Cosmic dust impacts on the Hubble Space Telescope.

Exposure of the Hubble Space Telescope to space in low Earth orbit resulted in numerous hypervelocity impacts by cosmic dust (micrometeoroids) and anthropogenic particles (orbital debris) on the solar arrays and the radiator shield of the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, both subsequently returned to Earth. Solar cells preserve residues from smaller cosmic dust (and orbital debris) but give less reliable information from larger particles. Here, we present images and analyses from electron, ion and X-ray fluorescence microscopes for larger impact features (millimetre- to centimetre-scale) on the radiator shield. Validated by laboratory experiments, these allow interpretation of composition, probable origin and likely dimensions of the larger impactors. The majority (~90%) of impacts by grains greater than 50 µm in size were made by micrometeoroids, dominated by magnesium- and iron-rich silicates and iron sulfides, metallic iron-nickel and chromium-rich spinel similar to that in ordinary chondrite meteorites of asteroid origin. Our re-evaluation of the largest impact features shows substantially fewer large orbital debris impacts than reported by earlier authors. Mismatch to the NASA ORDEM and ESA MASTER models of particle populations in orbit may be partly due to model overestimation of orbital debris flux and underestimation of larger micrometeoroid numbers. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dust in the Solar System and beyond'.

Characterizing organic particle impacts on inert metal surfaces: Foundations for capturing organic molecules during hypervelocity transits of Enceladus plumes.

The presence and accessibility of a sub-ice-surface saline ocean at Enceladus, together with geothermal activity and a rocky core, make it a compelling location to conduct further, in-depth, astrobiological investigations to probe for organic molecules indicative of extraterrestrial life. Cryovolcanic plumes in the south polar region of Enceladus enable the use of remote in situ sampling and analysis techniques. However, efficient plume sampling and the transportation of captured organic materials to an organic analyzer present unique challenges for an Enceladus mission. A systematic study, accelerating organic ice-particle simulants into soft inert metal targets at velocities ranging 0.5-3.0 km s-1, was carried out using a light gas gun to explore the efficacy of a plume capture instrument. Capture efficiency varied for different metal targets as a function of impact velocity and particle size. Importantly, organic chemical compounds remained chemically intact in particles captured at speeds up to ~2 km s-1. Calibration plots relating the velocity, crater, and particle diameter were established to facilitate future ice-particle impact experiments where the size of individual ice particles is unknown.

Effects of Riparian Buffer Vegetation and Width: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study.

Agricultural contributions of nitrogen are a serious concern for many water resources and have spurred the implementation of riparian buffer zones to reduce groundwater nitrate (NO). The optimum design for buffers is subject to debate, and there are few long-term studies. The objective of this project was to determine the effectiveness over time (12 yr) of buffer types (trees, switchgrass, fescue, native, and a control) and buffer widths (8 and 15 m) by measuring groundwater NO-N and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) trends. At the intermediate groundwater depth (1.5-2.1 m), NO-N reduction effectiveness was 2.5 times greater (46 vs. 16%) for the wider buffer, and, regardless of width, buffer effectiveness increased 0.62% yr. Buffer vegetative type was never statistically significant. In the deep-groundwater depth (2.1-3.5 m), there was no change in NO-N removal over time, although the statistical interaction of width and vegetative type indicated a wide range of removal rates (19-82%). The DOC concentrations were analyzed at the field/buffer and buffer/stream sampling locations. Depending on location position and groundwater sampling depth, DOC concentrations ranged from 1.6 to 2.8 mg L at Year 0 and increased at a rate of 0.13 to 0.18 mg L yr but always remained low (≤5.0 mg L). Greater DOC concentrations in the intermediate-depth groundwater did not increase NO-N removal; redox measurements indicated intermittent reduced soil conditions may have been limiting. This study suggests that riparian buffer width, not vegetation, is more important for NO-N removal in the middle coastal plain of North Carolina for a newly established buffer.

Survival of fossils under extreme shocks induced by hypervelocity impacts.

Experimental data are shown for survival of fossilized diatoms undergoing shocks in the GPa range. The results were obtained from hypervelocity impact experiments which fired fossilized diatoms frozen in ice into water targets. After the shots, the material recovered from the target water was inspected for diatom fossils. Nine shots were carried out, at speeds from 0.388 to 5.34 km s(-1), corresponding to mean peak pressures of 0.2-19 GPa. In all cases, fragmented fossilized diatoms were recovered, but both the mean and the maximum fragment size decreased with increasing impact speed and hence peak pressure. Examples of intact diatoms were found after the impacts, even in some of the higher speed shots, but their frequency and size decreased significantly at the higher speeds. This is the first demonstration that fossils can survive and be transferred from projectile to target in hypervelocity impacts, implying that it is possible that, as suggested by other authors, terrestrial rocks ejected from the Earth by giant impacts from space, and which then strike the Moon, may successfully transfer terrestrial fossils to the Moon.

Laboratory investigations of the survivability of bacteria in hypervelocity impacts.

