitative recoveries which are sufficient since a 42Ca–48Ca double-spike (DS) was applied. Ca isotopic analysis was performed using multicollector thermal ionization mass spectrometry (MC TIMS). The obtained procedural Ca blank of ≤10 ng enables processing of limited Ca amounts down to 670 ng. Data reduction of the measured Ca isotope-amount ratios was performed using an in-house developed software solving the DS algorithm. Data quality was improved by extension of equilibration time of the sample-DS mixture and implementation of a normalization strategy for raw isotopic data. The reported δ(44Ca/40Ca)NIST SRM 915a of NIST SRM 915a processed as a sample was found to be 0.01 ‰ ± 0.08 ‰ (2 SD, n = 15). Ca isotope-amount ratios of the reference material NIST SRM 1400 (bone ash), NIST SRM 1486 (bone meal), GBW07601 (human hair), and IAPSO (seawater) were in good agreement within uncertainty with literature data. Novel data on additional reference materials for biological tissues (hair) is presented, which might indicate a potential fractionation of Ca incorporated into hair tissue when compared to the blood pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general-purpose PreAmplifier–DIscriminator application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, PADI, was originally designed to be used as front-end electronics (FEE) for reading out the timing resistive plate chambers in the time-of-flight (TOF) wall of the compressed baryonic matter (CBM) experiment of the future Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) facility in Darmstadt, Germany. Here, we present the last models of this 0.18-μm CMOS technology—PADI-X, PADI-XI, and PADI-XII—as well as their key features and test results. While the PADI series was originally developed for high-energy physics experiments carried out at ground facilities, it turned out that PADI is also suitable for space experiments and PADI-X was selected for one sensor of the European Space Agency, JUpiter ICy moons Explore (JUICE) mission. Currently, the most recent model of the series, PADI-XII, has been tuned for space applications and the prototype batch is currently under production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Advanced Small Analyzer for Neutrals (ASAN) is a compact mass resolving energetic neutral atom analyzer flown on the Yutu-2 rover of the Chinese Chang’E-4 mission to the Moon. ASAN measures energetic neutral atoms in the energy range from 10 eV to 10 keV with typically 30% energy resolution. The field-of-view is a single angular pixel of 37° × 30° pointing at lunar surface. Energetic neutral atoms enter the instrument through a charge particle deflection system and are then ionized on a diamond-like carbon conversion surface. Positive ions from the conversion surface are energy analyzed using an electrostatic analyzer and their velocity is subsequently determined in a time-of-flight section using ceramic channel electron multipliers as detectors. The obtained mass resolution m/ Δ m is about 2, comfortably separating neutral hydrogen, helium, and the oxygen-group (≥16 amu). A full energy spectrum for energetic neutral atoms is obtained in 3 seconds. Switching the charged particle deflection system off, ASAN also directly measures positive ions with similar performance as for energetic neutral atoms. Including electronics the instrument weighs 970 g and consumes 3.4 W. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recapturing the recoiling daughters from radioactive decay can be a simple way to diversify beam availability at rare isotope beam facilities. In the decay and recapture ion trapping (DRIT) technique, a parent species is stored in an ion trap and left to decay, and the daughter ions are recaptured by the trap and become available for use. We successfully demonstrated the technique using the electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at the TITAN facility. A pure cloud of 30Mg ions was stored in the EBIT for about one half-life and sent to a Penning trap mass spectrometer, which confirmed the production of 30Al daughter ions. Systematic measurements and simulations suggest high recapture efficiencies of the recoil ion and little influence of the recoiling energy in the observed losses. With the secondary beam, we also performed precision mass measurements of the parent 30Mg8+ and the daughter 30Al11+ ions. Our results agree with the literature and improve its precision. The success of this experiment shows that EBITs can produce high-quality beams through the DRIT technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the measurements of the secondary electron yield of chemical-vapor-deposited diamond upon the reflection of primary H+, D+, H2+, C+, O+, and O2+ ions in an energy range of 50–1000 eV per atom at a 60° angle of incidence to the surface normal. Depending on the species and energy, a secondary electron yield between 0.1 and 2 was observed and remained unchanged over weeks without further periodic reconditioning of the surface and in spite of the moderate vacuum environment of 10-7 