It is now well established that material naturally moves around the Solar System, even from planetary surface to planetary surface. Accordingly, the idea that life is distributed throughout space and did not necessarily originate on the Earth but migrated here from elsewhere (Panspermia) is increasingly deemed worthy of consideration. If life arrived at the Earth from space, its relative speed will typically be of order many km s-1, and the resulting collision with the Earth and its atmosphere will be in the hypervelocity regime. A mechanism for the bacteria to survive such an impact is required. Therefore a programme of hypervelocity impacts in the laboratory at (4.5 +/- 0.6) km s-1 was carried out using bacteria (Rhodococcus) laden projectiles. After impacts on a variety of target materials (rock, glass and metal) attempts were made to culture Rhodococcus from the surface of the resulting craters and also from the target material ejected during crater formation. Control shots with clean projectiles yielded no evidence for Rhodococcus growth from any crater surface or ejecta. When projectiles doped with Rhodococcus were used no impact crater surface yielded colonies of Rhodococcus. However, for four shots of bacteria into rock (two on chalk and two on granite) the ejecta was afterwards found to give colonies of Rhodococcus. This was not true for shots onto glass. In addition, shots into aerogel (density 96 kg m-3) were also carried out (two with clean projectiles and two with projectiles with Rhodococcus). This crudely simulated aero-capture in a planetary atmosphere. No evidence for Rhodococcus growth was found from the projectiles captured in the aerogel from any of the four shots.

Oestrogen modulation with parturition in the human placenta.

An initial group of term (36-41 6/7 weeks), preterm (less than 36 weeks), and post-term (42 or more weeks) placentae were collected from women at delivery to determine the placental levels of important steroids and steroidogenic enzymes involved in the oestrogen synthesis pathway as a function of gestational age. A second group of placentae were obtained from women delivering at term before and after the onset of labour. Placentae were evaluated individually for cytosolic steroid hormone levels and microsomal steroidogenic enzyme activities. Oestradiol (E2), oestrone (E1), progesterone (P), and delta-4-androstenedione (A) were measured by radioimmunoassay in placental cytosols. Aromatase (AR), sulphatase (S), and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3 beta HSD) activities were assayed in placental microsomes. Cytosolic concentrations of E1, E2, P, and A did not differ with respect to gestational age. Correspondingly, the microsomal enzyme activities of 3 beta HSD, S, and AR did not vary as a function of gestational age. However, when patients at term who were in labour prior to delivery were compared to those who were not, the placental cytosolic level of E1 was found to be threefold higher in the non-labouring group (4572 versus 1427 pg/mg cytosolic protein, P < 0.025). Additionally, microsomal aromatase activity was also significantly higher in the non-labouring patients (46 versus 19 pM/min/mg protein, P < 0.025), while the E2 to P ratio in the labouring patients was twice that of the non-labouring group, a difference which was significant at the P < 0.025 level (Wilcoxon rank sum test). These data suggest that at term, prior to labour, the placental production of E1 by AR is high, and that AR activity and E1 levels fall significantly after the onset of labour. Also, the placental cytosolic concentration of the more active oestrogen, E2, demonstrates stable to rising levels with a significant increase in E2/P after the onset of labour. We theorize that in the term pregnancy prior to labour, E1 may represent a large but relatively inactive intracellular oestrogen pool which is maintained by high AR activity, and may function to protect the pregnant local uterine environment from the more oxytocic effects of E2.

Local control in rectal cancer. A clinical review and meta-analysis.

We reviewed the factors influencing local control of potentially curable rectal cancer in 106 patients. There was improvement in stage-adjusted local control associated with increasing use of adjuvant radiation therapy. A meta-analysis of the English-language literature through 1988 also supported the effectiveness of adjuvant radiation therapy in all but the lowest-risk patients. No effect on survival was identified in either analysis, but a reduction of up to 40% in local recurrence rates may be achieved with doses of 3000 cGy or more.

Late sudden unexpected deaths in hospitalized infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

To determine the relative contribution of sudden death as a cause of late inpatient mortality in newborns after prolonged mechanical ventilation, we reviewed the charts of 348 patients who received ventilation assistance and who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during a 26-month period. The overall mortality rate for these patients was 25%, with 88% (77/88) of these deaths occurring within 30 days of birth. Eleven infants died after more than 60 days of mechanical ventilation. Seven of these late deaths were sudden, unexpected in-hospital deaths. Sudden deaths occurred at a mean (uncorrected) age of 12 months (range, 4 to 27 months), during periods when infants appeared to be stable or clinically improving, were unrelated to recent respiratory exacerbations, and occurred despite prompt resuscitative efforts. Four infants still required mechanical ventilation, and 4 had tracheostomies at the time of death. All of the infants had chronic hypercarbia (greater than 50 mm Hg) and an elevated serum bicarbonate level (greater than 30 mmol/L), but not hyponatremia, hypochloremia (less than 80 mmol/L), or alkalemia. Left and right ventricular hypertrophy, multiple drug therapy, recurrent cyanotic episodes, and frequent unexplained fevers were common. In comparison with 17 bronchopulmonary dysplasia survivors who required longer than 60 days of ventilation therapy, the late deaths group more frequently had left ventricular hypertrophy and received prolonged combination theophylline anhydrous and beta-adrenergic agonist therapy. We report that sudden death can occur in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia despite in-hospital cardiopulmonary monitoring and the rapid institution of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and is a significant cause of late mortality in infants who receive ventilation therapy for longer than 2 months.

Spontaneous umbilical fistula in Crohn's disease. Report of a case.

Spontaneous umbilical fistula in Crohn's disease is extremely rare, with very few reports found on a 15-year review of the medical literature. Among those reports, no patient had prior abdominal surgery. Attention was recently focused on this unique entity when spontaneous umbilical fistula was diagnosed in a 64-year-old anemic male mechanic with known ileocolic Crohn's disease. This fistula locus occurred despite a right lower quadrant appendectomy incision done 15 years earlier. Spontaneous umbilical fistula pathophysiology and pathways are reviewed.