mbar. Semiempirical fit functions were found with a dependence on the inverse velocity and the square root of the atomic number of the projectiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Velocity distribution functions (VDFs) are a key to understanding the interplay between particles and waves in a plasma. Any deviation from an isotropic Maxwellian distribution may be unstable and result in wave generation. Using data from the ion mass spectrometer IMA (Ion Mass Analyzer) and the magnetometer (MAG) onboard Venus Express, we study proton distributions in the plasma environment of Venus. We focus on the temperature anisotropy, that is, the ratio between the proton temperature perpendicular (T⊥) and parallel (T‖) to the background magnetic field. We calculate average values of T⊥ and T‖ for different spatial areas around Venus. In addition we present spatial maps of the average of the two temperatures and of their average ratio. Our results show that the proton distributions in the solar wind are quite isotropic, while at the bow shock stronger perpendicular than parallel heating makes the downstream VDFs slightly anisotropic (T⊥/T‖ > 1) and possibly unstable to generation of proton cyclotron waves or mirror mode waves. Both wave modes have previously been observed in Venus's magnetosheath. The perpendicular heating is strongest in the near‐subsolar magnetosheath (T⊥/T‖≈3/2), which is also where mirror mode waves are most frequently observed. We believe that the mirror mode waves observed here are indeed generated by the anisotropy. In the magnetotail we observe planetary protons with largely isotropic VDFs, originating from Venus's ionosphere. Key Points: We present maps of the perpendicular and parallel proton temperatures and their ratio in the plasma environment around VenusThe largest perpendicular temperature anisotropy with a median temperature ratio of about 3/2 is found in the near‐subsolar magnetosheathThe region with the largest observed temperature anisotropy coincides with observations of proton cyclotron and mirror mode waves [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-021-00809-8 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Cometary ions are constantly produced in the coma, and once produced they are accelerated and eventually escape the coma. We describe and interpret the dynamics of the cometary ion flow, of an intermediate active comet, very close to the nucleus and in the terminator plane. Methods. We analysed in situ ion and magnetic field measurements, and characterise the velocity distribution functions (mostly using plasma moments). We propose a statistical approach over a period of one month. Results. On average, two populations were observed, separated in phase space. The motion of the first is governed by its interaction with the solar wind farther upstream, while the second one is accelerated in the inner coma and displays characteristics compatible with an ambipolar electric field. Both populations display a consistent anti-sunward velocity component. Conclusions. Cometary ions born in different regions of the coma are seen close to the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko with distinct motions governed in one case by the solar wind electric field and in the other case by the position relative to the nucleus. A consistent anti-sunward component is observed for all cometary ions. An asymmetry is found in the average cometary ion density in a solar wind electric field reference frame, with higher density in the negative (south) electric field hemisphere. There is no corresponding signature in the average magnetic field strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Cosmetic Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We present a study of an impacting descent probe that increases the science return of spacecraft orbiting or passing an atmosphere-less planetary bodies of the solar system, such as the Galilean moons of Jupiter. The descent probe is a carry-on small spacecraft (<100 kg), to be deployed by the mother spacecraft, that brings itself onto a collisional trajectory with the targeted planetary body in a simple manner. A possible science payload includes instruments for surface imaging, characterisation of the neutral exosphere, and magnetic field and plasma measurement near the target body down to very low-altitudes (~1 km), during the probe's fast (~km/s) descent to the surface until impact. The science goals and the concept of operation are discussed with particular reference to Europa, including options for flying through water plumes and after-impact retrieval of very-low altitude science data. All in all, it is demonstrated how the descent probe has the potential to provide a high science return to a mission at a low extra level of complexity, engineering effort, and risk. This study builds upon earlier studies for a Callisto Descent Probe for the former Europa-Jupiter System Mission of ESA and NASA, and extends them with a detailed assessment of a descent probe designed to be an additional science payload for the NASA Europa Mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel topo-bathymetric laser profiler. The sensor system (RIEGL BathyCopter) comprises a laser range finder, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, a control unit, and digital cameras mounted on an octocopter UAV (RiCOPTER). The range finder operates on the time-of-flight measurement principle and utilizes very short laser pulses (<1 ns) in the green domain of the spectrum (λ=532 nm) for measuring distances to both the water surface and the river bottom. For assessing the precision and accuracy of the system an experiment was carried out in October 2015 at a pre-alpine river (Pielach in Lower Austria). A 200 m longitudinal section and 12 river cross sections were measured with the BathyCopter sensor system at a flight altitude of 15-20 m above ground level and a measurement rate of 4 kHz. The 3D laser profiler points were compared with independent, quasi-simultaneous data acquisitions using (i) the RIEGL VUX1-UAV lightweight topographic laser scanning system (bare earth, water surface) and (ii) terrestrial survey (river bed). Over bare earth the laser profiler heights have a std. dev. of 3 cm, the water surface height appears to be underestimated by 5 cm, and river bottom heights differ from the reference measurements by 10 cm with a std. dev. of 13 cm. When restricting the comparison to laser profiler bottom points and reference measurements with a lateral offset below 1 m, the values improve to 4 cm bias with a std. dev. of 6 cm. We report additionally on challenges in comparing UAV-borne to terrestrial profiles. Based on the accuracy and the small footprint (3.5 cm at the water surface) we concluded that the acquired 3D points can potentially serve as input data (river bed geometry, grain roughness) and validation data (water surface, water depth) for hydrodynamic-numerical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the underestimation of tree and shrub heights for different airborne laser scanner systems and point cloud distribution within the vegetation column. Reference data was produced by a novel UAV-borne laser scanning (ULS) with a high point density in the complete vegetation column. With its physical parameters (e.g. footprint) and its relative accuracy within the block as stated in Section 2.2 the reference data is supposed to be highly suitable to detect the highest point of the vegetation. An airborne topographic (ALS) and topo-bathymetric (ALB) system were investigated. All data was collected in a period of one month in leaf-off condition, while the dominant tree species in the study area are deciduous trees. By robustly estimating the highest 3d vegetation point of each laser system the underestimation of the vegetation height was examined in respect to the ULS reference data. This resulted in a higher under-estimation of the airborne topographic system with 0.60 m (trees) and 0.55 m (shrubs) than for the topo-bathymetric system 0.30 m (trees) and 0.40 m (shrubs). The degree of the underestimation depends on structural characteristics of the vegetation itself and physical specification of the laser system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that double-stranded DNA which is directly coupled to gold via a modified thymidine base exhibits a higher conductance than reported for DNA coupled to metal electrodes using different binding schemes. The measurements of electrical conductance are performed in a mechanically controlled break junction setup in aqueous solution and in high vacuum at room temperature. The current-voltage characteristics obtained in vacuum can be understood if a single molecular energy level determines the transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic compositions of molybdenum in six uranium-rich samples from the Oklo Zone 9 natural reactor were accurately measured by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The samples were subjected to an ion exchange separation process that removed the isobaric elements zirconium and ruthenium, with high efficiency and a low blank. Molybdenum possesses seven isotopes of which Mo are unaffected by the fission process, enabling the raw data to be corrected for isotope fractionation by normalising to Mo/Mo, and to use Mo to correct for the primordial component in each of the fission-produced isotopes. This enables the relative fission yields of Mo to be calculated from the isotopic composition measurements, to give cumulative fission yields of 1:0.941:0.936:1.025 for Mo, respectively. These data demonstrate that the most important nuclear process involved in reactor Zone 9 was the thermal neutron fission of U. The consistency of the relative cumulative fission yields of all six samples from different locations in the reactor, implies that Mo is a mobile element in the uraninite comprising Zone 9, and that a significant fraction of molybdenum was mobilized within the reactor zone and probably escaped from Zone 9, a conclusion in agreement with earlier published work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Trauma und Berufskrankheit is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Trauma und Berufskrankheit is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of high-pitch delayed enhancement (DE) CT for the assessment of myocardial viability with MRI as the reference standard.Methods: Twenty-four patients (mean age 66.9 ± 9.2 years) with coronary artery disease underwent DE imaging with 128-slice dual-source CT (prospective electrocardiography (ECG)-triggering) and MRI at 1.5 T. Two observers assessed DE transmurality per segment, and measured signal intensity (MRI) or attenuation (CT) in infarcted and healthy myocardium and noise in the left ventricular blood pool for calculating contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR).Results: 75/408 (18.4%) segments in 18/24 patients (75.0%) showed DE in MRI, of which 28 segments in 10/24 (41.7%) patients were non-viable (scar tissue transmurality >50%). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT for diagnosis of non-viability were 60.7%, 96.8% and 94.4% per segment, and 90.0%, 92.9% and 91.7% per patient. CNR was significantly higher in MR (7.4 ± 3.0 vs. 4.6 ± 1.5; p = 0.018), and image noise significantly lower (11.6 ± 5.7 vs.15.0 ± 4.5; p = 0.019). Radiation dose of DECT was 0.89 ± 0.07 mSv.Conclusions: CTDE imaging in the high-pitch mode enables myocardial viability assessment at a low radiation dose and good accuracy compared with MR, although associated with a lower CNR and higher noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe prospective ECG-triggered dual-source CT dual-step pulsing (pECG(dual_step)) for evaluation of coronary arteries and cardiac function.Methods: Fifty-one consecutive patients pre- or post-cardiovascular surgery were examined with adaptive sequential tube current modulated (pECG(dual-step)) 128-slice dual-source CT without heart rate control (main padding window: 40% RR interval >65 bpm/70% RR interval <65 bpm). Image quality of coronary arteries was graded (4-point scale), and cardiac function was evaluated.Results: Mean HR was 68 bpm. Thirty-seven patients were in stable sinus rhythm (SR); 14 had arrhythmia. Image quality of coronary arteries was diagnostic in 804/816 (98%) of segments. The number of non-diagnostic segments was higher in patients with arrhythmia as compared to those in SR (4% vs. 0.5%; p = 0.01), and there were fewer segments with excellent image quality (79% vs. 94%; p < 0.001) and more segments with impaired image quality (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). Global and regional LV function could be evaluated in 41 (80%) and 47 (92%) patients, and valvular function in 48 (94%). In 11/14 of patients with arrhythmia, the second step switched to full mAs, increasing radiation exposure to 8.6 mAs (p < 0.001). The average radiation dose was 3.8 mSv (range, 1.7-7.9) in patients in SR.Conclusion: pECG(dual-step)128-slice DSCT is feasible for the evaluation of coronary arteries and cardiac function without heart rate control in patients in stable sinus rhythm at a low radiation dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human gait is a complex process in the central nervous system that results from the integrity of various mechanisms, including different cortical and subcortical structures. In the present study, we investigated cortical activity during lower limb movement using EEG. Assisted by a dynamic tilt table, all subjects performed standardized stepping movements in an upright position. Source localization of the movement-related potential in relation to spontaneous EEG showed activity in brain regions classically associated with human gait such as the primary motor cortex, the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor cortex, the cingulate cortex, the primary somatosensory cortex and the somatosensory association cortex. Further, we observed a task-related power decrease in the alpha and beta frequency band at electrodes overlying the leg motor area. A temporal activation and deactivation of the involved brain regions as well as the chronological sequence of the movement-related potential could be mapped to specific phases of the gait-like leg movement. We showed that most cortical capacity is needed for changing the direction between the flexion and extension phase. An enhanced understanding of the human gait will provide a basis to improve applications in the field of neurorehabilitation and brain–computer interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission will provide maps of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) originating from the boundary region of our heliosphere. On IBEX there are two sensors, IBEX-Lo and IBEX-Hi, covering the energy ranges from 10 to 2000 eV and from 300 to 6000 eV, respectively. The expected ENA signals at 1 AU are low, therefore both sensors feature large geometric factors. In addition, special attention has to be paid to the various sources of background that may interfere with our measurement. Because IBEX orbits the Earth, ion, electron, and ENA populations of the Earth’s magnetosphere are prime background sources. Another potential background source is the magnetosheath and the solar wind plasma when the spacecraft is outside the magnetosphere. UV light from the night sky and the geocorona have to be considered as background sources as well. Finally background sources within each of the sensors must be examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct measurement of the energetic neutral atoms originating from the heliospheric termination shock and beyond as well as neutral interstellar gas penetrating into the heliosphere requires a very sensitive neutral particle imaging instrument in the energy range of 10–1000 eV. We present the development of the prototype of the low energy sensor for the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission: IBEX-Lo is a neutral particle mass spectrometer dedicated to the measurement of energetic neutral atoms in this energy range. The response of the sensor to incident neutral hydrogen, helium, and oxygen atoms is discussed as well as the properties of the sensor’s ion optics, the neutral-to-negative conversion surfaces, and other instrumental parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tumor cell lines have enormous value for the study of different aspects of cancer biology and have also recently gained great importance in autologous cell-based anti-tumor therapies. However, the use of these cells is still limited because in vitro growth is hampered by suboptimal culture conditions and current media contain fetal bovine serum (FBS), which poses serious safety concerns regarding clinical application. Methods To address this drawback, we aimed to develop a strategy for optimization of the culture medium for human medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) cell lines as a model system. We combined the general cell screening system (GCSS), which continuously measured the growth behavior of cells in a 96-well plate format, with statistically based experimental designs. Results The results obtained clearly demonstrated that, just by changing the composition of the basal medium, a significantly enhanced growth rate could be observed, and by subsequent addition of several substances a serum-free cell culture medium could be developed. This medium allowed the propagation of two MTC cell lines comparable with conventionally used serum-supplemented medium. Discussion We present a fast and easy way to screen for substances that are essential for tumor cell growth in vitro. Furthermore, these tumor cells can be adapted to culture conditions that allow the use of the cells in safe cell-based therapies. This is of utmost importance because of increasing regulatory requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a maximal resistance training following the principles of the most effective resistance training known from sport adapted to elderly people. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned into a training group (10 females and 4 males, age: 76.2 ± 3.2 years) that underwent a training program and a control group (6 females and 4 males, age: 76.6 ± 2.7 years) that did not participate in the training program. Before and after the training period, both groups were identically examined (blood and urine sample, spiroergometric testing, morphological measurements). The training group underwent a 12-week training program. Eight different exercises for the largest muscle groups of the largest joints were defined as one training circle. Training took place twice a week and commenced with two training circles per week (one circle per training session). After every four weeks, one training circle per week was added until four training circles per week were reached. Before, after every four weeks (changes in training amount) and after the training period, the maximum strength was measured. Data was analysed by the independent t-test and the analysis of variance, in case of significance, the dependent t-test and the Scheffé-test were used. In the resistance training group, the fat-free body mass was increased by approximately 2.9 ± 0.5 kg, with no significant difference between females and males. Ergometrical fitness was increased by approximately 15%, while the maximum oxygen uptake was increased by approximately 12%. Maximum strength was increased between 26% (bench pull) and 38% (leg press). Resistance training that consisted of two training sessions per week was found to be at least as efficient as resistance training that included three training sessions per week, provided that the number of sets performed were equal. Seventy-five-year-old females were found to have a significantly higher body fat content than males of the same age (37% versus 26%, respectively). However, the decrease in body fat mass due to resistance training was found to be equal in both females and males (-4 ± 0.8 kg). Furthermore, there was almost no difference in muscle strength between the sexes for this age group (for example: leg press: females 86 kg versus males 82 kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]